Courier Press

By Correne Martin

The contract packaging and assembly service company, Prairie Industries, Inc., is expanding and researching the possibility of opening a third manufacturing plant in Lansing, Iowa. This would be in addition to the two plants presently located on the north and south ends of Prairie du Chien.

A post to Prairie Industries’ Facebook page last Wednesday, Feb. 15, notified the public of a job fair the company has scheduled on Monday, Feb. 27, from 4 to 7 p.m., and on Tuesday, Feb. 28, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the former Blumenthal Lansing Company button factory, 1929 Main St., Lansing. Full-time positions available include general labor, machine operators, shipping/receiving clerks, quality technicians and a supervisor.

Positions for a maintenance technician, lead workers and general laborers were published in the Courier Press as recently as last week.

The exact number of positions available has not provided by the company.

A total of 625 love-themed balloons were stuffed into one school bus and transported to B.A. Kennedy Elementary School and Bluff View Intermediate School for Valentine’s Day. Parents were given the option to purchase balloons, stuffed animals, chocolates or an assorted bundle as special valentines to be gifted to their beloved children during the school day Tuesday, Feb. 14. So, on Monday evening, the volunteer parent-teacher organization picked up the balloons at the Dollar Tree in Prairie du Chien, delivered them to the schools on board a Southwest Bus Service school bus and then sorted and tagged each gift for the students. Pictured, B.A. Kennedy teacher Lisa Ashbacher stuffs a large bouquet into the bus. The small group of volunteers who organized this program, which is a PTO fundraiser, said it’s a highly enjoyable activity made worthwhile once they see the looks on the kids’ faces for Valentine’s Day. (Photo by Correne Martin)

A Dubuque man was arrested on multiple charges, including drugs and alcohol offenses, after he allegedly used his vehicle to crash into locked gates at the Bagley wastewater treatment facility, according to the Grant County Sheriff’s Department.

On Saturday, Feb. 11, at about 11 p.m., the sheriff’s office received a phone call from an employee of the village of Bagley who reported a possible burglary and a suspicious vehicle at the sewer plant. Deputies arrived on scene and found a white vehicle parked in the back of the property. The vehicle attempted to flee but stopped near the front gate.

By Correne Martin

Tuesday, Feb. 21, will be the first election in which Prairie du Chien’s entire electorate will cast votes at one location, Hoffman Hall. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the spring primary election. The state superintendent of public instruction is the only race on the ballot.

Voting will take place in the Hoffman Hall gymnasium. When voters walk into the room, there will be one registration desk for all, but then the wards will be broken out into separate stations, according to City Clerk Tina Fuller.

“The wards will be grouped the same as they were at the other polling places,” she stated. “Those (ward residents) who voted at the Armory will still vote together and the same goes for those who formerly voted at city hall and the nursing home.”

In each ward, the process will be the same as it always has been, she assured.