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Schwab clears up roundabout confusion

Dear Editor,

It seems our oversize equipment navigating through the roundabouts has been the topic of discussion in the Courier Press (Feb. 29 and July 6). I am writing to hopefully clear up some myths about oversize equipment and the roundabouts. 

In the Feb. 29 edition, the Courier published a picture of a drum from our facility passing through a roundabout with ease. In the July 6 story, it was stated that a drum from our facility had issues navigating the roundabouts. I believe that is a little misleading and led to some interesting Facebook posts about the roundabouts. The load did have issues but they were mechanical in nature with the steerable axles on the trailer. Without this mechanical issue, the drum load would have made it through without any issues. 

Mon
11
Jul

Finn clarifies American flag statement

Dear Editor,

My apologies to those whom are offended by my display of the American Flag, upside down. As was explained in the article, I feel that we are a nation in distress over mass shootings, and even individual shootings.

I certainly mean no disrespect to our servicemen, or our country either. The display is not illegal. As court cases in the past have ruled, its legal to sit on the flag, burn the flag, spit on it, wear it as clothing and anything else you can imagine. I feel that if we can get enough people to do the same (fly it upside down), it’ll be a visible sign to Congress that we want action, ANY action. They don’t seem to really care.

We used to fly the flag at half-mast after a mass shooting to exhibit our mutual sorrow for those lost but we don’t do it any more because there’s at least one mass shooting per week and it doesn’t make good news any more. It should always be at half staff!

Mon
11
Jul

Man sentenced for stealing human remains

A retired National Park Service official was sentenced Friday to one year of home detention and 10 weekends in jail for stealing Native American remains from Effigy Mounds National Monument in 1990. 

Thomas Munson, 76, of Prairie du Chien, was the superintendent of Effigy Mounds north of Marquette in 1990 when he ordered another employee to pack the bones into two cardboard boxes. He then drove the boxes to his home where he stored them in his garage. 

The remains of the Native Americans, who died hundreds of years ago, stayed in Munson’s garage for more than two decades and suffered damage due to inappropriate storage conditions. 

Mon
11
Jul

Skateboard park holds first competition, hopes to raise more funds for phase II


Phase II of the Prairie du Chien Skateboard Park will add eight new features and more open space. The new features will include two quarter pipes, a bank ramp, a banana berm, two bat wings, a skate bench and a grindbox.

By Caitlin Bittner

This Saturday, July 16, the Children’s Advisory Board, will be hosting the Prairie du Chien Skateboard Park’s first-ever competition in conjunction with the Prairie du Chien Parks and Recreation Department’s Fort Fun Family Summer Olympic Games.

The competition will begin at 10:30 a.m. and all who would like to participate in the event are strongly encouraged to arrive and be registered prior to 10:15 a.m., said Lorie Floyd, organizer of the competition. 

“It’s going to be a fun competition. It’ll be judged on the use of the course, the flow of the routine, the difficulty, and the consistency,” said Floyd.

Mon
11
Jul

Emergency repairs made to underground natural gas pipeline near LaRiviere

On July 1, Northern Natural Gas received a report of a natural gas odor near its underground pipeline facilities located near the LaRiviere Park at Prairie du Chien. Northern personnel immediately responded and detected a small leak in its 6-inch-diamater odorized line. The leak and repairs to the line required the temporary closing of the park. 

Emergency repairs were completed on the line over the weekend. There was no loss of service as a result of the leak or repairs to the line. When the repairs were complete, the park was reopened. The cause of the leak was likely a lightning strike. There had been heavy rains in the area and there was evidence of damage from a lightning strike at a nearby tree.

Mon
11
Jul

Red, white and boom!

On Saturday, July 9, Prairie du Chien's annual fireworks lit up the sky over the Mississippi River. Many came to the event, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, to watch the bright display. For more photos check out our Facebook page. (Photo by Caitlin Bittner)

Mon
11
Jul

Gettin’ the band back together

Riverfront Rock, hosted by the Prairie du Chien Historical Society, was held on Sunday, July 10. All-era garage bands were invited to reunite and tell their stories. The headlining band, Levitating Train Committee rocked the house to Elton John’s “Bennie and the Jets.” Pictured, from left, are: lead guitarist Steven Slama, guitar and vocalist Brandon Looney, drummer Tyler “Stan” Wellumson and bassist Anthony Horner. (Photo by Caitlin Bittner)

Mon
11
Jul

Three county car chase leads to arrest


Vernon County Sheriff John Spears reported no one was injured in the three-county vehicle pursuit. Sheriff Spears and Sgt. Kenneth Frye, deputies from Vernon County, Crawford County and a Lansing officer helped set up for the roadblock that eventually stopped driver Mark Allan Smith, 50, of La Crosse. Both Sgt. Frye and Sheriff Spears were able to control the suspect vehicle to the side of the road, ending the pursuit.

Vernon County Sheriff John Spears emphasized that the suspect will be facing several charges as a result of his poor decisions and putting people’s lives in danger.

One person is in custody following a three-county car chase that ended just south of De Soto Sunday afternoon. The chase resulted in multiple charges against Mark Alan Smith, 50, of La Crosse.

According to the Vernon County Sheriff’s Department, the chase began following a call to a home on State Street in La Crosse. Smith, who was driving a black Ford Expedition, told law enforcement he was suicidal and repeatedly told officers that he wanted to kill himself.

The pursuit of the suspect started in La Crosse and traveled southbound down Highway 35 into Vernon County. Vernon County Sheriff’s Department attempted to set up road spikes, but Smith swerved toward a ditch in an attempt to strike a Vernon County deputy.

Mon
11
Jul

Attorney General Schimel visits PdC, holds listening session with local leaders

By Caitlin Bittner

On Thursday, July 7, the Wisconsin Attorney General, Brad Schimel, held a listening session with local leaders from Crawford County, as well as legislative representives. 

Both Sen. Jennifer Shilling and Rep. Lee Nerison  were present to hear problems facing Crawford County.

Prior to the listening session, Attorney General Schimel was fairly confident that the meeting would take an early focus on the drug problem in Wisconsin. “This is the eighth county we’ve done, and 80 percent of the time, the focus of these sessions has been on drugs.”

Mon
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Local author’s books teach children social values through fun animal stories


Author Jeff Lessard, of Woodman, has released three children’s books since February and plans two more this year.

By Correne Martin

Most young children are not awake at 3 a.m., but for Jeff Lessard, that seems to be a prime time for creativity. In fact, he wrote each of his five recently-released children’s books during those wee hours of the morning.

“When I decide to write, I write. It doesn’t matter the time,” said the Woodman author and retired 22-year Prairie du Chien Schools employee.

All composed in 2007, “Magic Dance” was released in February of this year, and “The Little Bug” and “The Circle” were available beginning early June. “The Mouse and the Monkey” and “The Mouse, the Monkey and the Rock” will be up for grabs in August and October, respectively.

Lessard teaches social values through each of these fun animal stories, published internationally by Tate Publishing and Enterprises, of Oklahoma.

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