The Wisconsin Department of Justice has settled a lawsuit against Crawford County residents Curtis and Renee Christensen for violations of state regulations related to the keeping and Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) testing of farm-raised deer, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced Tuesday.

The Department of Justice filed suit against the Christensens at the request of the state of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). DATCP had quarantined then condemned Christensens’ herd after a deer in that herd tested positive for CWD.  The Christensens denied that their deer had CWD, and filed legal and administrative challenges to CWD testing protocols and to DATCP orders. DATCP revised its condemnation order after a second deer tested positive for CWD, and while administrative appeals were pending, Mr. Christensen killed and buried the remainder of his herd. The state filed suit seeking a court order requiring that the deer be exhumed so that they could be tested for CWD. By the time the deer were dug up, they were too decomposed to provide any useful information to DATCP.  By killing and burying his deer, Christensen foreclosed the possibility of obtaining federal and state indemnity payments for the deer.

At a hearing in November 2009, the Crawford County Circuit Court found that Christensens had violated the law by failing to have 23 deer tested for CWD.  The Court also found that they had violated state registration and recordkeeping requirements. The parties agreed to settle the case just before the hearing where the Court was going to set forfeitures for these violations.

In addition to the $10,000, and as part of the parties’ settlement, the Christensens also agreed to clean and disinfect the pens where they kept deer, to arrange for tissue samples from their herd to be destroyed, and to dismiss two administrative proceedings challenging DATCP orders still pending before DATCP.

Grant County Circuit Court Judge Craig R. Day approved the parties’ settlement agreement. Assistant Attorney General Diane Milligan represented the state.

By Jen Schultz

Chasing dreams and turning them into a reality. That’s what Greg Webster is doing with the help of Chase Clausen and Scotty Sheckler.

The three of them, with a lot of support from the community, are tackling the biggest festival Prairie du Chien has ever seen. Country on the River, a two-day country music festival will take place on St. Feriole Island.

"I’ve wanted to do this for years," said Webster. "No other event has the location Prairie du Chien has—they are all stuck out in the middle of a field, we have the backdrop of the Mississippi River."

Like other country music festivals, this one is jam packed with acts such as Diamond Rio, Joe Nichols, Gloriana, Trailer Choir, Emerson Drive, and more to be announced at a later date. Local bands will also be featured including the Backhome Boys, Mid-Life Crisis, Country Twist, and 8-Seconds.

Unlike other festivals, Webster said that they are trying to keep the costs low. Camping and ticket prices are cheaper than what they would cost at other similar events.

"We’re expecting somewhere between 7 and 20 thousand people to attend the event," stated Webster. This will boost Prairie du Chien’s tourism and help many of the small businesses in the area.

The main thought process behind the planning of Country on the River by Webster, Clausen, and Sheckler is to give back to the community of Prairie du Chien. At the moment that includes $5 from every campsite sold will be donated to the Parks and Recreation Department and two scholarships for students from Prairie du Chien High School that want to further their education with music.Many other organizations will benefit including the Prairie du Chien Fire Department, which will be running one of the beer tents.

The event is scheduled for August 6 and 7, rain or shine. Gates will open at noon each day and music will start at 2:30 p.m. and continue through the evening. Tickets and campsites went on sale Monday, February 1. For more information contact Greg Webster at 412-2760 or visit the website at countryontheriver.com.

On Feb. 1 at 11:41 a.m., the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department received a call of a tree-cutting accident in Rural Haney Township. The Sheriff’s Department responded and found 49-year-old Randall Lund pinned under a large gtre near his home.

Lund had been cutting the tree down to make fire wood when the trunk of the tree split and fell backwards crushing Lund.

Lund was pronounced dead at the scene by the Crawford County Coroner’s office.

Bald Eagle Appreciation Day will be celebrated in Prairie du Chien on Feb. 27. Leading up to Bald Eagle Appreciation Day there will be three events including the medallion hunt, the coloring contest and the photography contest, all sponsored by the Prairie du Chien Tourism Council.

The medallion hunt was last conducted several years ago, and will be resurrected this year for an added fun event in the winter months.

A medallion will be hidden somewhere within the city of Prairie du Chien, and approximately eight clues will be published in The Courier Press, on The Courier Press website and broadcast on Prairie du Chien radio station WPRE. The first clues will be published and broadcast during the week of Feb. 14.

The lucky hunters who find the medallion can bring it to the Prairie du Chien Chamber of Commerce Office to collect the prize of $150 worth of Chamber Bucks, which are good at numerous Prairie du Chien area businesses.

The coloring contest will be for children from kindergarten through fourth grade. There will be three age categories and numerous prizes will be awarded in each age category.

The artwork will be displayed at Blackhawk Junction Mall.

The coloring pages have been given to all of the schools and every child is welcome to enter. The artwork must be turned in by Feb. 17.

Photographers young and old are invited to submit their best photos to display during the photography contest.

There will be three age categories, Wildlife, People, and Places. Winter in Wisconsin is the desired theme. However, any and all photographs are welcome.

The Tourism Council is excited about this new addition to the Bald Eagle Appreciation weekend, as the Prairie du Chien area offers ample opportunity for creative photographers to capture interesting and moving moments.

Prizes will be awarded for the top photograph in each category. Voting will be done by visitors to the event in conjunction with select local judges. The first prize for each category will be $50.

Photos must be submitted in 8 1/2 by 11 size with the photographer’s name and city. Photos may be dropped off at the Chamber of Commerce Office located at 211 S. Main St., or mailed to P.O. Box 326 by Wednesday, Feb. 27.

If an entrant desires to have his or her photo returned, they can supply a self-addressed return envelope or pick up the photo at the Chamber Office after the event.

Father Chukwu allegedly sent money to his family in Nigeria as well as sending money to a nun and a school in Nigeria. Father Chukwu also allegedly sent a large 40-foot container to Nigeria containing items such as artificial flowers, candlesticks, pedestal tables, clothing and other items he purchased form many local stores in the area.

Much of the money used to purchase items to be sent to Nigeria allegedly came from insurance money and donations received by the parishes and Diocese for damages to the church from the flood in 2007.

An investigation was completed on the parish’s books by an accounting firm in La Crosse which shows that Father Chukwu had approximately $105,000 in debit card charges along with other unauthorized charges totaling more than $196,000.

Numerous search warrants were conducted during the course of the investigation by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department. On Jan. 29, an arrest warrant for Father Chukwu was issued and he was arrested later that day in La Crosse. Father Chukwu is currently in the Crawford County Jail on a charge of theft in a business setting over $10,000, a felony in the state of Wisconsin.

For more information, interested persons can contact Dennis Rooney at (608) 326-7179, ext. 113, or Vance Haugen at the Crawford County Extension Office in Prairie du Chien at (608) 326-0223.