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April 29, 2009 |
Highway 60 dedicated as Scenic Byway
A 100-mile journey along the Wisconsin River culminated in a ceremony Monday at the Prairie du Chien Regional Visitor Center as that stretch of Highway 60 was dedicated as the second Wisconsin Scenic Byway.
"This is the first new designation since the enabling legislation, and this is the blooming of that legislation," said Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton at the Visitor Center Monday afternoon.
Lawton was one of several dignitaries to make the trip from Lodi to Prairie du Chien, with stops along the way for ceremonies at Lodi, Prairie du Sac, Sauk City, Spring Green, Lone Rock, Gotham, Muscoda, Blue River, Boscobel, Wauzeka, Bridgeport and Prairie du Chien.
At all stops along the route and at the Prairie du Chien Regional Visitor Center Monday, there were numerous area residents, business owners, and state and local elected officials.
The official name of the new Scenic Byway will be Lower Wisconsin River Road: From the Empire Prairie to the Mighty Mississippi.
"This is exciting to me," said Lawton. "This is an artery that comes through the southwestern part of the state. It connects six counties together and will enhance economic development and tourism. We keep rediscovering all that is there is here. This is a first step and there is tremendous potential for Wisconsin and tremendous opportunities."
Lawton said that the state will now be seeking designation as a National Scenic Byway for the 100-mile stretch of Highway 60.
"This can be the hub of a very rich network," said Lawton in noting the fact that Prairie du Chien is also on the Great River Road (primarily Highway 35) along the Mississippi River between Dubuque and Prescott. The Great River Road was the only designated scenic byway in Wisconsin until Monday. The Great River Road has that designation from both the federal and state governments.
Lawton said that the designation of Highway 60 as a Scenic Byway was a bipartisan project of which everyone can be proud. Scenic Byway designation is a tool with which to increase tourism and attract businesses said Lawton.
This newly designated Wisconsin Scenic Byway 60 runs along the Wisconsin River and offers a picturesque drive through some of the best scenery in Southwest Wisconsin, featuring bottomlands as well as bluffs that crop out from the hills and valleys. The Wisconsin River and its tributaries beckon anglers, canoeists, kayakers, boaters and birdwatchers. There are also a wide range of camping, lodging, dining, outdoor recreation and archeological pursuits available.
Rockford Thunder to play in PdC against ‘Area Stars’
The Rockford Thunder have announced that they will play an exhibition game against the "Area Stars" of Prairie du Chien on Saturday, May 23 at 5 p.m. They will also host a youth clinic in the morning.
The day will begin with a two-hour instructional youth clinic by the Thunder for girls ages 8-18. The clinic, sponsored by Jones’ Black Angus, will begin at 11 a.m. and will take place at St. Feriole Island Park. The clinic will cover all aspects of the game, including fielding, throwing, hitting, base running, catching and pitching. Registration for the clinic is $40 and is limited to the first 60 players. The registration fee includes a clinic T-shirt and a ticket to the exhibition game. Any questions concerning the clinic call Ron Sedgwick at (608)-326-8437 ex 4128 or e-mail sedro@pdc.k12.us.
The game activities will begin at 1:30 p.m. with an 11 to 12-year-old Little League game between Eastman and Prairie du Chien on the Isle of Capri Field. There will also be an "Old Timers" limited arc game at 1:30 between Seneca and Prairie du Chien on the George Family Field. Immediately following these two games, the Rockford Thunder and the Area Stars will take the field for batting practice.
The day of events is sponsored by Prairie Pizza and Culver’s Restaurant and tickets are priced at $4 for students K-12 and $7 for adults. Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling Judy O’Kane at (608) 326-6181.
The Area Stars are coached by former softball greats Denny Fuller and Lloyd Beers. Team members are Travis Stram, Scott Gillitzer, Brent Petsche, Steve Jones, Ashley Strnad, Nate Cejka, Dustin O’Kane, Nick Lenzendorf, and Drew Bode from Prairie du Chien; Dan Wall, Adam Achenbach and Grant Russell from Eastman; Dustin Ray from Seneca, Brad Bay, Todd Fischer and Al Gillingham from Boscobel; Mike McClurg from Viroqua; Micah Thingvold from Muscoda; Dan Bender from Fennimore; and Todd Loomis and Jamie McCarthy from Wauzeka.
About the Rockford Thunder
The Rockford Thunder, a professional women’s fastpitch team from Rockford, Ill., is beginning its third season of play in Rockford after playing three seasons in the greater Houston area. As a member of National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) the Thunder play a 40-50 game schedule against the Chicago Bandits, Akron Racers, Washington Glory and the Philadelphia Force. Former University of Texas star Cat Osterman, who was three-time NCAA Player of the Year and a member of the USA Olympic Team in 2004 and 2008, headlines the Thunder roster. Osterman’s coaching duties with DePaul University may prevent her from being able to attend this game, but she will participate if possible.
For more information on the Thunder, interested persons can contact the Thunder at (815) 965-7000. For additional information on the team, visit www.thunderprofastpitch.com.
PDRI receives Spirit Award at state Main Street banquet
At the April 24 Annual Main Street Awards ceremony held in Wausau, Prairie du Chien Downtown Revitalization, Inc. (PDRI) received the Main Street Spirit Award, which recognizes a community, organization or individual that has demonstrated the commitment and enthusiasm to make the Main Street Program a top local and statewide priority. Community spirit, a commitment to downtown revitalization education, volunteer support, statewide advocacy, and support of downtown revitalization activities are all considered when selecting the winner of this award.
Said Jim Engle of the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, who presented the award, "Prairie du Chien has only been in the program since 2005 but the impact this organization has had on the community and the state program is impressive. Since 2005, total investment in downtown Prairie du Chien has been over $13 million. Fourteen new businesses have created 66 new jobs."
Engle continued, "Typically, we tell communities not to fret if they don’t see many visual changes in their first year or two. This didn’t seem to apply to Prairie du Chien. They had nine design requests in the first year of the program and, more than 30 downtown buildings have already seen improvement projects.
Engle cited as some of their accomplishments: working with the developers of the new Walgreen’s to make sure the design was the best it could be; overseeing the redesign of a struggling shopping mall into an attractive retail center; working with the City and developers to make sure the future hotel and convention center meets the quality the downtown deserves; providing input into the design, construction and management of a 2008 streetscape project.
In concluding, Engle said, "Perhaps, most impressive is the way that Prairie du Chien has embraced the Main Street approach. This organization has been successful in maintaining strength in all of its committees....And, the community leaders and volunteers are enthusiastic and eager to take advantage of Wisconsin Main Street assistance."
Commenting on the award, City Administrator Jim Gitz stated, "Our citizens can take pride in these awards; only a handful of communities are thus recognized. Prairie du Chien has come a long way in a short time, as the Spirit Award demonstrates. But we won’t stop here, PDRI and the City will keep going—as the present Riverfront Planning process indicates. This is a city with great promise."
St. Feriole Gardens a dream become reality
There is a sentence in Shakespeare’s "Midsummer Night’s Dream" which seems to aptly describe the history of St. Feriole Island Gardens:
The poet’s eye, in fine frenzy rolling,
Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven;
And as imagination bodies forth
The forms of things unknown, the poet’s pen
Turns them to shapes and gives to airy nothing
A local habitation and a name.
Substitute gardener for poet and that about covers the transformation of the St. Feriole Island Memorial Gardens from a patch of bare land back in 2004 to its present condition as a place of blooming and restful gardens. Those are now highlighted by a new gazebo, put in place this spring and scheduled for dedication Tuesday, May 5 at 4 p.m.
The story of the gardens begins, however, with a desire to honor two women—Cathie Nelson’s mother, Selma Tietel, and Jerry George, wife of Roy L. George, and mother of Roy C. George.
Cathie’s mother had actually left a bequest to each of her children, with the request that it be used to care for the city in which that child lived. Roy L. called Cathie and said his family would like to put some type of memorial on the island. They met and decided on a community garden.
A community garden was already on the St. Feriole Island Reuse plan, with no specific indication of place or form. They selected a 10-acre two-block area bounded by Blackhawk Avenue, Fourth Street, Fisher Street and the river.
Once the proposal was approved by the Island Reuse Committee, the George Family Foundation put together a comprehensive landscape plan for the gardens. St. Feriole Island Gardens was then organized as a 501(3)c nonprofit organization with a board of directors, allowing contributions to be tax deductible.
Tom and Cathie Nelson and Donna Teynor, who have been part of the garden planning since the beginning, recall making many presentations to area civic organizations, and the first group to lend assistance was the area Master Gardener volunteers.
In 2005, planting began. They took advantage of a discount on leftover shrubs from True Value, tilled up some planting area, and, literally, dug in. 4-H groups helped in propagating and planting pussy willow twigs and have been assisting in garden cleanup ever since.
From the beginning, certain volunteers took responsibility for a specific area of the gardens, and that has continued to the present. Most recently, the Rotary Club has identified an area where they will place plants, and the Fire Department and Auxiliary are planning a plot which will include a fireman’s insignia. The Crawford County Master Gardeners have adopted the Gardens as a gardening project.
By dint of donations and "frugal shopping" for discounted plant materials and hours of volunteer planting and weeding, the gardens have grown over the years to seven major beds and a fire pit. This includes a shady gnome garden, 4-H gardens and a children’s area with a rowboat filled with sand. At the south end of the gardens, a prairie meadow blooms with wildflowers. During the growing season, vivid displays of flowers, shady lawns and tall trees lure visitors to take a closer look.
The first formal event was held in the gardens last year, with the August 20 Community Memorial Service. Prairie du Chien Hospice volunteers and staff and members of Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital Bereavement Team hosted the event. Over 120 people attended and took part in the candle lighting ceremony.
The construction of the gazebo has expanded the options for use of the gardens. One wedding has already taken place there, and high school seniors are having their pictures taken at the gazebo. Plants, a memorial from Luanne Neumann in honor of her mother, Tessie Neumann, will soon be added to further beautify the area around the gazebo. Anyone who wishes to reserve the gardens should contact Park and Recreation Director Mike Ulrich.
As lovely as the gardens are at present, plans include many more additions: a spring pond, a Grand Lawn—a large circular area where a wedding might be held, a pergola, walking paths, a stream, and waterfall feature feeding into a dredged-out pond area, and additional flower beds. The Nelsons are hoping that the completed waterfront plan will include a walkway along the river side of the gardens as well.
Some of these ideas remain long-range plans, since funding is currently not available for any large-scale projects. Donations, said Cathie, are always welcome, and will help to turn the ‘airy nothing’ of the plans into reality.
April 27, 2009 |
The official grand opening of the new streetscape for Prairie du Chien’s historic downtown, postponed from last fall because of the weather, is scheduled for 5 p.m. Friday, May 1 at the corner of Blackhawk Avenue and Beaumont Road. (In case of bad weather, the ceremony will take place at City Hall, 214 E. Blackhawk Avenue.)
After a summer of noise, dust and destruction preceding the laying of new sewer and water lines and completion of the new streetscape, downtown merchants, business people and their clients have good reason to celebrate.
Jim Engle, of the State Department of Commerce and the State Main Street Program, will be the keynote speaker. State Senator Dan Kapanke and State Representative Lee Nerison will take part in the ceremony, as well as a special local leader.
The Prairie du Chien Honor Guard will open the ceremony with a flag presentation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by the Boy Scouts. A time capsule, filled with historic artifacts, will be prepared for burial, to be opened in 2059.
The Prairie du Chien High School ensemble, ‘Out to Lunch,’ will also perform, and the Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors will participate in the ribbon cutting. Following the ceremony, "The Noise Downstairs" will provide live, outdoor music.
Michael Douglass, site director at Villa Louis, will do a lively interactive historical presentation.
Pete’s Hamburgers, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, will open for the season at 11 a.m., and other vendors will also be selling food.
Coinciding with the opening will be a Shop – Dine - Spin and Win shopping event at participating downtown businesses until 8 p.m. with background music provided by street musicians. Customers will be able to ‘spin’ for a prize or discount, and other specials will be offered as well.
Saturday, May 2, approximately 150 runners and walkers are expected to participate in Prairie du Chien’s Half Marathon. Afternoon Delight, a six hour event for women of all ages, begins at 11:30. It will include a style show, seminars, shopping and dining discounts and an opportunity to win prizes with a special ‘poker run.’
For information on the marathon, contact Linda Hansen at
412-0156. For all other events, contact Prairie du Chien Downtown
Revitalization, Inc. (PDRI) at 608-326-7374 or
pdcmainstreet@centurytel.net.
High-minded planning Gays Mills continues with flood recovery efforts
The village of Gays Mills has had numerous major floods over the years, the last two coming in the summers of 2007 and 2008, both of which were greater than 500-year flood events. Because of these devastating floods, which resulted in substantial losses to residences and businesses, the village is undertaking a recovery effort by which a portion of the village may be moved to higher ground.
A Long Range Planning Committee (LRP) consisting of several local citizens was formed and has been meeting on a monthly basis with the Village Board in an effort to make the changes that will provide a lasting benefit to Gays Mills. The process is long and there are various challenges that lie ahead, but flood recovery efforts have been making progress.
Of the approximately 50 homes that were damaged, one has been moved out of town and five have been elevated on higher foundations through private funding. The dozens more waiting for government buyouts and assistance are beginning to get satisfaction, as the funding for grants applied for after the 2007 flood have finally been released and are arriving.
Many more lots will become vacant this spring and summer as homes are removed and demolished. At least 41 homes were substantially damaged. Homeowners who requested a buyout get an appraisal. This information can help with the decision of whether to decline the buyout and elevate, or move the home instead.
"The flood recovery effort has been going good," said Village Clerk Dawn McCann, who is also a member of the Long Range Planning Committee. "We’re glad to have good news for everybody, although it’s going to take some time."
Additional funding is being sought for voluntary buyout of homes and businesses that did not meet the "substantially damaged" standard for FEMA funding. This will open up options for those who would like to get out of the floodplain. McCann said that the LRP and the Village Board continue to look for ways in which to help businesses, which can be harder to relocate than a home. Wet flood-proofing techniques that have been used to protect Darlington businesses have been of interest for their potential in Gays Mills.
McCann said that the Village Board has been in negotiations with Sig Chestelson, the owner of a property north of Bluebird Lane where it is hoped that homes will be relocated. An offer has been accepted and the transfer of ownership to the village is expected to occur soon.
Money has been promised for housing, but funding for commercial and municipal development is still under consideration at the state and federal level. Once the village owns the land, more grant applications can proceed for components of the plan.
There has been discussion of a possible "historic cluster" of homes from the old part of the village to create a neighborhood that will have a bit of the old feel. Thirteen houses have been acquired by the village, and many of those have already been removed. Funding has been secured to acquire the remaining properties, while funding for the buyout of seven more is still under review by FEMA.
Seven other properties have been funded for elevation scheduled for this spring. Two elevation projects will begin during April. Demolitions have begun and will continue through the summer.
The LRP and the Village Board have said that anyone interested in acquiring a house for salvage or to move it to another site, can contact Dale Klemme at (608) 326-7333.
State agencies have made commitments to help buy land for housing out of the floodplain. The houses will be funded by Community Development Block Grants and FEMA buyout funds for the pre-flood appraised value of the damaged homes.
The LRP and the Village Board are working to minimize the mortgage burden and to ensure affordable replacement housing.
The Housing Committee and CouleeCap are arranging for private meetings with property owners in the floodplain to assess financial situations and their needs regarding homes, amenities, and affordability.
Meetings of the Village Board and the LRP, along with its committees, are open to the public and strong participation on the part of residents and other interested parties in encouraged.
The stated goal of the LRP and the Village Board is to maintain the viability of the village, spur economic development and to give residents and businesses a choice to move out of the floodplain if they wish.
"The work we do now can benefit future generations and make Gays Mills a great place to be far into the future," said members of the LRP and the Village Board in a recently released flood recovery news report.
Editor’s Note: A large amount of information contained in the above article was taken from the Gays Mills Flood Recovery News report dated April 13. Other information was taken from the Gays Mills Long-Term Flood Recovery Plan, which can be found at gaysmills.org.
