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April 16, 2008

County Board members take the Oath of Office
Chair, Vice Chair elections held

One new Crawford County Board member was sworn into office Tuesday morning during the regular meeting in the Administrative Building. Jim O’Meara, former Prairie du Chien School District Administrator, has taken the place of Gary Knickerbocker, who did not seek re-election.

Knickerbocker’s name had been on the ballot for the April 1 election, which he won. But, he had said before the election that he was going to keep his bailiff position with the county rather than his District 1 seat on the County Board.

O’Meara ran a write-in campaign and received 59 votes. He was appointed to the County Board by Chairman Ron Leys and the board unanimously approved.

Steve Lessard also won the election for the District 2 seat, which was vacated by retiring board member Virgil Butteris. Lessard also chose to keep his custodial position with the county, rather than take a seat on the County Board. There was no other name on the ballot and nobody else received more than two votes.

Butteris agreed to accept a temporary appointment to his former District 2 seat until Leys can appoint someone else. The board unanimously approved. Leys said, "We are looking for candidates for District 2 and anyone interested can contact me at 608-872-2547."

Judge Michael Kirchman officiated during the "Oath of Office" for all board members.

Ron Leys won the election Tuesday morning for County Board Chairman by a voted of 9-7 over board member Larry Kapinus. Board member Gerald Krachey was absent.

Pete Flesch won a three-way election for Vice Chairman with eight votes. Larry Kapinus received six votes and Kersten Rocksvold had two. Kapinus had been the Vice Chairman for the past two years.

The County Board gave commendations to Gary Knickerbocker and Virgil Butteris for their dedicated years of service.

"Serving on the County Board has been the highlight of my 40 years of public service," said Knickerbocker, who served on the board for six years.

"The years go by fast," said Butteris, who has been on the County Board for 32 years.

Emile Smith of the Crawford Stewardship Project gave a presentation before the board regarding KARST geology. Smith said that there is very little data about Crawford County’s soil, geology and topography and how these factors affect groundwater and possible contamination by farms and other entities.

"We need more information, more scientific data" said Smith, who asked the board to consider a KARST Study, such as those conducted in other parts of the state. He said that the county should find out more about how the limestone and sandstone bedrock of the county affects the transfer of nutrients to groundwater. "It’s not any one type of farm or operation," said Smith, in noting that all agricultural operations affect groundwater, not just large CAFOs. Faulty septic systems may also affect groundwater or contaminate wells, said Smith. Smith said that the Crawford Stewardship Project and the UW Extension of Crawford County is exploring possible grant money for a study.

Prairie du Chien Chamber of Commerce Director Bob Moses gave a presentation during which he asked the board to consider paying $3,500 towards a lease and $1,500 towards staffing of the Welcome Center, which is located in Prairie du Chien. Moses said that he will ask the board for the funding next year. He also said that plans are underway for the Welcome Center to become a Regional Tourist Center for Crawford County, Vernon County, Grant County, Clayton County and Allamakee County.

Crawford County’s funding would be a portion of the total cost.

County residents vote in Spring Fish and Wildlife Hearing

Thirty-six Crawford County residents attended the Department of Natural Resources Annual Spring Fish and Wildlife Hearings Monday night at the Crawford County Courthouse.

Residents voted upon numerous questions in the DNR portion of the meeting as well as the Wisconsin Conservation Congress portion of the meeting.

Highlights included Question 10 regarding whether or not to add an additional year to the experimental fall season for hunting wild turkeys with the aid of dogs in Crawford, Vernon, La Crosse, Richland, Sauk, Wood, Monroe and Jackson counties for 2009. The question passed 16-14 in Crawford County. In Vernon County, the totals were 31 yes and 14 no.

Question 11 concerned extending the fall turkey season to include the Monday following the nine-day gun deer season through December 31 in turkey management zones 1-5 for two years. Crawford County residents voted 23 yes and 9 no. In Vernon County, the question passed 36-11.

DNR rules questions that are approved statewide usually become law by the following year, which would be 2009.

The Conservation Congress portion of the meeting involves advisory questions only.

Question 46 in the Conservation Congress portion of the meeting asked if residents supported legislation that would modify the gun deer license to allow the use of archery equipment during the regular firearm deer seasons.

The question passed 20-10 in Crawford County and 29-9 in Vernon County.

Question 52 asked if residents favored action by the legislature to ban deer feeding and baiting statewide. In Crawford County, 26 voted in favor and 7 were against the statewide ban on feeding and baiting. In Vernon County, 32 favored the ban and 19 were against.

Question 54 asked if residents supported eliminating shining from public roads statewide. In Crawford County, 15 voted yes and 18 no. In Vernon County, 16 voted yes and 34 no.

Question 61 asked if residents supported legislation that would require all future Managed Forest Law contracts to allow public access as currently defined in state statutes. Crawford County residents voted 3 in favor and 30 against. The total in Vernon County was 8-42.

Question 63 asked if residents supported the elimination of the barbless hook requirement for the early catch and release trout season. Sixteen Crawford County residents voted yes and 12 voted no. In Vernon County, the vote was 28-13.

Question 71 asked residents if they favored the DNR, the Wisconsin Conservation Congress and the State Legislature to develop a season framework and harvest goals to maintain the wolf population within management objectives. Crawford County voted 23-8 and Vernon County voted 35-11.

Council tables decision on committees

Although the new mayor’s appointments to standing committees consisting of council members was approved, Prairie du Chien Common Council last night voted to table action on appointment to other city committees and commissions.

Several council members voiced concern over Mayor Karl Steiner’s list of proposed appointments and the number of non-residents who appeared on the list. Jaaren Riebe said he was particularly concerned that many people on the LaRiviere Park list live outside the city limits, and Phil Dagnon said he had received calls from other committee members who felt all members should live in the city.

Mayor Steiner said he had included some of the non-residents because they have been involved with the horse trails and have brought in money to the park. "We’ll lose out on a lot of good members if we appoint only residents," he said.

Nevertheless, other council members said they had received calls as well. Becky Hackett said several people had contacted her about possible conflict of interest on some of the LaRiviere appointments. Joe Ruskey said he feels that only city residents should have voting power on city concerns. Council approved the standing committees for finance; personnel, license and insurance; protection and health; and property and public works, but tabled a decision on other appointments for further discussion. Frank Pintz suggested that if any city residents are interested in serving on committees, now is the time to volunteer.

Council approved the appointment of Karen Solomon as Fourth District Alderman. Solomon was sworn in and took her seat on the council.

In other business:

•Robert Moses, executive director of the Prairie du Chien Chamber of Commerce, announced that they have hired one full time employee and two part time employees for the tourist information center, and they are on schedule to open in May. He said they have decided to keep a regional approach, and will accept tourist information from surrounding counties. Twenty five volunteers are being trained to assist in the center.

•City clerk/treasurer Barb Elvert summarized the 2007 tax roll. The city collected a total of $8,533,562.18 in general property taxes, an increase of $284,687 over 2006. Of this amount, the city keeps $1,951,000. Delinquent taxes fell by $44,000 this year, but delinquent utility bills increased by $13,000.

Elvert said residents were able to use credit cards and electronic withdrawals for the first time to pay their taxes. Nineteen people took advantage of this at no extra charge to the city.

•Council refused bids for used police cars since the bids had been sent out without council authorization. A decision on whether to purchase additional cars was tabled until the next council meeting when more information will be available.

•Council also tabled action on proposals for the outdoor pool maintenance until a future meeting.

April 14, 2008

Native American author to give presentation

‘Night Sun’ series chronicles adventures of boy in Northeast Iowa in 1840s

At a presentation at Effigy Mounds National Monument on April 19, Postville author Spencer G. Lone Tree will discuss several reasons for the creation of his five-book series chronicling the adventures and maturation of ‘Night Sun,’ a Winnebago (Ho Chungra) boy destined to become a great leader.

The presentation and book signing will begin at 2 p.m. for Lone Tree’s second book, "Night Sun: The Journey to Two Fires," which was published in December of 2007, with the cover printed by Howe Printing of Prairie du Chien.

Lone Tree’s first book "Night Sun and the Seven Directions" debuted in November of 2004 and he is about one-third of the way through his third book, which he hopes to have published in November of 2008.

Through his books, Lone Tree hopes to help preserve the "real" history of his people and to dispel myths and misconceptions about Native Americans that have been perpetuated for years.

"I want to pass on our culture, to protect our culture and to save our culture for future generations," said Lone Tree. "I also want to develop a hero ‘Night Sun’ for Native American children and to get them to read." Lone Tree said that he has been getting a very positive response from other tribal members from throughout the United States, especially in the Midwest.

"These kinds of books are not out there—books that relate to the history and spirituality of our people," he said. Lone Tree noted that the "white man’s" version of history often distorts or ignores the historical events regarding Native Americans.

Not only does Lone Tree hope to inspire Native American children to read, to continue with their education and avoid "dropout syndrome," he also hopes to educate both Native Americans and non-Native Americans about the history of the Ho Chungra people.

"I take issue with the portrayal of my people," said Lone Tree, who noted that Native Americans were and are often portrayed in history books, television and movies as Godless savages. "We are a deeply religious people."

Lone Tree said that the "Night Sun" series is a work of fiction that is based upon historical fact. The 12-year-old Night Sun is a member of the Ho Chungra and his story takes place in the 1840s.

The Ho Chungra were removed from their home on four separate occasions. Having populated much of Wisconsin, these woodland Indians were removed to the "Neutral Zone" of Illinois and Northeast Iowa in 1837. In 1848, they were removed to Long Prairie, Minnesota. In 1855, they were removed to Rochester, Minnesota, and in 1862, they were taken to Crow Creek, South Dakota.

Lone Tree is a full blood enrolled in the Ho Chunk Nation of Wisconsin, formerly the Winnebago Nation, and his books accurately portray the lifestyle and traditions of his people. He said that he spent a great deal of time visiting the various locations throughout Northeast Iowa to familiarize himself with the geography of the region.

A deeply spiritual man, Lone Tree practices the sacred pipe and is also a member of the Native American Church. This deep spirituality comes out in the books through the actions of Night Sun and other characters. In fact, the idea for the series came to Lone Tree from one of his early morning rituals of offering tobacco and prayer to the Great Spirit. The books detail sacred rituals such as the sweat lodge purification, the medicine pipe ceremony, and smudging ceremonies using eagle feathers, sage, sweet grass and cedar smoke.

Various facets of the books were inspired by stories told to Lone Tree by his father and mother, stories that had been passed down through the generations.

The Night Sun series melds adventure, history, traditions, spirituality and a respect for the sacredness of all life and caring for Grandmother Earth.

Lone Tree said that his great-great grandfather John Hill lived during the mid-1800s and had the gift of being able to foresee things, among them wagons without horses and canoes flying through the air. John Hill also had the vision that the white man would destroy the earth in the seventh generation. Noting today’s global environmental state, Lone Tree said that his grandchildren would represent the seventh generation.

"What can we do with this doomsday prophecy?" he asked. "We have the real need to take some kind of a proactive approach. It will take all people on a global basis to work together. Otherwise, we’re doomed."

Lone Tree said that, hopefully, his Night Sun series will not only educate and dispel misconceptions, but will also motivate social action towards environmental issues.

He also said that he would like to see the books in schools at the high school and college level. At the college level, the books could be used in courses regarding comparative religions.

Word is getting around and sales of the first two books are starting to take off. "Things are starting to fall into place," said Lone Tree, who noted that a possible movie or mini-series is also being discussed. "It would be kind of a combination of Lonesome Dove and Dances With Wolves," he said.

Eastman woman earns award from Adult Literacy Council

What do you do when you have no high school degree, and you’ve just been laid off from the job at which you’ve been working for 28 years? It would be pretty easy to feel defeated, but Jean Mezera of Eastman had another idea.

After dropping out of high school in 11th grade, raising a family and working at Advanced Transformer for the past 28 years, she became a dislocated worker this June when her job was sent offshore to a foreign country.

Forty five years after quitting high school, Mezera went back to school to obtain her General Education Diploma (GED), studying two days a week at Southwest Technical College’s (SWTC) adult education program in the county administration building in Prairie du Chien. She has received her GED and will be a speaker at SWTC’s graduation ceremony in June.

"When Jean came to Southwest Tech’s Adult Basic Education Program last summer, she was very apprehensive about returning to school after such an extended absence and wasn’t sure that she’d ever be able to pass the GED tests, said instructor Chris Foley, "But we, the instructor and tutors, quickly realized how bright she is and how determined she was to get her GED."

In thinking back to why she quit school the first time, she laughed and replied, "I guess I thought I knew more than my parents did. I was tired of being told what to do."

Reading, she says, was a particular weakness, but after she completed the GED program her reading level rose from sixth grade to tenth grade and her math from seventh grade to 10.9. Her overall average rose from 7.8 to 11.2.

To add to her achievements, Mezera recently learned that she had received honorable mention as Outstanding Adult Literacy Learner of the Year by Wisconsin Literacy. One winner and one honorable mention were selected statewide. She was nominated by Crawford County Literacy Council and will be recognized by First Lady Jessica Doyle at Wisconsin Literacy’s Sixth annual Celebration of Literacy May 8.

In addition to this honor, Mezera will have an essay, "Magic Fabric," published in The Key’s Readers as Writers contest. The Key is published by the Milwaukee Area Technical College.

She plans to start summer school June 9 and will attend SWTC for office aid training. Her goal is to earn her degree in 2010.

Says Foley, "Jean has become an inspiration to her peers inside and outside because she’s proven that someone who’s been out of school for a long time can be very successful. We’ll miss her after she leaves us this summer to enter SWTC, but the example she’s set for all of us will inspire us for a very long time."

Mezera herself sums it up this way: "I want to tell these other people that are getting dislocated that they should do this. Even if you have your GED or high school diploma, you should go back for a basic education review and bring your scores up before you return to college so you’ll be able to function."

"You’re the only one who can open that door," she said. "Don’t say, ‘I can’t do it.’"