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President Bush may make campaign stop in PdC May 7
President George W. Bush may be making a stop in Prairie du Chien the first week
of May, but his campaign headquarter will not yet confirm, nor deny, his
schedule. The Prairie du Chien Police Department has been contacted concerning
security for a potential presidential visit, but nothing is verified. A media
relations coordinator with the Bush-Cheney campaign did confirm that the
president would be in Wisconsin and Iowa next week, to talk with the people
about "winning the war on terrorism" and our "growing economy." If the president
does come, it is believed that he will stop here on May 7, in between visits to
La Crosse and Dubuque. Other presidential candidates who have visited the
Prairie du Chien area over the years included Al Gore (who came via riverboat),
Bill Clinton, John F. Kennedy and Franklin D. Roosevelt (who visited on a "whistle-stop"
train visit). Jimmy Carter visited our community when he was in office in August
of 1979.
Time capsule to be planted with Lucky this Sunday
On Sunday, May 2, the Droppin' of the Carp Committee will again plant a tree
in memory of Lucky 2003. Each year on Japan's Carp Kite Day Prairie du Chien's
New Years Eve Carp "Lucky'' is put to rest ‹ better known as Plantin' of
Lucky. Lucky is planted near the New Year's Eve "Drop'' with a tree. The tree is
a Golden Maple. There will be a marker by the tree which will read "This tree is
planted in loving memory of Lucky 2003." This year a time capsule will also be
planted with Lucky 2003. It is not known how long the capsule will stay in the
ground ‹ it depends on the life of the tree. It could be one year or a hundred
years. If you ever were interested in putting something in a time capsule this
is your chance. Think of all the things you want someone in the future to know
about you, something to save and be read, or a trinket you want to pass along.
You might want to write about your life, write what you think the future will be
like, or what you hope to be and how you are going to become that person. Or
write your favorite jokes. The ideas are unlimited. The time capsule is a
plastic tube that will be planted with Lucky 2003. The capsule will be down
about three feet deep. Lucky 2003 will lie on top of the capsule and then the
tree on top of Lucky. The Droppin' of the Carp Committee will be putting
newspaper articles concerning Droppin' of The Carp 2003 in the capsule. Only
time knows when the capsule will be opened. The time capsule and its contents
will become property of the Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce. The
official legal size envelopes are selling for $10 each. You can fill the
envelope with whatever you want. It must be sealed tightly with the glue on the
envelope. You can buy your official envelope at Hamann's Variety Store and
return it to the store or bring your entry to 400 West Blackhawk on Sunday May
2, by 1 p.m. Only official envelopes will be accepted.
PdC School Board reorganized: Plans for bicycle path presented
During the special reorganizational School Board meeting Monday night, newly
elected board member Ron Goodman was sworn in and took his place on the board.
Goodman replaces longtime board member Merle Frommelt, who had decided not to
run for reelection. The board also elected officers for the new term. Mary
Jorgensen will remain as board president. Brian Edwards will serve as vice
president. Russ Gillitzer is the treasurer and Joe Atkins is the clerk.
Appointed to the finance-negotiations committee were Joe Atkins, Mark Forsythe
and Russ Gillitzer. The building and grounds committee will consist of Mary
Jorgensen, Barb Matejka and Ron Goodman. The policy-personnel committee will
include Brian Edwards, Joe Atkins and Mary Jorgensen. Barb Matejka was appointed
as the delegate for the CESA 3 Convention in August of 2004 and for the
Wisconsin Association of School Boards Convention in January of 2005. Outgoing
School Board member Merle Frommelt, after more than a half century of service to
the youngsters of Prairie du Chien, received a plaque of recognition and
appreciation. On hand for the plaque presentation were High School Principal
Andy Banasik, B.A. Kennedy Principal Kathryn Roe, Bluff View Principal Joan Wick
and District Administrator Jim O'Meara. In other business, the board heard a
presentation by Eric Frydenlund about a proposed bicycle-walking route around
the city of Prairie du Chien. Frydenlund told the board that he and Dale Klemme
of Community Development have been looking into the possibility of a
bicycle-pedestrian path that "would loop around the entire city." Frydenlund
said that he and Klemme have obtained traffic data and traffic flow patterns
from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and have also conducted surveys
among parents and bike-riding children in an effort to help determine the route
of the path. A portion of the proposed path would go behind Bluff View
Intermediate School, and Frydenlund said that an easement may be needed from the
Prairie du Chien School District for that part of the path. Board President Mary
Jorgensen said that a 33-foot-wide easement may already exist. Several other
board members joined in the discussion and it was determined that the district
will look into the matter to find out for sure what the easement situation is
behind Bluff View. Frydenlund said he will also do further research on the
easement situation and that he will come before the board again at the regular
meeting in May, at which time the board may act on the proposal. Jorgensen and
other board members expressed a favorable interest in having a
bicycle-pedestrian path. Frydenlund said that there has been
Removal of dynamite tentatively set for first week of June
Answers not yet available on compensation for temporary shut down of
businesses
Highway 18 will be closed, and 35 businesses and seven homes will be
evacuated for up to three days when the dynamite is removed from a site formerly
owned by a construction company on the south side of the city. More than 40
business and home owners gathered at City Hall Thursday evening for an
informational meeting concerning the dynamite located in a vacant shed next to
the former Wal Mart building on the south end of Prairie du Chien. The shed is
now owned by the Wisconsin DOT. Captain Arnold King, of the Wisconsin State
Patrol, emphasized the importance of no one messing with the 600 to 700 pounds
of dynamite. He informed the audience that the dynamite is more than 20 years
old and has not been maintained properly. Due to the dynamite not being rotated,
it has crystallized, creating a dangerous situation. "The upside," said King, "is
that the dynamite is ammonia/nitro based which is not quite as volatile as
nitroglycerine based." King said the dynamite must be desensitized, and in order
to do so, the temperature must remain at least 56 degrees for a period of seven
days straight. King said contents of the dynamite are spilling out, making it
dangerous. "Experts will remove it," he said. "We will use the safest option
available." King said that everyone within a 1,250 foot radius must evacuate at
the time the dynamite is being removed. Highway 18 will be part of the
evacuation area. Sgt. Matthew Strub, of the Wisconsin State Patrol, will be
Operations Chief for the evacuation. "We will make the removal of the dynamite
as safe as possible," Strub said. The dates of June 8, 9 and 10 have been set
for evacuation, but Strub said, "If we have an unseasonably cold May we may have
to reschedule." If so, Strub said the date will be the first week in July. This
obviously makes planning difficult for the many businesses involved, which
include retail stores, restaurants, motels and a grocery store. Seven homes and
35 businesses will be evacuated during the process, and a portion of Highway 18
will be shut down. Detours will be set up on Wisconsin State Highway 27, County
Road N and Highway 60. "We are working on developing a temporary road through
private property, making it easier for people to get to the south end of town,"
Strub said. "My charge is to make sure your property is secure." Strub told the
audience that officers will assure everything is in place. Strub said, "There
will be a security sweep in the area. We will have the area secured." Strub said
safeing fluid will be poured on the dynamite. After the fluid soaks in, it will
be removed stick by stick and placed into a "bomb trailer" in increments of 5
and 10 lbs. Strub said everything in the area will be shut down, but any
emergency vehicles will be allowed to go through. The airport will remain open,
but there will be air restriction. "We will be prepared if an accident occurs,"
he said. Strub said it will not be an easy process. Forty state personnel will
work around the clock in 12-hour shifts. Sheriff Robert Ostrander will be in
charge of local law enforcement. Anne Grayson, Communications Manager of the
Wisconsin DOT, told the audience that the La Crosse office will be working
closely with everyone, and a public meeting will be scheduled for every
Thursday. In addition, there will be individual meetings. "We will keep everyone
informed," said Grayson. Captain King told the audience that "as the dynamite
sits, it is safe." He said the berm around the shed is to prevent shrapnel from
the metal on the outside of the shed. "That would be a worst-case scenario," he
said. There has been a concrete barrier built to prevent someone from shooting
at the shed. "We will keep people from messing with it," King said. Members of
the audience asked about compensation for businesses that will be shut down. No
one present could answer that question at this time. King said they hoped to
have an answer before evacuation. "Attorneys are working on it," he said. When
asked if owners may have to pay for the removal and evacuation, King said "it is
possible" and suggested that they check with their insurance company. "Your
safety and the safety of your property is the main concern," King said. "We will
try to provide more answers for the next meeting." Ian Winger, Project
Development Supervisor of the Wisconsin DOT, District 5, reiterated information
that most folks in attendance were already aware of. Winger said the dynamite
was found late afternoon on Oct. 22 of last year, when members of his staff
torched the lock off the shed. Winger said, "It is a good thing someone found
it, as we have resources to handle this situation." Winger admitted there was
miscommunication after the dynamite was found. Local law enforcement was not
notified until early this year. Winger assured the audience that "everyone is
listening very hard to what people are saying." "It should not have happened,
but it did," King said. The next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., Thursday,
April 29, at City Hall.
Prairie du Chien guidance counselor alleges hiring discrimination
A Prairie du Chien guidance counselor is putting up a legal fight in an
attempt to keep his job. "I thought it was right to stick up for it," said
Robert Schallock, whose position as high school and Bluff View guidance
counselor has not been renewed for the 2004-2005 school year. Several witnesses
from the Prairie du Chien School District testified at a hearing at the Prairie
du Chien City Hall Thursday that lasted from 9 a.m. to about 3 p.m. The hearing
was presided over by Administrative Law Judge John Brown of the Equal Rights
Division of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. Six spectators
sat in to view the hearing, which was held in a conference room. According to
testimony during the hearing, known as "Robert D. Schallock versus the Prairie
du Chien School District," on March 11, 2001, the Prairie du Chien School Board
approved the transfer of Schallock into a position that would be 50 percent
guidance counselor and 50 percent special education teacher. Schallock was to
begin his new duties beginning in the 2002-2003 school year. Prior to the board's
approval of Schallock's new position, the school district had been attempting to
hire a fulltime special education teacher because the high school special
education staff had dropped from four to three due to a transfer of one staff
member to Bluff View. The district met with little success in finding a
replacement and subsequently solved the problem temporarily through the use of
long-term substitute teachers. According to testimony by Schallock and former
high school principal Duane Bark, Schallock and Bark discussed having Schallock
work as a 50 percent guidance counselor and 50 percent special ed. teacher.
During Thursday's hearing, Bark said that he endorsed the idea at the March 11,
2001, school board meeting because the district had been unable to hire a
fulltime special education teacher after numerous job postings and because the
district was looking to save money due to budgetary problems. Schallock
testified that following the March 11, 2001, board meeting, he was told by
Superintendent Jim O'Meara, "This is as official as it gets." Schallock said
that O'Meara told him that he would be receiving a contract for the 50-50
position that had already been approved by the board. Schallock said that in
April of 2001, he then heard rumors from a co-worker that he would not be
getting the 50-50 position that he had been promised and that had been approved
by the school board. Schallock said that he then talked to School Board
President Mary Jorgensen about the matter and received virtually no answer. He
then talked to Assistant Principal Andy Banasik and finally to Principal Bark.
Bark testified at the hearing that he told Schallock that he would not be
getting the 50-50 position because Bark had miscalculated the case load of the
position. Bark also testified that because of a grievance brought by special
education teacher Kayla Mezera against the district concerning case load, that
the district was now going to recommend to the board that Schallock's position
be rescinded. Schallock's 50-50 position was rescinded by the school board at
the May 23, 2001, meeting. According to testimony, the position of special
education teacher was then reposted. Schallock said that he didn't apply for the
position because, "I didn't receive credible information from the district that
they had reason to post a fulltime position." In April of 2002, the school
district then hired Jill Zydowsky to fill the special education position. During
testimony at Thursday's hearing, it was explained that the district obtained an
emergency license for Jill Zydowsky because she didn't have the proper licensure
and certification but was working towards them and was a "few classes short."
Schallock's attorney James Biernbaum then said that as of March 11, 2004,
Zydowsky still hadn't obtained the proper licensure, and is, in his opinion, not
qualified for the position. Biernbaum also brought up the fact that the district
has a "no-nepotism rule." Biernbaum said that the rule was waived by
Superintendent O'Meara so that Zydowsky could be hired. Jill Zydowsky's husband
Joe Zydowsky had previously been hired into the administrative position of
assistant principal at the high school. Biernbaum then said that Schallock has
all of the proper licenses and certification and also has previous experience
teaching special education. Sometime after his 50-50 position had been rescinded
and Jill Zydowsky had been hired, Schallock filed a lawsuit with the state's
Equal Rights Agency. On March 14, 2003, an investigator concluded that there was
probable cause to determine that the district had violated the fairness in
employment law and had failed to hire Schallock on the basis of his gender. The
investigator's finding of probable cause led to Thursday's hearing. During the
hearing, the attorney for the district, Michael Cieslewicz, pointed out that the
district had interviewed men for the position of special education teacher. A
man was hired but then turned down the position, he said. A man was also hired
as a long-term substitute. Principal Andy Banasik said that the hiring of Jill
Zydowsky had nothing to do with the fact that she is a woman. Schallock's
attorney, James Biernbaum, said that all four high school special education
teachers had been female and continue to be female with the hiring of Jill
Zydowsky. Now that the hearing is over, Judge John Brown said that the attorneys
for each side will have 30 days to submit preliminary briefs. Addition briefs
will also be submitted by the attorneys, Brown said. Brown will study the briefs
and all of the testimony at the hearing, which was tape-recorded in its
entirety. He will then render a decision. Brown estimated that his decision will
be reached in late summer. Brown said that his decision could be appealed by
either side to the Labor and Industry Review Commission in Madison. Should the
district win, the matter would be over. Should Schallock win, he would receive a
"make-whole remedy" as defined by state statute. A "make-whole remedy" can
involve a monetary compensation and/or getting his job back. "I'd consider it. I
would really have to think hard about it," said Schallock in explaining how he
would react if he were offered his job back. On Feb. 11, 2004, preliminary
notice of non-renewal was given to Schallock for his guidance counselor
position. On Feb. 26, the school board voted not to renew Schallock's position
due to budgetary concerns only. "I feel I have a damaged reputation in the
community. I didn't lose my position because of incompetence," Schallock said
while testifying at Thursday's hearing. |
