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August 19, 2009 |
Highway Commissioner Dennis Pelock gave the Craw-ford County Board some good news at its regular meeting Tuesday morning. Pelock told the board that the county will receive $4.5 million in federal stimulus money to fund three important highway projects.
The Rush Creek Bridge and approaches will be replaced in the town of Freeman for $375,000. The Buck Creek Road Bridge and approaches will be replaced for $258,000 and a 10,454-foot section of County B from Highway 35 to Rutter Hill Road will be reconstructed for $3,874,000.
Pelock said that these projects will be totally funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). No county money will be spent on these projects.
"It’s a big boost for the county," said Pelock, who noted that the County B project will alleviate a big safety issue. Pelock said that the county would not be able to afford these projects without the ARRA funding.
Following a presentation by Tom Martin and Crawford County Economic Development Agent Laura Brown, the County Board in a unanimous voice vote approved of vigorously pursuing the wiring of Crawford County for broadband internet.
Broadband internet would vastly increase the volume and speed of internet service within the county.
"We would get 10 billion bites per second," said Martin, who noted that the hugely increased speed and volume of broadband internet would allow for the relocation of home-based and other businesses into Crawford County. "The opportunities for economic development are incredible."
Martin and Brown said that the "Go Gig Initiative" is a state initiative that would help home-based businesses, schools and hospitals to name a few.
"The possibilities are endless," said Martin. "This is an opportunity we can’t pass up."
Martin said that there would be no cost to the county for the fiber-optic wiring along Highway 27 that would allow for broadband internet and that the funding would be ARRA money. Martin said that it is also possible that the county roads that connect with Highway 27 could also be wired.
Following the county board meeting, board member Jim O’Meara, who is the chairman of the recently formed Crawford County Community Fund, gave a brief presentation about the fund and also presented grants to various applicants.
An anonymous donor gave $25,000 in order to help start the Crawford County Community Fund if a $25,000 match could be raised by Dec. 1. O’Meara said that about $27,000 has been raised and that the Crawford County Community Fund is up and running.
"This has the potential to grow and grow and grow, and we hope that there will be other anonymous donors," said O’Meara. "We are looking for ways to help the economic development of Crawford County."
O’Meara said that eight different people have applied for grants so far. On Tuesday morning, O’Meara presented a grant for $2,000 to the Kickapoo River Committee for log jam removal. One large log jam was been removed and several others have been planned so that the Kickapoo River in Crawford County will be opened up recreational opportunities that will draw more people to this area. Also, it would allow for businesses such as canoe rental businesses and others to become more popular on the Crawford County stretch of the Kickapoo River.
The Opportunity Center was presented with a $2,000 grant from O’Meara for a feasibility study in order to create an incubator kitchen. The kitchen could help entrepreneurs to start up their businesses and could also help provide employment opportunities for the disabled.
O’Meara then presented $1,000 each to three Crawford County farmer’s markets, one in Prairie du Chien, one in Gays Mills, and one in Ferryville. He said that a farmer’s market coupon system has also been started by which people using the CouleeCap Food Pantry could get coupons which could be exchanged for food at the farmer’s markets. CouleeCap, the Crawford County Community Fund and the Southern Wisconsin Community Fund each donated $1,000 for the project.
Tourism Center reports increased number of visitors
Prairie du Chien Common Council last night received an update on the Tourist Information Center, referred a request to keep a miniature horse to the Protection and Health Committee and took care of a number of public works items.
Robert Moses, executive director of the Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce, presented an update on the Tourist Center, which has been operated by the Chamber since the spring of 2008.
The center has a core staff and many volunteers. Said Moses, "We truly could not do this without our volunteers." Moses said volunteers come from as far as Soldiers Grove and Ferryville.
The report showed an increase in visitors to the center in 2009. May visits were up to 1,855 compared to 1,348 from that time a year ago. June showed a 67 percent increase, with 3,346 visitors in 2009 as opposed to 2,001 in 2008. In July, 4,290 people visited the center, an increase from 3,268 a year ago. Moses thanked the city for their support.
He also reported that the chamber, which took over when the state tourism office cut off funding for the center, was asked to do a presentation on the successful transition at the Governor’s conference last year. Since then, responsibility for tourism centers in other parts of the state has been transferred to local Chambers of Commerce.
Although in the past there have been other requests to keep chickens and even a pot-bellied pig, last night’s request to keep a miniature horse in a city lot was probably a first.
Judy Warpinski of 402 E. Cass Street, was asking to keep a miniature horse in a fenced-in area in her yard. In her letter of request to the council, Warpinski stated: "Miniature ponies are considered pets and are also used as guide animals for the blind. A miniature pony is not much larger than some dogs and does not bark." If approved, the request would require an ordinance change.
Councilman Frank Pintz said he was concerned that honoring Warpinski’s request could open the door to other types of agricultural animals. Council referred the request to the Protection and Health Committee.
In other business, council:
•Approved a plan for asphalt paving of alleys, including previous alley projects. In an effort to save money, council had previously decided that unless they were areas of high traffic, alleys would be resurfaced in gravel following street or sewer construction. However, in responding to resident complaints, council decided to develop a resurfacing plan that would tie in with the city’s five year plan.
•Approved further exploration of options for replacing the Captain’s Wheel outside the Tourist Information Center. The wheel, a special pavement design in the walkway, has eroded and now presents a pedestrian hazard. The design could be replaced with concrete, or as a "green option," a flower bed.
•Approved a preliminary resolution and set a Sept. 1 date for a public hearing on implementation of 2009 sidewalk program special assessments. Although the replacement was authorized last year, the contractor was unable to complete the work at that time. The assessment relates to sidewalks on Beaumont Road, Main Street and Prairie Street.
•Approved adoption of an identity theft program for the Water Department. The program is intended to protect consumer information and prevent establishment of false account.
•Approved funding for a case study of Wells 1 and 2. Contamination from a former drycleaning business was found in the area of both wells. Council authorized a case study to determine the best course of action regarding the wells.
•Approved a Safe Step Program for the city’s sidewalks. The program could save costs by grinding off sidewalks which have uneven slabs rather than replacing them. This would save money for the city and for homeowners.
August 17, 2009 |
Prairie du Chien High School will be offering an exciting new biomedical sciences program as part of Project Lead the Way. This new program will serve all students interested in pursuing a career in biological sciences, emergency services, healthcare or medicine.
The approach will address the learning styles and needs of the majority of students and the courses will be hands-on and allow students to apply the concepts they learn in other mathematics and science courses. The biomedical sciences program uses a combination of activity-based, project-based and problem-based learning styles to engage students.
The program teaches students to solve problems, participate as part of a team, lead teams, conduct research, understand real-world problems, analyze data, and learn outside of the classroom.
The biomedical sciences program involves four sequential courses. They are principles of the biomedical sciences, human body systems, medical interventions, and biomedical innovation.
In the principles of biomedical sciences course, student work involves the study of human medicine, research processes and an introduction to bioinformatics. Students investigate the human body systems and various health conditions including heart disease, diabetes, sickle-cell disease, hypercholesterolemia and infectious diseases.
In the human body systems course, students study basic human physiology, especially in relationship to human health. A central theme is how the body systems work together to maintain internal balance and good health. Students use data acquisition software to monitor body functions and use the Anatomy with Clay Manikens to study body structure.
In the medical interventions course, student projects will investigate various medical interventions that extend and improve the quality of life including diagnostics, surgery, bio-nanotechnology, pharmacology, prosthetics, rehabilitation and life style choices.
In the biomedical innovation course, students will design and conduct experiments related to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease or illness. They will apply their knowledge and skills to answer questions or to solve problems related to the biomedical sciences.
The 2009 cost estimates for the biomedical sciences courses are $21,797 for principles of biomedical sciences, $12,828 for human body systems, and $10,134 for medical interventions. The estimated cost for the biomedical innovation course is yet to be determined.
The biomedical sciences program is a gateway to various biomedical careers. Some examples include physician, nurse, dentist, veterinarian, pharmacist, paramedic, dietician, surgeon, research scientist, health information manager, medical technologist, radiologist, medical technical writer, physicians’ assistant, and biomedical engineer.
Editor’s note: Gretchen Kilbey of Prairie du Chien likes to keep a low profile, but at the urging of Kathy Igou, who credits Kilbey with inspiring her and many others to train for fitness, Kilbey agreed to an interview.
At the age of 47, Gretchen Kilbey could be looking forward to taking a breather. Her two oldest children, Tyler and Kelley, have finished high school, her son Spencer is a senior this year, and Ethan, her youngest, is 11. In a few years she will be an empty-nester.
Kilbey, however, has another goal in mind—competing in an Ironman sometime in the next few years. This goal goes back a long way. In sixth or seventh grade, she watched an Ironman competition and announced she’d participate one day herself. "I’ve never stopped wanting to do it," she said.
Kilbey is a triathlete; she swims, bikes and runs. Although she says she has always been athletic, it is only in the last four or five years, as her children have grown more independent, that she has had the time to train and compete in marathons and triathlons. In July, she participated in her first Half Ironman in Racine, placing 16 out of 48 in her age division. It took her five hours and 42 minutes to complete the race. The Half Ironman required that she swim 1.2 miles in Lake Michigan, bike 56 miles and run a half marathon (13.1 miles). There were 1,200 participants.
Completing that race, said Kilbey, was a milestone in her life. For one thing, she said, it told her that if she trained well enough to finish the half distance she knew she could train well enough to complete the full Ironman distance, a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and a marathon (26.2 mile) run.
Just as important as that, however, was the support of her family. With the death of the children’s father, Kilbey has been a hard-working single mom for the last eight years as a speech and language pathologist.
At the July competition, it was her children’s turn to support her. Her son Tyler, an officer with the Special Forces, had returned to the states (N.C.) from Afghanistan on Tuesday and arranged a flight home on Friday to surprise her with his presence. Daughter Kelley had to work until 10 p.m. on Saturday, but was at the race grounds—a four-hour drive—by 7 a.m. Sunday with her brothers Spencer and Ethan. All were wearing T-shirts, saying "Team Gretch-Half Ironman" special-ordered from Sports World. The shirts were also a surprise. In addition, her father, sister and other friends and relatives had all assembled to cheer her on. "That’s part of what kept me going," she said. "The race is as mental as it is physical."
Cheering on, actually, is what Kilbey prefers to talk about, rather than her own accomplishments. She knows, she says, what a wonderful boost it is to have her children and other people supporting her, and willingly offers support and advice to others.
Kathy Igou, who, with her two daughters, recently took part in her first triathlon, credits Kilbey with giving her the help and support she needed. Igou said Kilbey has given encouragement to many others as well.
Kilbey is happy that her example serves as an inspiration to others, but wants to be sure each individual sets a goal that is right for him or her. "If another person sets as a goal to walk a mile three times a week, I see that as being just as committed as I am."
Kilbey said her first piece of advice would be "not to bite off more than you can chew." It’s important to set realistic goals and move slowly toward that goal. "It’s okay to start walking first, then move from walking to running, and so forth."
Another important piece is consistency. "Be committed," she said. "whether you walk five miles a week or run 30, the important element is to be there." She wants to dispel any notion that trained athletes are always eager to work out. There are days, she says, when she has to force herself to go out and train, but she does so because she has a goal and a commitment.
For someone who might be considering entering a competition for the first time, she advises that person to follow through. "The goal," she said, "is to finish the race and not worry about how you place. Remember how many people aren’t there at all. Just being there is an accomplishment in itself."
Training smart is also important. People need to eat properly and take precautions to avoid injury. One of the reasons Kilbey prefers triathlons is because they allow her to cross-train and thus decrease the possibility of injury. There’s a pause between each type of exercise, giving the different muscle groups time to recover.
Kilbey’s number one reason for exercising is for health reasons. "I know that I’m as healthy as I can be," she said, "and it simply feels good."
A second reason is that she wants to demonstrate commitment to a healthy lifestyle and show that example to her children. She is pleased with each one of them. While in Afghanistan, Tyler called to tell her he was on the pit crew for a commanding officer who ran 50 miles to celebrate his 40th birthday. In support, Tyler ran over 25 miles. Son Spencer has run a half marathon with her. Kelley, Kilbey says, is pushing herself to get her nursing degree, moving forward despite challenges, and 11 year old Ethan is consistently a positive supporter in any way he can be.
A sense of accomplishment, to set a goal and attain it, is also a motive for Kilbey, as is competition. "I’ve been called a ‘hardware chaser,’" she laughs, "because I like to bring medals home." In about 80 percent of her races, she said, she places in the top five of her age group. The medals are a source of self-inspiration as she trains for her next challenge. "It isn’t so much that I’ve won as much as it is a representation of what I can accomplish if I work hard."
As for her own training schedule, she exercises six out of seven days a week. Her pattern varies depending on the type of race, but when training for the Half Ironman, she was swimming at least three miles a week, running 25 miles and biking 25 to 56 miles a week. She does her swim training at the Hoffman Hall pool in winter and the outdoor pool in summer. During the one-month lag when neither pool was open, she drove to La Crosse, the next available Olympic-size pool.
She hasn’t set an exact date for completing the Ironman. At first her goal was 2010, but she would like to see Spencer through his senior year. At the Half Ironman distance, Kilbey states, "I could juggle my training enough to be a mom far more than a trainee. Training will have to be quite strict with little variation available for the full Ironman distance and I just don’t want to give up any of Spencer’s senior year." She’ll begin training for that once he enters college.
In all she does as a parent, a citizen and an athlete, Kilbey says she does her best to glorify God. Taking care of one’s body, she believes, is one of the things people should do. She derives strength from her beliefs when she hits tough spots in her training and races: "God was my pit crew during my 56 mile bike ride. I asked, ‘You keep the bike from breaking down and I’ll keep the bike moving down the road.’" In rough times she is sustained by a favorite Bible verse, Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Kilbey said if people have questions about training or racing, she will be happy to answer them and offer encouragement. She adds, "I’m just an everyday person working toward a dream. If I can do it, so can you!" She also likes to quote from a T-shirt she saw at a race: "Dream it, believe it, train it, achieve it."
