There was a time when motors for bicycles were considered not much more than a novelty. With high gas prices, however, the novelty may be wearing off and some are beginning to think of bicycle engines in practical terms.

In fact, bicycle engines are beginning to pop up here and there in Prairie du Chien.

One place to get the engines is through Prairie du Chien entrepreneur Fred Ketterer, who is selling them from his shop Fred Ketterer Signs at 1511 S. Marquette Road. Fred is selling the engines already attached to LaJolla Street Cruiser aluminum bicycles or by themselves.

"They’re pretty easy to install," said Fred. "With only five bolts you can install them on any 26-inch bike with wide tires."

The 2-horsepower, Island Hopper Mariner engines are made in the United States by BridgeStone. With an average of 120 miles per gallon and a top speed of 30 miles per hour, they may be just the ticket for efficiently zipping around town for one’s daily business.

The engines are 49 cc’s, and therefore no motorcycle license is needed. Operators do need a driver’s license, however. The 2-cycle engines burn a mixture of gas and oil. The gas tank holds one quart.

The engine is started by pulling a cord. Then the operator presses down so that the roller makes good contact with the rear tire. The throttle controls the speed and is located on the right hand grip. The operator simply rests his feet on the peddles and away he goes. A kill button is also located on the right hand grip. The operator uses the peddles for braking. The operator can choose to either peddle the bicycle or use the engine.

Fred has tested the engine and said that an engine-powered bike will go up a steep hill at a steady 15 miles per hour.

Fred has a bicycle for his personal use that has a 35-year-old Pony Express one-quarter-horsepower engine with front wheel drive.

"As the gas prices got high, I began looking for an alternative," said Fred.

Fred said that the engines might also work well with adult tricycles, although he hasn’t tried that yet. People with a bicycle or a tricycle with a large basket could zip on down to the local grocery store and haul back their goods while burning very little gas, thus saving a good amount of money over the spring, summer and early fall.

Bicycle engines could be just the right thing for those born-to-be-mild.

In a swift-paced special meeting that lasted just over 20 minutes, Prairie du Chien City Council last night acted on four agenda items.

They authorized staff to prepare for the selection of a firm to acquire land for the Marquette Road DOT project, approved the convention center complex design subject to Main Street Wisconsin review, accepted the resignation of Sixth District council member Mike Brouse, and authorized the purchase of two used police cars.

Council authorized staff to take the necessary steps asking for bids from consulting/engineering firms to acquire parcels of land which will be required for improvements on Marquette Road. The land acquisition, said city Administrator Jim Gitz, is not just about the roundabouts, but the entire construction project.

The project will cover three phases: Washington to Webster, LaPointe to Webster and Washington to Cliffwood. The first phase, Washington to Webster is schedule to go to bed in late 2011.

Council gave design approval to the convention center development contingent upon Wisconsin Main Street approval and with the stipulation that the color scheme, landscape plan, and parking and lighting have the approval of the Design and Preservation Committee.

In a memorandum issued for the meeting, Gitz said a grant received from the Department of Commerce indicated that the convention center would be subject to review by Wisconsin Main Street, and approving the plan with out the review could jeopardize that grant.

Council also extended the time periods on the development for 60 days. This was due to several factors: testing identified environmental issues on the site which need action; the city has received another $200,000 environmental cleanup grant which can be used for site cleanup, but the grant is not yet fully accessible; the agreement on the convention center design has taken longer than expected.

The resignation of Sixth District council member Mike Brouse, effected August 11, was accepted. Brouse indicated he is seeking a position with the Park and Recreation Department, and if hired this would be a conflict of interest.

Council approved a bid from Great Country Motors for the purchase of two used police squad cars at a total of $11,995. Two other bids were received, but one was a price list and not a specific bid, and the other offered only one car. Gitz said the approval comes at a good time, since in a little over a month, three cars have been taken out of service due to accidents or breakdown.

Prairie du Chien residents at their 12th Annual American Cancer Society Relay For Life walked or ran to raise funds for cancer research and Crawford County patient services.

"Prairie du Chien residents really showed their spirit this weekend," said Mandy Beisner, American Cancer Society staff partner for Crawford County. "Many cancer survivors [anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer] showed up to participate as well. It was very touching and emotional for all of us."

Relay For Life, the Society’s signature event, is a life-changing experience that helps us celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost and to fight back against a disease that takes too much. This unforgettable event raises awareness and funds to save lives, help those touched by cancer, and empower people to fight back against this disease.

In the past 23 years, funds raised from Relay For Life has helped the American Cancer Society save lives through expanding research, provided greater access to cancer information, passed legislation to protect public health and provided access to health care, and offered programs and services to cancer patients and their families.

This year’s Relay For Life included a new Fight Back Ceremony that was sponsored by Dillman Equipment, Inc. Participants were able to share with everyone their reason to Fight Back and make Pledges that they will do so in the coming year. Pledges ranged from getting a family member to quit smoking, to eating healthier, to sharing with others the importance of funding for research.

Kim Stoeffler, who was part of the Relay For Rita team, said she was inspired by Fight Back Ceremony Emcee Greg Bender and his reasons to Fight Back. "His heartfelt words truly showed people how important it is to Fight Back in all ways possible so that we are able to help every cancer patient we can." Kim said.

July 31 has come and gone and as of now Hubbard’s Fishing Float is continuing with business. July 31 was the deadline set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by which the longtime, popular fishing float had to remove itself from Fish and Wildlife land.

"I haven’t seen anybody from Fish and Wildlife," said Bill Hubbard Jr. on Aug. 8. Hubbard is the owner of Hubbard’s Fishing Float and Cafe. "They haven’t shown up yet."

The Fish and Wildlife Service wants Hubbard’s Fishing Float removed from their land and out of their jurisdiction because they contend that Hubbard has not met all of the requirements needed to operate his business on their property.

As of July 31, Hubbard has been operating without a FWS permit. He said that if he is issued a violation notice, Hubbard’s Fishing Float and Cafe, LLC will take the issue to court.

A small part of Hubbard’s cafe is up on shore and cables are attached to trees to help hold the float in place. Hubbard contends that he is not on FWS land because there is a meandering line at 11.5 feet that separates land from water. His cafe is well below the 11.5-foot mark.

Tim Yager, the manager of the McGregor District of the FWS, disagrees.

"Fish and Wildlife Service land extends far out into the water," said Yager. "And because of this, it is difficult to survey." The FWS acquired the land in 1929 before any locks and dams were built.

Yager said that the state of Iowa is in agreement with the FWS regarding the decision to remove Hubbard’s Fishing Float off of the land. Yager said that the FWS will be issuing a violation notice and that Hubbard will have to remove his cafe. Yager said that Hubbard could anchor the fishing float out in the water, and therefore, would be out of FWS jurisdiction.

"He can have his day in court," said Yager. Yager said that he has tried to contact Hubbard but that Hubbard hasn’t returned his call.

Hubbard said that he has called Yager and that he has gotten no response.

"I don’t know what’s going on," said Hubbard in expressing frustration over the lack of communication.

Hubbard said that he has been in contact with U.S. Representative Ron Kind and that the last he has heard on the dispute is that there may be a land survey being conducted to determine what is and what is not FWS land. Hubbard also said that he has heard mention of a possible extension by which he can maintain operation.

Hubbard said that he will remain up and running until he is shown otherwise.

"This is utterly ridiculous," he said. "It’s been one thing after another, after another." Hubbard said that the float and cafe are his sole income and that moving the cafe would be a hardship. "It would be like moving a house and would cost a lot of money," he said.

The fishing float has been operating below the Lynxville Dam since 1939.

SWTC receives $13,221 grant to train 3M employees

Governor Jim Doyle presented a $13,221 Workforce Advancement Training Grant to Southwest Wisconsin Technical College to train 75 production, administrative, supervision and management employees at 3M in advanced computer software skills.

The presentation was made Thursday, Aug. 7 at the Prairie du Chien 3M plant. Doyle said the training grants were based on a common sense proposition: training people for the jobs that are out there. "I believe that the states that will be doing well five, 10 and 20 years down the road are those that have the most flexible workforce—trained and ready for the jobs of the future," Doyle said. "Through the strong partnership with Southwest Wisconsin Technical College and technical colleges across the state, we are continuing to arm Wisconsin workers with the skills they need to succeed in the competitive global economy."

Doyle said the grants are part of a broader agenda to coordinate the efforts of schools, employers and government to produce workers able to perform the jobs that are needed. He also praised the technical college system. "What I like most about the technical colleges," he said, "is that anyone can walk in through the doors, and if you’re willing to work hard, there’s a pathway for you."

Doyle said he wants to present $1.5 million to technical colleges to be given out as $1,000 grants for part time students. Many technical college students, he said, don’t qualify for assistance because they aren’t full time and must hold down a job to support themselves and often their families.

$850, 000 in grants is going to help businesses and technical colleges train people for emerging jobs.

"If we’re in competition for low wage jobs, we’ll never be able to compete with China and other countries," Doyle said. "But we can compete at high end jobs. In a tough economy, we have been able to hold our own."

Dr. Dan Clancy, president of Wisconsin Technical Colleges, thanked Governor Doyle and applauded the efforts of Southwest Technical College and of its president, Dr. Karen Knox.

The Prairie du Chien Fire Department and the Crawford County Fire Officers Association are engaged in a fund-raising campaign which would enable them to purchase a fire safety trailer which would be shared by the nine fire departments in the county. There is currently no safety trailer in Crawford County.

The 29-foot trailer is a mobile unit which could easily be transported to schools and other public events. The trailer is made to resemble a residence with a realistic bedroom, living room and kitchen area. It would serve as a hands-on learning tool to help children and families create safer homes and respond properly during times of emergency.

Prairie du Chien Fire Chief Harry Remz said, "We have found that the majority of our fire-related fatalities fit into two groups: young children who panicked or did not make their own escape, and elderly or middle-aged adults who perished in easily-preventable fires." Remz said his conversations with other area fire chiefs confirms that the most common causes of fires are highly preventable. Because of the data, children and elderly audiences would be prime targets for education. Children make up 24 percent of the population of Crawford County, and people over 65 account for 16.4 percent.

The trailer would be equipped with features and teaching tools to make fire education as realistic as possible, including a heated bedroom door with a temperature gauge, a smoke machine, a 911 phone system, a bedroom window with an emergency escape ladder, sample smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and a severe weather training package. The realistic environment of the trailer enables students to practice such life-saving skills as feeling doors for heat and crawling low beneath smoke.

Cost of the trailer is estimated at $60,000. They have received a commitment of $20,000 from the George Family Foundation contingent upon the organization raising an additional $40,000. Business and other organizations have been contacted about donations, but they would appreciate any other donations as well. For more information or to make a donation, contact Fire Department Auxiliary members Lacie Anthony, 326-2978 or Darci Collins, 326-1414, or Chief Remz at the fire department, 326-4365.