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Skateboarders seek park in Prairie du Chien

There is a movement afoot as of late for a skateboard park in the city of Prairie du Chien. The Crawford County Children's Advisory Board has been meeting in order to find a home for skateboard equipment and to ultimately have a nice park in the city.

To this end, board members and numerous youth in the city have been preparing for a presentation to be given before the City Council in the near future. The Children's Advisory Board and the youth hope to convince the City Council to approve of a fenced-in park where skateboarding can be enjoyed in a safe and responsible environment.

"Ultimately, we would like to see the city run it and help develop it," said Wisconsin State Trooper Lori Floyd, a representative of the Children's Advisory Board.

"The kids would also need to put a lot of work into it," said Floyd during a meeting in the upstairs meeting room at the Prairie du Chien Police Department Dec. 16. "Our goal is to have a nice, permanent skateboard park in the city."

Joining Floyd at the meeting were 22 skateboarding enthusiasts, including grade school, middle school and high school students. The students gave much input, along with two fathers and former Crawford County Conservation Warden Dennis Kirschbaum, Bill Clark and Brenda Yager.

The students said that there are many more who are really interested in a skateboard park. The students are circulating petitions at their schools in order to get signatures to show the City Council just how much interest there is in a skateboard park.

Students are also getting information from skateboard websites in order to help prepare their presentation, which will also include a video and letters telling the council why they would like a skateboard park in Prairie du Chien.

In addition, information about successful skateboard parks in other cities is also being gathered.

Floyd said that the Children's Advisory Board has seven pieces of skateboarding equipment already, with a total value of $8,262. The equipment has been used in the parking lot of the Four Square Cornerstone Church the last couple of years but can be no longer. The equipment has names such as the quarter pipe, half pipe, spine, wave, breaker and flybox launch.

It was noted at the Dec. 16 meeting that the equipment is heavy and needs to be mounted down to a concrete base. Floyd said that there are grants available for the construction of a skateboard park, which could have concrete forms, fencing and lighting. "What we have (in terms of equipment) is minuscule to what we could do," she said.

She said that two possible locations for a skateboard park could be near Fort Fun or at Hoffman Hall. It is anticipated that a skateboard park would have equipment and separate areas for beginners, intermediate and advanced skateboarders. The park would also have posted rules.

Floyd said that youth from nearby communities have told her that they would come to Prairie du Chien in order to use a skateboard park.

Marquette City Council steps forward into a busy New Year

Last week as people hurried to complete their Christmas preparations, the Marquette City Council made preparations for some important changes planned for the upcoming year.

The Tuesday evening meeting opened with a public hearing on the proposed Pleasant Ridge subdivision urban renewal plan. There were no comments. The council subsequently passed a resolution approving the urban renewal plan unanimously.

Several other activities undertaken by the council were also focused on Pleasant Ridge, in one form or another. The council spent quite a bit of time discussing a proposed new ordinance to create the position of city manager. While not obviously connected to the subdivision project, Mayor John Ries said that the main reason the city was creating the position was to oversee the Pleasant Ridge project. He emphasized to the council that keeping the process moving in a timely manner was essential. He wanted the council to approve the city manager ordinance that evening so that the council could meet with the consulting firm that is assisting the city in hiring a city manager at the January meeting. They hope to hire someone by April or May. Ries wishes to have someone in the city manager position sooner, if possible. "As soon as the weather breaks, the Pleasant Ridge project will be underway," he said.

The council discussed whether the city manager position should be combined with the city clerk position in the new ordinance and the council's role in the hire and fire of city employees. Incoming councilwoman Mary Jo Pirc, who will take her seat at the January meeting, spoke from the audience to say that she had been doing some research on the city manager position and that she had spoken to several city managers about the city clerk position. "They seemed to think that it was better to [combine] city clerk and city manager positions to keep an eye on finances," she said. Mayor Ries told the council that while combining the two positions was certainly advantageous, it was not necessary to change the ordinance to do so. "Hire a city manager and appoint him the clerk, it's simple," he said.

The council then went on to clarify their role in the hire and fire of employees in the language of the new ordinance. All agreed that the council should have final say in employee hire and fire. Incoming new council members Tracy Melver and Darren Matthew also attended the meeting.

The new ordinance creating the position of city manager was passed unanimously.

In other business, Richie Towle said that the July Fourth fireworks plans were on-hold for right now as the American Legion is still awaiting funding from the Isle of Capri, and they are seeking another barge as a launch site for the fireworks. According to Towle, Blair Dillman cannot provide a barge for next year. Another launch site off the river may have to be located.

Carolyn Corbin of Upper Explorerland Regional Development commended the city and their volunteer committee on their work on a new comprehensive plan. Corbin was hired by the city to help facilitate the development of the document. The plan, which a committee has been working through the year, had not been updated since 1971. The plan is important, Corbin said, because it "...guides the decisions of the city relative to development." She urged the council to pay particular attention to goals and policies and the future land use planning map in the final draft of the plan. Copies of the comprehensive plan are available for public review at City Hall and the Post Office. Public comments will be accepted until February 3.

'Droppin of the Carp' going strong for year five

The Carp Drop is celebrating the fifth year of the "Drop." To celebrate year number 5, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle has proclaimed December 31, 2005, as Carp Drop Day in the State of Wisconsin. Mayor Cheryl Mader will be presenting the proclamation at the Carp Drop for Gov. Doyle

The festivities begin at 3 p.m. on Saturday with the Carp Bowl football game on St. Feriole Island. The contest will be between Prairie du Chien Firemen and the New Albin, IA Fire Department. The winning team will be awarded $500 for their fire department.

At 9 p.m. bonfires will be lit. Hot chocolate and chili will be available. Tee-shirts will be on sale throughout the night.

Beginning at 10:30 p.m. the street will be blocked off for two children's pinata games. The pinata's are filled with candy, toys and money. There is an age division for the littlest children. Carpettes will also be having a contest of skill for any of the brave people huddled around the bonfires.

At 11:30 p.m. will be the welcome and the crowning of the Carp King and Queen. Larry and the Carpettes will perform, ticket prizes will be awarded and the countdown to midnight will begin.

At midnight, as the carp has reached it's descent, songs such as the traditional Auld Lang Syne will play, as well as the Pledge of Allegiance and God Bless America. Fireworks will also be displayed for all to enjoy.

The beginning of 2006 will kick off with the Carp Plunge at 12:15. The plunge will be held near Lucky's Bait Shop. Anyone wanting to participate should be sure to check in with the Plunge Master and also remember to pick up a souvenir towel to commemorate the act of bravery.

The first year of the celebration brought national headlines to the city of Prairie du Chien. People came from various parts of the state and country to attend. Last year, a count was taken to see where people came from. There were people from many cities in Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois as well as Indiana, Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee.

One couple had been at the Blues Fest, read about the Drop, and felt they had to return to see it. There is a family from St. Paul who has come every year with their children to celebrate the beginning of the new year.

Tom Nelson was in Arizona this past fall and was handing out Carp Membership cards at a restaurant. The waitress became excited because her boss was from Wisconsin and had already told her all about it.

This year's shirts are printed and the slogan is "This year is five and that's no jive." Be sure to pick up a carp shirt and be ready for the activity. Carp shirts are on sale at Hamann's, Himrich's, Valley Fish and Simply.

No paper due to holiday