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Walgreens began life as an independent pharmacy operated by Charles R. Walgreen Sr. on the south side of Chicago in 1901. Now it is a big corporation with 5,068 stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. And Walgreens plans to open at least 425 new stores this year, and 7,000 new stores by 2010. Their first quarter earnings for 2006 were a record $10.9 billion.

Will local pharmacies such as Prairie Prescription and Himrich's Snyder Drugs be able to compete with such a giant for a neighbor?

The answer seems to be maybe, and maybe not.

Across the country, major drug chains such as Walgreens and Osco are opening stores that compete with well-established independent pharmacies that people have trusted for many years. As the population ages and Baby Boomers become senior citizens, the prescription drug market is growing. According to Carol Hively, corporate spokeswoman for Walgreens, it is this aging of the population that is fueling her company's growth. "The biggest impact on our growth is Baby Boomers. As they age, demand [for drugs] will increase dramatically," Hively commented.

Unlike other big chain store, Walgreens grows by opening new stores rather than buying established pharmacies. They evaluate new locations by looking at the age of the local population, the availability of health care services, predicted growth and if there is a busy corner lot for the store. Clearly, Prairie du Chien fits the bill for what the company is looking for.

The potential growth in the prescription drug market is so big that Hively says that the arrival of a Walgreens in town doesn't necessarily mean that smaller, or independent pharmacies will close. Carol Cooke, director of external communications for the National Community Pharmacists Association agrees that the market is growing. According to Cooke, the number of prescriptions dispensed by independent community pharmacists rose from 56,399 in 2003 to 59,432 in 2004, the most recent years for which they have data.

"After a decade, or so, of declining numbers of independent pharmacies, the numbers have leveled off in the past several years. There are currently 24,345 independent pharmacies in the U.S., compared to 18,279 traditional chains, not including supermarkets and mass merchandisers," Cooke noted.

Reports from other cities where Walgreens stores have opened seem to uphold the idea that local pharmacies can hold their own. In Norfolk, Virginia, independent pharmacists within three blocks of a new Walgreens reported no impact on their sales (Hampton Roads Business Journal 8-9-04). Independents that are successfully competing say that they offer a much higher level of service than chains are capable of offering. A 2003 study by Consumer Reports concluded that independent pharmacies actually beat out their chain competitors, in price as well as service. And many people prefer the personal service and friendly, first-name service that independents provide. Of course, companies like Walgreens sometimes hire local pharmacists that choose to close the doors of their own stores.

Some independent pharmacists feel that it is only a matter of time before their businesses will be shut out by corporate mega-stores. The economics of good service may not be able to compete with the pharmacy benefit managers of health plan providers. Many consumers have prescription drug plans, and often the pharmacy benefit managers of those plans designate what pharmacies people can go to, or require them to use a mail-order pharmacy.

The Courier Press called both Himrich's Snyder Drugs and Prairie Prescription for this article; both declined to comment on the future of their operations or the impact Walgreens might have on them.

A proposed plan to remodel the Crawford County Courthouse building was discussed and approved by the Crawford County Board at its regular meeting Tuesday morning.

Board member Adam Fogelson said that the Public Property Committee, Crawford County Circuit Court Judge Michael Kirchman and District Chief Judge Michael Rosborough have worked out a preliminary plan that is agreeable to everybody, including all office personnel that currently occupy the Courthouse Building.

"Everyone is on board with this plan," said Judge Kirchman.

Fogelson said that there are no deadlines with the proposed plan and the next step is to go to the architect to get a schematic plan done.

"We're going to have to wait until there's money," said Fogelson.

A couple of board members said that there should be money once the Satter Building is sold.

Fogelson said that there is no need for revisions in the plan at this time and that minor details can be worked out with the architectural firm that does the schematic plan. The preliminary plan gives the county something to go on until there is enough money in the budget in order to proceed further, Fogelson said. "It's ready to go on the shelf. Just add hot water and we'll be ready to go," he added.

Fogelson noted that the foremost concern will be to get the offices that are currently housed in the basement of the Courthouse Building up and out of the basement. Another major part of the preliminary plan is the addition of a second courtroom, which will be on the first floor.

In other business, the board heard a presentation by Prairie du Chien Mayor Cheryl Mader, who spoke about economic development in Prairie du Chien and in the county.

Mader said that workers living in Crawford County have one of the lowest average wages in the state, 71 percent of the state average.

"People don't want to come here and people are not buying homes here," said Mader, in noting the lack of quality economic development in Prairie du Chien and the county. She also said that young people are leaving the county in order to live elsewhere where they can get better jobs. "We're losing the best and the brightest," she said.

Mader said that there is a "ripple effect" whereby the county is losing out on a tax base because people are not buying homes in the county. She asked the County Board members to think about how the county and the city can work together to improve the quality of life for everyone in the county.

"We're in this together," said Mader, who asked board members to "get back together in 60 or 90 days" to discuss the issue with city officials in order to find ways to attract cottage industries and larger businesses that would pay higher wages than are currently found in the county. Mader also said that the city and the county need to find ways in which current businesses can expand.

Craig Moser, the director of Downtown Revitalization, told board members that the new Crawford County Administrative Building has been nominated in the "best new building" category for a State of Wisconsin Main Street Community Award.

Mayor Mader also said that the Fort Crawford Hotel is ready for developer Mark Ihm of Platteville to take ownership; the city has removed all of the lead and asbestos from the building. Mader said that March of 2007 is a tentative completion date for the hotel.

In further business, the board:

´Was notified by board member Ron Leys that the Finance Committee found a way to save the county approximately $90,000 per year by going with a different property insurance company and by re-working various workman's compensation categories, especially those for the Highway Department.

´Approved the payment of approximately $10,000 so that the county could pay off its $25,000 annual dues in order to remain a member of the River Rail Transit Commission, which will oversee numerous railroad repair projects in the county.

´Discussed whether to keep the position of Undersheriff or to have a Chief Deputy position. An Undersheriff is appointed by and can be fired by the Sheriff. A Chief Deputy would be appointed by the County Board. Board member Gary Knickerbocker said that a Chief Deputy would be a non-union position and would "bring increased continuity to the department."

The issue has been discussed for at least the past two years but has come to the forefront now. Sheriff Robert Ostrander recently fired Undersheriff Jerry Moran because Moran announced that he will be running for Sheriff in the upcoming election. If the county decides to go with the Chief Deputy position, all prospective candidates for Sheriff would need to know, said board member Gerald Krachey, who recommended the Chief Deputy position. The issue will come up again at the August County Board meeting.

´Tuesday's board meeting concluded with plaques being presented to Board Chairman Robert Dillman and board member Harold Dull for their many years of dedicated service. Dillman and Dull will be stepping down in April.

"It's hard for me to walk away from here," said Dillman. "This has been a big part of my life."

Governor Jim Doyle has approved a $315,790 project at the Prairie du Chien Municipal Airport that will upgrade the airport's aviation fuel system, and complete design plans for taxiway and aircraft parking apron improvements. The Governor's action releases $7,895 in state funds to help complete the project. The city of Prairie du Chien is also contributing $7,895, with the Federal Aviation Administration providing $300,000.

"The state of Wisconsin's is pleased to partner with federal and local governments on projects like this that support our overall goals of promoting public safety and economic development," Governor Doyle said. The Governor's "Grow Wisconsin" plan calls for strategic investments in the statewide transportation system to spur economic growth.

The improved aviation fuel system will allow for more efficient delivery of jet fuel, according to Michael Gabor, Airport Development Engineer with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The design project will create plans and bid specifications to reconstruct and expand the airport's aircraft parking apron and an adjacent taxiway. The fuel system upgrades will be completed in 2006, with the apron and taxiway construction planned for 2007.

Facilities at the Prairie du Chien Municipal Airport include a 5,000-foot primary runway and a 4,000-foot secondary runway. There are some 20 aircraft based at the airport and about 12,500 aircraft operations (take-offs and landings) each year.

Besides all the physical changes that have taken place at the Lynxville site, Oldenburg said it was been an unusual year for other reasons as well. He said that one change was the lower numbers of traffic passing through the locks last season. "A lot more loads went by rail last year, but I've heard that more should be coming this way this year," said Oldenburg. He said that the lower numbers were probably effects of Hurricane Katrina and other environmental causes.

Another change with this year that Oldenburg (along with many others) has noticed is the lack of ice on the river. In his three decades working as a working for the Corps on the Mississippi, he says he has never before seen this much open water in the middle of the winter.

Because of the September 11 attacks and the contracting, the site was closed to visitors from 2001 until last May. Oldenburg says that as the word spreads that they are open, he hopes numbers will be up this summer. Before 2001, he said that visitor numbers were typically about 20,000 per summer. Oldenburg noted that dedication to the improved Lock and Dam 9 site is tentatively set for August 30 of this summer.