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January 13, 2010 |
H1N1 may have been over publicized in 2009, but it’s still a prominent threat to the community. According to Gloria Wall, Director at the Crawford County Public Health Department, "H1N1 outbreaks are currently low, but we’re expecting a third wave of outbreaks in February."
This week, January 10 through 16 is considered National Influenza Vaccination Week. This national observance was established to highlight the importance of continuing influenza vaccination, as well as foster greater use of flu vaccine after the holiday season and beyond.
Flu and H1N1 shots are available to the public for free at the Crawford County Public Health Department. It takes less than five minutes for someone to get vaccinated.
If one hasn’t gotten a H1N1 and/or flu shot, now is the time to get vaccinated. There is no shortage, "We have an ample supply of both the H1N1 and flu vaccines," comments Wall.
"H1N1 is a vaccine preventable disease, just like polio, diphtheria, and tetanus it can be eliminated from our community if everyone were to get vaccinated," comments Wall.
Contrary to popular belief, Wall reports "No serious complications have happened to people who have gotten the H1N1 vaccine."
The first H1N1 case in Crawford County was reported May 13, 2009. By June, several cases were being reported. "Crawford County has had every age group hospitalized for H1N1, says Wall, "including infants, children, working adults, and seniors." Fortunately, no one in Crawford County has died from H1N1 to date.
Healthy habits to practice during the flu season include:
• Get vaccinated for 2009 H1N1 influenza.
• Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue into the trash directly afterward. If a tissue is not available, cough or sneeze into your shoulder or elbow.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Avoid close contact with sick people.
• Keep sick children at home.
• If you have flu-like symptoms (fever with a cough or sore throat), stay home until you are without a fever for 24 hours, without the use of medication.
The Crawford County Public Health Department is located at 225 N Beaumont Road, Suite 306, in Prairie du Chien. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call ahead to schedule an appointment, 326-0229 or 800-207-4774.
When the flag pole at Prairie du Chien Correctional Institution was taken down for much-needed maintenance this past summer, it yielded an unexpected treasure.
The Buildings and Grounds staff lowered the pole during the summer of 2009 and institution staff prepared the pole for painting. The painting was completed by inmates who are members of the Veteran’s Organization within the institution.
During this maintenance project, a metal tube was found in the finial (the top decorative ornament) of the pole. The metal tube held a newspaper dated Nov. 12, 1918 which featured a large headline declaring the end of World War I. Stories regarding the end of the war and the signing of the Armistice Agreement abound on the front page. The newspaper is "The Review" from Mankato, Minn. The Review has a subtitle declaring it to be the "Oldest Democratic Paper in the Country."
The Minnesota Historical Society was contacted by institution staff in an attempt to get a copy of the newspaper to be kept at the institution so that the original newspaper could be returned to the flag pole. As luck would have it, the exact date of the newspaper in the flag pole was missing at the Historical Society. The decision was made to have the original newspaper restored and framed so that it could be displayed at the institution. A copy of the daily newspaper from Mankato with the same name and date would be returned to the flag pole’s finial.
A tag on the flag pole revealed that the steel pole was made by the Walworth Manufacturing Company of Boston, Mass. The company was founded in 1824 in Boston. The pole was crafted during World War I. Because of the type of materials it produced, the company and its director were active in supplying the military during the war. The company is still in business today with headquarters in Houston, Texas. The company now produces industrial valves that are shipped all over the world. In 2009, the website for the company was walworthmx.com.
One interesting fact about the company is the Stillson Wrench, which was invented by one of Walworth’s employees shortly after the Civil War. Daniel Stillson had been a sailor working on the boilers of ships during the Civil War. He had a reputation good enough to get him hired at the Walworth Company as soon as he was released from the military. In 1870, Stillson was awarded a patent for the Stillson Wrench, the first pipe wrench invented. To this day, the "pipe wrench" or "monkey wrench" use the same physics of the original Stillson Wrench.
A re-dedication of the Prairie du Chien Correctional Institution flag pole is being planned for early 2010.
By Ted Pennekamp
The Prairie du Chien School Board Monday night approved of adding the course Principals of Bio-medical to the high school curriculum as part of Project Lead the Way. High School Principal Andy Banasik said that Principals of Bio-medical will probably begin next fall. Prairie du Chien will be the third high school in the state of Wisconsin to offer the course, he said.
The Prairie du Chien Board also approved of signing the "Race to the Top" memorandum of understanding, which is required in order to qualify for a share of more than $4 billion in federal education funds.
If Wisconsin receives $250 million in federal Race to the Top funds, Prairie du Chien’s share would be $150,000.
Board President Brian Edwards said that the money would probably come with "too many strings attached," which could put the Prairie du Chien School District in a bind. He also said, however, that the Race to the Top funding is worth pursuing right now because the district can decide to back out later if it finds that the Race to the Top program is not a good fit.
In other business, the board heard a presentation by Eric Frydenlund about the proposed Prairie du Chien Area Bicycle/Pedestrian Trail in the city.
Frydenlund said that the trail has already been completed on St. Feriole Island and that a trail around and in Prairie du Chien is planned. He said that the city of Prairie du Chien adopted the Bicycle/Pedestrian Trail Plan in 2004 and that a Safe Routes to School grant of $221,000 was received in 2007 to construct the segments of the trail adjoining Bluff View Intermediate School.
Upon hearing Frydenlund’s presentation, the board approved of a first reading of a resolution allowing the district to disperse free educational materials for students and parents in order to encourage students to walk and bicycle to school. Frydenlund noted that nationally in 1969 approximately 90 percent of students who lived within a mile of school walked or rode their bikes to and from school. In 2004, only 48 percent walked or rode their bikes at least once a week.
In further business, the board acknowledged the resignation of board member Jamie Wager.
January 11, 2010 |
By Jen Schultz
Prairie du Chien’s first planned community development—Bluff Haven, a project by Community Health Service Corporation (CHSC), is progressing quite quickly. Located off of Fremont Street, phase one was the building of Prairie Maison and Residence at Bluff Haven. Phase one was completed in July 2009.
Phase two is the final phase and consists of building a 55+ community of 12 duplexes next to the existing Bluff Haven building.
Alesha Erdenberger, CHSC Senior Vice President of Operations said "CHSC’s goal is to provide safe neighborhood housing for seniors in Prairie du Chien."
"Phase two will consist of 24 handicap accessible units, each with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, a garage, and a deck. Anyone 55 years and older can apply to live in these duplexes. The duplexes will have a life lease in which a base sum is paid plus a monthly fee. General maintenance to the unit along with lawn care and snow removal will be provided," states Erdenberger.
According to Erdenberger, construction will take place as soon as possible starting with the two duplexes in the uttermost southeast corner. "The first duplex should be completed by late fall of 2010," says Erdenberger. Costs for building each of these duplexes will range between $150,000 to $200,000.
CHSC has been serving the changing healthcare needs of older people in the Prairie du Chien area since 2004. The Bluff Haven Community includes Prairie Maison, Bluff Haven Memory Care, and Residence at Bluff Haven, independent apartments for individuals requiring long-term, skilled nursing care, assisted care, respite care, memory care and others in need of short-term or rehabilitative care after surgery or other illness.
For more information on Bluff Haven contact Erdenberger at 326-3200.
By Ted Pennekamp
The Courier Press will begin the new year with a new associate editor. Sandy Vold has retired after a three-and-a-half-year stint with the newspaper; and Jen Schultz began her duties in early January.
"I never pictured myself working for a newspaper," said Schultz. "But, I’m very excited to be here and to get to meet and talk to the people."
Schultz said that she is looking forward to getting to know Prairie du Chien and the surrounding area. "It’s beautiful here," she said. "The fall changing of the leaves was absolutely amazing."
Schultz moved to Guttenberg in August of 2009 and plans to marry her fiance Charlie Schultz in October.
Schultz, 29, graduated in 2005 from UW–Whitewater where she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism with an emphasis in advertising, along with minors in marketing and philosophy.
Following graduation, Schultz held various positions in the Edgerton, Wis. area, including four months as a substitute teacher for the Edgerton School District in 2007; and as an intern working with the advertising director for the Janseville Gazette.
Before moving to Guttenberg, Schultz was a catalog copywriter for two years at Nancy’s Notions, a sewing, embroidery and quilting business in Beaver Dam.
Having grown up on a farm near Whitewater, Wis., Schultz was active in 4-H and worked as a volunteer for six years with Rock County 4-H horse and pony projects. In addition to horses, Schultz said that she also enjoys sewing and reading. She currently resides in Guttenberg with her fiance Charlie, two dogs and a cat.
By Jen Schultz
The Courier Press and area merchants have been eagerly awaiting the birth of the first New Year’s baby.
After a very long week, the wait is finally over. Brenden Scott Russell was born on Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 12:46 p.m. This beautiful baby boy with a headfull of hair weighed in at 8 lbs., 12.1 oz. and measured 19.6 inches long.
The proud family includes Brenda Putman and Ben Russell of Monona, Iowa, and daughter Miranda Putman.
When asked why they decided to have their baby at the Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital, Putnam replied, "Dr. De Hart, our physician, is the reason we chose this hospital, he is great."
Since Brenden was Prairie du Chien’s first baby to be born in 2010, the family received a bounty of gifts from area merchants.
Donors included: Panka’s Shoe Store, Roxie’s, Tiller’s Furniture, Coaches, Starks, Krachey’s, Curves, Betty’s Hallmark, Pink’s Automotive, Holiday Station Store, Eunice’s Liquor and Cheese, Papa Murphy’s, Prairie Fitness, Hungry House, LA Fashions, Wal-Mart, Peoples State Bank, Star Cinema, Americ-Inn, Subway, Courier Press and Howe Printing.
Congratulations to the new family!
