The proposed expansion of a hog farm near Wauzeka has been quite a contentious topic for the past few months, with numerous county residents speaking out on both sides of the issue.

A.V. Roth has applied for a license to increase the size of his operation from 1,450 sows to 2,900.

The issue may finally come to a head at 10 a.m. on Jan. 3. The Crawford County Land Conservation Committee will probably have to decide at that time whether or not to grant the license. The committee can take up to 90 days to review the license application, and Jan. 3 will mark the 90th day.

The public is welcome to attend the meeting, which is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. in meeting room 236 at the Crawford County Administrative Offices Building in Prairie du Chien.

A state-certified nutrient management specialist has been selected by three members of the Land Conservation Committee and he is scheduled to present his findings and conclusions at the meeting.

There are eight members on the committee, including County Board Chairman Ron Leys, who has been sitting in as of late. Those eight members will probably vote on the issue at the Jan. 3 meeting.

The issue could be extended (tabled) if there is probable cause. For example, if the nutrient management specialist has not yet completed his survey of Roth's nutrient management plan by the time of the meeting, that would be one reason for probable cause. The nutrient management specialist is expected to be ready, however.

It was the day before Christmas, and signs of the coming holiday were everywhere. The living room had not one, but two Christmas trees; gifts sat waiting to be opened, and the mantel of a paper fireplace held six stockings„one for each person who lived there.

One person wanted a new pair of pants for Christmas; another had asked for a new CD. They would open presents that evening and again on Christmas Day. Kathy, whose turn it was to choose Christmas dinner, had requested roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy and jello cake. Kelly sang along with the Christmas carols playing on the television as he worked a jigsaw puzzle

If that sounds like a typical family scene before a holiday, it was.What makes this ïfamily' unusual, however, is that it is composed of six adults, three male and three female, all of whom have disabilities severe enough that they cannot live independently.

They are residents of a Lori Knapp Group Home. As a matter of fact, they live in the original Lori Knapp home opened back in 1972, when Don Knapp, Sr. opened the first group home for developmentally disabled adults in Wisconsin, and only the second in the entire nation, to care for his daughter, Lori.

Their needs vary according to the individual, from help in bathing and dressing and preparing meals to brushing teeth and therapy exercises. Residents range in age from 39 to 71, and two, Kelly and Kathy, have lived there since October, 1973. Both had been living in institutions prior to that. Lisa had lived at home with her parents, but decided she would prefer to live in the group home. Andy, too, had lived with his parents. Bobby, usually referred to as Bubba, and Stella were in nursing homes.

Kelly and Kathy are the two most outgoing residents, and have formed a special bond as if they were brother and sister, teasing each other and occasionally having minor disagreements, according to Residential Coordinator Lynn Jenkins. Both work at Opportunity Center, and it was there that Kathy met her boyfriend, who lives in another group home. They meet at Culver's Restaurant every other week.

Jenkins has been there almost 16 years. A friend who worked for Lori Knapp, Inc. talked her into applying for the job, and she is happy she did so. ñWhat really motivates me every day are the people who live here. I can learn a lot from these guys.î It is Kelly who especially inspires her, she said, and teaches her to be trusting and forgiving and not prejudge people.

Jenkins arrives late afternoons and stays overnight. She normally has weekends off, but often fills in for other employees. If there's something special going on at the home, she comes regardless of whether or not she's scheduled to work. Christmas is a good example, she said. Even if it falls on a weekend, she comes to see people open their presents. As a matter of fact, she had come early Christmas Eve day to join Eleanor Boldt, who works the day shift, in preparing some pre-present-opening snacks.

ñWe are a family,î she concluded, ñGod put us together intentionally.î

It was a chilly evening, but that didn't bother the crowd assembled for Prairie du Chien's seventh annual Droppin' of the Carp on New Years Eve.

As the adults stayed warm around a monstrous bonfire, the children, bundled snugly and impervious to the cold, climbed, sat atop or slid down a mini-mountain of snow piled up from plowing. The ïNot So Pure Prairie League' entertained with song, and emcee Tom Nelson, resplendent in ceremonial carp attire, periodically updated the crowd on the events of the evening. Lucky Seven, the carp, reigned from his frozen throne while several brave people approached to kiss Lucky and assure good luck for 2008.

A little before 11 p.m., children taking turns quickly broke open the piÐata and scrambled for the goodies. Following that, 2007 Carp King and Queen David and Aileen Yager yielded their throne and crowned the 2008 royalty, Jay K. Anderson and Lana Mades. Jay, the son of Pat Anderson of Prairie du Chien and Burt Anderson of Wauzeka, has a PhD in plasma physics and is doing research on fusion energy at UW-Madison. Girlfriend Lana, assistant district attorney for the State of Wisconsin, lives in Madison.

As midnight approached, Lucky was lifted on high from his throne. Prairie du Chien Mayor Cheryl Mader, State Sen. Dan Kapanke and State Rep. Lee Nerison led the singing of ïAuld Lang Syne' and recitation of The Pledge of Allegiance. On the stroke of midnight„or thereabouts„Lucky was dropped back to his throne and the evening concluded with a burst of fireworks.