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Althof's to be first with new downtown facade "We feel privileged at this point," said owner Al Althof, who noted that he was a bit uncertain at first but has since become very comfortable after delving into the details of the project. "I have found working with Craig to be a real pleasure and there are not the constraints and restrictions that one would think." Althof has worked with Craig Moser, the director of Prairie du Chien Downtown Revitalization Inc., in planning the new facade. Several ideas were tossed around and a few artists' renderings were presented. In addition, Althof will receive what he termed a small grant as an incentive for this type of project. There are also some no-interest and low-interest loans available. "Everything helps," he said. Althof said that the front windows will be replaced and trimmed out, and there will be new signage and siding. The front of the store will also receive a new paint job. The windows will be 90 inches and the siding will give the "woody impression" of years ago but will conform to the current fire code. Althof said that he will apply for an encroachment permit in order to install a hanging sign. "It's good to have the direction and support of the Downtown Revitalization Committee," said Althof, who noted that the facade will be created in accordance with the overall theme of the downtown. "They take into account the type of business you have and the signage but they also look at the big picture of what the downtown could be." Althof said that the facade will be done so as to "preserve some of the historic appearance" of the building. He said that when the facade is completed in about two or three months, Althof's Television Center will have a 1950s to 1960s look and feel on the exterior. At the same time, some more modern looking neon signs may be installed in the windows. "We had been intending to do some cosmetic repairs," said Althof. "But the new facade will not only make the building look better, it will tie in with the other buildings around us." Althof noted that should other businesses in downtown Prairie du Chien like to renovate their facades, they need not all look the same. "They can all preserve their historic appearance and also all have their own character," he said. The building that houses Althof's was built in the late 1800s. Numerous businesses have occupied the building since, including Prochaska's Appliance Retail and Repair in the 1960s and the Sears Catalogue Store in the 1970s. Althof purchased the building in 1978 and it has been the family business ever since. Althof said that some of the work on the new facade will be done by family members and the rest of the facade will be completed by local contractors. The new signs will be smaller than the current ones but will be more tasteful. "They will not be so ostentatious," he said. Much-needed railroad crossing repairs will cause several detours Crossing the railroad tracks in Prairie du Chien can be quite the bumpy ride, but that will soon change as improvements will be made starting Monday, July 17. City Administrator Gordon Gallagher said that he has been receiving complaints about the railroad crossings since he arrived in Prairie du Chien, and that the crossings have become quite an inconvenience. Gallagher said improvements will be made on three of Prairie du Chien's railroad crossings. On Monday, July 17, work will begin on the Wisconsin St. crossing. "Each crossing should take about a week to complete," Gallagher said. The Iowa St. crossing will follow with the Blackhawk Ave. crossing third on the list. "The materials are already here and we are very pleased that the railroads are working with us," Gallagher said. "We are happy to be able to get some well-needed improvements." Work on the crossings was done on a temporary basis in November, but the crossings have continued to grow worse with major divots causing them to become extremely rough when crossing. Rodney Fishler of the Prairie du Chien Street Department said there will be new concrete panels that will be implemented and that the current railroad tracks at the crossings will be replaced. The crossings will then be re-paved. Fishler said there will be a lot of detours because the crossings will be completely closed when getting worked on. It is expected to take about one week per crossing, with good weather conditions. "We know this will prove to be an inconvenience now, but [the improvements] will make drivers happier when they are done," Fishler said. Governor Doyle to visit PdC on July 25 Governor Jim Doyle announced that Grant and Crawford Counties will be "Capital for the Day" on Tuesday, July 25. Governor Doyle will bring First Lady Jessica Doyle, Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton, and members of his Cabinet to Grant and Crawford Counties to meet with local citizens and local government and business leaders to make sure their views are heard in Madison. "Wisconsin isn't so big that people can't get to know their leaders in state government," Governor Doyle said. "And I really believe that government works best when we have a chance to hear directly from the people we serve. ïCapital for the Day' is a great opportunity to see what makes each region of the state unique, meet with community residents and leaders, and take their concerns back to Madison. Grant and Crawford Counties are strong agricultural centers of our state, with hardworking people and strong families, and I'm looking forward to taking my administration there on July 25." The day will start at 8 a.m. at a breakfast with business and community leaders at the Barn Restaurant in Prairie du Chien and will end at 4:30 p.m. with a reception at Legion Field in Platteville during the 56th annual Strawberry Festival, part of the city's Hometown Festival Week. Governor Doyle, First Lady Doyle, Lt. Governor Lawton, and members of the Governor's Cabinet will attend the breakfast event. Throughout the day, the leaders will split up and visit communities across Grant and Crawford Counties, and will then come back together to attend the evening event. Residents interested in attending the breakfast event can contact the Prairie du Chien Area Chamber Commerce at 608-326-8555 or e-mail pdccoc@mhtc.net no later than Thursday, July 20. Those interested in attending the community reception may join leaders and community members at the Strawberry Festival at Legion Field in Platteville. For more information about the festival please contact Megan Graney of the Southwest Health Center at 608-342-4704, or visit www.platteville.com. Cabinet members joining the Governor, First Lady and the Lt. Governor include Administration Secretary Steve Bablitch, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Secretary Rod Nilsestuen, Commerce Secretary Mary Burke, Corrections Secretary Matt Frank, Financial Institutions Secretary Lorrie Keating Heinemann, Health and Family Services Secretary Helene Nelson, Natural Resources Secretary Scott Hassett, Public Service Commission Chairperson Dan Ebert, Regulation and Licensing Secretary Celia Jackson, Revenue Secretary Michael Morgan, Tourism Secretary Jim Holperin, and Workforce Development Secretary Roberta Gassman. A full schedule of events for the Governor, Lt. Governor, First Lady, and Cabinet Secretaries will be issued the week of July 17. Council approves hiring a dispatch consolidation consultant All of the members of the Crawford County Board of Supervisors were in attendance at the meeting of the Prairie du Chien City Council last night. Acknowledging their presence and thanking them for their attendance, mayor Cheryl Mader jumped directly from item three to item 19 on the agenda, the Protection and Health Committees recommendation to hire a consultant for the creation of a joint city-county emergency dispatch system. Frank Pintz, chair of the Protection and Health Committee, admitted that at first, he was not in favor of hiring a consultant. "After some considerationƒI realized it might be good to hire someone to see this project through to the end," he explained. Councilwoman Kathleen Hein, who sits on the committee with Pintz, was absent, but she submitted a letter expressing her support for a consultant. She noted that if the dispatch system were not consolidated, taxpayers in the city would have to pay to replace the system twice, for both city and county. Hein also pointed out the complexity of the project, which includes hardware and technology issues as well as staffing and union concerns, and therefore the consolidation needed a full-time project manager. Laura Czajkowski-Higgins, a member of the Joint Dispatch Implementation Committee then took the podium on behalf of the members of the County Board. She explained that the Crawford County Board and the Committee has been looking into dispatch issues since late last year, and concluded that a consultant was also a good idea. She told the council that the County Board also was requesting that the city waive the bid process for a consultant and hire Stacey Black, a retired Milwaukee County Sheriffs Department division commander who now works as a consultant. She also suggested that the city and county share the costs on a per capita basis. According to Czajkowski-Higgins, Black has worked for the county before. The county hired the firm he was working for to analyze the county's emergency communications system and suggest improvements, and were pleased with his work on that project. Black took the podium to address the council. He told them that he oversaw the redesign and update of the Milwaukee County dispatch system. He explained that as a former union leader, he could also address union issues. He told them that he was very familiar with Crawford County and the emergency personnel in the county. He explained that he planned to work jointly with John Harbaugh, of Mundelein Ill., who would address technology and hardware issues. "We intend to see that Prairie du Chien's needs are met. We want to get things done in a cost effective manner," he said. Mayor Mader asked Black what he was considered a time frame for the completion of the job. Black replied that seven months was a good estimate, although it might be possible to complete the job more quickly. He said he could give them a system that would be good for 15 years. He quoted the council a cost of $27,220 for the job. Councilmen Ruskey and Riebe questioned Black on his assertion that the system would be good for fifteen years, with changing technology, and warned him about becoming too dependent on cell phone technology, since cell service in the county is unreliable. Black assured them that he could handle each of these issues effectively. The council voted to hire a consultant and verbally agreed to hire Black without taking separate votes to waive the bid process for the job or to accept Black's bid. In other business the council: ´ Approved a stormwater utility agreement with Vierbicher and Associates for $55,000. The consultant will analyze stormwater generation from residential, business and industry, and the possibility of implementing a system of users fees. Additionally, the Mayor announced her appointees to a Stormwater Utility Technical Committee to work with Vierbicher on behalf of the city. ´ Approved improvements to the Marina Boat Landing parking surface at a cost of $22,560. ´ Approved the Harbor Commission's plan to bid work on the levee wall on the riverfront as needed.
Juvenile leads area police on
wild, high-speed chase
Around 9 a.m. Thursday morning Karen Ploessl, of Bloomington, was pulling into the Woodhouse and Bartley Bank parking lot in downtown Bloomington. She noticed someone taking items from Andrew Ploessl's parked vehicle. Ploessl went up to the young man and asked him what he was doing. Ploessl said that he told her he was Andrew Ploessl's cousin, and that he was getting change to buy a can of pop. Ploessl realized that the kid was no relation to her ex-husband. "He was wearing a black stocking cap and baggy pants and he was on his stomach scrounging around in the vehicle," Karen Ploessl said. "He was acting cocky." The subject then raced out of the parking lot, driving a silver 2005 Hyundai Sante Fe SUV, and failed to stop at a stop sign. Karen Ploessl said that she gave the police the license plate number of the vehicle. It was later discovered that the suspect had stolen cash, checkbooks, gift cards, a radio, backpack and CD's from other vehicles parked in the same parking lot. The vehicle he left town in was not his, but belonged to Kevin and Susan Kaufman of Bagley. Ploessl saw the Hyundai driving recklessly out of Bloomington, passing a car on Main St., in a double yellow zone. So began a run that would cover three counties and two states at speeds as high as 90 m.p.h. Somewhere between Bloomington and Patch Grove, a 2005 Dodge pickup truck driven by Joseph Starrett, of Glen Haven, was hit by the suspect, who drove on towards Prairie du Chien. The suspect was later identified as 16-year-old Joseph Neeley, of Bloomington. Wrong-way run In Prairie du Chien, Neeley blew through town like a hurricane. He entered the city at about 9:15 a.m. on south Marquette Rd., travelling 85 m.p.h. when he blazed by Sgt. Randy Schmidt near Huckleberry's, and the pursuit began with plenty of flashers, sirens and adrenaline running. The SUV then turned left onto Iowa St. driving the wrong way on the one-way, heading for the Hwy. 18 bridge with Prairie du Chien police running behind him. Officers maneuvered to block him on the bridge, but Neeley put the right two wheels of the SUV he was driving up on the concrete guard wall of the bridge and blew past them, hitting one Prairie du Chien police car causing slight damage to the rear fender. Stop for smokes Neeley then drove to McGregor and stopped momentarily at the Kwik Trip store. While in the parking lot he ripped the windshield wipers off the SUV and then strolled into the store. He pretended to be looking at the phone cards near the front cash register, but reached and grabbed a pack of cigarettes and ran from the store. Neeley drove towards Marquette, where police picked up his trail again, and Neeley turned onto the bridge, swerving to avoid spike strips layed out for him, and nearly hitting Crawford County Sheriff's Deputy Sgt. Tim Moran. He crossed once again into Prairie du Chien. He turned right onto Beaumont Road at a very high rate of speed and continued past Wyalusing Academy, and then turned right onto a side street, then right again onto Main St., heading north. Officers had set spike strips on Main, but Neeley avoided them by careening onto the east lawn of Wyalusing Academy. Somewhere along the way he had lost his right rear tire. He then turned right onto Wisconsin St. to cross the bridge once again. End of the road On Neeley's return trip to Iowa, Clayton County deputies had formed a roadblock across the Hwy 18 bridge. According to Police Chief Mike King, Neeley accelerated, hitting one Clayton County squad a glancing blow in the rear fender, taking out the fender and the bumper, while again riding the guardrail, escaping once again. Neeley then continued on to Marquette. He exited the bridge on the side street on the right, and travelled up to North St., and turned left on North St. He then veered right up the steep dead end road which leads up the bluff. Darren Matthew, who lives in the old church building on that street, called his children into the house as Neeley blew by, smashing through a gate across the road at about 50 m.p.h. Police Chief Mike King was right behind Neeley, and jumped out of his vehicle as Neeley turned around in an adjoining driveway. As the Neeley vehicle approached him, King fired two shots into the grill of the Hyundai, hoping to cripple the vehicle. Neeley did not stop, but continued down the hill and over a six-foot embankment, flipping the vehicle 360¼, end-over-end, and dropping on his tires to the street below. He continued east on North St. accelerating. He rounded the corner, heading south onto Hwy. 76. Just after he rounded the corner, however, Neeley's wild ride ended as he struck a Subaru Outback driven by Willard Hawker, of Manchester, Iowa. Willard, his wife Marcia and passenger Kay Hovey were out for a day excursion. Luckily, none of them were hurt, although the accident and the ensuing arrest left them visibly shaken. "The police thanked us for stopping him," Marcia said. During his arrest, Neeley appeared pleased with himself, smiling and mocking bystanders looking on. Police chief Mike King later commented on the amazing Hollywood stunt-car antics Neeley managed to pull off without injury. "I've been involved in at least 100 chases," he said, "But I saw stuff yesterday that I've never seen before. It was unbelievable," he added. Joe Neeley turned 17 on Friday while being held in the La Crosse County Juvenile Facility. He was entering his senior year at River Ridge High School this fall. He has no previous criminal record, except for a string of recent traffic violations. On June 11, he was cited for failure to report an accident, driving too fast for conditions, and violating GDL passenger restrictions in Prairie du Chien. On July 2, he was stopped in Prairie once again, but cited only for license and seatbelt violations. According to his father, Jim Neeley, Joe has gotten involved with drinking and drugs. "Up until about three months ago, we never had a problem with Joe," he said. He noted that the boy had broken up with his girlfriend, Carrie Ploessl, in the last six months, and that since then he had started hanging out with different kids than before. His father believes he needs professional help. "He still mows his grandmother's yard on Saturday mornings, he still plays Legoes with his little brother," he said in wonder. "It's all happened so fastƒmy head is still spinning," he added. After his arrest in Marquette, Joe was taken to the Clayton County Jail in Elkader. He was released into his father's custody at about 12:30 p.m. Jim took him to the Prairie du Chien Police Department for questioning. He was later taken into custody and removed to the La Crosse County Juvenile Facility. He was returned to the Crawford County Jail In Prairie du Chien about 3 p.m. on Friday, where he remains. Felony charges are pending against Neeley in all three counties. He will be charged as an adult in Wisconsin. Fort Crawford Hotel project on hold but still alive City officials to meet with developers in an effort to clear remaining obstacles Plans are in the works to get the Fort Crawford Hotel restoration project back on track, according to Prairie du Chien City Administrator Gordon Gallagher. Gallagher said that the city attorney has received a letter from a representative of the Crawford Preservation Group and that a meeting will be set up in a week to 10 days so that city officials and members of the Preservation Group can "look into the project further" in an effort to iron out details in the developer's agreement to the satisfaction of the city and the developers. "We want to get the project back on track," said Gallagher. "It is a good project and we would like to see it happen." Gallagher said that the city would like to help remove any remaining hurdles that may be holding up the project. One possible hurdle is that the Crawford Preservation Group does not yet have the deed to the old Fort Crawford Hotel building. The developers secured the deed to the former City Hall building in March but the city still owns the Fort Crawford Hotel building. Gallagher remains optimistic, however, that any hurdles can be cleared so that the project can proceed. "I don't think that the deed is the holdup with this project," said Gallagher, who noted that the "city hasn't done anything to hold up this project." Gallagher said that he does not yet know what obstacles remain as far as the developers are concerned. The city fulfilled its obligation of removing the asbestos and lead from the building in late November of 2005. The City Council voted to turn over the deed to the former City Hall to the developers in March of 2006 but the city has retained the deed to the old Fort Crawford Hotel building. Dale Klemme, a member of the Crawford Preservation Group, said that developer Mark Ihm was thinking of possibly getting started on constructing at least the retail portion of the plans, which would be housed in the former City Hall building. Ihm, the owner of Ihm Builders of Platteville, could not be reached for comment. Ihm has submitted architectural plans to the state for approval. The plan is to combine the former City Hall and the old hotel building into one building that would feature 18 hotel rooms and a manager's apartment. The hotel would be restored so as to have a "turn-of-the century" look and feel. The plans also include an upscale restaurant and pub along with retail areas including a pastry and sandwich shop, an outdoor cafe and a fitness center. The old Fort Crawford Hotel building was placed on the National Register of Historic Buildings a few years ago and the intent has always been to renovate it so as to preserve its historic integrity, which would allow the developer to obtain historic tax credits. Historic tax credits are an incentive for this type of renovation because they, in effect, pay for one-fourth of the cost of the project. The cost of the Fort Crawford Hotel project has been estimated at $1.6 million. The developers and the city hope that the renovation of the Fort Crawford Hotel will lead the way to the establishment of an historic district. Mark Ihm owns and has renovated several downtown buildings in Southwestern Wisconsin communities. He is president of the State Historic Preservation Commission, is a member of the Board of the Point of Beginnings, is president of Building Platteville and is actively involved in the Holiday House Tour. Volunteers needed to build memorial playground Children in Prairie du Chien will soon have some new playground equipment to try out, with a new playground being built at the Prairie Catholic Elementary School. Nearly one year ago, Austin and Justin Nolan were tragically killed when the ATV they were driving collided with a pickup truck. The boys' parents, John and Carrie, along with their five-year-old sister Caitlin and four-month-old brother Dustin, will come together with family, friends and volunteers on Saturday, July 15, to build the eight-piece Austin and Justin Memorial Playground in the boys' honor. Carrie Nolan, the boys' mother, said she attended a home and school meeting last September where they discussed raising funds for new playground equipment. She had recently read about a family who had perished in a fire in Canada and had a playground built in their honor. "I thought, ïWhy not do that for Austin and Justin,'" Carrie said. Carrie then developed a playground committee of friends and volunteers who came up with a goal of building a $50,000 playground. The committee members include: Carrie Nolan, Jenny Wachuta, Teresa Richardson, Steve and Julie Schwager, Rochelle Neisius, Leslie Orr, Bill Nicholson, Stacy Manganiello, Mary Huser, Ken Stoeffler, and Chelle Fulcher. The committee has been in charge of collecting donations and sponsoring multiple fundraisers, such as bake sales, a penny war, quilt raffle, and a Valentine's Day dance. Thus far the committee has raised $74,000, well beyond their original goal. The additional money will all be put to use, as the group still needs to purchase fencing, trees and shrubs, picnic tables, basketball hoops, and a $5,000 donor board. Gari Lorenz, a neighbor to the family who is a mason/bricklayer, will be building a six-foot flower box out of the salvaged foundation rocks from the old school building that will be torn down eventually. There will be a school sign in the flower box. Lorenz will also build two smaller, matching flower boxes to put next to the donor board as a part of the memorial for Austin and Justin. Blair Dillman and his crew have also chipped in, helping with layout and donating cement. Volunteers needed Carrie said at least 50 volunteers are needed to help install the Austin and Justin Nolan Memorial Playground. Construction will begin at 7 a.m. Saturday morning at the Prairie Catholic Elementary School, and is expected to be completed the same day. For safety reasons, no children under the age of 18 will be allowed on the grounds that day. The playground, which will replace the current 30-year-old playground, will consist of eight pieces which will occupy the 124'x86' square plot. There will also be a donor board with all of the donor's names, along with boards that say "What would Jesus do?" and an angel prayer. Monetary donors will be recognized on the playground donor board. Please contact the Nolan's as soon as possible if you wish to be added to the list as it will be ordered soon. "The roof tops of the playground structures will have Austin and Justin's names inscribed in them," Carrie said. "We are so lucky to do this to remember the boys. It is nice to get community support to help out and even receive help from people we don't know." The following list of tools are needed on construction day: (please have all tools marked) gloves, safety goggles, sunblock, shovels, garden rakes, leaf rakes, brooms, tape measures, pry bars, levels, power drills, sawsall power saw, heavy duty tool aprons, socket wrenches, band cutter, hammers, maul hammers, drill bits, nails, step ladders, vise grips, wheelbarrows and pitch forks. Lunch and beverages will be provided. Pizza Hut will be providing some pizzas, but they are also looking for sandwiches, bars, cookies, muffins, etc. to be donated. Please call Carrie Nolan at 326-2998 if you have food items to donate or can volunteer to work that day. The building will take place rain or shine. A dedication ceremony is planned for August 23 at approximately 6 p.m. Carrie said there will be a moment of silence and prayers as that is about the time the boys were taken into heaven. |
