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July 16, 2008

Power of the pen proven for PdC artist

A new Prairie du Chien artist makes his living by the power of the pen. Having moved to Prairie about eight months ago, Mike Pett has established PettArt, through which he creates various pen and ink illustrations for individuals, businesses and organizations.

He has enjoyed many artistic and graphic design endeavors over the years, but now Mike focuses on the fine art of pen and ink.

"Pen and ink is a precise art," said Mike. "Once a line is down it’s there for good. Pen and ink is not forgiving."

Mike creates finely crafted and detailed illustrations including portraits of homes and businesses, gift cards featuring unique elf-like characters, calendars, tins, landmarks, vintage tractors, rural settings and more.

"I am preparing my art to be sent out to different licensing agents throughout the country to buy the rights to use my work on gift cards and calendars," said Mike. "This will allow me to do nothing but create. They will do all of the marketing and distribution at their expense."

Currently, one of Mike’s main projects in the Prairie du Chien area is the creation of the "Tourist Survival Guide to Prairie du Chien, Marquette and McGregor." This cartoon map, being created in conjunction with Howe Printing, will highlight the tourist oriented businesses in the region.

The map will be similar to the "Tourist Survival Guide to Carlyle Lake, Illinois," which Mike created many years ago. In its second year of printing, the Carlyle Lake guide became the number one distributed and sought after brochure in Southern Illinois and continued to be the top brochure for a decade.

"I plan to do the same for this area," said Mike.

Mike was born in La Crosse 45 years ago but spent most of his life in the Southern Illinois-St. Louis area. "I have always been drawing," said Mike, who won several art contests in grade school.

"I thought I had the world at my fingertips," he said about the thrill of winning $5 in one of his earliest competitions.

Mike later became president of the Art Club in his junior and senior years at Carlyle High School.

He has had a varied and interesting career ever since. Mike worked as an engineering technician after college for about seven years. He also worked as a point of purchase display designer for the beverage industry for several years.

Mike began a graphic design and marketing business when he was in his late 20s. His areas of expertise centered upon community development and tourism. He created full-color brochures, presentation folders, posters and signs. "I handled every aspect — consulting, design, photography, copy and supervision of printing," said Mike.

Mike created marketing packages for Laclede’s Landing/St. Louis Riverfront (Gateway Arch), and Westport Plaza, a popular tourist destination in St. Louis. He also conducted the marketing for seven communities in Southern Illinois.

Mike has also painted giant murals on the outside of buildings, as well as various sports characters on the interior walls of a popular St. Louis sports bar. He has done "welcome to" signs, business signs, vehicle lettering and airbrushing on vehicles. Mike has also done silk screening work for the bass player of the 70s rock group Head East, as well as Hank Williams Jr., the St. Louis Blues hockey team and the Big Foot monster truck. He also was a photographer for Hooters in St. Louis for a time.

The extraordinary thing about all of this colorful work is that Mike is color blind. "My ex-wife had to label all of my different pens and markers so I could differentiate between the colors," he said, in noting that the St. Louis Post Dispatch did a story on the color blind aspect of Mike’s career.

About 12 years ago, Mike put away the colors and picked up the fine art of pen and ink. "With black and white, nobody can tell me that I’m wrong," said Mike. "I’ve found a love for pen and ink. It’s a dying art."

Mike has done drawings of various scenes in the Prairie du Chien area, including the Villa Louis and McGregorville. When he creates an illustration of a home or business, Mike first takes about 20 to 30 photographs from numerous angles and distances. He then makes precise measurements in order to capture the utmost detail. Mike will then draw the scene in pencil before finally completing the project with pen and ink.

Mike loves water sports and his family vacationed in Prairie du Chien every summer when he was a child. Family members still own six cabins on Ambro Slough, so when he decided to move from North Carolina, Prairie du Chien was an easy choice.

"I love it here," said Mike. "It’s one of the most scenic areas I’ve lived."

Mike works from a studio in his apartment at 730 1/2 Beaumont Road and can be contacted at (608) 886-4177 or at mike@pettart.com. Another side to PettArt that Mike is working on is the development of web sites for area businesses.

One can view most of Mike’s artwork at www.pettart.com, where there is ample proof of the power of the pen.

PdC Council tables vote to override veto

The clearest explanation of the roundabout controversy from last night’s meeting of the Prairie du Chien Common Council is that council tabled action on the mayor’s veto of the July 1 defeat of a motion to rescind the roundabout contract for Marquette Road. It was tabled until the next meeting or until the issue is clarified. Following that, however, a number of people addressed the roundabout issue with accompanying laughter and applause.

When a motion was made to deny a citywide referendum vote on the roundabouts, City Attorney Tom Peterson said it was his opinion, based on a past court ruling in Wisconsin, that a referendum cannot be used to undo a contractual obligation, and would therefore be unproductive. Clem Wachuta, spokesperson for the roundabout opposition, cited the exact statute number regarding referendums and said one could be brought about in two ways: the council would approve it or residents could start a petition and if the requisite number of signatures were collected, the referendum would be held. Wachuta did not address the issue of whether the referendum would hold any legal weight.

Scott Spinner, an employee of Dillman Equipment, said he had looked at the hazardous material clause in the present contract, stating the project should be free of hazardous materials. Spinner said there appear to be gas tanks and other materials in the roundabout areas, and said he had talked to a contractor who said the cost would be a minimum of $25,000 a tank. He added that in his estimate, the total contract cost would be higher than estimated. "I’m saying it’s going to be a million five by the time you’re through."

Another section of the contract, however, indicates that the city will not bear those costs. Included in a list of costs to be reimbursed by the State are: "property purchase costs, hazardous material inspection and removal (unless PECFA eligible), razing of acquired buildings and other property improvement and the delivery costs incurred by the Municipality, including staff and consultant time."

Dick Hartig, pharmacist and owner of Hartig Drug, said that in June, 2005 he was approached by the mayor, the city administrator and the city planner about bringing a drug store to Prairie du Chien. Hartig said that at no time during the purchase of the property or his work on the building did anyone tell him that roundabouts would be built and his parking lot taken. "What the hell is going on," he asked. "I’ve been in business for 20 months on your invitation." He added, "What you’re doing to my company is a travesty."

Several council members also commented. Joe Ruskey addressed Wachuta, saying "You are making Prairie du Chien look like a joke. You turn around at the crowd and smirk. Give the people all the facts." Michael Brouse said he felt the people should be allowed to decide, and that it would only take a few months.

Council member Karen Solomon said she felt as a single working parent she represented a good number of the residents. She said she was concerned about the domino effect if the roundabouts are cancelled: the city will owe money for the plans that were scrapped and would have to pay for new changes. "I’m just Joe Citizen," she said, "I can’t afford a whole bunch of property tax charges." Council member Frank Pintz said if the roundabouts go through the state should be accountable for removing them if they don’t work.

The motion to deny the referendum passed.

In other business:

•Prairie du Chien School Superintendent Drew Johnson appraised council of several plans in the works. He said the district had entered into an agreement with the hospital, which uses part of the high school lot, to help build additional parking on the other side of the school where the old tennis courts were, and the hospital will rent some more of the school lot space. He said they were looking at a means to drain more storm water to the south and get it off Dousman. Johnson added that if the street is extended to the north of Bluff View as the Senior Village is developed, the district would like to find a different way to get buses in and out of the parking lot to eliminate congestion.

•Bill Nelson of Vierbicher and associates reported on the streetscape and water projects. He said the contractor still wants to complete the entire project before winter. The project, he said, is a little over half done. Concrete work downtown should begin this week. By the last week in July construction will move to the area between Beaumont and Wacouta. Businesses, he said, have been very understanding.

•Notified that Mediacom was again raising its rates, council voted to deny receipt of the letter. Council member Ruskey, who made the motion, said he knew the motion would have no impact, but he wanted to send a message that the company has "terrible prices and terrible service." City Administrator Jim Gitz suggested the city file objections regarding the service provided and something could perhaps be done about that.

•Council receipted the Finance Committee report on proposed increases in salary schedule for recreation staff, but took action only on those salaries which were below the new minimum wage of $6.55. Gitz recommended council examine all city salaries before taking further action.

•Council authorized preparation of an application for a Clean Sweep Grant for collection of household wastes. Terry Meyer, co-director of Public Works, said wastes were collected in 2005, 3,486 pounds of chemicals were collected.

•Action on relinquishments of public easements in the Senior Village development was postponed until it could be determined whether the relinquishment would jeopardize a proposed bike path in the area.

July 14, 2008

Mayor’s veto stands, council to revote on roundabout contract

City Attorney Tom Peterson said it is his opinion that Mayor Karl Steiner’s veto of the defeated motion to rescind the roundabout contract for Marquette Road is valid. That means that the issue will appear again on the July 15 agenda of the Prairie du Chien Common Council.

According to Peterson, to override the mayor’s veto, there must be a two-thirds majority. Mayor Steiner said that if his veto is overridden, he will accept the vote and will not veto it again.

If, however, the veto stands, council will then have to vote to nullify the contract. Steiner, who campaigned against the roundabouts in his bid for election, said that if that vote is tied he can and will cast the deciding vote. "I think everybody knows which way I’ll vote," he added.

The original motion to rescind the contract, which was defeated on a 10-2 vote, was made at the July 1 meeting.

Site cleanup benefits entire city

Since the city has for the last few months been involved in the purchase and cleanup of two contaminated sites and the cleanup of a third within the city, and the cleanup of a third, the question arises of why the owners of the property did not have to pay for that cleanup. The two properties purchased by the city are the former Quality Woods site, located on Lessard St., and the former service station at the corner of Blackhawk Ave. and Main Street.

Garth Frable, former city planner and current consultant to the city, explained that the property owners did not get off "scot-free," but either had met or were in the process of meeting standards established by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Steve Welter, owner of the Quality Woods site, was in the process of cleaning up the site to meet DNR standards, and had already spent a large sum in doing so when the purchase occurred, Frable said.

The contamination had not been done deliberately, Frable said, but rather was a result of years of drips from arsenic treated woods.

The city was able to purchase the property at significantly less than its assessed value and make it available to Wolf Machine, which needed to relocate to a larger building. With the city willing to take on the remaining cleanup, the DNR agreed to provide funding.

"In summary," said Frable, "the city saw the chance to work with state and federal agencies to remediate the property and encourage business, and now we have Wolf Machine adding employees despite a weak economy."

In the case of the former service station, the owner, Stratton Bus Service, had already received "a clean bill of health" from the DNR, said Frable. However, the cleanup was done to a level referred to as "no further action." What that means, he said, is that although the DNR has signed off on it, if at some time in the future more pollution were found, all parties involved could be held responsible.

The city purchased this property at close to market rate, Frable said, but because of its location, it is considered a valuable property for redevelopment. Again, they were able to obtain grants for assessment and additional cleanup. Frable said there is some evidence of contamination under the old building. As far as can be determined, that contamination has not left the site, and the grant will allow them to prevent the contamination from spreading and to detoxify the site. The contamination, he said, is not major, and explained, "If you put gas in your lawn mower at the same spot for over 20 years, you will have some contamination on that site."

The city reclaims its investment in the property when it is sold to the new owners.

Frable said such practices afford an opportunity to clean up pollution and make property available for redevelopment all at once. "If you have the patience to piece things together, ultimately you’ll end up with a good deal," he said.

The third site, the old Prairie Tool building along S. Marquette Road, is still owned by Bill Herried, Sr. Frable said the building is in poor condition and needs to be torn down. Although it probably is not sufficient to merit DNR attention, Frable said there is some contamination at the site, and it is a site the city would like to see developed. "We felt," he said, "that development would not happen for a long time if the city didn’t intervene." The city applied for a grant and "just made the cut." The grant will cover demolition, asbestos abatement, removal of concrete and grading back to ‘empty lot’ condition. The Herreid family, said Frable, has agreed to pay the required matching funds for the grant as well as costs for preparation of the grant application. The family intends to either redevelop the lot or sell it for redevelopment. The end result could be one more business-generating tax revenue for the city.

Prairie Dog Blues Fest set for July 25-26

The ever popular Prairie Dog Blues Fest will be held in Prairie du Chien on St. Feriole Island on July 25-26.

The Prairie Dog Blues Fest is considered one of the most laid back festivals of its kind. Two stages in a park-like setting feature international, national and regional blues bands.

The lineup for the 2008 Prairie Dog Blues Fest is as follows:

July 25

5 p.m.

Bobby Bryan Band

The Bobby Bryan Band were the winners of the 2007 Wisconsin Blues Challenge and represented Wisconsin at the 2008 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee.

For the past 20 years, Bobby Bryan has been captivating audiences with his brand of "urban blues." He is a well seasoned guitarist who has both chops and amazing feel.

7 p.m.

Davina & the Vagabonds

Davina Sowers, hit the Midwest scene in 2005 and she hasn’t looked back since. It didn’t take her long after moving here from Key West to start making a name for herself. With great vocals and piano, she commands attention on stage and leaves everyone smiling.

9 p.m.

Jason Ricci & New Blood

Jason Ricci and New Blood mix blues, rock, funk, eastern and jazz into a seamless and eclectic blend of music. New Blood always delivers a level of musical virtuosity, while effortlessly keeping the fun, angst and energy of a Punk Rock band.

As a Blues band JR & NB have individually and collectively won various accolades and distinguished awards from blues societies all over the world.

11 p.m.

Walter Trout & the Radicals

"The man called "a bluesmaster" by Time Out London, "a gladiator guitar player" by the L.A. Times and "the best guitarist in the world" by Rock CB Magazine has not 1 but 2 fan clubs in Europe. He was ranked Number 6 among the top 20 all-time greatest guitarists in a poll taken by the BBC, just two votes behind Jimmy Page and topping Stevie Ray Vaughan, Peter Green and Eddie Van Halen.

Trout began his career as a sideman to Big Mama Thornton, Joe Tex and John Lee Hooker, going on to play with high profile bands Canned Heat and then John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. During these years, Walter had fallen into the stereotypical rock n’roller, doing drugs and alcohol.

Walter’s turning point came when the band was in East Berlin doing a show with Carlos Santana. After seeing Walter in an intoxicated state, Carlos took Walter aside in a heartfelt conversation and told him he was squandering the gift that God had given him. In fairly short order, Walter quit drugs and drinking. Once clean, he felt he had more to give than a few blazing guitar solos as a sideman and he broke with the Bluesbreakers and formed the Walter Trout Band. A Danish label picked them up and extensive touring of Europe playing large venues, festivals and hits on mainstream radio ensured. With the band now renamed Walter Trout & The Free Radicals, Walter is on a mission to conquer his homeland.

Tent

Moreland & Arbuckle

The great state of Kansas is best known for producing "Dorothy" and a bombastic rock band in the 1970s, until now. Enter Moreland & Arbuckle fresh from the heartland with their hair-raising mix of stomping Mississippi Hill Country, Delta and rural blues. Reaching the finals at the 2005 International Blues Competition in Memphis allowed them to bust out of their regional confines after performing together for only three years.

July 26

Noon

The Bourbon Brothers

Introducing the Bourbon Brothers, Ben Peterson (saxophone), Folko Landvogt (slide guitar), Dave Orr (drums) and Chris Hand (Bass). From La Crosse, Wisconsin, nestled in the heart of the Mississippi Valley the Bourbon Brothers Band perform original compositions ranging in style from Blues and Jazz to Funk. The Bourbon Brothers focus on the more obscure songs and arrangements while including cover songs ranging from traditional delta blues like "Kokomo Blues" by Mississippi Fred McDowell to traditional Chicago blues like "Dust my Broom" by Robert Johnson. They have been performing throughout the Midwest in various venues and on radio for more than three years.

2 p.m.

Charles Walker Band

The Charles Walker Band is a Milwaukee based five piece that performs blues, R&B and funk with uncanny precision and dynamic energy. This quote from Noggin Blues Matters! magazine describes the band: "…we are treated to the full panoply of Blues styles, great tunes, intelligent lyrics and superb instrumentation throughout." The band has opened for such greats as BB King and Robert Cray, and tours regionally and nationally.

4 p.m.

Nick Moss & the Flip Tops

Chicago blues is synonymous with guitarist Nick Moss. Though the golden era of Chicago blues is long past, with many of its key players deceased or retired, this young Chicagoan stands tallest in the current generation of blues performers that honor the spirit of the great urban African-American music.

Nick Moss and The Flip Tops have garnered multiple Blues Award Nominations over the last five years with nods for Album of the Year and Traditional Blues Album of the Year in both 2006 and 2007 as well as Band of the Year and Instrumentalist Guitar (Nick Moss) for 2007.

6 p.m.

Kilborn Alley Blues Band

On April 29, 2000 two high school seniors and two friends just out of high school played their first bar gig as "Kilborn Alley." Within a few months they had been in local blues festivals and set and broke the records for admissions collected at several Illinois venues. In 2001 they won the battle of the bands at the Bean Blossom Blues Festival in Indiana. They were nominated for 2007 Blues Music Award for "Best New Artist – Debut," but the response to the album has eclipsed the nomination. It reached number eight on the Living Blues radio chart.

8 p.m.

The Groove Hogs

Described by the Toronto Blues Society as a gutsier Blood, Sweat and Tears crossed with Delbert McClinton, the Groove Hogs have spent the last 14 years redefining themselves through the making of four records and non-stop touring. While horn-fueled intensity endures as the band’s axiom, the Groove Hogs continue to meld influences of blues, soul, and rock with their own, road-worn experience.

10 p.m.

Bernard Allison

Son of blues legend Luther Allison was born in Chicago, but grew up in Peoria, Illinois. He started teaching himself to play guitar at the age of 10, by jamming along to his father’s albums. Mixing funk, rock and the blues comes naturally to Allison. He points out that as the youngest of nine kids, he was exposed to a myriad of sounds, not just the records of his dad. "I think it’s important for me to play a lot of different styles because that’s how I grew up."

After graduating from high school in 1983, Allison took the helm as bandleader in Koko Taylor’s Blues Machine. He then formed his own group and performed a great deal in Canada. Allison joined his dad for a set at the 1983 Chicago Blues Festival. He got tips on slide playing from Johnny Winter and hung out with Stevie Ray Vaughn. It was a natural transition in 1989 when Allison moved to France to record and tour with his dad. He stayed on as his father’s bandleader until 1993, when he got his first recording contract. Several successful European tours and albums later, the buzz he made overseas created such a demand back in the states that he decided to make the U.S. his home again.

Tent

Brandon Scott Sellner

24-year old guitarist Brandon Scott Sellner’s stinging licks may sound like he grew up in the nightclubs and after-hours juke joints of Austin, Texas, but the fast-fingered performer originally hails from a small town of less than 5,000 called Sleepy Eye. This Minnesotan plays a polished, blues-infused brand of electric guitar, heavily influenced by guys like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix. Sellner himself is more in the vein of John Mayer and Jonny Lang, with his catchy voice hooks and sometimes sensitive lyrics.