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The Wauzeka-Steuben Athletic Boosters have been working to provide lighting at the football and baseball fields at Wauzeka-Steuben High School. There has never been lights at the football field and the booster club continues to seek funds through donations and through two different raffles to date. According to booster club member Pam Buchen, the cost of the lighting will be from $30,000 to $60,000, depending upon the type of light poles purchased. The first raffle for athletic field lighting will be drawn on Labor Day at the Village Park. Twenty guns will be raffled off and there will be 20 chances to win on a single ticket, according to booster club representatives. There will be a limit of 4,000 tickets. The second raffle will be held on Oct. 19 during the halftime of the football game. The winner will receive a choice of either $4,000 or a 2002 Kawasaki 4-wheeler valued at $5,900. There will be a limit of 3,500 tickets. Raffle tickets are available at Stuckey's Market, Christianson Feed Mill, Wauzeka Family Cafe, Sportsman's, Two Rivers, The Horseshoe and at all Krachey's BP locations. The Wauzeka-Steuben Athletic Boosters were founded in 2000 with a mission to promote a positive community environment by keeping youth and adults actively involved in athletics. The boosters' goal is to promote athletic activities by providing needed financial support for school and community programs. Wauzeka-Steuben Athletic Booster representatives pointed out that studies conducted by the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association have shown that students involved in athletics generally receive higher grades than students not involved in athletics. Also, athletic programs provide leadership, teamwork, character building, sportsmanship and memories for a lifetime, athletic boosters said. The Wauzeka-Steuben Athletic Boosters have 45 members. All money raised by the booster club is spent within the athletic programs. Athletic boosters have provided "Ws" on the football helmets, weightlifting belts, baseball and softball bats, athletic awards and plaques and videos that can be used to enhance proper technique. Any person who has an interest in the goals and objectives of the Wauzeka-Steuben Athletic Boosters may be eligible for membership. The booster club meets the second Wednesday of every month at 6 p.m. in the APR at school. If anyone is interested in becoming a member, in purchasing or selling raffle tickets or in making a donation, they may call Pam Buchen at (608) 875-6144.

New River Ridge District Administrator getting acquainted
New District Administrator Michael G. Murphy said he will focus on student achievement and building the curriculum as two of his priorities for the River Ridge School District. "Reading, writing, speaking, listening and reasoning skills are very important," said Murphy, who noted that the recent, excellent third-grade reading test scores show the strong commitment of the teachers, parents and students. Murphy said that upon graduation, River Ridge students will be prepared for the world of work and to be good local, national, and world citizens, in addition to gaining the knowledge and maturity in order to make good decisions in their personal lives. Murphy began his duties at River Ridge on July 1, after having served as high school principal at Kewaunee for the past five years. "This is a beautiful part of the state," said Murphy, who recently moved to the area with his wife Rebecca M. Murphy. "We both find the people to be very friendly and very supportive of the educational program." Michael Murphy received his master's degree in Educational Administration from UW Ð Madison and is finishing his specialist degree at the university. He received his bachelor's degree at UW Ð Stevens Point, majoring in English and minoring in history. Rebecca Murphy is a freelance graphic artist and holds degrees in marketing and retailing as well as printing and publishing. The Murphy's said they enjoy hiking through the area's beautiful state parks, going on picnics, bicycling, cross country skiing, reading and attending fairs, parades and bar-b-ques.

PdC native publishes book of her life's journey
A friend compared Shirley Cunningham's life's journeys and spiritual metamorphosis to chapters in a book. Shirley was born and raised in Prairie du Chien. From Catholic girlhood, to entry and exit from a convent, marriage, motherhood, divorced 'singledom' at age 50, annulment, remarriage, and breast cancer recovery, her journey is an interesting one. She said not longer after a friend compared her life, to her amazement, the spirit of her long-dead father spoke to her: 'Tell your truth; write your story.' With that, she says she knew that its meaning was larger than her life. "The Holy One had lured me out of my conventional ideas, even my identity, and I'd found God hovering at every turn. My life gradually convinced me that we are all mystics, all called to be taught by our very lives . . Divine guidance hovers at every turn Ñ if only we attend," she says. In her first book, Chasing God, she invites others to join her adventure with personal stories of wisdom and faith. She describes her book as "the real life story an ex-nun who escapes the secrecy of her Catholic milieu to discover the transforming love of a gentle God bigger than any institution." On the way, she goes to jail, divorces her ex-priest husband, makes a shamanic journey and, while recovering from breast cancer, is visited by angels. "Why had I gone into the convent? Why had I left? After marrying and having a child, how could a good Catholic girl like me get divorced and then be single and marry again in her fifties? What was behind my annulment from a former priest with a secret? She says her stories describe how "a gentle God" coaxed her into ever deepening and more inclusive spirituality. Her healing from both breast cancer and her divorce brought recovery of body and spirit as she learned life-changing lessons about sexuality's connection to spirituality. Shirley says her "powerful story will encourage women struggling with loss of health, faith or love to courageously step onto the new ground of their own lives. This book, full of dreams and encounters with angels, promises that Divine guidance hovers at every turn for those willing to slow down and simply attend." During her life, Shirley has been a high school English and journalism teacher, a college and university lecturer, as well as a social service administrator. Currently, she is a spiritual director and counselor in private practice in Scottsdale, Ariz., where she resides with her husband. Shirley has long been on her own spiritual quest and assists other through her workshops and retreats. She is a 1957 graduate of St. Mary's Academy in Prairie du Chien. Shirley has two degrees in English, one from Viterbo College, La Crosse, which she earned magna cum laude, the other from Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. She also has a Masters of Social Work from Arizona State University. She trained as a spiritual director at the Shalem Institute, Washington, D.C. and has been a longtime student of spirituality, psychology, journaling, dreams, intuition, imagery and creativity and their interconnections. She has kept journals and written poetry from childhood.

Ferryville man dies in Highway 35 crash
On Monday, July 22, at approximately 5:08 p.m. the Crawford County Sheriff's Department was notified of a two vehicle accident with injuries on State Highway 35 seven-tenths of a mile north of State Highway 82, approximately three miles south of DeSoto. Richard Vassar, 37, Ferryville was traveling southbound on Highway 35 in his 1993 Chevrolet Cavalier. Jay Jamesson, 33, La Crosse, was traveling northbound in a 1999 Ford truck. The Jamesson vehicle crossed the centerline and struck the Vassar vehicle. Richard Vassar was initially transported by ambulance to DeSoto in order to be transported by medical helicopter, but he was pronounced dead as a result of injuries sustained in the accident before he was transported by Med-Link. Jamesson received minor injuries and refused medical transport. Because of the severe damage to the vehicle, seatbelt usage is unknown. The highway was closed for approximately two-and-a-half hours. The accident remains under investigation.

Soulful soundwaves to soar at Blues Fest
Scintillating, searing, yet soulful soundwaves will soar from the shores of the Mighty Mississippi, sending spine-tingling shivers of resonance through the bluesin', groovin' throng gathered for the 5th Annual Prairie Dog Blues Fest starting Friday evening. The blues fest will feature 12 top of the line blues bands over the weekend, July 26 and 27 on historic St. Feriole Island. Headliners include the noteworthy blues bands of Michael Burks on Friday night and Walter Trout and the Free Radicals on Saturday night. Like a freight train rolling through the night, guitarist-vocalist Michael Burks plows through the blues with relentless power and a full head of steam. Michael has earned well-deserved national recognition to become one of the fastest rising stars in the blues world. Although he was a W.C. Handy Award nominee for Best New Artist in 2000, Michael is a seasoned veteran in every sense. His first gig came at the age of 6. Today, each live performance is a testament to Michael's 30-plus years of playing the blues. With the release of his Alligator Records debut, "Make it Rain," Michael Burks stands poised to break into the upper echelon of the blues. It's not easy being Walter Trout. The man called "a gladiator guitar player" by the "Los Angeles Times" and "the best guitarist in the world" by "Rock CD Magazine" has not one, but two fan clubs in Europe. He was ranked number 6 among the top 20 all-time greatest guitarists in a 1993 poll taken by the BBC, just two votes behind number 5 Ð some guy name Jimmy Page and topping Stevie Ray Vaughn, Peter Green and Eddie Van Halen. But in his homeland, Trout has yet to reap the accolades heaped upon him overseas. He is used to playing at the corner bar here and two days later flying first-class to Switzerland to open up for Elton John in front of 150,000 people. It's a puzzlement to the 46-year-old New Jersey-born singer-guitarist, who now lives with his family in California. His seven albums, released overseas, have sold a total of 400,000 copies. Kicking off the 5th Annual Fest will be 6v6 at 5 p.m. Friday evening. Big George Jackson will take the stage at 7 p.m., followed by Eric Sardinas at 9 p.m. Heading up the fest on Friday night will be Michael Burks at 11 p.m. In addition to the main stage acts, the Blue Shadows will be featured all evening in the beer tent. 6V6 is a blues trio based in Peoria, Illinois. Russell Miller's tasty, funk-driven lead guitar work and blue-eyed soul voice is just the right prescription for the end of a hectic week. The group's sound gets right to the heart of the blues, both modern and traditional. 6V6 is consistently in the top 50 on MP3.com's electric blues listings. Twin Cities based Big George Jackson definitely has earned the use of the word "Big" for his nickname. In a day when so many new blues vocalists are screamers, Jackson's heavy tones fill a large void. He can deliver a dirty, Hookeresque boogie as easily as the west coast swing. Throw in his adept harmonica playing and you will be wowed. With his band, thee are no aimless, tedious solos, and every instrument functions in concert with the story Jackson tells. In an industry that needs to peg, define and put artists into slots, Eric Sardinas stands out as a performer that breaks boundaries. He is a true original. Unlike so many of today's young artists, 29-year-old Sardinas has forged his own path combining his inspiration from early blues legends with a style all his own. Sardinas is a slide virtuoso, exclusively playing custom electrified resonator guitars, with a piece of brass pipe for a slide. Born in the South, Eric settled in Southern California in 1990 where he played acoustically on street corners until forming his band. The trio now is playing close to 300 shows annually in the U.S. and Europe. Touring in support of "Treat Me Right," Eric has performed to capacity crowds in more than 26 countries with literal pyrotechnics. He is known to ignite his guitar and walk among the flames. Blue Shadows is a powerful blues trio based in Wisconsin. It prides itself on its straight forward cutting edge raw blues. Percy Strothers will get things rolling at noon on Saturday, followed by The Janeys at 2 p.m. Renee Austin will hit the stage at 4 p.m. and Harper will swing into action at 6 p.m. Next up, will be Mighty Sam McClain at 8 p.m. Headlining the show will be Walter Trout and the Free Radicals at 10 p.m. Keith Doder and The Blue City Band will be featured in the beer tent throughout the day and night. Percy Strothers was born in Mississippi in 1946, one of eight children. Music and singing was encouraged in Percy's family. Tragedy reared its ugly head when Percy was 8 or 9 years old. Percy's father was accused of killing a white man and was hung. Percy's mother was devastated and turned to alcohol, leaving the children to fend for themselves. To help provide food, Percy started singing at the age of 12 in local clubs. At age 14 Percy hit the road, finally ending up in the Twin Cities. In 1992, Percy cut his first solo CD, "A Good Woman is Hard to Find," which tied for first place as Best Blues song of 1992 in the Readers Awards Section of the 1993 Living Blues Awards. Critics were stunned by Percy's versatility in producing a brassy, soul-tinged, R&B styled disc. Bryce Janey began his career at age 13 in a blues trio called The Janey's, with his mother on drums and his father Billy Lee on guitar. After The Janey's achieved some regional success, Bryce began a solo career and released his first CD in 1995. He has released three additional CDs since 1996. His latest is entitled "Bare Wire". His earlier CDs have gained national attention and reviews. How do you describe Renee' Austin in one word? Passionate! With her powerful and emotional 5-octave range voice, it's hard to compare her to anyone today. From the time Renee' was 4 years old and first stepped up to the microphone at her family's little country church in Texas, she knew what she was destined to do with her life. Renee' has created her own unique style of modern Motown, R&B, soul, rock and pop. Now playing with a 6-piece horn band and new material, Renee' finds herself on the threshold of something exciting. The buzz has already begun about Renee's much-anticipated return to the music scene. English born, but raised in Australia, Peter Harper is known for his huge soulful voice, unique feedback driving harmonica performances and innovative and new songwriting style. Harper combines a "Cream" feel with the pop of the late 60s. His emotive harmonica melodies brings the roots music element to his compositions. Harper's use of feedback to create his harmonica sound during his live performances has drawn comparisons with Jimi Hendrix's use of guitar. He has performed for the Queen of England at a Royal Command Performance at Forest Palace in Perth and has toured with Canned Heat, Steppenwolf and George Thorogood. Born in Monroe, Louisiana in 1943, Mighty Sam McClain is a veteran of the 60s R&B trenches, as well as battles with alcohol and homelessness. From cotton fields to the Apollo Theater, to the park bench, Sam has lived the songs that have become the epitome of his career. Today, Sam is one of America's finest classic soul singers, with multiple Handy Award nominations and international tours. Four years ago, McClain's lyrics took a turn for the spiritual, making albums an intriguing blend of stone blues and gospel. Formed in the early 1980s, Keith Doder and the Blue City Band have shaped and molded a distinctive blues sound that reflects the long-standing tradition of outstanding blues artists in St. Louis. The Blue City Band pays homage to the blues masters while it continually explores new blues horizons. Doder is a 25-year veteran of the blues scene and toured extensively as the featured harpist with the late, blues giant Jimmy Rogers throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe in 1997. For more information on the Prairie Dog Blues Festival or for ticket price information call (888) 567-1567. State considers expansion at PdC correctional facility A top official of the Department of Corrections announced the future plans for the Prairie du Chien Correctional Facility on Wednesday night at City Hall. The prison will remain open, the age of the inmates may be expanded and the number of them may double. Jon Litscher, the Secretary for the Department of Correction, spoke to some members of the common council and concerned residents of Prairie du Chien to clear rumors that the facility may close. He said that there was once a possibility that the prison would be closed after the state cut $39 million from the Department of Corrections budget for the 2002-2003 fiscal year. "There was once a great possibility that the prison would be closed," he said. "We had limited resources." The department saw that Prairie du Chien had the highest cost per inmate per day in Wisconsin, $97. The next closest is Jackson, Wis. at $66. Litscher said he wants to lower these costs by expanding the inmate population from 300 inmates to a maximum of 600. "This institution will not stay open, in my opinion, if it is kept at 300 inmates," he said. "This institution has to come to an approximate size of between 500 to 600 inmates." Increasing the number of inmates would drive down the cost per prisoner, according to Litscher. He said it is a matter of proportion. There is a core institution that has to be paid for and the more prisoners there are, the less the cost for each of them. "Whether you have 200 or 1,000 prisoners, it doesn't matter," he said. More inmates will lead to increased employment. Litscher estimated a minimum of 100 additional jobs will be added. He was adamant that these jobs would go to members of the Prairie du Chien community. "These will be the people who will be your neighbors," he said. He also proposed that the age range of the inmate population expand from 18 to 22 years old to an older population as well. Litscher said that this would help stabilize the prison environment. Younger inmates are more rebellious than the older ones, he said. "The older inmates calm down the young ones," he said. "Older offenders stabilize institutions." There might also be a greater mixture of offenders, although the security level of the Prairie du Chien prison will remain the same. "This will always be a medium security institution," he stated. The new inmates could include convicted murderers and rapists. They would be inmates that had to come from a higher security prison and shown good reason to be at a lower level. "Even if a person has murdered or raped, they have matriculated from a maximum security prison," he said.