Prairie du Chien Correctional Institution has recently observed its 10th year of operation and is expected to be a major employer in the city for years to come.

During its first decade, the institution has seen many changes. Prairie du Chien Correctional Institution first took 40 inmates on July 3, 1997, its first official day of operation. Forty more inmates were then added each week until reaching 302, said Deputy Warden Rick Gutknecht.

The institution has been expanding ever since. In 2001, there were 326 inmates. In 2004, the number had risen to 424. By June of 2006, the population was 472 and in October of 2006 the number hit 512, the approximate number that is maintained today.

Of course, as the prison population grew so did the staff. Gutknecht said that the staff numbered 143 when the institution opened, with 95 being security staff and 49 in non-security positions. There are 187 staff members today, with 118 security and 69 non-security. There are also 11 limited term employees.

Gutknecht said that there are about 35 staff members who have been working at the institution since day one. He estimated that about 85 percent of those were hired from Prairie du Chien and the surrounding area.

"You can't say enough about our staff," said Gutknecht. "They do a difficult job. They are dedicated. They truly function as a team and they give to the community." Gutknecht noted that staff members organize various fundraisers, and do work for Badger Camp, Special Olympics, the Relay for Life, Toys for Tots and Operation Santa Claus, among others.

"They are dedicated and have a work ethic that's outstanding," said Interim Warden Peter Huibregtse. "That's a tribute to the quality of the staff that we're hiring from the Southwest part of the state." Huibregtse was named Interim Warden on May 15 and will remain so indefinitely. He said that the staff at Prairie du Chien has a much lower turn-over rate than in other institutions throughout the state.

As expected, the annual budget to run Prairie du Chien Correctional Institution has increased over the years as well. In 1997, the budget was $6.6 million. In 2007, the budget is $10.37 million.

The institution began as a juvenile facility but is now a medium security prison. In order to accommodate an increasing population, the institution expanded into space in various buildings that were not being fully utilized.

In addition, many security measures have been added over the years. Gutknecht said that when it first opened the institution had one perimeter fence with one row of razor ribbon on top. A second fence with razor wire has been added, along with additional fencing within the facility. A perimeter vehicle with armed security personnel also patrols the outside of the institution.

"The institution has been made especially safer for the community at large," said Gutknecht. There have been only two escape attempts in 10 years at the prison and those were very early on. Interim Warden Huibregtse said that there are plans for a new motion detecting system and an electrical stun system added to an existing fence. Prairie du Chien is one of six remaining medium security institutions which will receive such a fence. The fence will be able to stun an inmate and will also be able to pinpoint the exact location so that security personnel can respond to the location immediately.

"It's all been part of the maturing process from a juvenile facility to an adult facility," said Huibregtse about the heightened security over the years. The average age of an inmate at Prairie du Chien is 30 years.

The institution also installed a new radio system in late 2005 and early 2006. The new radio system has enhanced the ability to communicate within the institution as well was with law enforcement agencies and emergency government, said Huibregtse. Huibregtse noted that should there be a major flood, for example, communication with the Crawford County Emergency Management is now greatly improved.

Gutknecht said that 68 new cameras were added this spring, along with new digital recording technology. "This is a significant upgrade," he said.

Future projects include adding to the Gatehouse. Huibregtse said that the addition will involve remodeling as well as new construction and will cost approximately $290,000. Another planned project is the expansion of the segregation building from 10 cells to 30 cells. The segregation building separates disruptive inmates from the rest of the population. Huibregtse said that the architects have been hired and that construction of these projects is expected to be completed by next summer.

Huibregtse said that he expects to have even more expansion and more inmates at the institution in future years. "I'd be surprised if there wasn't," he said in noting that, unfortunately, prison populations continue to rise statewide.

As far as getting inmates ready for the outside world, Huibregtse and Gutknecht said that Prairie du Chien has a number of programs, including an AODA (alcohol and other drugs) program, a cognitive intervention program and a victim impact program. In short, the cognitive intervention program focuses upon an inmate's decision making process and the victim impact program is designed to help inmates begin to take responsibility for their own actions.

There are also various education programs taught by 14 teachers. Numerous inmates earn their HSED (high school equivalency diploma) each year. "We have the highest number of graduates in the state," said Gutknecht, who noted that between 230 and 240 inmates are enrolled in the HSED program every year.

"When they walk out that door, our ultimate goal is to make them an employable, productive taxpayer," said Huibregtse. "We give them the tools to get a job and to keep that job and realize that it is important."

Gutknecht said that one of the most successful vocational programs offered at the institution is the bricklaying program, which give the inmates masonry skills. Many are able to get good-paying jobs, he said.

Other educational programs are designed to give the inmates "life skills" such as financial and budget skills, learning how to find an apartment or other proper housing and how to conduct an interview in order to land a job.

In addition to educational and vocational programs, the inmates are also kept busy through a variety of community service projects. Many inmates are involved with the growing of a garden, which raises food for the institution as well as several local organizations. Inmate work crews help out the Prairie du Chien Police Department and other city personnel by cutting grass and other such tasks. They also work on various projects at Wyalusing State Park. Inmates make teddy bears for the Prairie du Chien EMS to distribute to children. They also make saddle bags for wheel chairs, fill the luminaries with sand for the annual Relay For Life, and fill the Easter eggs for the yearly Easter Egg Hunt.

"We do everything we can to keep these guys busy," said Huibregtse, who noted that many inmates take pride in giving back to the community, and that in so doing, it is a form of "restorative justice."

The inmates filled thousands of sandbags during the big flood of 2001 that swamped Prairie du Chien.

Huibregtse said that the inmates not only help the community, the community helps them as well. There were no volunteers when the institution opened. Today, there are more than 100 volunteers that offer different services to the inmates. Services include Alcoholic's Anonymous programs, mentoring programs, a religious library, religious services and volunteers who provide spiritual guidance. Local and area churches also make various donations each year.

"They fill a big void and do great work," said Huibregtse about the volunteers. "I can't praise those people enough. The community has been extremely supportive and we appreciate it very much."

Todd Yeomans is a party (organizing) animal.

The Prairie Dog Blues Festival, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, grew out of a big bash he planned for his 30th birthday. He hired a few bands and invited a couple hundred of his closest friends.

"I got such a kick out of throwing it together, watching people have fun," Todd remembers.

The satisfaction of having a great party, combined with his love for blues music was the impetus for creating the Prairie Dog Blues Festival.

Ten years later the Prairie Dog Blues Fest has grown into a small but successful music festival with a dedicated following. Originally the event had a budget of $38,000; this year the event will cost $150,000 to produce. It attracts nationally and internationally recognized artists to Prairie du Chien.

To find the acts he wants to book, Todd spends time each year visiting some of the bigger regional blues festivals such as Bayfront Blues Fest in Duluth, Minn., and the Mississippi Valley Blues Fest in the Quad Cities. He also receives hundreds of promotional CDs from blues artists from all over the world who are looking for bookings. From that he whittles it down.

"I come up with my wish list, and then I see if we can afford them," he said. Many local businesses have really helped over the years by becoming sponsors.

O.K., so maybe these musicians aren't household names. Outside of large metropolitan areas, blues doesn't get much airplay on radio.

"Blues artists have a hard time getting exposure," Todd says.

To help local listeners get a taste of what will be offered at Prairie Dog, he has purchased some spots on WPRE which include clips of songs of some of the artists featured at this year's show.

Featured at this year's Prairie Dog Blues Fest are two artists who have won top honors this year at the Blues Music Awards in Memphis, Tenn. Each year, the Blues Foundation presents the Blues Music Awards to the artists selected by its members. They are universally recognized as the highest honor given to blues artists.

Friday night headliner Tab Benoit won 2007 Contemporary Male Artist of the Year and the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year awards. Benoit, of Houma, La., has also been nominated for a Grammy Award. Backed by his band Louisiana LeRoux, Tab is known for his ability to improvise and his Cajun blues style. When he wraps up his gig in Prairie he will be heading to Chicago to play at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Music Festival. He has also been deeply involved in raising money for the restoration of Louisiana wetlands with his own non-profit, Voice of the Wetlands, which hosts annual fundraising concerts. And he created music for the soundtrack of the 2006 IMAX film, "Hurricane on the Bayou," about the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, in which he himself was displaced.

Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials, won 2007 Band of the Year at the Blues Awards. The band is made up of Chicago blues veterans, and Lil' Ed is known for his gymnastics on stage as well as his hard driving guitar.

Bagley residents continue recovery

Agencies, volunteers and residents continue with clean-up and recovery efforts in Bagley in the wake of the heavy rains and flash flooding that occurred during the early morning of July 18.

Approximately 50 homes sustained severe damage, another 100 had minor damage and 250 had sewage backed up, said Grant County Assistant Emergency Management Director Julie Loeffelholz.

Many of the homes, including several mobile homes, cannot be repaired and about 35 people were displaced Wednesday night and stayed with family or friends rather than the Red Cross overnight shelter at the Bagley Village Hall/Fire Department. Numerous people have since received comfort kits, meals and water from the Red Cross and the Salvation Army, however.

Many people have also received tetanus shots from the Grant County Health Department, which has nurses temporarily set up at the Fire Department. Tetanus shots are considered a good precaution for those who have spent many hours in debris-filled water and mud while cleaning up houses and streets.

One such family who has been very busy cleaning up their home is Glenn and Denise Marshall of 360 S. Bagley St. Denise and Glenn fled out of their back door early Wednesday morning after water rose in the basement and nearly reached the first floor. The Marshall's, along with many relatives, neighbors and friends, have been cleaning out heavy mud and numerous ruined items, which have been thrown into a large dumpster in the front yard.

"The only thing we can't get out is the smell," said Denise.

By Thursday morning, the Marshall's had already filled the dumpster twice and were ripping the drywall out of their basement. They lost the furnace, the washer and dryer, a couch, a television, a DVD player, a freezer full of meat and numerous other items. They also lost several family photos, which cannot be replaced.

"You can't put a price on things like family photos," said Denise. "That's the hardest thing." Denise said that the couple hasn't had time to even think about the total loss. She said that the only thing that their insurance will cover is her car.

Denise said she is thankful for her neighbors, family and friends who are helping with the clean-up. "We have very good family and friends," she said. "They've been a tremendous help." Denise noted that men from Morovits Farms of Bloomington have also been a great help. Two men from Volga, Iowa, also stopped by to help, saying that Bagley people helped them when their village flooded a couple of years ago. One older couple from Prairie du Chien stopped by Wednesday evening and gave Denise $70 for her and Glenn to go out and enjoy a good meal. "That was so nice, I just cried and cried," Denise said.

"This is a close community," said Assistant Director of Emergency Management Julie Loeffelholz. "People are helping neighbors recover."

Loeffelholz said that there were approximately 100 volunteers helping with the clean-up of Bagley Thursday and that more volunteers can sign up at the Fire Department.

"There's a heck of a lot of mud to get rid of," said Loeffelholz. "There is debris under the railroad bridges that needs to be sorted and disposed of properly. There are so many homes damaged, it's a big job."

About 50 people were rescued by boat from their homes early Wednesday morning, and even though there is a lot of damage, Loeffelholz said it could have been worse.

"I think that the emergency responders did a great job. It saved lives," she said of the search and rescue operation which lasted several hours early Wednesday morning. "This could have been much, much worse. Someone may have drowned."

Following rescue and clean-up operations Wednesday, emergency response crews and residents braced for more rain Wednesday night.

"We were very lucky that the rains last night (Wednesday night) came and went with no damage," said Loeffelholz. "We had a severe thunderstorm watch last night."

In addition to some businesses and the numerous homes in Bagley and the River of Lakes Resort, homes in the village of Wyalusing also sustained heavy damage. Jellystone Park, a campground between Wyalusing and Bagley, was damaged and caked with thick mud. County Highway X, which runs past Wyalusing, was closed due to high water and severe damage. Road crews were deployed in several locations to repair County X. Earthmoving equipment and dump trucks also cleared County Highway P of several mudslides. The railroad tracks were also damaged and Burlington Northern Santa Fe crews worked for most of the day Wednesday to restore the tracks. By mid-morning Thursday, power was restored to 95 percent of the homes in the area.

Loeffelholz said that the initial damage estimate to Wyalusing Township roads was $100,000 but that this cost is expected to go much higher.

She also said that the long-term efforts of the emergency management team will focus upon obtaining state grant money that might be available to residents with severe damage, especially those without flood insurance. Insurance providers have told some residents that the event qualifies as a flood, even though the area is not in the floodplain.

Total damages from the flash flood are expected to top $1 million but Loeffelholz said that the damage may not be enough to qualify for federal disaster assistance.

Several fire departments have been assisting with the clean-up and the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and all Grant County services will continue to be available at the Bagley Village Hall/Fire Department. In addition, the United Methodist Church in Bagley has been serving lunch every day.

It's happened again. Once again dark clouds have gathered above Marquette and McGregor bringing torrential rainfall.

Once again, storm sewers and culverts turned into raging torrents.

Once again, all that mud and water has invaded homes and businesses, street and roadways, creating costly, filthy mess.

Joe Muehlbauer, a McGregor city councilman and volunteer firefighter for the McGregor Hook and Ladder Company, said he could not believe that it could happen twice during his term on the council.

The last damaging storm occurred in 2004, when between five and eight inches of rain fell over a three-day period. In the early hours of the morning last Wednesday, eight to ten inches of rain fell during a four-hour period.

The threat of additional rain passed on Wednesday by about noon, and cleanup was already well underway.

Marquette and McGregor city street crews assisted by the Clayton County Highway Department used front end loaders and even plows to scrape mud, gravel and debris off of city streets. About 10 inches of water had coursed down Main Street in McGregor; in Marquette water poured down North Street blowing out retaining walls and overwhelming storm sewers. Highway 76 between Marquette and McGregor was closed all day Wednesday, and opened to single lane traffic assisted by flaggers on Thursday. According to McGregor Police Chief Dan Bickel, as many as 80 dump truck loads of mud, rock and fallen trees were taken off the highway.

The hardest hit by far were the residents of Feller's Trailer Court on Brown Street in Marquette. Across the street from the trailer court, a dike blocks flooding from the backwaters of Bloody Run Creek. In Wednesday morning's deluge, the dike formed a dam that allowed water to back up into the trailer homes and other homes along Brown St. to a depth of at least six feet.

Joe Jones was helping his daughter Lucinda clear out her trailer home last Thursday and Friday. Lucinda had called her father at 1 a.m. Wednesday morning and asked him to take her out. She had been through the flood in 2004, and she wasn't taking any chances. She waded out in thigh-deep water.

When they came back to clean up, Joe said he was amazed all of the places the water got into. Muddy water even poured out of the refrigerator.

Bona Dean Feller, who owns the trailer court and lives in a home at the rear of the property, has suffered losses as well. About four feet of water filled the lower level of her home, ruining a game room, her garage and several vehicles.

She understands why people would want to move out and not come back.

Still, she counts herself lucky, since she knows many of her tenant neighbors have lost everything. Feller does not have flood insurance and she knows most other people don't either.

Surprisingly, some of her tenants have told her they plan to cleanup and stay after all. Some don't want to move. Others may not have any place to go.

By Friday, some help had arrived. Free tetanus shots were offered at Marquette City Hall by the Clayton County Health Department.

Neighbors, family and friends had arrived at flooded homes to help sort through and pitch ruined furniture, mattresses and appliances. A vacant apartment at Turner Pointe Assisted Living residence in McGregor had been opened to a Brown St. family that needed shelter.

The City of Marquette placed free dumpsters out for Brown St. residents to use. On Saturday, some employees at Monona Wire planned to come to Marquette to help with cleanup.

According to Joel Biggs, Clayton County Emergency Management, it is unclear how much government assistance may be available to those hardest hit. For those hardest hit, Biggs said that he is checking into several state and federal disaster assistance programs, but he was not yet sure if any grant or loan assistance will be forthcoming.

Rough, preliminary damage estimates for Marquette are $500,000 to $600,000 and $150,000 to $200,000 for McGregor„ well below federal disaster assistance programs. The estimates include damage to both personal and municipal property. On Friday, Biggs said that damage estimates were still coming in.

Biggs said he was pleased with the response of the two cities to the disaster, saying that people in Marquette and McGregor are experts at floods.

"They could do it in their sleep," Biggs concluded.