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City street department gears up for summer projects
Marquette Road/Blackhawk Ave. traffic light setback $814
East Campion Street (18th to east corner) $24,400
Slurry Seal Project (SW corner of the city) $75,000
East Fowler Cul-de-Sac Storm Sewer $5,654
Washington Street Overlay (Main - Beaumont) $14,160
11th Street Reconstruction (Marquette to LaPointe) $23,270
Slurry Seal parking lot behind Kozelka's $5,400
Prairie Street (Perry Street to McLeod Street) $16,775
East Haydn Street (Marquette Road to Ohio St.) $9,800
Chip Seal 19 Alleys $10,435
Alley west of Marquette Road (Haydn St. to Blackhawk Ave)
$23,750 Alley east of Michigan Street, (Frederick St. to Pine St.) $22,400
Misc. Sidewalk Projects (Repairs & New) $15,000
Local law enforcement and emergency management may have had their hands full, but it's business as usual for the Prairie du Chien Street Department. Many projects are set for this summer (see above), and the milling of many of the streets which will be worked on is taking place this week. Rodney Fishler, street department superintendent, says they hope to have as many of the projects ready to go as possible when Iverson Construction has a plant in Prairie du Chien from the end of June through July. Using a local set up rather than the Fennimore plant saves about $3 a ton in paving costs. Fishler said most of the slurry and chip sealing will be done in August. The slurry seal project in the southwest corner of the city includes portions of Wacouta (Iowa to Parrish), 5th (Mooney to Parrish), Parrish (Main to Marquette), Fowler (Beaumont to 6th), Brunson (Beaumont to 7th), Broadway (Beaumont to 6th), Wells (Beaumont to 6th), Davies (Beaumont to 6th), Parkview (Wacouta to cul de sac), Webster (Wacouta to Illinois) and Cass (Beaumont to Illinois). The slurry sealing is expected to take about four days, and each street will likely be closed for one day when the work is done. The north-south streets will be done first, followed by the east-west streets. Chip sealing of alleys will take place as follows: 1st time chip seal coat - South of Campion Street (Beaumont Road - 1st); South of Wisconsin St. (Beaumont Rd - Prairie Street); East of 9th (Broadway St. - Brunson Street.); East of 9th (Fowler Street - Parrish St); East of 10th (Wells St. - Fowler St); East of 11th (Parrish St. - Campion Blvd.); East of 13th (Wells St. - Broadway); East of 14th (Brunson St. - Fowler St); East of 16th (Fowler St - Parrish St). Second time chip seal - East of Dousman (Iowa St - Cass St.); East of State St. (Wisconsin St - Webster St); East of Buchanan (Cass St - Webster Street); East of Buchanan (Cass St. - North to end); East of Fremont (Cass St. - north to end); East of Wacouta Ave. (Miller - Frederick St). Prior to the chip sealing, work will be done of the alleys to regrade, reshape and widen some of the alleys.

Mississippi River cruises available from Prairie du Chien
Captain Jack Libbey shows the navigation electronics and depth gauge of the 26-foot tour boat Mississippi Explorer II to passenger Cletus Bassey of Nigeria, West Africa during a cruise June 4. Doesn't a nice, relaxing Mississippi River cruise on a warm summer evening sound like just the ticket? Well, such an excursion is now available in Prairie du Chien. Mississippi Explorer Cruises began giving river excursions, eco-tours and eagle watching cruises in Lansing last summer, and due to popular demand, they have now expanded to include a port of call in Prairie as well. "Every week is a new season on the river. It's always changing. That's what I love about it," said Captain Jack Libbey, whose Mississippi Explorer Cruises offer a personal and intimate look at the river, its wildlife and its history. Captain Jack pilots two covered pontoon boats, a 26-footer that holds 20 people and a 45-footer that comfortably seats 49. These two vessels take their passengers from the main channel and into the many sloughs and backwaters on a quiet tour that highlights eagle's nests, beaver dams and other wildlife, as well as historical points of interest. "I just love it. We get into the backwaters and have a more intimate look at the river," said Captain Jack. "Our tours are very flexible." In fact, Captain Jack recalled that this past fall, his boats were breaking ice while giving tours during the Fall Birding Festival in Lansing. The bigger boat can be totally enclosed with clear, see-through vinyl that allows excellent viewing while keeping out the cold. Mississippi Explorer Cruises offer scheduled and chartered cruises for organizations and groups of 10 passengers or more. The port of call in Prairie du Chien is located at the floating docks at Lawler Park across from and slightly downstream from the Depot Bar. The easygoing Captain Jack shares yarns about the Mighty Mississippi's ecosystem and river lore as he safely winds through the meandering channels, with something new beckoning around every bend. In addition to Mississippi Refuge tours, eco-tours and sight-seeing, Captain Jack's boats (Mississippi Explorer I and II) are available for business meetings, parties, family gatherings and special events. Captain Jack is also thinking of adding "fall color" tours later this year. Groups may also book the half-day "Expedition Cruise" from Prairie du Chien to Lansing. Captain Jack says that this cruise offers explorers of all ages an in-depth exploration of the Mississippi River's ecosystem, navigation and history. A tow boat pilot since the early 1970s, Captain Jack has navigated the Mississippi, Ohio and Illinois rivers for many years. He is a former captain of the Miss Marquette and has brought many gambling boats up the Mississippi to their permanent homes. Captain Jack also worked with the Smithsonian Institute for two years archiving Mississippi River folklife, people and traditions. In the summer of 1988, he was the pilot of a Green Peace research vessel on the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. Captain Jack's boats are U.S. Coast Guard inspected and certified and he holds the highest of licenses in his profession, the Unlimited Master License and First Class Pilot. Although his boats feature top-notch electronics, Captain Jack still makes use of "marks", or points of reference while navigating his boats on the river. Navigational references are written down in "bar books." "Navigation hasn't changed a whole lot, even with all of the electronics," he said. Eco-tours on the Yukon River in Alaska and on the Yangtze River in China helped give Captain Jack the idea to start similar tours on the Mississippi. Also, some of Captain Jack's cousins from Arizona were amazed when touring the Mississippi River a few years ago and the captain knew then that he had a good idea so he purchased his two boats and everything has been full speed ahead ever since. "I knew it would be a good way to share the river with people," he said. "I love it when they smile and when they see something that they enjoy. I also love meeting everybody." Captain Jack is sure to meet many people when his boats are available in Prairie du Chien during special events such as the Rendezvous and, of course, The Grand Excursion. For more information about Mississippi Explorer Cruises, interested persons can call (563) 586-4444 or Email at info@MississippiExplorer.com or log onto www.Mississippi Explorer.com. Cruise schedules in the Prairie du Chien and Lansing areas can be obtained through the Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce website www.prairiedu chien.org.

Financial problems could shut down CASA
A private, nonprofit company that has saved numerous stray or abandon dogs and cats over the past four years may shut down due to a lack of funding. The Crawford County Area Shelter for Animals, Inc. (CASA), has had its budget cut by more than half and unless approximately $3,000 can be raised, the company could go under. "I'd really hate for this to happen," said Dhjana Franson, the president and cofounder of CASA. "But, we can't keep operating if we don't have more than $2,800." Franson explained that CASA typically operates on about $5,800, which is generated each year by dog licensing fees from the dog owners of Crawford County. Unfortunately, this year there was a claim filed by a county resident who stated that a couple of his cattle were lost due to an attack by stray dogs. The county paid $3,000 to settle the claim, the money coming from the dog licensing fees that would normally go to fund CASA. That left CASA with $2,800, Franson said. "We were barely making it as it is," Franson said. "But now our treasurer said that we probably wouldn't make it through the year." CASA was started in November of 1999 and incorporated in January of 2000. CASA is an all-volunteer organization that rounds up stray dogs and cats in Crawford County and the surrounding area. CASA also has a contract with the city of Prairie du Chien to round up strays. Once the animals are obtained, CASA sees to it that all of their nutritional needs are taken care of, as well as their medical needs, which are met through Southwest Veterinary Clinic, Franson said. The dogs then go to one of the half dozen CASA foster homes before being adopted into a permanent and loving household. The vet bills for CASA animals is paid for through the adoption fees. It costs $90 to adopt an animal from CASA. Common veterinary procedures performed on the animals include spaying or neutering, heartworm tests, deworming, and rabies and distemper series shots. Franson said that CASA was formed because the Crawford County area had no facility or procedure in place for dealing with lost, dumped or "nuisance" stray animals. CASA consists of three board members, eight volunteers and six foster homes. Board members include the president, vice president and treasurer. Area residents often call CASA to say that a dog has been "dumped" near their house or that there are strays in the area. CASA can be reached at (608) 648-2461. According to CASA statistics, in 2003 there were 55 dogs that were adopted, 22 cats adopted, 44 cats spayed, 30 cats neutered, 29 dogs spayed, 37 dogs neutered, 64 stray dogs picked up, 25 surrendered dogs taken in, 37 stray cats picked up, and 1 surrendered cat picked up. There were 66 total dogs altered and 74 cats altered. Altered animals include the litters of pregnant cats and dogs that were taken in as strays. CASA currently has about 50 dogs and cats in their care and are assisting several owners in finding new homes for their animals through CASA's Petfinder webpage found at www.petfinder.org. CASA can also be contacted by e-mail at dkf2@frontiernet.net CASA's goals are to provide: €a comfortable and humane facility. €a progressive animal placement program. €a lost and found clearing house. €low-cost pet sterilizations. €a trained animal control or humane officer. €an ongoing educational and information program for human and responsible pet care. Franson said that in addition to monetary help, CASA also needs more volunteers, free or reduced-rate legal services or veterinary services, and donations of leashes, collars, sturdy kennels and doghouses, cat litter, rawhides, hollow beef bones and the like. As for CASA's immediate future, Franson said that she will try to continue. "It's pretty much impossible to give up. We're softhearted animal people. But I'm not a business woman," she said. "I hope to keep going and I'm going to do what I can."

US 18 closed June 8-10 for dynamite removal
A half-mile segment of US 18 (Marquette Road) in Prairie du Chien and the Town of Bridgeport will close at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 8. The roadway will be closed from the junction with South 15th Street past the junction with Vineyard Coulee Road, and is slated to reopen late Thursday. A signed detour will direct traffic from US 18 to WIS 60 to County N to WIS 27 and back to US 18/WIS 35. The closure will take place as part of a dynamite removal operation that requires evacuation of a 1,250 foot radius in Prairie du Chien and the Town of Bridgeport. An estimated 600-700 pounds of aging deteriorated dynamite was discovered in a shed in the area last fall. The shed sits on property that is owned by the Wisconsin DOT purchased for the road project last summer. Approximately seven homes and 35 businesses are inside the evacuation zone. Businesses that will be closed include but are not limited to: Blackhawk Liquidators, Box Office Video, Culver's Family Restaurant, Dick's Supermarket, Hidden Valley Lodge, Krachey's BP Truck Stop, Maurices, Merle Norman Cosmetics, Midwest Auto Sales, Peoples State Bank, Pink's Auto, Prairie Camper Sales, Prairie Motor Sports, Pro Cellular, Randy Schneider Distributing, Tender Care Animal Hospital, US Cellular (the location inside Dick's Supermarket) and Yorgi's Bargains. All Prairie du Chien and Town of Bridgeport businesses outside the evacuation zone will be open for their normal hours of operation during the dynamite removal process. A 400-foot-long temporary roadway has been constructed between Lessard and Seymour Streets to provide limited circulation for local traffic only. The temporary route provides travelers with the following path around the evacuation zone: US 18 - South 15th Street - E. Lessard Street - Temporary Road - Seymour Drive - Vineyard Coulee Road. At Vineyard Coulee Road motorists can decide whether to use WIS 27 or Bouska Road to reconnect with US 18. Vehicles will not be allowed to access the US 18/Vineyard Coulee Road intersection with this route. Motorists are advised to use this road with caution. Law enforcement officers will establish and maintain the 1,250-foot evacuation zone throughout the dynamite removal process. Meetings for evacuees will take place at 7 p.m. on June 8, 9, and 10. The gatherings will be held in the Community Room at Prairie du Chien City Hall.