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March 10, 2010 |
By Jen Schultz
Mary Ann Stemper has been recording the historical events of Prairie du Chien through her short stories for a little over a year.
In 2009 Stemper started her own self-publishing business, Send a Story of Prairie du Chien with the idea that these small books can be put in an envelope and mailed to friends or relatives as unique gifts. During 2009 Stemper wrote ten short stories.
Stemper didn't stop there. She is working on writing ten more short stories for 2010-—one of which has already been released, "The Big Fire," and one that will be released this Saturday, March 13, just in time for St. Patrick's Day, "The Legend of the Blackhawk Tree."
Stemper plans to continue writing about the history of Prairie du Chien for as long as she can. Her mission is to get the stories told before they are forgotten
"I enjoy writing stories because people enjoy hearing about the historical events of Prairie du Chien," admits Stemper.
But there's more to Stemper's stories than just retelling history. They also incorporate Prairie du Chien's local businesses.
"In a small town we really need to support what we have," says Stemper.
When Stemper was looking at beginning her own self-publishing company she went to one of Prairie du Chien's downtown businesses for help. Dependable Solutions' owner Joe Ruskey was able to find Stemper an affordable printer that would meet her printing needs.
"No single solution fits everyone and we're here to give everyone a dependable solution," claims Ruskey.
When it came time for Stemper to start selling her stories she found the perfect place—a specialty gifts, clothing, jewelry and book store in downtown Prairie du Chien called Windy Cove Treasures. Wendy Kotte, owner of Windy Cove Treasures started selling Stemper's books exclusively in September of 2009. In just six short months, they have sold over 160 copies of Stempers books. Kotte admits that some of the books are purchased to give as gifts, but most people purchase the books for themselves.
Stemper admits she wouldn't be able to do what she is currently doing without help from community members like Ruskey and Kotte.
Three more of Stemper's books are being released in the near future: "Faith of our Fathers" will be released in April, "The Prince of a Good Fellow" in May and "An Everpresent Spirit" in June.
Besides writing her short stories, Stemper writes a monthly article titled "Baroques" for the Courier Press. Stemper is the president of the board that oversees the Prairie du Chien Memorial Library and she is on the air at the local radio station on Saturday mornings.
All of Mary Ann Stempers short stories are on display at Windy Cove Treasures in downtown Prairie du Chien. Her newest book, "The Legend of the Blackhawk Tree" will be released on Saturday, March 13.
According to the National Weather Service, there is approximately a 92 percent chance that the Kickapoo River will reach flood stage at Gays Mills during the period between March 8 through June 6. This flood stage probability is based upon current conditions as of March 1.
Flood stage at Gays Mills is 13 feet. At 13 feet, water begins to cover roads near the river and other minor flooding occurs in areas adjacent to the river. Based upon current conditions, there is approximately a 20 percent chance that the flood level will reach 15 feet, which is considered moderate flooding at Gays Mills.
The action stage at Gays Mills is 11 feet. Flood stage is 13 feet. Moderate flood stage is 15 feet and major flood stage is 17 feet.
Gays Mills was hit with back-to-back major floods in 2007 and 2008. On Aug. 20, 2007, the crest of the Kickapoo River at Gays Mills was 19.79 feet. On June 9, 2008, the crest was 20.44 feet.
The current river level at Gays Mills as of March 9 is 7.25 feet.
According to the National Weather Service, there is approximately an 85 percent chance that the Kickapoo River will reach flood stage at Steuben between March 8 and June 6.
Flood stage at Steuben is 12 feet. Moderate flood stage is 13 feet and major flood stage is 15 feet. At 12 feet, water starts to affect businesses and residences, and minor flooding affects lowlands and lower roads.
On Aug. 20, 2007, the Kickapoo River crested at 16.84 feet at Steuben. On June 10, 2008 the river crested at 19.15 feet.
Based upon current conditions, there is a 30 percent chance that the river will reach moderate flood stage at Steuben.
National Weather Service charts indicate that there is approximately an 83 percent chance that the Mississippi River will reach flood stage at McGregor sometime between March 8 and June 6 based upon current conditions. There is approximately a 30 percent chance that there will be moderate flooding at McGregor during this period.
As of March 9, the river stage was 7.99 feet at McGregor.
Flood stage at McGregor is 16 feet. Moderate flood stage is 19 feet and major flood stage is 22 feet.
At 16 feet, the bridge approach to St. Feriole Island begins to flood, and pumping operations are underway.
The last major flood at McGregor was in 2001 when the river crested at 23.75 feet on April 20.
According to the Third Spring Hydrologic Summary And Outlook published by the National Weather Service's La Crosse Office on March 5, flooding potential is similar or slightly less than when the last outlook was issued on Feb. 19.
There has been nearly ideal snow melt so far this spring, with small amounts of water being released during the day, and refreezing again overnight. This is allowing for only small quantities of runoff each day, allowing drainage systems to carry it away before more water is added. If this ideal melt scenario continues, the flood threat may diminish even further, especially for tributary streams feeding into the Mississippi River.
The Mississippi River from Lake City, Minn. to Guttenberg, Iowa
Snow depths along the Mississippi River region are generally 5 to 15 inches, with water content mainly between 1.5 and three inches. However, there is a great deal of snow cover and moisture upstream, especially over Southwest and Western Minnesota, the source region for the Minnesota River. A significant amount of water is expected to flow through the Minnesota River and its tributaries as this snow melts, with flooding anticipated all the way to St. Paul. The Minnesota River enters the Mississippi River just south of St. Paul.
The flow along the Mississippi River at St. Paul is currently about 6,200 cubic feet per second (CFS). Normal flow for this location in early March is about 6,300 CFS.
The flow on the Mississippi River at Lock 9 is about 20,200 CFS. River volumes may exceed 100,000 CFS during flooding. The river level at McGregor has held steady for the past few days at approximately eight feet.
Although the Mississippi is near or slightly below normal for early March, on the whole through the winter it has been above normal. The snow is still out there and waiting to melt into the system, with the threat for a significant amount of water coming in from upstream.
There remains a higher than average chance for minor flooding along the Mississippi River this spring.
Persons with interests along the Mississippi may want to consider making plans to deal with some minor flooding.
The Upper Iowa and Turkey River basins
Winter precipitation averaged above normal, generally ranging between 150 to 200 percent of normal. Soil moisture states are saturated for this area. The MRCC shows the top 72 inches of soil has two to three inches of moisture above the mean. Thus, any snow melt is likely to run off rather than soak into the ground. Snow depth across these basins currently averages between five and 13 inches, with between two and three inches of moisture content. Frost depth is shallow, 12 inches or less.
Flood potential will be greatly influenced by how fast the snow melts and on future precipitation events. There remains an average or slightly above average chance for minor flooding this spring for the Upper Iowa and Turkey rivers based upon current conditions.
By Jen Schultz
After a long deliberation in closed session Prairie du Chien's Ethics Committee determined Mayor Karl Steiner to be in violation of two rules within the city's Code of Ethics and one violation within the state of Wisconsin's Code of Ethics. The committee recommended that the Mayor Steiner be publicly reprimanded and that he give a public apology to Officer Maxwell Erickson at a future city council meeting.
The Ethics Committee met on Monday, March 8 for the public hearing against Steiner.
The Ethics Committee consists of Chairman, Alderman Jaaren Riebe, Alderman Frank Pintz Jr., Alderman Linda Munson, Alderman Kathleen Hein and Alderman Dave Hemmer. Hemmer abstained from the meeting because of personal interests in running for mayor. Riebe abstained from the meeting because Mayor Steiner filed an ethics complaint against him. Also in attendance at the meeting were Officer Erickson, City Attorney Tom Peterson, City Administrator Aaron Kramer, Fire Chief Harry Remz, Police Chief Mike King, several city council members and concerned citizens. The hearing was also aired live on the public cable channel.
The original dispute is from a Feb. 1 voicemail Mayor Steiner left for Officer Erickson regarding an election sign in Erickson's yard for another mayoral candidate.
When on the witness stand Officer Erickson stated that he felt Mayor Steiner was using his power to persuade Erickson's choices on who to vote for in the upcoming mayoral election. The way Officer Erickson understood the original voicemail was that if Officer Erickson kept the sign in the yard, there was a possibility that he might not be employed any longer or if he was still employed that it would be hard for him to get a paycheck since the mayor wasn't going to sign his paychecks.
Mayor Steiner argued that he never said that he wouldn't sign the paychecks and he never indicated to Officer Erickson that he needed to remove the sign from the yard. Mayor Steiner also said that only the Police and Fire Commission have the ability to fire a police officer. He believes that he has first amendment rights as well. He stated that he has already apologized to Officer Erickson on the radio and that the voicemail he left for Officer Erickson's was meant as a joke.
Pintz asked Mayor Steiner if he ever refused to sign a paycheck before. Mayor Steiner admitted to not signing paychecks three other times during his candidacy to Police Chief King, former Street worker Denny White and former City Administrator Jim Gitz.
After the findings against Mayor Steiner the Ethics Committee reviewed the complaints filed by Mayor Steiner against Riebe and Remz.
In his complaint Mayor Steiner wrote "They were going around claiming my hospital stay was because according to them I fell face first into a snow bank drunk at 4 p.m. in the afternoon. I have many witnesses that know why I was in the hospital and this is fictitious and defaming. I was already in the Franciscan Skemp Hospital in La Crosse at that time of day and have not drunk for three weeks and do not plan to do so. All I want from them is a formal written apology that can be put in the paper and on the radio to stop this vicious rumor. I am sure other people are spreading it also and it's to their benefit in an election year. I have people willing to come in and state they [Riebe and Remz] said this in public to them."
City Attorney Peterson asked Mayor Steiner who his witnesses were and Mayor Steiner replied that he would give the names of his witnesses at the time of the hearing. Peterson advised Mayor Steiner to tell the committee who the people were at this time so the committee can decide if this is a relevant complaint. Mayor Steiner replied that he did not have the name of his witness, but it is a lady who called Bill Howe, a friend of the Mayor's. He said he would have her come to the hearing.
The committee agreed to move forward in a 2 to 1 vote with Heine voting against the decision. A public hearing against Riebe and Remz is temporarily scheduled for April 1. The point of the hearing will be to review the evidence and talk to witnesses.
March 8, 2010 |
Preparation for Highway 18 Bypass begins
By Ted Pennekamp
Anyone driving along South Main Street in Prairie du Chien in recent days would have noticed utility crews cutting down trees and laying down power poles in preparation for the Highway 18 Bypass project.
When the new poles are put in place and their power lines are up and functional, the old poles will be removed so that the road construction process can begin.
All of the necessary property has been purchased and construction is scheduled to begin in mid-May, said Project Manager Dan Kleinertz of the Department of Transportation. Kleinertz said that in the first year of the project, the filling will be completed so that the roadway will be above the 100-year flood stage. Also in the first year, the bridge over the railroad crossing on La Pointe Street will be completed.
In the second year of the project, the rock will be laid down and the concrete paving will be completed. Also, a 10-foot-wide, asphalt bicycle-pedestrian path will be constructed. The bicycle path will run along the east side of South Main Street and the north side of La Pointe Street to Marquette Road. Kleinertz said that he expects that the Highway 18 Bypass project will be completed by late August of 2011.
South Main Street and La Pointe Street will be closed to traffic while the project is underway. Kleinertz said, however, that key points along the way will remain accessible. The boat landing next to the Wastewater Treatment Plant will remain open via Lockwood Street. Big River Campground will remain accessible via Beaumont Road. Prairie Fun Land will remain accessible, as will Prairie Motor Sports and Spahn and Rose. To help with accessibility, Kleinertz said that a new 11th Street will be constructed across from Stuckey Road.
Kleinertz said that once the project is completed, from Iowa Street to La Pointe Street there will be one lane in each direction with a 24-foot-wide median in between. The overpass over the railroad tracks will be four lanes wide to Marquette Road, he said. Kleinertz noted that the median could be taken out in the future to make the bypass a four-lane roadway for its entire route.
The Highway 18 Bypass is expected to cost approximately $10 million.
Ethics hearing continues with more complaints filed
By Jen Schultz
The Ethics Board of the Prairie du Chien City Council will hold the Ethics Hearing involving Mayor Karl Steiner and Police Officer Max Erickson today, Monday, March 8 in the City Hall at 5 p.m.
Also at this time will be a hearing against Alderman Jaaren Riebe and Prairie du Chien Fire Chief Harry Remz. Last week, Mayor Steiner filed complaints to the committee against Riebe, Remz, Alderman Mary Wayne, Alderman David Hemmer, Alderman Joe Ruskey and Officer Max Erickson.
Mayor Steiner said his reasons for filing the complaints against Riebe and Remz were because they spread malicious rumors about his recent hospitalization and how he ended up at the hospital.
"The complaints against Wayne, Hemmer, Ruskey and Erickson," Mayor Steiner says, "are to show how foolish it is to file ethic complaints and to show them how it feels." The complaints for Wayne, Hemmer and Ruskey stem from radio conversations with Norb Aschom prior to the primary election held on Feb. 16.
Since filing his six complaints, Mayor Steiner has withdrawn his complaints against Wayne, Hemmer, Ruskey and Erickson.
"I would just like a formal apology from Riebe and Remz and a promise that they won’t say things that are fabricated," says Mayor Steiner.
Alderman Mary Wayne comments "I think all of this silliness is unfortunate and it puts the City Council and the mayor in bad lights. I feel bad for the young officer who had a legitimate complaint and I feel that this has trivialized his complaint."
Alderman David Hemmer states "Karl’s irresponsibility, baseless and unfounded accusations reflect his irresponsible behavior and his disrespect for his office and the citizens of Prairie du Chien. This is not leadership." Hemmer went on to add that while the Mayor was in the hospital the week of Feb. 22, he (Hemmer) as the council president signed all the paychecks, even Steiner’s ,because it was his duty.
Alderman Joe Ruskey responded to the ethic charge against him by saying, "Other than the charge there is no evidence that I have done anything wrong. I would like to question the validity of these charges."
When asked if his health should be a concern, Mayor Steiner commented "It’s no different than the last few years. The Council President is able to handle meetings if I’m unable to attend."
The hearing was originally set for Monday, Feb. 22 but the mayor was hospitalized for an illness and unable to attend. The hearing was then scheduled for Wednesday, March 3 but the mayor was unable to attend again because of health reasons.
The original dispute is from a Feb. 1 voicemail Mayor Steiner left for Officer Erickson regarding an election sign in Erickson’s yard for another mayoral candidate.
Riebe and Remz have no comment at this time. Erickson was unavailable for questioning.
