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May 7, 2008

Woman charged with embezzling from church daycare in Wauzeka

A 49-year-old rural Prairie du Chien woman has been charged in Crawford County Circuit Court with one count of theft in a business setting. The case involves an alleged embezzlement of possibly up to $50,000 from a Wauzeka daycare.

Pamela J. Buchen faces up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine if convicted. Buchen is accused of embezzling from Daycare on Dousman, which is run through the Lutheran Church in Wauzeka.

According to the criminal complaint, Buchen admitted to investigators that she had forged numerous checks in her role as a volunteer accountant at Daycare on Dousman. Buchen said that she took the money for a personal gambling habit and that she began taking money in October of 2004, the complaint stated.

Buchen admitted that she embezzled in excess of $25,000 from Daycare on Dousman, according to the complaint.

A formal audit was done on the account of Daycare on Dousman. The results showed that more than $50,000 of "suspicious transactions" consistent with Buchen’s admitted embezzling method were undertaken, according to the complaint. The audit showed that these "suspicious transactions" occurred back into 2002.

Council debates hours, location of annual Colgate Country Showdown

Prairie du Chien Common Council last night, following discussion of location and hours, approved the Colgate Country Showdown for June 27. They also approved the issuance of a total of $2,850,000 in General Obligation Promissory Notes for the downtown sewer and water project and authorized amending the project plans of TID Districts to make TID funds available for use outside the TID districts.

Dan Moris of WPRE Radio Station and Pam Ritchie of Prairie du Chien Downtown Revitalization, Inc. (PDRI) appeared before council with a request to hold the Colgate Country Showdown in the downtown area June 27 with the same hours as last year and a slightly amended siting plan.

Because of the street work being done on Blackhawk, the stage will be in the city parking lot at the southeast corner of Main Street and Blackhawk, backed up to the AmericInn parking lot.

Ritchie said they plan to use a sturdier barrier fence to maintain greater security at gate entries. They have met with Prairie du Chien Police Chief Mike King to assure adequate police presence, and will help pay for two additional police officers from 6 p.m. to midnight. The contest will begin at 7 p.m., and a street dance will run from 9 to 11 p.m.

Waste Water Superintendent Terry Meyer reported that by that date, construction should have moved past that section of Blackhawk, and construction equipment will be removed to a secure, off-street area.

Council member Frank Pintz questioned why the event remained at the west end of Blackhawk, saying he understood that when the event was first proposed, it would alternate between the east and west end of downtown.

Dan Morris said he believed it was former PDRI directorCraig Moser who made that statement. "It was never my intention to flip-flop," he said, and added that he felt the west end, with its concentration of taverns and restaurants, was the only place that could handle the number of people who attend. Last year, he said, the taverns had a hard time keeping up with the number of people, and to move it to an area with fewer facilities would create problems.

Pintz also asked why a number of nonprofit organizations which wanted to set up booths were turned down. Ritchie said there are two reasons: the event is designed to help downtown businesses, and PDRI does not have enough volunteers to work with outside vendors.

Council member Jaaren Riebe also questioned the hours, suggesting that it shut down at 10 p.m. rather than 11 p.m. to minimize the possibility of violence. Last year, there was a fight following the event.

Ritchie said the fight occurred after midnight, and the dispute had started elsewhere and was brought to the event. Furthermore, she said, she had feedback that many citizens liked the idea of a downtown street dance. Chief King added that there will be a total of five police officers in the area this year.

The application was approved with Riebe and Pintz voting no.

The General Obligation Promissory Notes, $1,350,000 for sewer and $1,500,000 for water in the downtown project, were obtained at an interest rate of 2.95 percent. They will be used as temporary financing for about six months until state financing for the projects comes through.

Because of a change in state law, council authorized preparation of an amendment which would allow use of TID (tax increment district) funds within one half mile of the TID districts. Because of the location of these districts, many of the city’s upcoming projects would fall within these areas, said Kurt Muchow of Vierbicher Associates. The resolution will be referred to the Planning Commission for establishment of a public hearing date for the amendment.

In other business:

•Council authorized issuing up to $625,000 in general obligation promissory notes in a Ready for Reuse program environmental remediation of the former Quality Woods Site. City Planner Garth Frable said Prairie du Chien is only the second community to receive funds from this program. It is a zero-interest loan which will be repaid by an environmental remediation TIF.

•Frable reviewed deletions made from the downtown streetscape plan after the project came in over budget. Items to be eliminated include elimination of an error which double-bid concrete around the light poles, saving $20,000; a decorative cardinal point design which was to have gone in the street at the intersection of Blackhawk and Beaumont; a trench grate over downspouts; three colored crosswalks at Main and Blackhawk, two trees and grates east of Michigan. In addition, they added in the revenue they will receive from the sale of milled asphalt from the downtown construction projects. A total of $96,000 has been eliminated. Frable also reported that staff has been working on covering the additional $150,000 cost difference without expense to the city. He said he felt it can be accomplished. He added, "I want to thank all the downtown businesses for being so positive and supportive, and I encourage the citizens of Prairie du Chien to go downtown and shop and have lunch and support the downtown."

•Approved a request by Scott Sheckler to use fill from the downtown construction project to raise the level of his property 113 S. Main Street across from AmericInn. Sheckler plans to build a hotel on the site. Approval was granted with the understanding that, should there not be sufficient fill, the convention center had priority, and that Sheckler ask the Design and Preservation Committee to review his plans. They also approved a Class B liquor license for that site with the stipulation that the license be used within a three year time period.

•Turned down a request for forgiveness of fees and penalties for late payment of room tax from the Brisbois Motel. Owner Gerald Frydenlund said all 2007 and part of 2008 taxes have now been paid.

•Approved the hiring of a new park director. Council member Riebe reported that the personnel committee had interviewed five candidates and have made their first and second choices. Because some of the candidates are still employed elsewhere, no names were released. Council authorized the job be offered to the committee’s first choice.

•Approved a Finance Committee recommendation to deny a claim by Troy and Christa Morrison and refer it to the insurance carrier. The Morrisons suffered extensive flood damage to their house during one of last summer’s downpours. The denial is necessary before the insurance company can act.

•Approved applying for a Ready for Reuse Grant for petroleum contaminated sites Frable said he had been encouraged to apply for the grant through the DNR. It would be used in case there are additional costs in remediating the Stratton property.

•Tabled a request for a Class B liquor license for DeBrad Inc., to be located in the old A.W. Thompson building at 219 N. Marquette Road. Council requested more information about when the building will be ready for use.

•Referred a request for creation of a dog park to the Parks and Recreation Committee. Joy Tremethick requested that a an area on the St. Feriole Island rodeo grounds be designated a dog park. She said she had 119 signatures and that the area is already used informally as a dog park. That site presents some issues, however, because soccer games are also played on that site, and there have been complaints of dogs chasing the soccer balls and of failure by some dog owners to clean up after the dogs.

Council member Riebe said the Park and Recreation Department has discussed the idea of a dog park. It was referred to that committee with the understanding that the request receive further consideration.

•Approved a request to close one block of Fowler Street for a block party May 24.

Visits to library up by 35 percent

In her annual report to City Council, Nancy Ashmore last evening reported that over the past years, visits to libraries throughout Wisconsin increased by 28 percent, but the visits to the Prairie du Chien library had risen by 35 percent in that same time.

The library, she reported, has 6,961registered patrons with their own library cards, 2,610 more than at the end of the year 2000. Of these, 2,857 are Prairie du Chien adults, 1117 resident juveniles, 121 temporary residents and 37 who fit in other categories.

The library also serves 2,135 non-residents.

May 5, 2008

Perch, bullheads making big comeback in Mississippi
Habitat rehabilitation projects help backwaters

This past ice fishing season and now, below the locks and dams, there have been reports of anglers catching a good number of big perch. These perch are much bigger than those of several years ago. Big, fat perch in the 12 to 14-inch range have been caught.

Also, good numbers of bullheads have been caught at various locations in pools 9 and 10. Catches of numerous bullheads have been reported near Ferryville, for example.

This increase in numbers and size indicate a resurgence of perch and bullheads in the Mississippi River.

"Perch and bullheads have really taken off," said DNR Fisheries Biologist Patrick Short of Prairie du Chien. "The year-class for these and other species is really good."

Short said that the two species are making a comeback for two different reasons. Bullheads "died off" due to a bacterial or a viral infection 10-15 years ago and are now in the midst of a big comeback. Perch, on the other hand, have benefited greatly by the sustained low water in the summertime the past four to five years.

"The flood-then-drought conditions we have experienced each of the last several years creates a littoral zone in which there is increased vegetation near shore," said Short. "It’s great for lacustrine (backwater) fish such as perch, bluegill, largemouth bass and crappies."

Short explained that sunlight is able to penetrate further in low-water, thus causing increased vegetation. This vegetation provides for more stable nesting areas, a better nursery and better feeding for the fish. It also produces more oxygen. "Green beds produce oxygen while the sun is shining," said Short.

These littoral zones are also self-perpetuating because the plants keep suspended solids down and make the water clearer, which allows for more sunlight to penetrate and create more vegetation.

Short pointed out that several habitat restoration projects that were completed in 2003 as part of the Ambro Slough Project have been coming into fruition. The U.S. Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Iowa and Wisconsin departments of natural resources cooperated on projects involving island reconstruction and dredging in areas such as Tilmont Lake, Upper Doubles Lake, Gremore Lake and Spring Lake.

The overall effect has produced more perch, bluegills, bass and crappies -— and many anglers have taken notice. "Spring Lake was nearly dead," said Short. "Now, it’s a great fishery."

Short noted that these areas of the river have greatly improved because they now provide a good refuge for fish to "overwinter" in. Cold Springs between Lynxville and Ferryville has always been a naturally good place for fish to spend the winter. Now, these other areas are also drawing large amounts of fish, he said.

Short also noted, however, that the culvert-stop log-device at Gremore Lake has not been performing very well in low water conditions in the winter. He said that there is a "lip" of sediment on the Ambro side of the culvert, which along with ice, is restricting water flow in the winter when the water level is at around seven feet or lower.

"It has not been performing up to specs," said Short. "We will need to tweak the project." Short said that more dredging will be done on the Ambro side of the culvert in order to remove the lip and allow more water to flow through in the winter. The dredging will be done as soon as Corps of Engineer equipment becomes available in the area. Or, dredging could be done by a private contractor. Short said that the culvert has improved the fishery of Gremore Lake but the dredging will improve it much more because more oxygen will then be flowing into the lake in the winter.

In the summer, the culvert is intentionally blocked with a "stop-log device" so that sediment rich water does not flow into Gremore Lake. "We do not want sediment filling in Gremore," said Short.

A habitat rehabilitation project that will be forthcoming within the next few years is Capoli Slough near Ferryville. Short said that the expectations are that Capoli Slough will also become a winter refuge for backwater fish and a vastly improved fishery.

Charlie Mason, a commercial fisherman from McGregor, said that he has noticed a lot more perch in the last two years. He said that in 2007 he first began to catch them in his commercial nets and he has noticed a lot more this year.

"We have seen a lot more yellow perch, especially this spring," said Mason. "And, they are very healthy looking when we return them to the river. We used to catch them when we were kids (1950s) and there are as many now as there were then."

Mason said that there were many perch around when he was young but that they then went into decline for many years until now. "There weren’t any for a long time," he said. "But, now they’re back and it’s a good thing."

Mason said that he has heard from several sport anglers recently who have been catching perch. He said that he has also talked to several other commercial fishermen and they all told him that they are getting lots of perch in their nets. "The perch are spawning this time of year," he said.

Mason said that there are large numbers of bullheads as well. He doesn’t target bullheads, but other commercial fishermen have told him that they have been doing very well with bullheads. Mason pointed out that bullheads eat perch eggs.

"There are more bullheads in Pool 9 than in Pool 10," he said. He noted that the Ferryville area has always been a good spot for catching bullheads.

Neglected orchards cause concern for Gays Mills growers

Gays Mills apple growers have asked the county for help in what they see as a growing problem and threat to their livelihood: neglected orchards that are no longer used commercially and that harbor and attract insects and fungus diseases. John Rybarczyk, Crawford County zoning administrator, said that the County Land Conservation Committee has been asked to consider an ordinance which would require cleanup or destruction of diseased and neglected apple trees.

The problem apparently began with the sale of Frank Orchards in the early 90s, with property stretching along Hwy 171 between Rolling Ground and Gays Mills, and some additional acreage in Bell Center. The owners of Fleming, Kickapoo and Sunrise Orchards estimate that the size of the abandoned orchards exceeds 300 acres.

They claim that these neglected trees are a source of many pests, including codling moth, plum curculio weevil, and apple maggot, as well as fungus disease. According to these owners, these pests travel into managed orchards, requiring four additional sprays per year. Sunrise Orchards estimate the added pest pressure adds at least $250 per acre to their pest control costs.

Sunrise Orchard grower Allen Teach said they had contacted owners of three separate parcels last year and offered to remove the trees to a distance of 400 feet at no cost. The owners, however, did not accept the offer. One wanted the trees to remain as a privacy screen; another wanted them left as deer habitat; the third did not respond.

Orchard owners cited results of a 2005-2006 Michigan study on the impact of neglected orchards on pest abundance in commercial orchards, with the conclusion that the study provided documentation of a potential for neglected orchards to have a negative impact on adjacent commercial orchards.

In a letter to the land use planning committee, John G. Aue, an integrated pest management consultant who has worked with the growers on Gays Mills ridge since 1988, said he had seen the increased need for pesticide use due to the neglected orchards. Incorporated into this problem, the letter stated, is that orchard owners often have to revert to using frequent applications of old broad spectrum pesticides rather than newer, more environmentally safe materials.

Because three municipalities are involved—the town of Clayton and the villages of Gays Mills and Bell Center—the county is the logical decision-making body. The issue is on the county land use committee agenda for discussion Friday, May 2. The meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m., in the Crawford County Administration Building in Prairie du Chien.

Elder abuse believed to be under-reported in county

There are many individuals and organizations willing to help elderly and at-risk adults in Crawford County, and representatives from those organizations attended the April 22 Elder and Adult-At Risk Abuse community forum at the Crawford County Administration Building.

Sara Ryan, director of Crawford County human services, and Bob Rowe, social worker and lead investigator for elder abuse in the county, provided an update on statistics for both Crawford County and the state, as well the state law regarding reporting of abuse.

Statewide, Ryan said, a total of 4,372 cases of suspected abuse, neglect and financial exploitation were reported in 2006, an increase of 3.3 percent from 2005. Twenty four of these incidents were fatal and another 260 considered life-threatening.

In Crawford County, there were only 12 referrals in 2006 and eight in 2007. Ryan said she believes there were more incidents, but people need to learn how to recognize elder abuse and how to go about reporting it.

Ryan said it wasn’t until the 1960s that people began to recognize and do something about child abuse; laws regarding domestic abuse were finally put into place in the 1980s. The abuse or exploitation of the elderly was the last to be recognized. "I can remember in the 80s trying to protect vulnerable adults and there was no help or system," said Ryan.

Bob Rowe explained that since 2006, each county has a reporting system in place. To report abuse or even suspected abuse in Crawford County, call 608-326-0248 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. During evenings, weekends and holidays abuse may be reported to the Prairie du Chien Police Department or the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department at 608-326-0241. The identity of the person making the referral is kept confidential.

Crawford County Human Services has a staff of social workers who will investigate and take action as needed.

Elder abuse is defined as the physical abuse, material (financial) abuse, neglect or self-neglect of a person who is age 60 or older or who is subject to the infirmities of aging.

Prairie du Chien Police Chief Mike King reported on the many scams which, for the elderly, constitute a form of financial abuse. He mentioned telephone and e-mail scams asking for money or confidential information such as social security or bank account numbers; organized criminal groups which travel from state to state offering cut-rate home repairs; people photographing ATM transactions to obtain PIN or account numbers; even some so-called charitable organizations in which most of the money raised goes for expenses rather than good works.

In a forum led by Jane Schaaf, Crawford County UW Extension Family Living Agent, following the presentation, participants discussed the many reasons why elder abuse is not reported. Among the many reasons are: fear of retaliation, shame, denial, fear of the unknown, the abuser is a family member, distrust of the system, fear of being mistaken, lack of a safe third party to tell, fear no one will believe it, caregiver burnout.

The group then discussed action which could be taken to educate the general public and protect the elderly from abuse. Suggestions included disseminating information through the church community, bank statements, and the media; educating those who are out and about in the community, such as letter carriers, meal deliverers and others to watch for any suspicious occurrences; taking a community-wide zero tolerance stand; getting youth involved; visiting with elderly people; asking financial institutions to watch for suspicious activity in senior citizens’ accounts.

One problem noted is that the Prairie du Chien community does not have a senior citizen center where people could get information.

Several people indicated their organizations have volunteers willing to help the elderly, but they lack referrals. One such organization is Faith in Action. Director Cathy Lund said if people want assistance or simply someone to visit them, they should call 326-5523. Hospice and Parish Nurse services, both of which are headquartered at Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital, also have volunteers available and can be reached at 357-2000.

Many other organizations willing to assist in addition to Human Services include: Lori Knapp Inc., Rivercrest Villages, Coulee CAP, Food Pantry, Home Health Care, Alzheimer’s Association, Catholic Charities, nursing homes, home delivered meal program, Police/Sheriff, Crawford County Senior Resources, Victim Witness Program, Homeward Bound.

Commenting after the forum, Ryan said she felt it was very successful, with over 60 people in attendance, and there are plans for a follow-up session in the fall to take action on some of the ideas proposed.