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November 14, 2007

Council approves hiring of new city administrator

At a special meeting Tuesday evening, Prairie du Chien Common Council approved the hiring of James Gitz as the new city administrator, but was almost snowed under by the task of revising the city ordinance regarding street plowing.

Gitz was one of four candidates who underwent final interviews this past weekend. An attorney who served as mayor and city administrator of Freeport, Ill., Gitz had been the first choice of city department heads in Prairie du Chien. Gitz had also served as legal counsel for the City of Urbana and was an Illinois 35th Distract state senator.

Mayor Cheryl Mader said Gitz had stated the he was interested in the quality of life in this city, that his objectives matched those of the city, and that he wanted to make a difference.

When the question arose over the amount of Gitz's agreed salary, $75,000 plus benefits, Council member Dave Hemmer said that all of the top four candidates were currently making between $71,000 and $73,000, and the city needed to offer something more.

Council member Frank Pintz cast the sole dissenting vote in authorizing the agreement. Pintz, a member of the finance committee, said that $71,000 had been budgeted and he felt the city should stick to the budget.

The other major issue of the evening was revising the city ordinance regarding alternate side parking during the winter.

The objective was to change the current ordinance, which requires alternate side parking every night during snow season beginning Nov. 15, regardless of whether or not it snows. Street Superintendent Rodney Fishler had also suggested the no-parking hours„currently set at midnight to 6 a.m.„be extended to noon to expedite snow plowing

A new ordinance, intended to make parking less bothersome for residents, would require alternate side parking only if it snows, and that is the point at which the discussion became bogged down in a blizzard of words.

A major problem pointed out by City Attorney Tom Peterson was what constitutes 'snow.' He said that theoretically, people could challenge a ticket with the argument that they did not move their vehicles because there it was 'flurrying' or sleeting rather than snowing.

Fishler said that the city usually plows when the snow reaches two inches. However, predicting the amount of snow in advance and notifying people that parking regulations would go into effect remained a problem. Council member Phil Dagnon suggested that the ordinance go into effect only when the city declares a snow emergency.

Council member Jaaren Riebe moved that alternate side parking go into effect from midnight until the following noon when there is a forecasted snow event of two inches or more, and remain in effect for 48 hours after the end of the snow.

Peterson was asked to draft the ordinance and have it ready for approval at next week's council meeting. Until then, residents are asked to abide by the current ordinance, which goes into effect Nov. 15.

In other business, council reviewed and approved a proposed lot division by Wal-Mart, creating a separate lot at the former Murphy's Oil site.

Area hunters getting ready for gun-deer season

Numerous hunters in Crawford County have expressed concerns regarding the upcoming gun-deer season, which runs from Nov. 17 to Nov. 25. Crawford County Conservation Warden Mike Cross is available to answer any questions hunters might have regarding "earn-a-buck" or any other hunting regulations.

Cross said that Crawford County is divided into two deer management units. Most of the county consists of Unit 74B, which is a "herd control unit." 74B is not an "earn-a-buck" unit. Cross said that hunters will receive one free antlerless tag with their deer hunting license. If a hunter hunts in the archery season and the gun season, they would receive a free antlerless tag for each of those seasons.

In 74B, tags can be used in any order. A hunter can kill a buck first or a doe first. The order doesn't matter. Cross said that the tags are labeled so that hunters know which tag to use. If a hunter bags a buck during the archery season, he or she should tag it with the tag labeled "archery buck." If a hunter bags a buck during the gun season, he or she should use the "gun buck" tag. If a hunter bags a doe, he or she should use the antlerless tag.

"We've tried to make it easier," said Cross about the straight forward tagging rules.

In addition to the free antlerless tag that is given with the purchase of a deer hunting license, hunters may also purchase an unlimited amount of antlerless tags for $2 apiece. Cross said that these tags are valid in any "herd control unit."

The other deer hunting unit in Crawford County is Unit 71. Unit 71 is that part of the county east of Highway 61. Unit 71 is a "herd reduction area of the CWD Zone." Unit 71 is an "earn-a-buck" unit. Hunters in 71 receive four free antlerless tags with the purchase of their license. Hunters in 71 must kill a doe before they can kill a buck.

Cross said that if a hunter kills a doe in 71, he or she will get a "buck validation sticker." That hunter then can kill a buck. A hunter in 71 can kill an unlimited amount of deer. They must, however, kill a doe before killing each buck.

If a hunter kills a doe in Unit 71 and then does not get a buck, their buck validation sticker will carry over into next year's season, said Cross. A hunter who kills a doe this season and who doesn't get a buck, can kill a buck first next year. If they wish to continue hunting, they then must kill a doe before they kill another buck.

Unit 74B and Unit 71 are designed to reduce deer populations, said Cross. Cross noted that 74B may or may not become an "earn-a-buck" unit next year. "That is unknown at this time," he said.

"People have been good and have been calling to make sure of the regulations," said Cross. "Hunters have called to make sure that they have interpreted the rules correctly, and, in most cases, they have."

Cross said that anyone with questions about the deer hunting season can call him at (608) 326-2915.

River Ridge student participates in international leadership program

"If you get the chance, I would go," said River Ridge sophomore Cora Halverson, "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and you learn so much."

The opportunity of which she speaks is the People to People Summer Leadership Summit, an organization created by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1956 and open to eligible students in grades 6 to 12.

Cora was nominated in eighth grade by her teacher, Laurie Laufenberg, who recently died of cancer. Cora submitted the necessary records, application forms and recommendations, and learned of her acceptance„a year in advance„by the end of that school year. Cora's parents were willing and able to pay for her trip (the student's family pays all expenses), and she flew to Washington, D.C. July 9, where she was met and transported to George Washington University, the conference site.

She, and approximately 300 other students from all over the world, participated in an intensive week of visiting monuments and museums, classroom lectures, team building exercises, and learning about other cultures through interacting with each other.

Of the many places they visited„the Lincoln Memorial, Monticello, the Washington Monument, the National Air and Space Museum and the Vietnam Memorial, among others„she found the Holocaust Museum the most impressive. "There was so much information it was mind-boggling," she said, "and on the walls were the names of people who died in the holocaust."

Despite all the tours and sightseeing, however, it was what she did and learned that Cora found the most impressive. They had classes and workshops on being pro-active and making good choices, being open to other people's opinions, being leaders and standing up for themselves. They did team building exercises and visited with admissions counselors from three different colleges to learn about gaining acceptance to the colleges of their choice.

They spent a day working on a vegetable farm in Virginia, pulling weeds and fertilizing. The food raised on the all-volunteer farm is donated to shelters.

The Director of Homeland Securities addressed the group about his job and explained some of the situations his organization has encountered.

Cora returned from her trip July 18, and feels as if she has grown from her experience. "I feel more confident now," she says, "and I'm more willing to express my opinion." She is involved in volleyball, softball and forensics, and works at Orchard Manor Nursing Home.

November 12, 2007

Bill Howe earns Citizen Laureate Award
Mary Antoine delivered the following address Thursday night at the Prairie du Clhien Historical Society Annual Meeting.

By Mary Antoine

Tonight's recipient of the Prairie du Chien Historical Society Citizen Laureate Award is a man who for his entire life, except for the years he served our country in the Navy, has lived in Prairie du Chien.

Prairie du Chien, the Mississippi River, their residents, and their cultural and natural resources have been his passions his entire life.

Bill Howe was born into and grew up with one of the institutions of his community„The Courier Press„the fifth oldest newspaper in Wisconsin. His grandparents, Henry and Sue Howe, purchased the newspaper in 1911. As a young boy, Bill delivered the paper and still remembers the people he delivered to and where they lived.

Last year, the library received a request from a descendant of Wilhelmina Herald. The person wanted to know where she and her husband "The Great Vernon'' an illusionist lived. I didn't know. Minnie didn't know. No one had heard of The Great Vernon. So what to do„ask Bill. He knew. Not only did he know where the Great Vernon had lived, he had delivered the paper to him. Bill also told us how The Great Vernon had done magic tricks before he paid Bill for the subscription.

When World War II broke out, Bill joined the Navy, while his only brother Jack also joined the service. Upon their return after the war, Bill and Jack began working full time at The Courier. Upon their father's death in 1949 each assumed responsibility for the publishing business, which had grown under Lyman and Eliese's management. Bill became editor of the newspaper. As such, he felt the citizens of Prairie du Chien had a right to know what was going on in their community. He attended every meeting of the Prairie du Chien City Council, meetings of the Committee of the Whole, and various committee meetings. And if he felt it was needed, he spoke up at those meetings to set council members right or as a spokesman for the citizens. The actions of Prairie du Chien city government and all its committees were then recorded in The Courier. We were well informed.

Bill married Bernice Benson and they had five children„two of which are here with us tonight. He is the proud grandparent of seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Bill comes to the Library often to share photographs or newspaper articles he has unearthed in his vast personal archive. When I ask him what he has been up to, he glows as he tells me he is off to baby-sit his grandchildren in Oshkosh or just returned from a special dinner with Shelly.

Besides grandchildren Bill has several passions, and two have blended. These are the outdoors and the Mississippi River.

Bill knows every slough and backwater of the area and still checks upon them as soon as he can put his boat in the water. But in the winter as soon as the sloughs freeze Bill would sharpen his skates, and from a young age would skate the slough, a winter adventure he shared with his children. This love of skating the river was the impetus for the annual Courier Press Skating Meet. Bill continued to skate the sloughs until a few years ago.

Bill's knowledge of, interest in and passion for the Mississippi has not gone unnoticed. Soon after he returned from service Bill became a member of the River Anti Draw-Down League.

Since 1953, he has served on the Wisconsin Conservation Congress. Currently, he is the longest service active member.

In 1981 Governor Dreyfus appointed Bill to the Wisconsin, Minnesota Boundary Area Commission to represent Wisconsin. In 2001 he received a commendation from Governor McCallum for years of service.

He was appointed by the DNR to the Citizens Advisory Committee for the Lower Wisconsin Riverway Project and still participates.

He is a member of the Conservation Congress representing Crawford County which advises the DNR.

He is a member of the Upper Mississippi River Citizens Commission which operates as a watchdog on the river, island and bluff management.

He has traveled to Washington D.C. to testify on behalf of the Environmental Management Program.

In 1991 Bill received Special President's Award from the Prairie du Chien Chamber of Commerce for service to Prairie du Chien.

Though retired as editor of the Courier, Bill keeps busy with family, going out to Kaber's and dancing with the girls, traveling and just "keeping an eye on things.''

It is my honor to present the 2007 Citizen Laureate Award to Bill Howe.

Bagley Benefit total rises to $18,548.06

Much like surging flood water, the money for Bagley flood victims continues to rise. Pam Brownlee of Woodman said Thursday that WGLR of Lancaster, a radio station also known as "Queen Bee," has donated $5,000 to help victims of the July 18 flood.

Brownlee said that this donation raises the total to $18,548.06 and counting since an Oct. 13 benefit held in Bagley. Brownlee, the organizer of the benefit, said that WGLR raised the money by calling area businesses to support the cause. WGLR also raised money through a holiday auction being held for people in need in area communities. The holiday auction is ongoing and will be held through the holidays, said Brownlee.

During the benefit held in downtown Bagley on Oct. 13, $11,648.06 was raised for flood victims. There was a hog roast, an auction, and five bands performed for free at the benefit. There were also several raffles throughout the day.

Brownlee said that donations totalling $1,900 have been received since the Oct. 13 benefit. These donations raised the total to $13,548.06. The latest donation by WGLR of $5,000 pushed the total to $18,548.06.

"That's incredible, isn't it," said Brownlee, who noted that less than $600 was spent to get the Oct. 13 benefit off the ground. She said that approximately 600 people purchased meals at the benefit. Beer and pop were also sold and there was a cover charge. An auction in the morning and raffles also helped to raise money.

Brownlee praised everyone who volunteered at the Oct. 13 benefit and all of the people who came to the benefit, enjoyed themselves and donated, as well as all individuals, organizations and businesses who have donated since. "They're all wonderful," she said.