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October 28, 2009 |
By Ted Pennekamp
The Crawford County Board of Supervisors voted 9-7 to approve of the 2010 budget at its budget hearing Tuesday afternoon. Supervisor Gerald Krachey was absent.
The 2010 budget will have a total levy of $7.2 million and a tax rate of $6.84. The 2009 budget had a total levy of $6.7 million and a tax rate of $6.41.
A tax rate of $6.84 means that the owner of a home valued at $100,000 would pay $684 for county purposes.
"I don’t like to see taxes going up for the county," said Supervisor Mary Jane Faas. "People are losing jobs and such. It’s a hardship for everybody."
The projected drop in county sales and use tax this year is one major factor which helped to make the tax rate go up. The county sales and use tax last year was $1.285 million. In 2010, it is projected to be $1,215 million. The county sales and use tax is subtracted from the levy in order to come up with the total levy amount.
Total expenditures for the county in 2010 will be approximately $19.2 million. Subtract the total revenues and the levy is $8.45 million. Subtract the county sales and use tax and the total levy is $7.2 million.
Because the budget is very tight again this year and because the county sales and use tax is down, Supervisor Jim O’Meara said that the board will need to take a look at the budget again by April and decide whether more cuts are needed, such as cutting personnel or cutting hours down to 32 hours per week. O’Meara said that the county can’t afford to dip into the contingency fund and still keep operating.
In an effort to keep expenses down for 2010, all departments will be cutting their budgets by 5 percent.
By Ted Pennekamp
County Nurse Gloria Wall gave a presentation about the swine flu vaccine during the regular County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday morning.
Wall told the board that the county had received the 900 doses of vaccine that it had ordered, and later received 100 more doses in order to fight the H1N1 flu virus, commonly referred to as swine flu.
Wall said that health care workers were given the vaccine first. They include all people who respond to others in need including, law enforcement, EMS personnel, nurses, doctors and other health care providers, day care providers, nursing home workers, etc.
Pregnant women and young children are also of high priority because they are at the greatest risk, said Wall, who noted that there are signs on the doors to the County Administrative Building saying that the vaccine is now available for children ages 6 months through second grade only.
Wall said that the county will continue to remain vigilant in providing vaccines for the high-priority target groups only, until more doses arrive.
"We’ve had wonderful support from the schools and the communities," said Wall.
In other business, the County Board approved of Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. for a public hearing regarding the proposed Crawford County Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan is a fluid plan which will guide the county’s development in a variety of areas for the next 20 years.
In further business, Supervisor John Karnopp told the board that a $225,000 grant has been applied for which could help to replace the 40-year-old boiler system to heat the Courthouse Building. The heating, air conditioning and windows of the Courthouse Building are old and decrepit and in urgent need of replacement or upgrades. Supervisor Larry Kapinus said that the heating, air conditioning and windows at the Courthouse Building need to be taken care of within the next couple of years. The project can’t be put off much longer, he said. Replacement of these systems would save the county thousands of dollars each year in the long run.
By Jack Howe
Part One
Freedom Flight is a La Crosse-based organization whose goal is to Washington to visit their memorial. Some 150 World War II veterans trained for the excursion with time in some branch of the service to their county. They were men in various degrees of health, a majority of them ambulatory but also many in wheel chairs.
All athletes have trainers and every two World War veterans had a trainer also known as a guardian. Lyman (Jack) Howe, Jr. was well cared for by his guardian, his son L. John Howe, III.
The entire battalion or company of veterans was guarded by a most devoted, willing, caring, and generous group of volunteers.
The marathon, and it was a marathon in terms of what we were to do in a very short period of time, began with a full dress orientation meeting one week prior to take off. Veterans got the feeling of appreciation at the first meeting. Volunteers began to pass out badges, name tags, with "Thank You" to the vet for their willingness to have served time in one of the branches of the military.
Pictures were taken either single or with a guardian by bank executives and personnel in uniform t-shirts of the same color. These pictures in turn were given to the WWII vet as they departed from the plane on return to La Crosse.
Volunteer organizers gave an outline of procedure for the airline departure on Oct. 10. We were not to arrive at the airport before 5:30 a.m. That must have been for the volunteers to give them time to organize the welcome.
As John and I entered the designated hanger, we were greeted by thankful volunteers who expressed "Thanks" for the time we gave the our country.
The send-off program was again expressed in front of a large American flag. A choral group of young children, fifth to seventh grades from North Woods International School of La Crosse, presented a real send-off.
After coffee and rolls and directions prior to boarding, we began to move. To avoid crowding entering the big two engine 737, veterans were sent through the hanger doors four to six at a time.
John had found his assignment, Don Symonds from Decorah, Iowa and we headed to the aircraft. An unexpected, very touching scene in the early morning cold made me stop and take a deep breath. On each side of our path to the aircraft were service men and women in camouflaged uniforms. As these small groups of WW II vets passed before them they came to a snappy, crisp salute. That was very, very much appreciated and heart warming, especially when you are 84 years old and one of many the same age.
On board, Jack, Don and John were seated in Row 19 seats D-E-F. The captain announced we were to fly over Michigan, Ohio, and S.W. Pennsylvania into Washington D.C., air time one hour and 38 minutes at 37,000 feet—70 degrees in D.C.
Each passenger, vet and guardian was issued a back pack containing bottled water, energy drink, bars and disposable 27 exposure camera. They, volunteers and organizers, did not miss a trick. Organization was stupendous.
We had previously received a beautiful book of the WW II Memorial—Jewel of the Mall. With professional photography, these pages showed why it truly is the "Jewel of the Mall."
Excitement and anticipation was calmed as four stewardesses served sandwiches and soft drink before touchdown at Dulles Airport.
All of us were assigned to a specific bus for the balance of the day. Care for the vets, all over 80 years old, was of main concern, with medical personnel on each bus plus the volunteer in charge of seating. All personnel had been issued light blue T-shirts for identification wherever we ventured.
Each bus carried some 20 wheelchairs for those not as ambulatory as others. Guardians were given specific instructions, "keep your two veterans together. If they need bathroom facility, they don’t go unless they have the guardian’s permission. This is their day and we don’t want anything to happen. Don’t let them get lost."
We are at the starting line, but the horn has not sounded to get us started.
On the 30 to 40-minute ride from the airport to the WW II Memorial they dropped the small TV screens and showed a digital movie, "WW II Memorial, Testament to Freedom." The movie started with the problems politicians had from the very beginning: reason, funding, and design to name a few. This laid a great groundwork and platform for the interested veteran to look forward to the actual viewing of the memorial.
The first sighting for the Howes was the beautiful stone spire of the Washington Monument standing over 230 feet tall.
"See the white marble columns over there!"
The horn sounds and we, the veterans on Alpha Bus break from the starting line. It is now about 10:30 a.m. We have been up since 4:30 a.m. at the motel and at 84 years old I am just getting into the starting blocks to begin my marathon in running shoes.
John has Don set in the wheelchair and we are off.
Joe Novey, his son Bryan as guardian and Fay Grim are on different busses but also from Prairie du Chien on this Freedom Flight.
As members of the "The Greatest Generation" we were on our own in this magnificent structure.
National politicians recognized there were memorials in D.C. for Civil War, WW I, then singly for various battles, Vietnam Wall, raising the Stars and Stripes on Suribachi, but nothing to "The Greatest Generation" which defeated Hitler and the Japanese and kept America free. We now speak English and not German or Japanese because of the victories of these WW II veterans.
And this appreciation was expressed throughout the Marathon.
Part 2, the tour of the monuments and the return trip, will be carried in Monday’s issue.
The highlight of the trip was the World War II Memorial, referred to as "the jewel of the Mall." The Washington Monument is in the background.
October 26, 2009 |
Eastman landmark soon to come down
By Ted Pennekamp
A familiar long-time landmark in the village of Eastman will soon be history. The old Eastman School Building, which was completed in 1916, is coming down.
D.A. Diggers of Wauzeka was awarded the bid and began taking the building apart in the first part of September. The demolition is expected to be completed sometime in the first part of November, depending upon the weather.
John Slama, who was on the Village Board when the board was deciding what to do with the vacant building, said that a lot of good wood has been taken out of the building and is being recycled.
"The floors were maple and I think there was a lot of fir in the building," said Slama. "There was also a lot of good wood in the roofing."
Slama said that asbestos has been removed from the building and that the windows have recently been taken out.
"People have also expressed an interest in the brick for small projects and for souvenirs," he said. "D.A. Diggers said that they will inform us ahead of time when the structure itself will be taken down so that people can be there to get their bricks."
Slama said that the cost of taking down and clearing the building is approximately $18,000. He said that there is a group in Eastman who have been meeting in an effort to raise money for a possible small structure to be built at the site once the school building is removed. The structure would probably contain a concession stand and bathrooms, which would serve events at the adjacent softball field.
The former school building has been vacant since the spring of 2006. It was sold back to the village for $1 by the Prairie du Chien School District after the district decided not to continue with the Eastman Charter School due to declining enrollment.
The village board met several times in an effort to decide what to do with the property. Several options were discussed, including selling the building, using it for some other purpose, or tearing the building down and keeping the property. Slama said that the building had begun to deteriorate inside in recent years.
In the end, the village board decided to tear down the building and keep the property.
"The majority of the people at the last meeting wanted to get rid of the building and keep the property," said Slama. "It was a tough decision and very emotional. It was one of those decisions where we as a board would be wrong no matter what we did. Some people were not going to be happy."
Slama said that most people wanted to at least keep the grounds because the property could be put to good use. "It’s the only thing we got in the village," he said.
Siblings find PdC a perfect spot for reunion
By Sandy Vold
If the Chamber of Commerce and other promoters of the Prairie du Chien area ever want to hire a cheering section, they might consider a team of siblings who recently visited the area and have already selected a date to return next year.
Five members of the Cox family, four sisters and a brother, have been leaving behind children and spouses and getting together for a long weekend once a year for the past 18 years. As Suzanne Chapin, the oldest member, explains it, "We were all very busy in our daily lives at the time, raising our children, advancing in our careers, going through divorces, etc., and never got a chance to bond except at holidays, which were always at our parents’ home." At first, only the three oldest got together, assuming that neither the youngest sister nor the brother would be interested. They were interested, however, and now all five take part. "We have," said Chapin, "gone through breast cancer, Hodgkins Disease, chemo, divorces, weddings, the passing of our other and dad and the birth of two children during those 18 years."
Chapin lives in Naples, Fla., but all the others live in or near Wisconsin. Shirley Horn is from Vesper, Pershing (Jim) Cox lives in Neenah, and Kelly Frank lies in Oshkosh. Judy Piper is a resident of Glencoe, Ill. Each year they have selected a location in Wisconsin or Illinois. They have attended plays and fish boils, toured the Chicago River, rented a race boat and taken in a chili cook-off and a strawberry festival. In Oshkosh they held a surprise party for their dad’s 80th birthday, and they took their mother on a gambling trip (she was dying of leukemia, and this was her request).
At first, the group used a secret vote to decide on the next place to visit, but lately they decide by mutual consent. It was Jim who suggested the trip to Prairie du Chien, motivated in part, say the sisters, by the presence of Cabela’s. It was Chapin’s job to locate a place to stay. She went to Prairie du Chien’s website, and under Cabins, saw Cabin at Whispering Ridge, owned by Wendy Vanderbilt. They booked it and, said Chapin, "found it to be wonderful."
Once they arrived, they made the most of their time. They visited Eagles Landing Winery, St. Feriole Island and Villa Louis, the old jail in the Crawford County Courthouse, the Carriage Classic ("another fascinating event we had never experienced," said Chapin), dined out in area restaurants, shopped in some of the city’s stores, and enjoyed the scenery. They plan to return next year, the weekend after Labor Day. "We barely scratched the surface of the many sites and activities available" Chapin said. Among their plans for next year are a trip to Lady Luck Casino, the Crawford County’s apple orchards, Pikes Peak State Park ad Effigy Mounds National Monument.
Over the 18 years there have been a number of memorable times—their father’s birthday party and the trip with their mother, and the 50th anniversary of the PEZ, when Jim brought them each a PEZ and they were instructed to offer one PEZ to someone each day. "That," said Chapin, "turned out to be very interesting to watch the reactions of people we didn’t know."
When they first started the sibling weekends, they had to work around five different schedules and vacation times. Now the take the same time each year—the weekend after Labor Day. They enjoy that, they say, because the popular spots are less crowded once school starts.
They have heard many comments from friends, family and co-workers. People are amazed they have done it so long and all get along. Many say they wish they could do the same, but it would never work. Jim’s co-workers can’t believe he participates and gets along with four women, especially his sisters. He tells them they need to make and effort and commitment.
To preserve their memories, the siblings keep scrapbooks of their adventures, and each year choose a picture of the five of them to frame and hang. They hope their children will follow their example of staying close to family members. "We have been through thick and thin with our distinct personalities," said Chapin. "Even though on occasion they have created challenges, we always arrive home feeling fortunate we are able to engage in our bonding weekends." They plan to continue the weekends for many years in the future. "Our younger sister might be pushing us in wheelchairs" said Chapin, "but we will never quit."
