September 13, 2006

Moran edges out Ostrander in Crawford County Sheriff's race

Jerry Moran emerged the winner in yesterday's Democratic primary race for Crawford County Sheriff, garnering 1983 votes, versus 1519 for incumbent Bob Ostrander.

"I'm so thankful for all the people who supported me and worked for me. I knew that if we worked together we could get a victory, and we did," said Moran.

Moran consistently out polled Ostrander in the City of Prairie du Chien, but Ostrander scored better in some other parts of the county, especially Utica, where the vote was 102-65 in favor of Ostrander; Seneca, voting 190-86 in his favor, and Ferryville, where he drew 50 votes as opposed to 15 for Moran.

Ostrander has been Sheriff for the past eight years,

Moran will face Republican candidate Jim Rider in the November election. Rider, running unopposed on the Republican ticket, received 394 votes. Republican turnout for the primary, however, was low.

Jerry Moran emerged the winner in yesterday's Democratic primary race for Crawford County Sheriff, garnering 1983 votes, versus 1519 for incumbent Bob Ostrander.

"I'm so thankful for all the people who supported me and worked for me. I knew that if we worked together we could get a victory, and we did," said Moran.

Ostrander has been Sheriff for the past eight years,

Moran will face Republican candidate Jim Rider in the November election. Rider, running unopposed on the Republican ticket, received 394 votes. Republican turnout for the primary, however, was low.

Jerry Moran emerged the winner in yesterday's Democratic primary race for Crawford County Sheriff, garnering 1983 votes, versus 1519 for incumbent Bob Ostrander.

"I'm so thankful for all the people who supported me and worked for me. I knew that if we worked together we could get a victory, and we did," said Moran.

Ostrander has been Sheriff for the past eight years,

Moran will face Republican candidate Jim Rider in the November election. Rider, running unopposed on the Republican ticket, received 394 votes. Republican turnout for the primary, however, was low.

Morovits, Mezera win Coroner, Register of Deeds spots for Nov.

In the race for Coroner, Joe Morovits edged out incumbent Camille Smith with 1539 votes to her 1302. Patricia Nimbar received 439 votes. Morovits will face Jan Lund, running as an Independent, in the November elections.

Incumbent Melissa Mezera will be unopposed on the November ballot for Register of Deeds, with 1929 votes. Challenger Jane Bushnell received 1439 votes.

Local hunter finds his 'Place of the Sun'

Hunting adventure of a lifetime becomes a dream come true

"It was like a dream," said Bobby Jones as he recalled his recent hunting adventure to South Africa with a wide smile and a gleam in his eye. Each day, there was something refreshing, new and exciting, he said. It was as though the 17 days were melded into one huge, unforgettable day.

Jones' "dream" took place in the Ilanga Nature Reserve. Ilanga, in the local tongue stands for "The Place of the Sun," and is located about one and a half hours south of Johannesburg, encompassing more than 3,000 acres of high bushveld bordered on three sides by mountains.

"Every day was an adventure in Ilanga," said Jones, a well-known accountant from Prairie du Chien. "It was fantastic, the food and the friendships. They so want you to enjoy Ilanga. It's way more than just the hunting."

The main reason why Jones enjoyed Ilanga so much was because of the great hospitality of Benito Van Leeuwen, his lovely wife Babs and his father Hank. Jones described Benito as, "South Africa's version of ïCrocodile Dundee'." With his ever-present, gleaming white smile and bush hat, Benito, with extended arms, greeted his guests each morning with a hearty, "Good morning my friends! Did you sleep well!?"

"Benito has such a presence, a charisma," said Jones. "There is no false pretense. It's real and refreshing."

The ritual each morning is to sit on the deck in front of Benito's bow shop with a cup of coffee and breakfast, relax and watch the sunrise. Slowly, the rising sun illuminates the trees and the animals as they move about and graze.

There are giraffes, zebras, blesbok, blue wildebeest, and many others. "There is a parade of animals every day," said Jones. "You didn't know what you were going to see. There is such a wide variety."

Jones noted that there are also monkeys moving about in the nearby trees as well as birds of all colors "as vibrant as the rainbow."

In August, it is winter in South Africa and in the morning temperatures are in the 30s and 40s. During the day, temperatures rise to between 60 and 90 degrees. The winter period is very dry and the animals tend to gather at waterholes at various times throughout the day.

Following breakfast, it is time to go out on the day's hunt. Jones said that the hunter is taken out and set up by himself in one of the many blinds on the reserve. There are tree stands, ground blinds and pit blinds.

Ilanga, in which only bowhunting is allowed, has a self-sustaining, naturally-reproducing wildlife population and hunting helps keep the various populations in check.

Upon being taken out for his first hunt, Jones knew he was in a different world. "I knew I wasn't sitting somewhere in Steuben," he said with a laugh. Each day holds something different. One might see sables, kudus, waterbucks, warthogs, wildebeest, impalas and a host of other species.

Three giraffes wandered past on the first day at about 20 yards and bent down awkwardly to drink. Jones said that he also saw four cape buffalo, something most hunters never see in Ilanga. A pair of white rhinos in the wild at relatively close range are more than enough to get one's heart pounding. A troop of about 20 baboons also made Jones a bit nervous. "The hair on the back of my neck went up," he said of the baboons, who were looking right at him from about 25 yards. The big males stood up and made an "alarm call," a very loud call which ends with a display of the baboon's formidable teeth, the incisors being about three inches long. One day, he saw a 10-foot crocodile, the only crocodile on the reserve.

While in Ilanga, Jones shot two blue wildebeest, an impala, a ewe blesbuck, a duiker and a warthog. Wildebeest reach 400 plus pounds. Impala are an antelope species that weigh about 70 pounds as an adult. A ewe blesbuck would reach about 110 pounds. A duiker is a small antelope in the 30-35-pound range. The warthog that Jones shot was about 2.5 years old and had 3-inch tusks, which are ivory. Warthogs are very wary and elusive and weigh between 80 and 200 plus pounds.

Upon killing an animal, the hunter radios Benito, who arrives with great enthusiasm. Benito has been a professional guide for more than 20 years and has owned Ilanga, along with a partner, for nine years.

Jones said that Benito espouses respect for all wildlife and that the spirit of Ilanga is not one of trophy or world-record seeking. In fact, Benito wants all of those who hunt on Ilanga to know the Latin terminology for each species, what their gestation periods are, and whether they are browsers or grazers. Benito is extremely well-researched and is renowned throughout South Africa for his knowledge of wildlife.

"He is like a grand teacher of African wildlife and plant life," said Jones. "He is a walking encyclopedia of wildlife information."

Benito is a five-time national South African archery champion, a two-time IFAA world champion and a two-time IFAA silver medalist.

After the day's hunt, each evening a fire would be built, around which the guests would enjoy great conversion with Benito, Babs, Hank and each other. Sometimes, everyone would enjoy listening to or playing a large African drum near the fire. Much to the delight of all, Jones played his Native American flute that was given to him by a friend and at which he has become quite adept. "It's so haunting," Jones recalled Benito's father Hank saying. Also, every night there was a candlelight dinner on the veranda with a variety of wines and foods, including the animals that were harvested.

Another highlight for Jones was a two-day sight-seeing trip to Kruger National Park, the largest game reserve in South Africa at 217 miles from north to south and 37 miles from east to west. "It's an unbelievable place," Jones said. "It has all of the animals of Africa." Jones said that he saw crocodiles, hippos, lions, elephants, cape buffalo, a leopard, and numerous other species. "They're everywhere," he said. "The volume of wildlife in Kruger National Park is amazing."

Jones said that he had such an amazing time that he is contemplating making a return trip to South Africa and Ilanga. This first adventure was set up by Jim Hunt, a good friend from Postville, who works at Cabela's of Prairie du Chien. "It was by his personal invitation that I was privileged to be in Ilanga," said Jones.

When Bobby Jones goes back, among the first words he will hear upon arrival will be "Greetings my friends! Welcome to Ilanga!" from Benito.

"Any bowhunter looking for an experience of a lifetime, this would be the place," said Jones. "Ilanga."

September 4, 2006

Old tourist cabins offer a window into the history of local motel industry

About 100 years ago, roads in Crawford County were crude, rough and rutted. While this could be a problem, it wasn't unusual. Roads across all of rural America were about the same. Roads were primarily used for local travel. When people traveled long distances, say over 20 miles, they took the train.

Automobile travel did not become common until after World War I. As car travel became more common, roads slowly improved, and other industries to serve the auto traveller began to grow, such as gas and service stations, cafes and especially motels.

Motels as we know them today did not exist in 1920. But there were simple, sometimes crude, tourist accommodations, often called tourist cabins. Most of these structures have now disappeared, and exist only in the fading memory of the generation that grew up with the Model T.

Prairie du Chien's auto tourist industry began with a pair of log tourist cabins along Hwy 18, south of town. These cabins are preserved on the farm of Harlan and Janice Stuckey, who have owned them since 1972.

The Stuckeys have recorded the history of the cabins. Harlan, who is 80, does not remember exactly when the cabins were built, but he remembers when they sat behind the Balk gas station on Hwy. 18 at the junction with La Pointe St., the current location of People's Investment Center.

Weary travellers who needed a place to stop for the night could rent the cabins from Balk. The cabins sat under the shade of a few large trees behind the station. Inside, there were beds and a pitcher and washbowl, and perhaps a table and chairs. Windows faced west, probably for privacy and away from the dust from traffic on the gravel surface of the highway. A hand pump for water and an outhouse behind the cabins completed the simple accommodations. "They did rent out quite regularly," Harlan said. "People didn't travel as far then," he observed.

According to the Stuckeys, the cabins were built by Peter J. Schneider, probably in the mid-1920s. Schneider worked as a hired hand for Dan and Sol LaRiviere, and the white oak and walnut logs for the cabins were cut from the LaRiviere farm. Although Schneider did not bother to peel all of the logs, he hand notched the corners to fit them together and chinked the cracks between the logs with concrete. The planks used in the flooring and for sheeting the roof of the cabins have a history of their own. Schneider got them from the construction site of the (then) new bridge over the Wisconsin River. The planks were used as forms for pouring the concrete pilings. The bridge replaced a narrow, wooden covered bridge over the Wisconsin, which Harlan said cost ten cents to cross.

The cabins still have their original, sturdy, handmade doors and windows in the gable ends of the buildings and on the west walls. There was no heat in the cabins as they were used only in summer. Stuckey said that Balk and Schneider split the proceeds for the rental of the cabins. Just how much they charged tourists to rent them is unknown, but it was probably two dollars or less per night. The romance of pioneer history attached to real log cabins probably attracted people to them as much as it draws travelers to Northwoods resorts now. The cabins were the first tourist accommodations in Prairie du Chien built specifically for auto travelers, and they were the beginnings of the motel industry in the city.

Later, other tourist cabins or tourist courts appeared. The Polodna family operated tourist cabins on Marquette Rd, at the current location of the McDonald's restaurant, called Elm Grove. Near St. John's school, on Michigan St., there were several cabins that were part of the Rose Court. Rose Court was owned by John Petters, who eventually developed a zoo at the site as well Some of the Rose Court cabins survive, as houses that were adapted and expanded with additions. Gerald Frydenlund recalled that there were also tourist cabins north of town, on Frenchtown Rd., called Lakeview Court. "They were not modern, they were just sleeping cabins," Frydenlund explained.

The tourist cabins occupied a middle ground for the price-conscious traveler from about 1925 until about 1951. They were cheaper than the downtown hotels, but provided more amenities than simply camping by the roadside for free. The decline of tourist cabins came with the opening of modern motels. People began to want more than a roof over their heads and an outhouse. Arthur, Gerald's father, opened the Brisbois Motel, the first modern motel in the city, with six units in 1951 or '52.

The Schneider log cabins got their final duty call during the flood of 1965, when people evacuated from the Fourth Ward sought housing anywhere they could get it, even the old log cabins. "Everything was full, it was the only place to go," Janice Stuckey explained.

Sometime after 1965, Peter Schneider hauled the cabins out to his farm, just a short distance away, behind the present location of Dick's Piggly Wiggly Supermarket. There the cabins served as a workshop and brooder house for baby chicks, but few changes were made in the structures to adapt them to their new uses. The Stuckey's acquired the cabins in June 1972. Schneider had passed away, and the cabins had not sold at the farm auction in 1970. The new owner of the property planned to tear the cabins down, so the Stuckey's offered to buy them and move them to their farm. Harlan and Janice's children enjoyed playing ïpioneer' in the cabins while they were growing up. Now they are used for storage.

It is the cabins themselves who were the real pioneers, the forbearers of the motel industry of Prairie du Chien.

Candidates seek coroner position

Jan Lund

Briefly describe yourself and your qualifications for the position of Coroner.

I was born and raised in Crawford County and have lived and been a tax payer here for many years. I married Roger Lund in 1970. At that time he had seven children and I had four; we later had one child. All 12 children have had a post-high school education and several are in the medical field.

Why are you seeking this position?

I have been a Registered Nurse for 35 years and in the medical profession for almost 40 years. I have worked was in Surgery, Emergency Room, Obstetrics, Geriatrics, Alcohol and Drug abuse, Mental Health, Multisystem Failure, Telemetry, Chemo, School Nurse, Rehab and 16 years of Coroner work. At the present, I am a full time employee working in geriatrics and rehab.

What are your primary goals for improving service to the public as Coroner? What is the most important issue facing the Coroner's office in the year ahead?

I was the Crawford County Coroner for eight years (Jan. 1984 through Dec. 1991). I was also a Crawford County Deputy Coroner for eight years (Jan. 1992 through Dec. 1999). Due to a Federal requirement I stepped down from the coroner position in 1992 so I could work for the Federal Government. At that time I went to work for the VA in Madison. One can not win and hold an elected position and maintain their federal employment. This is against the Hatch Act of 1940.

I always ran on the democratic ticket; however from what I understand, there are already three candidates on that ballot. I am running as an Independent candidate so the voters of Crawford County can make an informed choice in the general election in November.

I have gone through all of the death records that are available up until the recent coroner and the record keeping has improved with each Coroner. I believe it has most likely improved with the present day coroner, and that it too can be improved on, with all the modern equipment that the current Coroner now has at her disposal. She says she is the only qualified person to do this job. This is not knowledge one is born with, but a position that is learned.

The compensation for the position of Coroner has been a point of debate recently. Do you feel the issue of pay is a problem for this position?

In the past I had maintained a low workable budget, and came in very near or under budget every year. The maximum amount I received was $3,000 for the year. If I am elected for this important position I will stop this run-a-way budget which would add to the burden of the tax payers of Crawford County.

If I am elected on November 7, I will resign my full time position so I can dedicate the time and attention to this position. I will hold the budget to the reasonable salary the county is offering.

Note: Jan Lund's name will not appear on the primary ballot because she registered as an Independent, but it will appear on the November ballot.

Joseph Morovits

Briefly describe yourself and your qualifications for the position of Coroner.

I am married to Arlene (Dahl) and we have two children - Kevin, 21 and Alan, 18, both of whom have attended school in Seneca. I am a lifelong resident of Crawford County and have been employed by Cabela's since 1998. I have been an EMT for 13 years and am actively involved with the Seneca First Responders, Eastman First Responders, Prairie du Chien EMS and the Southwest Wisconsin Regional Trauma Advisory Council. I am actively involved with the Seneca Community Club, United Way and the Red Cross Disaster Services. I am currently an instructor for CPR, AED, First Responders (ARAC) and Pediatric Education of Pre-hospital Providers (PEPP) and Geriatric Education for EMS (GEMS). In addition to being involved with the pre-hospital medical profession for the past 16 years, I have consistently maintained positive working relationships with local law enforcement, the local hospital and local ambulance services and First Responder units.

Why are you seeking this position?

I am seeking election as a county coroner because I truly feel I have the skills and abilities to perform the job with both compassion and professionalism. I am a lifelong resident of Crawford County and would like the opportunity to serve as coroner in the county that has given me so much.

What are your primary goals for improving service to the public as Coroner? What is the most important issue facing the Coroner's office in the year ahead?

My primary goals for improving service to the public are simple. I intend on holding regular posted office hours within the county building to allow for greater public service. My intent is to have deputy coroners located throughout the county to allow for both appropriate and timely response. I also intend to complete and maintain required records in a timely manner. I believe the most important issue facing the Coroner's office in the next year is to increase the overall professionalism of the office to include but not limited to both timely report writing and maintaining positive working relationships with law enforcement and the families of the deceased.

The compensation for the position of Coroner has been a point of debate recently. Do you feel the issue of pay is a problem for this position?

I do not feel that the issue of pay is a problem for this position at this time. I currently have a full time job with benefits that I intend to maintain. I have consistently been an active volunteer in many areas. I am seeking this position because I truly feel I can be of service to my county, not because I need health insurance for my family or as a secondary source of income. I want to do what I can for Crawford County.

Pat Nimbar

Briefly describe yourself and your qualifications for the position of Coroner.

I have one and one-half years experience as Deputy Coroner in Crawford County handling over 30 cases during that time. I also have 35 years in health care as a C.N.A. working in nursing homes and in Home Care. I have also been a local business owner for the past 15 years. I can talk with families and have excellent people skills.

Why are you seeking this position?

I would like to improve the daily operations of the Coroner's office by holding regular business hours, having faster response times with a sufficient number of better-trained deputies who can work as a team with families, law enforcement, first responders, EMT's, hospitals, hospice and funeral directors throughout Crawford and surrounding counties.

What are your primary goals for improving service to the public as Coroner? What is the most important issue facing the Coroner's office in the year ahead?

I intend to meet, with the various emergency response teams, hospice groups, nursing home and hospitals throughout the county and listen to their concerns and recommendations on what has worked and what needs changing. Then, I can start finding a better way of modifying things, such as, response times, records, and the needs of these various groups, from the Coroners office, to make their job easier. Setting policy for handling cases. Having deputies throughout the county who can be on site within a reasonable time. Deputies will be trained on relations with families, first responders, EMT's, hospitals, nursing homes, hospice etc. so there will be a stronger understanding of their needs and what the Coroner's office can do to improve the process.

The compensation for the position of Coroner has been a point of debate recently. Do you feel the issue of pay is a problem for this position?

In the past, the only compensation for the Coroners office was per call. This meant any extra hours doing follow-ups, autopsies, meeting with hospice and doctors were at the Coroners expense. The salary allows the Coroner to make better use the deputies by being able to pay them per call, allowing for a faster response time, and also compensates the Coroner, to do follow-ups on cases, hold regular office hours, training deputies, opening public records to the families and attending first responder and EMT meetings. The Coroner now has a fully equipped office in the new county building. I feel it is an injustice to the public by not having it open and accessible. All records need to be available to families and deputies, and the office needs to be utilized after each case to streamline the entire procedure.

It's a hard time for all involved, with teamwork and understanding from the Coroners office I hope to ease the experience to the families.

Camille Smith

Briefly describe yourself and your qualifications for the position of Coroner.

Having been in the Coroner's office for the past four years, my experience and continued education uniquely qualify me to be re-elected as Coroner of Crawford County. I am a 48-year old mother of three with a BA from St. Mary's University in Winona and have been a successful business owner for 22 years. I serve on the Education and Legislative committees for our state Coroner's organization (WCMEA) and I am committed to quality investigation and care for the citizens of our county. I am in the process of becoming a board certified medicolegal death investigator through the American Board of Medicolegal Death investigators at St. Louis University School of Medicine.

Why are you seeking this position?

I am seeking to be reelected as Crawford County Coroner because I know what a difference professionalism, education, and compassionate people skills mean to the people of our county. We are better served by access to modern technology, solid relationships with state forensic experts and a teamwork approach with local and state law enforcement. I seek to continue to serve our county in the capacity of Coroner because I'm passionate about the needs of all residents of Crawford County.

What are your primary goals for improving service to the public as Coroner? What is the most important issue facing the Coroner's office in the year ahead?

Continued teamwork is the most important issue facing the Coroners office. Every agency in the county is better served when agencies cooperate with each other. My primary goals are to continue to improve service to our people. A death in Crawford County is no less important than a death in the biggest city. We must balance keeping costs down with the need for service. Modern knowledge of genetics and uses of our state pathologists can provide families with potentially life-saving information.

The compensation for the position of Coroner has been a point of debate recently. Do you feel the issue of pay is a problem for this position.

No one takes on this job for the money. That said, we must balance the meager financial resources of our county with the need for professionalism. Professionalism takes time and dedication on anyone's part. In the four years I've been in the Coroner's office working with the County Board, we have come a long way toward improving policies and emergency preparedness. The expertise and educational requirements needed to effectively run this position deserve better than minimum wage, yet that is a big change for our county. My job is to fight for the quality needed for this position as it protects the residents of our county - not only for right now, but to those that follow in this position.

No dry drivers

Competitors at the Carriage Classic this past weekend had to endure chilly temperatures Saturday and a slow, steady rain on Sunday. Most seemed to keep their spirits up. Above, two drivers awaiting their start in the Cross Country class chat and enjoy a view of the misty river. For more on the Carriage Classic, see page 7. (Photo by Trudy Balcom)

Gays Mills Flood Pictures g Soldiers Grove Flood Pictures g Steuben flood pictures on this link

September 13, 2006

September 4, 2006