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Free roaming feral cats should be
unprotected say Crawford County residents
Crawford County also votes in favor of lowering minimum hunting age from 12 to
10
As in numerous counties throughout the state, the feral cat issue was the
most debated issue at the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
Congress Spring Fish and Wildlife Rules Hearing in Crawford County Monday night.
Several people in the 58-member crowd at the Crawford County Courthouse said
that feral cats should be defined as an unprotected species because they kill
millions of songbirds and other wildlife each year. The statements reiterated
the findings of studies cited in the proposal, which claim that free roaming
feral domestic cats kill between 47 million and 139 million songbirds statewide
each year in addition to millions of small mammals and game birds. A FEW people
spoke on behalf of the cats, most notably a man, who when giving his name was
inaudible. The man said that he has been a songbird watcher for many years and
that cowbirds, not feral cats, are the real problem in the killing of songbirds.
The man said that cowbirds thrive in rural areas where there are cattle and that
the DNR should address the issue of cowbirds. He also said that there should be
a spaying and neutering program for cats. "Why don't we declare an open season
on cattle," the man said. "They taste a lot better than cats. You're just
looking for another animal to hunt." The man went on to say that he was not
trying to be facetious, but that other measures of controlling the cats should
be used first before making them an unprotected species, which would allow them
to be shot by anyone with a small-game license. Retired longtime conservation
warden Dennis Kirschbaum, of Prairie du Chien, countered by saying that feral
cats are a non-native species that need to be controlled. "The cat is a
non-natural predator and controlling the predator makes sense in this case,"
said Kirschbaum. "It would send a message to cat owners to control their
critters. Spaying and neutering controls the breeding population only." "Worldwide,
there is a huge problem with non-native species and this is a chance to control
them without costing the taxpayer," said Mike Hazen of Prairie du Chien. Hazen
went on to say that he has a bird feeder and that he is sick of finding numerous
dead birds that have been killed by feral cats. Hazen said that cat owners
should be just as accountable for their animals as dog owners are and that cat
owners should have rules and regulations. UNDER THE PROPOSAL, which was a
Conservation Congress advisory question, free -roaming feral domestic cats would
be defined as "any domestic type cat which is not under the owner's direct
control, or whose owner has not placed a collar on such cat showing it to be
their property." All such defined cats would be listed as an unprotected
species. The proposal passed in Crawford County by a vote of 41-12. In La Crosse
County, the proposal passed 146-75. Statewide the proposal passed 6,830 to
5,201. Of the 72 counties in the state, 51 voted in favor of the proposal. THE
RESULTS of the votes in all 72 of Wisconsin's counties will be forwarded to the
Wisconsin Natural Resources Board and the DNR for consideration. The proposal
can only become law if approved by the state legislature. Numerous other
questions were discussed and voted on Monday night at the Crawford County
meeting. A Natural Resources Board advisory question asked if fees should be
required for fishing tournament permits. The fees would be sufficient enough to
fully fund research studies to evaluate the pilot program concerning the effects
of culling bass at tournaments. The fees would also pay for the administration
and enforcement of rules on tournament fishing. "Many of these tournament
fishermen are using tournaments for their living," said Don Higgins of Prairie
du Chien. Higgins said that tournament fishermen should be required to purchase
commercial fishing licenses. Higgins said that he forwarded his proposal to
Steve Hewitt of the Wisconsin Bureau of Fisheries Management and received no
reply. The proposal to require fees for tournament permits passed in Crawford
County by a vote of 49-0. Crawford County also voted 43-0 in favor of allowing
anglers to keep and kill one specimen of any non-native species for the purpose
of transporting it to a DNR office for positive identification. The proposal
addresses concerns about Asian (or head butting) carp, snakeheads and other
exotic species arriving in Wisconsin waters. It would help DNR biologists
identify the species and determine their location in waters such as the
Mississippi River. HUNTERS in Crawford County voted 25-18 to prohibit the use of
electronic turkey decoys but they voted 26-13 in favor of allowing dogs to be
used for hunting turkeys during the fall turkey hunting season. A proposal to
extend spring turkey hunting hours to 20 minutes after sunset failed in Crawford
County 24-19. Questions concerning a proposal being considered by the Wisconsin
State Legislature to lower the minimum hunting age from 12 to 10 drew a fair
amount of discussion. The Conservation Congress would like to forward to the
Legislature the view of Wisconsin residents on this issue. "Why not just lower
it (the minimum age) to 6 or 7," said Dale Klemme of Prairie du Chien. "I don't
want to have anyone in the woods without hunter safety," said Ron Felch of
Prairie du Chien. "I am strongly opposed to this." PROPONENTS of lowering the
hunting age cited statistics from a flier available at the meeting that was
printed by the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Turkey Federation. The flier
stated that the Wisconsin hunting population is decreasing and that by lowering
the hunting age, it would help ensure the future of the sport. The proposal to
approve the concept of Wisconsin lowering the hunting age from 12 to 10 passed
by a vote of 36-14. A related question asked if residents would accept a person
of legal hunting age to not have the Hunter's Education requirements for their
first year of hunting, with the stipulation that the person must be within arm's
length of an appropriately licensed adult. The proposal passed 26-13. A THIRD
question asked if residents would support a change that would allow 12 and
13-year-olds to hunt while accompanied by an adult other than the parent or
legal guardian. Dale Klemme asked DNR representatives if there would be a limit
on how many youths could be hunting with the adult, for instance if there were
six youths along on the hunt with one adult. "That's a pretty dangerous mix,"
Klemme said. The proposal passed in Crawford County 33-3. At the beginning of
Monday night's meeting, Crawford County residents voted to elect a
representative to the Wisconsin Conservation Congress for a term of two years.
Ron Felch of Prairie du Chien defeated Clarence Heisz, of Eastman, 33-17
City Council handles regular business, says
farewell to outgoing members
Tuesday night's City Council meeting was filled with ordinary business, but it
was not an ordinary night. It was the final meeting for outgoing council members
Luanne Neumann and Jack Kluesner. The name plaques that normally rest on the
counter in front of them were gone, no doubt to be replaced by new ones for the
incoming alderwomen. Seated in the audience were the two incoming members,
Kathleen Hein from the Third District, and Jacqueline Kittle, who took the Sixth
District seat from Kluesner. They thumbed through their council packets, paying
close attention to the proceedings. At the next council meeting they will
formally take their seats. On last night's agenda again was the claim of Terry
and Janet Neisius of South Seventh Street. The Neisius' have been seeking
damages from the city for a sewer back-up into their home last December 27.
Mayor Cheryl Mader skipped down to their agenda item early in the meeting to
keep them from waiting. City attorney Thomas Peterson said that he did not have
a response from the city's insurance company, but that he had sent them several
affidavits and a letter to the adjustor and he thought that he would have a
response from them by later this week. According to Peterson's letter, included
in the council packet, he requested the adjustor to review their denial of the
claim, because the affidavits showed that "Šthe City was negligent in its
operation of the sewer cleaning equipment which in turn was the proximate cause
of the [back-up]Š" Kluesner requested that Peterson stay on top of the issue,
to ensure that the Neisius' would get a prompt answer to their claim, since they
had already waited several months. A representative of the Mississippi
Blackhawks waterski team addressed the council, thanking them for their support
the council agreed to again rent the Moore building to them for the summer for
$100 and offer them boat landing passes at a reduced rate. Alderwoman Dale Boldt
returned his thanks, saying that the Blackhawks do a lot for the city, a
sentiment that was echoed by the mayor and others. Mayor Mader brought up the
rate increase notification by the city's cable television provider, Mediacom.
While the increase is only two dollars, several council members grumbled about
it, saying that the company ought to offer better service. "I hope I live to see
that day!" added Dale Boldt. City administrator Gary Koch noted that the city
still had about 11 years to go in their contract with Mediacom. "We don't have
much control over what they charge. We do have some control over the services
they offer," he added. Mader then brought up the Main Street proposal which she
proudly announced had been approved by the state main Street Board and sent for
the Governor's stamp of approval. "What it will mean for our city is that we
will be able to do some economic development in the downtown that will affect
the whole city," she said. The issue of personal use of city vehicles by city
employees was brought up again. Jackie Kittle brought the issue before the
council at a previous meeting, saying that such use should be disallowed since
it wasted city money. Jack Kluesner asked the city attorney if the council could
withdraw this privilege, since it was a part the employee compensation package. "What
if someone had a gripe [about a city employee], could we just cut their wages?"
he asked. Kluesner expressed that he did not believe it was fair to withdraw the
use of the vehicles. Peterson agreed that the use of the vehicles was part of
the employees compensation. Still, the council voted to remove the use of the
vehicles retroactive to April 1 without remuneration to the employees. Kittle
made no comment. In reviewing the minutes of the Island Re-Use Committee
meeting, city planner Garth Frable addressed the council saying that Blair
Dillman was requesting some assistance from the city, $5,000, to help pay for
sewer pipe to install sewer on the island, since the city would be hooking up to
the sewer in several locations, most notably for the ball fields. The council
recalled that the original deal was that Dillman pay all of the cost of the
sewer, then the city would take over ownership and maintain it. The council did
not warm to the idea. "We had an agreement," said alderman Brad Steiner. "What
has changed?" The council voted to deny Dillman's request and stick to the
original agreement. The evening ended with Neumann and Kluesner saying their
farewells. Kluesner thanked everyone he had worked with, even though he may have
bumped heads with them in the past. There was shaking hands and well-wishing all
around as the council members stepped down, and even a few tears.
Ferryville
art festival receives Dept. of Tourism marketing grant
Over $11,000 to help market new event; increase tourism The Wisconsin
Department of Tourism has awarded an $11,350 Joint Effort Marketing (JEM)
Grant to support the first annual Crawford County Art Festival to be
held in Ferryville, September 17-18. The JEM program provides
partnership funding to assist non-profit organizations promote tourism
and to maintain a strong tourism industry in Wisconsin.
The funds are to be used to publicize the event in newspapers and
magazines, on television and the radio, and on the Internet, in order to
draw visitors to the art fair and other business entities throughout the
county. The JEM grant is a matching funds grant, so $4,350 must be
raised for promotion through additional sponsorships.
Community Development Alternatives, Inc. (CDA), a non-profit
organization based in Prairie du Chien, and a committee comprising
representatives from eight communities within Crawford County have been
addressing the issue of tourism in the county for over a year. According
to the Department of Tourism, $46 million of tourism revenue enters the
county each year, representing 19 percent of its economy. Yet Crawford
County currently ranks 55th out of 72 counties in Wisconsin, despite its
unsurpassed scenery and strategic location.
The first effort of the group was to design, print and distribute
15,000 new Crawford County brochures. The second effort was to establish
a presence on the Internet via a new website, crawford countywi.com.
Besides providing basic information on Crawford County and links to many
of its communities, the website contains a section devoted to the
artists and artisans of Crawford County and the Driftless Area,
featuring free listings of artists' names and their sales outlets, plus
representative photographs of their work. This section was the
inspiration for the new art festival.
The Crawford County Art Festival is intended to celebrate and promote
the talents of artists and artisans from the Driftless Area. The natural
beauty of the area has long attracted and inspired artists of all types:
painters and potters; woodworkers, writers, and weavers; metalsmiths and
musicians. Area originality reaches even deeper, into artisan foods and
flowers, from cheeses to honeys and from native prairie grasses to
exotic cultivated blooms. The art festival will gather these artists and
craftspeople in one place for two consecutive days in a well-traveled
location, exposing tourists not only to local artistry but to the beauty
and hospitality of the Driftless Area.
The main feature of the Crawford County Art Festival will be the
exhibits of the artists and artisans. The art work and craft displays
will be complemented by engaging demonstrations such as painting,
carving or spinning. A variety of musical groups will be showcased, as
well as samples of local food and drink provided by local service
groups. Some artists with nearby studios may elect to open their
workplaces to festival attendees; maps to these studios, along with
visiting hours will be available at the festival, as will printed
suggestions for nearby dining and lodging.
CDA and the Crawford Tourism Committee are seeking sponsors for the
events at several levels of participation. They are also accepting
applications from Driftless Area artists and artisans selling original
work. Information and forms can be obtained from the county website,
crawfordcountywi.com or by contacting Eric Frydenlund of Community
Development Alternatives at (608) 326-6658.
Main Street application gets nod of approval
from State Board
The Main Street redevelopment effort for downtown Prairie du Chien
cleared a major hurdle last Tuesday when the state Main Street Board of
Directors voted to recommend the city's application to become a Main
Street community to the Wisconsin Department of Commerce. Main Street is
a state and federally funded program that offers expert, long-term
technical assistance to communities to revitalize historic, traditional
downtown districts. Viroqua and Platteville are two area communities
that have been accepted into the Main Street program. Six organizers
working with Prairie du Chien Revitalization Inc., the nonprofit formed
to spearhead the Main Street effort, travelled to a downtown Madison
hotel last Tuesday to give a presentation before the state Main Street
Board. Michael Douglass, site director of the Villa Louis, Luanne
Neumann, outgoing Third District alderwoman, Kathleen Hein, incoming
Third District alderwoman and Marlene Dyer, owner of Commerce Court Mall
each gave a portion of the presentation. Mayor Cheryl Mader and city
planner Garth Frable went along as support staff to assist the
presenters. The presentation is the last step in the application
process, and a recommendation from the board is required to become a
Main Street community. According to several of the participants, the
presentations went well. Michael Douglass discussed the history of the
community for his part. "It was interesting to be there," he said. It
also focused him on the progress the group had made in order to be in
Madison. "It struck me how far we've come since last summer," he added. "I
was pleased with how it went," said Kathleen Hein, who was the last
presenter. Her role was to emphasize the enthusiasm in the community for
the project and sum-up and conclude the presentation. Both agreed,
however, that the presentation was not just a cakewalk. The presenters
had to answer some tough and pointed questions from the Board about the
level of support from downtown businesses for the project, and the role
of Commerce Court Mall in the redevelopment of downtown. Hein said that
after the questions she had some fear that the application would be
rejected. Downtown business owner Judy Wall had a unique role in the
process. Wall was appointed to the Main Street Board of Directors last
fall, and this was her first opportunity to review applicants and see
presentations. But because of her close relationship to the Prairie
application, she abstained from voting on it. According to Wall, the
Board was very impressed with the level of community support for Main
Street, as seen in the 114 letters of support submitted with the
application. As soon as the vote was concluded, Wall called Dyer to give
her the good news. The only other city applying to the Main Street
program this year was Monroe, and the Prairie application scored higher
than the Monroe application. Both cities however, received favorable
recommendations from the board. Now the applications from the two cities
must receive approval from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce and the
Governor's office, steps which are generally formalities after the
approval of the Main Street Board has been obtained. The Governor will
visit the city to make the proclamation official sometime latter this
spring or early summer. But that doesn't mean that the Main Street
organizers are taking a break. During the interim period, Dyer, Wall,
Hein and Tammy Katzung will be meeting to develop a job description and
begin the search process for a Main Street program manager. The program
manager will be a full-time paid staff person who directs redevelopment
efforts and helps recruit new businesses and find funding for the
program.
Rural Prairie du Chien man killed in
truck rollover
On April 9, at 4:29 p.m., the Crawford County Sheriff's
Department was notified of a one vehicle rollover accident on U.S.
Highway 18. The accident happened about 1,700 feet west of the State
Highway 60 intersection in the township of Bridgeport. A 2004 Ford
F-150, driven by Thomas E. Cooley, 54, of rural Prairie du Chien, was
westbound on Highway 18. Cooley lost control of his vehicle and rolled
several times. Cooley was ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced
dead at the scene by Crawford County Coroner. The accident was partially
due to speed and remains under investigation. The vehicle was very
severely damaged and was towed form the scene by Bob's Towing. Assisting
the Crawford County Sheriff's Department was the Prairie du Chien First
Responders, Prairie du Chien Fire Department and Prairie du Chien EMS. |
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