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January 9, 2002 |
Council
receives carp proclamation
The "Dropping of the Carp" Committee made an appearance at
Tuesday night's City Council meeting, and presented a proclamation from
Gov. Scott McCallum to the city (see right).
"Larry and the Carpettes" sang a rousing rendition of a
"thank you to the council" song, and the council then moved on
to regular business.
Council member Jim Jones questioned City Administrator Gary Koch
concerning the shower which is being put into the new city hall. Koch said
the plan for the one-stall unisex shower has been in place the beginning
of the building plans, and it's not a large expense since it's going off
the existing plumbing. Koch said that a number of city employees may have
a need or want to "clean up" after working in the field before
they meet with people. He further explained that the national trend is
promote exercise in the work place and having a place for employees to
clean up is a way to do that.
Council member Frank Pintz, who works construction, said the last three
large projects he worked on all included shower facilities and locker
rooms for employees to use.
The council referred a notification of rate increase from Mediacom, the
local cable TV provider, to City Attorney Tom Peterson. Although last time
it was looked into it was determined that they wasn't much the city could
do about the increases, Peterson said he felt the council shouldn't
approve the rate increases without investigating negotiations.
The council referred two issues to the personnel committee - the promotion
of a current police dispatcher to the position of communication
supervisor, and to advertise the position of street mechanic which
was vacated by a promotion.
DMV reduces office service hours in PdC
Effective Monday, Feb. 4, the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles
(DMV) Drivers License Examiner offices in our area will have new service
hours.
Due to budget concerns, service schedules have been modified.
In Prairie du Chien, the DMV will be available at the National Guard
Armory on the first and third Tuesdays of each month from 8:30 a.m. - 4
p.m. (This is a reduction from the first, third and fourth Tuesdays of
each month they have previously had a team in Prairie du Chien.)
Other DMV service times in our area, also effective Feb. 4, are:
Boscobel - Fourth Tuesday of each month from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Viroqua - Wednesdays from 8 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Richland Center - Thursdays and Fridays, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
McGregor artist's anguish over Sept 11 attacks transforms into art;
proceeds go to troops overseas
The following article by Bob Andersen is reprinted with permission
from the Clayton County Register.
Wildlife artist Ed Lawrence of McGregor felt like most Americans after the
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. He was horrified, anguished and angry at the
loss of thousands of innocent lives as the World Trade Towers in New York
City and The Pentagon in Washington, D.C. were hit by commercial airplanes
loaded with jet fuel and hijacked passengers.
Lawrence also thought about America's service men and women who he knew
would be risking their life as the United States began waging war against
terrorism in an effort to prevent another Sept. 11.
A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Lawrence would have reenlisted himself if
that were possible. "But, I didn't think they would take a
58-year-old former jet mechanic,'' he says.
In frustration, the wildlife artist reached for his sketching pencil and a
pad of blank white paper. He began drawing the head of an eagle. In the
days that followed the attacks, he devoted all his artistic energy to
drawing the eagle.
"I spent a whole day and a half on the eye alone,'' he says.
Why so much time on the eye? "There had to be grit and a look of
determination in his eye,'' says Lawrence, who wanted the eagle to reflect
the national mood of the American people and the resolve and courage of
our troops on active duty.
It didn't take long for the artist to come up with a name for his
steely-eyed eagle. The name was "Determination.''
Fundraising project
Now, only three months later, Lawrence has found a way to help our troops
overseas as "Determination" has taken flight in the form of a
fundraising project with proceeds going to a project named
"Operation: Support Our Troops," which is coordinated by the
American Red Cross.
The project is a partnership between Lawrence, The Clayton County Register
in Elkader, Iowa, and the Grant Wood Chapter of the Red Cross,
headquartered in Cedar Rapids. Lawrence and Register graphic artist Brenda
Boddicker have designed the U.S. flag and "Determination" into a
compelling work of art. And the artwork is the subject of 11-by-14 inch
prints produced at The Clayton County Register.
The proceeds from the prints will go to the Red Cross for its
"Operation: Support Our Troops."
The purpose of "Operation: Support Our Troops" is to gather
candy, games, toiletries and a multitude of other items to be sent to our
troops overseas in the form of "Care Packages."
According to Red Cross project director Sue Grant, the "Care
Packages" are especially enjoyed by our service men and women because
they contain items from "home" which are often impossible to
obtain in far-off countries. The Red Cross sent over 100 of the large
packages this holiday season. However, the project is a year-around
effort.
Grant said the Red Cross hopes to send another shipment of "Care
Packages" in March and April, providing there are enough donations to
buy the items to fill the boxes. She feels the local
"Determination" project should be very helpful in filling the
"Care Packages."
For his part, Ed Lawrence couldn't be happier that the eagle he began
drawing on Sept. 11 out of a sense of frustration has developed in a
fundraising project for our troops overseas, who are engaged in a war with
terrorists intent on destroying America.
He says "Operation: Support Our Troops"" is exactly what he
had in mind as a way to help our military personnel. "I want the
funds to go to our troops," says the 31-year retired employee of the
Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Most of those years, he served as a naturalist and game warden in the
counties of Clayton and Allamakee.
Since retiring a few years ago, Lawrence has built himself a reputation as
one of the most talented wildlife artists in the Midwest.
People who want to support our troops by purchasing a
"Determination" print can do so by sending a check, money order
or Visa or MasterCard credit card numbers to: The Clayton County Register,
P.O. Box 130, Elkader, Iowa 52043. The cost is $15 per print plus $3.75
per print for postage and handling costs. Costs are reduced on orders of
more than three prints. Call The Clayton County Register at (563)245-1311.
Pool 8 summer drawdown shows signs of success, concern
The St. Paul District of the Army Corps of Engineers drew down the
pool by one and a half feet beginning June 30 in hopes of generating
increased aquatic plant growth in order to help restore fish and wildlife
habitat.
The experimental drawdown was also implemented in order to study the
effects of a drawdown on the maintenance of the navigation channel,
recreation and commercial uses of Pool 8.
As far as restoration of habitat is concerned, the drawdown was a success,
"but not a resounding success," said Richard J. Otto, chief of
the Corps of Engineers' natural resources project office in La Crescent,
Minn.
Otto said that aquatic plants did well during the drawdown, but growth was
somewhat limited because the drawdown lasted only about 45 days, instead
of the 90 days that was originally intended.
Otto said that while there was high river flow early in the summer due to
heavy rains, the drawdown was ended early because there was not enough
river flow in August, when a dry spell took effect.
He said that a drawdown allows for more light penetration, which promotes
increased growth of emergent aquatic vegetation. "Plants are
essential to the entire food chain," Otto said of the habitat
restoration goal, "Many areas of Pool 8 were lacking in
vegetation."
Otto said he and others are studying whether a drawdown is a good method
for habitat restoration.
If given enough time, it is hoped that a drawdown would improve plant
growth to the point where there is a strong enough root structure so that
plants remain longer than one summer and continue to re-emerge each summer
for a number of years, Otto said.
Minnows and other baitfish feed on plankton and small crustaceans
associated with vegetation. They also use the plants for cover.
In turn, predator fish feed on the baitfish, while herons, eagles and
other species feed on the larger fish as the food chain extends up the
line.
Otto said that a partial drawdown, about half as much as in 2001 (or about
9 inches), is being considered for the summer of 2002. He said that public
support would be essential in order to proceed with the drawdown and
public hearings on the matter are expected to be held this spring.
Concerning other aspects of the drawdown, a preliminary analysis report
from the Corps of Engineers states that as a result of the drawdown
project, the St. Paul District spent approximately $737,300 more for
channel maintenance, dredging approximately 120,000 cubic yards more than
what would have otherwise been dredged in Pool 8 in 2001.
Further evaluation will be required, including monitoring of the dredge
cuts to determine if there are carry-over benefits in terms of reduced
dredging in 2002 and beyond.
According to the analysis report, tow boat operators described Pool 8 as a
pool that is already tough to navigate. During the drawdown, operators
said that navigating the pool was a bit tougher, however it was still
navigable.
The report said the outdraft at Lock and Dam 8 seemed to be a bit more
pronounced and maneuvering in some areas of the pool was tougher than
usual.
Effects of the drawdown on 33 known archaeological sites in Pool 8 were
studied as well.
The Natural Resource Management Office in La Crescent received numerous
inquiries from the public, ranging from complaints about low water levels
in the upper pool, sedimentation at or near boat landings, questions
concerning the accuracy of the La Crosse gauge, to compliments about
increased vegetative growth within the mid and lower pool, the report
said. |
| January 7, 2002 |
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PdC house sustains extensive damage in fire
The Prairie du Chien Fire Department was called to a house fire at 1014 S.
10th St. at 3:50 p.m. Thursday.
According to Fire Chief Mark Hoppenjan, the house, owned by Ramona Jelinek,
was fully engulfed upon arrival.
The house sustained extensive heat, smoke and water damage. The kitchen
area of the house is considered a total loss, Hoppenjan said.
Hoppenjan said that Jelinek was not at home at the time of the fire and
that nobody was injured. Jelinek's pet dog died of smoke inhalation,
however.
The fire was accidental and the cause of the fire is still under
investigation, Hoppenjan said.
The fire department remained at the scene until 8:15 p.m.
The fire department was assisted at the scene by the Prairie du Chien
Police Department and the Prairie du Chien EMS.
Happy New Year, baby
Marissa Denise Anderson came into the world on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2002,
and was the first baby of the year born at Prairie du Chien Memorial
Hospital. She weighed in at seven pounds, 10 ounces, and was 18 and 1/2
inches long. Marissa is the daughter of Nicole Anderson of Prairie du
Chien and the granddaughter of Greg and Beth Mezera.
Wauzeka woman meets member of real 'Sound of Music' family
Illene Mullikin of Wauzeka recently had a unique opportunity to meet
Rosemarie von Trapp, the oldest daughter of Marie von Trapp.
Marie von Trapp became known worldwide when her story was portrayed by
Julie Andrews in the 1965 classic "The Sound of Music."
Illene's daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Dan Massman, own a radio
station in Hastings, Minn. A resident of Hastings knew Rosemarie from the
Trapp family lodge in Vermont and invited her to Hastings. Barbara met
Rosemarie during her visit and Rosemarie consented to a radio interview.
Barbara invited her mother to Hastings, and Illene took the opportunity to
meet Rosemarie. When Illene met Rosemarie they discovered they shared the
same birthday, and Rosemarie autographed a copy of a the book, "The
World of the Trapp Family" for Illene with reference to this
commonality.
Illene also took part in a sing-a-long and attended Rosemarie's book
signing.
Rosemarie is the oldest child of Baron Georg von Trapp and Maria. Her
father was widowed and had five daughters and two sons when Maria came
into their lives.
"The Sound of Music" is one of the most successful American
musical films ever made. The story of Rosemarie's parents, Maria and the
Baron, her singing siblings are known to most everyone.
The movie was released in 1965 and is considered by most to be a classic.
Rosemarie lives in Stowe, Vermont and she is a part of the Trapp Family
Lodge, which Illene hopes to visit sometime.
The Trapp Family Lodge is a 90-room chalet featuring a 2,700 acre resort.
For more information about the resort, call 800-826-7000.
No primaries necessary in '02 spring elections
Incumbent Mayor Mary Jane Faas will be running uncontested in the Spring
2002 Election.
Former mayor Karl Steiner and Jeremy Natwick took out papers but did not
file.
City Council
There is only one contested race on the Prairie du Chien Common Council.
In the Aldermanic District 4, Sheckler will be challenged by Sharon Boylen.
In the 3rd Aldermanic District, W.J. Jones filed papers of non-candidacy.
Phil Dagnon filed for that seat.
Incumbents on the Prairie du Chien Common Council who filed papers and
their aldermanic districts are:
District 1 - Jerry Matousek;
District 2 - David Hemmer;
District 4 - Ted Sheckler;
District 5 - Bonnie Homuth; and
District 6 - Dale Boldt.
County Board
There is one contested race for the Crawford County Board of Supervisors
in District 11 (Towns of Haney and Scott and the Village of Bell Center).
Incumbent Robert Zinkle will be challenged by Ron Leys.
Others who have filed are ("I" means incumbent):
District 1 - Gary Knickerbocker (I);
District 2- Virgil Butteris (I);
District 3 - Art Conley (I);
District 4 - Ted Sheckler (I);
District 5 - Charles Elvert (I);
District 7 - Leslie Leirmo (I);
District 8 - Albert Wee (I);
District 9 - Harold Dull (I);
District 10 - Pete Flesch (Don Johnsrude (I) is not running);
District 12 - Joe Hartley (I);
District 13 - Kay Garvey (I);
District 14 - Ray Martin (Harry Keller (I) is not running); and
District 15 - Gerald Krachey (Philip Doll (I) is not running).
School boards
Incumbent Mary Hosford-Jorgensen and Joseph Atkins will be uncontested for
the two three-year terms on the Prairie du Chien School Board.
Incumbent Lucy Yeomans filed papers of non-candidacy.
There are two open seats on the Wauzeka-Steuben School Board and only the
incumbents are running. They are Karen Fisher and Todd Krachey.
In the River Ridge School District, there will be one contested race. In
Area 1, Incumbent Jeffrey (Scott) Myhre is uncontested and in Area 2
Incumbent Dennis Mulrooney will be challenged by Stacy Barr.
In the Seneca School District, there are two seats up for election.
Incumbents Jerry Jones and Mark Johnson along with Emile Smith and Pat
Thomas are running for the openings.
There are other various elections in local townships and villages, and
information on theses will appear in a future issue of the Courier Press.
The spring election will be held Tuesday, April 2. |
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