may 13-15 2002

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May 15, 2002

A lasting impression: Garside an artful influence on many a young mind
Fifteen thousand, by conservative estimate, that is the number of lives touched by retiring art teacher Millie Garside in her 30 years of service to the area.
"It is impossible not to feel sad," said Garside while contemplating her retirement recently. "I know the good the arts do."
For the past 24 years, Garside has taught life lessons through art at the Prairie du Chien School District. Before coming to Prairie, she taught for three years at West Grant and another three years at Lancaster.
"There's nothing like the joy and exuberance of a child," said Garside, who teaches kindergarten through sixth grade at B.A. Kennedy and Bluff View in Prairie du Chien and at ECHOES Charter School in Eastman. "The joy on their face and the gleam in their eye when they do something they thought they couldn't do, a child will always do their best, if you let them."
Garside, who teaches art in a unique style encompassing many practical and social lessons, says that it is always very gratifying when former students tell her that they use what they learned in her class more than anything else.
"Art is life," said Garside in explaining that she teaches using the main themes of self awareness, environmental awareness, communication and cultural heritage. "Elementary arts is developing everything, a creative way of thinking and problem solving skills."
Indeed, a trip to one of Garside's classrooms reveals many interesting artifacts, both functional and aesthetic, from other cultures, past and present.
Through their artwork, the children gain a hands-on experience and knowledge of other cultures. They learn what part of the world the culture originated in, what was the approximate time period, what was their way of life and the raw materials that were on hand that shaped their practical and aesthetic art. The children also learn how the culture influenced other cultures around the globe.
The students learn several techniques and processes of other cultures as they make plates, pots, drawings, paintings, stitchery, and many other items in a manner which integrates facets of other courses they are taking in school.
A third-grade stitchery unit required that things be done in a precise, orderly manner, which helped develop rote, sequential learning used in math, for example. Learning about another culture's history and world influence while enjoying ceramics, reinforces what the children learn in history class. The process of mixing paint and other techniques helps reinforce science units. Language and social skills are also stressed as the students are required to ask and answer questions and make observations in complete sentences.
In addition to artwork of other cultures, Garside's students learn the techniques and styles of masters from various time periods, such as Van Gogh, Rembrandt, or Da Vinci.
Another very satisfying aspect of her teaching career are the fine art's week celebrations that were organized and run by Garside.
"I had many, many years of wonderful fine art's week celebrations," said Garside, who, every March, located local artists as well as professionals from near and far to display or demonstrate their work.
As part of the fine art's week celebration, Garside would hire an "artist in residence," usually dancers, who would work with the fifth graders. A highlight was when the fifth graders would perform with the professional dancers for the student body and their parents.
In addition to learning dance, the students would also act in a play, build murals, learn painting techniques, and learn about musical forms while working with several artists. "It was a very integrated program," said Garside, who organized the celebrations for 15 years.
Garside said that one of her major goals was always to get the students to use their minds while engaged in a hands-on experience. "We need to get them doing, rather than just observing," she said.
And what will Garside be doing upon retirement?
"I have many creative ideas," she said, noting that she may do some sort of teaching, possibly with adults. She said she is also looking forward to traveling and fishing with her husband Richard, visiting Albuquerque, New Mexico, and working on her painting, basket weaving and gardening.
Garside said she has had a strong interest in art since birth. She grew up in Alexandria, Minn. and worked for commercial print shops while in high school and in college, gaining artful insight along the way.
She worked three different jobs while attending the University of Minnesota at St. Cloud. She received her adaptive art degree at DePere and her masters degree at the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse.

School board re-organized, prohibitive practice complaint hearings discussed
The Prairie du Chien Board of Education held its reorganizational meeting Monday night at B.A. Kennedy before a more-than-capacity group of teachers.
Mary Ann Jorgensen will remain as board president and Merle Frommelt will be vice president. Russ Gillitzer will be the board treasurer and Peggy Lenzendorf will be the clerk.
District Administrator Jim O'Meara said that a hearing was held between the Prairie du Chien Education Association and the Prairie du Chien School District Friday, May 10 concerning a prohibitive practice complaint filed against the district by the education association.
O'Meara said that due to a lack of time, only one item of the prohibitive practice complaint was able to be discussed during the hearing. There are eight items of concern in the prohibitive practice complaint and the rest will be discussed during hearings scheduled for June 25 and 26.
The Prairie du Chien Education Association had taken legal action against the district Jan. 25 in the form of a prohibitive practice complaint alleging unfair labor practices on the part of the district.
Prairie du Chien teachers have been working without a contract since July 1, 2001 and the complaint alleges that the district has since committed several violations of the previous collective bargaining agreement. According to state law, the previous contract remains in effect until a new contract is reached.
The hearings are conducted with the district and the education association each presenting their case before a Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission (WRC) examiner.
If the WRC examiner rules against the district, the district may have to pay restitution to the teachers and attorney's fees for the education association. The district could also be ordered to post signs in all of its buildings stating that the district has conducted unfair labor practices.
H. LeRoy Roberts, an executive director of the South West Education Association, who is representing the Prairie du Chien Education Association, said that the pay and other costs cited in the prohibitive practice complaint is relatively small and that the school district is probably paying far more in attorney's fees to fight the complaint than it would have had the district settled in the beginning.
In other business:
.collective bargaining negotiations were discussed in closed session. No action was taken upon the meeting's return to open session.
.O'Meara said that the 2002-2003 school year will begin Tuesday, Sept. 3. O'Meara said that due to the uncertainty of the negotiations with the teachers, it is unknown when the school year will end. The board tabled the matter.
.the board voted unanimously to budget $75,000 per year for capital improvement projects.
.O'Meara said that he hopes that the school board meetings will be televised by October.

Family found
Tom Wolke always knew he was adopted while growing up as an only child with his family in Minnesota.
For a long time he considered looking for his biological family, but he kept putting it off.
Last fall, a woman he was dating encouraged him to search, and the result is five siblings he didn't know he had.
He knew his adoption records were in St. Peter, Minn., so he contacted them and a social worker sent information to him. He learned his birth name was Thomas Harlow Meyers, and he learned the names of his grandparents.
Tom's search was not time consuming or difficult.
Tom grew up near the Mankato, Minn., area, and he was quite surprised to find out his grandparents were from there too.
He went to the post office and asked if anyone knew of his grandparents, but no one did. He then went to the local bank. No one there knew the names, but someone called the past president of the bank who not only knew his grandfather, but also an uncle.
He learned his grandfather and uncle were carpenters, and that his cousin was building a new home nearby. Less than a hour later he was meeting his cousin and aunt.
From them he received the names of relatives in the Prairie du Chien area, and the week before Easter he called his brother, John Wagner who lives in Platteville.
The strange thing was that John was watching "Unsolved Mysteries" on TV that night, and the episode was about a man who found his birth family after 50 years. Then the phone rang. It was Tom. He was watching the same show on television.
"I think I pretty much put him into a state of shock," said Tom with a laugh. "I still can't really believe it."
John says he stayed awake most of that night, wondering about Tom.
Unfortunately, Tom's birth mother, Marvel Meyer Wagner Wallin, died in the 1980s. Her sister, the only family member who knew of Tom's birth, died Easter weekend, which was the first weekend he met his siblings, none of whom had previously had a clue that he existed. Tom will most likely never know the story surrounding his birth.
"It was disappointing not to meet mom," he says. "But I did get a picture of her from about the time I was born."
Tom says the meeting of his siblings was a joyous day. "It felt a little weird, but I was so welcome. There was no rejection, just an open feeling. You hear of some people who aren't welcome by their families, but I was."
Tom says they all became acquainted at Easter, and he returned just a few weeks later for the wedding of his sister Kathy. He plans on returning for Rendezvous in June.
"I should have done this years and years ago," says Tom. He did note that he is glad he contacted them in time to attend Kathy's wedding.
Tom is retired from the printing business and resides in Waseca, Minn., which is about a three hour drive from Prairie du Chien

May 13, 2002

Prairie couple's vision illuminating
All inventions begin with a vision and so it is with an illuminating new product developed by a Prairie du Chien couple.
Reflex Paint, developed by Keith and Jennifer Coleman, is designed to provide safety on the road and to solve a potentially dangerous problem.
The paint was created with breakthrough features that illuminate road symbols and signs in order to make them more visible to motorists. It's unique design and convenience could afford increased safety, offering a mass appeal to nighttime drivers.
"I think Reflex Paint would really be helpful," said Keith, who, along with Jennifer, came up with the idea during travels far and wide.
The couple saw a need and began developing their idea in November of 2001, having been motivated to create the product more than nine months ago.
The original idea is now being made available for licensing to manufacturers interested in new product development, especially the safety products industry.
The Coleman's said they are hoping to have Reflex Paint in full production and available to the public within the near future.
The Coleman's are marketing their product through Invention Technologies Inc. of Coral Gables, Fla., who are aggressively seeking manufacturers interested in licensing the design and bringing Reflex Paint to the market.
State highway departments are among the entities whom the product is being marketed towards and whom could greatly benefit, said Keith.
Heretofore unfamiliar with illuminating road signs or symbols, Keith and Jennifer's work at Woods and Water Taxidermy of Prairie du Chien may have helped give them a boost in the creation of their new product.
Keith noted that as a taxidermist, one works with acrylic paints for touch-ups and airbrushing.
Those interested in more information about Reflex Paint can contact Invention Technologies, Inc. at (800) 940-9020 ext. 285 or at products@ invent-tech.com.

Back Home Boys have come a long way since playing their first gig for free
The Back Home Boys played their first gig at Bob's Bar in Prairie du Chien for free - although they did get a few drinks on the house. They had offered to play for free at another local bar, but they were turned down.
Within a few weeks of that humble beginning this local band was booked months in advance.
Anyone in the Prairie du Chien area who likes to dance to country and 80s rock probably knows about the Back Home Boys. What they might not have known was how good the band really is.
On April 28, Prairie du Chien's own Back Home Boys competed at the Q106 Country Pick Off against five other bands from southern Wisconsin - some of which were six and seven piece bands - and won. They were judged by a representative from MCA Records, two musicians, a music teacher and one person pulled from the audience.
They now move on to the Hodag Country Festival in Rhinelander, where they will compete against six other bands. If they win there, they will be named "Best County Band in Wisconsin."
So how did this group of five local guys, four of whom have known each other from childhood, decide to start a band?
In 1996, Greg Webster, lead singer, was talking to Tim Severson, lead guitar player of the band, on the phone, about the fun they used to have in college playing their guitars and singing for the other kids in their dorm.
Greg had just gotten out of the first band he was in, the Messengers, and was looking to play again. The bass player for the Messengers had also quit so Greg thought that he might play bass with them.
Tim made a call to drummer Joe Schroeder and told him what was going on. Joe wanted to play and they scheduled a practice and the band began to develop. They just seemed to click, the songs came very easy and "wow," they even sounded good.
The band played together for about two years and everything was going great. One night before a big gig the former bass player told the boys that he could make more money playing with a different band that Saturday. Well, long story short, he was done playing with the band.
Entering stage left came bass player Chris Lange. Greg was living with Chris at the time. He had told Greg that he would do anything to be in the band, so he went out and bought a bass guitar. Greg showed him what he knew and Chris was on his way.
The band did take about a six month hiatus in 1997 while Greg tried his luck in Nashville. Happy fans welcomed them back to area stages.
They sounded good, but their band was not quite complete.
In 2000, Chad Nelson, renowned fiddle player, came straight from the road. Chad had been playing with Danny Dee and had heard the Back Home Boys when they opened for them at Ronny Milsap's show at the Miss Marquette. Chad wanted a change. He was looking to sing a little more and play some different music and gave the band a call.
The Back Home Boys have opened for the Kentucky Headhunters, Ronnie McDowell, Ronny Milsap, Rascal Flats, Ricochet, Sherrie Austin, the Beach Boys, and soon to come, Chad Brock.
If they win in Rhinelander they will open for Neal McCoy.
The day of the Q106 Country Pick Off was not an easy one for the band. That Sunday morning, April 28, Chris' mother, Karen Lange passed away after battling cancer. They say they never even considered not going to the competition.
"We had a little help from above that day," said one of the band members.
They also received a little help from their fans. More than 100 Back Home Boys enthusiasts followed them to Madison. The guys said they didn't even realize how many followers were there until they got on stage and their fans flooded the place with their sound and presence.
The Back Home Boys performed "Hillbilly Shoes," "I'm from the Country," "Baton Rouge," "The Yodeling Song," "Mountain Music," and "Minnesota Cutie."
"Minnesota Cutie" is one of the band's originals. That song, along with two others written by Greg are on their CD, which is available whenever they play and from band members. Other band members have also had a hand creating originals, and it is one of their goals to have their next CD consist of all original music.
Greg says when he writes music it usually comes to him quickly, such as with the song "Don't Cry," which he wrote for his daughters when he and his former wife were splitting up. He said he wrote the song within 10 minutes after hearing one of his little girls ask during a phone conversation why daddy didn't want to live with them anymore.
"Minnesota Cutie" was inspired by a woman he met at a bar called the "Forest Lake Inn," which is mentioned in the song.
Some radio stations, such as 99.3 of Dyersville, are playing the original songs from their CD.
Greg, Chris, Tim and Joe all were in the drum line together at Prairie du Chien High School. They all say Tom Cook, their high school band director, had a strong influence on their musical interest. They would skip their other classes to go to the band room. They say it was cool to be in band, and they won the state marching band competition and traveled to Canada, Boston and New York performing in the late 1980s.
"Mr. Cook was the biggest inspiration any of us had," said Tim. "He could play any instrument there was."
Most of the guys have more than one musical talent, and they often switch around the instruments. The exception is Tim, because no one else can play lead guitar.
The guys agree that they really don't have a "band leader," but they usually make decisions with "majority rules." This is the case with the bib overalls they have on their photo for their CD and event posters, and some performances. Tim hates them, but he goes along with the decision of the other guys.
The guys seem to have different ideas on where they would like to be a year from now. Greg is quick to say they want to be on CMT (the country music video channel), but some others seem a little hesitant. Though they do admit it would be neat to get a break and get a recording contract. As they are opening for more and more national acts this becomes more of a possibility.
There is one thing though that they all agree on - they love their fans. "The community has been very supportive. We would have quit if it weren't for them," they agreed.
They say over the past five-plus years they have learned to interact more with their audiences and play what they want. The guys know more than 110 songs, and on a typical performance night they sing 60 to 80 songs.
A closer look at each of the guys is offered on their website www.thebackhomeboys.com.

Local committee to study possible closing of PdC prison
Following the Prairie du Chien City Council meeting May 7 and a subsequent meeting between Mayor Mary Jane Faas and Prairie du Chien Correctional Institute Warden Cathy Farrey, it was decided that a committee would be formed to prepare for a possible closure of the prison.
Faas said that the committee will consist of city council members, Police Chief Mike King, Crawford County Sheriff Robert Ostrander, Fire Chief Mark Hoppenjan, Mayor Faas, City Administrator Gary Koch, State Sen. Mark Meyer, State Rep. DuWayne Johnsrud and others.
The committee will meet with prison officials May 22 to discuss the implications of the possible closing of the prison, Faas said.
During the May 7 council meeting, word was received that reductions in the State Department of Corrections' budget proposed by the Senate Democrats will likely result in the closing of at least three medium security prisons, including the one in Prairie du Chien.
The city said that the prison is in the top five for water use within the city and that a closure could harm the local economy and affect Hoffman Hall.
"It is just talk at this point," said Mayor Faas of the possible closing of the prison. "But, we're taking a proactive approach, rather than reactive. We want to be prepared. We want a plan in case it does close."
In a prepared statement, Department of Corrections Secretary Jon E. Litscher said, "I have no other alternative than to propose closing at least three medium security prisons and possibly some minimum security correctional centers in the state in order to make up an additional $20 million of reductions in the Corrections budget."
Senate Democrats have proposed cutting the Department of Corrections' budget by an additional $20 million beyond reductions backed by Assembly Republicans and Governor Scott McCallum.
"We already are planning for $40 million in cuts as part of the governor's budget proposal," Litscher said. "We have cut our budget, but the Senate Democrats' proposal will require radical amputations."
If the $20 million reduction passes, Litscher said that he will have to close the medium security institutions that are the most costly to operate. These include Prairie du Chien, the Racine Youthful Offender Correctional Facility and a third prison yet to be determined.
"We can find more out-of-state prison beds at the medium security classification level, so these are the only viable institutions we can close and still find space for the displaced inmates," Litscher said. "I cannot close maximum security prisons, since there are less maximum security contract prison beds available for this purpose and they are more costly."
"I will not continue to eliminate programming in the prisons in order to make up the $20 million," Litscher continued. "Rehabilitative programs for alcohol and drug abuse, anger management, sex offender treatment and job skills training are essential to returning offenders to the community who are less likely to re-offend. In addition, many offenders who are parole eligible will not be granted a parole unless they complete these programs."
Litscher said that providing food and clothing to inmates, treating their medical conditions and eliminating more correctional officers are not options.
"Wisconsin prisons are among the safest in the nation. This is a result of dedicated, hard-working, well-trained correctional officers," Litscher said. "I will not put them or other staff and inmates at risk by making ill-conceived cuts."
The Department of Corrections houses 21,152 inmates and supervises 65,795 offenders under probation or parole. The Prairie du Chien Correctional Institution houses 300 inmates.
Prairie du Chien Correctional Institution employs 183 staff. The facility employs an array of occupations that includes correctional officers, teachers, social workers, psychologists, recreational workers, financial specialists, payroll and benefit specialist, inmate complaints examiner, program review coordinator, food service staff, maintenance mechanics, facility repair workers, boiler operators, administrative support staff and administrative staff.