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School Board discusses timeline for building improvements

Because the facilities improvement referendum passed on Nov. 8, the Prairie du Chien School Board discussed forming a timeline and contacting an architectural firm at its regular meeting Monday night, Nov. 14.

"We're very pleased with the outcome," said District Administrator James O'Meara, who noted that the official results were 525 voters in favor of allowing the district to spend up to $1.2 million for building projects and 259 who were against.

Prairie du Chien School District Business Manager Mike Coughlin said that the next step would be for the district to hire an architectural firm to study the roofs of the high school and B.A. Kennedy and the heating system at the high school, as well as other areas of concern.

Coughlin said that three architectural firms have contacted the district so far. "We have three good vendors interested in bidding on it," said Coughlin, who explained that a firm will probably need to be secured by the district in December so that they can study and prioritize the district's needs and give recommendations by February or March.

"We need to have the jobs lined up by March, or April at the latest," said Coughlin, who explained that the money for facilities improvements will become available in July of 2006 and that the district would like to begin repairs or replacements then.

The architectural firm will study the roofing problems at the high school and at B.A. Kennedy to determine what course of action would be best. Coughlin said that thermal imaging may be used in order to determine where heat may be escaping through portions of the roofs. In addition to leaking problems, the roofs may also have insulation problems. The architectural firm would make recommendations as to whether the entire roofs or portions of the roofs should be repaired or replaced and what types of roofing materials should be used.

The architectural firm would also study the high school heating system, which is a 45-year-old steam system. The firm would look at steam as well as other heating options in an effort to determine which would be most advantageous to the district in the long term and whether to repair the existing heating system or replace it.

Coughlin said that the district needs the expertise of an architectural firm to best determine how to proceed.

Board President Brian Edwards said that he contacted Focus on Energy to also help study the high school heating system. Focus on Energy is a nonprofit organization that helps individuals, businesses and schools to become more energy efficient.

Coughlin said that possibly by the February School Board meeting, there would be some recommendations as to the priority and extent of facility improvements.

Board member Joe Atkins expressed concern about the district spending too much money to hire an architectural firm to study the district's facility improvement needs. Atkins used the figure of $50,000 at Monday night's board meeting. Coughlin told Atkins and the other board members that the amount that would be paid to an architectural firm would not be nearly that high.

In other business, the school board discussed the upcoming spring election. Jan. 3 at 5 p.m. is the deadline for applications of candidacy for school board. There are three seats up for election to the Prairie du Chien School Board. Those seats are currently held by Brian Edwards, Mark Forsythe and Barb Matejka.

Not the Halbergs anymore; Mother and daughter return to Harpers Ferry

Last June the family known as the Halbergs of Harpers Ferry had a very bad day. Rob Halberg, the father, and his common-law wife, Kathy Rhowe, were taken into custody by U.S. Marshalls at their home on 17-year-old warrants for their arrest in Porter County, Indiana. The couple was forced to leave their 17-year-old daughter Mandy, behind. The events of that day proved to be both an end and a beginning for the little family. Talking with Kathy and Mandy, now, they seem somewhat ordinary ó just a devoted, if unconventional mother, and an unusually articulate teenager with a playful penchant for the color pink.

Roger La Barge, 56 (a.k.a. Rob Halberg) and Kathy Rhowe, 45, were both convicted in 1987 on charges relating to injuries suffered by Kathy's then three-year-old daughter, who had suffered a perforated bowel from a blow to the abdomen. Roger had been living with Kathy and her three children (from her first marriage) in Indiana. Kathy was divorced from a husband whom she describes as abusive and violent. Roger was charged with child battery in the incident and Kathy with neglect, and her children were taken from her. Kathy says that the injury to her daughter was caused by her younger son's very rough play with the little girl. Facing a 38 year jail sentence Roger found an opportunity and left the state before his sentencing hearing. Kathy was pregnant with Mandy, and facing three-year sentence for child neglect. So Kathy ran too. "That was the main reason I left was because I was going to have to sign Mandy over to the state, and I wasn't going to do it. There was no way I was going to give them Mandy for something we never did," Kathy explained.

The couple met up in Oregon, and with their new baby girl began their life as a family in hiding, as the Halbergs (Kathy always used her real last name). They lived mostly in Minnesota and Iowa while Mandy was growing up. Roger taught her to play the guitar, and shared his love of music with Mandy. Eventually they performed as a duo ëthe Halbergs,' and were well- known in area taverns and coffeehouses for their style of river music.

In September, Mandy Halberg, now Mandy La Barge, returned to the family's home of two years in Harpers Ferry. She had been living out of a suitcase for the past four months, having taken refuge at first with family friends Heidi Trotter, owner of the Harbor House restaurant in Harpers Ferry (where she and her mother waitressed), then with the Ed Smerud family near New Albin. Still a minor, Mandy became a ward of the state and was sent to live with a foster family in Waukon and then with an uncle's family (Roger's brother) near Cedar Rapids. She had the opportunity to meet lots of family on both sides ó some she likes, some she doesn't ó brothers and a sister, grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins that for most of her life she never knew existed. During this time, she also traveled frequently to Indiana to see her parents and attend their court hearings.

Kathy was convicted on child neglect charges and served four months in the Porter County Jail. She retuned to Harpers Ferry to join Mandy on October 7. She does not have to serve probation, but she was restricted from seeing Mandy without state supervision at first. The Rhowe family wanted Kathy and Mandy to stay on in Indiana. But there was never any doubt in their minds that they would return to Harpers Ferry. It's their home, close to the river, and the place where people in the community and the area had shown their family so much love and support through their ordeal. Heidi Trotter planned an impromptu welcome home party for Kathy. "On the way home, I called [the Harbor House] and said we're going to be back, we're going to be back about midnight, or a little after. So they had everybody waiting ... when we got here. It was pretty cool," Mandy said. Kathy lived in rooms above the Harbor House until Mandy's eighteenth birthday on October 21, when she was no longer a minor. Then Kathy returned to the family home to her favorite job ó being Mandy's mom. The long separation was hard on both mother and daughter, who had never been apart before. "We're really close. We've never been separated before," Kathy said. "We do everything together, we talk about everything. I tell her everything," Mandy added.

For now, mother and daughter work at putting their lives back to normal, and anxiously await Roger's release from jail. He is serving a one-year sentence and will be out next June. They are moving forward, staying positive, and grateful to be reunited. Mandy is a junior at Waukon Senior High School where she is in concert choir. Both Kathy and Mandy are again waitressing at the Harbor House, and Kathy also works at the cafe in Harpers Ferry. Mandy is busy planning her parent's wedding, which will be held next summer in Harpers Ferry. She is also working on the publicity for her and her father's new CD, which was recorded before he was arrested, and which will be released next month. She plans to take up a career in some aspect of the music business, although not necessarily as a performer. "That's what I like about how my dad raised me, with music and stuff. I'm not just stuck on one thing ... I have a bunch of different career opportunities I could go for," Mandy said.

Design and Preservation Commission forming for downtown Prairie du Chien  

The Prairie du Chien city council approved at their November 1 meeting to make a change in a long-standing city ordinance. The ordinance deals directly with the Design and Preservation Commission for the city, and now, seven commissioners are needed.

According to Mayor Cheryl Mader, the Design and Preservation Commission will develop design guidelines and design standards for the downtown area and make recommendations to property owners based on those standards. It will also be the group's job to assist and guide property owners in the downtown area in times of rebuilding or remodeling their business. Mader also said that if an owner plans to make changes to a building within the designated area, they must first check with the commission before doing so.

The seven commissioners that will make up the commission will be appointed b‚y Mader and approved by the city council. Mader says that she hopes to bring some appointments to the December City Council meeting.

Kim Titley has many stories to tell, and over the years, has had many people to tell them to. She has worked the last 19 years at the Wisconsin Welcome Center in Prairie du Chien, and has learned the many legends, tall tales, mysteries and fascinating history that come along with the town, the county and the state of Wisconsin itself.

After almost two decades of helping people through their journeys, Kim has resigned from her job at the welcome center, saying that she's "just ready for something new."

"I've really enjoyed everyone in the area. I look forward to enjoying the folks I've meet in the area ‹ only in a different way," said Kim, referring to the many lunch offers that she'll now have time to take up.

The number of people Kim has met through her job in Prairie du Chien may surprise you. This year alone, roughly 71,000 people came through the center in the seven months it was open from April through October. Besides being a great storyteller, Kim also appears to be an excellent bookkeeper. She estimates that over the span of her 19 years at the welcome center, she has helped about 1,423,000 people. She knows that about fifty percent of the people coming through are over the age of 50, and she remembers the record year of 1996 when almost 80,000 people visited the center.

She also illustrates how the center helps Wisconsin's economy. According to Kim, about 40 percent of the people that pass through each year will spend money in Crawford County, and about 35 percent of the people are from Wisconsin. "People from Wisconsin are really good about taking trips in their own state," said Kim, a South Wayne native, who now resides in Millville.

Since Kim began her job in 1986, there have been many changes in the industry that have taken place. "One of the big changes is the amount of material that we hold," she said. She explained that when she began, there were about 300 items, like brochures, pamphlets, etc..., that the workers would have to memorize. Now, there are around 800. She said another big change is how the industry in Prairie du Chien uses the center as an advertising resource. "The industry is getting better about using the center...but there is a lot more that can be done," she said.

Kim also has stories to tell about the many people that she's met and helped along the way. "It's all about improving their vacations," said Kim about the business. Whether that's helping them find the best place to stay, answer an unusual question (and she's had many), or even telling someone what not to do to keep them from a dangerous situation, Kim has done it all. "I have learned so much from all the people," said, while recalling the many memories she'd made throughout the years. When asked what she'll miss the most from her job at the Wisconsin Welcome Center, she replied, "Every day you could help someone find something special for their vacation."

While she knows that she'll miss her old job, Kim is also very excited about her future. She, with the help of her husband, Jerry, will be opening a business early next year. Named Hawk Creek, the business will provide fine art photography services as well as tourism consulting. This seems to run right along the lines of Kim's quote that said, "Sell what you know best."

Also a mother of three, Kim says that her new lifestyle will allow her more time to do what she loves to do. "I think I've done my job ‹ now it's time to be my own boss," she said.

Mother sues Wyalusing Academy over daughter's death

On Nov. 3, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed against Wyalusing Academy in Crawford County Circuit Court involving the death of a 15-year-old girl.

Jessica Vaughn fell to her death on Aug. 15, 2003 while she was trying to escape from her third-floor window at Wyalusing Academy, 601 S. Beaumont Road, Prairie du Chien. Vaughn had broken the window and was attempting to climb down on a makeshift rope of bedsheets and clothing when the "rope" broke. She fell approximately 10 feet onto a concrete window ledge and then another 60 feet to the ground.

An autopsy indicated that Jessica Vaughn "did not die immediately from her fall, but likely lived for several minutes after the fall, inhaling and swallowing her blood before she died." The autopsy also showed that Vaughn sustained a fractured skull and a fractured neck along with other injuries.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Jessica Vaughn's mother Pamela Vaughn of Allerton, Iowa, alleges that Wyalusing Academy personnel were negligent in their supervision of Jessica. The lawsuit alleges that academy staff knew that Jessica was likely to try to escape or kill herself and that the academy staff did not take proper precautions.

The lawsuit alleges that Wyalusing Academy personnel knew that Jessica Vaughn "presented a serious elopement and suicide risk" and that the academy staff "failed to take the steps necessary to protect Jessica from injury or death."

The lawsuit alleges that despite repeated escape attempts and suicide attempts by Jessica, academy staff placed her in a third-floor room with a window.

Jessica had twice attempted suicide at other facilities by threatening to jump out of windows in the months before arriving at Wyalusing Academy, the lawsuit states. While at Wyalusing Academy, Jessica attempted to leave at least 18 times over several months and also attempted suicide by attempting to cut her wrists with glass and other objects, according to the lawsuit. Jessica had also broken Plexiglas windows while at the academy, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit also alleges that academy staff knew that Jessica had been diagnosed with major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, oppositional defiant disorder and psychotic disorder NOS. Wyalusing staff knew that Jessica had a diminished capacity to control and understand her behavior, was prescribed numerous medications, and had an IQ of 77, the lawsuit alleges.

The lawsuit alleges that academy staff failed to assign anyone to closely monitor Jessica. Despite the noise of Jessica using a nightstand to break her window and the time it took for her to tie bedsheets, clothing and blankets together, nobody noticed any commotion, the lawsuit alleges.

The last time anyone saw Jessica alive was at 4 a.m. Her body was discovered at 7 a.m., according to the lawsuit.

Wyalusing Academy has 45 days to respond to the summons. The lawsuit is asking for a judgement in an amount to be determined at trial. The lawsuit is also asking for coverage of attorney's fees and other costs and "all other relief entitled by law or in equity." The lawsuit also demands a jury trial.

Wyalusing Academy Administrator Rad Reilly said, "Our attorney received a copy of the lawsuit on Friday, Nov. 11 and it has been forwarded to our insurance company. Our lawyers have not had time to review it yet."