nov 29 - dec 1, 2004

Is this the final year for ECHOES school?
The old two-story brick school building in Eastman has continuously housed the classrooms of area children since it was built nearly 100 years ago. "We still find old things in the closets," said teacher Gretchen Stoehr. It is obvious to any visitor that the building is well-loved by the children and teachers at ECHOES, the county's only charter school. The gleaming wooden stairs are swept clean, the tidy classrooms are bright with colorful decorations and homemade curtains cut the drafts from the old windows. To Michelle Klema, the building has a special meaning. She attended school in the old building and so did her father, and her grandmother was a cook at the school. Now her children attend school there too. Klema, and other members of the Eastman community who helped form ECHOES charter school in 1998 wanted their children to have the opportunity to attend just this kind of a school ‹ a place where strong connections to the community, it's history and rural, small town values ‹ could still thrive. ECHOES, which offers four- year-old Kindergarten up through fifth grade, is both similar and different from ordinary public schools. ECHOES stands for Eastman Community Home Organization Elementary School, and operates as a part of the Prairie du Chien school district, with Superintendent Jim O' Meara acting as their principal. The school follows all state-mandated curriculum guidelines and the students take all of the government-mandated tests. In other words, it's not the content of the curriculum that sets ECHOES apart from other schools, but the method and style of teaching. At ECHOES, students are organized into multi-age classrooms and they work at the level where they are functioning. For example, a first grader that is reading at the third grade level would be placed with other students reading at the same level, regardless of age, to study reading. The philosophy of the school is to respect the different ways children learn and offer more hands-on, experiential learning opportunities. On recent visit to their classrooms, students were enjoying a Thanksgiving snack and performing skits that they had developed around the theme of American Education Week. Friday afternoons are set aside as a time when all of the students at the school get together for activities that enhance the spirit of community within the school. Students at ECHOES academically perform at about the same level as students at the Prairie du Chien schools on standardized tests. "We're equal with the district in testing scores," said Gretchen Stoehr. The teacher noted that one student who is struggling on a test can really pull the averages down in such a small group, so the scores speak well of the schools performance. Klema's daughter Megan excels in math and has moved up to second grade work while still in the first grade. " I like it that she can advance. She's not stuck being bored," said Klema. She also likes the relationship her kids have with their teachers in a small school. "The students are so close to their teachers, the teachers notice any little change in their behavior," she said. Klema's kids have been dealing with their parent's divorce, and she says that the teachers have been very helpful. "My son's teacher (Kate Krachey) called to tell me that Lucas just wasn't himself," said Klema, who was able to discuss her sons concerns with him and help him work through them. Like all teachers, Gretchen Stoehr, Kate Krachey and Janet Kilburg work long hours, but these women have extra responsibilities because they do not have the support staff that ordinary schools have. They answer the phones, fill out paperwork and help out in the basement lunchroom that also doubles as a gym. But what they get in return, Stoehr says, is autonomy and a little more freedom from the bureaucracy that sometimes inhibits teachers at other schools. Parents are key players at ECHOES as well. Many parents volunteer dozens of hours, even helping with classroom lesson preparation as well as many other tasks. Klema serves on the school's governance committee. "I feel I am a part of what my kids are doing, and I stay updated [ on issues affecting the school]," she said. But next year the old school building may not ring with the voices of children. Like many rural schools in the area, ECHOES is facing declining enrollment. And with only 36 students, the falling numbers affect the school more dramatically and more quickly. A parent volunteer has been phoning families in the area in order to determine how many school-age children live in the vicinity and how many might be interested in ECHOES. They discovered that only about 20 percent of area families have young children. And of families who might be interested in the ECHOES philosophy, a surprising number are choosing to home school. "We're expecting to close," said Stoehr, in an unexpectedly pessimistic tone. We're graduating eight students this [spring], and we've only got two four-year olds coming into the Kindergarten," she said in a matter-of fact-tone. According to Stoehr, if every eligible school-age child in Eastman enrolled at ECHOES, the school would be full. But she says that she and the other teachers and ECHOES supporters are not angry. "Some think bigger is better, newer is better, more specialists is better, and that's their choice," Stoehr said. Michelle Klema says convenience is a factor for many of the parents she has spoken with. If one of their older children is already attending Prairie schools, it's easier to put the younger kids on the bus with them, or if the parents work in Prairie, they are closer to their children. But while the staff and school board at ECHOES are ready to accept the end if necessary, they are not giving up. The can-do attitude that inspired the start-up of the school may help it survive once again. Only 10 or 12 new students are needed to keep the school operating, and through open enrollment students from throughout the area are eligible to attend. ECHOES is accepting open enrollment through Dec. 1. Interested parents can call 874-4011.

Longtime local gathering spot undergoes renovations
The newly remodeled Eddie's opened on Nov. 19. Eddie's Inn, the next in our series about longtime Prairie du Chien businesses, has undergone renovation, and was reopened Friday, Nov. 19. What is now Eddie's Irish Pub at 800 S. Marquette Road had its beginnings in 1969 when Ed Infield Sr. purchased Lyon's Bar on the corner of Wacouta and Blackhawk avenues and changed the name to Eddie's Inn. Eddie's Inn moved to its current Marquette Road site in 1972 when Ed Infield Sr. acquired the property that most folks remember as the former Highway Market, a grocery store run by Marty Betzle and Lawrence Strauman. Bill Howe generously provided research showing that the original building at what is now 800 S. Marquette Road was built in the late 1930s. James Konichek ran a store on the former York Street, now called Marquette Road, selling produce and groceries. Following Konichek, Kurt Swenson operated Kurt Swenson Groceries and Meats. Swenson then expanded into a new building along Marquette Road. Swenson later transferred the building to Marty Betzle and Lawrence Strau-man, who operated The Highway Market. Ed Hamann then operated an electronics store in the building before relocating. Eddie Infield Sr. acquired the property and named the business Eddie's Inn. Incidentally, the bar from the first Eddie's Inn at the intersection of Wacouta and Blackhawk Avenue was moved out to the Marquette Road. business and was in use there until the recent renovation. Prairie du Chien lore has it that the patrons of the original Eddie's Inn carried the bar all the way from downtown to the Marquette Road site. Eddie Infield Jr., who has managed Eddie's Inn for more than 30 years, was skeptical of that notion, however. Since the bar was quite long, Eddie Jr. says that the much more likely scenario was that the patrons carried the bar to a truck, which then transported the bar to the Marquette Road location. In 1996, four friends who grew up in Prairie du Chien, Jerry and Jan Waller, Mark Peterson and Brian Edwards purchased Eddie's from Ed Infield Sr. Last September renovation began, as it was decided that Eddie's needed a new look after all these years. Jerry Waller recalled that the original Eddie's downtown had spittoons, low lighting and an all-around old pub atmosphere, which drew patrons from all walks of life. Waller said that the recent renovation of Eddie's was done in part as a "return to that old pub atmosphere," sans spittoons, of course. After Eddie's Inn was torn down on Sept. 20, the new building was constructed upon the original foundation. Renamed Eddie's Irish Pub, the business is now 25 percent bigger. The old building was 30'x60'. The new building is 30'x80', with 10-foot-high ceilings and featuring a game room that was added in the back, along with handicapped accessible ramps. The new Eddie's Irish Pub has a much nicer look on the outside as well as in. The pub features dark Cherry wood flooring, along with dark wooden trim and wainscoting throughout. The old, long, straight bar has been replaced by a dark wood horseshoe-shaped bar with crown molding and a mirrored background. "Turn-of-the-century decor" and period lighting add to the Irish Pub feel. "The idea was to create a subdued, relaxed ambiance," said Jerry Waller, who noted that Eddie's will be a family pub with casual dress. "We're serving up an atmosphere." There are three main areas in the new Eddie's. In the front of the building is a dining area featuring a large fireplace. The grill and bar are in the middle and in the back is a game room. Celtic and other music is played on the CD juke box. Waller said that the sound system has volume control that allows for the music to be played somewhat louder in the game room, while being more subdued in the dining area. While the new Eddie's will have an expanded menu, Waller made it clear that, "We're a tavern first, that serves food ‹ not a restaurant that serves beer." Waller said that Eddie's will serve several tap beers, among them Guiness, Harp, Killian's, Eddie's Irish Ale, Spotted Cow, Blue Moon, Capitol, Leinenkugel's, Miller Lite, Bud Light and 1919 Root Beer. Tap beer will be served in 16-ounce and 20-ounce glasses, which are known as Imperial Pints. Also, patrons will be able to "create their own beer" by mixing two types of beer together. Guiness mixed with Killian's creates a "black and red," for instance.
Eddie's has long been known far and wide for its hamburgers and Waller said that the original "Eddie Burger" will continue to be cooked the same way on the same grill. Also, the Eddie Burger will never change in price, Waller said. In addition to the Eddie Burger, Waller said that a larger "Pub Burger" will be added. Grilled chicken and steak sandwiches will continue to be served, along with expanded grilled items. Fried fish will be served, as will several appetizers such as onion rings, cheese curds, poppers, mushrooms, chicken strips and more.

Eddie's will also continue to serve chili and pizza as well as cold sandwiches and turkey wraps. Ed Infield Jr., who began on Dec. 28, 1973, will stay on as co-manager with Jody Noethe, and all of the employees and the owners will continue to make sure that Eddie's Irish Pub remains a popular and stalwart Prairie du Chien gathering spot.

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

December 1, 2004

November 29, 2004