Click here for NOAA Mississippi River Stage information

Link to LEGALS

CONTACT US for picture reproduction of photos in our paper...reasonable prices!

New railroad bridge up and running

Trains will be able to go twice as fast over the Wisconsin River

The new Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad Bridge that spans the Wisconsin River between Crawford and Grant counties was completed on Sunday evening, Oct. 23 and trains have been running on the new bridge ever since.

Travis Boardman, BNSF assistant roadmaster, said that the project began in the spring of 2004 and that the new bridge was built mainly in order to increase the speed of the trains across the bridge and thus, increase capacity.

Bill Barbie, the BNSF roadmaster, said that trains will now be able to travel at 50 miles per hour over the new bridge, whereas the old bridge only allowed for a speed of 25 miles per hour. An average of 60 trains per day travel through Prairie du Chien, Barbie said.

The new bridge was built directly to the west of the old railroad bridge, which had served for 104 years. Barbie said that the old bridge will now be used as a storage place where rail cars will be parked. The old bridge will be used in this manner next year and for an undetermined length of time after that, Barbie said.

"This was a big project," said Barbie, who noted that the construction of the new bridge cost the railroad approximately $6.5 million. Barbie said that the old bridge had needed updated pier repair.

While the new bridge is now up and running, there is still some work to be completed, including "touch-ups and cleanups," said Travis Boardman. In addition, Boardman said that the trains are not yet running across the bridge at the full speed.

Boardman said that machinery is being run on the tracks in order to help the bridge settle properly. Trains running on the bridge also help to settle and stabilize it, said Boardman, who noted that as the bridge becomes properly settled, the trains will be able to increase their speed.

Anti-Monopoly Street construction near completion

Nobody likes road construction. Nobody like bad streets either. Residents of the Bench neighborhood in Marquette and casino patrons alike will be pleased ‹ the reconstruction of Anti-Monopoly Street is wrapping up.

According to acting Marquette City Clerk Maryanne Trudo, the project which began on September 6 is scheduled to be completed on November 8, although she admits delays are always possible. The $538,221 project was let to Horsfield Construction of Epworth, Iowa. It included new water and sewer lines, curb and gutter as well as a new street surface. "We have been progressively making improvements all over town. This was just the next project," Trudo explained.

Anti-Monopoly Street is the only entrance to the Bench neighborhood and the Isle of Capri parking lot. That makes it one of the busiest streets in Marquette. And the construction period took place during the height of fall color season, one of the busiest times for tourism in the area. Still, there have been no serious traffic problems along the route of the detour, which passes through the casino parking lot, according to Trudo. "Everyone has been following the detour route really well," she said. Last Friday work crews completed the installation of curb along most of the construction route between Highway 76 and Brown Street. On Monday, they were pouring concrete on the center segment of the road, bringing the project a lot closer to an end.

Wastewater treatment facility saving energy and money with new system

The Prairie du Chien Wastewater Treatment Facility recently acquired a new Dissolved Oxygen Monitoring System that allows the plant to save large amounts of money and energy. The $32,000 system has been running for about two months, and according to Wastewater Superintendent Terry Meyer, makes the entire plant operate better. Meyer said that the plant is using approximately 25 percent less electricity in the aeration basin than previously used. He also said that because of the new system, less chemicals and maintenance are needed, which gives workers more time to spend on other projects for the city. The system consists of a probe that sits directly in the return activated sludge and senses the levels of dissolved oxygen. Three blowers then maintain the oxygen levels throughout the plant. The goal for the system is to keep the dissolved oxygen at an optimal level of 2.0 milligrams per liter. To do this, the three blowers then kick on and off at different strengths when needed.

"Before this new system, if we had a blower on, it had to be on at 100 percent," said Meyer. This also meant that if a blower was turned on before an employee left at 5 p.m., it ran at 100 percent all throughout the night, wasting a lot of energy. Now, the blowers can turn on and off automatically, according to the oxygen levels. And, instead of operating at only zero or 100 percent levels, they only run at the percentage needed.

To buy the system, Meyer said that they used a shared savings program from Alliant Energy to take out a $30,200 loan. The plant also received a $2,500 grant from Wisconsin Focus on Energy to help pay for the new technology. "Terry was pro-active and very interested in our program," said Joe Cantwell, senior engineer at Focus on Energy. Cantwell said that a grant was provided as an incentive for the city to cut back on cost.

Meyer said that the system should be entirely paid for in about five years.

The season for helping

The October 8 early morning fire in Monona left many families without homes, clothing and so many other material goods. However, with this disaster, as with so many other unfortunate events, there were many positive things to be learned. If anyone in Monona needed a reminder of how generous and close-knit their community was - this fire was it. An employee for the City of Monona described the charity that has taken place since the fire simply as "amazing."

"By 11 o'clock that morning, the community center was piled high with clothing," she said. She went on to say that on that Thursday a Goodwill truck came to pick up the remainder of the clothing that was left after the 12 families had their pickings - the load filled half of a semi truck.

With many area families contributing their efforts toward helping hurricane victims in the south, or earthquake victims across the globe, one must not forget that people in this area also need assistance. As temperatures continue to drop and the holiday season rapidly approaches, many things can be done to assist local families in need.

Bargain Boutique

Bargain Boutique, operated by Coulee CAP, and located in downtown Prairie du Chien offers citizens a place to donate clothing, shoes, household goods and small appliances to the needy and disaster victims. The items are then sold at very affordable prices, or given freely to people that qualify.

Manager Larry Larson says that they gladly accept all sorts of donations during store hours, but people should call before bringing in their items to make sure there is adequate room.

Food Pantry

The Crawford County Food Pantry provides food to residents within the county with an emergency need who qualify within the income guidelines. The food pantry is open Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., and is also located at the Bargain Boutique building at 200 Blackhawk Avenue. Larson said that while it is not required that people call before bringing in donations, it is a good idea to do so.

According to Larson, many people come into the store for discount or free clothing and food items because they are referred by social services or Catholic charities. He went on to say that many families in Crawford County qualify, but probably are not even aware of it. To find out if you or your family qualifies for these services, call Coulee CAP at (608) 326-2463.

Energy Assistance

With the soaring cost of natural gas, many families will feel the burden of paying their heating bills this winter. To help out, Crawford County Human Services offers energy assistance to households that fit the proper guidelines. Guidelines are based on household income as well as the energy burden.

According to Peggy Gallagher, eligible clients will receive a one-time benefit payment for each heating season (Oct. 1- May 15). The payment is intended to help pay a portion of the season's heating costs - not the entire annual cost.

To schedule an appointment or for more information about the guidelines, call (608) 326-0248.

Hall of Famer Kramer

The passengers that filed onto the bus at Kramer's Trailer Court last Monday morning were filled with a subdued, but unmistakable air of of excitement and anticipation. It was barely 6 a.m. when the bus pulled out of Prairie du Chien headed for Fort Worth, Texas, and the Cowgirl Hall of Fame.

The 41 supporters that rode out nearly filled the Warco Transportation motorcoach, leaving few empty seats. They included some of Kramer's family, and many friends, including Nona Quick, who helped organize the tour. Most were from the Prairie du Chien area, but some drove in from Tomah, Madison and Richland County, as well as other areas of Wisconsin to join the tour. And the busload of people didn't include others who were traveling on their own by air and by car from states as far away as Florida, Ohio, Arizona and South Dakota. There were many who wanted to share the moment of honor for Elaine Kramer, who was inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame in a ceremony last Thursday. Kramer was recognized for her 20-year career as a top Roman rider in national horse shows and rodeos across the U.S.

Other family members and friends noted how Elaine remained quiet about her years in the show ring after her retirement in 1974. Although Elaine is her aunt, Kim Kramer-Cejpek, of West Lima, was like many people in the community who did not really know much about Elaine's glamorous career as a rider of a six-horse Roman hitch. "She never talked about her days on the road, she never talked about her experiences. I suppose she thought we weren't interested," Kim said. "She's just a very modest person," said Pat Check, a friend who has known Elaine for many years and saw some of her performances.

Those years of silence are part of what made the trip to Fort Worth and the honors Kramer received there all the more sweet. "I still can't believe it," Kramer said.

Members of the bus tour were treated to a private tour of the new $21 million Cowgirl Hall of Fame and Museum facility on Wednesday. The Cowgirl Hall of Fame and Museum honors and documents the lives of women who have distinguished themselves while exemplifying the pioneering spirit of the American West. The galleries highlighted cowgirl contributions to ranch life, exploits in the rodeo arena and show ring, and her enduring image in film and popular culture. An open atrium on the first floor of the museum featured silver stars mounted on the walls engraved with the names of all of the inductees, including Elaine Kramer, and a photo image and biography of her and the other 2005 inductees was displayed. Afterwards, the tour group had an opportunity to visit the historic stockyards district of the city, where Elaine and some of her group were staying at the prestigious Stockyards Hotel.

Kramer received a medal in a ceremony held at an upscale, invitation-only luncheon at a Fort Worth auditorium last Thursday. About 800 attended the luncheon, which featured elaborately decorated tables sponsored by local businesses. Wealthy Texas business people and regular ranch folk alike circulated in the hall looking at the tables before the ceremony began. While the tables were eye-catching, nothing outshone the glittery cowgirl fashions worn by many women attending the function. Waiters dressed in black circulated among the crowd handing out glasses of champagne.

Three other women were also honored as inductees at the 30th annual event, including Anne Marion, a Forth Worth area rancher, oil businesswoman and arts patron. Another inductee, Ann Lowdon Call, is a successful horsewoman who has racked up a number of Reserve National Championships with her American Quarter Horses and Palominos. When Anne lost her legs to complications from diabetes, she continued to compete in driving classes. A posthumous inductee, LuLu Bell Parr, was a wild west show star and lady bucking horse rider in the early 1900's, but died in poverty and obscurity in the 1950's. The local historical society in Medway, Ohio, where she was buried, brought her story to light.

In Kramer's acceptance speech, she thanked her many supporters, and those who encouraged her to tell her story, including friends Ann and Larry Dohse, Donna Laufenberg and Edna Bauer and supporters at the Natural Gait in Harper's Ferry. She remembered people who had helped her in the past, her parents and her partner and manager Dan Quinn. "It is a privilege to be here with you great new inductees and previous honorees," Kramer said. Kramer's nearly 100 supporters represented one of the largest groups to ever attend an induction for one honoree, and led the crowd in a standing ovation for Elaine.