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September 14, 2005

Crawford County employees began the task Monday of moving offices from Crawford County Courthouse building and the O.E. Satter Building into the new administrative building. According to officials, the process is expected to be completed by the end of next week. Until that time, people needing to do business at any of the county offices should call ahead for current location information.

The first floor of the new Crawford County Administrative Building will house the following offices: Veterans Service, Job Center, Coroner and Housing and Maintenance. People looking for the County Clerk, County Treasurer, Register of Deeds, Property Lister and Surveyor, Zoning, Land Conservation, 911 Coordinator and Zoning will find them on the second floor. And the offices on the third floor will be the Health Department, Senior Resources and Human Services.

Prayers and pink ribbons offered in hopes of Ashley's return

Pink ribbons adorn street signs and lampposts in McGregor, in hope of Ashley Fahey's return home. Fahey, a 2005 graduate of MFL Mar-Mac High School, abruptly left her family and her plans to attend Loras College in Dubuque to join Love Holy Trinity Blessed Mission, a religious group that has a facility outside of Bellevue, Iowa.

Love Holy Trinity Blessed Mission (LHTBM) is not an ordinary religious group. Although the group seems to have originated as an informal Bible study organization within the Catholic Church, the group has "cult-like characteristics," according to Father Richard Gaul, sacramental priest at St. Mary's Catholic Church in McGregor. In their publications, LHTBM claims to be applying for status as a sanctioned religious order within the Catholic Church. Father Gaul believes that while indeed, the organization may have begun that process, that they use this claim to garner a legitimacy that they may not deserve.

Ashley Fahey was a bright, outgoing young woman, a high-achiever who had a college scholarship and a future full of possibilities. Her mother and stepfather, Lora and Roger Knott of McGregor, have been struggling to come to terms with their daughter's abrupt change of course. Ashley's father, Ron Fahey, is also a member of LHTBM, and the two had attended a retreat the group held near Dubuque.

Friends of the Knott family helped to start the pink ribbon campaign, to raise awareness of the Knott family's struggle and to offer hope. According to Sister McCauley, florists in Monona have offered the ribbons free of charge.

Members of LHTBM are typically devout Catholic parishioners. In the LHTBM newsletter, they claim to teach the "School of the Saints," and offer a "Holy Map to Heaven." In reality, says Father Gaul, they do what cults do - draw in people who are vulnerable, isolate them from their families and the rest of the world and discourage them from asking too many questions. "There are people who are lonely, looking for security ... they are vulnerable," said Father Gaul. He also noted that cults are far more common than many people believe. "There are cults all around us, people need to be aware of that," he added.

Sister Mary McCauley is pastoral administrator at St. Mary's and a friend to Ashley's parents, Lora and Roger. Sister Mary accompanied Lora Knott on a visit to see Ashley at the LHTBM compound on a farm outside of Bellevue, shortly after she joined the group in late August. She said that she and Mrs. Knott were greeted warmly by the leaders of LHTBM, a woman named Kyo McDonald, Father Leonard Kruzel and Dick Vogt, an active member of the group.

According to McCauley, they were allowed to visit with Ashley for about four hours. "We urged her to reconsider her decision," said Sister McCauley. "Ashley is a very committed, vibrant, vital person," McCauley said of the girl's personality. During their visit she noted that Ashley seemed flat and expressed little emotion. She kept repeating the same phrases about how she had the right to make her own decisions. "She did not seem to be the same Ashley I knew," Sister McCauley said. The young woman elected to stay at LHTBM.

Last Wednesday, Father Gaul and Sister McCauley led a special prayer service for Ashley Fahey and the Knott family. The service was well attended. Sister McCauley said that those attending expressed great concern for Ashley and her family, as well as hope. Their prayers were of faith, trusting in God's care.

Staff and members of the St. Mary's parish are looking for some guidance from the Archdiocese of Dubuque about how to proceed in dealing with LHTBM. According to Monsignor Barta of the Archdiocese, that guidance will be made public later this week.

LHTBM originated in Chicago, Ill., and has been distributing their newsletters and organizing Bible study groups in churches in the southwest Wisconsin and northeast Iowa. It is not clear whether the group has approached other Catholic churches in the area. Father Hubert Boschert of St. Gabriels and St. Johns churches in Prairie du Chien, was unavailable for comment at press time.

History comes alive this weekend with Cannons and Redcoats

During one point in the War of 1812, the British controlled the strategic area known as Prairie du Chien. Relive this exciting portion of local history on Saturday, September 17, at the Eighth Annual Cannons and Redcoats re-enactment on the grounds of the Fort Crawford Museum located at 717 South Beaumont Road in Prairie du Chien.

The event's activities actually kick off on Friday, Sept. 16 as area school students tour the grounds from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday has been set aside as "Family Day," and there are plenty of activities and displays for all who attend. Visitors will enjoy over 20 different historical stations that will be located throughout the grounds. Re-enactors will be at each station to share their knowledge in such areas as fur trading, candle making and cannon and musket firing. These activities begin at 8:30 a.m. and continue until 4 p.m. Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Brownies will also tour the grounds during the day's events and share this experience with the general public.

Saturday evening also has much to offer with the "Sights, Sounds and Tastes of Early Prairie du Chien," starting at 7 p.m. This lantern tour will touch on the influence of four important area inhabitants: the Americans, British, French and Native Americans. Musket and cannon firing will also be on Saturday night's agenda. Dessert will also be served. Regular admission will be charged for the day's events. Visitors may also tour the Fort Crawford Military Hospital and The Prairie du Chien Museum, which are located on the grounds.

For this year's event, visitors will once again participate in an actual archeological dig. Visitors will not only observe the dig, but also lend a hand, as archeologists from the Mississippi Valley Archeology Center from La Crosse will unearth the past. Students will begin the dig on Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Saturday's visitors will assist the archeologists from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. The dig will be next to the museum on the Wyalusing Academy grounds.

The Cannons and Redcoats event is jointly sponsored by The Prairie du Chien Historical Society, The Prairie du Chien Militia, The Prairie du Chien Rotary and the Upper Mississippi Gaming Corporation. For more information, please contact The Fort Crawford Museum at (608) 326-6960 or visit their website at www.fortcrawfordmuseum.com. Tourist information is available at 1-800-732-1673 or www.prairieduchien.org.

 

September 12, 2005

Local race car driver gets quite a thrill
In more than 17 years of stock car racing Mike Ehde of rural Prairie du Chien has experienced quite a few thrills along the way. One recent experience is sure to stand out, however.

On Aug. 20, at the Race of Champions during a memorial event in Wisconsin Dells, Ehde was privileged when NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace picked Ehde's car to drive in the race. Not only did Wallace drive Ehde's car, he won with it, beating out the likes of Bill "Awesome Bill from Dawsonville" Elliott, Ted Musgrave and Jimmy Spencer, all from NASCAR's Nextel Cup series.

The four famous drivers were on hand to raise money for the track in Wisconsin Dells.

"It was pretty neat," said Ehde. "Not too many people can say they had a Nextel Cup driver in their car and drive their car and win with it."

Ehde said that Wallace averaged about 95 miles per hour in his win on the one-third-mile asphalt track at Dells Motor Speedway.

"You feel kind of privileged that they pick out your car," Ehde said about his 2005 Monte Carlo, which he races on the Limited Late Model circuit. "It's a good car."

Wallace posed with Ehde after the race, wished him good luck in his racing endeavors and autographed his car. "Kenny's quite the card, he's always joking around," said Ehde about the experience of meeting Wallace.

Ehde said that Wallace and the other three Nextel Cup drivers should have felt right at home in the cars that they drove that night because they are very similar to the cars driven in NASCAR's top echelon. Ehde's crew chief Duane Fritz said that the cars are, in fact, nearly identical, except that the NASCAR cars have metal bodies and about twice as much horsepower than the 450 horses that Ehde's car cranks out.

Ehde's car was put together "piece by piece" said crew chief Duane Fritz, who noted that the car's smallblock Chevy engine was built by Tomcat and the lefthander-stub chassis by Bugcat.

Ehde's crew of Fritz, Jim Lessard, Mike Degenhardt, Bob Jung and Erik Zink have put together quite a car, in which Ehde has been very successful in ASA Late Model and Big 8 Series races throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. He was the 1996 Rookie of the Year at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway, the feature winner at La Crosse, the feature winner at Hawkeye Downs and the feature winner at Dells Motor Speedway.

Ehde was a 2004 ASA Late Model contender and is currently seventh in the point standings out of 55 cars in the Big 8 Series.

Ehde has raced against several top drivers over the years, including Matt Kenseth and Johnny Sautter and last year against the reigning NASCAR Craftsman Truck champion Travis Kavpil.

Local sponsors have been a big part of Ehde's success. They include Krachey's BP, Dillman Equipment, Lorenz Masonry, Royces Auto Body and Just One More. Associate sponsors include Wehrs Machine and Racing Products, Tomcat Racing Engines, Auto Extra's and Car Quest.

First ever Crawford County Art Festival to be held this weekend

The first annual Crawford County Art Festival will be held this weekend, September 17-18, in Ferryville, Wisconsin. The village of Ferryville is located on the Mississippi River along National Scenic Highway 35, approximately 23 miles north of Prairie du Chien and 35 miles south of La Crosse. The festival will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at Sugar Creek Park, which can be found on the west side of Highway 35 just south of the village.

The Crawford County Art Festival features artists and artisans of the Driftless Area, showcasing the incredible talent that resides in these hills and valleys. The works of over 50 artists will be available for viewing and purchase. There will be watercolor and oil paintings; pastels; pen-and-ink drawings; weavings; hand-painted quilts; fiber arts ranging from knitted items to soft sculpture; pottery; blown glass; stained glass; photography; beaded and gemstone jewelry; hand-crafted furniture; collage and mixed media; and beautifully crafted floral works. Some of the area's young artists will be featured too, with a children's art exhibit.

A number of the artists will treat the public to demonstrations during the course of the festival. Using his great eye for color and shadow, Ken Dewaard will create an exceptional oil painting "plein air" (outdoors). Ferryville's own Kay Campbell will have her potter's wheel spinning on Saturday, and Ira Slatter will also demonstrate pottery-making techniques and ceramic sculpture. Gordon Glass will be drawing with pen and ink, and Barbara Decker will combine painting with paper collage.

Musical artists will be on hand throughout the festival. Christie Knapp and her Club Lucky Jazz Ensemble will deliver torch songs and jazz standards from the festival stage at 11 a.m. and again at noon on Saturday. Singer/songwriter Char Engen will play folk tunes at 1 and 3 p.m., and give a strings workshop in between sets. On Sunday, local musicians Tim Jenkins and Bill Mort will play at 11:00 am and at noon, and from noon until 3:00 pm, Paul Imholte will stroll through the festival giving spontaneous concerts using one of a dozen stringed instruments he wheels along behind him.

Over thirty Driftless area businesses have helped to sponsor the festival, its demonstrations, and its entertainment. Peoples State Bank is the festival's prime sponsor. The Wisconsin Department of Tourism has awarded an $11,350 Joint Effort Marketing (JEM) Grant to help publicize the event and draw visitors to the area, benefiting the artists and area businesses. Information about the festival schedule can be obtained from the county website at www.crawfordcountywi.com or by contacting Eric Frydenlund of Community Development Alternatives at (608) 326-6658.