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November 10, 2004 |
Marquette girl lucky to be alive
Truck driver, two others pull her from car just before it explodes
A 16-year-old Marquette girl is lucky to be alive following a horrific
head-on collision with a semi-tractor-trailer on Highway 18 a few miles west of
Marquette Monday afternoon. Immediately following the accident, Samantha Dickens
was pulled from the wreckage by the semi driver, Geoffery Schneider of Clermont,
Iowa, and witnesses just before the car exploded into flame. Dickens was later
transported by ambulance to Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital and then
airlifted by MedLink to Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse. Dickens'
condition was unknown as of press time, but Clayton County Sheriff's Department
personnel said Tuesday that she "amazingly" sustained only minor injuries and
will reportedly be released from the hospital today, Nov. 10. "She's a lucky
girl. I know that," said the 30-year-old Schneider, who is a firefighter and a
first responder in Clermont. "God was definitely with her. That's for sure. It's
by the grace of God that she's here and living to talk about it. It could have
been a lot worse." According to a Clayton County Sheriff's Department report,
the accident happened at approximately 3:38 p.m. on Highway 18, one-quarter mile
east of the Business 18 intersection. Dickens was driving a 1999 Chevrolet
Lumina east on Highway 18 when she lost control. The car went across the
centerline and struck Schneider's Mack semi head-on. Dickens' car came to rest
on the south shoulder and the semi went into the north ditch and jackknifed.
While the accident is considered head-on, Schneider said that Dickens is very
lucky that her car slid across the centerline sideways and that the passenger
side took the brunt of the impact, rather than the driver's side.
Immediately following the accident, Schneider said that he collected himself then grabbed his fire extinguisher, hopped down from his truck and ran over to the Dickens' vehicle to put out the fire that could be seen smoking in the back seat. Gas was also leaking from Dickens' car and time was of the essence. Schneider said that three other truck drivers also used their fire extinguishers in an effort to quell the fire, but to no avail. "The fire was out of control and beyond our measures," Schneider said.
Schneider then bashed his extinguisher through the driver's side window, grabbed Dickens by the shoulders and pulled her from the wreckage to a safe distance away on the south shoulder of the roadway. A moment later, the car burst into flames. The smoke from the fire could be seen for miles around. "I just did what had to be done," said Schneider. "In the heat of the moment, a million things were going through my mind. The car looked like a pop can and it was going to go [up in flames]." A paramedic who had witnessed the accident attended to Dickens' medical needs until EMT personnel arrived on the scene, Schneider said. "I'm just glad that she's alive and going to be alright," said Schneider.
According to the sheriff's department report, it is unknown whether Dickens had been wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. Schneider was wearing his seat belt. He was uninjured. Both vehicles were totalled in the accident.
The accident remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol, who were assisted at the scene by the Clayton County Sheriff's Department, the Iowa DNR, Clayton County Conservation, the Mar-Mac Police Department and EMS, and the McGregor Fire Department.
City Council approves school resource officer
Supporters packed the City Council Chambers once again last night, in one
more effort to gain council approval for a school resource officer (SRO).
Reconsideration of the measure was placed on the agenda by second district
councilwoman Irene Schauf, after she was contacted by members of the SRO support
group. Led by high school principal Andy Banasik, the group kept its
presentation more streamlined, trying to address specific council concerns. The
council wanted to see the school board show support for the idea, so school
board president Mary Jorgenson was first to address the council. She noted the
dramatic changes in family structure and issues facing schools today, such as
single parent families, drug use, and violence. Jorgenson said that in just the
last month a student had brought a switchblade to school, and in a previous
incident a student had brought a gun to school with the intent to kill an
administrator. Also she said several agencies had stepped forward offering to
assist with funding for the position, including the CARE Council, Prairie du
Chien Memorial Hospital and the Children's Advisory Board. She noted that the
school board had been discussing the possibility of an SRO for several years,
but had taken no action on the matter until now. Councilman Jack Kluesner
questioned Jorgenson on why the council had not take on the issue sooner.
Banasik stepped in to say that previously, the schools did not have
relationships with the community, law enforcement and criminal justice that were
needed to support the position. Gary Knickerbocker addressed the council next,
representing the Children's Advisory Board. Knickerbocker said that the people
on the Children's Advisory board felt so strongly about the SRO that they had
come up with $10,000 to support the position until grant funding is secured. "I
wouldn't be here if this would cost the taxpayers more," he said, and he urged
the council to "do the right thing for the children of Prairie du Chien." Next,
Darcy O'Brien, student council president, approached the council to express the
support of the students at the school. She noted how the SRO could help out with
harassment issue in school and just be a familiar face to offer students help.
In closing, Banasik asked the council for their support this time, handing them
a petition in support of the SRO with 300 signatures on it. "Why not give it a
chance?" he asked them. Councilman Frank Pintz was first to respond to the
appeal. He expressed qualified support for the idea, but wondered if it didn't
merit more study and discussion, and recommended that it be sent back to the
personnel committee, saying the council shouldn't be blindsided by the issue.
Mary Sprosty, a parent and an active supporter of the SRO, rushed to the podium
to respond to Pintz. "What other decisions have you made tonight where you have
a room full of people supporting it?" she demanded. She went on to eloquently
defend the careful manner in which the SRO supporters had gone though all of the
steps to educate the council. "I don't feel we have blindsided you," she said,
and urged the council to give the idea a chance. But she warned, if need be SRO
supporters would return to the council's personnel committee. When she sat down
several people applauded. Several of the council members went on to discuss the
responses they had from their constituents and others on the issue, most saying
that people supported the idea. Brad Steiner said that his experience had been
the opposite, and that he spoke to many who opposed it. Neumann made a motion to
approve saying that the group had brought them some money, about one-third of
the officer's salary. The council voted to approve on a one year trial basis,
with only Steiner voting against the measure. In other council business, a
public hearing was conducted concerning vacating an platted alley near Talbot
Street at the request of Kyle and Michelle Pattison, who have purchased several
lots adjacent to the planned, but not constructed alley. Several neighbors spoke
for and against the plan; City Attorney Peterson suggested that the matter be
tabled to investigate some of the property claims made by the opponents of the
plan.
The council also approved the Campion Boat Landing reconstruction plan, pending $200,000 in grant funding from the state Department of Natural Resources. Gleefully, city administrator Gary Koch noted that the city would not even have to provide any matching dollars for the grant, and would essentially get the project done for free. The council tentatively awarded contracts for the ramp construction to Mc Hugh Excavating and to Huffcutt Concrete for prefabricated restrooms. Work on the landing could begin yet this fall.
Fighting Domestic Violence: Coordinated Community Response Team begins
their work
Representatives of social service agencies, the hospital, the police force
and others met to begin the work of forming a coordinated community response to
domestic violence. The Coordinated Community Response (CCR) effort is funded by
a grant Crawford County received; $17,000 from the state office of Justice
Assistance (see Courier Press, 10/4/-04). The Tuesday lunch meeting at City Hall
featured a training session conducted by Laurie Jorgensen of the Wisconsin
Coalition Against Domestic Violence, a state-wide nonprofit. The mission of the
Coordinated Community Response Team is to "change the climate of tolerance of
battering by institutionalizing practices and procedures which centralize victim
safety and offender accountability in domestic assault related cases," according
to Jorgensen. What that means in practice is that whether a battered woman
approaches an emergency room nurse or a police officer for help, they will know
what to do and provide assistance in uniform manner. This is not as simple as it
sounds, as the people attending the meeting suggested. For example, noted a
Prairie du Chien Hospital nurse, what if a batterer wants to see a woman at the
hospital, but she has a restraining order against him? Police officers know how
to respond to such issues, but other institutions need to develop policies to
respond to potential problem situations. Police Chief Mike King explained the
problems that the group is facing. "I think where we're at here, is that we're
just kind of stagnant," said King, and asked Jorgensen for guidance for the
team. Jorgensen suggested that the team come up with a list of topics that they
need to deal with, and that maybe they should start with some of the ones that
are easier first, to get some experience before tackling the tougher issues.
Chief King praised the abilities and dedication of the group. "One thing you
should probably understand," said King to Jorgenson, "there's no turf wars,
there's no egos, there's no posturing here, which is really a good thing. This
is really a good group," The group discussed trying out new practices and
protocols to see how they work within their own agencies and among each other.
Jorgenson warned against creating practices that may work well for institutions,
but do not serve victims. The group decided that they needed to clarify the
roles of the Domestic Violence Task Force and the new Coordinated Community
Response Team, and to use the survey results that June Hoeger already compiled
from them and a flow chart of agencies and tasks that the Task Force created as
a place to begin their next meeting. Jorgensen will meet with the SSR Team for
several more training sessions
According to Jorgenson, the Coordinated Community Response model was piloted in Wisconsin in La Crosse County in the mid 1990's, and has been adopted by numerous counties across the state.
November 8, 2004 |
| Community Services Program
up and running Board approves director, secretary and several coaches As of Nov. 1, the Community Service Program to be run by the Prairie du Chien School District has begun and offers several programs for area youth and adults. At a special School Board meeting Nov. 4 at noon, Board President Mary Jorgensen and Board members Russ Gillitzer, Brian Edwards and Barb Matejka voted to approve High School Assistant Principal-Athletic Director Joe Zydowsky as the new Community Activities Director. Zydowsky's contract will be increased from 245 days to 260 days to accommodate his new position. Likewise, the board voted to increase the contract of Stacy Hendrix from 230 days to 260 days to accommodate her position as secretary to Zydowsky in his newly added role. Board members Joe Atkins, Ron Goodman and Mark Forsythe were not present for Thursday's meeting. The Community Services Program is for all adults and children residing within the Prairie du Chien School District. It is the first time that the district has offered such a program, which will be run on $130,000 under "Fund 80" in the district budget. The School Board will need to approve the Community Services Program each year. As of Nov. 1, youth programs include girls and boys basketball, wrestling and gymnastics. "We are also looking to expand programs in the spring, summer and fall," said Zydowsky following Thursday's meeting. Zydowsky emphasized that all programs are for all children, regardless of school affiliation. For instance, a home schooled child, a parochial student or a public school student can participate in any of the youth programs. Zydowsky said that the youth programs will be expanded to include track in the spring and cross country and volleyball in the fall. At Thursday's meeting, the board approved several youth basketball coaches at $1,200 per position. Girls basketball coaches are: fifth grade, Bernetta Bartels; sixth grade, Randy Corlett; seventh grade, Tracy Fernette and eighth grade, Chris Mezera. Boys coaches are: fifth grade, Dave Petrowitz; sixth grade co-coaches Ted Sheckler and Jeff Long; seventh grade, Mike McCoy and eighth grade Gary Stram. Dale Hanson was approved as wrestling coach and Becky Nommensen will be the youth gymnastics coach at $600. Wrestling will be offered to boys in grades six through eight and gymnastics will be offered to girls in grades five through eight. Non-sports activities may be offered as well and Zydowsky said that a Community Services Committee will soon be formed to review proposals. The Community Services Committee will consist of administrators, school board members and community members. "We're open to proposals for new programs," said Zydowsky. Proposals for youth or adult activities should be submitted to Zydowsky. The committee will then review the proposal. If the committee recommends a proposal to the School Board, the board will then vote on whether to add it as a new Community Services program. Adult programs that will soon be up and running include adult first aid, CPR and AED defibrillator training by the district's nurse Karen Riley. Also, open walking, open gym and adult weight room hours will be available at the high school to men and women. Zydowsky said that there may be a nominal daily fee for the use of these facilities. Various computer classes for adults have also been discussed as possible future programs. "Money has been budgeted to add programs this year," said Zydowsky, who noted that Community Services is open to other areas of interest. At Thursday's meeting, the school board also approved Mike Hollenbeck as the "behind-the-wheel" instructor in driver's education for the remainder of the 2004-05 school year at $20 per hour. Because the behind-the-wheel portion of driver's education is now under Fund 80, Zydowsky said that it will only cost $150 per student. All parents who have previously paid the $425 fee for driver's education will be reimbursed the difference, which is $275. Savings from the sun and wind For more information on renewable energy incentive programs in Wisconsin, call the Renewable Energy Information Center at (800) 762-7077, or visit www.focusonenergy.com In Iowa, call Chad Stobbe at Iowa DNR at (515)242-5852 or visit the renewable energy website at www.state.ia.us/dnr/energy/MAIN/renewable/incentives.html Call Rich Bannen at Bay Solar Power Design at (608) 412-0132. |
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