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Mon
25
Sep

Man proposes highway bridge at Cassville

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 12:43

The iconic ferry has been a part of Cassville’s traditions for 184 years. Though it boosts tourism in the small community, it’s not a 24/7 service and it’s at the mercy of the Mississippi River. A Cassville native is leading a petition effort to someday build a bridge connecting Wisconsin and Iowa, to help spur economic development opportunities in the community.

By Correne Martin

A petition to build a bridge spanning the Mississippi River, from Cassville to Clayton County, Iowa, needs more signatures if it is to attract attention from Wisconsin, Iowa and national legislators. The proposal is one that looks at the future of the shrinking Grant County community and provides a solution for what can be done to bounce back from the blow Cassville sustained when its two electrical power plants closed in late-2015.

Leading the charge, the petition’s creator is Lance Wamsley, who was born and raised in Cassville and whose father was manager of the Alliant Energy plant when its doors closed. Now living in Lancaster, he started the petition Aug. 1. Since then, it has accumulated 1,755 supporters toward a goal of 5,000.

Mon
25
Sep

Crawford County bird tests positive for West Nile

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 12:42

Crawford County Public Health was notified last week that a dead crow found in Crawford County tested positive for West Nile virus. Surveillance for the mosquito-transmitted virus began May 1.

According to Crawford County Health Director Gloria Wall, residents observed the crow and noticed it was sickly, so they reported it to the state dead bird hotline. When it actually died, the bird was sent in for assessment.
The positive bird means that residents of Crawford County need to be more vigilant in their personal protective measures to prevent mosquito bites to prevent West Nile disease.

West Nile virus is spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes acquire the virus by feeding on infected birds.

Mon
25
Sep

Local soldiers to deploy with mobilizing Iowa National Guard

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 12:41

The Iowa Army National Guard is mobilizing 390 soldiers based in four Iowa cities for deployment to the U.S. Central Command, which could assign them to Iraq, Afghanistan, North Africa and other regions.

The troops are members of the 248th Aviation Support Battalion, which includes helicopter maintainers, helicopter test pilots, and logistical support personnel.

Jason Hager, of Prairie du Chien, is among the men and women deploying, in addition to Steve Gray and Michael Spring, both northeast Iowa residents who work at Pattison Sand Company.

The soldiers are based in Boone, Muscatine, Davenport and Waterloo, and they represent the Iowa National Guard’s largest single-unit deployment since 2010, according to information Col. Gregory Hapgood Jr., the Guard’s public affairs officer at Camp Dodge, gave the Des Moines Register.

Mon
25
Sep

Shooting Investigation Continues

Submitted by admin on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 11:54

 

Mount Hope 

shooting incident 

still being investigated

Investigation ongoing since Sept. 1

By Ted Pennekamp

 

Thu
21
Sep

Bridgeport Barn Blaze

Submitted by admin on Thu, 09/21/2017 - 14:49

 

Barn destroyed in blaze

The rubble from a barn fire was still smoldering Thursday along Vineyard Road in the town of Bridgeport. The Rural Bridgeport/Prairie du Chien Township Fire Department was called at about 7:30 p.m. to the Scott Nichols’ Farm. The barn was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived. There were no injuries and no livestock died as a result of the fire. The barn and some farm machinery, including a baler and a tractor, were destroyed as were some round hay bales. (Photo by Ted Pennekamp)

Wed
20
Sep

Gays Mills man arrested for marijuana possession

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 09/20/2017 - 12:32

On Monday, Sept. 18, at 5:30 p.m., the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department K9 Deputy initiated contact with the operator of a Chevrolet Tracker in the village of Gays Mills.

The operator of the vehicle was identified as Timothy Copus, 45, Gays Mills. Contact was initiated because the deputy noticed the vehicle displayed false plates and the deputy had prior knowledge that Copus did not hold a valid driver’s license.

As a result of the deputy’s contact, Copus was arrested. Charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, operating while under the influence of a restricted controlled substance (second offense), and operating while revoked were referred to the district attoney’s office.

K9 Breck was utilized for an open free air sniff and he alerted to the presence of an odor of a controlled substance.

This case currently remains under investigation.

Wed
20
Sep

Liquor license extended 90 days to improve the marketability of Sue Z’s

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 09/20/2017 - 12:23

By Correne Martin

The Prairie du Chien Common Council approved at its regular meeting Tuesday, Sept. 19, an extension of the Class B liquor license held by the former Sue Z’s Bar, at 1000 S. Beaumont Rd., with interest in making the property more marketable. The premises has, for more than 50 years, operated as a tavern. It was last in operation as Bobbleheads Bar for a short period of time.

According to a memo from Zoning Administrator Cassie Rickleff, the current title holder is Peoples State Bank, which took ownership in April 2017. The transfer came upon an agreement the bank made with petitioner Susan (Zuerbuchen) Selch. Peoples is currently attempting to market the premises. Both Peoples and the previous owner believe keeping the license will allow greater value for the property. Rickleff’s recommendation seemed to agree with that theory.

The council approved the extension, granting 90 additional days past Sept. 19.

Wed
20
Sep

PTO a strong supporting arm for PdC schools

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 09/20/2017 - 12:17

By Correne Martin

At the beginning of the school year, students at B.A. Kennedy and Bluff View in Prairie du Chien received some rather short school supply lists. Minimal items per child were requested, particularly in comparison to other schools’ lists.

Thanks to the Prairie du Chien public schools’ parent teacher organization, this support greatly assists parents and guardians, especially those with multiple children in the schools, in terms of keeping school supply costs affordable.

For the past five or six years, each grade, from 3K through eighth, has received $500 from PTO funds to use toward classroom supplies. On top of that, the PTO buys a substantial amount of disinfecting wipes and facial tissue for both schools.

According to Diane Zahara, PTO president, 600 boxes of Kleenex and 600 containers of Clorox wipes were purchased for the 2017-2018 school year, equaling a $4,400 expenditure for the organization.

Wed
20
Sep

Father Fagan to share video of Tanzanian health facility local contributions helped build

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 09/20/2017 - 12:15

Father Paul Fagan (back, center) is pictured with some friends from Rhinelander, Madison, Minnesota and Arizona in Tanzania, where the visitors got to see first-hand the mission work he has been able to conduct there. (Submitted photos)

The operating room of the Songambele Health Facility in Tanzania did 326 operations in its first year, including 102 urgent c-section births.

By Correne Martin

For the 48th consecutive summer, Father Paul Fagan is back in Prairie du Chien from his missionary work in Tanzania. As always, he’s here to share the extraordinary progress that’s been made in the eastern African town of Nkololo, as a result of contributions from countless Wisconsinites.

The soon to be 85-year-old priest will give a public video presentation, with help from his friend, videographer and Tanzanian tour guide Ryan Skaife, at the Holy Family Parish hall at St. John’s Catholic Church in Prairie du Chien, Tuesday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m.

Wed
20
Sep

SMRT Bus Recognition

Submitted by admin on Wed, 09/20/2017 - 11:14

Scenic Mississippi Regional Transit buses provide three round trips per day from Prairie du Chien to La Crosse and various points in between. (file photo)

 

SMRT Bus Service receives recognition, continues growth

by Ted Pennekamp

 

The Scenic Mississippi River Transit (SMRT) Bus Service has recently been recognized by Wisconsin Rural Partners as one of Wisconsin’s Top Rural Development Initiatives in 2017 because ridership continues to increase and a rider survey shows that 100 percent of riders are either satisfied or very satisfied.

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