Local News

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Mon
25
Jan

No official cause of fatal fire known, started near staircase

The Wisconsin State Fire Marshal’s office has concluded further details about the house fire that claimed the lives of two young girls in Wauzeka, Tuesday, Jan. 19. Their investigative findings revealed that the fire started in the center of the home near the staircase which prevented escape from the upstairs. They cannot definitively state how or what started the fire but it is ruled as an accidental fire.

Crawford County Sheriff Dale McCullick released this information Friday afternoon after being contacted by the State Fire Marshal’s office through the Division of Criminal Investigation shortly before.

It was also determined, by the girls’ autopsies, that they both died of smoke inhalation.

Mon
25
Jan

Successful telethon fundraiser evolves from humble beginnings


The 12th Street Telethon Party co-hosts Tammy Otteson (second from left) and Liz Bremmer (second from right) presented a check for $6,500 to the Eagles Heart and Cancer Telethon last January. They are pictured in front of the Heart Donors ($1,000 or more) board with Liz’s daughter Taylor, and telethon co-hosts Tom Nelson (far left) and Tom Stram. (Photo by Randy Paske)

Various gift baskets, Brewers memorabilia, a fire ring and a framed print were among the auctioned items at last year’s 12th Street Telethon Party to benefit the Eagles Heart and Cancer Telethon in Prairie du Chien. (Submitted photo)

By Correne Martin

The challenge has been set. For 23 years, the 12th Street Telethon Party has been raising money for the Eagles Heart and Cancer Telethon—from as little as $200 to as much as $6,500 last year—and now, they’re challenging others to do the same.

Sisters Liz Bremmer and Tammy Otteson, both of Prairie du Chien, are passionate about organizing social gatherings and they’re great at collecting money for charities as well. Over two decades ago, they had a telethon viewing party in Liz and Rob Bremmer’s trailer house with just four friends.

“We drank, laughed and giggled. We had little intentions of actually watching the telethon,” Liz recalled. “But we decided, as long as we were together, we’d pull a little money together for the cause.”

Mon
25
Jan

Driftless Documentary


Tim Jacobson adjusts the GoPro camera on the helmet of John Howe, the executive director of the Raptor Resource Project. (Photo by David Noble)

 

Area filmmakers producing feature length 

documentary that will highlight the Driftless Region

By Ted Pennekamp

 

Area filmmakers Tim Jacobson and George Howe are in the process of producing a feature length film about the Driftless Region tentatively titled “Decoding the Driftless.”

Wed
20
Jan

Two sisters die in Wauzeka house fire


A house fire at 510 E. Main St., Wauzeka, claimed the lives of Trinity Bartels, 15, and her sister, Lena Bartels, 12, who were the only occupants in the home. Their parents, Adam and Rebecca Bartels, were both working at the time of the fire. Firefighters were on scene for over 14 hours battling the blaze. (Photos by Correne Martin)

A few gifts of stuffed animals, flowers and more on Wednesday made the beginnings of a memorial for the two girls who lost their lives in the Wauzeka house fire Tuesday.

By Correne Martin

The Wauzeka community is mourning along with the parents of two girls who died in a house fire Monday night into Tuesday morning.

A caller notified the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department of the fire at 510 E. Main St., just before 11:40 p.m. Monday, according to Sheriff Dale McCullick. The caller reported that the house was engulfed in flames and there was smoke coming from the windows. A sheriff’s deputy, along with the caller and neighbors, attempted to enter the residence but couldn’t due to the amount of smoke and fire. The Wauzeka Fire Department and Wauzeka First Responders responded to the call, while the Boscobel Fire Department and Boscobel EMS provided mutual aid.

Wed
20
Jan

Get interactive at upcoming Pet Expo in PdC

Local pet owners and enthusiasts are invited to attend the fourth annual Pet Expo at Nelson True Value on Saturday, Feb. 6, co-sponsored by Nelson True Value, Rivers and Bluffs Animal Shelter, Tender Care Animal Hospital, Prairie Cinema, AmericInn Lodge, Crawford County Sheriff’s Department and the Courier Press will benefit Rivers and Bluffs Animal Shelter (RABAS).

The Pet Expo will start at 10 a.m. and end at 1 p.m. and include a bake sale with delicious homemade treats (just in time for Valentine’s Day) and a food stand. An entire slate of pet-related activities will be featured.

Crawford County’s K9 unit, Deputy Joe Breeser and K9 Officer Breck, will be available during the entire program (pending any emergencies occurring). Deputy Breeser will talk about the different aspects of the work this team does as well as the training both he and Breck experienced. They will also demonstrate a drug search at 11 a.m.

Wed
20
Jan

Railroad Projects in Prairie du Chien

 

Several railroad projects 

set for Prairie du Chien area

By Ted Pennekamp

 

Wed
20
Jan

PdC School Referendum

 

Prairie du Chien 

School District residents to 

be asked $18.9 million question

By Ted Pennekamp

 

Mon
18
Jan

MPC supports library expansion project

Last week, the Prairie du Chien Memorial Library recorded yet another generous pledge toward its “Ready, Set, Grow” capital campaign from one of the community’s anchor industries, MPC (Miniature Precision Components). MPC has been a leading provider of thermoplastic units since 1972. The company’s Community Action Program (CAP) Committee, which supports the communities in which MPC has manufacturing locations, will be contributing $5,000 toward the expansion. The Prairie du Chien Common Council has provided $1.5 million and challenged the community to raise an additional $1.5 million in private funds and grants to assist with paying for the project. To find out more about the 2017 library renovation and expansion project, visit prairieduchien.info/libraryexpansion. Pictured (from left) are Linda Munson, library board president; Nancy Ashmore, library director; Lisa Esser, MPC plant manager; and Lisa Mara, MPC human resources manager. (Photo by Correne Martin)

Mon
18
Jan

Pickup truck bursts into flames

On Thursday, Jan. 14, at 10:24 a.m., the Crawford County Dispatch Center was notified of a pickup truck fire on County Highway C, two miles east of Star Valley in Utica Township.

Allen Margan, 48, of Rewey,  was driving a 2002 Chevrolet pickup east on County C, pulling a flatbed trailer loaded with large round hay bales. The engine compartment started on fire. Margan was able to get the pickup stopped and exited the vehicle before it became fully engulfed in flames.

Margan and his passenger, Eli Bontrager, 24, of Fennimore, escaped injury.

The pickup sustained total fire damage. The trailer and hay did not sustain any damage.

Assisting at the scene were the Soldiers Grove Fire Department, the North Crawford Rescue Squad and Terry’s Tire and Tow.

Mon
18
Jan

Two charged with meth delivery

A 34-year-old Kenall woman and a 27-year-old Waukon, Iowa, man have each been charged in Crawford County Circuit Court with one count of the delivery of methamphetamine as a party to a crime.

Jessica Burmester and Austin Bennett each face up to 12.5 years in prison and a $25,000 fine if convicted.

According to the criminal complaint, Burmester and Bennett sold a quantity of methamphetamine in the town of Prairie du Chien.

In addition, a search of the vehicle Bennett was driving, and in which Burmester was a passenger, produced a small baggie of meth and a small quantity of meth in a wallet.

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