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Wed

Dec

Electrical transformer company plans to locate in Prairie du Chien

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 12/02/2015 - 13:16

By Correne Martin

A new industrial company that manufactures, repairs, and recycles electrical transformers will likely take root soon in Prairie du Chien’s North Gateway Business Park. Solomon Corporation, based in Solomon, Kan., plans to open and operate its fifth regional location at the business park’s spec building, owned by Bill Adamany, during the first quarter of 2016.

The city council approved offering an incentive package to Solomon Corporation following closed session at its Tuesday night meeting. The terms are: 1) The city will provide a loan of $571,125, at 0 percent interest, to the company for a term of 15 years, with monthly payments of $3,173, beginning Jan. 1, 2017, and the Solomon Corporation shall provide a mortgage on its property in Prairie du Chien as collateral for the loan; and 2) the city will sell the company two adjacent acres in the business park at a price of $100 per acre. The council approved these terms unanimously.

Wed

Dec

Initiative underway for Prairie du Chien to become dementia-friendly community

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 12/02/2015 - 13:13

Becky DeBuhr, an outreach specialist with the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin, gave a “Train the Trainer” presentation Nov. 17 to Prairie du Chien area business and organization representatives interested in making the community more dementia-friendly. (Photo by Correne Martin)

A recent “Train the Trainer” event focused on community stakeholders who will approach local businesses and organizations to provide awareness on Alzheimer’s and other diseases that cause dementia. (Submitted photo)

By Correne Martin

Prairie du Chien has set out on a grassroots initiative to become a dementia-friendly community (DFC), the first in Crawford County. Through a task force led by the Aging and Disability Resource Center, the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin, community and business members, a “Train the Trainer” presentation kicked off this endeavor Nov. 17 at the Crawford County Administration Building, where about 25 local leaders were educated about how to recognize and address someone who may be struggling with memory challenges.

“Our goal is to help this community support this initiative and shift away from the end-stage vision we all have (of those dealing with dementia), because 70 percent of these people are living and functioning in our communities in the early stages of such diseases,” explained Becky DeBuhr, an outreach specialist with the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin, who presented the training materials.

Wed

Dec

Fund-raising for Sculpture Park

Submitted by admin on Wed, 12/02/2015 - 11:50

This maquette of Aunt Marianne LaBuche provides a good vision for the life-size bronze statue that is anticipated for the Mississippi River Sculpture Park. (Photo by Randy Paske)

Social media fundraiser being done for latest

Sculpture Park statue

By Ted Pennekamp

The Mississippi River Sculpture Park Board is in the midst of a major fundraising effort in order to get a new sculpture for the park.

Mon

Nov

Public long-range planning sessions scheduled in the River Ridge School District

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 11/30/2015 - 13:30

The River Ridge School District has scheduled five public input sessions to receive input for development of a long-range plan for the district. Dates, times and locations are as follows:

•Wednesday, Dec. 2—Patch Grove school building, multi-purpose room, 6 p.m.

•Tuesday, Dec. 8—Ma’s Bakery, Bloomington, 8 to 9 a.m.

•Wednesday, Dec. 9—Mount Hope Fire Station, 11 a.m. to noon

•Wednesday, Dec. 9—Patch Grove school building, multi-purpose room, 7 p.m. or immediately following the regular meeting of the River Ridge School Board

•Thursday, Dec. 10—Bagley Hotel, 8 to 9 a.m.

One or more school board members may be in attendance at these meetings.

Mon

Nov

Register for Dec. 5 Wake Up Santa

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 11/30/2015 - 13:23

Santa has been so busy planning for the upcoming holiday season that he has been caught napping on the job! Rivers and Bluffs Animal Shelter invites all children to Wake up Santa on Saturday, Dec. 5 in the community room of Prairie du Chien City Hall. Santa will be awakened promptly at 8:30 a.m. Kids are welcome to bring noisemakers to get the job done. Doors will open at 8 a.m. Children will wait quietly behind the closed doors of the community room until the countdown at 8:30. A pancake and sausage breakfast will follow and will be served until 10 a.m.

Admission includes an all-you-can-eat breakfast, a personalized visit with Santa, Santa games including Santa bingo, pin the nose on Rudolph and Santa says. Children can also “make and take” an ornament for their Christmas tree in Santa’s Workshop. New this year, Tristan the magician will entertain the children as they wait their turn to visit with Santa. Children 3 and under are free.

Mon

Nov

LED lighting program to save city of Prairie du Chien money

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 11/30/2015 - 13:22

By Correne Martin

The city of Prairie du Chien started an exterior LED lighting program in 2013 with goals of becoming more energy efficient and saving money. These days, the program is about 95 percent complete, according to Co-Manager of Public Works Terry Meyer.

“This fall, we did from Main Street west on Blackhawk Avenue, including Water Street, all of the (Highway 18) bypass and all of the city-owned lights on St. Feriole Island,” Meyer noted. “We have a couple parking lots to go yet and some small miscellaneous lights, like the ones in front of city hall, but that’s all we have left.”

LED bulbs draw less power, cost less per year in energy and maintenance, and last up to 50,000 hours, which is much longer than a typical incandescent, Meyer pointed out. The upfront cost of LEDs is higher, yet payback takes roughly three years, he said, and then the city begins saving money.

Mon

Nov

Additional rooms at Bluff Haven Assisted Living near full already

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 11/30/2015 - 13:21

The new great room at Bluff Haven Assisted Living includes a cathedral ceiling, two fireplaces and large flat-screen TVs for residents and visitors to enjoy. The entire addition put on this summer is 8,000 square feet and has 12 more private studio apartments, bringing the total to 18 rooms and 20 beds. Nearly all of these are full already too. (Photos by Correne Martin)

A hallway and entryway to an apartment in the addition are pictured.

Shown here is the wide open living space of a currently vacant apartment at Bluff Haven Assisted Living.

Residents can take a relaxing bath in the spa if they wish.

By Correne Martin

With an additional 8,000 square feet and 12 more private, assisted living studio apartments, Bluff Haven in Prairie du Chien now offers 18 rooms and 20 beds and nearly all of them are full. In April, when the addition was first announced, about 30 names were on the waiting list for a room. And it’s not expected to be long before that list grows again, according to Alesha Erdenberger, administrator of Bluff Haven Assisted Living and Community Health Services Corporation senior vice president of operations.

“It definitely filled a need,” Erdenberger said. “We would like to keep [occupancy] at 100 percent. We’ve only been open a couple weeks and we have just one single room and one double left to fill.”
Out of 39 residents, eight are men and 31 are women. The one double room already occupied houses a husband and wife.

For those adjusting to the transition of the new space, “it went much better than expected,” Erdenberger added.

Mon

Nov

New Reading Program

Submitted by admin on Mon, 11/30/2015 - 09:50

New reading

program becoming popular at library

By Ted Pennekamp

The Prairie du Chien Public Library is offering a relatively new family reading project for babies, toddlers and preschoolers.

Mon

Nov

Hunter accidently shoots house window

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 11/23/2015 - 15:09

On Nov. 22 at 7:42 a.m., the Crawford County Dispatch Center was notified of a window being shot out of a house on Bluff Wilderness Lane in rural Prairie du Chien Township.

Crawford County deputies and Wisconsin DNR investigated the incident. It was learned that Terry L. Tesar, 54, Prairie du Chien, was hunting when he pulled up his gun to shoot a deer. Tesar hit and killed the deer but the bullet traveled through the deer and went approximately 140 yards and struck the window of an occupied residence. No one inside the residence was hurt.

Tesar faces possible trespassing tickets and the incident remains under investigation.

Mon

Nov

Wauzeka woman charged following crash

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 11/23/2015 - 15:08

On Nov. 22, at 4:21 a.m., the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 report of a one-vehicle rollover crash at the intersection of Highway 179 and Swatek Ridge.

First Responders and the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department arrived on scene and determined that Justine Duha, 21, Wauzeka, was operating a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado southbound on Swatek Ridge approaching the stop sign at Highway 179. Duha was unable to stop her vehicle at the intersection, lost control and skidded sideways across Highway 179. Duha’s vehicle skidded sideways to the shoulder then flipped over on its top into the ditch.

Duha was transported to Crossing River’s Health by Tri-State Ambulance for minor injuries. Duha has been charged for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant and operating a vehicle without insurance.

Assisting on the scene were the Eastman Fire Department, Eastman First Responders, Tri-State Ambulance and Bob’s Towing.

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