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Wed
28
Mar

Lawler School Lofts


Work continues on the third floor hallway. The original tin ceiling has been scraped, primed and painted and will add to the historic character of the building. (Photos by Ted Pennekamp)

This apartment will have an interesting archway and windows. The apartments of Lawler School Lofts are of varying sizes and shapes.

A 31-vehicle garage is being built behind Lawler School Lofts.

 

Some apartments in Lawler School Lofts nearing completion

By Ted Pennekamp

 

Some of the apartments which will be part of Lawler School Lofts should be nearly completed in two to three weeks, especially those on the third floor.

Mon
26
Mar

Prairie du Chien man enjoys making maple syrup


Ben Hoksch strains some sap while cooking Friday afternoon. A jar of sweet syrup rests upon one of the cinder blocks. (Photos by Ted Pennekamp)

The cooking of the sap is done over several hours.

The sap from a nearby maple tree is poured into a five-gallon bucket.

Ben watches over his homemade cooker.

 

By Ted Pennekamp

 

It’s maple syrup season and Prairie du Chien’s Ben Hoksch is one who enjoys creating the tasty treat each year with a little help from his friends.

“It’s a lot of work,” said Ben. “But, I have fun doing it.”

Wed
21
Mar

Nerison will not seek re-election

State Representative Lee Nerison (R-Westby) announced Monday that he is not running for re-election in 2018 and will be retiring from the legislature at the end of his term. 

“I remember stopping by the State Capitol as a kid with my family on the way back from a Milwaukee Braves game. I keep the family picture we took that day in my Capitol office to remind me as a legislator of what a privilege it is to serve in the legislature. I never dreamed I would end up here, but it has been such an honor to work and serve with so many great people,” Nerison said. 

Wed
21
Mar

Forum rallies legislators to save the farm industry


Rural Prairie du Chien dairy farmer John Nolan put the farm forum panel members’ feet to the fire, asking them questions and sharing his personal story of doing everything he possibly can to make ends meet. (Photos by Correne Martin)

Farmers, processors, FFA students and ag industry professionals made up the 150 concerned citizens in attendance at Friday’s Farm Forum in Seneca.

Sen. Jennifer Shilling fervidly addresses a remark from the farm forum crowd that hypothetically asked what politicians are going to do about the current farm crisis issues. She said, during a farm tour that morning, she made notes of all the areas she’s going to get to work in to help out struggling farmers. Also pictured are Frank Friar (left), Wisconsin Farm Center economic specialist, and Ryan Cornett, regional representative for Sen. Tammy Baldwin.

Matt Achenbach explains to Sen. Jennifer Shilling and 96th Assembly candidate Paul Buhr how the cows on Achenbach Hy-View Farms are monitored electronically. A special collar informs him how much each cow is eating and even if she’s eating at all. He said the system will notify him if she’s not eaten in four hours’ time, something the farm workers may not have noticed for a whole day or more without the technology. The Achenbachs were one of two Crawford County dairy farms toured by politicians and ag industry representatives prior to Friday’s farm forum in Seneca. They said times are tough, but they'll "be all right."

Matt Achenbach shows Sen. Jennifer Shilling and 96th Assembly candidate Paul Buhr his farm's manure pit and discusses how it was constructed, how often it's emptied, etc.

By Correne Martin

Farmers across the country, particularly in western Wisconsin, are lying awake at night in fear. They wonder whether they’ve worked their entire lives at something they’ve loved so deeply, just to lose the farm before the next generation gets a chance to try their hand at it. 

They’re worrying about low market milk prices, rising feed costs, lack of margin protection payout, ag loan woes, product marketing, encroaching out-of-state producers, free trade export deals—and the list goes on. 

Wed
21
Mar

Residents request attention be paid to St. Feriole Island streets

By Correne Martin

Concern over the quality of the city streets on St. Feriole Island was a topic not even on the agenda at the start of Tuesday night’s regular Prairie du Chien Common Council meeting. But Cathie and Tom Nelson, members of the St. Feriole Island Memorial Gardens committee, utilized the public comment period of the meeting to address deterioration of those streets and inquire about when a plan for repairs is going to be made. 

“I mailed a letter to all the council members and never heard back,” Cathie Nelson remarked. 

Her husband, Tom, added that he’s asked on several occasions that something be done to fix potholes and certain problem areas on the streets, namely on Fourth Street in front of the gardens, and “nothing was done.” 

Wed
21
Mar

PdC School Board Election

 

Prairie du Chien School Board Candidates

On Tuesday, April 3, Prairie du Chien School District residents will vote in the election for the Prairie du Chien School Board. There are five candidates running for three seats. Each seat is for a three-year term. The candidates include: incumbent Duane Rogers; incumbent Lonnie Achenbach; incumbent Christine Panka, who will not be on the ballot but who is running as a certified write-in candidate; newcomer Tom Peterson and newcomer Michael Higgins. Associate Editor Ted Pennekamp compiled the following information from the five candidates.

Mon
19
Mar

DCI narcotics agents: It’s more than ‘just a little weed’

By Correne Martin

“It’s just a little weed.” 

You may hear that expression all the time. 

But, according to Brian Prieve and Brian Hawley, narcotics agents with the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation, marijuana—otherwise known as weed—contains over 400 different potentially harmful chemicals. Its THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) levels have risen from 1 percent in 1974 to up to 24 percent (in the sinsemilla strain) today. Plus, since there’s no Food and Drug Administration regulation of it, you never know what’s in it, Hawley said.

“It could be sold to you as a double dose (in terms of a “high”) but it might be a quadruple. The next thing you know, you could be in the hospital fighting for your life,” he warned.

Mon
19
Mar

Wauzeka woman cited for fifth OWI

On March 12, at 6:10 p.m., the Crawford County Communications Center received a report of a one-vehicle traffic crash with injuries on Highway 60 at Turtle Lane in the township of Wauzeka.

Sandra M. Mueller, 31, Wauzeka, was operating a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am eastbound on Highway 60, just west of Turtle Lane. 

The Mueller vehicle crossed the center line, went onto the shoulder of the westbound lane, slid sideways across both lanes of traffic then off the south side of the roadway. After sliding sideways off the roadway, the Mueller vehicle rolled multiple times before coming to rest on its tires against a fallen tree. 

Mon
19
Mar

Welcome home, Matt!

Prairie du Chien Olympian Matt Antoine was back in town last week, after taking some down time following the PyeongChang Winter Games. At a Welcome Home reception March 14 at The Barn, he shared his appreciation for the support from his hometown. In turn, he was met with kindness and congratulations on his success from a crowd of his fans attending the event. His admirers enjoyed talking to him, getting his autograph and seeing his Olympic memorabilia up close. (Photos by Gary Howe)

Mon
19
Mar

Student-led memorial ceremony March 14 a ‘learning experience’


Students Faith Dillman, Hope Meyer and Jordyn Fisher led the memorial ceremony last week, taking turns reading a short biography of each of the Florida shooting victims to a respectful gathering of about 150 of their fellow Prairie du Chien High School students. (Photo by Ted Pennekamp)

By Correne Martin

On Wednesday, March 14, about 150 high schoolers at Prairie du Chien Schools displayed solidarity in support and remembrance of the 14 students and three faculty members who died in a Florida school shooting a month prior.

After pictures of the school-approved event appeared on social media, mainly the Courier Press’ Facebook page, a fire storm of comments materialized. The post about the student-led, peaceful display of compassion reached around 13,500 people. The post received more than 315 comments and was shared over 85 times. 

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