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Mon
30
Oct

Businesses: Look to the Opportunity Center to fill employee gap


Tyler Bell, of Eastman, works through the Opportunity Center’s Community Prevocational Services program, cleaning at various business locations that welcome employment of adults with disabilities. Bell and a crew of three others from the Opportunity Center clean twice a week at Hoffman Hall, sweeping, mopping, washing tables, vacuuming, dusting and tidying bathrooms. (Photo by Correne Martin)

By Correne Martin

The Opportunity Center’s Community Prevocational Services program gives local people with disabilities the chance to gain skills and on-the-job experience, while also ensuring local businesses’ needs are met at a time where employee vacancies are high county wide.

“We have a consistent, dedicated workforce of people who are excited to come to work each day,” explained Pam Ritchie, Opportunity Center director.

“We transport our clients to and from the business. So, employers know they’re going to be on time,” added Kari Kossman, community services coordinator.

Community Prevocational Services started about three years ago at the Opportunity Center in Prairie du Chien. More recently, the administration has really focused on developing the program and getting more clients as well as county businesses to participate. The program can be paid if its at a for-profit business or volunteer if it’s for a non-profit.

Mon
30
Oct

Jaycees hand over flea market management to fire association


The Prairie du Chien Jaycees (manning the beer tent last year) are passing the torch on to the Prairie du Chien Fire Association, who will now manage the flea market, beer tent and buffalo burger stand on the Prairie Villa Rendezvous grounds each June.

By Correne Martin

For over 30 years, the Rendezvous flea market has been a large and successful function organized by the Prairie du Chien Jaycees. But, for the 2018 event, the Jaycees are passing the torch on to the Prairie du Chien Fire Association, which will coordinate and continue the efforts behind the event for the community.

Due to declining volunteer availability, the Jaycees feel they can no longer productively staff the flea market, beer tent and buffalo burger stand at the Prairie Villa Rendezvous grounds every June, said Jaycee Tori Varo. Because the fire association has worked the burger stand for 15 years, the switchover seemed a natural fit for both parties, fellow Jaycee Tarah Marx added.

Mon
30
Oct

Citizen’s call leads to fourth OWI arrest

On Oct. 27, the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 transfer from the Grant County Sheriff’s Department. Grant County received a driving complaint of a 2014 Ford F 150 all over the roadway heading north on Highway 18 approaching the Grant/Crawford County line. It was reported the vehicle crossed the center line several times. The reporting party then stated that the vehicle was driving in the wrong lane of traffic for a period of time and that the vehicle drove down into the ditch line before coming back up onto the roadway.

A Crawford County deputy got behind the vehicle near Highway 18 and Sugarloaf Trial and observed the vehicle swerving in the roadway. The deputy activated his emergency lights and siren as the truck swerved across both lanes of travel and drove over the median and proceeded into oncoming traffic northbound in the southbound lane.

Mon
30
Oct

Start your Christmas shopping at Hoffman Hall craft and gift fair

By Correne Martin

Hoffman Hall will host its annual Winter Craft and Gift Fair Saturday, Nov. 18, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This will be the ninth annual event showcasing a large variety of both handmade gifts and crafts as well as home-based businesses. Admission is free.

Local vendors, as well as those from far and wide, will have their creations and trendy products available for sale to shoppers. Merchandise will include quilting, wood crafts, Christmas crafts, home decor, books, cards, candy, nuts, jewelry, purses, ceramics, baby items and more. Independent consultants represented will be selling LulaRoe, Scentsy, Pampered Chef, Tupperware, Norwex, Thirty-One, etc.

Mon
30
Oct

FEMA Funds

 

FEMA meeting 

goes well, but 

some funding delayed

By Ted Pennekamp

 

Wed
25
Oct

Tire and wheel manufacturing facility coming to Prairie du Chien


The city of Prairie du Chien officially welcomed Moto Race Tire to town last week, as construction on a new tire and wheel factory began Friday in the North Gateway Business Park. Pictured (from left) are Engineer Felix Liu and CEO Mark Thornburg, of MRT, along with Lori Bekkum, Prairie du Chien Economic Development director, and Chad Abram, interim city administrator. (Photo by Correne Martin)

By Correne Martin

A growing national brand of tires and wheels for off-road vehicles, race cars and trucks is expanding its company by building a new manufacturing/distribution facility in Prairie du Chien’s northern industrial park.

Moto Race Tire is owned by CEO Mark Thornburg, a Prairie du Chien native who played football at and graduated from Prairie du Chien High School, and whose dad started a funeral home here. Mark initially worked for 3M Company in Prairie du Chien, then Minnesota and eventually transferred to California.

“We plan to start construction tomorrow,” an elated Thornburg said Oct. 19. “Our target operating date is March 1.” The facility will be located across the street from Solomon Corporation and behind BoxLogix, in the city’s evolving North Gateway Business Park.

Wed
25
Oct

End of construction nears, River Ridge gets ready for move

The end of the construction for the newly-built middle school wing at River Ridge’s Patch Grove facility is nearly complete. Kraemer Brothers is making the finishing touches between now and Nov. 10. Besides putting in ceilings, installing whiteboards/smartboards, and landscaping/seeding, all the final tasks will be addressed in the next four weeks.

The custodial staff at River Ridge will do some cleaning and preparation of the rooms and offices before the big move, which will take place on Thursday, Nov. 16.

But, as the district looks ahead, teachers both at the Upper Elementary in Bloomington and middle school teachers in Patch Grove have been boxing up the materials in their rooms in anticipation of the move.

Wed
25
Oct

Evers was keynote speaker for Crawford County Dems meeting


Tony Evers (right center), superintendent of public instruction and candidate for Wisconsin governor, spoke to an enthusiastic group at the Crawford County Democratic Party of Wisconsin meeting Oct. 18. This is only about half the crowd who attended. (Submitted photo)

By Correne Martin

Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction and candidate for governor Tony Evers was in Prairie du Chien Oct. 18, for a meeting of the Crawford County Democratic Party.

Evers was the keynote speaker at the meeting, which included a question-and-answer session with the three-term DPI superintendent. Though there was a volume of issues discussed, the key local concerns centered around school vouchers, small businesses, natural resources and the fear that the middle class is disappearing.

Evers said he felt the intimate group at the meeting supported his strategy, as a candidate, to want to invest in the state’s school systems first.

Evers touted his record in elections, noting that he received 70 percent of the vote in the last race, with 70 of the 72 counties voting for him.

Wed
25
Oct

Grant County deputy justified in shooting of suspect

By Ted Pennekamp

 

A Grant County Sheriff’s Department deputy was justified in the fatal shooting of a man near Mount Hope on Sept. 1, concluded Grant County District Attorney Lisa Riniker in a statement on Oct. 23.

Mon
23
Oct

Prairie du Chien Country Club getting new clubhouse


The clubhouse at Prairie du Chien Country Club may soon be coming down to make way for a brand new clubhouse.

 

New clubhouse at Prairie du Chien 

Country Club to open up a lot of possibilities

By Ted Pennekamp

 

The Prairie du Chien Country Club may soon begin its reconstruction project whereby the entire clubhouse will be replaced with a brand new building. 

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