Local News

On Jan. 6, the Prairie du Chien city office will see 94 years of experience and service walk out the door, as two employees retire and another moves on to a new opportunity. City Clerk Barb Elvert (right) is retiring after 42 years working for the city. She started her duties at the old city hall down Blackhawk Avenue. Terry Meyer, wastewater treatment manager and public works co-manager, is also retiring after 28 years. He started with the city driving the sludge hauler and worked his way into administration. Zoning Administrator Julie Jackson (left) is leaving her position with the city after 24 years to take a different position with Crawford County. “It is with a great sense of sadness that we bid Barb, Terry and Julie farewell. It is not just the loss of their experience and professionalism that will be felt, but more importantly their sense of dedication to the residents of the city that we will hope to carry forward,” City Administrator Aaron Kramer said.

By Correne Martin

When music and movement are combined, it inspires a delightful learning environment for young children. A unique opportunity for parents and their little ones, called Kindermusik, is being offered via a series of interactive classes in Prairie du Chien, Jan. 4 through March 28. Classes will take place at Hoffman Hall  at various weekly times for children birth to 18 months, 18 months to 3 years old, and 4 to 5 years old.

Kindermusik, which will be taught locally by licensed instructor Debbie Johnson, has been a nationally-researched curriculum since 1978 that uses music and movement to promote whole child development.

State Highway 27 near the Utica church was closed Wednesday morning, Dec. 14, for several hours for cleanup and removal of a semi that rolled over in an accident just north of Helland Road in Utica Township Tuesday evening, Dec. 13.

According to Crawford County authorities, at about 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Shawn Marx, 41, of Westby, was traveling north on Highway 27 in a 2006 International semi, owned by Cashton Farm Supply, of Cashton, hauling grain. The semi got onto the right shoulder of the road, was unable to pull back onto the road, continued off the right shoulder, rolled and came to rest on the driver’s side. The entire  semi and trailer went off the roadway into a field.

Marx refused medical transport at the scene but was checked out on the scene for minor cuts and scrapes.

The road was not closed Tuesday night as the roadway was clear from debris. But the road needed to be closed to pull the semi up and out of the field.

By Correne Martin

The Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce and the Prairie du Chien Tourism Council are in a state of transition.

The two entities share office space at the tourism information center, 211 S. Main St., and a mutual mission to enhance the quality of life and business growth in Prairie du Chien. Though the chamber has paid staff leading its charge, there is no tourism coordinator and there hasn’t been one since mid-July.

Patti Wacker served as the tourism coordinator for 15 years, from 2001 until she resigned in April. Then, Anna Troester was hired, but left after just one month in the position. Since then, chamber CEO Bob Moses and assistant Brenda Grondin have filled in the gaps, and have been compensated accordingly, while design work has been outsourced. The tourism council, in closed session Dec. 8, began considering how to move forward with that position and plans to make a recommendation to the chamber board soon.