Courier Press

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Mon

Aug

First robotic-assisted surgery performed at Crossing Rivers Health

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 08/14/2017 - 11:22

The da Vinci Surgical System arrived at Crossing Rivers Health medical center in June and the first robotic-assisted surgery was performed there by Dr. Steven Bush on Friday, Aug. 11.

Precision and enhanced dexterity, especially in the small cavities of the body, are a great benefit of robotic-assisted surgery. Pictured, the robot peels a grape and folds origami to demonstrate its capabilities.

By Correne Martin

The first ever robotic-assisted surgery conducted in Prairie du Chien was done Friday, Aug. 11, at the Crossing Rivers Health medical center. Dr. Steven Bush, board-certified gynecologist and obstetrician, performed the procedure using the da Vinci Surgical System, a cutting edge technology that’s changing the perception of surgery.

Robotic-assisted surgery utilizes a robot to facilitate surgery in a more effective way for the patient as well as the surgeon.

“The surgeon controls it and the robot allows for a much better touch and rotation inside the abdomen,” Bush explained.

Wed

Aug

Head Start becomes home-based

Submitted by admin on Wed, 08/09/2017 - 15:39

By Rachel Mergen

Earlier this year, Head Start, a free, federally-funded school-readiness program for children ages 3 to 5, announced that it would be closing its Crawford County center. The local branch of the program will become home-based.

Once a week during the school year, instructors will come to the children’s homes for an hour and a half. Sara Ross, a Head Start family service coordinator, stated, “The first hour will be spent with the child on learning objectives that have been set up. The last half hour is with the family.”

In addition, students and families will periodically participate in a social. This event will help students work on their communication skills and create friendships between the students and their attending loved ones.

Wed

Aug

Total solar eclipse will darken sky, illuminate minds

Submitted by admin on Wed, 08/09/2017 - 15:36

By Rachel Mergen

“It is estimated that many millions of people from all over the globe will be converging upon the path that the moon’s shadow will take as the sun casts the moon’s shadow onto the earth, as the earth turns. The ‘path’ starts at Oregon and will sweep across the country diagonally toward the southeast to South Carolina,” Tom Bennett, secretary of the StarSplitters of Wyalusing, said about the upcoming eclipse that will occur midday Monday, Aug. 21.

According to Nancy Ashmore, director of the Prairie du Chien Memorial Library, this event will be the first total solar eclipse in the United States since 1979. Around the world, a total eclipse happens about every four years.

Wed

Aug

New K9 adjusting to Prairie du Chien police duties

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 08/09/2017 - 11:43

Prairie du Chien Police Officer Casey Cox demonstrates obedience drills with his new partner, K9 Officer Rico. Cox has been with the department for five years and stepped up in late 2015 with interest in the K9 handler position. Rico was officially sworn in on July 16. (Photos by Correne Martin)

K9 Rico is a 1.5-year-old Belgian Malinois who came to Prairie du Chien from Working K9, a Toronto, Canada, company. The typical career-span of a police K9 is seven to nine years.

Cox commanded Rico to do an area search for a set of keys in the courthouse courtyard. Within minutes of searching around the trees and grass, he detected the human odor and found them, lying down with the keys under his chest.

Rico is already demonstrating great attention to his handler, especially when Officer Cox is holding his favorite toy, a ball on a rope, during obedience training.

By Correne Martin

The Prairie du Chien Police Department’s new K-9 officer, Rico, is officially on duty. The 1.5-year-old Belgian Malinois arrived July 16, was sworn in and has been busy getting used to his new environment.

Officer Casey Cox is his partner and handler. Cox spent a week with Rico, July 9-16, in Toronto, Canada, training one-on-one with the owner of Working K-9. They worked on tracking, drug work, criminal apprehension and article and area searches. Then, they headed home to Prairie du Chien together.

“He’s still very new,” Cox said, noting that the two have done one school demonstration thus far and attended a city council meeting for introductions.

Wed

Aug

Man paddles Wisconsin River

Submitted by admin on Wed, 08/09/2017 - 11:39

Ben Sasse begins his journey down the Wisconsin River near Lac Vieux Desert, a lake divided between Gogebic County in Upper Michigan and Vilas County in Wisconsin. Lac Vieux Desert is the source of the Wisconsin River. (Photos by Kayla Sasse)

Ben Sasse stands next to his kayak after getting out of the Wisconsin River near the Highway 18 Bridge in the town of Bridgeport.

Boaz man completes Wisconsin River paddling adventure

By Ted Pennekamp

A 26-year-old rural Boaz, Wis. man, Ben Sasse, attempted to set the record for paddling down the Wisconsin River beginning on July 21 from the source of the river at Lac Vieux Desert and hoping to end at Wyalusing State Park near Prairie du Chien. Ben was attempting to paddle the 436 miles of the river in six days, 0 hours and 0 minutes.

Wed

Aug

FEMA probably coming

Submitted by admin on Wed, 08/09/2017 - 11:32

FEMA expected to come to 12-county area, but not confirmed

Storm damage estimates not expected to change much

By Ted Pennekamp

Wed

Aug

Ron L. “Ronny” Kalish Jr.

Submitted by admin on Wed, 08/09/2017 - 10:21

Ron L. “Ronny” Kalish Jr., 54, of Bagley, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 5, at the Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, as a result of a massive stroke. He was surrounded by his family.

Wed

Aug

Clinton Herbert Strong

Submitted by admin on Wed, 08/09/2017 - 10:19

Clinton Herbert Strong, 88, died in Bloomington, Ind., on July 4.

He was born in Waukesha, on Aug. 2, 1928, to Clint and Helen Turpak Strong. Clinton graduated from Wisconsin State College at La Crosse with a B.S. in physical education and the University of Iowa with a M.A. in 1955, and his Ph.D in 1961.

Mon

Aug

Driftless Area Education and Visitor Center to open

Submitted by admin on Mon, 08/07/2017 - 13:17

Karen Gallema is a member of a fourth generation family of clammers. Her family is featured within the education and visitor center. In this picture she is featured beside a cut out of her mother Grace Verdon. On the left is Jim Janett, conservation director of the Allamakee County Conservation Board. (Photo by Rachel Mergen)

Pictured is the view from one of the center's balconies. (Photo by Rachel Mergen)

The Driftless Area Education and Visitor Center in Lansing is preparing for its grand opening Aug. 12. (Submitted photo)

By Rachel Mergen

“There is no other place like this in the United States,” Jim Janett, conservation director of the Allamakee County Conservation Board, stated about the unique area that is the driftless region.

The driftless region, which is the area left untouched by glaciers, includes four states—Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois. To teach about the geography, history and wildlife of this region, the Allamakee County Conservation Board has worked to build and prepare the Driftless Area Education and Visitor Center in Lansing. The stunning, 10,000 square-foot-building will have its grand opening Saturday, Aug. 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Mon

Aug

Boy’s family wishes to grieve privately after pool incident

Submitted by admin on Mon, 08/07/2017 - 12:56

The water and grounds at the Charles Wacouta Aquatic Park were still and quiet Thursday after lifeguards discovered and pulled an unconscious 4-year-old boy from the pool. Staff hoped the pool would re-open Monday, Aug. 7. (Photo by Correne Martin)

By Correne Martin

A 4-year-old boy pulled from the Prairie du Chien public swimming pool unconscious Wednesday night, Aug. 2, died Friday at a La Crosse hospital, according to local officials.

Authorities have not released the boy’s name. A family friend who contacted the Courier Press recognized that most of the community knew the boy’s name and that plenty of circumstantial speculation has since spread on social media. However, she requested the public heed the family’s wishes to grieve privately.

“They’re going through hell right now,” she said.

Prairie du Chien Police Chief Chad Abram said the police department continues seeking facts about the scenario.

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