Courier Press

Mon

Sep

Skill levels improving for Prairie du Chien students

Submitted by admin on Mon, 09/11/2017 - 14:29

By Ted Pennekamp

The Prairie du Chien School District has been doing quite well with regard to improving the reading and math skills in the elementary grades.

Mon

Sep

Years of service many at PdC Schools

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 09/11/2017 - 13:43

The day before school officially started, the Prairie du Chien School District congratulated its current staff members who’ve dedicated many years of service toward making a difference in the lives of students. Pictured (front row, from left) are Hannah Rabbitt (10 years), Paula Shedivy (10 years), Brent Seamans (10 years), Dave Antoniewicz (35 years), Aaron Amundson (20 years), Karen Hertrampf (10 years); (second row) Stephanie Timmerman (20 years), Kalen Hagen (5 years), Deanna Thein (5 years), Angela Voelzke (5 years), Kelli Saxe (10 years), Kathy Schneider (5 years), Susan Boldt-David (25 years) Hannah Walleser (5 years); (third row) Lisa Ashbacher (25 years), Ron Sedgwick (20 years), Jim Schilling (30 years), Dan Roche (5 years), Megan Copsey (5 years), Chelsie White (5 years), Amanda Wagner (5 years), Chris LaHaie (15 years), Michele Kraus (20 years); (fourth row) Jenny Campbell (5 years), Kim Carlson (5 years) and Shelley Tesar (5 years).

Mon

Sep

Soldiers Grove festival features visual, culinary and musical art

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 09/11/2017 - 13:37

Over 5,000 art lovers attended the 2016 Driftless Area Art Festival, and this year’s event, Sept. 16–17, expects to attract as many visitors from across the Driftless region, including portions of Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois. (Submitted photo)

Eighty of the finest visual artists from three states within the Driftless Region will converge in Soldiers Grove, Sept. 16 and 17, for the 13th annual Driftless Area Art Festival. They’ll be joined by 10 local culinary artists and four musical groups, some familiar names from previous years and some new to the festival.

The festival features art in traditional as well as contemporary styles and includes ceramics, fiber arts, glasswork, jewelry, painting, photography, prints and collages, sculpture, metalworks and wood art. Creative pieces by elementary, middle and high school students will also be on exhibit in the youth art tent, where young people can also try their hand at painting and other creative activities. The entire listing of artists, and information of their media, can be found on the festival’s website and on Facebook.

Mon

Sep

Carriage drivers, horses come cross country to relish in Villa Louis show

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 09/11/2017 - 13:33

Mary Baillie and her Shetland pony Arrow Warrior, aka Archie, traveled from Ontario, Canada, to Prairie du Chien for the first time to compete in the Carriage Classic. (Photo by Correne Martin)

All cleaned up, dressed up and ready to go, Mary Baillie and her pony Archie, along with their small tuxedo-clad dog, check into the carriage dog class Sunday. (Photo by Randy Paske)

Trainer Sherri Lower (left), of Rock Springs, instructs Char Ehlert, of Oak Creek, and her 17-year-old Morgan horse, Celeste, during lessons Thursday, in preparation for the Villa Louis Carriage Classic. (Photo by Correne Martin)

Tevis, owned by Ann McCombs, of Harvard, Ill., is part paint horse and part donkey. He is 12 years old and was one of two mules in the Carriage Classic this year. (Photo by Correne Martin)

Pat Riley, of North Carolina, calms his 7-year-old Section B Welsh pony, Mo, down after walking her for an hour and a half. The duo performed in the small pony class of the event.

By Correne Martin

Horses rhythmically trotting. Drivers looking lovely at the reins. Together, they competed, pulling and driving restored carriages, around the gracious grounds of the Villa Louis historic site in Prairie du Chien this past weekend.

In the days before the arena and cross country events began for the 27th year of the Carriage Classic, well over 100 contenders were found bathing and walking their horses, cleaning their carriages, polishing brass and other metal equipment, practicing their runs and otherwise socializing with the fellow participants from all over the country.

Mon

Sep

Inaugural voyage includes stop in Prairie du Chien

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 09/11/2017 - 13:28

Captain Joe McKey (left) presented a commemorative plate to Chamber CEO Bob Moses, recognizing Prairie du Chien’s participation in the maiden voyage as a port community. (Photos by Correne Martin)

Community representatives invited aboard and attending an inaugural call celebration on the American Duchess Wednesday were (from left) Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Bob Moses and McGregor citizens Don Hattery, Robert Myers, Corky and Med Bickel, and American Queen Steamboat Company Vice President of Marine Operations Gary Frommelt.

An American Duchess staff member leads a tour of the paddlewheeler’s lower deck, overlooking the port of Prairie du Chien’s Lawler Park.

This artwalk hallway on the American Duchess features high ceilings and dozens of Claude Monet paintings.

By Correne Martin

The exquisite American Duchess docked in Prairie du Chien Wednesday, Sept. 6, for its inaugural port at the oldest community on the Upper Mississippi. Visitors from all over the world experienced the rich history lining the streets of the historical city that many locals tend to take for granted, as community members and passers-by marveled over the grand paddlewheeler from a distance.

The American Duchess river cruise vessel was created from a 1995 hull and completely reconstructed to become one of the most luxurious, all-suite paddlewheelers on the country’s rivers. It’s maiden voyage began in August, with a christening ceremony Aug. 14 on the New Orleans riverfront.

Mon

Sep

Clara R. Rogers

Submitted by admin on Mon, 09/11/2017 - 12:47

Clara R. Rogers, 87, of Prairie du Chien, passed away Friday Sept. 8, at the Crossing Rivers Health in Prairie du Chien, following a short illness.

Mon

Sep

Cheri M. Hampton-Copsey

Submitted by admin on Mon, 09/11/2017 - 12:46

Cheri M. Hampton-Copsey, 59, of Prairie du Chien, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 7, at the Gundersen Health Systems in La Crosse.

She was born on Aug. 24, 1958, in Prairie du Chien, the daughter of Milton and Cathetrine (Michel) Copsey.

Mon

Sep

Robert Monroe “Skip” Raisbeck

Submitted by admin on Mon, 09/11/2017 - 12:45

Robert Monroe “Skip” Raisbeck, 84, of Bloomington, passed away Friday, Sept. 8, at Grant Regional Health Center in Lancaster.

Wed

Sep

New staff at Prairie du Chien, River Ridge, Seneca and Wauzeka-Steuben

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 09/06/2017 - 14:22

The Prairie du Chien School District welcomed a large number of new staff members at the beginning of the school year. Pictured (front row, from left) are Bob Smudde, district administrator; Madison Wagner, kindergarten teacher; Marissa Korson, kindergarten teacher; Sharon Jeardeau, elementary music; Max Grinde, high school history; Brenda Breitsprecher, Bluff View teaching assistant; (middle row) Shannon Bentien, second grade teacher; Jacqueline Tolle, 4K teacher; Andrea Govier, 3K teacher; Joyce Mumm, Bluff View teaching assistant; Montana O'Brien, Bluff View teaching assistant; Ashley Burns, school nurse; (back row) Darci Fleagle, B.A. Kennedy teaching assistant; Eric Fuerstenberg, Bluff View teaching assistant; Samantha Schier, B.A. Kennedy teaching assistant; Donna Black, B.A. Kennedy teaching assistant; Diane Cody, B.A. Kennedy teaching assistant; and Phyllis Waller, Bluff View teaching assistant. (Submitted photos)

Wauzeka-Steuben welcomes a number of new faces this school year. Joining the staff are (front row, from left) Stephanie Cooper, band; Margaret Jewison, agriculture/FFA; Christina Roth, special education; (back row) Gary Heins, elementary/middle school physical education; Mark Thomas, high school science; and Philip Stiemke, choir.

The Seneca Area School District has two new teachers this school year. They are Jenny Bayline, K-12 music instructor, and Jessica Pedretti, elementary instructor.

River Ridge is pleased to have added eight new staff members to the district this year. Pictured (from left) are Jim Wunnicke, head maintenance; Shea Esser, agriculture; Erin Kluesner, library aide; Amy Mezera, special education director; Jackie Kalinowski, health aide; MacKenzie Nemitz, administrative assistant; Kirsten Reichmann, high school science; and Cindy Williams, elementary special education.

Wed

Sep

Salvation Army gives to PdC K-9 unit

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 09/06/2017 - 14:13

The Crawford County Salvation Army board recently chose to donate $500 to the Prairie du Chien Police Department’s K-9 unit, which is comprised of Officer Casey Cox (back, left) and his K-9 partner Rico. Also pictured are Jen Kapinus, the local Salvation Army coordinator, and Police Chief Chad Abram. (Photo by Correne Martin)

By Correne Martin

Emergency services are always the number one priority of the Salvation Army, according to Crawford County Salvation Army Coordinator Jen Kapinus. In addition, when there’s special funds available, the organization’s board of directors has the opportunity to select local charities they feel are part of their mission to meet human needs.

Recently, the Salvation Army donated $500 to the new Prairie du Chien Police Department’s K-9 unit, which is comprised of Officer Casey Cox and his partner Rico.

The Salvation Army also gave $1,000 to the Couleecap Food Pantry.

“We depend on our community relationships to give to people throughout the county,” Kapinus said. “[The K-9] donation is important because 1) we have such a drug problem in this county and a lot of my clients are drug users, 2) the relationship we have with the police department, city and county have been very good to us.”

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