Courier Press

By Caitlin Bittner

As a natural place where wild flowers and wildlife are abundant, La Riviere Park is a cherished part of the Prairie du Chien community.

Within the past year, La Riviere has received two different grants from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program and the Upper Iowa Audubon Society.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant was for $1,000 and it assisted in the purchase of prairie plants seeds. The park received this grant as part of an initiative to help restore habitats for the benefit of federal trust species. Some of the species classified as federal trust species are monarch butterflies, lark sparrows, north flickers and field sparrows. According to Dennis Kirschbaum, a volunteer naturalist at La Riviere, butterflies, moths and birds may all benefit greatly from the initiative.

Sharron Mary Surovy, 72, passed away Wednesday, June 17, in Waterloo, Iowa. 

Sharron was born Oct. 3, 1942, in Barnum, daughter of Howard and Flossie Mae (Nutter) Dalton. She was raised and attended schools in Barnum. Sharron married Paul Surovy on Dec. 30, 1959 in Waukon. They raised five children with Sharron as a full-time homemaker and mom. Sharron will be remembered as a good-hearted, joyful person who was fond of dancing around the house, singing and mystery novels.

By Addison Mumm

As hammers and nails build up walls, St. Gabriel’s Catholic School remains in the process of getting a new gym. The idea for a new gymnasium was introduced 12 to 13 years ago, according to St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church Father James C. Weighner, before he arrived in Prairie du Chien. The administration continued to talk about additions and a new gym until funding and timing made the project a reality.

“The new, full-size gymnasium will have a daycare and office center attached to it,” said Weighner. “It will have seating for about 100 to 150 people.”

Ground was broken in April of this year, but the construction has gone a little bit longer than expected and has no official end date yet.

By Caitlin Bittner

On Tuesday, Aug. 11, the Steuben Legion Daugherty Larsen Post 446 and Auxiliary dedicated its official veterans memorial. Among the speakers for the event were Bob Scallon, Ken McCormick and Fritz Curtis.

Before Scallon read the list of charter members, he noted that without Curtis, the memorial would not have been possible. “Most of it is done because of him,” said Scallon.

The Steuben Legion post began on Oct. 5, 1952, and had approximately 15 members on its charter. Jim Atkinson was one of the founding members who was still able to be present at the dedication. Many laughs and memories were shared by all who were present.

During the evening, Tim Hazen sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America” with the crowd joining in for the latter.

The total cost of the veterans memorial was about $1,250, according to Curtis.