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Mon
18
Jul

PdC to host state American Legion baseball tournament


The Prairie du Chien Varsity American Legion Baseball Team is, front row: Chad Mara, Andrew Waller, Brogan Potter, Casey Hogenson, Dylan Yeomans, Hunter Sheckler and Drake Coleman. Back row: Coach Kris Graewin, Brian McNett, Gavin Gillitzer, Brady Fernette, Zach Nesius, Chas Sagedahl, Cory Check, Jon Dyer, Gavin Gillitzer, Coach Joey Renner and Coach Dan Shickert. (Photo submitted)

By Ted Pennekamp

The Class ‘A’ State American Legion Baseball Tournament will be hosted by Prairie du Chien from July 27 through July 31 at St. Feriole Island Ballpark. It is the second time Prairie du Chien has been the host.

The locations of the 2016 Class AAA, Class AA and Class A State Tournaments were selected by the regional directors at their annual midwinter meeting in Wisconsin Dells on Jan. 17.
Directors also announced that the Class A and AA champions will participate in the Division 2 National Regionals.

This year, the nationals are at Lesueur and Henderson, Minn., and will include 12 teams from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kansas, South Dakota, North Dakota, Illinois, Michigan and Nevada. The teams will be split into three pools for the first two days of the nationals.

Mon
18
Jul

Prairie du Chien police test skills in simulation training


Prairie du Chien Police Officer Jeremy Cliff reacts to a domestic disturbance scenario in which a woman pulls a gun on a man. (Photos by Correne Martin)

Officer Kyle Mezera of the Crawford County Sheriff's Department tries to calm down a man he suspected was trying to steal a bicycle, before the man "attacked" the officer with his bolt cutters.

A school shooting scenario ended with two shooters firing back at the officers involved in the training.

By Correne Martin

In an effort to reinforce Prairie du Chien police officers’ training on marksmanship skills, judgmental training objectives, concealed carry, less lethal and general weapons familiarization skills, the police department and BNSF Railway Police offered a one-day, virtual training simulation exercise, Tuesday at city hall.

A single screen was set up and showed videos of various scenarios officers may encounter while on duty, from a school shooting and a domestic abuse situation to interaction with a mentally-disturbed individual carrying a knife as well as someone attempting to commit a theft. About 15 officers—including one from the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department—went through the simulation individually and faced about six videos apiece.

Wed
13
Jul

Blackhawk Motors nets nearly $6K for K9

Blackhawk Motors in Prairie du Chien hosted a Ford Drive 4 UR Community event recently for the Prairie du Chien K9 unit fundraising efforts. For every valid test drive taken in a Ford vehicle, Ford donated $20 up to $6,000. Blackhawk Motors Owner Randy Imoehl (center) presented a donation check for $5,960 to Police Chief Chad Abram (left) and K9 handler Casey Cox. (Submitted photo)

Wed
13
Jul

MG&E Foundation donates $2,500 toward library campaign

The city of Prairie du Chien’s Memorial Library Capital Campaign recently received a $2,500 donation from the Madison Gas and Electric Foundation. This donation is in addition to a previous $10,000 donation from the foundation.

“The Madison Gas and Electric Foundation has a tradition of contributing to causes which benefit the communities they serve,” said City Administrator Aaron Kramer. “We are extremely excited with this second contribution to the campaign.”

The Capital Campaign is also currently accepting participants in the 100 Families program. Donors will be asked to contribute $1,000 over a five-year period, to be paid in monthly ($16.67), quarterly ($50), or annual ($200) tax-deductible payments. The 100 Families initiative has the potential to raise over $100,000 toward the entire campaign. In addition, each family will have their names listed in the children, teen, or adult reading areas.

Wed
13
Jul

Motorcyclist escapes injury

A motorcycle rider escaped serious injury in a crash last week in Glen Haven Township.

According to the Grant County Sheriff’s Department, on Sunday, July 3, at about 4:45 p.m., Robert Liverant, 57, of Racine, was traveling south on County VV on his 1995 Honda motorcycle when he failed to negotiate a corner and left the roadway. He was located by Wyalusing State Park Ranger Chad Breuer, who called in the accident.

Liverant was transported to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries, according to authorities. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

Wed
13
Jul

Third offense OWI the result of boat landing crash

A two-vehicle crash in the Glen Haven boat landing resulted in an arrest for third offense operating while intoxicated as well as other charges for a Potosi man July 5.

Just after 4:30 p.m. that Tuesday, the Grant County Sheriff’s Department took a report about the crash. The investigation determined that Jeremy Kedley, 37, ran into a boat that was being trailered in the parking lot. Kedley was arrested for OWI third offense, according to authorities. There were no injuries. Kedley was transported to the Grant County Jail.

Kedley was also issued citations for no insurance and open intoxicants in a motor vehicle, according to the sheriff’s department.

Wed
13
Jul

Police say suspect spit in officer’s mouth

The Prairie du Chien Police Department said officers responded Saturday, July 2, to a report of a hit-and-run crash on the 700 block of North Main Street. Officers got detailed information about the suspect vehicle, including the license plate number, the direction of travel and a description of the driver.

Officers working traffic safety in the area spotted the vehicle at the intersection of South Main Street and West Wisconsin Street. According to the report, the driver was also committing several traffic violations that endangered other drivers. Officers tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver continued west on the Highway 18 bridge toward Iowa, nearly hitting several other vehicles on the road. He also nearly struck the bridge, police said.

The driver eventually pulled into the Sturgeon Slough wayside and stopped, according to the report.

Wed
13
Jul

Man dies after falling into Mississippi

An Iowa man has died after being pulled from the Mississippi River just south of Clayton.

Charles Petersen, 60, of Dysart, Iowa, was a passenger on a boat operated by his wife, Deborah Petersen, 54, when he fell into the river from the rear of the boat at about 7:30 p.m. Monday, July 11.

Charles Petersen was not wearing a life jacket when he fell in and two other passengers in the boat threw him a life jacket before entering the water themselves to try to assist him. They were able to get him back to the boat, but were unable to get back on board the vessel.

A rescue boat from the Garnavillo Fire Department responded to the scene and emergency personnel were able to get Charles Petersen loaded on their boat and back to shore where he was assisted by Garnavillo paramedics. He was transported by ambulance to Guttenberg Municipal Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Wed
13
Jul

Name of man who allegedly led three-county car chase released


Mark Alan Smith, 50, of La Crosse, led law enforcement officers on a three-county chase before he was finally roadblocked by policemen south of De Soto. (Vernon County Sheriff’s Department photos)

The name of the man arrested following a three-county car chase Sunday has been released by area law enforcement.

According to Vernon County Sheriff John Spears, Mark Alan Smith, 50, of La Crosse, was booked into the La Crosse County Jail but will also face additional charges in Vernon and Crawford Counties.

The chase began following a call to a home on State Street in La Crosse. Smith, the driver and lone occupant of a black Ford Expedition, told law enforcement he was suicidal and repeatedly told officers “I want to kill myself.”

The pursuit, mainly on State Highway 35, entered Vernon County and eventually Crawford County, before it ended with Smith’s arrest just south of De Soto. Pursuing officers from all three counties, reported speeds of 70 to 80 mph. Allamakee County, Iowa, was also notified of the pursuit, in case Smith had attempted to enter Iowa.

Wed
13
Jul

Local business support, YouTube videos help teens start aquaponic farming


Friends and co-workers Hunter Boone (left), a junior at MFL MarMac, and Andrew Horner, a junior at Prairie du Chien, started a small aquaponic system, with a simple YouTube education and some assistance from their employer, Kemble’s Greenhouse. (Photo by Correne Martin)

By Correne Martin

Two local high schoolers have put their YouTube education to the test on a hand-built aquaponic farming system.

Both employees at Kemble’s Greenhouse in Prairie du Chien, Andrew Horner and Hunter Boone, both juniors at PdC and MFL MarMac, respectively, constructed a small arrangement of vegetable and herb plants in a symbiotic environment with 15 tiny bluegills. They started in mid-June and their project is maturing nicely.

Wendy Wachter, Kemble’s owner and the boys’ mentor, allowed them space for their aquaponic structure behind her greenhouse and encouraged them to follow their interests. Of course, she has the resources to help them along their way too. Jim Frey Fish Hatchery, of West Union, Iowa, also worked with the pair to provide their bluegills.

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