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Wed
26
Aug

Man allegedly reveals routine morphine usage

A 27-year-old Prairie du Chien woman and a 36-year-old Prairie du Chien man have each been charged in Crawford County Circuit Court with one count of possession of narcotic drugs and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia as a party to a crime.

Tiffany J. McKittrick and Shawn R. Otterson, who were both staying in the same motel room on South Marquette Road, each face up to a $10,500 fine and three years and seven months imprisonment if convicted of both counts.

According to the criminal complaint, Prairie du Chien police officers responded to a report of a disturbance at the motel. When questioned as part of the investigation, Otterson admitted that he and McKittrick use morphine routinely, the complaint said.

Items of drug paraphernalia, including a syringe were seized following a search. A piece of cotton tested positive for opiates/morphine, according to the complaint.

Wed
26
Aug

Local woman charged with meth possession

A 26-year-old Prairie du Chien woman has been charged in Crawford County Circuit Court with one count of possession of methamphetamine.

Christine Marie Barnhart faces up to 3.5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted.

According to the criminal complaint, a baggie containing a white powdery substance accidentally dropped from Barnhart’s hand and landed on the self-checkout stand as she was paying for merchandise at Wal-Mart in the town of Bridgeport. Barnhart left the baggie behind and it was turned over to the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department.

When later questioned by a deputy, Barnhart admitted that the baggie contained meth, the complaint said.

Wed
26
Aug

Locally-raised animals up for bid at county fair


Exhibitor Lily Mitchell is pictured with buyer Ben McCullick, of Christianson Feed Mill, Wauzeka. Mitchell had the grand champion steer last year. (Submitted photos)

Exhibitor Chad Achenbach is pictured with buyer/processor Kevin Schaaf, of Eastman Locker, and last year’s grand champion market hog.

By Correne Martin

A great way to put locally-raised meat in your freezer and help support Crawford County youth at the same time would be to attend the Meat Animal Auction at the Crawford County Fair Saturday, Aug. 29, at 1 p.m. The showing and bidding takes place in the sheep and swine building on the fairgrounds and lasts a couple hours. Water and lemonade will be provided in case of hot weather.

This year, 52 young fair exhibitors, ages 9 to 19, will take their beef and dairy steers, sheep, swine, and possibly rabbits, to auction. Each of those can exhibit up to two animals, and many of the kids do, so there’s typically an average of 50 to 70 animals up for sale, auction emcee Lonnie Achenbach explained. Participation in the Meat Animal Auction provides the kids a fun experience with the sales and market process and it affords them the opportunity to make money for their future college education or agricultural business.

Wed
26
Aug

Fourth Ward people remembered in PdC woman’s new book


Bette Beneker diligently worked for seven years on putting together “Come Hell or High Water: Prairie du Chien’s 4th Ward.” The book, self-published through CreateSpace, is a tribute to the hard-working people and businesses that once inhabited St. Feriole Island. (Photo by Correne Martin)

By Correne Martin

After seven years of diligence and personal loyalty to retelling the stories of the Fourth Ward, Bette Valley Beneker has released a book dedicated to the one place most near and dear to her heart. “Come Hell or High Water: Prairie du Chien’s 4th Ward,” self-published through CreateSpace, keeps alive the memories made decades ago when a neighborhood of homes and businesses occupied St. Feriole Island.

“It’s about the people who lived there,” Bette described. “These people need to be remembered, for the simple reason that they had hearts of gold, they were hard workers and it was really a community.”

Mon
24
Aug

Needed Bridge Work


The bridge on County C in the town of Freeman has been removed and work to replace the bridge is underway. (Photo by Ted Pennekamp)

 

High priority bridge being replaced in town of Freeman

By Ted Pennekamp

 

Construction began recently on a project to replace the 20-ton bridge on County C in Crawford County that spans a branch of Sugar Creek in the town of Freeman. The old bridge, which had deteriorated beyond repair, has been removed and construction of the new bridge is underway. 

Mon
24
Aug

Take a book, leave a book


Two Little Free Libraries in Prairie du Chien are part of the 3,000 registered in the world, but there are actually five total little libraries available to the Prairie du Chien public. The five stand on 38640 Golf View Dr., 506 S. Wacouta Ave., inside Hoffman Hall, among the streets southeast of Prairie du Chien High School and in front of the Blackhawk Apartments, pictured above. (Photo by Addison Mumm)

By Addison Mumm

Little Free Libraries started up in Wisconsin in 2009 with Todd Bol of Hudson.

The simple rule of the Little Free Library—take a book, leave a book. Bol built a little, red school house in honor of his mother. He put some books in it and created more for his neighbors who fell in love with it. Rick Brooks of the University of Wisconsin–Madison heard of Bol and his library school houses. With some knowledge of social marketing, Brooks wanted to expand the idea to the world.

As of July 2015, there are now 3,000 Little Free Libraries around the world. Mostly based in the U.S., 70 other countries also have Little Free Libraries.

Mon
24
Aug

County fair perfect for leisure lovers and thrill seekers


The Crawford County Fair’s grand stand will be ablaze on Friday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m., as the Blessed FMX Sport Stunt Show & Music by Menace will feature thrilling, cutting edge, freestyle motocross and ATV stunts and a classic rock band. Daily and season wristbands for the fair can be purchased at the gate for those ages 9 and older. Parking and grand stand admission are free. (Courier Press file photo)

Donna Giddings, of the Friends of the Fair, is pictured presenting 2014 Fairest of the Fair (ambassador) Sarah Achenbach with a sponsorship check from the organization. (Submitted photo)

The Friends of the Fair sponsor a lunch on Friday of the fair for Opportunity Center clients. It serves as a good way to get these citizens to get involved in the fair too. (Submitted photo)

By Correne Martin

No matter your age or your interest, there’s something for you to enjoy at the Crawford County Fair, which is set to begin Wednesday, Aug. 26, in Gays Mills. Perhaps your pleasure is leisurely eating pie and ice cream while taking in the farm animals and diverse, made-from-the-heart exhibits or attending the fast-paced motocross and ATV show or ranch rodeo. Maybe it’s hopping aboard a flashy carnival ride, challenging your soul in the 5K run/walk or showcasing your homemade wine in the Taste of the Kickapoo contest.

Mon
24
Aug

Area man charged with sexual assault of child

A 70-year-old rural Wauzeka man has been charged with second degree sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl, a Class C felony punishable by up to 40 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. A preliminary hearing for Roland K. Groom was held Monday, Aug. 17, in Crawford County Circuit Court.

According to the criminal complaint, on July 19, a woman called the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department to report that her daughter had possibly been sexually assaulted by Groom at his home in Marietta Township the day before. A detective spoke with the girl, who said Groom pulled her on top of him and inappropriately touched her before her mother walked into the room.

The girl also said that, about a week earlier, Groom had sexually assaulted her at his residence while she was watching television.

The detective spoke with Groom on July 19, and he did not deny the girl’s disclosures and admitted there had been some “inappropriate” touching.

Mon
24
Aug

Woman injured in crash, car starts on fire

A rural Wauzeka woman’s vehicle was a total loss following a fiery crash that occurred near her home Monday night, Aug. 17, according to the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department.

Just before 10 p.m., the sheriff’s department received a report of a vehicle fully engulfed in flames on Plum Creek Road, two miles east of Mill Road in the township of Wauzeka.

Peggy Weirich, 59, was operating a 2005 Chrysler Sebring west on Plum Creek Road when her vehicle left the roadway, striking an embankment and tree. Weirich exited her vehicle and walked to her residence to call for medical attention. After she left the scene, her vehicle started on fire. Firefighters later secured the scene.

Mon
24
Aug

Free and reduced meals fill a need


Donna Heilmann, food service director for Prairie du Chien public schools, said 50 percent of Prairie du Chien’s students are enrolled in the free and reduced-price meal program. (Courier Press file photo)

By Addison Mumm

With a population over 16,000, and over 2,000 people below the poverty level in Crawford County (from 2009 to 2013), the free and reduced meals is the only way some children can afford lunch and breakfast at school.

Created by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, free and reduced school meals offered through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs give in-need families the opportunity to supply meals to their children. Many child care facilities and school districts in Wisconsin, including the Prairie du Chien district, take advantage of the option.

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