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Mon
11
May

Plenty of activities for all ages in PdC this summer

Submitted by admin on Mon, 05/11/2015 - 11:27

Alice Kirschbaum, of Prairie du Chien, enjoyed one of the classic rock concerts last summer so much that she just couldn’t stay seated. Just like last summer, the Concerts on the River free music series of seven concerts is expected to draw large crowds to Lawler Park. For a full schedule of concerts, check out the PdC Parks and Rec activity guide.

Pool parties are a fun way for kids and adults alike to celebrate the heat of summer. Dress up for the specific theme and go soak in the sun. This year’s parties include a Luau Party on June 24, Christmas in July on July 8, Mardi Gras on July 29 and a Western Party on Aug. 12. All events are from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at Wacouta Aquatic Park.

By Correne Martin

There are plenty of activities for kids and families to do in Prairie du Chien this spring and summer, that are free or low-cost, thanks to the city’s parks and recreation department. One of the first to begin will be swim lessons on June 15. Additional early programming includes youth tennis lessons, boys and girls baseball, T-ball and kickball, and junior golf. The summer flurry will conclude in August with Outdoor Adventure Day Camp, Every Day Heroes Pre-School Camp and the Puppy Paddle. Online registration begins May 13 for any of the summer rec programs. Go to http://pdc.recdesk.com/recdeskportal to sign up. Resident and non-resident fees apply for many of the lessons and camps.

Mon
11
May

School battles budget cuts

Submitted by admin on Mon, 05/11/2015 - 10:49

 

Prairie du Chien School District battling budget cuts, discussing possible revenue limit referendum

By Ted Pennekamp

 

Wed
06
May

The Dinky Trail opening soon between Woodman and Fennimore

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/06/2015 - 11:02

The name doesn’t mean small, short or less in any way but instead refers to the longest running narrow gauge railroad in Wisconsin’s history. From 1878 until 1926, a small narrow gauge railroad, known as the Dinky, connected what is now the city of Fennimore and the village of Woodman in Grant County. Two round trips a day, every day for 48 years! The railroad disappeared with the introduction of the automobile and all that remained until now were memories and some footprints in the landscape. Well, the Dinky’s route will soon become popular again with the opening of the Dinky Bike Trail on Saturday, May 16.

Wed
06
May

River Ridge Schools picks superintendent

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/06/2015 - 10:59

The River Ridge School District has named its newest superintendent, Dr. Jeff Athey, who will officially accept duties July 1. Athey, who has been principal at Dodgeville High School since 1988, was selected from a pool of three finalists. He will take over from the current interim superintendent, Tom Andres, who replaced Lee Pritzl at the end of February.

Athey was chosen for the superintendent post over Rich Hanson, district administrator at Le Suer-Henderson School District, Minnesota; and Marirose Lucey, director of teaching, learning and technology at Marinette School District.

Wed
06
May

Recognized for Blackhawk Blast support

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/06/2015 - 10:59

Jenny Coleman (right), of the Prairie du Chien Booster Club, recently presented a plaque of appreciation to Chip, Roxanne and Olivia Skemp of Huckleberry’s Restaurant. Huckleberry's has hosted the Blackhawk Blast for the past 11 years. Their donation of the meal and services has made a huge contribution to the Prairie du Chien athletic department over the years. The Blackhawk Blast would not be possible without the support of this venue. (Submitted photo)
 

Wed
06
May

Steuben boy confesses to burglaries

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/06/2015 - 10:57

On Wednesday, April 29, the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department received reports of three residential burglaries in the township of Seneca. One burglary occurred on Duha Lane and the other two occurred on Fawn Drive.

Several items were stolen from the dwellings such as tools, CDs, a firearm, a cellphone, and other items.

Members of the sheriff’s department investigated the burglaries and obtained a confession to all three burglaries from a 14-year-old boy from Steuben. The juvenile confessed that he gained entry by breaking windows and once inside he stole several items from each home.  The stolen items from have been recovered and will be returned to the victims.  

The boy will be referred on criminal charges of burglary to a dwelling and criminal damage to property.

Wed
06
May

PdC eighth graders pass down gardening enthusiasm, knowledge

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/06/2015 - 10:57

The kindergarteners at Prairie du Chien Public Schools enjoyed hands-on gardening alongside their eighth grade counterparts last week. The group of students worked together to spiff up the gardens behind B.A. Kennedy for another season. (Photos by Correne Martin)

Eighth grader Hunter Davis shows kindergartener Aiden Knight how to weed a garden bed.

Collin Seeley follows Sheila Nagel as she delivers some winter garden debris to the compost pile.

Alex McNerney carries dead foliage away from the gardens.

 By Correne Martin

The kindergarteners at Prairie du Chien Public Schools rolled up their sleeves and got dirty, under the guidance oftheir eighth grade counterparts, last week. The two grades worked together on Wednesday, April 29, to spiff up the gardens behind B.A. Kennedy—a project that hasn’t been seriously tended to in several years.

The eighth graders are the class that actually built the gardens and began maintaining them when they were in second grade. This spring, they passed down their enthusiasm and knowledge to the next batch of amateur horticulturists. In last Wednesday’s sunshine, the students cleaned out old winter debris, scrubbed down the wooden garden boxes, refreshed the paint on the boxes, weeded the gardens, and started planting flower and vegetable seeds in the beds.

Wed
06
May

Prairie du Chien council approves financing plan for library expansion

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/06/2015 - 10:54

The base of the river wall on St. Feriole Island is deteriorating, and a sinkhole along the pathway was found by the mayor a few weeks ago. The sinkhole has since been fixed, but the city is now considering what kind of a major overhaul can be done to repair the problems and improve the riverfront for the future.

By Correne Martin

A $2.9 million financing plan for expanding the Prairie du Chien Memorial Library was given consent by a unanimous common council vote Tuesday night—about $1.45 million of which the city will contribute, leaving the other half to be raised through a capital campaign. Bids are expected to be let for the project in late 2016, at which time a more accurate project cost will be determined.

Tuesday night’s council action permits city staff to negotiate a capital campaign contract with the Sweeney Group. That contract is estimated to cost between $3,000 and $4,000 per month for 14 months (or $56,000 max) for consulting and liaison services between the city and potential donors. The expense would likely come from the city’s contingency fund. The official agreement will come back for council approval within one month.

Wed
06
May

Historical display pays tribute to Prairie du Chien VFW

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/06/2015 - 10:49

Proudly standing by the new tribute display to the Prairie du Chien VFW Post 1945 at city hall are (from left) Rich Stovey, city employee; Eugene L. LaPointe, Korean War veteran and former post commander; Dean L. LaPointe, Desert Gulf War veteran and former post quartermaster/adjutant; Dirk Steiner, city employee; and Aaron Kramer, city administrator. Both Stovey and Steiner constructed the case for the post’s flag. (Photo by Correne Martin)

By Correne Martin

Just in time for Memorial Day, a patriotic and historical tribute display of the Prairie du Chien Veterans of Foreign Wars has been assembled in the main hallway at city hall. It salutes the McKinney-Tyler-Portwine Post No. 1945, whose charter was surrendered to the national headquarters in 2011 after the post disbanded due to lack of membership.

“We got the flag back from the state after the charter was surrendered,” explained Dean L. LaPointe, a Desert Gulf War veteran and former post quartermaster/adjutant. “We were able to obtain it on a permanent lending basis.”

The vast navy blue and gold VFW flag is encased in a wooden frame, covered with glass. This presentation was carefully constructed by city employees Dirk Steiner and Rich Stovey. It is intended to secure and preserve the vibrant flag for the future.

Wed
06
May

Crawford County Board opposes dismantling ADRC

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/06/2015 - 09:58

By Ted Pennekamp

 

The Aging and Disability Resource Center in Crawford County, and all ADRCs throughout the state are threatened, and in fact could be gutted or just plain done away with if a proposal in Governor Scott Walker’s State Biennial Budget is approved. 

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