COURIER PRESS PUBLISHED IN HISTORIC PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, WISCONSIN • SINCE 1848
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VOLUME 166 • NO. 14 ❘ PDCCOURIER.COM ❘ WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2019 ❘ ONE DOLLAR
Fur Trade Museum restoration priority is building stability
‘Paw’sing to read
Fundraising needed for Prairie du Chien-focused exhibits
By Correne Martin
Feeling on top of the world for getting time to read with one of B.A. Kennedy School’s regular visitors, therapy dog Spencer, first grader Hayden Cejka practiced his reading skills with a book he personally chose for his sweet friend. The dog’s owner, Gerry Downey also listened, helped Hayden with his words and worked to keep her comfy and relaxed mini golden doodle awake. (Photo by Correne Martin)
The Villa Louis Fur Trade Museum was given a Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) capital project number in 2006. Though, it hasn’t been until this offseason that renovation of the 1851, two-story brick structure has begun. Exhibits dating back to the mid1970s were removed prior to the 2017 tourism season, in preparation for the work. “This is a long-awaited project. Its basis is to stabilize the building,” said Susan Caya-Slusser, Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS) southwest sites director. The national landmark, also known as the Brisbois Store, was acquired by the state historical society in 1967. It was built by fur
trader and merchant B.W. Brisbois in the declining years of the upper Mississippi Fur Trade, according to Villa Louis Curator Mary Antoine. It sits at the intersection of Water and Bolvin Streets on Prairie du Chien’s St. Feriole Island. The $400,000 restoration primarily consists of tuck-pointing, heating and cooling upgrades, footing and beam reinforcements, and window and door reconditioning. Work started in mid-September and will continue through the end of June, this year. The contractor is Rock Church Construction, of Livingston, who, according to Caya-Slusser, has been wonderfully meticulous and professional See MUSEUM, page 4
1st grade writers develop independence By Correne Martin Once upon a time, the first grade students at B.A. Kennedy Elementary School put their young minds to work, placed their pens to paper, and started writing and illustrating their little hearts out. These first graders embody the spirit of the Lucy Calkins writing program, a method of writing instruction the school district has embraced for grade levels K-6. The process— which Think Spring and how great it would be if this were your new home. Great location! Easy walk to the Mississippi River! 3 bed, 2 bath home with 2 car garage situated on just over a 1/2 acre lot! MLS 1846650
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will start in seventh and eighth grades next year—focuses on fostering lifelong writers by coaching students to write for a variety of audiences and purposes. The youth write about their own lives, write consistently and develop independence as writers, according to the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project (readingandwritingproject.org). “We write every day. We do mini lessons and then we write. They pick their own topics so they’re really engaged and ex-
cited about it,” explained Kelssi Copus, one of five first grade teachers at B.A. Kennedy. This is the second year that the first grade has followed the Lucy Calkins program, but the first for the other grades. Copus said colleague Jenny Campbell, kindergarten teacher Tricia Landt and Principal Laura Stuckey attended a conference last year to educate themselves about this style of teaching composition. See WRITERS, page 2
This picture shows the river side of the Fur Trade Museum around 1930.
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A2 ❘ COURIER PRESS ❘ WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2019 ❘ PDCCOURIER.COM
WRITERS, from page 1 Last week, the first graders were immersed in their third unit of the year, which concentrated on writing a non-fiction, informative chapter book. Previously, this year, they wrote personal narratives and how-to books. Next, they will compose reviews/opinions and end the year by creating scenes-to-series non-fiction. Copus said, first grade has learned about the various parts of a chapter book, including the cover, title page, dedication, table of contents, chapter headlines, page construction, “first, next and finally” steps, and so on. During the day’s mini lesson Feb. 14, Copus enthusiastically shared an informative chapter book with her 15 eager students about beautiful Grandad Bluff in La Crosse. “Do you know what I mean when I say, ‘A picture is worth a thousand words?’” she asked her class, leading them to understand how important illustrations and pictures are within their work. “Pictures answer people’s questions. They tell people about something.”
Copus then showed her crew the paperback “Sharks!” by Anne Schreiber, to demonstrate that the author/illustrator decided to design her book with pictures all over each page, not just in the same spot at the top of a page. “You’re the illustrator. You’re the author. You can put the pictures wherever,” she stated. “Your choice, your book.” She encouraged the students to consult “mentor texts” as examples in designing their books, and to look at pictures to help them see details they may want to write about their chosen topics. Also during the mini lesson, Copus carefully guided her students into determining the difference between the informative genre and the more favored personal narrative. “Charlie’s writing about candy. But it’s not a story about her. She has to make sure she’s teaching about candy, like she knows nothing at all about candy,” Copus said, referring to one of her young authors. “Yeah, you can’t use ‘I’ or ‘you,’” one of the little learners
First graders in Ms. Kelssi Copus’ class talked with their teacher about the different chapters in a book about Grandad Bluff in La Crosse.
Weather
Precipitation
7 am readings AS February 20, 2019 Feb 20-----------4.9" Feb 19-----------0.00" WEDNESDAY Snow, high near 33. E wind 7-11 becoming SW. Total daytime snow accuFeb 18-----------2.8" mulation of 2-4 inches possible. Tonight A 20% Feb 17-----------1.1" chance of snow before 7 pm. Cloudy during the 12 am readings http://www. early evening, then gradual clearing, low around weather.gov/arx/climate#other 13. W wind 5-11. THURSDAY Sunny, high near 29. W wind 5-7. Night Increasing clouds, low around 11. Light and variable wind. Mississippi RiveR FRiDAY Partly sunny, high near 36. Calm Feb 20------------9.56 wind becoming SE 5-9 mph in the morning. Night Feb 19------------9.68 Snow, freezing rain, and sleet. Low around 27. SE wind 5-8. Feb 18------------9.77 SATURDAY Rain likely. Cloudy, high near Feb 17------------9.79 40. Light E wind becoming NE 5-10. Night Rain and snow. Low around 29. Blustery, NE wind Wisconsin RiveR 11-17 becoming NW after midnight. Winds could Feb 20-----------n/a gust as high as 29. Feb 19------------n/a SUNDAY 40% chance of snow before noon. Mostly cloudy, high near 31. Blustery, NW wind Feb 18------------n/a 16-20 with gusts as high as 30 mph. Night Mostly Feb 17------------n/a cloudy, low around 8. NW wind 8-5. moNDAY 30% chance of snow. Partly sunny, KicKApoo RiveR high near 22. NW wind 5-8 mph becoming NE in Feb 20------------7.9 the afternoon. Night Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, Feb 19------------8.29 low around 15. NE wind around 7. Feb 18------------8.24 TUESDAY Snow. High near 27. E wind 7-11 becoming N in the afternoon Feb data17------------8.23 from rivergauges.com
River Stages
data from rivergauges.com
Weather information courtesy National Weather Service - La Crosse
Courier Press
Published in the interest of service to its community est. 1848 Wm. H. Howe, Publisher 608-326-2441, 132 s. Beaumont rd, Prairie du Chien, Wi 53821 e-mail: howenews@mhtc.net
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First grade writing partners Charlie Copsey and Caylee Kronberg worked diligently and excitedly on their books about candy and cats, respectively, Feb. 14. (Photos by Correne Martin)
added. The classmates’ non-fiction informative books featured topics like cats, bikes, nature and views, caterpillars, hearts, fish, sharks, dogs, money, brownies and basketball. Not only did they write and illustrate their own work, but they also edited it themselves, under their teacher’s direction. “But it’s their work. My pen doesn’t touch their paper,” Copus shared. While editing, the novice au-
thors looked for spaces between words, spelled tricky words as best they could by writing letters for most of the sounds, checked for correct past and present tense, and used punctuation and capital letters where necessary. They also talked to their fellow writing partners in class to solve most questions, before reaching out to their teacher for help. While the class was working, Copus spent time conferencing with each student individually to stimulate ideas and assist them
with answering their own questions. A couple times a week, in some of the classrooms, a parent or grandparent volunteer works with the students one-on-one as well. Just as a fable ends with a moral, these first graders are experiencing a major lesson, according to Copus. This innovative writing workshop method is laying the magical foundation for conversations with students about their own imaginative work.
My patients value that I take the time to listen to their concerns and provide recommendations regarding their diagnosis and treatment. I believe the most important part of patient interaction is listening and talking with my patients. ~ Dr. Kenneth Valyo, DO
WELCOME DR. KENNETH VALYO Crossing Rivers Health Clinic is proud to welcome Dr. Kenneth Valyo, a Board-Certified Doctor of Osteopathic Family Medicine, to our staff. Dr. Valyo is passionate about listening to the needs of his patients. He focuses on all aspects of family medicine from wellness, early detection and prevention. Dr. Valyo also offers osteopathic manipulative therapy.
Education and Experience • Bachelor of Neuroscience Brown University Providence, Rhode Island • Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Downers Grove, IL • Residency Chicago Osteopathic Hospital Chicago, IL
Now accepting patients in Fennimore and Prairie du Chien.
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