COURIER PRESS PUBLISHED IN HISTORIC PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, WISCONSIN • SINCE 1848
SPORTS
Results are in for state track Page 16
VOLUME 166 • NO. 43 ❘ PDCCOURIER.COM ❘ MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2019 ❘ ONE DOLLAR
F LO O D E H T G N I FEEL
Prairie Villa Rendezvous
Rendezvous may not happen this year Editor’s note: This is the first story in a series about Prairie du Chien’s St. Feriole Island experiencing sustained flooding for two and a half months, and how that has affected the greater community.
By Correne Martin The Big River Long Rifles’ Prairie Villa Rendezvous is the first major event in Prairie du Chien at the mercy of the
swelling Mississippi River this tourist season. A prolonged flood has kept most St. Feriole Island streets under water since March. The island is closed and remains moderately flooded, with the river at McGregor cresting around 19.1 feet today. The non-profit Big River Long Rifles have been told by the city that St. Feriole Island is not a feasible option for the 2019 Rendezvous, June 13-16.
According to Julie Rosauer, the organization’s treasurer, they’re realizing the grounds, where the Fur Trade-era encampment reenactment has been held for the past 43 years, would be soggy at best. “Even if the water goes down, by the time [the city] gets the island cleaned off, mowed and ready, we might get in but we won’t get back out,” Rosauer said. She noted, Parks and Rec Director Mike Ulrich said, as of
May 30, the island looks to be closed through June 15 and, from there, opening it would be decided day-by-day. Postponing the date of the 44th annual event hasn’t been a consideration, she said, as the land is utilized for events nearly every weekend throughout the summer. That has left the monumental, last-minute task of either relocating or canceling the Rendezvous up to the group. A
bounty of spacious properties have been examined, yet an alternate site seemed but a far out possibility as of press time Monday morning. An announcement to officially cancel or otherwise solidify the new location is expected by late Monday afternoon or evening, according to Rosauer. (Find the official word at pdccourier.com and on the CouSee RENDEZVOUS, page 4
Crawford County gives city 6 months to create Blackhawk Junction plan By Ted Pennekamp City of Prairie du Chien representatives gave a presentation to Crawford County officials about Blackhawk Junction Mall at a joint County Finance/Delinquent Tax Committee meeting May 29. City Administrator Chad Abram told county officials that the city would like up to six months to work with county leaders to initiate a strategic development plan for Blackhawk Junction, which the county recently took ownership of due to foreclosure on the property because of unpaid back taxes of $488,988. Abram said Blackhawk Junction has strong development potential and the city
will hire Vandewalle and Associates, an urban planning company based in Madison, for $500 to get a plan in place as soon as possible. Abram said there has been bad blood in the past between the city and the county but the city would like to bury the hatchet and move forward and work well with the county for strategic planning for the property. “This property can be a catalytic development,” said Jim Bowman, the executive director of Driftless Development Inc., the economic development organization for Crawford County. “I’m confident this development can be something we all can be proud See PLAN, page 5
Bright backyard birds
The bright orange, black and yellow plumage of orioles is a striking contrast to many less colorful backyard birds, and their rich, musical song is welcome to the ears. These are just a few of the reasons orioles are highly desirable backyard birds. They sure are flocking to people’s backyards lately too. (Photo by Tara VanNatta)
URGENT CARE
7 Days A Week 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. 37868 US Hwy 18 l Prairie du Chien, WI l 608.357.2222 l crossingrivers.org
LOCAL NEWS
RENDEZVOUS, from page 1 pen at a new location, tourists and area residents wanting to attend would have to be shuttled into the event. She said the Long Rifles are grateful for all who have stepped forward in any way to assist with this unsavory battle to preserve the Rendezvous. The organization has tried everything it can to keep this
traditionally primitive, historic event. Rosauer hopes the public will understand and appreciate their diligence. “I hope people know we’ve done all we can,” she said. “If we don’t have it, participants can have their money transferred to next year or refunded. I’ll be making a lot more phone calls this week.”
Music Fights Back considers back-up location, other island scheduling impacted
OPEN HOUSE Thursday, June 13 4:00-6:00 pm
6.51 Acre m/l Investment Property 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath Brick Home
Selling at Online Auction 33715 Hwy. 35, Prairie du Chien, WI Mary Ahrens Living Estate RE Auction ONLINE BIDDING OPENS
FRIDAY, JUNE 7
ONLINE BIDDING CLOSES
FRIDAY, JUNE 28 AT 6PM
For online bidding platform, click the proxibid link at www.KramerSales.com
203 E. Blackhawk Ave. Prairie du Chien, WI 53821 www.kramersales.com • 608-326-8108
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Peyton Meisner just finished his sophomore year at Wartburg College. He is the son of Rick Meisner, of Garnavillo, and Amy and Tracy Decker, of Monona.
By Correne Martin The Courier Press has welcomed a new intern to its staff for the summer. Peyton Meisner completed his second year at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, this May. He is a journalism and communications major, with an emphasis in multimedia journalism. Peyton graduated from MFL MarMac High School in 2017, and is the son of Rick Meisner, of Garnavillo, and Amy and Tracy Decker, of Monona. He has eight siblings. He comes to the newspaper with a long list of related experiences thus far in his young career. In middle school, he began announcing middle school track events and fifth and sixth grade youth recreational football. In high school, the astute, sports fanatic worked for KCTN Radio in Elkader, reporting sports, news and weather. For the last two years, he has served as the press announcer for MFL MarMac football and baseball games. As a Wartburg student, Pey-
June 21 and 22 is Music Fights Back, the summer’s first music festival on St. Feriole Island. As of Friday, President Jeremy Cuff said organizers have been working on finding a back-up location for the rock fest fundraiser for cancer. “There is still a possibility of having it on the island, but Mother Nature would have to really be on our side,” he stated. “Either way, we will have a location and Music Fights Back will happen.” Cuff said he hopes the river drops below 16 feet by June 10, which would give the island 10 days before Music Fights Back to dry out. “Like our name, we won’t stop until we get this figured out,” he stated. In addition to this and Rendezvous, multiple activities are knocking on the door, waiting for the Mississippi River to recede and St. Feriole Island to reopen to the public. “If the water level comes down, we need to get the power back on, clean up and picnic tables in place,” Prairie du Chien Parks and Recreation Director Mike Ulrich said. “All games at the ball diamonds are being postponed or moved day-to day,” he added. Nate Cejka, varsity coach for the Grasshoppers Legion ball team, said they aren’t relocating any of the games. “We just won’t play ‘til it reopens. The junior league has rescheduled a few, but the varsity’s not at home until June 10,” he said, in hopes for favorable conditions. The annual Concerts in the Park at Lawler Park start Thursday, June 13. Ulrich said the alternate location for those concerts is Lochner Park on Wacouta Avenue. But, he said, he will probably only make the decision to move the first concert within a day’s notice. Additionally, upcoming Kids in the Garden and Adult Lawn Chair Learning classes, scheduled for the St. Feriole Island Memorial Gardens, are likely to move to a different space due to high water. The first Kids in the Garden gathering is June 12, and Master Gardener Donna Teynor has already announced it is moving to Lucky Park. She’s hopeful the rest can happen in the gardens. Lawn Chair Learning’s next class is June 19 and it hasn’t been relocated as of yet.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
rier’s Facebook page.) Though the Long Rifles were offered donated use of fairgrounds in Grant County and farm property in Clayton County (Iowa), among other lands, they’re dedicated to keeping it in the Prairie du Chien community. “I would especially feel bad if we have all these people coming to hotels here, and then we ask them to drive another 30 minutes out of town to the Rendezvous,” Rosauer stated. On May 30, the organization toured the former Country on the River grounds in Bridgeport, an option that was eliminated because hay growing there would leave little functional space for 300 camps, activities like the black powder shoot and hawk throw, demonstrations and traders’ row. They also visited and analyzed the area surrounding Prairie Fun Land off Prairie’s La Pointe Street. It had minimal drawbacks but, as of Sunday night, Rosauer said Fun Land’s insurance was going to jump several thousand dollars for the week of the Rendezvous. They had one more piece of local acreage to check into, but if that falls through Monday, the club majority has already voted to cancel the 2019 event. What about the flea market? The flea market that runs simultaneously with the Rendezvous—for which management transferred from the Jaycees to the Prairie fire association last year—is also up in the air, due to the saturation of St. Feriole Island. According to Jaaren Riebe, fire association representative, they are still holding out hope that Mother Nature will provide the best case weather needed for the river to go down and the terrain to dry up in time for vendors and shoppers to arrive. The association’s stance is that they will hold the flea market if conditions permit, otherwise, they will cancel it. They are not interested in relocating, he said. A decision about the flea market is planned no later than Friday, June 7. Working around Mother Nature The Mississippi went into flood stage at McGregor on March 18, according to Logan Lee, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in La Crosse. The past 77 days have taken their toll on the city’s beloved sanctuary. “We’re at nature’s beck and call,” said Rendezvouser Matthew Johnson, while touring potential sites last week. But, the reality is that buckskinners would begin arriving in Prairie du Chien on Sunday if the Rendezvous occurs. Whether it’s significantly greater cost, crops already in place or another barrier, many factors leave very few choices for the Long Rifles. Rosauer indicated, there’s a great likelihood that, if the Rendezvous were to still hap-
MFL MarMac alum to be summer intern journalist ton has had a hand in streaming basketball, baseball and wrestling events on the college’s online Night Vision program. He’s provided play-by-play calling and color commentary for Wartburg sports as well. He worked for the campus’ radio station, KWAR, broadcasting a radio show, which gave him the opportunity to play music and talk to listeners. He started writing, this past year, for “The Trumpet,” the college newspaper. Furthermore, he and a friend co-host a podcast called the Wartburg Locker Room, an avenue for them to discuss national sports and also get personal with athletes on campus. Peyton hopes to add to his vast knowledge by writing news, feature stories and sports this summer at the Courier as well as its sister publication, the North Iowa Times. He began work May 28 and will write news, take photographs and attend events for both publications through mid- to lateAugust. “In my past, I’ve done more of the broadcasting and announcing. I’m interested in learning more about the print side of journalism and covering local stories,” he said. When he isn’t working the sports scene, Peyton is playing it or following it. He’s a member of the men’s golf team at Wartburg. He’s also a fan of the Minnesota Twins, Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Nuggets, and, of course, the Iowa Hawkeyes too. His hobbies include watching sports, listening to music and hanging out with friends. Additionally, he carries a parttime mowing job, taking care of the cemeteries in Garnavillo and Farmersburg, and he is a lifeguard at the Monona pool. Growing up in northeast Iowa, Peyton said he’s highly familiar with Prairie du Chien. “When you live in Monona and you want to do something, this is where you come,” he smiled.
open house Tuesday, June 11
4:00-6:00 pm
Catherine Harris Estate 2 Bedroom Online Real Estate Auction 109 E. Washington Street, Prairie du Chien, WI
Selling at online only auction - this 2 bedroom fixer upper with a minimum bid of only $20,000. ONLINE BIDDING OPENS
monday, june 3 ONLINE BIDDING CLOSES
Thursday, june 27 aT 6pm For online bidding platform, click the proxibid link at www.KramerSales.com
203 E. Blackhawk Ave. Prairie du Chien, WI 53821 www.kramersales.com • 608-326-8108
A4 ❘ COURIER PRESS ❘ MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2019 ❘ PDCCOURIER.COM