Courier Press

Prairie du Chien High School Principal Andy Banasik was named Rural Principal of the Year by the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance (WiRSA) at the annual Rural Schools Conference, Oct. 28. He was one of six individuals and one organization honored for their contributions to rural education.

Nominated by the high school’s Academic and Career Readiness Coordinator Karen Sjoberg, who has known Banasik since he was in high school, Banasik has spent more than 20 years bringing opportunities to students in rural southwest Wisconsin. 

“His achievements are immeasurable and his efforts will continue. He is the epitome of a Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance Principal of the Year,” Sjoberg said in her nomination. 

By Correne Martin

The Wauzeka-Steuben School District approved a tax levy of $1,019,503, and a mill rate of $11.68, for the 2019-20 school year, to be extended to all taxable property within the district. 

This means that, for every $1,000 of taxable value, $11.68 is asked in taxes to the school district—or on the typical example of a $100,000 home, $1,168 is owed.

According to information presented at the district’s Oct. 28 annual meeting, the school tax levy will decrease by 6.88 percent from last year, and the mill rate will also go down from $12.71 to $11.68.

The Crawford County Veterans Service Office has announced local events in observance of Veterans Day. All are invited to attend.

On Saturday, Nov. 9, a flag raising will take place at Cabela’s in Prairie du Chien at 9 a.m. For veterans, free coffee and doughnuts will be offered from 9 to 10 a.m., followed by free hot dogs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

On Sunday, Nov. 10, the Prairie du Chien St. John’s Church mass will be held in honor of local veterans and emergency personnel. At 11 a.m., there will be a luncheon with brats and hot dogs in the church hall, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. This is open to veterans and their spouses. 

On Sunday, Nov. 3, at about 3:40 a.m., the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call of a one vehicle traffic crash on State Highway 171 near Old 61, in the township of Clayton. The caller stated the driver of the vehicle was possibly ejected.

Officials later determined that Steve A. Collins, 48, of Gays Mills, was operating a 2013 Jeep Wrangler eastbound on Highway 171. The vehicle went off the right side of the roadway, striking a fire number. The vehicle then reentered the roadway before going off a short, steep embankment and back into the eastbound lane. The vehicle began sliding in the roadway, slid across the highway causing the passenger tires to dig into the shoulder of the roadway and making the vehicle overturn. Collins was ejected from the vehicle as a result of the rollover.