Courier Press

By Correne Martin

Emergency services are always the number one priority of the Salvation Army, according to Crawford County Salvation Army Coordinator Jen Kapinus. In addition, when there’s special funds available, the organization’s board of directors has the opportunity to select local charities they feel are part of their mission to meet human needs.

Recently, the Salvation Army donated $500 to the new Prairie du Chien Police Department’s K-9 unit, which is comprised of Officer Casey Cox and his partner Rico.

The Salvation Army also gave $1,000 to the Couleecap Food Pantry.

“We depend on our community relationships to give to people throughout the county,” Kapinus said. “[The K-9] donation is important because 1) we have such a drug problem in this county and a lot of my clients are drug users, 2) the relationship we have with the police department, city and county have been very good to us.”

On Monday, Sept. 4, at 4:07 p.m., the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department was notified of a motorcycle accident with injuries on Highway 171 about four tenths of a mile east of Highway 131 in the village of Gays Mills.

Jeremy R. Shannon, 41, Fayette, Iowa, was traveling westbound on Highway 171 on a 2008 Suzuki VZR 1800 motorcycle. The Shannon cycle was negotiating a sharp curve downhill when the cycle tipped on its side, slid across the eastbound lane of traffic, struck a guardrail and came to rest.

Shannon and his passenger, 41-year-old Jodi J. Druecker, Sumner, Iowa, were both transported to Vernon Memorial Hospital to be treated for injuries sustained in the accident.  

The accident remains under investigation.

Assisting at the scene were  Ocooch Mountain Rescue, the Gays Mills First Responders and the Gays Mills Fire Department.

On Tuesday, Aug. 29, at 1:28 p.m., the Crawford County Dispatch Center was notified of a motorcycle crash on Highway 60, three miles west of Wauzeka.

Nicholas Lund, 17, Wauzeka, was driving a 2002 Honda motorcycle east on Highway 60 and negotiating a curve. He lost control and went off the roadway and into the right ditch and was ejected.

He was taken by rescue squad to Crossing Rivers Health where he was treated for road rash and then released. He was wearing his helmet.

Assisting at the scene were the Wauzeka First Responders, the Wauzeka Fire Department and the Boscobel Rescue Squad.

By Correne Martin

Thursday, Aug. 31, was a monumental day for the Prairie du Chien business community, as the sale officially closed for Coaches Family Restaurant. The Dave and Joanie Skemp family ran the successful restaurant for 47 years, starting as a rootbeer stand in 1970. The family sold to Los Aztecas, also a family-run business that has two Mexican restaurants in Dubuque, Iowa, and one in Galena, Ill. Opening of the remodeled restaurant is expected some time in October.

Kramer Real Estate, of Prairie du Chien, and realtor Sara Boxrucker receive the credit for working with John Herrig Realty, of Dubuque, Iowa, in completing the transaction. The 4,300-square-foot building was listed on Kramer’s website for $495,000. The sale price has not been disclosed.

Though it was a good feeling to have sold Coaches Restaurant, Dave and Joanie Skemp said it was bittersweet.

“It’s kind of sad, but it’s a happy moment, too,” Joanie shared.