Local News

Editor’s note: This is the first story in a series about Prairie du Chien’s St. Feriole Island experiencing sustained flooding for more than two months, and how that has affected the community.

By Correne Martin

The annual flea market held in conjunction with the Rendezvous every Father’s Day weekend was formally canceled Tuesday, in the wake of Monday’s historic announcement to forego the Rendezvous for the first time in its 44 years due to sustained Mississippi River flooding. 

“We usually have over 100 vendors,” said Jaaren Riebe, a representative for the Prairie du Chien Fire Association, which took over the flea market organization last year. “We’ll be writing refund checks or we can save fees for next year, whatever they want.”

By Ted Pennekamp

Bids for the Famechon Hill road construction project were let in February and construction has now begun on the project estimated at $3,868,000. The prime contractor is Peter James of H. James and Sons of Fennimore.

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.

Editor’s note: This is the first story in a series about Prairie du Chien’s St. Feriole Island experiencing sustained flooding for more than two months, and how that has affected the 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. As of Monday afternoon, the organization officially decided to cancel its 2019 festivities.

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.