Support for the project has come from a variety of places including the USDA, Wisconsin Department of Commerce, Wisconsin Department of Ag, Trade, and Consumer Protection, Crawford County, and the City of Prairie du Chien. Also, this project would not be possible without help from Prairie du Chien City Planner Garth Frable.

Tom Steiner, the project’s architect, has worked with the Opportunity Center for the past year developing the design. Olympic Builders is the general contractor.

The project is expected to be completed by October 15^th. Once open, the kitchen will house an artisan bakery named The Local Oven, provide small/medium-scale food processing and product development services for farmers and entrepreneurs, and offer educational opportunities through Southwest Technical College and other in-house food-related classes.

“Sharing Spaces Kitchen will have a tremendous impact on local food production and consumption in our area,” says Kitchen Director Dan Moris. He adds that the impact goes beyond local food. “This is true local economic development. This facility will help increase the capacity for local food products, enable more efficient local distribution, and promote local and regional consumption.”

The kitchen’s impact will be strengthened by an emerging network of local food processing and storage facilities in southern Wisconsin. The network, including facilities in Mineral Point, Viroqua, and Monroe, has attracted the attention of USDA – Rural Development Directors in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois who recently met with the facilities to discuss future expansion of the concept. “These facilities are local food innovation centers that allow rural communities to sustain themselves from within doing something they are already good at – growing food,” says Moris, “there’s a lot of interest nationwide in what we are doing right here.”

An extension of the non-profit Opportunity Center, Sharing Spaces Kitchen’s primary goal is to provide employment opportunities for adults with disabilities. “We have very capable clients here that can do the job,” says Executive Director Pam Ritchie, “our mission is to provide the people we serve with an opportunity to gain valuable work and social experience so that they can develop their full potential.”

The second round of weather will affect the area on Sunday afternoon and evening.  This is expected to be more widespread.  These thunderstorms will be capable of producing damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes. As you can see from the graphic to the right, the risk probabilities from the National Weather Service for Sunday are very high, especially at almost three days out.

The NWS advises people to pay close attention to weather forecasts and statements this weekend, especially if you have outdoor activities or travel planned.  It is also worth noting that these storms could bring 1-2 inches of rain to the area, which could cause rapid rises on already swollen area rivers and streams.



The event allowed for no positive or negative reactions from the audience and no direct interactions between the candidates, a rule which was only violated once when Kind shot back at Kapanke after he asserted Kind had accepted donations from Wall Street special interests.

UW-Platteville and WisconsinEye have provided complete streams of the event.

The candidates meet again tonight at UW-Eau Claire, and at UW-La Crosse on Oct. 26.

FEMA does not send text messages. Individuals should not respond to any text messages claiming to be from FEMA.

Remember:

• FEMA services never cost money. Beware of phone calls from people who say they can help with your FEMA application for a fee.
• If you have applied with FEMA and you receive a call, ask the caller to verify your FEMA registration number; a FEMA employee will be able to confirm the number.
• Never give your Social Security number or bank account information to someone who calls or visits you. This information is only collected by FEMA.
• Call the police or sheriff’s department to verify any contractor who solicits you.
• Check contractors’ State of Wisconsin registration and proof of insurance.
• Never rely on verbal commitments. Obtain warranties and written contracts including start and completion dates and details about scheduled work and required materials.
• Contact the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection if you have questions. You may call 1-800-422-7128 or e-mail: DATCPHotline@wi.gov to learn if a complaint is filed about a contractor. For more information, log onto www.datcp.state.wi.us.
• Report fraud by calling the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General’s Hotline at 800-323-8603 or e-mail DHSOIGHOTLINE@dhs.gov.

Prairie du Chien city officials continue to closely monitor the potential for a moderate to major flooding event on the Mississippi River late next week. The latest projections from the National Weather Service show the river reaching a stage of 19.1 feet on Friday October 1st. Flood stage is 16 feet, and that level is expected to be passed early on Wednesday September 29th. The moderate flood stage is 19 feet, and a major flood event, which is not expected at this time, is 22 feet.

“We had a planning meeting this morning (Friday) with officials from Crawford County, the DNR, our neighboring townships, the school district, and other area representatives,” said City Administrator Aaron Kramer. “While we are encouraged by the fact that less rain fell on Thursday than was originally predicted, we are still making preparations for some possible flooding in and around the city. I do want to stress that, at this time, we do not expect any major interruptions to the daily activity of the city, but we do want to be pro-active in our approach.”

If the projected level of 19.1 feet is reached, it would be the highest the Mississippi has been in the fall season since 1987, and would be the highest overall level reached since April 2001. The last flood event on the river came in April 2008, when the waters crested at 17.02 feet.

City officials continue to urge residents and businesses that were impacted by the flooding in 2001 to make preparations. These preparations would include putting together a 2-3 day personal hygiene and grooming kit, sleeping items and changes of clothing. Officials have identified Hoffman Hall as the primary location for any residents who have to re-locate due to rising waters.

“We have sandbags ready to be filled, with the help of Department of Corrections’ inmates, and those bags would be available for residents starting on Monday morning,” said Co-Public Works Manager Larry Gates. Residents who need sandbags should contact the Crawford County Emergency Government center at 326- 0266.

City officials are also considering a temporary emergency slow no-wake declaration for the Mississippi River if conditions warrant, as well as the closure of some city streets along the water. Further updates will be issued as needed, and will be posted on the city’s website (http://www.prairieduchien-wi.gov/)

Current Area Flood Warnings

Kickapoo River at Gays Mills from Sunday Morning to Tuesday Morning. The NWS forecast is for the Kickapoo River to rise above flood stage Sunday morning and crest near 13.3 feet by Monday morning. Flood stage is 13 feet. At 13 feet water begins to cover roads near the river and minor flooding occurs in areas adjacent to the river.

Wisconsin River at Muscoda from Monday Morning to Friday, October 1. Moderate flooding is forecast. The river is expected to rise above flood stage Monday Morning and continue to rise to near 10 feet Wednesday Morning. Flood stage is 9 feet. At 10 feet there is extensive lowland flooding.

Mississippi River at McGregor. Moderate flooding is forecast. The river is expected to rise above flood stage Tuesday evening and continue to rise to near 19 feet by Friday, October 1. Flood stage is 16 feet. At 19 feet some residential areas begin to flood.

Mississippi River at Guttenberg Dam 10. Moderate flooding is forecast. The river is expected to rise above flood stage Wednensday morning and continue to rise to near 18 feet by Friday, October 1. Flood stage is 15 feet. At 18 feet sewer and street flooding begins to occur in Glen Haven, WI.

Other Flood Information

This flood is making the national news headlines. Here is the latest CNN story.

The National Weather Service is indicating river flooding will be a concern for area streams and rivers throughout the next week.  Between two and five inches of rain fell over the Kickapoo and Wisconsin River basin’s Wednesday afternoon through Thursday night causing the rise in river levels in the Kickapoo and Wisconsin rivers. Record rains along the Chippewa, Saint Croix, and Minnesota rivers are causing the Mississippi river to rise above flood stage at Winona, MN and La Crosse, WI and will cause the rise above flood tsage at McGregor and Guttenberg Iowa.

National Weather Service precautionary and preparedness actions:

IF YOU LIVE IN A THREATENED AREA…BE ALERT FOR HIGH OR RISING

WATER…AND BE READY TO MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IF NECESSARY.

 

DO NOT DRIVE CARS INTO FLOODED AREAS. REMEMBER…IT TAKES ONLY TWO

FEET OF WATER TO FLOAT MOST AUTOMOBILES…INCLUDING SPORT UTILITY

VEHICLES. TURN AROUND…DON/T DROWN.