A Prairie du Chien man drowned Mississippi River at Wyalusing Beach after going into the water to help struggling family members.

32-year-old David Slabaugh was at Wyalusing Beach in northern Grant County with his family on Friday. After seeing the river’s current cause some of his family drift away from the beach, he entered the water. He went underwater and did not resurface.

The struggling family members, unidentified in the police report, were able to make it back to shore.

Slabaugh’s body was not found until later in the evening. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A Prairie du Chien man is in the hospital after crashing a stolen vehicle during a high speed chase late Monday night.

Thirty-year-old Joseph Willis was spotted traveling recklessly in the stolen van south on Highway 18 at a high speed and without headlamps. He was paced at 80 miles an hour.

Willis sped up as the officer activated his lights and siren. He led a high speed chase for about two miles before crashing his van near the intersection of Highway 18 with Highway 60 at Bridgeport.

Willis was later med-flighted to La Crosse for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash.

The 1995 Chrysler van had been stolen from a residence in Prairie du Chien.

Willis was cited for Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence and Operating Without a Valid Driver’s License.  Charges are being referred to the Crawford County District Attorney for felony Knowingly Fleeing and Officer and Operating Without Owner’s Consent.

The traffic crash is being investigated by the Crawford County Sheriff’s department.

The City of Prairie du Chien is reminding residents of the rules and regulations regarding political signs, with a recall election tentatively scheduled for July. According to city ordinance, “political and campaign signs on behalf of candidates for public office or measures on election…may be erected not earlier than forty-five days prior to the election and shall be removed with five days following said day of voting. Each sign, except billboards, shall not exceed nine square feet in non-residential zoning districts and six  square feet in residential zoning districts. No sign shall be located within fifteen feet of the public right-of-way, a street intersection nor on or over the right-of-way.”

The city has found a number of rummage sale and real estate signs also in violation of the right-of-way restrictions. Ordinance 6.10 reads: “No sign structure may be located in the right of-way”.

Removal of all signs in violation of the ordinance will begin on June 15th.