SOLDIERS GROVE - With Memorial Day in the rearview mirror, thoughts are turning to the rest of the exciting festival season ahead. On Friday & Saturday, June 19-20, Dairy Days in Soldiers Grove will once again offer local citizens plenty of family-friendly fun.
The event is organized in partnership by the Soldiers Grove Fire Department, American Legion Post #220, and the Lion’s Club.
Events kick off on Friday, June 19 with Southwest Pullers Truck & Tractor Pull, beginning at 6 p.m., a carnival starting at 3 p.m., and a Chicken-Q and beverages. Throughout the event, food will be served by the American Legion Post #220, and the beverages are sold by the Soldiers Grove Lion’s Club.
On Saturday, June 20, the carnival will be open all day, the Chicken-Q, food and beverages will continue, and there will be an Antique Tractor Pull starting at noon. Sign up for the Volleyball Tournament begins at 9 a.m., with play starting at 10 a.m. For more information, contact Tara Sheehy 608-333-6899.
Sign up for the Bean Bag Tournament opens at 11 a.m., with play starting at noon. For more info, contact Larry Watters 563-568-1231.
There will be 4-H kid activities, with a Kid’s Pedal Pull at 5 p.m. (sign up starts at 4 p.m.).
On Saturday evening, the Crawford County Line band will play at 7 p.m., and there will be a Light Parade at dusk, with line upstarting at 6 p.m.
New Well Road
The board learned about the New Well Road project to replace the tube, as it is currently full of debris. The bid for the project was awarded to Crawford County Highway Department for $3,565.05. Another project detailed for the board will take place on Plane Street. In that project, riprap will be installed on the riverbank at the end of Plane Street as the river is eroding the bank closer to the road. The bid for this project was awarded to Eric’s Excavating for $2,082.
Fire Department
Fire Chief Jeannette McCormick reported that McCormick Electric replaced the old breaker on a pole in the Village Park with a 50-amp breaker.
Chief McCormick also shared that she is looking into grants for structural gear for fire department members as they have a 10-year life span, and most of their gear is on its 10th year.
Each set of gear costs roughly $10,000 per member, so a grant would help greatly to defray the cost of the investment.
McCormick reported that all members who took the Cert 2 class passed. In addition, three members of North Crawford Rescue passed their EMT course. McCormick stated she is extremely proud of the department and how the members continue to want to grow their education.
Public Works
Soldiers Grove Public Works Director Mike Allie reported that the village campground is open for the season, and a new water heater has been installed in the bathrooms. He said he is still waiting on the coin machines for the showers to come in.
Allie reported that the trees behind the Lion’s Shelter have been taken down by Stussy’s Tree Service, a new fence has been installed behind the shelter and in front of the ball field. He said public works had also repaired the Bob Burns bench by the bank, and Soldiers Grove Village Clerk Kaitlynn Ott will be staining the bench.
Allie said they have been mowing three days a week, every week, and will be doing repairs to the alleyway by Prospect Street.
The village board approved having Proline Printing make the new cemetery entrance sign, as well as a rules and regulations sign for the cemetery.
Public Input
In public input, the board heard from Kim Anderson, who introduced herself to the as the lead of the Driftless Area Art Festival, and thanked the village for their continued support. She stated that this year, they had more artists apply than any other year since the festival began, with 101 applications and 84 spots awarded. She said that new this year, they will offer demonstrations and workshops to allow more hands-on experience to the festival-goers.
Anderson also spoke about how she is teaming up with the Soldiers Grove Public Library to host a family-friendly music event in the courtyard behind the Library the last Sundays of June, July, and August.
