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TH file photo
Anglers try their luck on O'Leary's Lake off the Mississippi River in the extreme southwest corner of the state. There are many boating and fishing options in the area.

Attractions

The Dickeyville Grotto and Shrines erected in the village of Dickeyville on Holy Ghost Parish grounds are the works of Father Matthias Wernerus.

Wernerus was pastor of the parish from 1918-1931. His handiwork in stone, built from 1925-1930, is dedicated to the unity of two American ideals - love of God and love of country

It is a creation in stone, mortar and bright colored objects - collected materials from all over the world.

These include colored glass, gems, antique heirlooms of pottery or porcelain, stalagmites and stalactites, sea shells, star fish, petrified sea urchins and fossils and a variety of corals plus amber glass, agate, quartz and ores.

There are several shrines in the Grotto garden. Besides the main shrine, which houses the grotto of the Blessed Virgin, there is a patriotic shrine, the sacramental shrine of the Holy Eucharist, the Sacred Heart Shrine, Christ the King shrine and the Stations of the Cross.

These are located in the floral garden areas surrounding the Holy Ghost Church.

A gift shop is open from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. seven days a week, from April 1-Oct. 31.

Guided tours are available June 1-Aug. 31, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. seven days a week; and May, September and October, weekends only. Earlier if requested by phone.

For more information, call 608/568-3119 or write: The Grotto, P.O. Box 429, Dickeyville, WI 52808.

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Area Events

Fennimore, WI

Nov. 28: 33rd Annual Christmas Creations Craft Show and Sale. A wide arrage of vendors (home made items only) set up booths at Fennimore Memorial Building and Fennimore Elementary School gym. Something for everyone and a wide variety of prices. For more information, call 608-822-6497.

Platteville, WI

Nov. 29: Big Band Bash with Ken Kilian Saxtetplus, 2 p.m., Platteville Convention Center, U.S. 151. Tickets: $10 available at the door.

Nov. 29: Ken Killian's Big Band Bash, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Governor Dodge Convention Center, Platteville, Wis.

Dec. 4-23: Twas the Night Before Christmas at Rollo Jamison Museum, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Exhibits include period rooms, children's toys, a 12 foot Victorian Christmas tree, pre WWII electic toy trains and Activities for children.

Dec. 4: 20th Annual Love Light Trees Ceremony, 6:30 p.m., Southwest Health Center, Platteville, Wis. Hundreds of people buy a light or treetop to pay tribute to a friend or family member or in memory of a loved one. For more information, call 608-348-2331.

Area Parks

Bagley, WI

* Wyalusing State Park, 10 miles from Prairie du Chien. The Wisconsin River was the pathway for early explorers and fur traders. Park has campgrounds, picnic facilities, hiking and nature trails.

Boscobel, WI

* Kronsage Park, rest rooms, playground facilities, softball diamonds, tennis courts, three shelters, volleyball, basketball and horseshoe courts. Swimming pool and school athletic area nearby.

* West Side Park has rest rooms, shelter, playground area, basketball court and a softball diamond.

* Memorial Park features playground facilities and a monument dated 1907 for the Unknown Soldier, honoring the Civil War veterans and all unknown dead veterans.

* Boy Scouts Park, playground area, fishing and basketball.

* Fireman Park, rest rooms, softball diamond and playground area.

* Moran-Daugherty Park, playground area.

* Boscobel - Kronsage Park features rest rooms, playground facilities, three shelters and volleyball, basketball and horseshoe courts. Swimming pool and school athletic area nearby.

* West Side Park has rest rooms, shelter, playground area, basketball court and a softball diamond.

* Memorial Park features playground facilities and a monument dated to 1907 for the Unknown Soldier, honoring the Civil War veterans and all unknown dead veterans.

* Boy Scout Park features playground area, fishing and basketball.

* Fireman Park features rest rooms, softball diamond and playground area.

* Moran-Daugherty Park features a playground area.

Cassville, WI

* Riverside Park has four shelter houses with electricity available, picnic tables and barbecue grills, rest rooms, playground area and 12 free boat slips on main channel. Wildlife observation deck and viewing scope.

* Nelson Dewey State Park, one mile north of Cassville, includes campsites, rest rooms, showers, playground, overlook, large shelter house with fireplaces and water, three miles of hiking trails, quarter-mile self-guided nature trail, picnic areas with water, grills, tables and facilities for handicapped. Open all year. Open house June 2, free admission 6 a.m.-11 p.m.

Fennimore, WI

* Marsden Park has picnic area, swimming, playground, rest rooms, volleyball, basketball and tennis courts.

* Oakwood Park, a 45-acre nature park, offers visitors a glimpse of native trees and flowers, with a wide variety of birds available for bird lovers to view. The park offers more than three miles of hiking and cross-country ski trails. RV camping is available with a shelter and rest rooms. For reservations and more information, call 608/822-6119.

Platteville, WI

* Twelve city parks offer picnic facilities, lighted ball diamonds, lighted tennis courts, basketball courts, lighted horseshoe courts, playground equipment, swimming pool and concert band stage.

Potosi-Tennyson, WI

* Grant River Public Use Area, built by the U.S. Corps of Engineers for picnicking, boating, camping and other recreation. It is two-and-a-half miles south of Potosi on the Mississippi River and near the recently discovered Indian mounds at Osceola.

Camping

* Kieler - Rustic Barn Campground, five miles north of Dubuque at 3854 Dry Hollow Road, just south of Dickeyville, Wis. 608/568-7797. Features back-ins, pull-throughs, tent sites, dump station, flush toilets, showers, laundry, groceries, RV supplies, cable television and firewood.