Tara Hopmann loads a van with dry cleaning for her day of deliveries for Klinke Cleaners. Her routes can include stops throughout Dane County and since August have included blue fabric bags, foreground, filled with clothing processed by Klinke's wash-and-fold service.
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Abraham Nebel hangs freshly finished dry cleaning into his delivery van as he prepares for a day of deliveries. His route can include dozens of stops and cover 90 miles on some days.
At Middleton Cleaners, 6617 University Ave., Craig Daubenspeck has just two other employees and is working 12- to 14-hour days.
Middleton Cleaners, 6617 University Ave., has struggled to keep up with demand due to employee shortages.
The Best Cleaners in Middleton is now owned by Master Cleaners in Cottage Grove. The Best Cleaners on Raymond Road closed in 2021.
One of the five Klinke Cleaners locations to close recently is this store on North Gammon Road in Middleton. Workers have been removing equipment from the space, which is now for lease.
Kathy Klinke, right, helps drivers Tara Hopmann and Abraham Nebel prepare for a day of deliveries out of the Monona location of Klinke Cleaners. The company added pickup and delivery in February 2020, and wash-and-fold laundry service in August 2021.
Bags of wash-and-fold laundry fill the back of a Klinke Cleaners delivery van.
Photos: Soldiers Grove, its flood-prone past and move to higher ground
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A second floor room in the public library that is dedicated to the history of Soldiers Grove, in Soldiers Grove, Wis., Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Soldiers Grove
A high-water mark sign from June 9, 2008, shows the degree to which the water can rise during a flood from the Kickapoo River in Soldiers Grove.
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Community Center and Public Library in Soldiers Grove, Wis., Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
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A second floor room in the public library that is dedicated to the history of Soldiers Grove, in Soldiers Grove, Wis., Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
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Sarah DiPadova, library director, shows off the solar room at the library in Soldiers Grove, Wis., Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
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The town center, including the post office, in Soldiers Grove that was relocated in the late 1970s to early 1980s due to repeated flooding from the Kickapoo River, in Soldiers Grove, Wis., Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Soldiers Grove
"The Creeks Will Rise" by William Becker, who from 1974 to 1979 owned the Kickapoo Scout, the weekly newspaper in Soldiers Grove.
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William Becker in the town center of Soldiers Grove that was relocated in the late 1970s to early 1980s due to repeated flooding from the Kickapoo River, in Soldiers Grove, Wis., Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Soldiers Grove
A Wisconsin State Journal newspaper article from Feb. 2, 1975, tells the story of a possible move in Soldiers Grove. Cecil Turk is at left and William Becker is at right.
Soldiers Grove
It's been 30 years since William Becker has visited Soldiers Grove. He recently toured the community and spent time in the village's library, where a room is dedicated to local history, much of it about flooding.
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The former downtown area before it relocated in the late 1970s to early 1980s to higher ground due to flooding, in Soldiers Grove, Wis., Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Soldiers Grove
William Becker peers over the Kickapoo River near the former downtown area of Soldiers Grove. The water levels of the river can vary greatly and can easily flood communities along the winding river.
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Art Olson, 87, takes his granddog, Coco, for a walk through the former downtown area in Soldiers Grove, Wis., Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Soldiers Grove
William Becker peers over the Kickapoo River near the former downtown area of Soldiers Grove. The community's business district and some homes were relocated and moved to higher ground in the late 1970s to early 1980s due to repeated flooding.
Soldiers Grove
Soldiers Grove's downtown, where William Becker ran a weekly newspaper in the 1970s, is void of homes and businesses after the community moved to higher ground nearly 40 years ago. Becker, now a policy expert on energy, climate change and disaster prevention and recovery, came up with the idea to move the town. He has also recently written a book that argues more communities around the country will need to follow the lead of Soldiers Grove.
Soldiers Grove
The post office was among the businesses moved nearly 40 years ago to higher ground in Soldiers Grove. The facility sits amid a collection of other businesses and homes that had been located in a flood-prone valley.
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1951 flood in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin. Photo provided by Soldiers Grove Public Library
Soldiers Grove
Soldiers Grove was home to a vibrant but challenged business district, as shown in this photo from 1949. Repeated flooding made doing business here difficult for decades.
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1961 flood in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin. Photo provided by Soldiers Grove Public Library
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1951 flood rescue of Louise Davenport and Juanita Anderson in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin. Photo provided by Soldiers Grove Public Library
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1978 flood in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin. Photo provided by Soldiers Grove Public Library
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1930 flood in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin. Photo provided by Soldiers Grove Public Library
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1913 flood in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin. Photo provided by Soldiers Grove Public Library
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1930 flood in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin. Photo provided by Soldiers Grove Public Library
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1951 flood in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin. Photo provided by Soldiers Grove Public Library
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1930 flood in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin. Photo provided by Soldiers Grove Public Library
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1951 flood in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin. Photo provided by Soldiers Grove Public Library
Soldiers Grove
This historical image shows part of a 1940 flood in downtown Soldiers Grove. The buildings have all been removed and for nearly 40 years the village's business district has been located on higher ground.
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1913 flood in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin. Photo provided by Soldiers Grove Public Library
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1913 flood in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin. Photo provided by Soldiers Grove Public Library
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1951 flood in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin. Photo provided by Soldiers Grove Public Library
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1913 flood in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin. Photo provided by Soldiers Grove Public Library
Soldiers Grove
The former downtown business district for Soldiers Grove, now home to a park, has repeatedly flooded over the years due to its location in a valley along the Kickapoo River. The most recent flood, shown here, came in 2018.
