La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

Sam Scinta wears a few different hats in the Coulee Region. He’s the CEO of the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce. He's a political science professor at both UW-La Crosse and Viterbo, where he's also involved with servant leadership. So, naturally, we brought Scinta on the Rick Solem Show to spend most of our time talking about ... movies? It'll make sense when you listen, but we did eventually wrap up with the state of the Chamber. Scinta co-hosts the Civics and Cinema program that's been going on the past two years at the Rivoli Theatre. Along with Dr. Rick Kyte — director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership — the two invite the public to come watch a historical movie, followed by a group discussion about its impact. Scinta sees the series as a way to step back from the current political noise and use classic films to talk about the fundamental building blocks of a healthy community. It’s less about a current events Q&A and more about a shared experience in a dark theater that gets people thinking about our civic responsibilities in a different way. This month, they'll be watching the 1976 Watergate classic, All the President’s Men. We talked why Hollywood doesn't really make "adult" movies — Scinta's word — like this anymore — films that drive real conversation. The screening will happen at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Rivoli. The cost is $5 and 100% of the proceeds go back to local nonprofits. We did wrap up the conversation by getting into what exactly the Chamber of Commerce is and who is actually involved. Scinta admits it’s a bit of a "mystical entity" to some, but it's really a network that includes thousands of local employees — from the big corporations down to the one-man shops and even college students. We also hit on the "big three" issues the Chamber is looking at right now, like the push for a city administrator in La Crosse and how the region is going to handle the "demographic cliff" and keep young talent in the area.

We learn a little bit about Parkinson's Disease and how to stave it off with Bri Holden. She's the program coordinator at the Star Center in La Crosse. The Center has its 4th Annual Parkinson's Walk and Awareness event from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday at Myrick Park in La Crosse. Holden talks to us a little bit about the disease, which isn't curable, and how to fight it off through exercise — which is exactly what they do at the Star Center. Click here for info and to take part in Saturday's event, which will feature a 1-mile walk, along with food trucks, live music, exercise demonstrations, resource booths and children's activities.

Ingrid Lyons, executive director of Save the Boundary Waters, joined to talk about a renewed mining threat to the pristine wilderness area that encompasses 1.1 million acres in northern Minnesota. We start off with the unique landscape of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the new dilemma with a foreign mining company (Antofagasta/Twin Metals) wanting to mine upstream. Lyons explains the havoc that sulfide-ore mining wreaks on the region and the irony of branding it a "national security" project when the extracted minerals are destined for China. Next, how we got here: Republicans leveraged a legislative tool that previously had never been used to overturn a mineral withdrawal — the Congressional Review Act (CRA) — to undo a 20-year protection order put in place in 2023. Then Republicans in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House (with only one exception) passed the legislation and President Donald Trump signed it into law last week — essentially throwing out 675,000 public comments overwhelmingly against mining the area and years of scientific study pointing to its ill effects. Lastly, we try to understand the end game, because very little of this will benefit the U.S. or Minnesota — and maybe not even the mining company. Lyons addresses whether the project is even economically viable, noting it doesn't appear to benefit the Chilean billionaire's company directly since they have zero-dollar smelting contracts to send those minerals to China.

State Assembly Rep. Tara Johnson in studio discussing whether Wisconsin should get into the gerrymandering wars, ways to better communicate with constituents and some of the dilemmas she’s hearing from those in her district. We started the show discussing outreach — holding office hours, hosting town halls and other ways to reach constituents. That conversation started because Johnson has put 70,000 miles on her car, including hosting town halls throughout the state on her proposal for a BadgerCare public option. After that, we got into some of the issues she’s hearing, including one that’s a big off the radar but relatable to the housing crisis happening everywhere — outside entities are coming into Wisconsin, buying up mobile home parks and jacking up the rent and utilities.  The second half of the show dealt a bit with the gerrymandering wars, as Republican states are changing their voting maps and stopping elections in the middle of voting, while Democratic states are going to the polls and asking voters if they want to change their maps. An issue started by Donald Trump telling Texas Republicans to change their voting maps.  Johnson was asked multiple times if she would be in favor of changing voting maps if things kept getting worse for Democrats. In Wisconsin, politicians who control the Legislature decide how the maps are drawn but Gov. Tony Evers called a special election a month ago to change this process to a nonpartisan voting commission. Though Republicans have gaveled in and immediately out of all 13 prior Evers’ special elections, this one remains open. And Johnson talks about where she stands on the issue. 

One of the biggest events that happens in La Crosse every year is going to remain a staple of the city through the year 2034. The WIAA and UW-L worked out its longest deal ever, eight years, to keep the state track and field meet here. La Crosse is always looking to expand the types of events it can host but state track has been a staple since the early 1990s. But, recently we've seen the addition of the WIAA state team wrestling meet in town, as well as other regional and national events. Helping bring those events to the region is Explore La Crosse. Jeremiah Burish is the sports sales director there. He joined to help discuss getting the state track deal done, what other events could be in the works — like potential bids for state gymnastics or cross country — and some of the high-profile competitions coming to the area. That includes a massive showcase later this month, as UW-La Crosse prepares to host the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field National Championships at Roger Harring Stadium from May 21–23, and the La Crosse Center will host the DIII wrestling championships next year.

From A New Hope to The Mandalorian, it's a Star Wars day on this May the 4th with Rivoli Theatre co-owners Jon and Clara Gelatt in studio. What's your first Star Wars memory? Did mom also throw all your toys away? Are the old movies still the best? Is the Star Wars universe oversaturated thanks to Disney?  The Rivoli is playing A New Hope at 5 p.m. and 7:40 p.m. with discounts for those who dress up or bring their lightsabers. The night will feature specialty drinks — perhaps some blue milk — and preshow trivia. A New Hope will also play through Thursday. Aside from Star Wars, we wrapped up the show looking ahead to a massive month at the Rivoli including: May 9 — The Greatest Showman: Sing and Dance Along! May 12 — Civics and Cinema Presents: All the President's Men, that will include a discussion following the movie led by political scientist Dr. Sam Scinta and Viterbo's Dr. Rick Kyte. March 18 — Kings of Kubb: about the Nordic lawn game. The night will feature documentary Upper Midwest Emmy Award filmmakers B.J. Hollars and Steve Dayton for a brief Q&A following the showing.

Todd Fergot joined to talk about the big role he was just awarded, becoming the executive director of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association and some their priorities, like implementing a shot clock and expanding the state tournament. Fergot has been the boys basketball coach at Central High in La Crosse for 22 years and that’s not changing. But he now takes over this statewide organization that oversees both boys and girls basketball. We talk the WBCA’s big priorities, including the positives and negatives around implementing a 35-second shot clock, what it means to expand the state tournament and getting participation back up in girls basketball. Along with state tournament expansion, we also talked about the idea of playing at other venues, like Lambeau Field or the Brewers stadium.  Fergot noted part of the deal to take on the WBCA role was to remain coach at Central and we discuss some of his legacy there, like getting to state six times, winning and losing titles and coaching players like Johnny Davis, who was taken No. 10 in the NBA draft. 

It's not often you randomly go to interview someone and learn she's the wife of your old high school coach, but that's just what happened in talking with Stephanie Hauser. Not only is she the WIAA's executive director, but her husband is my old basketball coach from Hortonville High School. But we skipped right over how much Dave Hauser may have yelled at me in gym class and immediately had to talk about their son, Sam Hauser, who's a starter for the Boston Celtics, an NBA champion and one of the best 3-point shooters in the league. Then we talked about their daughter Nicki Hauser being an assistant volleyball coach at Missouri, which is playing Nebraska at Wrigley Field this fall. After that, we got into some WIAA business, including keeping state track and field at UW-La Crosse through 2034 — an eight-year deal and one of the longest deals they've ever done. Before we discussed that deal — which she told me after the podcast (because she was off on her figures at the end) is for $145,000 a year — we talked about my idea to have state football at Lambeau Field or state baseball at the Brewers stadium.  

The director of "sin" tax — or excise taxes — joins to talk about the effects of a gas tax holiday, what Wisconsin gains and is missing out on with legalizing sports betting and marijuana, plus Adam Hoffer is on a mission to walk every street in the city of La Crosse. We start with the definition of sin or excise tax, and why Hoffer views the gas tax differently as a "user fee" for road maintenance. We then examine calls Hoffer has been taking at the Tax Foundation lately about a gas tax holiday, and what that could mean to our road infrastructure when nearly every dollar of that tax is funneled directly into transportation budgets. After that, we discuss Hoffer’s walking tour and his goal to cover all 250 miles of city streets, plus how he leads the Emerson Elementary students to school on Wednesdays. The conversation then turns to the proposed indoor aquatic center at the Northside Community Pool site, as the first of five public meetings was happening just after we recorded. Hoffer, who sat on the UW-La Crosse Faculty Senate during the construction of the $49 million field house, offers perspective on potential funding hurdles, recalling how a single bid jump added $6 million to that project's bottom line. Lastly, we break down Wisconsin’s legalization of sports gambling and the tens of millions in windfall the state could see, as well as how much it loses by not legalizing marijuana — as all of Wisconsin's neighbors move toward established legal markets.

La Crosse’s housing crisis is a multi-front battle involving soaring rents, stagnant inventory, and a lack of available homes. To highlight these challenges and explore potential solutions, Natalie Heneghan, community outreach director at Habitat for Humanity of the Greater La Crosse Region, joined us in studio to preview Housing Week. From the drivers behind high rent to the struggles of local builders and the city’s pending zoning code updates, Heneghan broke down the upcoming seminar schedule. Before diving into the policy, we recapped the impact of last weekend’s Neighbor’s Day and then turned our attention to the unique culture at Habitat La Crosse. The organization is powered by a team of 12 — 11 of whom are women. Then there’s Ralph, the dog. We talked about the dynamic of being a women-led organization and Ralph’s official role on the website: “Director of First Impressions.” we spoke with Heneghan regarding the Heritage Preservation Commission’s recent vote to grant historic designation to Emerson Elementary School. The seven-member commission voted in favor of the designation, with Heneghan and Mackenzie Mindel casting the only two “no” votes. The school is slated to close after the next academic year. The school district is currently fighting the historic status, arguing that the designation will restrict future redevelopment options for the site.

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska) in studio to discuss the "good old days" in Madison, how partisan politics affects getting bills passed, where he stands on online sports gambling, and what the state should do about AI data centers. We also talked about the upcoming open house at La Crosse County’s newly renovated Hillview Healthcare Center. As a member of the county board, Doyle discussed the $19 million project’s unique features, including a first-of-its-kind intergenerational daycare. In terms of state politics, the conversation centered around this statistic: of the 500 bills introduced by Democrats this past session, only 19 got a committee hearing. Doyle pointed out that when Democrats last controlled the Legislature, roughly 40% of Republican bills received a hearing — a stark contrast to the 3.8% rate currently seen in Madison. We also discussed whether getting a bill signed into law actually boosts a candidate's stock during a campaign. Doyle shared a story about a "stolen" bill he had written and saw passed by a Republican. He also highlighted his recently passed legislation capping crypto kiosk deposits at $1,000 per day to protect residents from rampant fraud. We ended the show discussing online sports betting — which was just signed into law by the governor — and the urgent need for the Legislature to address data centers, which Doyle warns can create astronomical energy demands and offer very few long-term jobs despite receiving massive tax breaks.

William Garcia, the 3rd Congressional District Democratic Party chair in Wisconsin, joined to discuss Wisconsin's candy-soda ban, Democrats winning on the economy for the first time since 2010 — according to FOX, yes FOX — and just how he's feeling about the midterms. We began the show with then-and-now, asking Garcia about the "mixed bag" of the 2024  election —balancing heartbreak of federal losses with the success of picking up 10 state Legislature seats. Garcia explains why flipping the state Assembly is now the primary target and how those new boundaries have shifted the political landscape for incumbents like Republican Derek Van Orden in the US House. We then get into the FOX poll on the economy, where 52% now trust Democrats. We hit on the 32% spike in gas prices tied to the conflict in Iran to the $162 billion corporate "tariff refund" that's like a gift to retailers like Walmart. In the second half of the show, we dive into a new Wisconsin law that the use of food stamps on soda and candy — except for things like ice cream, because "Wisconsin," of course. We look how the government needs to spend $73 million to ban poor people from using food stamps to buy a Mt. Dew, and also Trump's Big Beautiful Bill only complicates this more by opening the door for the feds to take up to $200 million in federal funding away for food stamps. We wrap up with the Trump administration targeting the Southern Poverty Law Center. We did hit on two funny nonpolitical stories. One, a quote on dating from actor Henry Cavil saying, "If you like her, just ask her out. It always works for me." And another story on a California man  arrested after returning $34,000 worth of Lego sets with macaroni in the boxes. 

A 10 out of 10. That’s how interesting, or maybe it was how "important," Mac Kiel thought the April monthly city council meeting was. She stopped in studio to help recap the meeting, which included things like the city police being a couple hundred thousand dollars over budget, while other city departments were under budget and how the city council learned of this over the past few weeks.  Another thing the council apparently learned over the past few weeks is that the city had around $300,000 in ARPA interest funding with no official plan to use it. That led to one council member proposing using $90,000 to open the North Side Community Pool this summer last minute. So, we discussed that revelation and the dilemmas to having the pool open for the season — while there are also plans to build a new indoor pool facility at that site potentially. We also discussed — to a degree — using $400,000 in TID money on the Civic Center Park District. It’s a thing we discussed before it made its round on council and how the TID money does or does not have to be used before it expires.  Lastly, we talked about the La Crosse School Board’s decision earlier this week to keep the old name for a new elementary school, while renaming an old school. We also discussed briefly the names that were not picked. Kiel is a former La Crosse City Council member, who is an advocate for providing the public with what is happening with city government. She also serves on some city boards and works with the unsheltered population.

It happened this show, trying to recall a famous name from the 1990s and going through the steps with your mind to get there. Is it Alzheimer’s? No, and Dr. Kimberly Mueller, an associate professor at UW-Madison and researcher at the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, was there firsthand to explain it. Mueller joined the show ahead of her visit to town to give us a look at the current state of dementia and Alzheimer’s research. We dive into the “blood test revolution” making early detection easier, the local impact of the WRAP study at Mayo in La Crosse, and the lifestyle changes that actually work for prevention — all while getting a glimpse into how an expert in the field spends a typical day. We began the conversation by discussing why these “tip of the tongue” moments — like trying to recall the Mark McGwire using creatine to hit homers scandal — are actually a standard part of typical aging that many of us notice as early as our 40s. Mueller explains that even experts in the field experience these lapses, but she clarifies the specific “red flag” for when word-finding transitions from a normal annoyance to a medical concern. That McGwire connection led to a deeper look at the diagnostic side of the field, where simple blood tests are now replacing invasive brain scans to detect changes earlier than ever before. Much of this data comes from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention (WRAP) — one of the largest studies of its kind — which operates a research site right here at Mayo Clinic in La Crosse. From there, the discussion shifted to the prevention side of the research, exploring why heart health and exercise are proving more effective than “brain games.” Mueller explains that while staying active might not stop the biological proteins of Alzheimer’s from forming, keeping your cardiovascular system in check is a major reason dementia prevalence is actually starting to trend downward. Lastly, we asked Mueller what a professor who researches, studies, and teaches about dementia does in a typical day. Mueller explains her expertise in studying the brain by listening to the way we speak. She breaks down how her team uses digital recordings to analyze “acoustic measures” — the subtle timing, pauses, and sounds within our speech — to identify microscopic red flags that the human ear simply cannot hear. Any school, group or organization that would like to host a Badger Talk, either in person or online, email here or request a speaker online at badgertalks.wisc.edu.

The best and worst from La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey’s first year in office, as he stops in studio just days after that anniversary. We also discuss the city’s decision to appeal the Town of Campbell’s incorporation, the ongoing conversation around the north side pool, community outreach, and the reimagining of Pearl Street. We began the show highlighting Washington-Spivey’s top year-one successes before tackling the tougher challenges. That led to a bit of a deep dive into city budget talks and how La Crosse qualifies for between $1-2 million in state funding by staying under a strict spending cap — something that was also discussed in the last city council meeting. Another big part of our conversation — and the last city council meeting — was the status of the north side pool. The Mayor weighs in on the council voting down $90,000 in funding to operate the pool this summer, its need for $1 million in repairs, and the potential collaboration between the city and school district to build a year-round indoor facility. After that, the Mayor was asked about the legal tension with the Town of Campbell wanting to incorporate and the city’s reasons for appealing that decision. In the second half of the show, we break down the features of the new city website and how to get the community better involved and informed on what’s happening within government. We also hit on a couple of things happening, including why the city is putting off a decision on bike lanes down Green Bay Street and the details about how La Crosse could revamp Pearl Street to be better for both community and business.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio discussing how Wisconsin's US House members use the F bomb more than anyone, taxpayers are now paying for Badgers players and have state Republicans lost their "muscle." We started the show with the Brewers "city" Wisco jerseys, which led to how our state Legislature will do anything to use taxpayer money on sports. From the $500 million Brewers stadium funding deal a few years ago to the state signing into law this week using $14.6 million to pay Badgers players. Chergosky offered an interesting theory: lawmakers are just giant Badger fans who are terrified of losing ground to Indiana and Michigan — the National Champions in football and men's basketball.  Next, we recapped the spring election fallout on the GOP side. With a 20-point blowout in the Supreme Court race, we discussed the "lazy GOP" theory, put forth by Bill McCoshen, a prominent Republican strategist and former top advisor to Tommy Thompson. It's the idea that years of favorable maps left the party organizationally "out of shape" and unable to scrap for votes now that the playing field has leveled. Lastly, we get to analysis of who in Congress uses the F word the most, and it turns out two of the top three are US House members from Wisconsin. And the list is bipartisan — Republican Derrick Van Orden and Democrat Mark Pocan.  Lastly, we get to analysis of who in Congress uses the F word the most, and it turns out two of the top three are US House members from Wisconsin. And the list is bipartisan — Republican Derrick Van Orden and Democrat Mark Pocan. That, though, led to a discussion about the Third Congressional District race and Van Orden's recent social media push for a debate. Chergosky noted that Van Orden seems ready to bypass the primary entirely to take on Rebecca Cooke, who still has to defeat Emily Berge in August. Van Orden hasn't debated in either of his past two races. The last time he debated was before a 2020 loss to Ron Kind.

Mandela Barnes is back on the campaign trail, this time running for governor, and he stopped in studio leaning heavily into a "working class vs. corporate greed" narrative. Throughout the show, Barnes hit on his priorities, giving a Top 10 of what he’d like to get done that included expanding BadgerCare, fully funding public schools, and increasing the minimum wage. He also detailed plans to freeze utility rates, tax billionaires, and implement universal childcare, arguing that Wisconsin has "backslid" while neighboring states have pulled ahead. We didn't just talk about his "wish list," though. We also threw Barnes a bit of  a conspiracy theory that Republicans in the Legislature — including retiring leadership — might be trying to "set the state up to fail," by draining the budget surplus before a potential Democratic takeover.  Barnes also took aim at US House Rep. Tom Tiffany, the Republican candidate for governor, calling his support of certain federal policies a "dereliction of duty" that has left Wisconsin family farms and small businesses footing the bill. The conversation wrapped with skepticism about AI data centers in the state. Barnes joined the pushback against the "secrecy deals" and non-disclosure agreements that often surround these projects, arguing that if big tech wants to use Wisconsin’s water and energy, they shouldn't be doing it behind closed doors — or at the expense of local ratepayers.

La Crosse City Council president Tamra Dickinson in studio for our monthly deep dive into the April council cycle. On the show, we discuss shifting operating budget funding, where the city administrator talk should be happening, and what's the latest for the old Kmart lot. We also hit on the idea of building an indoor pool facility and the debate over Emerson Elementary School getting historic designation. But we started with a "restart" on the Kmart site—why a last-minute decision to split the lot into four parcels is pushing the project back another 30 days. We also dig into the "orthopedic" history of Emerson and why the school district is pushing back against a landmark status that could complicate a future sale and how the council will have the final say. Sticking with the school district, we discuss how the indoor pool proposal could cost anywhere from $30-$50 million and Dickinson breaks down how those conversations are moving forward. Finally, when it comes to city finance, we look at the "controversial" process of shuffling operating budget money between departments to cover those "in the red," plus the $450,000 use of TID money for Civic Center Park. That leads to talk on how these budget items highlight the need for a City Administrator, but where exactly are those conversations happening?

Adam Murphy on the environmental suck of AI data centers and Wisconsin's Supreme Court race He's what we like to call our political blowhard — politics and economics expert Adam Murphy recently joined the show to discuss the cost of AI data centers, the cost of gasoline vs. EVs and whether gender might play a role in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race. We start with the physical infrastructure of AI and why RAM prices are exploding as data centers transition from simple storage to massive processing hubs. That led into the "resource sucking" reality of these data centers in Wisconsin and across the world —as I again compare them to what happens in the movie Oblivion — and whether the state should mandate that tech giants over-produce for the local power grid to keep electricity costs down for everyone else. We then moved on to the Wisconsin Supreme Court race and why the candidates' gender might be a bigger variable for Republican voters than Democrats in the upcoming Chris Taylor vs. Maria Lazar matchup. We finished off the show breaking down the EV math and why charging at home is essentially paying $1.64 a gallon (last week), which makes "range anxiety" for people like Adam’s 72-year-old mother mostly a myth.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers does the Friday news dump, vetoing no tax on tips and overtime, and the state doesn’t have a villain to make voters care about a Supreme Court race. Those were the big topics we covered with UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky.  We also looked at the politics behind whether leaders in the state Legislature and the governor — who are all retiring — are going to do anything with property tax relief and the budget surplus. But, we began with Chris Taylor smoking Maria Lazar in funding in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race which is on the spring ballot, but because there’s no Elon Musk to bring attention to it, and the balance of the court isn’t on the line, it’s almost going unheard. After that, we discussed the reasoning behind Evers vetoing no tax on tips and overtime — two of over 20 bills he vetoed. Part of that discussion included that Evers is retiring so there are no repercussion to the vetoes, which seem unpopular. That led us to another issue with Evers retiring — the fact that it’s just him, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu being the only ones negotiating possible property tax relief. All three are not seeking reelection — retiring from politics. 

A couple of ideas we've been talking about for years on WIZM are now being put into action at La Crosse City Hall. Jenna Dinkel, an associate city planner, joined to discuss La Crosse bringing back the iconic "Hatched Baby" or blue baby, as well as a the reimagining of Pearl Street in downtown La Crosse.  Hatched Baby was vandalized years ago and the city had to take it down. But artists have now restored the 9-foot-tall artwork and we are brainstorming the best places in La Crosse to place it. After that, Dinkel talks about the reimagining of Pearl Street downtown into, what we've been saying is La Crosse version of Madison's State Street — a pedestrian-only street. The city has three concept plans for how it could change Pearl Street ahead of possible construction in 2029.

Terry Bauer in the WIZM studio, telling us about the Moon Tunes tribute party Thursday at the Rivoli Theatre in downtown La Crosse, ahead of the 15th year of this concert series at Riverside Park. The event is free but it's already half full. Tickets can be found on the Rivoli website here. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the tribute video begins at 6:30 p.m. There will be raffles drawn throughout the night, which Bauer goes over. After that, we get into what we can expect from Moon Tunes this summer — the first concert is set for June 4 (schedule).

Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez stopped in studio to discuss her campaign to become Wisconsin's next governor hitting on everything from housing to childcare to minimum wage and marijuana — plus how weird her current job is. After getting to know the former healthcare executive and public health expert, we dove into her "nurse-first" approach to policy, including a bold childcare plan that caps family costs at 7% of income and her push to legalize recreational marijuana as a way to finally bridge the state’s school funding gap. We also got into the "infuriating" housing market and why she believes the state needs to prioritize building starter homes for ownership, not just more rentals. Plus, we pull back the curtain on just how "weird" the job of Lieutenant Governor actually is—from the "shotgun marriage" of the ticket to how she’d hand off major responsibilities to her own No. 2 if elected.

Stadium food prices are getting out of hand, and Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff was in studio to discuss how legislative action could bring costs down for fans. Pfaff (D-Onalaska) broke down his “Stop the Squeeze” bill, which would cap concession prices at state-funded stadiums at 20% profit margins. We also compared what must be the best and worst concession deals in baseball — a St. Louis Cardinals ticket-food package that has to be cheaper than a lot of restaurants, while the LA Dodgers’ all-you-can-drink soda price is so steep that Pfaff couldn’t even guess the cost. Also on the show, we discussed Gov. Tony Evers and Republican leaders Devin LeMahieu and Robin Vos working behind the scenes on a compromise for property tax relief and public school funding. Pfaff noted the irony of these closed-door talks, as all three men are set to leave office after this term, leaving the rank-and-file legislators, who are actually running for re-election out of the loop. We started the show discussing the possibility of a special session called by Evers to establish a nonpartisan redistricting commission to create fair voting maps, and got into how the Legislature is already done with its work for the year — highlighting a state Senate session that lasted only one day this month in a frantic attempt to pass 111 bills, of which only 80 made it to a vote before leadership called it quits.

Mac Kiel in studio previewing committee week for the city of La Crosse, which includes potentially spending thousands of dollars in TID money like it’s an expiring gift card, that includes some big projects. Kiel helps explain—with the help of TID expert John Kovari from UW-L speaking with us before the show—some of the potential avenues for spending the money, which includes moving up the timetable on $450,000 in Civic Center Park upgrades, covering cost overruns on the $4 million Wagon Wheel Trail grant, or making the final $120,000 payment to the wastewater treatment plant. We also discussed the $10,000 library mural, how the Cameron Park farmers market on Sundays will be a little bit more than what’s traditionally been there, and a look back at the closed session regarding the Radisson. We also we break down the difference between those secret meetings and the "special meeting" appeal for a North Side business happening next week. Kiel is a former La Crosse City Council member, who is an advocate for providing the public with what is happening with city government. She also serves on some city boards and works with the unsheltered population.

Holocaust survivor Irene Miller stopped in studio to tell her story, ahead of Thursday’s event at Viterbo University.  Miller tells her tale of resilience that defies imagination, beginning when she was 6 years old, her family fleeing the Germans to Warsaw for the "safety" of the Soviet Union. What they found instead was a frozen exile in Siberian labor camps and a desperate fight against starvation in Uzbekistan. This isn't just a history lesson; it is a conversation about the "chutzpah," as Miller tells it, it takes to survive when everything — and everyone — is taken from you. The frozen forest: Hear Miller describe Siberian winters so cold that birds froze to the trees, and the wooden shacks where families huddled for warmth. Survival on "Boiled grass:" Miller recounts the near-starvation in Uzbekistan where her family was forced to eat boiled leaves and onions to stay alive. A legacy of loss: Out of an extended family of over 100 people, Miller was the only one to survive the "graveyard" that Poland had become. A message for 2026: At 93 years old, Miller shares her candid perspective on the "hate and divisiveness" she sees today and why she still believes in the "goodness of every baby." Miller was joined by Holocaust educator Darryle Clott, who asked, "How is it possible that after those horrible things, you are still positive?"  Miller’s answer to that question is something every person needs to hear. Event Details: Miller will speak at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Viterbo Fine Arts Center. The event is free and open to the public. Guests should plan to arrive at 6:30 p.m. to get a seat.

Wisconsin Assembly Rep. Tara Johnson (D-Shelby) stopped in studio to help recap the work the state Legislature got done and what still needs to be accomplished — but won't. We began the show discussing how the Legislature is done working for the rest of 2026, despite the need for property tax relief, education and childcare funding, along with Democratic priorities like raising the minimum wage and creating a public option for healthcare. The latter is a recent proposal from Johnson, who describes what it means for Wisconsin to have a BadgerCare public option for health insurance. Johnson also helps break down the final days of session, and if the state Assembly set the Senate up to fail. Last week the Senate met for one day to pass 111 bills but only got through a portion of them before calling it quits for the year. Johnson argues the Assembly didn't set the Senate up to fail, but the two branches work very differently. She described the Assembly, run by Republican Speaker Robin Vos, as authoritarian, while characterizing the Senate GOP, led by Republican Devin LeMahieu, as anarchy. Coincidentally enough, both Vos and LeMahieu are now retiring, which is perhaps a sign that Republicans expect a shift in power after the fall elections, as the new maps keep shaping the politics in the state. Johnson also discussed how the governor could call the Legislature back for a special session to codify a process to create fair voting maps. In terms of what the Legislature did get done, some of it was non-controversial and Johnson talks of these, including Gail's Law, postpartum Medicaid expansion from 60 days to a year and PFAS funding. Others, though, like sports betting legalization and allotting $14.6 million in taxpayer dollars for the University of Wisconsin-Madison to essentially pay athletes NIL money, come with some baggage.

If he's going to run for president, his slogan might be, "Washington needs a good powerwashing." Rahm Emanuel, Barack Obama's former Chief of Staff, stopped in the WIZM studio ahead of a town hall at UW-La Crosse to discuss some issues with D.C. That included his 75-year-old mandatory retirement age, banning prediction market betting for federal employees and their families, and how to help secondary education institutions, like Western Technical College. Emanuel was also asked how he’d get the U.S. out of the war with Iran, and he agreed with the concern over a Commander in Chief whose military objectives change by the hour. Emanuel argued that while troops are risking their lives, D.C. insiders are "betting against America" through predictive markets and normalized corruption — stating that Washington needs a "2x4 upside their head" to refocus on governing. On the domestic side, Emanuel claimed that the federal government is AWOL on job training. He proposed a massive shift in priorities, suggesting that instead of spending millions building detention centers, the U.S. should invest that money into "educational excellence" at places like Western Tech to fill the massive shortage of electricians and nurses. He also touched on the need for federal-state partnerships to modernize technical schools and ensure the next generation is ready for high-paying, middle-class careers. Emanuel is a former U.S. Congressman, White House Chief of Staff to Barack Obama, two-term Mayor of Chicago, and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky in studio, discussing the end of the Wisconsin state Legislature's work for the year that essentially got the second-highest ranking Republican to quit — but it wasn't over banning milkshakes from legislation. Before we got into that though, WIZM's Brad Williams joined to discuss how the farmers market is coming back to Cameron Park — just on a different day — and how the prospect of having an indoor pool between the city and the school district is going. After that, we got into how "Big Milkshake" created its own exemption in a state bill that bans poor people from buying candy or soda with food stamps in Wisconsin, but they can still have their ice cream. It's a ban that will cost millions of dollars in added administrative costs, and another $5-6 million to create such a database. We also discussed how the second-highest ranking Republican is retiring now due to two sports bills he allowed Democrats to help pass — one that essentially gives the Wisconsin Badgers $14.6 million in taxpayer money to pay players, while the other allows sports betting throughout the state.  Chergosky explains the Wisconsin Senate's "Rule of 17" which means only Republicans (or who controls the state Seante but it's been Republicans over 15 years) should have the votes to pass bills. Since the two sports bills needed Democrats, Devin Lemahieu is now retiring from the Legislature because he allowed the bills to be voted on.

La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey in the WIZM studio discussing the Kmart lot and development in La Crosse, advocating for the city in Madison — as well as other stakeholders here — plus the city-school relationship with elementary buildings coming offline and the idea of creating an indoor pool facility. We also discussed how Washington-Spivey has changed strategic planning sessions and where a city administrator role could fit into everything that’s going on. We began the show, though, discussing the mayor’s “Our city, Your 15” initiatives, where he talks one on one with residents for 15 minutes about whatever topics, issues or ideas they have with the city.  In terms of development, the mayor was asked if he’ll be the one that finally gets to take the wrecking ball to the Kmart.  We also talked about billionaire Diane Hendricks buying the Charmant and if Washington-Spivey had reached out to her. She could have other plans for the city — like what she’s doing in her hometown of Beloit.  We also discussed the public market idea, as well as a Cowboy Jacks restaurant coming to River Point and Hollandberry Pannekoeken opening last weekend.

La Crosse School Board candidate Scott Neumeister Q&A with Rick Solem.

La Crosse School Board candidate Deb Suchla Q&A with Rick Solem.

La Crosse School Board candidate Loretta Hass Q&A with Rick Solem.

La Crosse School Board candidate Jake Williams Q&A with Rick Solem.

La Crosse School Board candidate Lee Weis Q&A with Rick Solem.

Trevor Sprague, La Crosse School Board candidate Q&A with Rick Solem.

The Wisconsin Badgers are pushing for a state funding bill that would take $14.6 million in taxpayer money to essentially help pay its players. The funding would help pay down facility debt and free up funding Wisconsin could use to pay NIL money to athletes. We tried to solve that dilemma with University of Wisconsin Athletic Director Chris McIntosh by joking that the beer sales should have been enough, but perhaps they need to move all the Badgers volleyball games to Camp Randall, where sellout crowds would surely bring in more revenue.  McIntosh explains why even those ideas wouldn't be enough to bridge the gap. The AD joined Friday just after the Badgers upset No. 9 Illinois in the Big Ten tournament — so that’s where we started — but the conversation quickly turned to the $20.5 million price tag now required to stay competitive in Division I sports.  Thanks to a massive lawsuit settlement, the "pay-to-play" era is officially here, and McIntosh discusses the dilemma the university claims to have trying to satisfy the star players while keeping the less profitable sports and Olympic programs afloat. There’s no guarantee the state Senate actually votes on the legislation this week, or that it will pass, despite sailing through the Assembly with a 95-1 vote. The Senate is only scheduled to work 1-2 days before taking the rest of 2026 off — meaning the future of the Badgers' budget is currently racing against a very short clock. We ran McIntosh through various scenarios, weighing the positives and negatives of the bill. We covered the open records dilemma, the potential fallout if the funding stalls, plus we get into the "how we got here" context — from the transfer portal and NIL money to the court rulings that have changed college sports forever.

Giving UW-Madison $14.6 million in taxpayer money to pay players, will sports gambling become legal and gas prices going up were the big topics we covered Friday with economist, Dr. Adam Hoffer. Hofffer is the director of excise tax policy at the Tax Foundation and began by explaining what excise tax is — or sin taxes, like gambling, alcohol, marijuana. Another one of those excise taxes is gas, and Hoffer explained how Wisconsin’s gas prices could skyrocket because of the war in Iran — if certain Legislators had their way — but the way the state taxes gas now, makes the most sense.  In the sports world, the Wisconsin state Senate is going to work one or two more days next week, before calling it quits for the rest of 2026. Among the flurry of bills that could get a vote, one would be on legalizing sports gambling, and Hoffer explains how that might work — and how that will immediately trigger lawsuits. The other bill is a request from UW-Madison for $14.6 million. This money would be for “facilities” but it is a way to offset costs of Division I college now having the option to pay their players up to $20.5 million total a year. Hoffer explains some of the pros and cons for the state, the university and the taxpayer around that bill. We also look at how the sports gambling bill could help the "paying the players" request.   

It's the world's shortest race, but it's been going on for a long time. Saturday is 95.7 the Rock's 21st annual St. Paddy's Day .01K down Pearl Street in La Crosse. Bags from the Rock stopped by to help preview the event and tell some stories of past races. This is the type of race anyone can do, and brag about getting a coveted shirt that proves you're a runner. Registration happens online here or beginning at 3 p.m. at Brothers. The race happens at 6 p.m. and ends around 6:01 p.m. — if you take your time.

He has more receptions in college football history than anyone, he tried out for the Green Bay Packers, he won a European football championship playing both ways, and he might drive his Hall of Fame coach dad crazy with what he wants to do with the UW-La Crosse football team. Michael Zweifel just took over the UW-L program and he joined Thursday as we relived some of his glory days and discussed how he’s going to approach the new gig as head coach. Zweifel has been with UW-L the past four years, including the last two as defensive coordinator. As a player, Zweifel won what’s the Division III version of the Heisman (Gagliardi Trophy) with Dubuque, and led the nation in yards (1,915) and catches (140) back in 2011. He also graduated with 463 receptions, the most in college football history. That earned him a tryout with the Packers, during the height of the Aaron Rodgers-to-Jordy Nelson days. Some years later Zweifel went on to play for the Vienna Vikings, winning a championship there. Zweifel is also a sports science nerd and his approach to practices and utilizing time might come as a bit of a football culture shock — certainly to his dad, Stan Zweifel. While his father — who coached at UW-Whitewater and Dubuque and has written six books on coaching — believes in traditional "mental toughness," Michael is leaning into "chaos training." He plans to scrap "sterile" drills like hitting the sled or running through bags in favor of "small-sided games" that force players to be adaptable. "If it doesn't move the needle forward, we're not gonna waste our time on it," Zweifel said, noting that improving weightlifting numbers "doesn't make you a better football player" and he'll eliminate things that don't help on Saturdays. We also discuss taking over a program that’s been to the playoffs five consecutive years and just watched its rival, UW-River Falls, win the national championship last season. Zweifel is now tasked with rebuilding a defense that graduated eight starters as he looks to take the Eagles to the next level.

We talked some glory days and previewed the National Championships with Hall of Fame UW-La Crosse wrestling coach Dave Malecek. That included the coach, in his 20th season, being brutally honest about what “college days Malecek” would do to the eight guys he has headed to Nationals this Friday and Saturday in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Malecek was a two-time state champ at Osage High School (91-9 career record) and went on to qualify for Division I Nationals four times at Northern Iowa, before participating in the USA Wrestling Team Olympic Trials in 1992 and 1996. Aside from his wrestling days, we get into the eight from UW-L headed to Nationals this weekend and what makes each of those guys unique. That includes one who graduated from UW-L as a two-time Nationals qualifier — where he took 2nd and 3rd — then went back home to coach his brother in high school for a year and is now back as a grad student and back at Nationals ranked with a 17-0 record. Over Malecek’s career at UW-L, he’s coached 72 All-Americans, including 14 individual National Champions.

We covered a lot with La Crosse city council president Tamra Dickinson in studio, including infrastructure projects like the old Kmart, a new restaurant in River Point, and the North Side Library’s future use. We also talked about why Dickinson voted against city administrator, where La Crosse is at with its zoning overhaul and the upcoming strategic planning session.  With the Northside Community Library scheduled to close June 30, and a news conference from north siders on wanting to use the building as a community center, Dickinson talked about the process of potentially declaring the building a "surplus,” and the "expression of interest" phase.  In regards to the old Kmart, we did a quick recap of its time with Three-Sixty Real Estate Solutions, which let an 18-month extension for the rezoning to expire, and how it now has to essentially start from scratch with the design review and zoning process.  Also, two big meetings are coming up this month that could have citywide impacts. A joint session March 18 will tackle a massive overhaul of residential zoning. It’s the first of two meetings intended to simplify the city's code so it's actually "easier to work with" for residents and developers alike, according to Dickinson. She noted the goal is to refine rules on things like "tiny homes" and having multiple buildings on one lot — things that currently force people to jump through the zoning appeals process. Instead of constant one-off exceptions, the city is looking to modernize the code to match how people are actually living and building today. The other meeting, on March 24, is a strategic planning session that Dickinson says is designed to help the council "focus and vision" for the city's future. Rather than just reacting to the monthly agenda, she hopes this session allows the council to identify long-term priorities—which is also why she wants the city administrator discussion to happen there, away from the pressure of a looming vote. Shifting back to more immediate council business Thursday, we got into a $120,000 "beautification" project for 3rd and 4th streets that includes new planters and trash cans downtown and whether that’s logical considering the Wisconsin DOT will tear up all of downtown in 2030.  Last month, the council saw a city administrator proposal fall two votes short of passing, and Dickinson was one of the no votes but supports the idea. She talked about why, including how the legislation was becoming "hard to follow" with last-minute amendments and five different changes flying around. By voting it down now, she says the council has the "freedom of being able to talk about it without us worrying about it being active legislation," with the goal of bringing a cleaner version back once strategic planning sessions conclude this summer. To wrap up, we looked at "Renew the Block," a Habitat for Humanity project on Avon Street that Dickinson has been heavily involved with. On March 25, the city will host a presentation at the Nature Place to show other neighborhoods how the project successfully integrated stormwater management and curb appeal — proving that neighborhood revitalization can be a blueprint for the rest of the city.

After nine months of construction, the "pardon our mess" signs at the La Crosse Public Library are finally coming down. Library director Dawn Wacek stopped in studio Monday to preview the grand reopening of the facility on Main Street happening from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday — with tours every hour. The $3.1 million interior renovation covered about 40% of the building's footprint — all funded through a competitive state grant from the Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Flexible Facilities Program. Wacek noted the funding allowed the library to "fast-track" upgrades without hitting local property taxes or the city's day-to-day operating budget. Listen live weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Find the pod on Spotify, Apple Podcast or here. Tune in on the WIZM app or on air at 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska) The conversation touched on the new "vibe" of the space, which Wacek described as more modern and flexible. One of Wacek’s favorite upgrades are the "Brody chairs" — semi-enclosed private nooks with built-in desks and lighting. Beyond the new seating, the renovation added several specialized areas, including: A 100-seat auditorium and classroom space on the main floor. An updated "CREATE" maker space for hands-on projects. Eight new meeting and study rooms spread across both floors. A refreshed public computer area and a second-floor computer lab. Two first-floor meeting rooms dedicated to community service access. Renovated, more accessible first-floor restrooms. We also half joked about one thing that didn't make the blueprints: a coffee shop. Wacek explained the "pluses and minuses" of bringing in a cafe partner, noting that while it's a popular request, the risk of a partner going out of business often leads to "wasted space" in public buildings. Beyond the renovations, we discussed how the library is pivoting to meet people where they are. Wacek highlighted a new pilot program for "library lockers" at the Main branch, where patrons can pick up materials after hours using a keycode. The goal is to eventually expand those kiosks to the north and south ends of the city to provide access even when the physical buildings are closed. We also got into city budget talks, as the mayor has made it a focus to tackle that early on in the year. With the library making up about 8% of the city’s total budget, Wacek talked about being "at the table" for 2026 planning and the long-term goal of launching a fundraising campaign to modernize the "desperately undersized" children’s, teen, and tween areas. To wrap up, we went through some of the books currently featured on the library's new "face-out" display shelving, plus looked at some of the stats from library use the past few years and went over the logistics of Wednesday's reopening, which will include guided tours each hour from various library staffers.

Guests on La Crosse Talk PM previewed Irish events in La Crosse, including the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Shamrock Club traditions and the Coulee Hoolie.

Garrett Paulson, pictured above, stopped by the WIZM studio Thursday on La Crosse Talk PM to talk about financial responsibility, healthy money habits, and why giving back to the community matters. Jason Spangler hosted the conversation, focusing on practical, behavior-first ideas listeners can use in everyday life — from building a plan and avoiding common money traps to staying consistent and tying financial decisions to personal values. During the interview, Paulson broke down what “financial responsibility” looks like in real life, emphasizing discipline, routines, and small steps people can take to feel more in control of their money. The discussion stayed centered on education and mindset rather than specific products or personal financial advice. The conversation also explored habits that can help people make progress over time, including budgeting in a realistic way, building an emergency fund, managing debt without feeling overwhelmed, and using systems like automation and routines to stay on track when life gets busy. Paulson also spoke about the connection between financial discipline and community involvement. In addition to his work as a financial advisor with Northwestern Mutual, he is involved with the Delta Sigma Phi Alumni Board, Rotary, Next Steps for Change, and the Sons of the American Legion. He shared why service matters to him and encouraged listeners who want to give back locally to start small, stay consistent, and lead with purpose. The interview wrapped with practical takeaways listeners can put into action right away, including ways parents can model healthy financial behaviors at home and how success can look different when money is aligned with values, purpose, and community. Listen to the full interview below. Listen live weekdays at 5:00 p.m. Tune in on the WIZM app or on air at 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM. More information: Garrett Paulson, Northwestern Mutual, 608-797-4512, 2737 National Dr, Onalaska, WI 54650

Dave Larsen and Tess Larsen, pictured above, stopped by the WIZM studio Wednesday on La Crosse Talk PM to talk about Freedom Honor Flight — and how the Coulee Region can help local veterans take a powerful, one-day trip to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials built in their honor. Jason Spangler hosted the conversation, focusing on what Freedom Honor Flight is, who qualifies, what the day in D.C. looks like, and clear ways listeners can get involved — whether that’s applying, volunteering, donating, or supporting local fundraising efforts. Freedom Honor Flight is an all-volunteer nonprofit based out of La Crosse. The organization serves 22 counties across Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa, flying 200+ veterans annually and helping more than 3,000 veterans since 2008, with both spring and fall flights. During the interview, Larsen helped listeners picture “flight day” — from the early morning airport send-off, to a full day of meaningful stops in the nation’s capital, and an emotional welcome home. Veterans typically visit key memorials (often including WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and more) plus Arlington National Cemetery, with medical support available throughout the day and a guardian paired with each veteran. The discussion also covered eligibility and how the priority system works, how families can start the application process, and the important role guardians play in making the trip safe, comfortable, and memorable — especially for veterans with mobility challenges or ongoing medical needs. Larsen emphasized the heart behind the mission: “This is how we say thank you.”

Joanna Drazkowski, pictured above, stopped by the WIZM studio Tuesday on La Crosse Talk PM to talk fitness, yoga, running, and how small, consistent habits can make a big difference—especially for busy parents. Drazkowski teaches at Root Down Yoga Studio and also instructs group fitness classes at the La Crosse Area Family YMCA’s Houser Branch. Jason Spangler hosted the conversation, which began with Drazkowski’s personal story—how she found her way to the La Crosse/Onalaska area and why yoga became a natural extension of her background as a runner. At Root Down, she’s been described as a “calm creator,” with a guiding mindset of “embrace the discomfort.” The interview also touched on what she hopes students feel when they walk out of class—both physically and mentally. In the second segment, Drazkowski shared practical encouragement for listeners who feel intimidated by the idea of getting back into a workout routine, along with approachable first steps people can try this week. The discussion included injury-prevention habits for runners, how to safely “lean into discomfort” without pushing past what’s smart, and what a simple 20-minute at-home routine can look like. The conversation also included a brief, informational look at Drazkowski’s candidacy for La Crosse County Board Supervisor in District 18, and how community wellness connects to local priorities.

Assem Izmukhanova Kopitzke, Erica Koonmen, and Lisbeth Reynertson stopped by the WIZM studio Monday night on La Crosse Talk PM to preview the 2026 International Women’s Day Celebration at UW–La Crosse. Jason Spangler hosted the program, filling in for Rick Solem while he’s on vacation. The conversation covered this year’s theme, “Give to Gain,” and what the community can expect from the evening — including a panel featuring women representing Denmark, Kazakhstan, and Nigeria, followed by time for audience Q&A. The 14th Annual International Women’s Day Celebration is happening Tuesday, March 3 from 5–7 p.m. in the Bluffs Ballroom inside the UWL Student Union. The event is free and open to the public. There will also be a menstrual product collection at the door to benefit local schools and women’s shelters (donations of tampons or pads are appreciated).

Third Congressional District Democratic Party chair William Garcia stopped by the WIZM studio Friday to discuss Wisconsin politics. We covered everything from a state Legislature that is already done working for the rest of 2026 to the new Marquette University Law School poll on gubernatorial candidates — which suggests nobody knows who they’re voting for just yet. We also broke down the “La Crosse viral” video of Central High School’s John Havlicek asking US House Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Prairie du Chien) what he can do to bring costs down. The video has a few bizarre exchanges, from the Congressman handing Havlicek his helmet before entering the bathroom to Van Orden oddly bumping into the longtime educator. That contact was a notable echo of an incident at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where Van Orden claimed a “bump” from a protester was “political violence” — an accusation that that woman jailed for 14 hours before bodycam footage eventually cleared her and showed no evidence of an assault. The video concludes with the Republican claiming the Spanish teacher is a “paid plant” sent to D.C. by George Soros. Havlicek has been teaching Spanish at Central for over 30 years and is the former La Crosse Education Association president. Van Orden has been in Congress for two terms and is up for reelection this fall. Listen live weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Find the pod on Spotify, Apple Podcast or here. Tune in on the WIZM app or on air at 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska)

La Crosse lost another legend on Friday. Duane Moore — a Korean War veteran, one of the founders of Rotary Lights, the 1997 Festmaster for La Crosse’s Oktoberfest and a pillar of the community — passed away peacefully with family by his side at the age of 93. Moore’s impact was a family affair — he, his wife Jan, and their son Chuck were known as a “quintessential fest family” who “just ate, lived and breathed Oktoberfest,” Terry Cowgill, the 2019 Festmaster said. Chuck Moore, the 2015 Maple Leaf Parade Marshal, helped us remember his dad Friday, telling stories that included how he was a giant extrovert. “Events would happen where they couldn’t find him to go home, because he’s down the road talking to people he didn’t know and the rest of the group is in a little circle talking amongst themselves,” Chuck Moore said. “And where’s Duane? He’s off down some place nobody knows talking to some guy he’d never met before.” Other times, Duane would be off talking but everyone knew where he was — because it was during a parade with thousands in attendance. “And then he said, ‘Why do I have to ride on the float? I want to march out front.’ So he goes jumping off the float and he’s running down the parade route and meeting people,” Chuck recalled. “Because Duane is a very much a people person. He doesn’t want to sit on a float and wave at people, he wants to run out and say ‘Hi, how you doing?’ and shake your hand.” Duane had a passion for community. “He was a champion for volunteerism,” Chuck said of his dad’s philosophy in life. “And if you just go to work and go home and watch TV, you’re wasting your life. You’ve got to go out and meet people and get involved.” Other ways Duane got involved was preserving history. While Chuck mentioned he may have wanted to get rid of Oktoberfest’s unofficial mascot, King Gambrinus, he also wanted people to know the history of the event. Duane Moore authored the book, The Fest of Times: An Ein Prosit to the 50th Anniversary of Oktoberfest U.S.A. “He emphasized that the book is a tribute to volunteers,” Brad Quarberg, the 2016 Maple Leaf Parade Marshal and the book’s editor, said. “And he said that in a lot of communities, a lot of people do things behind the scenes, and he wanted to make sure that volunteers were recognized. And he mentioned a few, but then talked about all the volunteers he was able to work with, not only through Oktoberfest, but through a number of other kinds of community events that he was active with.” “It shows the power of what one single person can bring to this community,” Terry Cowgill, the 2019 Festmaster, added. Duane Moore was also one of the founders of La Crosse’s legendary Rotary Lights, which has been a pillar of the community since 1994. His passing comes just weeks after another cherished La Crosse community member, Pat Stephens, passed away. “They were titans of our community for sure,” Cowgill said. “It’s a sad day, another sad day, that we’re losing another community icon who was instrumental in making the La Crosse area not only beautiful at Christmas, but also the things that was with helping feed the needy in the community,” Quarberg added. “And so, just two great, great leaders for our community who will be missed greatly.”