It's the type of service you really don't want to have to use.  But it is one that's important to yours and to public safety. It is the emergency dispatch center of 9-1-1. Monday on La Crosse Talk host Sean Dwyer talked with Director of Public Safety and Communications Kent Stein.

Mr. Stein is new to the position, but he's familiar with emergency response in our area having worked for Tri-state Ambulance.

He talked about how AI is being used at the dispatch center, about bilingual issues, about training, and about the fact that the 9-1-1 dispatch is looking to hire.

It's the type of service you really don't want to have to use.&nbsp; But it is one that's important to yours and to public safety. It is the emergency dispatch center of 9-1-1. Monday on La Crosse Talk host Sean Dwyer talked with Director of Public Safety and Communications Kent Stein.
Mr. Stein is new to the position, but he's familiar with emergency response in our area having worked for Tri-state Ambulance.
He talked about how AI is being used at the dispatch center, about bilingual issues, about training, and about the fact that the 9-1-1 dispatch is looking to hire.

WIZM's LaCrosse Talk. News and talk about the issues of the day for Western Wisconsin.

WIZM's LaCrosse Talk. News and talk about the issues of the day for Western Wisconsin.

WIZM - La Crosse  Talk Interviews

WIZM’s La Crosse Talk brings you the voices shaping Western Wisconsin.
Broadcast live weekday mornings on WIZM News Talk 92.3 FM, 106.7 FM, 1410 AM, and streaming at wizmnews.com and on the WIZM app, La Crosse Talk dives into the headlines, local politics, community issues, and conversations that matter most to listeners in the Coulee Region. Hosted as part of the La Crosse Talk Morning Show, each episode features in-depth interviews with newsmakers, elected officials, experts, and everyday citizens offering real perspectives on the events and decisions impacting La Crosse and surrounding communities. Whether it's breaking news, civic discussions, or community stories, La Crosse Talk keeps you informed and connected to the place you call home.

WIZM&rsquo;s La Crosse Talk brings you the voices shaping Western Wisconsin. Broadcast live weekday mornings on WIZM News Talk 92.3 FM, 106.7 FM, 1410 AM, and streaming at <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/">wizmnews.com</a> and on the WIZM app, La Crosse Talk dives into the headlines, local politics, community issues, and conversations that matter most to listeners in the Coulee Region. Hosted as part of the La Crosse Talk Morning Show, each episode features in-depth interviews with newsmakers, elected officials, experts, and everyday citizens offering real perspectives on the events and decisions impacting La Crosse and surrounding communities.&nbsp;Whether it's breaking news, civic discussions, or community stories, La Crosse Talk keeps you informed and connected to the place you call home.

WIZM - La Crosse

Meet La Crosse County's new Director of Public Safety and Communications

The La Crosse County Health Department is urging homeowners to test their homes for radon this month. 
January is Radon Action Month. 
Radon is a gas that occurs from the natural breakdown of uranium in the soil. It can't be seen, smelled, or tasted. 
It kills approximately 21,000 people a year from lung cancer, making it the second leading cause of death from that disease in the US. 
Mekaela Malloy with the Health Department said the geology of our area lends itself to more cases of radon exposure.
"In Wisconsin as a whole, we see typically about one in ten homes have a high radon level. In the Coulee Region goes from one to three homes because we have that porous soil that allows the gas to come up a little quicker."

While the geology plays a role, geography also is a factor. 

"So, if you test your home for radon and you don't have any, you don't have high levels, that doesn't mean that, say, your neighbor might not have high levels. It really just depends on your specific home and where it's sitting," Malloy said. 

The county has short-term radon testing kits available, the first step in the process. Because it's Radon Action Month, the Health Department is offering them for $9.00 each. 

The kits are available at the Health Department as well as at every La Crosse County Library branch. 

Additional Information:

https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/radon/index.htm

https://www.epa.gov/radon

 

The La Crosse County Health Department is urging homeowners to test their homes for radon this month.&nbsp; January is Radon Action Month.&nbsp; Radon is a gas that occurs from the natural breakdown of uranium in the soil. It can't be seen, smelled, or tasted.&nbsp; It kills approximately 21,000 people a year from lung cancer, making it the second leading cause of death from that disease in the US.&nbsp; Mekaela Malloy with the Health Department said the geology of our area lends itself to more cases of radon exposure. "In Wisconsin as a whole, we see typically about one in ten homes have a high radon level. In the Coulee Region goes from one to three homes because we have that porous soil that allows the gas to come up a little quicker."
While the geology plays a role, geography also is a factor.&nbsp;
"So, if you test your home for radon and you don't have any, you don't have high levels, that doesn't mean that, say, your neighbor might not have high levels. It really just depends on your specific home and where it's sitting," Malloy said.&nbsp;
The county has short-term radon testing kits available, the first step in the process. Because it's Radon Action Month, the Health Department is offering them for $9.00 each.&nbsp;
The kits are available at the Health Department as well as at every La Crosse County Library branch.&nbsp;
Additional Information:
<a href="https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/radon/index.htm" data-sf-ec-immutable="">https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/radon/index.htm</a>
<a href="https://www.epa.gov/radon" data-sf-ec-immutable="">https://www.epa.gov/radon</a>
&nbsp;

The importance of testing your home for Radon

This current drive for the Great Rivers United Way is being extended until the end of the month in hopes of reaching its goal. It's about $100,000 short., according to campaign co-chair Randy Nelson. 

"We're extending this until January 31 in hopes that we can really work to close the gap because if we can't we do know that some of the organizations that United Way has been supporting may be in the position to have to reduce some of their own programming that they're providing for community members."

Their goal is $1.6 million

The Great Rivers United Way supports programs and services in a seven-county region. Those programs are in Buffalo, Crawford, Houston, La Crosse, Monroe, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties. 

Funding goes towards mental wellbeing and basic needs of those in the community based on its survey. 

Anyone wanting to donate to the Great Rivers United Way can click here to contribute. 

This current drive for the <a href="https://www.greatriversunitedway.org/">Great Rivers United Way </a>is being extended until the end of the month in hopes of reaching its goal. It's about $100,000 short., according to campaign co-chair Randy Nelson.&nbsp;
"We're extending this until January 31 in hopes that we can really work to close the gap because if we can't we do know that some of the organizations that United Way has been supporting may be in the position to have to reduce some of their own programming that they're providing for community members."
Their goal is $1.6 million
The Great Rivers United Way supports programs and services in a seven-county region. Those programs are in Buffalo, Crawford, Houston, La Crosse, Monroe, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties.&nbsp;
Funding goes towards mental wellbeing and basic needs of those in the community based on its survey.&nbsp;
Anyone wanting to donate to the Great Rivers United Way can <a href="https://www.greatriversunitedway.org/home/donate/">click here to contribute.&nbsp;</a>

Great Rivers United Way extends campaign to end of January

Sheriff John Siegel said Tuesday morning that La Crosse County is nearing a deal to provide law enforcement services to the Town of Shelby.

Siegel talked about the agreement on La Crosse Talk. 

"So, we've been talking over the last year or so about how could the county provide some services and we're working on doing that with them and contracting which is very popular throughout the state for sheriff's offices to contract with villages and townships," Siegel said.

The sheriff also spoke about a number of other topics related to his job including one of the number one issues that his office deals with: mental health issues. The La Crosse County Jail is the largest provider of mental health services in the county. He detailed the increasing need for individual space for inmates undergoing mental health issues while incarcerated plus an overview of the treatment inmates are provided at the facility.

Sheriff Siegel also discussed the training involved for newly hired deputies lasting weeks compared to only several days when he first began his career 32 years ago. 

There was also a conversation about cooperation between the other law enforcement agencies in the county and how they all benefit from mutual aid and good communication.

Sheriff John Siegel said Tuesday morning that La Crosse County is nearing a deal to provide law enforcement services to the Town of Shelby.
Siegel talked about the agreement on La Crosse Talk.&nbsp;
"So, we've been talking over the last year or so about how could the county provide some services and we're working on doing that with them and contracting which is very popular throughout the state for sheriff's offices to contract with villages and townships," Siegel said.
The sheriff also spoke about a number of other topics related to his job including one of the number one issues that his office deals with: mental health issues. The La Crosse County Jail is the largest provider of mental health services in the county. He detailed the increasing need for individual space for inmates undergoing mental health issues while incarcerated plus an overview of the treatment inmates are provided at the facility.
Sheriff Siegel also discussed the training involved for newly hired deputies lasting weeks compared to only several days when he first began his career 32 years ago.&nbsp;
There was also a conversation about cooperation between the other law enforcement agencies in the county and how they all benefit from mutual aid and good communication.

Meet La Crosse County's new Director of Public Safety and Communications

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews

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