Chief Executive Officer Bill Soper joined La Crosse Talk on Friday to talk about all things YMCA.

His headline, "The "Y" is more than gym and swim.

Soper says, the "Y" provides a number of services and community outreach programs and nutrition programs which involve more than providing members a place to run on a treadmill.

Friday's discussion was a wide-ranging conversation about how and why the YMCA is a local hometown asset.

Chief Executive Officer Bill Soper joined La Crosse Talk on Friday to talk about all things YMCA.
His headline, "The "Y" is more than gym and swim.
Soper says, the "Y" provides a number of services and community outreach programs and nutrition programs which involve more than providing members a place to run on a treadmill.
Friday's discussion was a wide-ranging conversation about how and why the YMCA is a local hometown asset.

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

More than gym and swim: YMCA serves the whole community 

2nd District Councilmember Erin Goggin spoke on La Crosse Talk with Sean Dwyer on Friday regarding the City Council's vote to end the practice of invocations at the beginning of city council meetings. 

She was one of four members who voted against the measure. The others were Barb Janssen, Chris Kahlow, and Gary Padesky. 

For more on the story, read WIZM's Brad Williams' story below.

No more invocations at the start of La Crosse city council meetings.

Council members Thursday voted 9-4 to end the practice of inviting representatives of the faith community to offer a message at the monthly council sessions. That's a tradition which was adopted by the council in 2009.

Mackenzie Mindel sponsored the resolution at the urging of some members of the public. 

"I'm really glad that's over," Mindel said after the vote, "because it's really difficult ... to have the community so upset about an issue." 

She added that people have asked her for several years to propose an end to the invocation practice.

Mindel argued that the La Crosse County Board also used to have invocations at its meetings, but that practice ended some years ago. 

About 40 to 50 people attended Thursday's meeting, with several supporters of invocations gathered outdoors in the rain before the council session to show their support of the practice.

City leaders said the vote to end invocations would not change other traditions at council meetings, such as a moment of silence or the Pledge of Allegiance. 

In other action, the council approved a move to shorten the term of La Crosse municipal judge from four years to just two years, to align with the custom in other communities.

2nd District Councilmember Erin Goggin spoke on La Crosse Talk with Sean Dwyer on Friday regarding the City Council's vote to end the practice of invocations at the beginning of city council meetings.&nbsp;
She was one of four members who voted against the measure. The others were Barb Janssen, Chris Kahlow, and Gary Padesky.&nbsp;
For more on the story, read WIZM's Brad Williams' story below.
<hr>
No more invocations at the start of La Crosse city council meetings.
Council members Thursday voted 9-4 to end the practice of inviting representatives of the faith community to offer a message at the monthly council sessions. That's a tradition which was adopted by the council in 2009.
Mackenzie Mindel sponsored the resolution at the urging of some members of the public.&nbsp;
"I'm really glad that's over," Mindel said after the vote, "because it's really difficult ... to have the community so upset about an issue."&nbsp;
She added that people have asked her for several years to propose an end to the invocation practice.
Mindel argued that the La Crosse County Board also used to have invocations at its meetings, but that practice ended some years ago.&nbsp;
About 40 to 50 people attended Thursday's meeting, with several supporters of invocations gathered outdoors in the rain before the council session to show their support of the practice.
City leaders said the vote to end invocations would not change other traditions at council meetings, such as a moment of silence or the Pledge of Allegiance.&nbsp;
In other action, the council approved a move to shorten the term of La Crosse municipal judge from four years to just two years, to align with the custom in other communities.

Councilmember Erin Goggin speaks on vote to end invocations at start of council meetings

The La Crosse Regional Airport, commercial real estate, workforce challenges were some of the topics discussed on La Crosse Talk on Thursday. 



Vicki Markussen is the executive director for the La Crosse Area Development Corporation, or LADCO.  She joined host Sean Dwyer to talk about the business community in the region.



During the discussion, Markussen emphasized the importance of the airport to local businesses and travelers. 



She says the addition of Allegiant airline flights is a boon for area travelers and the community. 



She also talked about the LADCO annual meeting which is set for January 29 at the Cargill Room at the Waterfront in La Crosse. That event is open to the public. Vicki talked challenges, opportunities and future endeavors.

The La Crosse Regional Airport, commercial real estate, workforce challenges were some of the topics discussed on La Crosse Talk on Thursday.&nbsp;
 
Vicki Markussen is the executive director for the <a href="https://www.ladcolax.com/">La Crosse Area Development Corporation,</a> or LADCO.&nbsp; She joined host Sean Dwyer to talk about the business community in the region.
 
During the discussion, Markussen emphasized the importance of the airport to local businesses and travelers.&nbsp;
 
She says the addition of Allegiant airline flights is a boon for area travelers and the community.&nbsp;
 
She also talked about the LADCO annual meeting which is set for January 29 at <a href="https://www.ladcolax.com/#!event/2025/12/22/ladco-apos-s-54th-annual-meeting">the Cargill Room at the Waterfront in La Crosse.</a> That event is open to the public. Vicki talked challenges, opportunities and future endeavors.

Markussen discusses business growth in area

UW-La Crosse is inviting the community to Mitchell Hall on Saturday for a day of play and remembrance, dedicated to the legacy of Charlie “Bubba” Lonning Weber.

The festivities kick off at from noon-2:45 p.m. with the Charlie's Kids fest, and lead into the UW-L women's basketball game after that, where attendance is free and they hope to break the WIAC single-game attendance record of 2,112 fans.



erseys. Each jersey will be inscribed with the names of 19 infants who have passed away, serving as a visual memorial to raise awareness for pregnancy and infant loss.

  Know before you go: Bubba's Youth Day & Charlie's Kids fest  

If you are planning to help "Fill Mitchell Hall" Saturday, here is the schedule and what you need to know:


Charlie's Kids fest (Noon–2:45 p.m.): The pre-game party takes place in the Mitchell Hall Fieldhouse. It features inflatables, obstacle courses, and activity stations for kids (preschool through 8th grade).

The Big Game (3 p.m.): Stick around as UW-La Crosse Women’s Basketball takes on UW-Platteville. This is the official push to break the WIAC attendance record of 2,112 fans.

Admission is FREE: Both the fest and the basketball game are free for fans of all ages.

Registration & Waivers: While the event is free, children participating in the fest must be accompanied by an adult. You can save time by signing the required waiver online before you arrive.

The Cause: The event is hosted by Bubba’s Fund, which supports the Charlie’s Kids Foundation. Their mission is to provide SIDS education and "sleep safe" resources to new parents, a mission that has already significantly impacted childcare safety in the La Crosse area.



While the record is a target, organizers say the primary goal is to "Fill Mitchell Hall" with support for a cause that has already transformed local childcare safety.





The event supports Bubba’s Fund, established by UW-L women’s basketball coach Moran Lonning and her husband, Alex Weber, after their son Charlie passed away in 2024 at just three months old.



Since then, the fund has reached a major milestone in successfully providing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to every state-licensed childcare facility in La Crosse.



Saturday’s events will help sustain that momentum and support "Rising Athletes," a nonprofit that removes financial barriers for local youth sports.



Charlie’s Kids Fest at Mitchell Hall Fieldhouse is free for children (preschool through 8th grade) and features inflatables, obstacle courses, plus a chance to play alongside UW-L student-athletes.



Parents are encouraged to sign a participation waiver in advance at bubbasfund.org.

UW-La Crosse is inviting the community to Mitchell Hall on Saturday for a day of play and remembrance, dedicated to the legacy of Charlie &ldquo;Bubba&rdquo; Lonning Weber.
The festivities kick off at from noon-2:45 p.m. with the Charlie's Kids fest, and lead into the UW-L women's basketball game after that, where attendance is free and they hope to break the WIAC single-game attendance record of 2,112 fans.

erseys. Each jersey will be inscribed with the names of 19 infants who have passed away, serving as a visual memorial to raise awareness for pregnancy and infant loss.
 Know before you go: Bubba's Youth Day &amp; Charlie's Kids fest 
If you are planning to help "Fill Mitchell Hall" Saturday, here is the schedule and what you need to know:
 
<ul>
<li>Charlie's Kids fest (Noon&ndash;2:45 p.m.): The pre-game party takes place in the Mitchell Hall Fieldhouse. It features inflatables, obstacle courses, and activity stations for kids (preschool through 8th grade).</li>

<li></li>

<li>The Big Game (3 p.m.): Stick around as UW-La Crosse Women&rsquo;s Basketball takes on UW-Platteville. This is the official push to break the WIAC attendance record of 2,112 fans.</li>

<li></li>

<li>Admission is FREE: Both the fest and the basketball game are free for fans of all ages.</li>

<li></li>

<li>Registration &amp; Waivers: While the event is free, children participating in the fest must be accompanied by an adult. You can <a href="https://www.bubbasfund.org/">save time by signing the required waiver online</a> before you arrive.</li>

<li></li>

<li>The Cause: The event is hosted by Bubba&rsquo;s Fund, which supports the Charlie&rsquo;s Kids Foundation. Their mission is to provide SIDS education and "sleep safe" resources to new parents, a mission that has already significantly impacted childcare safety in the La Crosse area.</li>
</ul>
 
While the record is a target, organizers say the primary goal is to "Fill Mitchell Hall" with support for a cause that has already transformed local childcare safety.


The event supports Bubba&rsquo;s Fund, established by UW-L women&rsquo;s basketball coach Moran Lonning and her husband, Alex Weber, after their son Charlie passed away in 2024 at just three months old.
 
Since then, the fund has reached a major milestone in successfully <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2025/12/17/bubbas-fund-gets-aeds-to-childcare-centers-in-honor-of-uw-l-coachs-son-who-passed-away-at-3-months/">providing automated external defibrillators</a> (AEDs) to every state-licensed childcare facility in La Crosse.
 
Saturday&rsquo;s events will help sustain that momentum and support "Rising Athletes," a nonprofit that removes financial barriers for local youth sports.
 
Charlie&rsquo;s Kids Fest at Mitchell Hall Fieldhouse is free for children (preschool through 8th grade) and features inflatables, obstacle courses, plus a chance to play alongside UW-L student-athletes.

Parents are encouraged to sign a participation waiver in advance at <a href="https://www.bubbasfund.org/">bubbasfund.org</a>.

More than gym and swim: YMCA serves the whole community

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