It's the 60th annual Holiday Fair at the La Crosse Center, and Bri Beining, the marketing coordinator for the Center, joined to help preview the event, which runs Thursday-Sunday. We talk about what you can expect from the arts and crafts show, how Santa Claus will be taking gift requests and some of the special promotions running for year No. 60 — like a free tote for the first 1,000 guests each day. 

Here's the schedule:

Thursday, Friday: 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

It's the 60th annual Holiday Fair at the La Crosse Center, and Bri Beining, the marketing coordinator for the Center, joined to help preview the event, which runs Thursday-Sunday. We talk about what you can expect from the arts and crafts show, how Santa Claus will be taking gift requests and some of the special promotions running for year No. 60 — like a free tote for the first 1,000 guests each day. 
Here's the schedule:
Thursday, Friday: 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sunday: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Previewing the 60th annual La Crosse Center Holiday Fair with Bri Beining

La Crosse city council Rep. Chris Woodard called in to discuss his displeasure with the decision to not add about $105,000 to the 2025 budget and include large-item pickup, plus pushing back a vote on hiring a city administrator until after the mayoral election.

At the council's monthly meeting this week, it voted 8-4 not to add large-item pickup back into the budget, after it had been cut the year before. Woodard talks about why he wanted that back.

We also discussed the council's decision last month to delay a decision on a city administrator until May of 2025, which would come after a new mayor is elected, plus half the council is on the ballot, as well. The council did vote, this week, to create a working group to study the administrator idea.

First, though, we got Woodard's reaction to the news that Mitch Reynold would not be seeking reelection. 

La Crosse city council Rep. Chris Woodard called in to discuss his displeasure with the decision to not add about $105,000 to the 2025 budget and include large-item pickup, plus pushing back a vote on hiring a city administrator until after the mayoral election.
At the council's monthly meeting this week, it voted 8-4 <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2024/11/19/city-council-vote-against-large-item-removal-disappoints-members-supporting-hauling-service/">not to add large-item pickup</a> back into the budget, after it had been cut the year before. Woodard talks about why he wanted that back.
We also discussed the council's decision last month to <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2024/10/10/la-crosse-council-votes-for-delay-on-city-administrator/">delay a decision</a> on a city administrator until May of 2025, which would come after a new mayor is elected, plus half the council is on the ballot, as well. The council did vote, this week, <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2024/11/15/council-approves-city-administrator-study-group-despite-mayors-previous-objections/">to create a working group</a> to study the administrator idea.
First, though, we got Woodard's reaction to the news that Mitch Reynold would not be seeking reelection.

La Crosse city council Rep. Woodard on $105k for large item pickup, delaying city administrator decision

UW-La Crosse football coach Matt Janus joined WIZM's La Crosse Talk on Tuesday to discuss, not just being back in the playoffs for a fourth-consecutive season, but how this one means just a bit more because these seniors are his first recruiting class. We also talk about the three-game skid the 18th-ranked Eagles (7-3) went through early and how that changed Janus' perspective and got the team back on track. In ending the season with a five-game win streak, UW-L has won four of those by one score. The Eagles host unranked Northwestern at noon Saturday — a game that will stream on WKTY.

UW-La Crosse football coach Matt Janus joined WIZM's La Crosse Talk on Tuesday to discuss, not just being back in the playoffs for a fourth-consecutive season, but how this one means just a bit more because these seniors are his first recruiting class. We also talk about the three-game skid the 18th-ranked Eagles (7-3) went through early and how that changed Janus' perspective and got the team back on track. In ending the season with a five-game win streak, UW-L has won four of those by one score. The Eagles host unranked Northwestern at noon Saturday — a game that will stream on WKTY.

UW-L football coach Janus on being back in playoffs four years in a row

Rotary Lights founder Pat Stephens joins to preview the upcoming holiday display that will go live the day after Thanksgiving in Riverside Park. This is the 30th year of Rotary Lights, which seeks food and cash donations from visitors to be given out to multiple pantries in the area. Stephens talks about how Rotary Lights got started in the 1990s and how it's grown. He also tells us is he's a one marshmallow or two marshmallow guy for the free smores area in the park. All the favorites are back — smores, ice rink, fireworks, reindeer, sleigh rides and more — plus Stephens tells us the tunnel will be fully lit and there's a new maze this season. Rotary Lights runs until New Years Day.

Rotary Lights founder Pat Stephens joins to preview the upcoming holiday display that will go live the day after Thanksgiving in Riverside Park. This is the 30th year of Rotary Lights, which seeks food and cash donations from visitors to be given out to multiple pantries in the area. Stephens talks about how Rotary Lights got started in the 1990s and how it's grown. He also tells us is he's a one marshmallow or two marshmallow guy for the free smores area in the park. All the favorites are back — smores, ice rink, fireworks, reindeer, sleigh rides and more — plus Stephens tells us the tunnel will be fully lit and there's a new maze this season. Rotary Lights runs until New Years Day.

Previewing 30th year of La Crosse Rotary Lights with founder Pat Stephens 

School District of La Crosse superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel, joins to talk about what’s next now that the $53.5 million elementary school referendum plan passed, plus we discuss his thoughts on the Trump administration potentially closing the Department of Education.

We also brought up the idea of $4 billion in the next budget to fund public education, which is nearly the same as the state’s budget surplus. Wisconsin State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jill Underly, made that proposal recently.

With the referendum, we discussed what happens next and when — tearing down the Hogan Administration building, creating blueprints for the new elementary, and renovating State Road Elementary with eight new classrooms and a new gym. 

Began, though, talking quick about Logan High’s football team getting to the state semifinals.

School District of La Crosse superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel, joins to talk about what’s next now that the $53.5 million elementary school referendum plan passed, plus we discuss his thoughts on the Trump administration potentially closing the Department of Education.
We also brought up the idea of $4 billion in the next budget to fund public education, which is nearly the same as the state’s budget surplus. Wisconsin State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jill Underly, made that proposal recently.
With the referendum, we discussed what happens next and when — tearing down the Hogan Administration building, creating blueprints for the new elementary, and renovating State Road Elementary with eight new classrooms and a new gym. 
Began, though, talking quick about Logan High’s football team getting to the state semifinals.

La Crosse Schools superintendent Engel on referendum plans, ending dept. of education

Lacey Hein and Johnny Wadzinski from Catholic Charities in studio, discussing how the impact of the city of La Crosse's camping ban has already strained the Warming Shelter in the first two week's that it's been open. The two are encouraging volunteers to sign up, people to bring meals and donations of clothing, cash, and cleaning products.

Lacey Hein and Johnny Wadzinski from Catholic Charities in studio, discussing how the impact of the city of La Crosse's camping ban has already strained the Warming Shelter in the first two week's that it's been open. The two are encouraging volunteers to sign up, people to bring meals and donations of clothing, cash, and cleaning products.

Impact of La Crosse's camping ban: "We're already full," says Warming Center

A fun conversation with Aquinas High School football coach Tom Lee, as his team gets set to play in the Division 4 state semifinals and defend its three consecutive state championships. The second-ranked Blugolds (11-1) face No. 5 Racine St. Catherine's at 7 p.m. Friday. We talk about what makes Racine such a tough matchup, how Aquinas managed to pull off last week's victory and we hyped up a couple of his players. That included Trey Bahr's performance in the 29-28 comeback win over Columbus and who Aquinas has get off the bus first — which coach Lee made no hesitation about naming. 

A fun conversation with Aquinas High School football coach Tom Lee, as his team gets set to play in the Division 4 state semifinals and defend its three consecutive state championships. The second-ranked Blugolds (11-1) face No. 5 Racine St. Catherine's at 7 p.m. Friday. We talk about what makes Racine such a tough matchup, how Aquinas managed to pull off last week's victory and we hyped up a couple of his players. That included Trey Bahr's performance in the 29-28 comeback win over Columbus and who Aquinas has get off the bus first — which coach Lee made no hesitation about naming.

Aquinas football coach Tom Lee on state semifinal matchup and hyping his team

Logan High School football coach Casey Knoble joins to talk about his team being in the Division 3 state semifinals, playing to get to a state to Camp Randall and just coaching life with three young kids at home. Knoble was literally doing this interview from home, his 1-year-old daughter in the background chiming in. The Rangers (10-2) face fifth-ranked Notre Dame (12-0) out of Green Bay at 7 p.m. Friday to get to the state championship. That game will stream on WKTY, too.

To get here, Logan came back to beat Medford (10-2) — and the state's top rusher — in the final 30 seconds last week. So, we talk about what worries him about Notre Dame and what that team would say if they were asked about Logan.  

Logan High School football coach Casey Knoble joins to talk about his team being in the Division 3 state semifinals, playing to get to a state to Camp Randall and just coaching life with three young kids at home. Knoble was literally doing this interview from home, his 1-year-old daughter in the background chiming in. The Rangers (10-2) face fifth-ranked Notre Dame (12-0) out of Green Bay at 7 p.m. Friday to get to the state championship. That game will stream on WKTY, too.
To get here, Logan came back to beat Medford (10-2) — and the state's top rusher — in the final 30 seconds last week. So, we talk about what worries him about Notre Dame and what that team would say if they were asked about Logan.

Logan football coach Knoble on state semis, coaching and kids

La Crosse School District superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel, joins the morning after the $53.5 million referendum passed in the fall election. Voters in the district were in favor of the elementary school plan with 60.9% of the 34,240 votes cast.

The plan: 
— $53.5 million referendum question on November ballot for new schools / 8 classrooms, new gym at State Road Elementary
— Build a new elementary school at the Hogan Administrative site, while tearing down that building.
— Consolidate Emerson and Spence into new elementary at the Hogan site. 
— Close Hintgen and consolidate those students to State Road.

La Crosse School District superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel, joins the morning after the $53.5 million referendum passed in the fall election. Voters in the district were in favor of the elementary school plan with 60.9% of the 34,240 votes cast.
The plan:  — $53.5 million referendum question on November ballot for new schools / 8 classrooms, new gym at State Road Elementary — Build a new elementary school at the Hogan Administrative site, while tearing down that building. — Consolidate Emerson and Spence into new elementary at the Hogan site.  — Close Hintgen and consolidate those students to State Road.

La Crosse Schools superintendent Engel on $54 million referendum passing

La Crosse County clerk Ginny Dankmeyer joins, the morning after the fall election, and probably running on no sleep. Dankmeyer discusses how election night went from their offices, as every polling place in La Crosse County reports to her throughout election night. 

La Crosse County clerk Ginny Dankmeyer joins, the morning after the fall election, and probably running on no sleep. Dankmeyer discusses how election night went from their offices, as every polling place in La Crosse County reports to her throughout election night.

Election aftermath with La Crosse County clerk Ginny Dankmeyer

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

Kamala Harris is now calling for unity. Isn’t that adorable? This is the same party that turned Trump’s presidency into their own personal blood sport, dragging out every weapon in the federal arsenal, the FBI, the DOJ, the IRS. They used them, like it was their own political hit squad. Heck, if they could have deployed the post office against them, they would have. For eight years, unity wasn’t a suggestion let alone on the table. They dragged this country through two impeachments, hearings, investigations, and one baseless witch hunt after another. And after all of that, the Democrats ended up with a big bad zero. But now because they’re in the hot seat, they think they can slap a co-exist bumper sticker on the last eight years and expect us to start singing “Kumbaya.” Not a chance. Democratic party is out of touch with reality and they’re out of touch with everyday Americans.

— By Andy Parrish

Kamala Harris is now calling for unity. Isn’t that adorable? This is the same party that turned Trump’s presidency into their own personal blood sport, dragging out every weapon in the federal arsenal, the FBI, the DOJ, the IRS. They used them, like it was their own political hit squad. Heck, if they could have deployed the post office against them, they would have. For eight years, unity wasn’t a suggestion let alone on the table. They dragged this country through two impeachments, hearings, investigations, and one baseless witch hunt after another. And after all of that, the Democrats ended up with a big bad zero. But now because they’re in the hot seat, they think they can slap a co-exist bumper sticker on the last eight years and expect us to start singing “Kumbaya.” Not a chance. Democratic party is out of touch with reality and they’re out of touch with everyday Americans.
— By Andy Parrish

Kamala Harris now says the USA needs unity

Wisconsin has a massive $4.6 billion budget surplus, and legislators in Madison are already more excited about spending your money than a kid’s first time in a puppy, fireworks, and candy store.

But here’s a crazy idea: Give it back to the hardworking Wisconsinites you took it from.

Imagine every Wisconsin household getting a check for $1,650. You could pay off some debt, buy those new tires before the snow flies, or you could even donate to your favorite charity. Returning the surplus not only stops government from growing yet another size, but it helps our local economy. You know, supporting those lacrosse businesses that provide jobs, vital services that keep our community strong. Madison politicians, listen up. This is not monopoly money. It belongs to hardworking Wisconsinites. Send it back, or we’ll find somebody who will.

— Andy Parrish

Wisconsin has a massive $4.6 billion budget surplus, and legislators in Madison are already more excited about spending your money than a kid’s first time in a puppy, fireworks, and candy store.
But here’s a crazy idea: Give it back to the hardworking Wisconsinites you took it from.
Imagine every Wisconsin household getting a check for $1,650. You could pay off some debt, buy those new tires before the snow flies, or you could even donate to your favorite charity. Returning the surplus not only stops government from growing yet another size, but it helps our local economy. You know, supporting those lacrosse businesses that provide jobs, vital services that keep our community strong. Madison politicians, listen up. This is not monopoly money. It belongs to hardworking Wisconsinites. Send it back, or we’ll find somebody who will.
— Andy Parrish

Wisconsin budget surplus? Give it back!

Besides the costume choices each year, what has really changed when we celebrate Halloween?  Remember when it was against the rules to have Halloween on any other night but the 31st?  And you really weren’t supposed to start until after it was dark?  And was the cutoff time determined when candy was gone or when the trick-or-treaters became few and far between and the house turned off their porchlight? 

I do remember that one of the goals was to try and get to as many houses as quickly as possible.  And to try not to fall down into the gulleys that were in the front of a lot of the houses.  Who needed a flashlight, even though we didn’t have street lights?  And, didn’t you feel just a little disappointed when you were asked “who are you supposed to be” when it was obvious to you that you were a ghost or goblin or a hobo? 

When I was in grade school, my grade school friends Luke and Freddie Prindle decided one year that the little plastic bags and pails were too small.  So they both brought pillow cases.  I was impressed on the school bus in the morning but they didn’t look so good on the ride home that afternoon.  Happy Halloween.   — Bill Dollar

Besides the costume choices each year, what has really changed when we celebrate Halloween?  Remember when it was against the rules to have Halloween on any other night but the 31st?  And you really weren’t supposed to start until after it was dark?  And was the cutoff time determined when candy was gone or when the trick-or-treaters became few and far between and the house turned off their porchlight? 
I do remember that one of the goals was to try and get to as many houses as quickly as possible.  And to try not to fall down into the gulleys that were in the front of a lot of the houses.  Who needed a flashlight, even though we didn’t have street lights?  And, didn’t you feel just a little disappointed when you were asked “who are you supposed to be” when it was obvious to you that you were a ghost or goblin or a hobo? 
When I was in grade school, my grade school friends Luke and Freddie Prindle decided one year that the little plastic bags and pails were too small.  So they both brought pillow cases.  I was impressed on the school bus in the morning but they didn’t look so good on the ride home that afternoon.  Happy Halloween.   — Bill Dollar

Have Halloween traditions really changed that much?

The talk of the town is La Crosse Talk with Mike Hayes. Catch all the best interviews from La Crosse Talk and Scott Robert Shaw's As I See It editorial.

The talk of the town is La Crosse Talk with Mike Hayes. Catch all the best interviews from La Crosse Talk and Scott Robert Shaw's As I See It editorial.

WIZM - La Crosse

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