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.

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

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

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

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.

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

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews

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