Only a few days remain before the La Crosse Skyrockers light up the skies above the city with their fireworks shows on New Year's Eve. 

Vice President Marty Schmal and Sonya Mix joined La Crosse Talk's Sean Dwyer in the studio to talk about what people can expect to see this year, how the group chooses the fireworks, and how the public can help support their work. 

https://www.skyrockers.org

Only a few days remain before the La Crosse Skyrockers light up the skies above the city with their fireworks shows on New Year's Eve.&nbsp;
Vice President Marty Schmal and Sonya Mix joined La Crosse Talk's Sean Dwyer in the studio to talk about what people can expect to see this year, how the group chooses the fireworks, and how the public can help support their work.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.skyrockers.org">https://www.skyrockers.org</a>

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

Skyrockers prepping for New Year's Eve shows

Police and fire departments in southeast Minnesota joined forces to spread some holiday cheer this week.

The organization is called Bluff Country Hidden Heroes.

The police and fire volunteers come together to help Santa Claus deliver presents to 86 local kids in Winona, Houston and Fillmore counties.

The group is led by Investigator Chris Frick of the Houston County Sheriff’s Office. 

He stopped by the La Crosse Talk studio to talk about the uniformed philanthropists and what that day means to him and the others. 

"It is, by far, my favorite day of the year," said Frick. "You cannot leave that night without a smile on your face. The kids are smiling, the first responders...20-year vets that are out there, they're kind of gruff but they can't leave that night without a smile. Mom and dad, a lot of times, get kind of teary-eyed but it reminds us all why we got into that field of public service."

Frick said they reach out to schools who select two or three children who then receive presents from the group. 

They work with Walmart in Onalaska and Pepsi in La Crosse and other donations to help get together all the presents needed for delivery. 

On the "Holidays with the Heroes" day, emergency vehicles help escort Santa around to help deliver gifts to the families.

Police and fire departments in southeast Minnesota joined forces to spread some holiday cheer this week.
The organization is called Bluff Country Hidden Heroes.
The police and fire volunteers come together to help Santa Claus deliver presents to 86 local kids in Winona, Houston and Fillmore counties.
The group is led by Investigator Chris Frick of the Houston County Sheriff&rsquo;s Office.&nbsp;
He stopped by the La Crosse Talk studio to talk about the uniformed philanthropists and what that day means to him and the others.&nbsp;
"It is, by far, my favorite day of the year," said Frick. "You cannot leave that night without a smile on your face. The kids are smiling, the first responders...20-year vets that are out there, they're kind of gruff but they can't leave that night without a smile. Mom and dad, a lot of times, get kind of teary-eyed but it reminds us all why we got into that field of public service."
Frick said they reach out to schools who select two or three children who then receive presents from the group.&nbsp;
They work with Walmart in Onalaska and Pepsi in La Crosse and other donations to help get together all the presents needed for delivery.&nbsp;
On the "Holidays with the Heroes" day, emergency vehicles help escort Santa around to help deliver gifts to the families.

Bluff Country Hidden Heroes

This time of year means family dinner, Christmas parties and gatherings with friends.And often times that involves drinking alcohol.  Emplify Population Health Expert Katie Young says moderation or choosing not to drink at all is a wise and health choice.  Young says another reality is that as we age our bodies metabolize alcohol differently.  Young shared some other tips and suggestions on La Crosse Talk AM with Sean Dwyer.  

This time of year means family dinner, Christmas parties and gatherings with friends.And often times that involves drinking alcohol.&nbsp; Emplify Population Health Expert Katie Young says moderation or choosing not to drink at all is a wise and health choice.&nbsp; Young says another reality is that as we age our bodies metabolize alcohol differently.&nbsp; Young shared some other tips and suggestions on La Crosse Talk AM with Sean Dwyer.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Why a drink with alcohol hits harder with age

Courtney Vaaler from Coulee Region Cooks shared a segment of her show talking about baking some tasty mint kiss meringue cookies for the holidays. 

Mint Kiss Meringue Cookies

Ingredients

5 egg whites

¼ tsp cream of tartar

1 ¼ cup sugar

¼ tsp peppermint extract

Green food coloring

Hershey Kisses

 

Directions

In mixing bowl, add egg whites

- Beat egg whites on med/high until egg whites become glossy. Just after the foam stage.

Add cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks begin to form

Add peppermint extract, a few drops of food coloring, and sugar a little at a time.

Beat until stiff peaks form

Add a few drops of food coloring to the inside of a piping bag. Put mixture in a piping bag

On parchment paper, pipe small disks. Disks should be wider than the base of a Hershey Kiss

Place a Hershey kiss on the center of the disk. Press down slightly to get it to stick in place.

Pipe around the Hershey Kiss.

Optional: put sprinkles on the meringue to decorate the “trees”

Bake for 2 hours at 175 degrees F

To remove from parchment paper, give a gentle twist

Courtney Vaaler from Coulee Region Cooks shared a segment of her show talking about baking some tasty mint kiss meringue cookies for the holidays.&nbsp;
Mint Kiss Meringue Cookies
Ingredients
5 egg whites
&frac14; tsp cream of tartar
1 &frac14; cup sugar
&frac14; tsp peppermint extract
Green food coloring
Hershey Kisses
&nbsp;
Directions
In mixing bowl, add egg whites
- Beat egg whites on med/high until egg whites become glossy. Just after the foam stage.
Add cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks begin to form
Add peppermint extract, a few drops of food coloring, and sugar a little at a time.
Beat until stiff peaks form
Add a few drops of food coloring to the inside of a piping bag. Put mixture in a piping bag
On parchment paper, pipe small disks. Disks should be wider than the base of a Hershey Kiss
Place a Hershey kiss on the center of the disk. Press down slightly to get it to stick in place.
Pipe around the Hershey Kiss.
Optional: put sprinkles on the meringue to decorate the &ldquo;trees&rdquo;
Bake for 2 hours at 175 degrees F
To remove from parchment paper, give a gentle twist

Skyrockers prepping for New Year's Eve shows

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