.
Here are a selection of brief news items from this week’s paper edition, and possibly a few news briefs that didn’t make it in the paper.
Accused Mindoro cat shooter fined
A Mindoro man accused of shooting his neighbor’s cat in June was fined $505.80 after pleading guilty Friday in La Crosse County Circuit Court to noncriminal disorderly conduct and bail jumping.
A misdemeanor animal mistreatment charge was dismissed.
A woman told a sheriff’s deputy in June she saw her neighbor’s son climb the stairs to her porch and grab the cat, then heard gunshots, according to the complaint.
Timothy Phend, 47, told the deputy it was his cat and he shot it because it was acting strangely. Phend told the deputy he threw it out back because “that is what he does with all the cats he shoots,” the complaint said.
WS Lions to hold pancake breakfast
The West Salem Lions Club will hold its annual pancake breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday (Feb. 7) at West Salem Elementary on North Mark Street. In addition to the breakfast, there will be a raffle with the drawing to be held at noon.
Library offers teens doughnuts, cider
The La Crosse County Library System is offering a Thank Goodness It’s Doughnut Friday day for teens to celebrate the end of the school semester. All area teens in grades 7-12 can drop in for free doughnuts and cider at the Hazel Brown Leicht Memorial Library in West Salem from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 22.
Farmington showcase set for Feb. 14
There are still exhibitor spaces available for the Farmington Area Business Showcase to be held Sunday, Feb. 14, at the Mindoro Elementary gym in conjunction with the Mindoro Lion’s Club pancake breakfast.
Unlike other area business showcases that charge $35 to $50 for a booth space, there is no fee to be an exhibitor at the Farmington Business Showcase.
The Friends of the Mindoro Community Library are hosting the event to bring together local businesses, including home-based businesses and services, as well as civic organizations to showcase their products and services. The event offers exhibitors an opportunity to develop relationships with potential new customers or members, to reconnect with their existing client base and to increase overall awareness of their business or civic organization.
For more information about becoming an exhibitor, contact Rita Cox at (608) 857-3219 or email Gloria Beaser at GBeaser@aol.com.
Farmington town disaster plan is topic of program
What if a tornado struck Mindoro, an ice storm downed power lines and left hundreds of homes and farms without power, a flood ravaged the coulees or a chemical spill made immediate evacuation a necessity?
The town of Farmington has a comprehensive disaster response plan in place and has local personnel trained to respond to emergency situations. A network of county and statewide resources has been identified to cooperate with the town if a disaster strikes the area.
People can learn more about the disaster plan at the Jan. 25 meeting of the Friends of the Mindoro Community Library. Farmington Town Chairman Mike Hesse will be the featured speaker at the meeting to be held at the Mindoro Elementary library beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Hesse will explain the town’s disaster response plan as well as the county and statewide resources available and what everyone should have at home or work if one needs to shelter in place for 24 or more hours.
For more information, contact Rita Cox, president of the Friends of the Mindoro Community Library, at (608) 857-3219.
Artist’s reception at the Heider Center
The Art Department of West Salem School District currently is displaying art teachers’ artwork in the gallery of the Marie W. Heider Center for the Arts. Featured artists include Angela Stefferud, Krista Beron, Danielle Tsukano and Quenten Brown.
An artists reception is scheduled for Jan. 27 from 5 to 7 p.m. The show runs through Jan. 31.
Historic sites panel seeks new member
The La Crosse County Historic Sites Preservation Commission is looking for a volunteer from the West Salem and Bangor area to fill one of its “member of the public” positions.
This commission is a branch of the county government that works to protect, preserve and nominate historic sites in La Crosse County, outside the munipalities. The commission meets the first Friday of every month at 9 a.m. at the county building in downtown La Crosse.
The commission would prefer someone who is a member of an area historical society. More information is available online at www.lacrossecountyhistoric sites.org.
If interested in joining, contact Vicki Twinde-Javner, the commission chair, at 785-6475.
Bangor child development event set
Bangor area families with children ages 3 and 4 are invited to participate in the 18th annual Child Development Day, with appointments from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 18 and 8 to 10:30 a.m. Feb. 19 in the Bangor Elementary 4K area.
The free event will include a child developmental screening, and parents can learn about community and county services available to families and young children. Parents and children will receive gifts and refreshments will be served.
Families with 3- and 4-year-old children in the Bangor School District are encouraged to call 486-5205 to confirm their inclusion in the district census and to schedule an appointment.
Fixes made to county drug discount card
Some people have had problems using the new La Crosse County prescription discount cards.
La Crosse County officials learned Thursday that pharmacies could not process the cards. They said Friday they have been assured that this issue has been resolved.
Officials said a code was inaccurately entered in the national computer system so local pharmacies were not able to process the claims. On Jan. 5, La Crosse County began giving out prescription cards that provide residents with discounts on medications for themselves and even their pets as part of a nationwide program.
Residents are encouraged to pick up a card or call 785-5814 to have a card mailed to them. For more information, go to the county’s Web site, www.co.la-crosse.wi.us.
The free cards allow an average savings of 22 percent on the retail price for commonly prescribed drugs not covered by insurance.
VA clinic offers H1N1 shots to veterans
The Veterans Administraiton clinic in La Crosse is making H1N1 flu shots available to all veterans honorably discharged from the military and enrolled in the VA healthcare system.
Veterans can receive the H1N1 flu shot at the VA River Valley Clinic, 2600 State Road, on Wednesday and Friday afternoons from 12:30 to 4 p.m. while supplies last. No appointment is necessary but it is recommended to call ahead to the Tomah VA Immunization Hotline, 1-800-USA-TOMA, ext. 61787, to ensure availability.
Sierra Club to screen ‘Coal Country’ Jan. 26
The Sierra Club will show the documentary, “Coal Country,” at its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, at the HoChunk Three Rivers House, Eighth and Main streets, La Crosse.
“Coal Country” profiles the destruction to people and the environment from mountaintop-removal coal mining.
All are welcome.
Dress collection event set for Jan. 30
Donations of formal dresses and accessories (shoes and jewelry) are being sought for a dress drive to be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, at Holmen Village Hall.
Prom, wedding, bridesmaid, flower girl, mother of the bride and similar dresses donated will be reconditioned and altered by Judy Wolff of Holmen and given to women and girls in need of such attire.
Donors can get a receipt for the value of their donation for tax purposes.
Geocaching contest set at Fort McCoy
Participants can pick up the coordinates for a Fort McCoy geocaching contest at the Pine View Recreation Area Campground or the Whitetail Ridge Ski Area.
When a cache is found, the entry slip may be turned in to enter to win an Endura Out&Back Outdoor GPS Navigator.
Geocaching is an outdoor activity in which participants use GPS to find the designated hidden container, or “cache.” The contest ends March 1 and is open to all.
GPS units are available for use free from Pine View Campground. For more information about the contest, call 1-800-531-4703.
LCT’s ‘Driving Miss Daisy’ opens soon
La Crosse Community Theatre’s 2009-2010 Season of Love and Laughter continues with “Driving Miss Daisy,” the touching drama by Alfred Uhry that won the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and inspired the 1989 Academy Award-winning film of the same title.
Having just wrecked another car, Daisy Wertham, a rich, sharp-tongued Jewish widow is informed by her son that she must rely on the services of a chauffeur. The person he hires for the job is a thoughtful black man named Hoke, whom Miss Daisy instantly dislikes. He, in turn, is not impressed with his employer’s patronizing tone and latent prejudice. In a series of absorbing scenes spanning 25 years, the two grow ever closer as they discover a friendship that transcends their differences.
The show will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 29-30, Feb. 4-6 and 11-13 and at 2 p.m. Jan. 31 and Feb. 7 and 14.
Tickets for “Driving Miss Daisy” are $22, with $10 tickets available for students and active duty military members on Thursdays and Sundays with a current ID.
Tickets will be available to the general public beginning Jan. 18. To order, call the 784-9292, ext. 2, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
Program offers way to help troops, families
With ongoing military conflicts, many people want to know how they can help to relieve the stresses and strains that soldiers deal with. The Gifts to Army program answers the question.
The Gifts to Army program was developed for those who express a desire to contribute to soldiers and families and is not intended to solicit contributions.
Businesses or individuals who are interested in contributing cash or goods and services to benefit soldiers and their families can contact the Fort McCoy MWR Marketing Office at (608) 388-2362 or e-mail mcco-dl-dmwr-marketing@conus.army.mil.
Wisconsin farmers offered free weekend getaways
Wisconsin farmers can participate in free weekend getaways in February and March, sponsored by Sowing the Seeds of Hope and aimed at helping them regain perspective.
Four retreats are offered:
Feb. 20-21, Ramada Inn, Fond du Lac, for farm men
March 6-7, Holiday Inn, Manitowoc, for farm couples
March 6-7, AmericInn Lodge and Suites, Tomah, for farm couples
March 20-21, Stoney Creek Inn, Rothschild, for farm couples
Each weekend retreat will be for a small group, providing a chance to get away from the farm and focus on relationships, communication skills, stress management and goal-setting. Experienced facilitators will lead the getaways.
Early registration is encouraged. For information or to register, call Chris Eickhoff at (608) 224-5052, Kathy Schmitt at (608) 224-5048, or the Wisconsin Farm Center at 1-800-942-2474.
Sowing the Seeds of Hope will pay for all lodging, meals, and materials. Participants may also be eligible for a stipend to offset the cost of replacement farm labor, child care or travel expenses.
Comedian Adam Ace coming to UW-L
Comedian Adam Ace will perform at UW-La Crosse at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, in Valhalla, Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition.
The Adam Ace Comedy Show combines physical comedy, music, improvisation, props, standup comedy and audience interaction. The two-time winner of Campus Activities Comedian of the Year Award is described as “refreshing,” “different” and “original.”
Admission is free as a part of the Campus Activities Board’s Cellar Thursday Series.
Entries sought for FSC’s spiritual writing contest
As part of its 25th anniversary celebration, the Franciscan Spirituality Center invites writers and aspiring writers to submit their stories to a writing contest.
The Spiritual Literature Writing Contest is open to all and seeks to promote the inspiring stories of people who have overcome adversity, discovered life’s beauty and have grown in relationship with all creation and the Divine. The contest seeks essays, poetry and fiction that illustrate the human journey of hope, personal and spiritual growth.
Winners in each category will receive cash awards ranging from $500 for the grand prize to $50 for the third-place winner. Winning entries will be published in Essential Inklings, a new spiritual literature journal produced by the Franciscan Spirituality Center and the La Crosse Women’s Writing Group. Entry fee is $10 per submission.
More information and complete submission guidelines can be found on the FSC Web site www.fscenter.org or can be obtained by e-mailing twashburn@fspa.org.
Aging program to focus on humor
“Humor in Aging” will be the topic of the next Franciscan Skemp Healthcare Successful Aging seminar, which is set for Tuesday, Jan. 26, at 2:30 p.m. in Marycrest Auditorium on the second floor of the La Crosse campus St. Francis Building, 700 West Ave. S.
Free refreshments will be served from 2 to 2:30 p.m., and a half hour for questions will follow the hour-long talk by Art Peek.
The event is free and open to all. For more information, call Elder Services at 392-9505.
Rebates offered for energy-saving buys
MADISON — Wisconsin homeowners looking to purchase new appliances can take advantage of $5.4 million in rebates through the Wisconsin State Energy-Efficient Appliance Rebate Program.
This program was approved through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and is designed to encourage consumer purchases of new Energy Star qualified home appliances.
New energy-efficient furnaces and boilers might qualify for a $200 rebate. Central air conditioners, air-source or geothermal heat pumps and refrigerators might qualify for a $75 rebate. Energy-efficient freezers might qualify for $50 and new dishwashers might qualify for a $25 rebate.
Homeowners interested in taking advantage of this program will need to submit an application and a copy of their receipt within 30 days of the purchase to receive a rebate. More information can be found online at www.focusonenergy.com.
Support group gets Guard recognition
Supporters of Wisconsin’s largest National Guard unit have received a national award for their efforts to improve the quality of life for guardsmen and their families. The Family Readiness Group for the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team has been named the best in the Army National Guard for 2009.
Each year since 2000, the Defense Department has recognized the top unit in each of the seven Reserve groups that, among other things, implement programs and services that attract and keep soldiers, ensure unit members have fair access to benefits and entitlements and reduce family readiness issues that may interfere with a soldier’s deployment.
The 32nd Brigade’s group of volunteers launched a community service campaign in May 2008 when the brigade began preparing for its current deployment in Iraq. The initiative brought together families of soldiers who have deployed in the past with families experiencing their first deployment.
DNR office cuts walk-in service hours
The state Department of Natural Resources is reducing walk-in service hours at all 30 service centers statewide. As of Jan. 4, the DNR service center in La Crosse, at 3550 Mormon Coulee Road, will offer counter service on Mondays only from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1:30 to 4 p.m.
People wishing to meet with a DNR staff member at La Crosse on any other day of the work week is encouraged to plan ahead and make an appointment. A complete list of DNR staff phone numbers and e-mail addresses is available online at dnr.wi.gov.
Also, service center staff can assist with appointments during office hours Monday. The number is 785-9000.
While service center hours are being reduced, the DNR has beefed up customer service on-line, through local license vendors and with the toll-free call center.
DNR is reducing walk-in hours as part of cost reductions mandated in the state budget. All service centers will remain available to local walk-in customers at least one day per week.
People who have a question on rules, regulations, or other DNR program, a toll free call center is available seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 1-888-WDNRInfo (1-888-936-7463) with Hmong and Spanish service also offered.
Customers can visit DNR’s Web site at dnr.wisconsin.gov or call 1-877-945-4236 at any time to buy a license. Phone callers can, for example, order a fishing license, get a confirmation number and go fishing right away.
Live online chats are available on DNR’s Web site 7 a.m. to 9:45 p.m.
DNR partners with more than 1,400 retail stores offering convenient service and hours for purchasing hunting and fishing licenses. There are six licensing agents in La Crosse: Ace Hardware, 4242 Mormon Coulee Road; Kmart, 2415 State Road; La Crosse County Clerk, 400 Fourth St. N, room 1210; Quillins Island, 201 Sky Harbour Drive; Walmart, 4622 Mormon Coulee Road; Wiebke Fur Co., 110 Rose St.
Customers can find a complete list of DNR license agents, listed by city or county, on the DNR Web site.
EcoPark volunteer training class set
La Crosse’s Myrick Hixon EcoPark will host a training session Jan. 28 for adult volunteers interested in helping with the third-grade winter program.
Training will run from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for new volunteer naturalists and 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for experienced volunteer naturalists.
Call 784-0303 or e-mail shanna@mhecopark.org to sign up.
EcoPark plans snowshoe event Jan. 23
Chuck and Linda Lee from the La Crosse Marsh Coalition will lead a Marsh Snowshoe Meander from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 23, for snowshoeing while observing the sights and sounds of nature in winter.
This Myrick Hixon EcoPark program is for adults. Participants should bring snowshoes if they have them. If not, they can be rented from the EcoPark for $5 (free for EcoPark members).
To register, call 784-0303 or e-mail info@mhecopark.org.
Children’s Museum offers parents a break
The Children’s Museum of La Crosse has parents’ night out events planned over the upcoming months on Friday nights.
The nights are meant for children ages 3-11, and will includes supervised museum exploration and play, light snack and games/activities.
Parents can drop off children starting at 5:30 p.m. and pick them up by 8 p.m. on the following dates: Feb. 12, March 19 and April 9.
Cost is $10 per child for museum members, $15 for nonmembers.
Registration and payment in advance is required.
Exhibit, play focus on Vietnam vets
The Pump House Regional Arts Center in La Crosse will host an exhibition featuring James Gill’s portraits of Wisconsin Vietnam veterans who were interviewed for the soon to be released Wisconsin Public Television documentary, “Wisconsin Vietnam War Stories.”
The exhibition at the Pump House runs Jan. 27 through March 13, 2010. The exhibition and reception is free and open to the public. The opening reception on Jan. 29 from 5 to 7 p.m. will include a screening of selected interviews with La Crosse area veterans from the Wisconsin Public Television documentary.
In conjunction with the exhibition, the Pump House is proud to host the premiere of “5,000 Pounds: Seven Soldiers’ Stories,” a new play by the award-winning local writer David Krump. This play details the lives and toils of seven soldiers in Vietnam in 1968. The play results from extensive research and interviews with Vietnam veterans. “5,000 Pounds: Seven Soldiers’ Stories” runs Feb. 4-6, 11-13, 19-20.
“5,000 Pounds” is directed by Anne Drecktrah and features the area’s finest actors, including Lance Newton, Colin Thelen, Brandon Harris, Alex Brick, Harrison DeCreny, Tim McCarren and Adam Petchel.
To order tickets or for more information contact the Pump House at 785-1434 or log onto www.thepumphouse.org.
Winter road condition info available at 511
The 511 Traveler Information System, a service of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, has activated its winter road condition report feature. The report covers interstate highways and higher volume U.S. and state-numbered highways.
Winter road conditions are updated regularly as conditions change based on the field reporting from law enforcement and county highway departments. It does not include all highways at this time due to the limitations of the physical reporting requirements.
Information on winter road conditions can be obtained free by dialing 511 from a landline telephone or cell phone or by going online (www.511wi.gov).
In addition to winter road conditions, 511 provides information on incidents, including crashes and lane closures due to work zones. Information is provided by county or roadway segment.
511 traveler information is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can be obtained by using either voice recognition or a phone’s touchtone keypad for those using a telephone or cell phone.
If in a moving vehicle, only passengers should call 511.
For best service when calling 511, WisDOT recommends minimizing background noise, including radios or open windows. Some cell phone service providers do not supply direct access to Wisconsin’s 511 traveler information system. Alternatively, the information is available free by dialing 866-511-WISC.
Web site offers anti-drug resource
Anyone who needs a tool to educate a family member or other friend about illicit drugs or alcohol can now obtain it through a new Web site: waragainstdrugs.org
The Web site offers a sampling of two booklets, “10 Things Your Friends May Not Know About Drugs,” and “How to Talk to Friends About Drugs.” Readers who need an anchor to educate their kids, grandkids, or other adult friends can use the booklets to explain and show how dangerous illicit drugs are to the body and mind.
Leaders of children and adult groups, such as clubs, charities, scouts, 4-H, chambers of commerce, businesses can use the booklets to raise much-needed funds as well as build positive PR for themselves.
The Web site was founded by Henry Schroeder, a longtime community newspaper publisher.
American Legion revives support fund
Wisconsin’s largest veteran service organization re-launched its Troop & Family Support Fund on Veterans Day.
The Wisconsin American Legion Family, which includes the Legion, Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion and Legion Riders, is ramping up its efforts in anticipation of the 32nd Infantry returning from deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.
About 3,500 National Guard soldiers will be returning to Wisconsin, and their needs will be varied, ranging from post-traumatic stress disorder and family reunification issues to emergency financial relief and job reintegration.
To contribute to the fund, send checks payable to: Troop & Family Support Fund, Wisconsin American Legion, P.O. Box 388, Portage, WI 53901. People also can make a secure online donation by credit card at www.wilegion.org/howcanyouhelp.
“The Wisconsin American Legion Family stands ready to assist our troops and their families in communities across the state from Kenosha to Superior and Green Bay to Platteville. We are asking for the public’s assistance to make a difference in the lives of those who have given much in service to our country,” said Department Commander Leo A. Endres.
Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law and 100 percent of all funds received directly benefit the troops and their families. Administrative costs are covered by the dues Legion members pay.
VA extends Agent Orange benefits to cover more ailments
Relying on an independent study by the Institute of Medicine, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki decided to establish a service-connection for Vietnam veterans with three specific illnesses based on the latest evidence of an association with the herbicides referred to as Agent Orange.
The illnesses affected by the recent decision are B cell leukemias, such as hairy cell leukemia; Parkinson’s disease; and ischemic heart disease.
Used in Vietnam to defoliate trees and remove concealment for the enemy, Agent Orange left a legacy of suffering and disability that continues to the present. Between January 1965 and April 1970, an estimated 2.6 million military personnel who served in Vietnam were potentially exposed to sprayed Agent Orange.
In practical terms, veterans who served in Vietnam during the war and who have a “presumed” illness don’t have to prove an association between their illnesses and their military service. This “presumption” simplifies and speeds up the application process for benefits.
The secretary’s decision brings to 15 the number of presumed illnesses recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Additional information about Agent Orange and VA’s services and programs for veterans exposed to the chemical are available at www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange.
Alzheimers registry seeks participants
The Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute at the University of Wisconsin of Medicine and Public Health and Franciscan Skemp Healthcare are recruiting for the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention.
To be eligible for participation, people must:
Be between the ages of 40 to 65.
Have a mother who survived to 75 or greater and a father who survived to 70 or greater without evidence of dementia.
Information obtained from participants in the study will then be used to identify people for appropriate research projects designed to better understand the causes of Alzheimer’s disease and delay or prevent its onset.
In the past, research into slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease or preventing its onset was difficult because affected persons do not develop symptoms of the disease until their 70s.
For those who would like to learn more about the registry and possible participation, contact Sharon Schulz at 392-9505.
New brochures cover car insurance issue
As new auto insurance laws begin to take effect in our state in the next year, the Wisconsin Association for Justice has released two brochures containing helpful information for Wisconsin auto insurance policyholders.
The first, “Understanding Auto Insurance," describes the basics about auto insurance and what is required of drivers in Wisconsin under the law as recently changed. The second, titled “What To Do If You Are In a Traffic Accident," informs them of proper steps to take to protect themselves by gathering necessary information at the time of the accident.
The brochures will be distributed to state legislators, news outlets and WAJ members across Wisconsin. The brochures are also available by contacting the Wisconsin Association for Justice office or view them online at www.wisjustice.org/consumerresources.
Roller derby team seeks members
The La Crosse Skating Sirens, the area’s newest roller derby team, are seeking adult women to join the team or serve as referees.
No experience is required and all skating levels are welcome.
The Sirens are looking to expand their roster and are having open practices on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8 to 10 p.m. in the old rubber mill building on St. Andrew Street.
The Sirens, a nonprofit organization, are an all-woman, skater-owned, flat-track roller derby league founded in April 2009 by Melissa Larivee and Leslie Malekovic. The Sirens follow the guidelines and standards set forth by Women’s Flat Track Derby Association.
For more information, log onto www.SkatingSirens.com.
To submit your information for a public service announcement, e-mail it to wsm.news@lee.net
.
Advertisement 
Advertisement 
