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.

Rec department offers indoor fun

The West Salem Recreation Department has a number of activities going on in the next couple weeks to help the winter pass more quickly.

Indoor soccer for youths ages 5 to 10 will be offered on Sundays, Feb. 14-March 21, at West Salem Elementary. Ages 5 to 7 meet from 1 to 2 p.m. and ages 8 to 10 meet from 2 to 3 p.m.

Open gym basketball also is open for $1 per session at the middle school on Sundays through Feb. 28. Family time runs from 4 to 6 p.m. and adults-only play goes from 6 to 8 p.m.

Also offered on Sundays will be a “Tunnel Baseball League” with batting cages at the high school from noon to 4 p.m. for boys in grades 5-8.

It’s also time to start thinking about registered for spring youth soccer, which starts in April.

For more information, call 786-0222 or log onto the village Web site at www.westsalemwi.com/parkandrec.htm

‘Hearts in Motion’ event at JoyWorks

The JoyWorks Dance Studio at 132 S. Leonard St. is offering a day of free activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6.

Activities include a demonstration yoga class, face painting, intergenertional creative dance, therapeutic chair massage and an exhibit of “Hearts in Motion” paintings.

There also will be a selection of arts and crafts by local artisans and a 2010 Hearts in Motion fundraiser, with all proceeds going to benefit a local charity.

Club offers depression talk Feb. 9

The Little Barre HCE Club will sponsor a program about depression at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, at Hamilton Town Hall, N5105 N. Leonard St, West Salem.

The program is free and open to all.

WS Child Development Days set

West Salem Elementary and community and various Coulee Region agencies will host Child Development Days on Feb. 26-27.

This joint program will offer information about child development and the various services available to the families of West Salem.

Children will participate in a variety of activities through a pre-arranged play area. Social, communication, motor and early learning skills will be observed. Growth and health information will be shared by various health personnel. Handouts and brochures from various community services also will be available.

About an hour will be needed for the activities.

Parents whose children will be 4 years old by Sept. 1 should call the elementary office at 786-1662 to register.

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.

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.

BPCA to host 50th fishing derby

Fifty years of hard-water fishing will be celebrated on Lake Onalaska at the 50th annual Brice Prairie Conservation Association Fishing Derby to be held Saturday, Feb. 6.

Commemorative stocking caps will be given to the first 150 anglers who enter the derby, which begins at dawn and closes at 3 p.m. Fifty dollar Red Pines gift certificates will be given away at the tent each hour starting at 11 a.m.

Headquarters for the derby will be the large heated tent at Red Pines Bar & Grill on Highway Z.

Derby entry tickets will be available at Shafer’s Boats and Bait starting at 6 a.m. the morning of the derby. Derby entry is $1 for adults and 50 cents for kids, with prizes in five categories of fish: northern, bass, crappie, perch and bluegill. Cash prizes of $25, $15, $10 & $5 will be awarded for the top four fish in each category.

Plenty of food, refreshments, raffles, games, prizes and fun will be available in the tent. Drawing for the $1,000 raffle will be at 4 p.m. after the derby prizes are awarded.

Money generated by the derby is spent on local conservation projects. Some of the projects are: Bluebird houses, wood duck houses, oak tree plantings, river clean-ups, bike trail clean-ups, emergency shelters, fish cribs and public access to Lake Onalaska.

Photos and more information can be seen on the BPCA Web site: www.briceprairieconservation.org.

Library talk to focus on technology

Overwhelmed by technology that is understood and used by young people today but not by some who remember manual and electronic typewriters? There will be an opportunity to “catch up” on Thursday, Feb. 25, at the Onalaska Public Library.

Karen Hoeth of Best Buy will present a program, “21st Century Technology for 20th Century Folks,” beginning at 7 p.m. The program is sponsored by the Friends of the Onalaska Library.

Hoeth will offer an interactive experience for audience members, hands-on exposure to various of today’s electronic marvels, such as iPods and Blackberries.

The Friends always are eager to welcome new members to the group. People interested in the organization as well as the Feb. 25 program, can attend the monthly Friends meeting the same date starting at 6 p.m.

Kind to hold telephone town hall

U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, will host a live discussion for residents of the 3rd Congressional District on Wednesday, Feb. 10, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Participants will have the opportunity to provide feedback and ask questions on current legislation, the economy and health care reform, among other topics.

Teleconferencing technology allows Kind to set up a large-scale conference call involving potentially thousands of constituents. At the start of the call on Wednesday, a random selection of district households will receive a call from Kind, inviting them to participate in the telephone town hall. Constituents will then have the option of staying on the line to hear a few comments by Kind followed by the opportunity to participate in a question and answer session.

Interested constituents may also dial into the telephone town hall themselves by calling (toll-free) 877-269-7289 and using the code 15311.

Health consortium is AAUW topic

The La Crosse Branch of the American Association of University Women will meet Saturday, Feb. 13, in the Ward Room, Cartwright Center, on the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse campus.

The program will focus on La Crosse Medical Health Science Consortium projects.

Registration will be at 9:30 a.m., with the brunch at 10 and program at 10:30. Brunch cost is $10.

Reservations are due by Feb. 10 to Jane Wernecke (780-1121 or ajja701@triwest.net) or Kristen Foehner (519-0617 or K_Foehner@Yahoo.com).

AAUW is open to any person with an associate or equivalent degree or a bachelor’s or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Undergraduates may join as students. For membership information, contact Pat Staupe at 788-7439 or attend the meeting.

Pageant set for March 13 in Holmen

Applications are now being accepted for the first running of the Miss Seven Rivers Pageant to be held March 13 in Holmen.

Young women between the ages of 17-24 who live in, work full time in or go to school/college in the state of Wisconsin are eligible to compete for Miss Seven Rivers, part of the Miss America program.

It is an “open” pageant which means that any young woman meeting the eligibility requirements is able to compete.

The Miss Seven Rivers Organization is looking for volunteers and committee members. Inquire about opportunities by e-mailing MissSevenRivers@yahoo.com.

For more information, log onto www.misssevenrivers.com.

Celebrity hoops game to aid JDRF

A celebrity basketball game at Onalaska High School will raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of Western Wisconsin.

Planet Revels Presents: Hoops for Hope is set for 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, in the OHS fieldhouse. The event is being organized by Andrew Revels, who will captain one of the basketball teams, which will include Debbi Brague, Erik Sjolander and Chelsea Ford from the La Crosse Radio Group, Andy Highes of the band TUGG, WKBT-TV meteorologist Bill Graul, former La Crosse Catbirds player Mark Davis and some other friends of Revels.

The other team will be made up of members of the La Crosse Spartans indoor football team and the La Crosse Skating Sirens roller derby team.

Abbey Lane will sing the national anthem before the game, and TUGG will perform at halftime.

Admission is $4, $2 for 12 and younger.

Cancer run/walk registration open

Registration is open for the 29th annual American Cancer Society 5K Family Run/Walk, which will be held April 18 in Onalaska.

The event, sponsored by UnitedHealthcare, is a participant pledge-based event that allows participants to run or walk through a designated course along the streets of Onalaska, while raising funds to help in the fight against cancer.

During the event survivors will be honored and celebrated to show that cancer is a battle that can be won. More than 1,500 area participants and volunteers are expected to take part in the run/walk.

A free kids run will precede the 5K starting at 11:30 a.m. All kids run participants will receive a prize.

Cost to register for the 5K is $15 for walkers, $20 for runners. People can register by mail by sending the registration form and fee to American Cancer Society c/o Deb Lager, N3184 Meadow View Court, West Salem, WI 54669.

Online registration is available through April 15 at http://community.acs events.org/UHCrunwalk.

A pre-event registration day also is planned for 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 17, at the La Crosse Public Library, 800 Main St.

Cost to register the day of the event will be $20 for walkers, $25 for runners.

‘Anton in Show Business’ coming to Viterbo

Viterbo University will present the award-winning dramatic comedy, “Anton in Show Business,” in the Fine Arts Center La Croix Black Box Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 4-6.

“Anton in Show Business” will give audiences a hilarious and sharp behind-the-scenes look into the world of professional theater. The play deals with an ill-fated production of Anton Chekhov’s famous play, “The Three Sisters.” Two stage actresses and a movie star have high hopes but experience plenty of troubles and travails along the way, including maniac directors, toxic corporate sponsors, and Steven Spielberg.

The Viterbo casts consists of seven women, three of whom will play multiple parts, including the male roles. The set is very minimal. “Anton is Show Business” was written by playwright Jane Martin, which is the suspected pen-name of retired Actors Theatre of Louisville artistic director Jon Jory.

Tickets are $10 for general admission seating. For more information, contact the Viterbo box office at 796-3100 or visit www.viterbo.edu/fac.

UW-L art faculty featured in exhibit

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse art department faculty will show their recent research and creative endeavors in the upcoming Art Faculty Exhibition.

The show features the work of Justyna Badach, Cam Choy, Joel Elgin, Linda Levinson, Brad Nichols, John Ready, Binod Shrestha, Karen Terpstra, Jennifer Williams Terpstra, Marcia Thompson and Stella Vognar.

Works on display include photography, sculpture, prints, installation, ceramics, painting, drawing and video.

Faculty in the department are engaged in a range of research that includes exploring landscape through painting and photography; identity issues through portraiture, Ancient Irish Cultures through its mysteries and truths; and time as an integral element in the visual dialogue.

The exhibition opens with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5, in the gallery on the first floor of the UW-L Center for the Arts, 16th and Vine streets.

The show runs through Feb. 27. Admission is free.

In conjunction with the exhibition, there will be a faculty colloquium series. Faculty will discuss their respective fields of research and creative endeavors at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Feb. 10, 17 and 24, in 116 Center for the Arts. Admission is free.

Regular gallery hours are noon to 8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, noon to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and during Toland Theatre events.

The gallery opens for appointments by calling the UW-L Art Department at 785-8230.

Viterbo to host ‘Rape of Nanking’ exhibit

The drawings and mixed media of Li Hu will be on display in the Viterbo University Fine Arts Center Art Gallery in an exhibit titled “The Rape of Nanking.” The exhibit runs through Feb. 17.

Hu will present a slide lecture of his work at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2, in the Fine Arts Center, Room 219. The opening reception for his show will follow in the gallery from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

A professor of art at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Hu earned a bachelor’s degree in painting from Shanghai University and a master of fine arts degree from the University of South Dakota.

“The Rape of Nanking” deals with the documented atrocities committed by Japanese soldiers after the capture of the city of Nanking, China, in 1937.

There is no admission fee for the gallery, which is on the third floor of the Fine Arts Center on the Viterbo campus. The gallery is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. when school is in session.

Western offers tax return assistance

Western Technical College accounting and finance students will provide volunteer tax assistance for people with basic tax returns — particularly for those with low and limited income, students, people with disabilities and elderly taxpayers.

Assistance will be available on Mondays between Feb. 8 and April 5 (except March 15), from 4:45 to 8 p.m. in Room 114 of Western’s Business Education Center, 405 N. Eighth St. in La Crosse. Tax returns will be electronically filed and the service is free. Assistance is provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

Participants must bring a picture ID, all W-2s, 1099s, interest statements, Social Security cards for everyone on the return, including spouse and dependents, and a copy of last year’s taxes if available.

Volunteers are unable to do filing for married people who are filing separately, as well as those who were divorced in 2009.

For details, call 785-9168.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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