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(2008/08/29)
Last Saturday I had the pleasure of taking my kids to Sesame Street Live at the La Crosse Center. I appreciated once again the educational direction Elmo, Big Bird, Bert, Ernie and the gang took the kids for the show. With great fanfare, Ernie introduced the letter of the day — the letter “F.” Of course, “F” is for friend because Bert is Ernie’s friend. Naturally, “friend” is a good word to teach 2-, 3-, and 4-year-olds that begins with the letter “F.”
(2008/08/29)
The Doyle administration should press ahead with its smart plan for reducing mercury emissions and other pollution from coal-burning power plants in Wisconsin.
(2008/08/29)
In response to Ryan Evans’ letter to the editor citing all polititians who fight for the health and safety of our citizens as “lazy,” I felt I needed to point out to Mr. Evans that government officials are indeed elected to work “for the people,” and that is why the smoking ban is the right thing for them to be working on.
(2008/08/29)
What do these apparently unrelated items all have in common?
(2008/08/29)
In our country we are aware of the phrase “caveat emptor.” It means “let the buyer beware.” The seller accepts no responsibility for the quality of the goods or the honesty of the price.
(2008/08/29)
I was mesmerized at the militaristic precision with which the opening ceremonies for the Olympic Games were conducted. It gave me pause to conjecture that such military precision could only be achieved in a totalitarian state like the People’s Republic of China.
(2008/08/26)
The competition at the Olympics is all but over. When all is said and done, the news media will have partially fixed their gaze on the Orient, namely China. On Monday, though, the media eye facing the Orient will be trained back to Occidental territory.
(2008/08/26)
Amazing! Did you see that race? These Olympics have been an incredible show, with dozens of shattered world records and plenty of heart-warming, inspirational comebacks and second-winds.
(2008/08/26)
Here in Wisconsin, more than 210,000 people who are trying to save money on healthcare could get slapped with new paperwork requirements from Congress. These residents have health insurance that allows them to open a health savings account, a new type of investment vehicle that lets them put money aside for health expenses.
(2008/08/26)
When the history of gays in the military is written, Elaine Donnelly may go down as a person who did more than any other to shatter the barrier that keeps homosexuals from serving openly in the U.S. armed forces.
(2008/08/19)
How important is it to you to have airline service out of La Crosse? If you knew you would get a cheaper fare, would you drive to Milwaukee, Rochester or the Twin Cities? Would you drive that far to go with an airline that might provide better service? I would. And I did.
(2008/08/19)
Exxon Mobil recently reported the highest quarterly profit ever earned by a U.S. company — $11.7 billion.
(2008/08/19)
On Aug. 5, I received a call from an organization calling themselves “States Forward.” The phone number from my caller ID is: 608-467-0296. They claimed to be conducting an independent political survey.
(2008/08/19)
Sacrificing our coasts will not bring down — and keep down — energy prices.
(2008/08/19)
The West Salem Alumni & Friends Golf Outing committee would like to thank everyone who participated in our second annual WSHS Alumni & Friends Golf Outing on Aug. 2 at Fox Hollow Golf Course to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of West Salem Area.
(2008/08/19)
Sincere thanks to all friends and family who participated in the Sonny Schams Memorial Golf Outing at Fox Hollow.
(2008/08/19)
This past weekend I found myself pondering the current surge in smoking bans, and more importantly the nature of the people who push so hard for them around the state. After all, this has become a very nonpartisan issue, yet the people involved all seemed to have something in common. I just couldn’t put my finger on it.
(2008/08/13)
The dog days of summer are here. Many believe that the name dog days comes from the star Sirius, which rises and sets with the sun. The ancient Egyptians called Sirius the Dog Star and along with the ancient Romans argued that it was responsible for adding heat to the day. The period of time from 20 days before to 20 days after the star’s conjunction with the sun were called “the dog days of summer.”
(2008/08/13)
With the Olympic Games beginning on a day and time littered with a Chinese lucky number eight — the opening ceremony taking place at 8:08 p.m. local time on 8/8/08 — I’m a concerned what might happen to Beijing once the Olympic fanfare has waned.
(2008/08/13)
Rising energy and fuel costs are putting extra financial pressure on the middle class across America. Even recently licensed teenage drivers are feeling the impact. Many of us need to drive to summer jobs, school and athletic activities and are on limited budgets. Every news station airs fuel-related complaints, while the public follows suit, mumbling curses and grievances with every $60 fill-up.
(2008/08/13)
A great deal has been written recently about the construction of roundabouts throughout the state. Some letters to editors have complained that they’re confusing and expensive; others, that they’re easier to navigate and are safer. For the roundabout novice, they take some getting used to. But over time, people generally come to understand how they function and embrace them.
(2008/08/06)
During this election season, I can’t help but think back 22 years to my grandfather’s final campaign for county treasurer before he retired.
(2008/08/06)
Double, double, oil and trouble, Fire burn and cauldron bubble. Many of you will recognize this famous line by three witches from Shakespear’s “Macbeth,” and realize that instead of oil the word in the first line is toil. Let’s pretend, however, that he was writing today. What would he be telling us?
(2008/08/06)
Wisconsin landed on a Top 10 list recently that's sure to rankle homeowners. Wisconsin has the ninth highest property tax in the nation, according to the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance. The Badger State also has higher property taxes than all of its neighboring states in the Midwest.
(2008/08/06)
I must admit I was somewhat shocked to encounter Bill Wineke’s column in the Coulee News via Buddhistchannel.tv. I was shocked not because of his “flippant and arrogant” dismissal of the importance of the Dalai Lama’s teachings and message but because of the lack of depth and understanding shown by someone who claims to “preach at a rescue mission.” As someone who should have deep and abiding faith in and understanding of their religion (a necessary requirement if one is to “preach”) I would think he would try to have a deep understanding of Buddhist thought and philosophy before offering a critique.
(2008/08/06)
It does not take a rocket scientist to see that our country is rapidly becoming a federal police state. Fortunately, our individual states can save us from this tyranny if enough of them, and their citizens, are willing to act.
(2008/08/06)
I was pleased to hear that Tara Johnson was running for the state Senate in District 32. In her eight years on the La Crosse County Board, she has been a leader and innovator, especially in the area of health and human services. Because of her hard work, frail and elderly adults will have wrap-around services from one place.
(2008/08/06)
According to biologists and epidemiologists, a bird flu pandemic is a certainty. A look at the recent www.dailykos.com article will educate skeptics. A look at www.pandemicflu.gov will do the same.
(2008/07/29)
Up until recently, my cell phone didn’t ring very often. Usually the people dialing my number were family and friends. But lately, my cell has been ringing more and at, shall we say, inopportune times and rung by people wanting money.
(2008/07/29)
I’m giving up on airline travel. The humiliating process of going through airport security — exposing your ugly toenails, walking barefoot on filthy floors, stripping belts and jackets, collecting all those nasty fluids into transparent plastic bags — is getting even worse.
(2008/07/29)
Each morning recently I looked in the mirror to see if the rash on my shoulder had faded during the night. I was convinced that it was caused by a chigger bite that showed in a darker red. Apparently, I was wrong.
(2008/07/29)
For the past two summers, friends and I have attended the concerts presented by the La Crosse Concert Band at Riverside Park at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday evenings. Every concert has been extremely entertaining.
(2008/07/29)
Each year, Chileda in La Crosse holds a premiere road race during Riverfest. This is a sanctioned 5K and 10K race attracting elite runners and families enjoying an early morning walk through La Crosse.
(2008/07/22)
The sign is beginning to fade slightly after several seasons of Wisconsin weather, but the message is still quite clear and unmistakable in its meaning: “Stop the war now!”
(2008/07/22)
Between the recent announcement that the Janesville GM plant will be shutting its doors, ongoing concerns about the economy and the rising unemployment rate, and now the devastating effects of extreme weather and flooding, the people of Wisconsin can be forgiven for wondering “what’s next?”
(2008/07/22)
Adverse possession is a law, recognized in every state. Using it, a neighboring landowner can take title to land you have purchased and paid taxes on. Having a survey and knowing where your legal boundaries are does not protect you. If someone claims part of your property, you will have to defend your rights in court or risk losing through default.
(2008/07/16)
I’ve taken a lot of ribbing in the past week after I wrote about the grass snake that decided to make its home in my 1989 Ford pickup.
(2008/07/16)
Congress created opportunities for rural communities, strengthened Wisconsin’s dairy farming economy and supported small family farmers in the Farm Bill passed this year. While I was disappointed that the bill did not do more to target limited resources to programs essential to family farmers and rural communities, this bill made significant improvements in other areas:
(2008/07/16)
I don’t know when it hit me, but when it did, I was rueful of how fast time passes.
(2008/07/16)
Vernon County has had two 100-year flood events in two years. This is when a 100-year event means it has a 1 percent chance of occurring in any given year.
(2008/07/09)
Most of my vacations end up being almost as much work as work. There’s always a long list of home improvement projects to do if we’re not going out of town, and if we do hit the road, well, that can be work, too.
(2008/07/09)
The front page of the June 19 edition of The Coulee News contained a nice feature article: “West Salem Police Department to peddle bikes.”
(2008/07/09)
The definition of “neighbors” was shown recently in the uniting of our neighbors that were devastated by the recent floods, willing to reach out and help one another in their own time of need. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of them.
(2008/07/09)
While I was at work early Sunday morning, I was listening to Sporting News Radio on WKTY. It was about 6 o’clock when I heard a report of a new sport lobbying to be added to the Olympics by 2020. I thought this one might be too big of a stretch to make it, but the sport, if you will, is competitive yoga.
(2008/07/01)
Maybe it was because my first driving experience came at the wheel of a quarter midget, a pint-sized race car, whizzing around a banked oval track and trying to get to the checkered flag first. Or maybe it was just a character flaw that compelled me to always need to be in front of any cars going the same direction I was. Whatever it was, I have been a speed demon most of my life.
(2008/07/01)
I was somewhat surprised on a recent trip to Washington, DC. When I was there in May 2000, I counted five anti-Clinton demonstrators along with more than 30 burnt-out hippies commemorating a battle of the Vietnam War with all the familiar slogans and chants of their era. Two years later, Lisa and I witnessed more than two dozen anti-Bush demonstrators picketing along Pennsylvania Avenue, protesting the No Child Left Behind Act, among other things.
(2008/07/01)
Last week, the White House renewed pressure on Congress to allow oil drilling offshore and in protected areas. This idea makes no sense. As a nation, unconsciously, we have chosen to follow a developmental route over the last century that makes all aspects of our civilization highly dependent on crude oil. We are paying the price for this choice and will pay far more in the future.
(2008/07/01)
When students learn about our system of justice in civics class, they’re told that every American has a right to his or her day in court. Yet, people from all walks of life often unknowingly sign away their right to a trial when they sign a contract.
(2008/07/01)
As I leave this area, I wish to say to the entire community that it has been a privilege to live and pastor here. This is a wonderful area to raise a family and enjoy “God’s Country.”
(2008/07/01)
La Crosse Area Home and Community Education would like to send a thank you to those establishments who donated door prizes for our June Dairy Bake-off. It always is a big part of our program and is much appreciated.
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