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(2010/03/12)
Our daughter, Jen, called one evening recently and told us our grandchildren, Allison, 6, and Ben, 4, wanted to show us their newly constructed leprechaun trap. I hustled down to my office, snatched up the laptop and opened Skype, the grandparent-friendly free video communication program.
(2010/03/12)
Four bills now moving through the state Legislature, seemingly small in scope, threaten to undermine Wisconsin’s public notice laws.
(2010/03/12)
As a student at UW-La Crosse, I find it important that my representatives in Washington are working to create an environment that promotes higher education and job growth. Congressman Ron Kind has worked to make higher education both more affordable and accessible, which is why I am proud to have him represent me in Congress.
(2010/03/12)
Is it any wonder more good people don’t run for public office? Just look at the way Sen. Jim Bunning of Kentucky is treated for daring to raise objections over the reckless spending in Washington. Congressman Ron Kind likes to brag about his support of the “PayGo” law that forces Congress to pay for things by finding cuts in other programs or increasing taxes. The bottom line, according to Kind, is that the Congress must pay for things without adding to the nation’s deficit.
(2010/03/12)
The La Crosse County Conservation Alliance was very disappointed with the recent vote in the state Assembly that failed to override the veto of the Department of Natural Resources secretary bill and return the appointment of the DNR secretary to the Natural Resources Board.
(2010/03/09)
Taking the advice of Aldo Leopold, Wisconsin’s great ecologist whose work we will celebrate this weekend, I have studied an oak tree that will “warm my shins” in the winter of 2011-12.
(2010/03/09)
In January, the Doyle Administration began springing dangerous criminals from prison under the controversial early release program approved by Democrat lawmakers last summer.
(2010/03/09)
Being brought up in La Crosse, I have always been exposed to the drinking practices this river city takes part in. Our brewery displays “The World’s Largest Six-Pack”for tourists and natives to admire as they drive down Third Street, a street on which an array of bars are squeezed into only a few city blocks. The Oktoberfest celebration in late September brings in tourists from all over with lederhosen and beer mugs for a week of festivities. There is no denying that La Crosse enjoys its cold beverages.
(2010/03/09)
No matter what party you belong to, if you want reform, then make all those who are inflicting these changes on us come under the same law and same programs, including all the special interests that are exempt the last time around just to gain enough support for a false majority vote. When they have to come under those programs, it just might work for the
(2010/03/09)
There are a couple of different ways to look at a team mascot. One is as an embodiment of what you want to be — ferocious like a Tiger, strong like a Lumberjack and so on.
(2010/03/01)
Even as the global warming doubters were yukking it up about the cold and snow that blanketed the east and south recently, a blizzard of evidence continues to accumulate that our climate is changing.
(2010/03/01)
I would like to thank all the voters who came out and voted Feb. 16 and voted for me and voted their position on the Bangor School referendum.
(2010/03/01)
In the ongoing discussion regarding the Bible’s use in solving moral issues, one writer recently made the statement that, “in the 21st century, people need real evidence — facts, examples, valid reasoning — to make decisions.” I couldn’t agree more, and that’s precisely why the Bible is indispensable.
(2010/03/01)
The endless speculation about a serial killer lurking along the banks of the Mississippi River is the product of our lack of imagination.
(2010/02/18)
Earworm. You’ve probably had one — the unshakable repetition in your mind of some song that you’ve heard, a tune that won’t go away, persistent as a mosquito bite itch.
(2010/02/18)
In 2008, the wind energy industry employed 85,000 American workers. After collecting nearly $2 billion of federal stimulus funding in 2009, it still provides 85,000 jobs according the America Wind Energy Association.
(2010/02/18)
Reducing the size and scope of government is never an easy task, which is the primary reason why our state’s budget deficit is $2.71 billion and our nation’s budget deficit is $1.6 trillion. The $3.8 million needed to fund the Public Defender Bill seems like a meager government expenditure.
(2010/02/18)
Recently, I read a “Discussions with Dan” e-newsletter in which state Sen. Dan Kapanke explained his vote against the public defender bill as a vote “to cut government spending.” In reality it was a shell game that increases your local property taxes. Rather than having the state pay an additional $3.8 million for this program, property taxpayers will get socked for $7.5 million. State legislators look good; we look bad. You pay $3.7 million more than you should.
(2010/02/18)
The quest to keep classic jazz around forever is still going strong as two of this area’s several jazz icons will chatter and play through their memories of working during the more prolific times of live music venues. The Rev. Al Townsend and Dick Chaffee will share plenty of musical memories and create some funny stories while they are at it at LaScher’s Uptown Bistro in West Salem on Feb. 21.
(2010/02/17)
Shoveling the driveway after the first round of snow this week made me hungry for oatmeal. So I boiled a batch of the old-fashioned variety, piled on raisins and brown sugar and fixed two slices of toast before settling in with the morning paper and a cup of coffee.
(2010/02/17)
The problem with our health care system is the cost of health care. The cost of health insurance is driven by health care costs. The House and Senate reforms will not control health care costs. The Republicans answer is to turn more power over to the industry at the detriment of the public. So both parties have it wrong.
(2010/02/17)
Ron Kind couldn’t even keep his “fiscally responsible” promise for two weeks. On Jan. 25 he held a press conference calling for fiscal responsibility and promising to be a good steward of taxpayer money. On Feb. 4, he voted with the Democrat leadership to increase the debt limit to $14.3 TRILLION. Ron Kind cannot be trusted with our money.
(2010/02/17)
We are accustomed to thinking of our nation as wealthy, in fact, the richest in the world. No doubt we have been blessed with a population of hard-working, innovative and success-oriented people who have achieved spectacular results that have benefited every American.
(2010/02/17)
In the last few weeks, readers have been subjected to a barrage of letters criticizing Sen. Russ Feingold and Congressman Ron Kind. Let’s set the record straight. Both of these individuals are recognized for their independence and responsible use of taxpayer money.
(2010/02/17)
Unwittingly, Rep. Marlin Schneider just provided a great example of why Wisconsin’s open records law is so important and must be protected.
(2010/02/10)
A friend once described me as a few-thousand-words-a-week man, an appellation I have accepted as fairly accurate, though it’s often more and sometimes less, depending on the projects at hand. Assembling those words to describe thoughts or scenes would be pure pleasure if it weren’t so darned hard to do. Knowing that difficulty makes me admire all the more the works of those who write essays about the rural life.
(2010/02/10)
It can be hard for politicians to come to an agreement on one issue. But if there’s a consensus among all Wisconsin legislators, it’s that we all cherish our great state and want it to be the place that businesses come to grow; the state that families come to raise their children and the state that paves the way for innovation and ingenuity.
(2010/02/10)
Why am I an Onalaska Lions Club member? Because the Onalaska Lions Club is doing things in our community that I couldn’t do on my own, like holding bingo for residents at the Onalaska Care Center, like having a Halloween costume party for fifth-graders at three schools, like buying uniforms for a boys baseball team and a girls softball team, like providing a scholarships to Luther and Onalaska high school students, like sending a boy to Badger Boys State and a girl to Badger Girl State, like sending a student to a World Affairs Seminar, like transporting eyes to the Wisconsin Lions Eye Bank for cornea transplant or ringing the bell for the Salvation Army and a few others.
(2010/02/10)
U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis., wants a federal deficit reduction commission. How nice. Locally, that commission is called "Kapanke for Congress." The only way to reduce spending is to dump people like Ron Kind.
(2010/02/10)
For the third time I say the Lord moves in mysterious ways.
(2010/02/03)
About the time the billboard loomed over La Crosse advocating the separation of church and state, I was turning page 520 in a new translation of Alexis de Tocqueville’s two-volume “Democracy in America.”
(2010/02/03)
Throughout January, Wisconsin has been welcoming home more than 3,000 Wisconsin Army National Guard troops from Iraq. Hailing from every corner of Wisconsin — from Ashland and Appleton to Kenosha and Monroe — these courageous soldiers deserve our thanks and honor for their brave service and sacrifice on behalf of our nation.
(2010/02/03)
I think our president needs to be informed that he was elected to act as a steward of our Constitution on behalf of the American people. His role is to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America, not change it or give us his personal interpretation of it.
(2010/02/03)
Attention Ron Kind and Russ Feingold: Your bosses are speaking. It is now time for you to listen and stop the fall-in-line response to your party leaders when it comes to this ridiculous excuse for a health care plan. Come up with something fair, reasonable and affordable that can be supported by a majority of us.
(2010/02/03)
On Thursday, the Supreme Court of the United States made a ruling that essentially changes the Constitution. In its 5-4 decision, it was stated that limiting corporate election contributions was unconstitutional due to the First Amendment, which prohibits “abridging the freedom of speech.”
(2010/02/03)
I write to you today as an assistant district attorney and as a concerned citizen to ask for your support in addressing a looming public safety crisis. Our office has recently been notified that an undetermined number of assistant district attorneys face almost certain permanent layoffs as a result of this year’s budget shortfall.
(2010/02/03)
Well it didn’t take long for the blame game to start. Earlier this week, I was listing to public radio when, lo and behold, several callers called in and said the poverty in Haiti was all the fault of — you guessed it — the United States.
(2010/01/25)
During the early days that followed the earthquake in Haiti, one of the only means of getting news from that devastated nation was via Skype, the computer program that allows free video communications through the Internet.
(2010/01/25)
On Jan. 22, the West Salem High School Wind Symphony and directors David Kies and Kelli Martin will take the stage at the National Band Association Wisconsin Chapter convention. This is a huge honor for the students and a tremendous validation of the excellent music programs in West Salem.
(2010/01/25)
The West Salem High School Wind Symphony will perform at the National Band Association state convention in Wisconsin Rapids on Jan. 22. This is a very high and distinct honor to be chosen to participate at this level as a band.
(2010/01/25)
Being a patron and season ticket holder for more than 30 years, I feel the La Crosse Community Theatre board of directors has created a mess. Why the board did not re-hire Morrie Enders, who had so much enthusiasm and passion for the theatre and worked so hard over the years to build our theatre, is beyond me. Now Morrie has gone to Lincoln, Neb., to build its theatre, which is their gain and our loss. I think we need a new board that uses better judgment.
(2010/01/25)
Begin easy lifetime payments today. Receive 2015 model when produced! What features will it have? To be determined. What will it look like? Transparent What will I get for my dollar? Change. Options do not include participation. Brought to you by Government Motors.
(2010/01/25)
Text messaging is one of the most dangerous things a driver can do while behind the wheel of a moving vehicle, yet survey after survey shows that an alarming number of drivers do it. AAA is calling on the Wisconsin Assembly to help remove this menace from our roadways by passing Assembly Bill 496, which bans all drivers in Wisconsin from text messaging while driving.
(2010/01/25)
The recent letter headlined “Real health care reform is almost here,” cites a figure of 46 million uninsured Americans. This oft-quoted statistic is actually a gross overestimation of the problem, as recent research suggests the number of Americans who cannot currently afford health insurance is much lower.
(2010/01/25)
Public schools in Wisconsin must routinely open their meetings and records to public inspection.
(2010/01/20)
Allison, 5, ran past a tray of steaming blueberry scones when we came in from our snowy adventure at the pond. Her cheeks were cherry red from the wind and temperatures in the low teens. Her brother, Ben, 4, and I couldn’t resist stopping in the kitchen to eat the scones Gretchen had just taken from the oven.
(2010/01/20)
Legislation loosely based on 2008 recommendations from Gov. Jim Doyle’s Global Warming Task Force was introduced last week and is reportedly on the “fast track” after being written in secret for nearly a year. Ironically, a winter storm forced the governor to cancel a rollout planned in Milwaukee and make the announcement in Madison alone.
(2010/01/20)
The family of Charlene Vick cannot begin to thank friends and neighbors enough for the love and support that you have provided to our family during the last few weeks, and the entire past five years. Words cannot express how grateful we are for your prayers, cards, meals, flowers, and the donations you’ve given to our family and various charities.
(2010/01/20)
It was with great interest that I read about the hearing to set the fire protection fee change. The first thing that came to mind was this: "Is this another way to fleece more money out of the community for the village to line their coffers?" The thing that really stinks is the fact that the village board is using the fire department as an excuse to change the fee base, so people are more up in arms about it.
(2010/01/20)
With a new year upon us, it’s time to reflect on the previous year and determine goals and priorities for the coming year.
(2010/01/13)
On a late afternoon in December, I leaned against the sill of a rear window and looked into our woods in the town of Onalaska. My gaze focused on a dark shape against the snow in a cluster of mature aspen trees deep into the mostly oak and hickory woods. I knew that our friend Dave was bow hunting in a tree stand in that vicinity so I watched intently as the shape moved and I could see it was a deer.
(2010/01/13)
We tend to take fire and police services for granted. Our expectation is that firefighters and police officers will be there when we need them.
(2010/01/13)
This has been a good season for both the Salvation Army and the food pantry. Our community dropped $2,241.20 into the red kettle, all of which will return to West Salem in the form of vouchers at Our Savior’s Lutheran, the police department and the school to help those in need.
(2010/01/13)
I agree with Rush Limbaugh this week (first time in my life) on a statement: “If we don’t get this medical thing right, let’s not do it at all.” Well, I am sure Rush and I would be miles apart on what we think is appropriate for the United States on this medical system issue.
(2010/01/13)
I don’t know Rep. Mike Huebsch from Adam, but just as he pigeon-holed all prisoners as dangerous threats to the public’s safety, I could easily enough pigeon-hole him and all his politicking ilk as a bunch of silver-tongued liars and thieves who feed off of society’s fears for their own personal gains.
(2010/01/13)
There have been so many individuals and organizations that have made life better for those at Lakeview Health Center this past year and especially during the holiday season. Some thanks are definitely in order.
(2010/01/13)
We’re closer than ever to real health insurance reform. The bill before the Senate includes the best ideas of Democrats and Republicans. Doing nothing will not only leave the current 46 million Americans uninsured, but will force more and more employers to drop coverage for their employees, due to skyrocketing premiums.
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