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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.
Youth club at HHS for summer
The Boys & Girls Clubs’ Holmen Outreach Club will hold sessions at Holmen High School starting Monday, June 9.
During the school year, the club met at Holmen Lutheran Church, with a membership of about 80. The club is a joint venture between the Boys & Girls Clubs and the Holmen Area Partnership for Youth.
The club is closed Fridays and this month on Tuesdays, June 10 and 17, and Wednesday, June 25. The hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for most of the days the club is open. Thursdays in June the club will be open 2 to 8 p.m., except June 12 when a field trip is planned starting at 12:15 p.m.
A field trip to Mount Olympus in the Wisconsin Dells also is planned for Tuesday, June 24, leaving at 8 am. and returning at 5 p.m.
For more information on the club and its activities, call 399-4566.
Miss Holmen info meeting set
Preparations are under way for the 2008 Miss Holmen Scholarship Pageant — a “Summer Safari” to be held Aug. 8.
There will be an informational meeting for women ages 17-24 on Tuesday, June 10, at Pizza Corral in Holmen from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Those eligible for the pageant attend or are graduates of Holmen High School and those who live or work in Holmen.
At the informational meeting, Miss Holmen 2007 Raeanna Johnson and members of the Miss Holmen planning committee will be available to answer questions. Those who cannot attend the meeting and are interested in participating should call Kim Jackson at 526-2116 or Bridget Pfaff at 386-2177.
Feingold aide plans office hours
Matt Nikolay, western Wisconsin regional coordinator for U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., will hold office hours from 8:15 to 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, June 10, at Onalaska Town Hall, W7052 Second St.
No appointment is necessary to meet with Nikolay to discuss a problem they might be having with a federal program or to express opinions on matters before Congress.
Feingold holds his own separate listening session in all 72 counties of the state at least once a year. Feingold himself does not attend office hours.
People who can’t attend the office hours can write to Feingold’s staff at 425 State St., Room 225, La Crosse, WI 54601 or call 782-5585.
OUMC schedules blood drive
Onalaska United Methodist Church will host a community blood drive in Onalaska on Monday, June 9, in partnership with BloodCenter of Wisconsin.
The blood drive will take place at the church in the narthex room from 2 to 7 p.m.
People also can donate at a two-day event from 2 to 7 p.m. June 17 and 1 to 6 p.m. June 18 at the La Crosse Center, 300 Harbor View Plaza.
As a special thank-you, anyone who attempts to donate through June 30 can enter into a daily drawing to win a $100 gas card.
Anyone who is at least 17 years old, weighs a minimum of 110 pounds and is in generally good health can donate blood. The entire process takes about an hour, and all blood types are needed. Donors should bring a photo ID.
To schedule an appointment at Onalaska United Methodist Church, call Diane at 783-2633 or e-mail d.wpanzer@gmail.com.
Holmen Legion sets blood drive
The Scenic Bluffs Chapter of the American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, at the Holmen American Legion, 419 First Ave. W. Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE for an appointment.
CMN event raises more than $1 million
The annual Children’s Miracle Network Celebration last weekend raised $1,000,050. It is the first time in the 23-year history of the CMN broadcast at Gundersen Lutheran in which a seven figure total has been attained.
“Reaching $1 million was a significant milestone,” said Heather Gilles, CMN development coordinator. “We need to be sure to thank everyone who helped us by donating their time, talent and, of course, for making donations. Their contributions will give hope to children in need.”
Celebration 2008 featured the heartwarming stories of several area children who have benefited from CMN at Gundersen Lutheran. The families of Alexsis Larry, Cady Johnson, Carson McCormick, Sean Fox and the Girtler twins (Kathryn and Elizabeth) expressed their gratitude throughout the program by sharing their stories and gratefulness that CMN has been there to help.
All the money raised by CMN goes directly to children in the tri-state area faced with medical problems.
Clinic offers workshop on childcare
Gundersen Lutheran will host the Kids Care Kollege Super Saturday program Saturday, June 21.
The program is open to childcare providers and parents. Experts will discuss children and social development, behavior, sleep and nutrition. Thanks to a grant from Kohl’s, Super Saturday will be held free of charge at Gundersen Lutheran’s Rasmus Center, 1900 South Ave., La Crosse, from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
A continental breakfast and door prizes will be available. Space is limited so early registration is recommended. For more information or a registration form, call Jennifer Peterson at 775-3258.
Cut-a-thon to benefit cancer patients
The Salon Professional Academy, 566 Theater Road in Onalaska, will host a cut-a-thon to benefit cancer patients on Sunday, June 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
All haircuts will be $10, with additional donations accepted. Other services such as manicures, pedicures and facials also will be available. Log onto www.salonproacademy.com/services for a complete menu of services.
All proceeds will benefit Couture for Cancer, a nonprofit organization that donates custom-made hair replacement systems free of charge, to any person suffering hair loss due to cancer and chemotherapy treatments.
Make appointments by calling 783-7400. Walk-ins are welcome.
Farmers markets kick off new season
The area farmers market season kicked off last week.
Onalaska’s weekly farmers market will be held 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays in the Festival Foods parking lot at 1260 Crossing Meadows Drive.
Holmen’s weekly farmers market will run from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays in the Festival Foods parking lot at 600 Holmen Drive.
La Crosse also has three farmers markets:
At the county parking lot bounded by Third, Fourth, Vine and State streets, starting at 6 a.m. Saturdays.
At Bridgeview Plaza, 2500 Rose Street, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays.
On King Street at Cameron Park from 4 to 8 p.m. Fridays.
People who want to sell fruits, vegetables and other garden products or homemade craft items can obtain a permit for $45 in advance or $55 at the market for one parking space. Additional parking spaces are $15 each.
The permits are valid for the entire season and can be obtained in advance at the La Crosse County Health Department, 300 Fourth St. N., La Crosse.
Picnic for cancer survivors set for June 10
Celebrate Life, the 18th annual event saluting area cancer survivors and their families, will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, in the South Hall of the La Crosse Center. More than 1,600 people are expected to attend.
This free community-wide “picnic” in honor of National Cancer Survivorship Day is open to anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer and their families. Doctors, nurses and other staff will join in the festivities.
A picnic dinner will be served continuously from 5 to 7 p.m. with live music throughout the evening and a special appearance by the La Crosse Loggers mascots. Door prizes and a children’s activity area will add to the fun.
Celebrate Life is sponsored by Gundersen Lutheran and Franciscan Skemp Healthcare with support from area foundations, pharmaceutical companies and businesses. Volunteers from both healthcare organizations staff the event.
Cancer survivors interested in attending can RSVP by calling Gundersen Lutheran at 775-3908 or Franciscan Skemp Healthcare at 392-9717 if they have not already responded by mail.
Volunteers are needed starting at 2:30 p.m. to help set up, serve and clean up. People interested in volunteering may call 392-2709.
Annual biggest baby shower set for June 8
Franciscan Skemp’s seventh annual Biggest Baby Shower EVER will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 8, in the employee parking ramp on 10th Street between Market and Ferry streets in La Crosse. The shower is co-sponsored by Magic 105.
In addition to informational displays by Franciscan Skemp, participants can shop local vendors, win prizes and enjoy refreshments and children’s activities. Infant car seat checks will be available on a limited basis.
Registration open for annual canoe race
The annual Brice Prairie Canoe Race will be held this year Saturday, June 28, and its time to think about signing up.
The canoe/kayak race is a recreational event that starts and ends at the Upper Brice Prairie Boat Landing. The canoe race route is about two to three miles long. The kayak race is longer, going out into Lake Onalaska.
Categories for the races include men, women, mixed for adults and youth. Each entrant receives a T-shirt. Prize drawings are held for all racers.
Advance registration for the race is needed. Race information forms explaining the race and registration information are available at area sport shops and other retail outlets.
In addition to the canoe/kayak race, there will be a sunrise paddle on the Black River from Lytle’s Landing starting at 6:30 a.m.
For more information, log onto www.briceprairiecanoerace.org.
HHS Class of 1978 seeks classmates
The Holmen High School Class of 1978 reunion committee is looking for the following classmates: Lynn Sobota, Donna Nichols, Scott Johnson, Rhonda Olsen, Tom Deters, Rose Leisgang, Tony Seever, Paul Christianson, Marlene Kirchner, Steinn Bjornsson, Keith Myren, Tom Deters, Paul Solberg, Kim Morehouse, Cathy Taylor, Laura Vinson, George McCarthy, Bonnie Bay, Cheryl (Mikels) Weigand and Russ Jerome.
People with contact information for these classmates should call Terry Hegenbart at (608) 498-3338.
Memory Walk event volunteers sought
Volunteers are needed to help organize the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk 2008, the largest fundraiser to help those affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
Next fall, the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Wisconsin will join more than 600 communities across the United States in a 2- to 5-mile walk to remember those with Alzheimer’s disease.
The 33 walks are organized by teams of local volunteers who are assisted by staff from the Alzheimer’s Association. The planning committees are forming now. Anyone interested in volunteering for a walk near them is encouraged to call Lori Bagniewski at 784-5011.
CD features river stories, memories
Stories of life on the modern-day Mississippi River flow off a new CD available from UW-La Crosse.
Eighteen La Crosse-area residents share their river tales in the two-disc CD package, “First Person Wisconsin: Mississippi Memories II.” Their stories were first told during 13 programs airing on Wisconsin Public Radio station WLSU in 2006.
Among those interviewed were a group of Longfellow Middle School teachers, musician Calvin Mitchell, birder Fred Lesher and retired WLSU radio station general manager Jim Conway. UW-La Crosse history Professor Charles Lee captured the stories as part of UW-L’s Oral History Project.
The double CD package is available for $17.77. Order by credit card by contacting Paul Beck, UW-L Special Collections, at 785-8511. Or send a check payable to UW-La Crosse to: UW-L Oral History Program, 325 Wimberly Hall, 1725 State St., La Crosse WI 54601.
Medics to reward kids for bike safety
Tri-State Ambulance, Rudy’s Drive-In in La Crosse, The Frosty Mug in Holmen and the Dairy Queen in Onalaska are teaming up for a new bicycle helmet safety program called “Cool Kids — Cool Treats.”
When Tri-State Ambulance personnel observe a child 15 years old or younger wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle in public, the kids will be given a “ticket” entitling them to a free ice cream at The Frosty Mug or Dairy Queen or a root beer float at Rudy’s Drive-In when accompanied by an adult. The program runs through Aug. 31.
“Our hope is to raise helmet safety awareness,” said Matt Zavadsky, director of Tri-State Ambulance. “The goal is simple. Keep children out of the emergency room and provide some cool treats as incentive.”
Challenge Academy taking applications
The Challenge Academy, a tuition-free program for 16- to 18-year-old “at-risk” youths is now accepting applications for its next class of cadets, who will start July 25.
Located at Fort McCoy, the academy offers high school dropouts or habitual truants a chance to earn a high school equivalency diploma, learn essential job and life-coping skills and develop the strength of character to become responsible citizens.
Cadets spend 22 weeks at Fort McCoy, learning in a highly structured environment. After returning to their home communities, they work with local mentors for another year to pursue the goals they have set for themselves.
Would-be cadets must apply voluntarily, must have dropped out of school or be at least a year behind in credits and must not have been convicted of a felony.
More information is available from the academy’s admissions department at (608) 269-4605 or www.challengeacademy.org.
Free child lead screenings offered
As part of Project LEAD, the EPA grant received by the La Crosse County Health Department in October 2007, free blood lead screening will be available the last Friday of each month from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Parents should call 785-9865 to reserve a time and come to the La Crosse County Health Department, 2nd Floor of the Health and Human Services Building, 300 4th Street La Crosse.
As part of Project LEAD, the Nutrition Services Department which houses the WIC Program, will offer the free blood lead testing. The test also is available at other times through public health nursing by making an appointment at 785-9723.
Children younger than 6 who have never been screened are encouraged to have a blood lead test done, and all children younger than 2 who live in a home or spend time in a home built before 1978, should be tested.
The testing is done with a finger prick sample of blood. Children whose screening results come back greater than 10 ug/dl are recommended to have a confirmatory blood draw done through their doctor’s office. There is no cost for the blood lead screening test.
Project LEAD is working with agencies that serve families with children younger than 6 to increase awareness and screening for lead poisoning, which continues to be a risk to children residing in homes built prior to 1978.
Outreach is being conducted to educate home owners, contractors and landlords of the need to remodel with regard to disturbing lead paint which was very likely to be used on surfaces painted in the 1970s and earlier.
For more information, call the La Crosse County Health Department at 785-9872.
Low-income phone discounts offered
Low-income consumers may qualify for assistance programs that discount initial telephone installation and basic monthly service, according to a recent announcement from CenturyTel.
The assistance programs, known as Link-Up and Lifeline, are available to qualifying consumers in every U.S. state (territory and commonwealth). Link-Up helps these consumers pay the initial costs of getting telephone service. Lifeline provides certain discounts on monthly service for qualified subscribers.
Qualifications for participation vary by state. States with their own programs have their own criteria. In states that rely solely on the federal program, the subscriber must participate in one of the following programs: Medicaid, food stamps, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing Assistance or the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Head Start, the National School Lunch Program’s Free Lunch Program, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) or if the household annual gross income is at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty level.
The amount of the discounts also varies by state. This federal Link-Up program offsets one-half of the initial hook-up fee, up to $30, for qualified households.
People living in a CenturyTel service area should call 800-201-4099 or log onto www.centurytel.com/lifeline to inquire about eligibility.
Easter Seals offers special camp in Wisconsin Dells
Easter Seals Camp Wawbeek in Wisconsin Dells will hold its summer session July 13-18 this year for teens and adults who have a mild cognitive delay and no physical disabilities.
Trailblazers is a program of discovery for people who have mild to moderate cognitive delays and no physical disabilities. Trailblazers is designed for people who enjoy sharing an active lifestyle with their peers and who will benefit from the guidance of our supportive staff.
As Trailblazers, campers spend their time in the sun and fresh air, participating in activities they love while discovering new interests and making new friends.
Campers can choose to take part in numerous traditional camp experiences such as canoeing, fishing, arts and crafts, music, drama and dance, and are treated to field trips and attractions in nearby Wisconsin Dells.
Trailblazers are divided into two age groups — 7-18 and 19 and older — and are then broken into smaller peer groups, where they will enjoy participating in a wide variety of age-appropriate activities. There’s an experienced counselor for every three campers.
For more information or an application, log onto www.East-erSealsWisconsin.com or call 1-800-422-2324.
County offers low-cost radon test kits
The La Crosse County Health Department once again is offering radon test kits to anyone interested in checking the radon level in their home.
Radon test kits can be purchased for $5 at the following locations:
La Crosse County Health Department, 300 Fourth St. N., La Crosse
Hazel Brown Leicht Memorial Library, 201 Neshonoc Road, West Salem
Onalaska Public Library, 741 Oak Ave. S.
Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and kills 20,000 people every year. For more information about radon, call 888-low-radon or visit www.lowradon.org.
Franciscan Skemp hosts moms group
Franciscan Skemp Healthcare is offering new moms and babies a chance to find support, friendship and new information through a new weekly program called New Mom and Baby Group.
New moms can listen to speakers and find advice for the new chapter in their lives. The group meets at two locations and is free for everyone.
On Wednesdays, the group program meets from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Franciscan Skemp Onalaska Clinic, 191 Theater Road, in the lower level conference room
On Thursdays, the program meets from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Franciscan Skemp Family Health Clinic in the Sally Olson Conference Room, 815 S. 10th St., La Crosse.
For more information, call (608) 392-4172.
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