Onalaska Life

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.

Gundersen Lutheran Foundation goes whole hog to help

Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation took a healthy interest in the La Crosse Interstate Fair livestock auction on July 19.

The junior livestock auction is the culmination of a year’s work for many La Crosse county 4-H and FFA members and is the signature event of the fair. It completes an important early agribusiness education program for the youth who, with great pride, have selected, purchased and raised some of the finest beef, pork and sheep available in the Midwest.

Area business leaders and organizations attend the auction and provide the reward for the investment of money, time and personal sacrifice in feeding and caring for these animals. Many participants will begin to establish college funds with proceeds from the auction.

This year, the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation was the winning bidder for a hog raised by 13-year-old Jared Ammerman, the son of Lori and Bradley Ammerman of Bangor. Holmen Locker & Meat Market waived processing costs for the 277-pound crossbred barrow, and it will be donated to WAFER Food Pantry.

With the increasing cost of gas, energy bills and other items, many families are finding they have less money to spend on their groceries. Because of this, local food pantries say they’re seeing record numbers coming through their doors.

Dedicated to providing food relief to those in need, WAFER provided nearly 11,200 food packages to more than 2,600 La Crosse area families in 2007. Nearly 40 percent of those receiving food were children.

Longtime barber to hang up his clippers

Friday will be the last day for Dave’s Barber Shop at 711 Second Ave. S., along Hwy. 35 in Onalaska.

Owner Dave Holthaus, who’s been at his current location since 1988, is retiring after 48 years and seven months as a barber. “There’s not many barbers left, you know,” Holthaus said.

A cosmetologist is buying his building, and plans to remodel it for a two-chair salon, he said.

Kornfest biscuits & gravy breakfast set

The Holmen Knights of Columbus will hold their annual biscuits and gravy breakfast on Sunday, Aug. 17, from 7 a.m. to noon at the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Gathering Place (located at the Church), across from the Kornfest Car Show Grounds. Included in the meal are biscuits and gravy, eggs, sausage, toast and beverage.

Tickets will be available at the door for $5 or $3 for children ages 6-10. Younger kids eat free.

County offers back-to-school help program

La Crosse County is again coordinating a back-to-school project, collecting school supplies and backpacks for local low-income children through Aug. 29.

This year’s community drop off locations include the La Crosse County Health Department, Great Rivers United Way, Office Depot, Wal-mart, Kwik Trip and T.J. Maxx.

The program seeks donations of school supplies (new or gently used) including, but not limited to: crayons, paper (wide and college-ruled, spiral notebooks and loose-leaf packs), scissors, glue (liquid and sticks), pens, pencils, calculators, colored pencils, markers, erasers, highlighters, three-ring binders, folders, rulers, school boxes and backpacks.

Sons of Norway lodge to meet Aug. 7

The Sons of Norway, Wergeland Lodge, will meet Thursday, June 7, at 7 p.m. at the La Crosse American Legion, 711 S. Sixth St.

YES AmeriCorps seeks volunteers

YES AmeriCorps seeks full-time and half-time members for its 14th year in the La Crosse area.

One of the oldest AmeriCorps programs in the state, the La Crosse chapter started in 1995 with a focus on children. Volunteers work in local schools and organizations to reduce hunger and promote literacy, health, safety and volunteerism.

The 2008-09 program runs from September through July 2009. For more information, call Linda Zimmerman at (608) 785-7003 or e-mail zimmermanl@workforce connections.org.

Farm Bureau weiner roast set for Aug. 4

The La Crosse County Farm Bureau’s annual weiner roast will be held Monday, Aug. 4, at St. Joseph Ridge Park. Social time starts at 7:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at 8 p.m. There is no charge but donations will be accepted.

Ag museum show set for Aug. 1-3

The Western Wisconsin Agricultural Museum will hold its 37th annual show Aug. 1-3 on Highway 27 between Cashton and Westby.

An antique show will feature vehicles, models, gas engines and tractors and machinery. Field demonstrations will include corn shredding, feed grinding, threshing, rock crushing and a saw mill.

Events for the kids include a tractor pull, sawdust pile, barrel train and games. A $5 button is good for the whole weekend.

And kids 12 and younger are admitted free.

YMCA program focuses on accident prevention, safety

The La Crosse Family YMCA will host two talks by Keith LeClaire, founder of Reality Check, in which he will share the story of how he became disabled with a spinal cord injury at the age of 17. Along with his story he will share accident prevention tips on topics such as automobile safety, bike safety, ATV safety and more.

The programs, which are free and open to all, will be held at 10 a.m. Aug. 4 and 6.

Part of LeClaire’s disability awareness presentation will highlight topics such as his daily life, family, challenges, friendships, mobility and more. He will demonstrate how he still stays active playing tennis, basketball and ping pong.

LeClaire has shared his story with more than 130,000 people and has done presentations for schools, churches and businesses. He is a graduate of UW-Whitewater and did additional course work at UW-La Crosse. He has played wheelchair tennis since 1989 and was ranked #1 in A division in 2000 and 2001.

Clearwater Farm seeks items for sale

Tax deductible donations for Clearwater Farm’s annual barnyard rummage sale will be accepted from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6, at 760 Green Coulee Road, Onalaska. Organizers will take just about anything except window blinds or exercise equipment.

Money raised by the sale of donated items will help cover the cost of animal care, educational events and property maintenance.

Sale days are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, at the same address.

Barns and grounds also will be open 9 to 11 a.m. Aug. 9.

For more information, call Cheryl Gilkes at 780-0441.

Medicare workshop scheduled for Aug. 5

An educational session for current and potential consumers of Medicare benefits as well as health care providers and other professionals will be held Tuesday, Aug. 5.

Session one is from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for health care providers and professionals. Session two will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. and is geared toward consumers, older adults and families.

Health care professionals will learn about Medicare, Medicare Advantage, managed care and other provider related issues.

Consumers, older adults and families will learn about what choices are available with Medicare, how different plans affect different consumers, traditional medicare supplements, Medicare Advantage plans, drug plan coverage and area resources.

Anyone is invited to attend both sessions. The free sessions will be held at Faith and Life Center at Bethany-Riverside at 2575 S. Seventh St., La Crosse. Refreshments will be provided.

For more information, call Tina Johnson at 785-6140.

Purple Heart ceremony set for Aug. 7

The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs will host a program honoring recipients of the Purple Heart at noon Thursday, Aug. 7, at Riverside Park in La Crosse.

The event is open to all and current and former members of the U.S. armed forces who have earned the Purple Heart honor are especially invited to attend.

On Aug. 7, 1782, at the headquarters of the Continental Army on the Hudson River in Newburgh, N.Y., General George Washington established the “Badge of Military Merit,” forerunner to the original Purple Heart. In 1932, the medal was revived and the Military Order of the Purple Heart was created in recognition of military service members wounded or killed in combat.

Salvation Army offers help for school year

The Salvation Army in La Crosse will be taking applications for back-to-school assistance for new clothes and shoes the week of July 28 to Aug. 1 from 2 to 6 p.m. at 223 N. Eighth St. in La Crosse.

“We’re hoping to be able to provide new slacks and a shirt and shoes for any child in our area for the first day of school,” said Cinda Todd, Salvation Army director of social services.

Families applying for assistance will need to bring in proof of residency and household income to determine eligibility. The back-to-school clothing and shoes will be distributed the week of Aug. 25-29.

Acupuncture talk set at Onalaska clinic

The Center for Health and Healing, part of the Franciscan Skemp Onalaska clinic, will offer a talk on acupuncture Thursday, Aug. 7, as part of its series of monthly holistic health talks.

“Hello, my name is so-and-so, and I have such-and-such. Where will you be putting the needles?” will be presented by Laxman Rajput, a licensed acupuncturist.

The program, which will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m., is free and open to all.

For more information or to sign up for a session, call 392-9717.

Program to focus on stress management

Gundersen Lutheran is once again offering Stress Less, an eight-week stress management series, beginning on Monday, Aug. 4, at the Onalaska clinic.

Stress Less is designed as a resource tool for participants to utilize for managing life’s stressors.

The class, which runs from from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. Mondays, costs $100 for eight weeks.

For more information or to register, call 775-6861.

Organ transplant picnic set for Aug. 5

Franciscan Skemp Healthcare and the Coulee Region Transplant Support Group will host a picnic for area transplant recipients, donors and their families from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5.

Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. at the Upper Main Shelter in Myrick Park in La Crosse.

A dinner of picnic fare will be provided courtesy of the Franciscan Skemp Foundation. There will be music by All Around Sound’s Lars Wold and children’s entertainment will be Ms. Will B. Silly. Door prizes will also be given away.

To RSVP for the picnic, call (608) 392-4172.

Qigong classes offered at clinic

Franciscan Skemp’s Onalaska Clinic will host a series of monthly sessions on Spring Forest Qigong beginning in September.

Qigong or “energy-work” is an ancient Chinese meditation exercise that combines visualization, breath, posture and sound to restore and maintain one’s natural state of vibrancy and balance.

Spring Forest Qigong is a form of Qigong created by master Chunyi Lin, who operates the Spring Forest Qigong Center in Eden Prairie, Minn.

Instructor Brian Wright, who has been a student of Spring Forest Qigong for more than 10 years, will lead the classes, which will be held at the Center for Health and Healing in the Onalaska clinic.

Classes will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on the following Saturdays: Sept. 6, Oct. 18, Dec. 6, Jan. 17, March 7 and April 18.

Cost is $30. For more information or to register, call 392-4172.

Sign-up on the Web for breast cancer event

People don’t have to wait until the last minute to support local breast cancer research at Gundersen Lutheran’s Norma J. Vinger Center for Breast Care.

Hundreds of breast cancer survivors and thousands of friends, family members and co-workers are expected for this year’s Steppin’ Out in Pink on Saturday, Sept. 6.

This year, participants are encouraged to register online. Visit the Steppin’ Out in Pink Web site at gundluth.org/SteppinOut and click “Register Online” for a quick and easy registration.

HMS to hold student registration

Holmen Middle School’s registration for students in grades six, seven and eight will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 12-13, from 7:30-1:00 a.m. and 3:30-7:30 p.m.

At registration, the students’ school portraits will be taken, breakfast and lunch accounts will be activated, sign-up will be available for fall sports and activities and forms and fees will be collected.

Registration will take place in the middle school’s cafeteria. Parking is available outside Entrance A, which is located on the south end of the building. Entrances A, D, E and F will be open during registration times.

Registration open for Kornfest parade

The Holmen Lions Club is taking applications for participants in the 26th annual Kornfest Parade, to be held Saturday, Aug. 16, starting at 11 a.m.

Entries are limited to 140 participants, and the deadline for submitting applications is Aug. 4.

Cost to be in the parade is $50 for political entries, $35 for business/commercial entries and $20 for others.

Application forms are available online at www.holmenlions.org or by stopping by the Edward Jones office at 106 S. Holmen Drive.

For more information, call Kornfest parade chairman Barry Ploessl at 526-9364.

Dave’s Guitar Shop teams up with Guitars for Vets

Guitars for Vets and Dave’s Guitar Shop in La Crosse recently announced they will team up to supply guitars and instruction to veterans.

Dave’s will become a drop off point for donated guitars and funds along with hosting periodic events and possible clinics for the Milwaukee-based Guitars for Vets.

Dave’s Guitar Shop is a nationally recognized retail and Internet outlet for new, used and rare collectable instruments, in business since 1982. The store, with its trademark guitar neck sign, is located at 1227 Third St. S.

“It is truly exciting and speaks volumes when someone of Dave Rogers stature in the industry gets involved in helping America’s heroes to heal wounds both physical and mental.” said John Lindner, executive director of Guitars for Vets. “The power of music and its ability to allow you to emote in a positive manner through the instrument does wonders in the healing process.”

Dave Rogers, owner of Dave’s Guitar Shop, said he believes it is important for businesses to give back. “I can think of no better cause than America’s veterans,” Rogers said. “Having had the blessing to be successful over these years, teaming up with an organization like Guitars for Vets is a great fit for us.”

Guitars for Vets began in late 2007 with musicians performing at the VA every Friday in the spinal cord injury unit. The organization is seeking donations to fund current programs and future expansion.

More details are available online at www.guitarsforvets.org.

No-call list extends to cell phones

Wisconsin’s no-call list at the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is doubling the number of intake lines from 48 to 96 in anticipation of consumers signing up their cell phones for the first time.

The law allowing cell phones on the list was recently passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Jim Doyle.

“No call is the most popular consumer protection program ever in this state,” said DATCP Secretary Rod Nilsestuen. “We are happy to be adding cell phones to the list.”

Consumers have from June 6 until the end of August to get on the next no-call list starting in October.

Consumers can sign up 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year by visiting the Wisconsin no-call list Web site at nocall.wisconsin.gov or calling 1-866-966-2255

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.

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.”

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.

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