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This Weeks Articles for 5/12/2026 ...

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Norwegian culture core of Westby’s Syttende Mai celebration

Norwegian heritage will be celebrated at Westby’s 58th annual Syttende Mai festival, May 15-17.

The three-day event is a way for people to mark Norwegian Constitution Day and reflect on the ancestors who settled in the area.

If you go
What: Syttende Mai
Where: Westby
When: May 15-17
More information: www.facebook.com/WestbySyttendeMai

Event highlights

Marx said the celebration’s activities are much the same as in years past.

The Noske Tent, set up on Market Street, will be the spot for live music. High Mileage will be on stage from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 15, and Blue Collar 40 from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 16. “These are two local very popular bands people like to listen to.”

Syttende Mai buttons are required for admission into the tent. Buttons can be purchased at local businesses for $10 prior to May 15; on the days of the performances, entry is $15 for a button...

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Bike Wisconsin’s First Rails to Trails: A Scenic Ride in the Driftless Region

In the rolling hills of Wisconsin’s Driftless Region, Monroe County is home to a slice of American cycling history. The Elroy-Sparta State Trail, which opened in 1967, is generally credited as the nation’s first rails-to-trails project, rewriting a defunct Chicago & North Western Railway line into a 32.5-mile crushed-limestone route that continues to attract thousands of riders each year.

Whether you’re a bike aficionado chasing tunnels and views, or a family looking for an easy, unforgettable day outside, this trail hits the mark with scenery, small-town stops, and the quaint wherewithal of Monroe County.

The Trail That Started It All

Praised as the birthplace of the rails-to-trails movement, the Elroy-Sparta State Trail meanders through wetlands, prairies, farmland, and the Glacierless Region’s distinctive unglaciated landscape. The gradual slope makes it suitable for all skill levels. The packed crushed-limestone surface is best suited for hybrids, gravel bikes, or wider tires, though some road bikes can make it in dry conditions. You need a state trail pass, but once you clip in, you’re riding history itself...

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Vernon County Over 50 sponsors SMRT Bus guided tour

Tuesday, May 19, at 8:45 a.m.

Vernon County Over 50 is sponsoring a guided trip to ride the SMRT Bus from Viroqua to La Crosse and back.

Learn how to ride, where the bus stops and where you can pick it up throughout the Viroqua to Westby to La Crosse route. Learn how to get to appointments at Mayo or Emplify Health by Gundersen in La Crosse and other sights along the way.

Join the group as we start the route from Hickory Street, just east of Main Street and across from the south Kwik Trip in Viroqua. We will gather on Tuesday, May 19, at 8:45 a.m. on the sidewalk and take the SMRT Bus Yellow Route at 8:48 a.m. Bring $5 cash for the bus. We will view all the stops along the way to La Crosse and arrive at Cameron Park at 9:58 a.m. Everyone will be free to walk around downtown, Pearl Street, the Children’s Museum of La Crosse (a map will be provided) and meet at Hollandberry for lunch at 12 noon. Lunch is on your own...

...To sign up or get more information, contact Kay Wienke at Vernon County Over 50, 262-384-0082 or over50lunch@yahoo.com.

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Ken Notes: SMRT bus will need additional funding resources or program changes to remain fiscally viable in 2027. Please consider events, promotions, or other ways to support the program.

Driftless Area Restoration Effort

A partnership for the water, the land and the people of the Driftless Area

The Driftless Area is a 24,000 square-mile area spread across portions of southeast Minnesota, northeast Iowa, southwest Wisconsin and northwest Illinois that was bypassed by the last continental glacier. The lack of glacial drift — sediments carried and deposited by glaciers — has resulted in a unique landscape defined by steep hills, limestone bluffs, and a high concentration of spring-fed coldwater streams in an area recognized for its impressive diversity of plants, animals, and habitats.

Although the Driftless escaped from the most recent continental glacier, the landscape has been carved by millions of years of other glacial processes, including tectonic activity, previous glaciations, and erosion.

The original inhabitants of the Driftless Area were members of the Ho-Chunk Nation, and the region remains important to the Ho-Chunk people today.

...Full Story Here

Ken Notes: Great read on both the Driftless and efforts to restore fish habitats...

Grant money looks to bring new people to Wisconsin

Two areas in the region are getting help from the state to try to attract new people to move there.

Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) announced 17 communities are receiving a total of $5 million in Talent Recruitment Grants.

The grants are designed to bring new workers and their families into the state to improve the workforce.

Driftless Development, Incorporated in Crawford County is one of the recipients. They’re getting $500,000 in grant funding.

Their efforts, according to the state, offers a “forgivable mortgage structure to incentivize long-term residency.” It goes on to say the program “prioritizes retention as heavily as recruitment.”

“Crawford County has real momentum. Employers are actively recruiting from out of state, visitors fall in love with the area, and community partners across every sector are ready to act,” said Nikki Dudley, Executive Director of Driftless Development...

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Wisconsin officially designates 250-mile section of Mississippi River Trail for cyclists

The Wisconsin portion of the 3K-mile trail mostly follows Highway 35, also known as the Great River Road

Earlier this month, Gov. Tony Evers signed into law bipartisan legislation that officially designates a 250-mile bike trail along the western border of the state — just in time for the start of the cycling season.

The Mississippi River Trail runs through 10 states, from the headwaters of the river at Lake Itasca in Minnesota to where it empties into the Gulf of Mexico.

Cyclists follow a 3,000-mile route of existing roads and trails from Minnesota to Louisiana, winding through forested canopies, past farms and through cities big and small. In Wisconsin, it primarily follows Highway 35, also known as the Great River Road...

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La Crosse Farmers Market returns to weekly schedule at new location

LA CROSSE (WKBT) -- The La Crosse Farmer’s Market is moving once again, according to organizers.

Fridays 3:30 to 7 PM
Hmoob Community and Cultural Center
1815 Ward Avenue

• The La Crosse Farmers Market begins its weekly Friday schedule at the Hmoob Community and Cultural Center starting May 8
• The market operates from 3:30 to 7 p.m. every Friday through October at 1815 Ward Avenue
• This marks another location change for the market, which has moved multiple times in recent years due to safety concerns and declining attendance

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) — After years of relocating from venue to venue, the La Crosse Farmers Market has found what organizers hope will be a permanent home at the Hmoob Cultural and Community Center.

The market will operate from the center located at 1815 Ward Avenue, marking another chapter in the market's recent history of frequent moves that have taken it from Cameron Park to Burns Park to City Hall's parking lot...

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Regional Economic Development Entities

Mississippi River Regional Planning Commision	SouthWest NorthWest State	Coulee Regional Business Center	THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI MANUFACTURING ALLIANCE
	Vernon Co. Economic Development	La Crosse Area Development Corporation	SBDC La Crosse
Economic Development	Community Development	Economic Development	Economic Development

Trempealeau County Economic Development	The Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC)	Vernon Economic Development Association	Workforce Connections, Inc.
The Pierce County EDC EDC quarterly	Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council	Job and Business Development (JBD) Program
Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority	USDA Rural Development Wisconsin	Xcel Energy Economic Development	Economic Development

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WEDC announces $1.5 million in grants to support small businesses across Wisconsin

Funding will enable local organizations to assist with building improvements and other financial support

MADISON, WI. MARCH 3, 2026 – The Wisconsin Economic Corporation (WEDC) announced today that ten community organizations supporting small businesses across Wisconsin have received $1.5 million in Small Business Development Grants (SBDG) from WEDC.

“Local leaders want to build communities where people are excited to live, work, and grow,” said John W. Miller, secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), the state’s lead economic development organization. “These grants will allow communities to make the investments small businesses need to be able to grow and thrive.”

The competitive grants, which range from $50,000 to $250,000, were awarded to local and regional economic development organizations, municipalities, and counties to support small business development and creation. The organizations will pass 100% of the SBDG funds on to small businesses.

The SBDG grant recipients include:... (at the link)

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2026 Wisconsin Dairy Breakfasts

Wisconsin dairy breakfasts celebrate June Dairy Month. Agri-View is publishing a calendar weekly in print, as well as online, with updates as we receive them.

To list a dairy breakfast email information at least two weeks in advance to agriview@madison.com with breakfast name, date, time, location including street address and cost if any. Also include contact information for more event information. If the event's information has changed, please email agriview@madison.com with that change.

Interactive Dairy Breakfast Map Here

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Ken Notes: Please make sure your event is on the list.

Monroe County receives climate summary report

Monroe County Climate Change Task Force (CCTF) gathered about 50 citizens at the Bank of Cashton on February 21 to hear a variety of presentations helping residents to understand how to be more resilient in the face of climate change. Josh Bendorf, Climate Outreach Specialist with the State Office of Climatology, presented a ‘Monroe County Climate Summary.’

“We do these climate summaries for counties on a per-request basis,” Bendorf told the group. “Monroe County is one of our Central Wisconsin reports along with La Crosse County, and for counties in Southern Wisconsin, we’ve done Vernon and Sauk counties in the western part of the state.”...

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Vernon Health awarded Orion Initiative grant for onsite specialty training

VIROQUA, Wis. — The Orion Initiative, a rural health-focused grant program at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, announced Mile Bluff Medical Center, Vernon Health, Southwest Health and Lafayette Hospital + Clinics as the latest recipients of Specialty Training at Rural Sites grant funding.

Specialty Training at Rural Sites (STARS) grant programs pair academic specialty clinicians from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health with rural primary care providers to co-design and implement hands-on, onsite training focused on rheumatology and dermatology...

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Help Birds During Spring Migration

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages Wisconsinites to enjoy the return of migratory birds to Wisconsin this spring and take a few simple steps to help our feathered friends.

The Mississippi River flyway and Great Lakes shorelines make Wisconsin an important place for more than 350 species of birds during spring migration. In addition, our state's diverse grasslands, marshes and forests provide key habitats for migratory birds.

“Spring migration brings hope and excitement for birdwatchers,” said Ryan Brady, Wisconsin DNR conservation biologist. “But it’s also a dangerous time for birds, many of which need our help.”

Warblers, orioles, thrushes, hummingbirds, tanagers, indigo buntings and shorebirds are among the favorite long-distance migratory birds that people will likely see in the upcoming weeks. Their migration is influenced primarily by changes in the duration of daylight.

Give Birds A Hand This Spring

Native bird populations in the U.S. and Canada have declined by nearly 3 billion birds since 1970.

The public can help birds during this key time by taking a few small steps at home:

Shut off exterior lights at night during May, which is historically peak migration.
Reduce window collisions with external screens, markers or cords. Get DIY solutions from SOS Save Our Songbirds.
Visit the Wisconsin DNR’s listings of native plant sales and nurseries so you can add native plants to your landscaping. Fruit-bearing native trees like serviceberry, dogwood and cherry, provide both food and cover for birds.
Avoid pesticides to help insect-eating birds, which include many backyard species as well as swallows, swifts, nightjars and flycatchers.

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Crawford County passes resolution demanding detailed information on MariBell Transmission Project

PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wis. — The Crawford County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution demanding detailed information from the developers of a massive high-voltage transmission line proposed for the Driftless Area, joining a growing wave of local governments mobilizing against the project.

Passed during the board’s Feb. 17 meeting, the resolution formally requests that Dairyland Power Cooperative and GridLiance Heartland reply to 18 specific document requests by March 15, 2026. The requested documents range from detailed maps outlining routing preferences to information regarding environmental sensitivities and projected impacts on electric customer bills...

Ken Notes: There is a website for the project HERE!

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Fans of the Little House books will love this hidden gem in Wisconsin

Every great story has to start somewhere, and for one of the best-known pioneer voices in American literature, that beginning unfolded in the Big Woods of western Wisconsin. If you’ve ever wanted to do a deep dive into the origin story behind the Little House books, this literary destination in Pepin, Wisconsin, belongs on your bucket list. Devoted Laura Ingalls Wilder fans travel for miles just to stand where the iconic author’s journey began. I recently took a scenic drive down to this charming Mississippi River town to visit the sites for myself, and I think they definitely reflect the pioneer spirit of Wilder’s books.

The Real-Life Inspiration Behind the Story

Before the open prairies of Kansas and the Dakotas, or the banks of Plum Creek, there was the Big Woods. Laura was born right here in Pepin County in a log cabin on February 7, 1867. Her earliest childhood memories of cozy winter nights and playing with her sister Mary all stem from her time living in the cabin between the villages of Pepin and Stockholm, Wisconsin. Wilder’s first book, Little House in the Big Woods, detailed her childhood experiences in the Pepin area and became an almost-immediate success.

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Mississippi River groups tell feds to act on nitrate contamination

Mississippi River conservation groups are among a broad coalition urging the federal government to take action against nitrate contamination in drinking water, which they say has reached “crisis levels” and is a public health emergency.

Nitrate, which forms when nitrogen-rich sources combine with oxygen, has long been found in the country’s surface waters and groundwater, where it can end up in people’s drinking water. Consuming water with elevated levels of nitrate is linked to birth defects, thyroid problems and some cancers.

Agricultural fertilizer and manure are the most common sources of nitrogen to groundwater, with septic systems and lawn fertilizers also contributing. An April analysis from the Environmental Working Group found that about 18% of the U.S. population from 2021 to 2023 used drinking water from community systems with 3 milligrams per liter (mg/L) or more of nitrate, the threshold at which the Environmental Protection Agency says indicates contamination.

Advocates say nitrate contamination has struggled to capture public attention but is costly and hazardous to those it affects.

A May 5 letter to the Department of Health and Human Services and the EPA was signed by 80-plus groups, about a third of which are located in or focused on the Mississippi River basin. It calls on the agencies to “immediately identify and eliminate sources of nitrate pollution in drinking water and provide funds to communities to reduce nitrate to safe levels.”.. ...Full Story Here

Buffalo County first responders train for mass casualty event with simulated crash scenario

ALMA, Wis. (WKBT) -- First responders participated in a mass casualty training exercise at the Alma School District Saturday morning.

The training scenario simulated a crash between a vehicle and a school bus where the bus rolled over with multiple victims trapped in the car and bus. Emergency crews were trained on patient triage, vehicle extrication and extrication of patients from a school bus.

Crews participating in the training were from the Alma Fire Department, Nelson Fire Department, Fountain City Fire Department, Waumandee-Montana-Lincoln Fire Department, Tri-Community Fire Department, Mondovi Fire Department, Western Buffalo County Ambulance Service, Mondovi Ambulance Service, Scenic Valley EMS, Waumandee-Montana-Lincoln First Responders, Dover First Responders, Mayo helicopter, and the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office...

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Best Practices...

Wisconsin dairy farmers are driving sustainability through a three-pronged approach—advanced research, land stewardship, and elite cow care—ensuring environmental and economic viability. By collaborating with the Dairy Innovation Hub and adopting technologies like cover crops and methane digesters, farmers are reducing water usage and protecting soil, while 99% of these operations remain family-owned.

Research & Innovation

Dairy Innovation Hub: Launched in 2019, this partnership across three UW campuses (Madison, Platteville, River Falls) supports over 260 projects focusing on land/water, human health, animal welfare, and farm business.
Efficiency Gains: Due to innovations in crop production and nutrition, producing a gallon of milk in 2017 required 30% less water and 21% less land than in 2007.
Waste-to-Resource: Wisconsin leads in on-farm bioenergy systems like methane digesters, which turn manure into renewable energy.

Land Stewardship

Soil Health: About 60% of Wisconsin dairy farmers use cover crops to prevent erosion and nourish the soil, while many employ no-till or reduced tillage techniques.
Water Management: Farmers commonly recycle water up to four times, utilizing it for cooling or cleaning before returning it to the land.
Local Feed Production: Most crops fed to Wisconsin cows are grown on surrounding fields, limiting transportation emissions.

Cow Care & Comfort

Health-Focused Management: Farmers emphasize that healthy, comfortable cows produce higher-quality milk. This includes balanced diets developed with nutritionists and specialized veterinary care.
Comfort Technology: Sand separation technology is used to clean and reuse sand for bedding, reducing bacteria and keeping cows cool.
Nutrient Management: Some farmers use specialized planting techniques to add cover crops like rye into the cows' diet while holding soil in place.

These efforts, supported by organizations like the Dairy Business Association and Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin (PDPW), ensure the state's $52.8 billion dairy industry continues to prosper.

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The Great River Road

MAP		Discover Wisconsin Great River Road Video

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Coon Valley American Legion leads effort to wipe out all school lunch debt at Westby Schools

WESTBY, Wis. – Recently, Westby Schools Superintendent Steve Michaels was honored to accept a generous donation from the Coon Valley American Legion that made a meaningful difference for our students and families.

After learning about student lunch debt across Wisconsin, Legion members Roger and Jessica reached out to better understand how the Westby Area School District supports its students. For more than a decade, the district has remained committed to ensuring every child receives a healthy meal—regardless of their lunch account balance—because no student should ever feel singled out or go without...

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La Crosse County Housing Report

Conducted between mid-2025 and early 2026, the La Crosse County Housing Needs Assessment was undertaken to understand the current state of the housing market in the county, to identify housing gaps and needs, and to propose strategies for meeting those needs. The study draws on data related to underlying economic drivers, population and household demographics, market performance and dynamics, and the nature of the housing

inventory.

Focus groups were utilized to elicit perspectives from stakeholders and the public.

Report Outline

Chapter 2 is an executive summary...
Chapter 3 examines major drivers of housing demand...
Chapter 4 examines the demographic character of La Crosse County ...
Chapter 5 dives into market indicators, examining changes in home prices, rents, housing supply, development patterns, occupancy levels, and vacancy...
Chapter 6 examines transportation access and availability across La Crosse County...
Chapter 7 summarizes the findings of research interviews and focus group discussions...
Chapter 8 is a detailed housing inventory that described the existing housing supply...
Chapter 9 identifies housing gaps and needs...
Chapter 10 offers a menu of housing strategies to meet identified needs...

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Get the latest Wisconsin data center news you might have missed

Data centers have made headlines and influenced the political debate across Wisconsin this year.

That’s why earlier this year we launched Data(Centers)Watch as a regular feature in Forward, our free Wisconsin government and politics newsletter that comes out on Mondays. Every week since mid-February, reporter Tom Kertscher has provided tidbits of data center news, including the latest from city council and county board meetings where land use decisions are being made amid public outcry, national industry news and recent polling about the issue...

...Full Story Here

Ken Notes: Several articles in this link...

UW-La Crosse breaks ground on $190 million STEM facility expansion

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) — The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has begun construction on a $190 million project that will transform the campus's science and health education capabilities, marking a significant investment in Wisconsin's workforce development.

Phase two of the Prairie Springs Science Center construction project will replace Cowley Hall with a state-of-the-art facility featuring 30 new laboratories, classrooms and specialized learning spaces. The new building will connect to the existing Prairie Springs facility, creating an integrated hub for science and health education...

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Here’s what the data center boom means for Wisconsin’s workforce

Wisconsin Watch spoke to three professors to find out how many jobs and what types of work data centers bring to communities, what the economic trickle-down effects of data centers are and more

As data center developers stake out land in Wisconsin communities, much debate has surrounded whether the computer-packed warehouses will deliver economic benefits locally.

Waves of opposition and concerns about land, water and electricity use routinely follow data center proposals, while supporters echo that the centers will create jobs and help the economy.

But what jobs? How many of them? And will they last?

To answer those questions, Wisconsin Watch talked to three professors:...

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Tourism Resources and Events in Our Region

Western Wisconsin Regional Outdoor Recreation Plan for Rural Areas 2025

Monroe County Events Calendar	Crawford County Events Calendar Visitor Guide	Vernon County Events Calendar Visitor Guide
La Crosse County Events Calendar Visitor Guide	Trempealeau County Events Calendar Visitor Guide	Buffalo County Events Calendar
Pepin County Events Calendar Visitor Guide	Pierce County Events Calendar	Jackson County Events Calendar Visitor Guide

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Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission (MRRPC)

Working together to make the Mississippi River Region a great place to live and work.

The Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission provides planning and economic development services to improve the region`s environment, economy and quality of life. We serve a nine county region, providing studies and planning services, resources and data to help with your grant applications or reporting needs, and business loans.