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This Weeks Articles for 4/23/2026 ...

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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.

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

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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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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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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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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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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The Great River Road

MAP		Discover Wisconsin Great River Road Video

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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...

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Ken Notes: Several articles in this link...

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.