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This Weeks Articles for 12/17/2024 ...

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Rotary Lights in La Crosse celebrates 30 years

Rotary Lights has been lighting up La Crosse’s Riverside Park for 390 years. That is thanks in large part to the volunteers who make it all possible.

Since 1995, Rotary Lights has collected over 5.5 million food items, in the form of non-perishable items and cash, for the community. Those donations are distributed among 14 different local food pantries. Each year, roughly 3,000 volunteers come together for that food collection, as well as traffic direction, set up and tear down of the festivities in the park...

Happy Holidays

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Wisconsin’s outdoor recreation industry adds another record-breaking $11.2 billion to state economy

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism Secretary Anne Sayers and Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation Director Cassie Mordini, today announced another record-breaking year for Wisconsin’s outdoor recreation industry in 2023. According to the latest release of data from the Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), outdoor recreation contributed $11.2 billion to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023, growing 9.4 percent over the previous record set in 2022.

“From our vast and valuable forests and pristine lakes and rivers to Driftless bluffs, vibrant prairies, and urban green spaces, our outdoor recreation spaces are the gems of our state, and no matter where you go in Wisconsin, you’re never very far from a park or trail,” said Gov. Evers....

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VIDEO: Viroqua Schools cuts the ribbon on remodeled tech ed area

In November of 2022, voters in the Viroqua Area School District approved a couple of referendums that allowed the school district to make improvements to some specific areas within the district. One part of the referendums called for improvements to the elementary and middle-high school sites, addressing the most pressing issues including security, accessibility and educational enhancements. Viroqua Schools has completed most of those improvements and held a ribbon cutting at the elementary school in August. You read our story about that event, including a video tour here.

But voters also approved spending to make improvements to the High School technical education areas (agriculture, woods, metals and automotive), and the district held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the completion of those improvements on Thursday, Dec. 12...

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There is a New Newsletter for the Great River Road!

Each month the Great River Road will be featured in a newsletter similar to this one! If you would like to receive these notes and links there is a subscribe button at the link. Our goal is to increase the awareness of this National Scenic Byway and our businesses that are on or near it.You may also subscribe your friends...

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PC Public Health funds over $100,000 in projects to promote physical activity

Pierce County Public Health (PCPH) is looking to make a difference in the county’s outdoor physical activity, allocating over $100,000 in funds to local non-profits for seven community-led projects.

PCPH received American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds from Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services with a few choices for how they could use it. They opted to use it to improve public health infrastructure in the county by helping to fund projects.

The county held an application process where 19 submissions were made and seven projects were selected through a ranking process...

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New Emplify Health Clinic by Gundersen opens in Mondovi

MONDOVI (WQOW) - Another rural community in western Wisconsin is getting its health care needs met since the closure of HSHS and Prevea clinics.

Soon, residents in Mondovi will have more options to health care that are closer to home. A ribbon cutting was held Wednesday for a new Emplify Health Clinic by Gundersen Health in Mondovi.

While this clinic is new to the Gundersen Health System, the building itself was a Prevea Health clinic. Gundersen purchased the space after it was closed in hopes of continuing rural health care...

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New Science Majors at UW La Crosse offered to make impact in the job market

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – The University of Wisconsin La Crosse is offering new majors for students in the Science field. Professor of Physics, Eric Gansen says, “The things about the engineering disciplines nowadays in technology is that things are moving so fast the lines are blurring between traditional mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and civil engineering.”

Gansen explains that the new Engineering Physics major will help students tackle cross-disciplinary challenges, “Our Engineering Physics degree will prepare students to be able to be adaptable throughout their career and work in any of these fields.”...

...Baggett adds, “We want a well-educated workforce here in Wisconsin so that Wisconsin is an attractive place for industries to come set up shop and hire our students.”...

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Vernon County hires new county conservationist who looks forward to challenges

VERNON COUNTY, Wis. – Vernon County announced last week that they have hired David Hettenbach as the new county conservationist. Hettenbach was hired after a search that had 21 applicants to fill a position that was open following the resignation of previous County Conservationist Ben Wojahn. Hettenbach was one of three finalists interviewed for the position.

Hettenbach currently serves as an Inspection Department Manager for Nature’s International Certification Services (NICS). Hettenbach said he grew up outside of Madison, where his parents still live, and came to Vernon county about 9.5 years ago by way of California where he spent 1.5 years working in organic certification after graduating from UW-Madison with a degree in agronomy and natural resources. Hettenbach said he came to Vernon County when he was offered his current position at NICS...

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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		Vernon Economic Development Association	Workforce Connections, Inc.
The Pierce County EDC	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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Vernon County Flood Mitigation Alliance holds first meeting, discusses goals and objectives

VERNON COUNTY, Wis. – At their first meeting with newly-seated watershed council members, the Vernon County Flood Mitigation Alliance found that good progress has been made, but there remains more to do. The group met in the Vernon County Board Room on Thursday, Nov. 21.

Voting members of the Alliance include Cassie Hanan, County Administrative Coordinator; Matt Allbright, Zoning Director and Interim County Conservation Director; Amy Oliver, Community Development; Brandon Larsen, Emergency Management Director (not present); Monique Hassman, Land Information Officer; Phil Hewitt, Highway Commissioner; Justin Olson, USDA-NRCS; Nancy Wedwick, Coon Creek Community Watershed Council; Kent McClurg, Bad Axe Stewards Watershed Council; Chad Erickson, Rush Creek Stewards Watershed Council (not present); and Mary Henry, Wayde Lawler, and Nathan Slack, county board supervisors...

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USDA makes $2 billion available to support expansion of current and development of new markets

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) $2 billion Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program, aimed at helping specialty crop producers expand markets and manage higher costs, is now accepting applications from Dec. 10, 2024 through Jan. 8, 2025. Funded by the Commodity Credit Corporation, MASC was announced in November alongside the $140 million Commodity Storage Assistance Program for facilities impacted by 2024 natural disasters.

“Specialty crop growers have typically faced higher marketing and handling costs relative to non-specialty crop producers due to the perishability of fruits, vegetables, floriculture, nursery crops and herbs,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “Through this marketing assistance program, we can expand U.S. specialty crop consumption and markets by providing specialty crop producers the financial support needed to help them engage in activities that broaden and enhance strategies and opportunities for marketing their commodities.”

MASC helps specialty crop producers meet higher marketing costs related to:?

Perishability of specialty crops like fruits, vegetables, floriculture, nursey crops and herbs;
Specialized handling and transport equipment with temperature and humidity control;
Packaging to prevent damage;
Moving perishables to market quickly; and
Higher labor costs.

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A look back to 1959, as Mt. La Crosse celebrates 65 years

In December of 1959, the Mt. La Crosse ski hill opened for business, near Highway 35 in the town of Shelby.

Ted Motschman and his wife Sue were able to lease 200 acres of hillside land for the ski slope, but more atop the hill was needed for the project.

Five donors helped Ted Motschman purchase the remaining property for $6,000.

More money was donated by the La Crosse Chamber of Commerce and another business group.

The Motschmans operated Mt. La Crosse for more than 40 years, until new owners purchased the resort..

Pierce Co. town passes ordinance requiring factory farm permits

A Pierce County town of about 600 residents passed an ordinance requiring factory farms to obtain permits before moving into or expanding in the community.

The decision follows a handful of other western Wisconsin communities in passing similar ordinances to limit the proliferation of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in the region. Those other communities have faced legal challenges to their ordinances and one rescinded its regulation after a change in elected leadership.

The town of Maiden Rock overlooks the Mississippi River’s Lake Pepin. On Monday, the town’s board unanimously passed the ordinance which will require any proposed CAFOs within the community to obtain a license to operate from the town board. When applying, CAFO operators must have a third-party engineer supply plan for how the farm will manage its waste, emissions and runoff...

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The Great River Road

MAP		Discover Wisconsin Great River Road Video

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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.