Winter is just around the corner, and the National Weather Service is making the week of November 9 Winter Weather Awareness Week in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Winter Weather Awareness Day is November 12 in Iowa. This is a great time to make sure you’re ready for working and driving in winter conditions — snow, ice, sleet, and bitterly cold temperatures. The Weather Service and the Farmers’ Almanac still have winter outlooks that seem to be 180 degrees apart. The most recent Weather Service Winter Outlook calls for above normal temperatures in the Upper Midwest. This outlook is based on El Nino conditions in the Pacific and the effects this usually  has on the Upper Midwest, including warmer than normal average winter temperatures. The Farmers’ Almanac, on the other hand, calls for a chilly winter in the Upper Midwest. In fact, based on the secret formula used by the editor’s of the Almanac, this could be one of [...]

Part 1 httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbgE1IJZqcI Part 2 httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY6m1BoXhus

I have to admit I was a bit skeptical when the Milwaukee Bucks drafted Brandon Jennings with the 10th overall pick in the NBA draft this past June.  Here was a player that opted to play overseas for a year instead of playing college ball.  And it’s not like he set the world on fire playing in Italy, averaging 5.5 points and 2.2 assists in under 20 minutes of action. But how Jennings has started off his NBA career!  Talk about stating off with a bang, just coming up short in registering a triple double in his very first game, something that has only been done by the great Oscar Robertson.  It’s hard not to take notice as he scored 17 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and dished 9 assists. So how would he follow up that debut?  Just to make sure nobody doubted that first game, he leads the Bucks with 24 [...]

For those of you who saw my piece Monday about 8-year-old Sevanna’ Utesch, I wanted to update you about how she was doing.  For those of you who missed it, you can check it out here. The last time we talked with the family, Sevanna was finishing 3 weeks of treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester and was ready to head home.  I got a call from Patti today and she says that Sevanna was back home last week, and had her first day back at school yesterday! Patti says that she is doing well and the family is keeping a close eye on her.  After 40 procedures, we can all hope that she continues to get healthy. I hope her story helped put prospective on how important this health care debate is.  It’s more than just an abstract debate, it affects people’s lives.  Please also watch Part II tonight to hear from Dave Wester.  [...]

In this week’s Spotlight meet Dolores Marusarz.  Since moving to the Coulee Region in 2000 she has painted much of the area’s local landscapes.  She also paints portraits, on a commission basis, is a juried member of East Bank Artists in La Crosse and The La Crosse Society of Arts and Crafts.  From 2003 to 2007 she was artist-in-residence at grade schools in Holmen and in Onalaska and in 2007 was choosen Artist Of The Year by The Womens Fund of La Crosse.  Her portraits and landcapes hang in museums and private collections throughout the United States. Artist Statement Brushes and paints and canvas speak more meaningfully than I do.  They speak in a language I do not have words for.  I make that claim in spite of the years I spent earning a Masters Degree in English and teaching English to college and high school students for sixteen years.  Perhaps the [...]

Every once in a blue moon, Metallica makes its way to the Twin Cities.  That’s the closest they, and most large acts, get to the La Crosse area.  All worth the 2.5 hour drive for a couple hours of the best show in town.  Tuesday night, of all nights for a concert, Metallica made its way to the Target Center in Minneapolis.  The first time I saw Metallica was at the Metrodome for the Summer Sanitarium Concert Tour in 2003.  However, the concert setting at the Metrodome was the traditional stadium concert set up (one large stage at one end of the stadium).  But on this tour, there was a center stage, which allowed for one amazing show. Me and the rest of the ’society’ got to the concert just before the 2nd opening band, Lamb of God, came on.  I’ve heard some Lamb of God in the past, but nothing [...]

The group called Centering Onalaska is making a push for the arts with a new event called “Dishin’ Art”. The event will raise money that will help with everything from decorations downtown to providing a scholarship to a deserving art student at Onalaska High school. “Dishin’ Art” is on November 2nd from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Maggie’s on Main in Onalaska. They’ve asked a number of celebrities and artists to paint, decoupage, or otherwise decorate a plate to be auctioned off November 2nd at Maggie’s in a silent auction event.  That night, all guests will be able to vote on the pieces.  All plates will be displayed without a name and later in the evening the creators revealed. Yours truly will be providing my version of a “masterpiece”, make sure you come check them out! Plus, Maggie’s on Main has some great food including some really yummy desserts! The public will have an opportunity [...]

What happens during commercial breaks?  What are you talking about after they turn your microphones off at the end of the newscast and you’re seen chatting with the other anchors?  These are all common questions I get from viewers, but last night was proof that sometimes we don’t even know what’s going to happen. During the commercial break right before Cory’s weather forecast at 10 o’clock, my co-anchor Martha Koloski, turned to me and said I don’t feel good.  I’m sweating and I feel light headed.  She had given blood earlier in the day and hadn’t eaten dinner at this point.  It seemed to come on quite suddenly.  Instantly, I’m thinking she’s going to pass out right next to me live on air.   I’m going through a hundred different scenarios in my mind and how I’m going to handle it.  Am I going to have to stop the newscast [...]

Congressman Ron Kind has held his seat in Wisconsin’t 3rd district for 13 years now, and in recent elections he hasn’t had too difficult a time winning.  That might all change next year. State Senator Dan Kapanke filed his papers today, officially announcing his intent to run against Kind next year.  This is officially my favorite race of the upcoming midterms.  Both men are popular with voters in the area, and I can’t imagine either will win by a landslide so it should be an entertainingly close race. I sat down with the State Senator today and asked him about everything from why he’s running, to if he thinks he can win, and party pressure.  I will post his answers on the blog in upcoming posts. Sit down, strap in and enjoy this one folks. More Later

Finley Mae is growing like a weed.  If you’ve lost track, she’s now 7 1/2 months old!  She uttered her first words several weeks ago.  Yep, you guessed it.  Dada.  It’s very cute.  Of course, I must be everywhere then since she says dada whether she’s looking right at me or playing with a toy monkey while I’m at work.  She’ll also make the “b” sound, but so far no ma-ma.  Jen spends hours a day trying to teach her to say it, but she’s just not into it.  Ok, maybe that’s an exaggeration.  To be honest, Finley is becoming somewhat of a momma’s girl.  Whenever Jen’s in the room, her eyes will follow her wherever she goes.  She’ll also cry sometimes when Jen leaves her sight.  I guess she knows who has the food, right?  It’s so interesting to see how babies continually develop and how they’re little minds are expanding each day.  You never [...]