Good Day
La Crosse
Thursday, September 25th, 2025
Good morning, La Crosse. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 25th of September.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Pathways Home has reached a milestone by housing 200 people since its launch last year — county and city officials say community agencies have united to lower homelessness. Local leaders are now using the new Specialized Housing Plan to pursue more low-barrier housing options ahead of winter. WEAU
- ➤ Jeff Russell from the Salvation Army said its Coats for Kids campaign is accepting new and gently used coats at 27 Kwik Trip locations through Oct. 3—these will be given to local families on Oct. 10, 17, and 24, with any remaining coats distributed at the agency's offices starting Oct. 28. He also explained that the agency plans to expand the shelter by converting the chapel to bed space under the city's Pathways Home plan as it awaits approval. WIZM
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Brent Smith was named 2025 Oktoberfest Festmaster — he will lead the festival events in La Crosse as the community gets ready to celebrate. His appointment marks a key step in organizing one of the region's most exciting cultural events. News8000
- ➤ The documentary Spirit of the Driftless had its world premiere yesterday at Viterbo University—drawing local residents interested in the region's history. News8000
- ➤ Mike and Bethany Bakalars ended their 12‐month reign as La Crosse's Oktoberfest royal couple at the Festmaster’s Ball Wednesday night — passing the title to a new leader after a busy year of community travel. Oktoberfest began Thursday afternoon at the southside festgrounds — launching the celebrations with a Torchlight Parade. WIZM
- ➤ The annual Senior Breakfast hosted by WIZM kicks off the Oktoberfest fest schedule today at Heritage Hofbrau Haus with a free breakfast served from 7-9 a.m.—the meal includes eggs, pancakes from the Mindoro Lions, sausage, juice, milk, and coffee while live music from Dr. Rock and a visit by the 2025 Fest Family complete the event details. WIZM
- ➤ On Aug. 10, the congregation of St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chaseburg celebrated its 150th anniversary — featuring a service, commemorative catered dinner, and a history video presentation with historic photo displays. Guest preacher Pastor James Korthals and Pastor Steven Oldre led the event — which also included musical performances and a time capsule set to be opened at the 175th anniversary in 2050. La Crosse Tribune
- ➤ Brent Smith, who has worked for decades to expand the La Crosse Center, has been named the 2025 Oktoberfest festmaster — he will lead the event and uphold its longstanding traditions in our community. La Crosse Tribune
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Viterbo University received a $1 million donation from the family of late graduate Nancy Haggerty, who earned her nursing degree in 1974, to create a new nursing scholarship. The scholarship will provide $50,000 each year to help cover tuition for students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing — supporting their future careers. WIProud
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ ORA Trails introduced goats at the Community Trail Farm to eat invasive buckthorn and keep the trails clear—this natural method shows a sustainable approach to managing plant overgrowth. Project administrator Joshua Hein said the grazing will help reduce the spread of invasive species and give visitors a chance to see eco-friendly land care in action. News8000
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Today, La Crosse MTU will detour Route 6 for the Torchlight Parade from 5:40 p.m. to 8:40 p.m.—and on Saturday the Maple Leaf Parade will cause detours on Routes 4 and 6 from start of service until 3:40 p.m. with no warning signs at affected stops. News8000
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ UW-La Crosse biology professor Dr. Sierra Colavito works on triple-negative breast cancer—an aggressive form that is hard to treat in younger women—and she shared on La Crosse Talk how local hospital partnerships and clinical trials boost lab research while inspiring students. WIZM
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Herb Mocktail Happy Hour
4-5 p.m. — Art House La Crosse — $45 — Explore herbal flavors while crafting seasonal mocktails using fresh ingredients.
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Oktoberfest Race Weekend - Day 1
3 PM — La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway — Access included with subscription — Experience an exciting day of racing events featuring multiple tours and series.
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TLW Fall Convention & Trade Show
9 a.m. - 6 p.m. — La Crosse Center — Check Official Website — A gathering for industry professionals featuring keynote speakers and an expansive trade show floor.
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6th Annual Drive the Road to Recovery
Join us for an unforgettable evening of inspiring stories, delicious food, and performance by the ATCWW choir. Every dollar we raise goes directly to the care of women who are struggling with addiction. We hope to see you there!
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6th Annual Drive the Road to Recovery
Join us for an unforgettable evening of inspiring stories, delicious food, and performance by the ATCWW choir. Every dollar we raise goes directly to the care of women who are struggling with addiction. We hope to see you there!
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Lend Me a Tenor
7:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. — La Crosse Community Theatre — Check event page for pricing — Experience a madcap comedy featuring mistaken identities and operatic chaos.
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Football Match: Wisconsin-La Crosse Eagles vs. UW-Eau Claire Blugolds
11:30 AM – 9:00 PM — Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex — Ticket prices vary — Catch the football action as UW-La Crosse takes on UW-Eau Claire live.
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No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
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Reveal the authorAbout Good Day La Crosse
Welcome to the Good Day La Crosse, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the La Crosse, Wisconsin community. If you like the Good Day La Crosse, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in La Crosse.
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