WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews

She said her mom called her a little liar as a kid — and that turned out great for storyteller Terry Visger. Those “lies” were really stories, and storytelling is what she’s been doing professionally for the past 25 years. Before that, Visger was a teacher at La Crosse's Pleasant Valley Elementary School, then at Spence Elementary, before becoming a storytelling professor at Viterbo University. This Saturday, Visger will be one of the featured storytellers at the Pump House Regional Arts Center in downtown La Crosse for the 23rd Annual Tales of the Creepy and Scary. Visger is the chair of the La Crosse Storytelling Festival committee, which is putting on Saturday’s event. She stopped by the WIZM studio to give us a taste of what to expect, sharing a short snippet from her tale. She also mentioned the event is best suited for ages 13 and up — unless your kid is especially brave. Visger talked about what kinds of characters she finds the scariest — and oddly enough, it’s not the Devil or Dracula. She also discussed how storytelling — not just scary tales but stories in general — has a way of mesmerizing kids. She even shared a simple trick to get children to listen. Hint: It only takes three little words. Visger recalled a story she once told at a nearby library that frightened one young listener so much the girl ran to the back of the room and leapt into her mother’s arms — but Mom just laughed and said her daughter was fine and would remember that story forever. Six storytellers will take the stage Saturday, each performing pieces that range from five to twelve minutes. The show will also feature two singers, along with others reading short excerpts from scary stories. Visger added that some of the tales are based on true events — even a few that happened right here in Wisconsin.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Nature Place in Myrick Park is having their fourth annual Music in the Marsh, and director Rebecca Schwarz joins to tell us about the organization and their biggest yearly fundraiser. Grammy Award-winning American Roots icon Dom Flemons will be performing for the Music on the Marsh concert, in which Schwarz notes will likely sell out (tickets here). Doors open at 6 p.m. on Nov. 13 and music begins at 7 p.m.  Along with previewing the event, Schwarz talks a bit about what they do at the Nature Place, and how that’s been a little bit tougher with federal funding cuts.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Lighthouse executive director Abigail Spanjers stopped in the WIZM studio to discuss the organization’s unique peer-run respite program for people experiencing mental health challenges, and to preview the upcoming philanthropic breakfast. That happens from 7–9 a.m. Tuesday at the Radisson in downtown La Crosse, and guests can sign up here. The event is aimed at raising awareness and funds for the Lighthouse’s mission. Spanjers explains how community support has become essential after major state and federal funding cuts forced the nonprofit to reduce staff by two-thirds and scale back from 24/7 operations to weekdays only. Spanjers highlights how the Lighthouse focuses on the value of non-clinical, peer-based support, the importance of guest autonomy, and how her small team of four continues to provide a safe, understanding environment. Spanjers also walks through how individuals can reach out for help and the variety of services offered — from group sessions to life-skills workshops. La Crosse Talk airs weekdays at 6-8 a.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find the show on Apple Podcast, Spotify or here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meme Mihalovic with the Disability Action Network (DAN)  joined WIZM’s La Crosse Talk to help preview the fourth annual La Crosse Area’s Disability Pride Fest. The event happens from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sunday at Logan High School to celebrate disability culture, community and pride.   From the conversation, it sounds like the highlight of the event might be the power wheelchair soccer scrimmage. There are a whole slew of other things happening as well, including:  Mural Painting Boccia Pickleball Power Soccer Scrimmage Spontaneous Dance Parties Chair One Fitness Live Music by Saveah Resource Fair with local disability partners Mihalovic said the event is free, but DAN is always looking for anyone who would like to volunteer and they’re always in need of donations.  La Crosse Talk airs weekdays at 6-8 a.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find the show on Apple Podcast, Spotify or here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We propose a Charlie Berens run for Wisconsin governor to UW-L political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky. It was part of a circular discussion about priorities, as people’s needs are not being met by politicians. Does Berens unite a voting bass that isn’t necessarily political, but concerned about things directly related to their wallets — rising costs, health insurance, taxes — that seem to be ignored as you move up levels of government. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers just bragged about $4.6 billion in budget surplus. Meanwhile, the state seemingly continues to ignore concerns over potential rising electricity costs from data centers — something Berens has been addressing — and community needs from funding shortages — as La Crosse has a $2 million budget shortfall and Eau Claire is adding $165 in wheel taxes.  We also discussed the Wisconsin governor race, with Attorney General Josh Kaul and former Democratic Party chair Ben Wikler declining to run. Plus, we work in that La Crosse’s airport isn’t playing the Kristi Noem video blaming Democrats for the government shutdown.  La Crosse Talk airs weekdays at 6-8 a.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find the show on Apple Podcast, Spotify or here.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey in studio to discuss the city’s budget shortfall, recapping the Beyond the Bridge event on homeless, when the two parks will reopen and the debate over a city administrator. We also talked about the mayor’s “Our City, Your 15” initiative earlier this month. That’s where Washington-Spivey met individually with residents for 15 minutes to hear their thoughts and concerns. He talks about some of the topics brought up. As for the budget, Washington-Spivey says the city is $2 million over, and talks about the state funding that’s on the line, plus how the city might end up in terms of taxes. The Beyond the Bridge event happened earlier in the week, showing a documentary on homelessness at the Weber Center, where over 450 people were in attendance. WIZM talked with Jim Mathy, Milwaukee County’s housing administrator, about the doc and the city’s plan earlier this week. In regards to the parks, the city closed both Burns and Cameron in early September. Washington-Spivey breaks down some of the discussions happening with getting those parks reopened.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over 200 groups involved in “One Day for UW-L,” and Lauren Wanders stopped in studio to help preview the 24-hour event. Wanders is the Annual Giving Coordinator at UW-L. The event begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday and runs until 9 a.m. Wednesday.  Wanders highlights some of the big matching campaigns, including $25,000 for the Adapted Physical Education program — a 40-year program that could lose its federal funding. There’s also a $1,000 match from WKTY Cares for River Watch — where students volunteer to watch over the Mississippi River area to prevent alcohol-related tragedies that result in accidental drownings. Wanders said the fundraising ranges from sports like the football and cross country teams to scholarships to academics and students organizations. You can search for your favorite here or join the events that are happening on campus.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meme Mihalovic with the Disability Action Network (DAN)  joined WIZM’s La Crosse Talk to help preview the fourth annual La Crosse Area’s Disability Pride Fest. The event happens from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sunday at Logan High School to celebrate disability culture, community and pride.From the conversation, it sounds like the highlight of the event might be the power wheelchair soccer scrimmage. There are a whole slew of other things happening as well, including:  Mural Painting Boccia Pickleball Power Soccer Scrimmage Spontaneous Dance Parties Chair One Fitness Live Music by Saveah Resource Fair with local disability partners Mihalovic said the event is free, but DAN is always looking for anyone who would like to volunteer and they’re always in need of donations.  La Crosse Talk airs weekdays at 6-8 a.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find the show on Apple Podcast, Spotify or here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The best horror movies with Rivoli co-owner Jonathan Gelatt, who stopped in studio ahead of the theatre’s annual Schlocktoberfest this weekend — featuring a lineup of classic scary films. October is Gelatt’s “Christmas,” and we talk about how he loves using the Rivoli as a throwback venue for classic horror. He shares his picks for the scariest horror movies of all time — and his favorites, including a rather peculiar choice. We also take a few shots at Rotten Tomatoes Top 200 scariest movies. The Rivoli in downtown La Crosse kicks off Schlocktoberfest on Friday with the 40th anniversary showing of Re-Animator.  Saturday the film fest continues with four movies: 2 p.m. — Creepshow (1982) 4:20 p.m. — Maximum Overdrive (1986) 6:20 p.m. — From Beyond (1986) 8:20 p.m. — Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight (1995) Tickets for Saturday’s event are $45 for the entire day or $15 each. This is what the rest of the month looks like for October-themed events at the Rivoli: Oct. 19 — Halloween Kids Party: Monsters Inc. Oct. 24: The Rocky Horror Picture Show 50th Anniversary Oct. 26-27: Phantom of the Opera & Nosferatu featuring a live score by Quarkestra Oct. 30: Riv Triv: Horror Edition Tickets can be purchased on the Rivoli website or at the box office. La Crosse Talk airs weekdays at 6-8 a.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find the show on Apple Podcast, Spotify or here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milwaukee County Housing Administrator Jim Mathy joined in studio to talk about homelessness, La Crosse’s progress, and the next steps in the city’s Pathways Home plan. Mathy, a La Crosse native, spent two days meeting with community leaders about Pathways Home and took part in an event Tuesday where the documentary Beyond the Bridge was shown, followed by a panel of homeless and housing experts in a Q&A with the audience. Mathy discusses the film and how Milwaukee County is featured as a success story in reducing homelessness. La Crosse has a similar plan, and we talk about whether that approach can work here versus in a much larger city like Milwaukee — where La Crosse’s homeless population is far greater and resources less abundant. Mathy also outlines the current step La Crosse is focused on — expanding access to housing, getting the business community to help fund the plan, and building (or rebuilding) the public’s trust in Pathways Home.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All we covered with Mac Kiel in studio was the city administrator plan, homelessness, 2nd Street cycle track funding, the 2026 budget shortfall and the potential of closing another library or pool. The last two are somewhat related, as the city deals with what La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey said last month on WIZM is a $3 million budget shortfall.  Kiel, though, explains that — for example — closing the North Side Community Pool, which needs $1 million in repair, doesn’t necessarily save that amount of money in the 2026 operating budget. She talks about how the CIP (Capital Improvement Project) relates to the operating budget — basically borrowing on a credit card versus immediate spending. Kiel, who is also on the library board, also discusses the library options for cutting costs, which include closing the north branch.  We began the show, though, discussing homelessness, ahead of the doc Beyond the Bridge being shown in La Crosse, followed by a Q&A with a panel of experts in that area. The event begins at 6 p.m. at the Weber Center. When it comes to the cycle track, the council just voted 12-1 to accept grant money from the Wisconsin DOT to pay for improvements. The estimate for that plan is $623,000 according to the staff report. The DOT grant would pay for 80% or up to $326,790 — which means it would only pay for about 50% of the improvements.  Kiel talks about how the funding for those improvements work, including the use of TID (Tax Incremental District) funding for that district.  We ended discussing the operations director position getting voted down, while discussions are ongoing for a city administrator plan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin Farmers Union president Darin Von Ruden joins in studio to discuss how farmers are being affected by federal cuts and tariffs, the push for potential bailout funding, and how the state had to step in after farmers had already invested in crops and livestock for local farm-to-table programs. Some of these dilemmas are interconnected. China has retaliated against U.S. tariffs by not buying our soybeans, while the Trump administration has sent $20 billion to bail out Argentina. Meanwhile, Argentina is now selling its soybeans to China. The tariffs have also raised produce prices in the U.S., so taxpayers are effectively bailing out farmers to offset those self-inflicted higher costs. Von Ruden also addresses federal funding cuts affecting farm-to-community programs, which connect local growers with schools and institutions within 30 miles. The Wisconsin state government stepped in with $10 million in its most recent budget, avoiding a disaster in which farmers had already purchased resources and made growing plans, only to find the funding gone — leaving crops and food potentially with nowhere to go. We also discuss the ongoing loss of small family farms, as corporate operations expand and younger generations face nearly impossible challenges keeping a farming lifestyle alive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beth Enneking, the Executive Director of the Alliance of Wisconsin Animal Rehoming Efforts (AWARE), joins to talk about Sunday's Pet Expo La Crosse happening at the OmniCenter from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. This is a fundraiser for AWARE and the event will feature 13 rescue shelters, over 50 vendors, a cat show, food trucks and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A bit of a free flowing conversation on local government control, taxes and we worked in data centers with Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff (D-Onalaska) in studio last week.  We also did a bit of a civics lesson on some of the inner workings of the state Legislature — a conversation that revolved around a bipartisan bill being circulated to make skateboarding legal again. In Wisconsin, it’s illegal to skateboard, rollerskate and toboggan on roads. The bill would make skateboarding legal statewide, then allow local governments to decide how they want to handle that. So, as we discussed kind of the comedy of tobogganing down the road, we did get into other potential things that could be controlled more locally, like sales taxes, minimum wage and allowing voters — not councils or boards — to vote on wheel taxes (which was another bill proposed in the Legislature). We also talked about data centers, the city of La Crosse’s budget shortfall for 2026 and Pfaff discussed how the state needs to do better with funding local governments.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s nothing quite like learning about a conservation success story — and getting it straight from someone who lived it. Dr. Stan Temple, a giant in the world of wildlife ecology and conservation, joins us to preview his visit to La Crosse on Sunday, where he’ll share the comeback story of the Greater Sandhill Crane — from near extinction to thriving populations in Wisconsin. Temple also talks about being a steward of conservationist Aldo Leopold’s legacy, and we explore the federal rollbacks and reinterpretations of foundational environmental protections — like the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. He discusses the dangers these changes pose, leaving both wildlife and people vulnerable if conservation is not taken seriously. Temple is a Beers-Bascom Professor Emeritus at UW–Madison, a Senior Fellow with the Aldo Leopold Foundation, and one of Wisconsin’s most respected voices in environmental science. He will speak at 1 p.m. Sunday at Myrick Park about the Greater Sandhill Crane as part of a Badger Talk series, hosted by the La Crosse County Historical Society’s Community History Talks series. Temple said the visit will cover both the crane's near-demise and remarkable comeback — including that they're apparently good to eat. The event will also include Q&A with the audience. At the end of this interview, Temple reflects on broader conservation challenges amid federal policy rollbacks and, more generally, things like everyday threats to birds — from cats to building collisions to the actual impact of wind turbines — and what we can do to protect wildlife and our environmentSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Homeless Services Coordinator Brian Sampson in studio to discuss how the Pathways Home plan to end homelessness is progressing and to preview a big event happening next week. The documentary, “Beyond the Bridge: A Solution to Homelessness,” will be shown at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Weber Center, followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers and other homeless experts. The event is free and open to the public. The film explores innovative approaches to ending homelessness. The discussion panel will include filmmakers Tim Hashko, Don Sawyer and others. During the Pathways Home discussion, Sampson talked about how the plan is going and what the next steps are — including getting residents and the business community involved, and identifying additional housing opportunities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tried to get through as many things as possible dealing with the federal government with US House Rep. Mark Pocan. After hosting a town hall Wednesday in downtown La Crosse, the Wisconsin Democrat stopped by the WIZM studio to reflect on the event and talk about what Congress is — and isn’t — getting done.. Part of that conversation was, of course, Pocan — again — holding a town hall in Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden’s district.  We also discussed the fight over healthcare costs being at the forefront of the potential government shutdown, and how Congress appears headed for yet another “continuing resolution,” setting up this same funding battle again in just a few months instead of fully passing a budget. Pocan also noted that Congress has yet to pass a Farm Bill, something that was supposed to be completed back in October of 2023. We also discussed issues involving ICE, and the escalation happening in larger cities like Portland and Chicago with the deployment of the National Guard. Other topics included federal regulation of data centers and artificial intelligence.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

City council member Lisa Weston stopped in studio to discuss how the public engagement sessions on city administrator have been going, plus her experience so far trying to finalize La Crosse’s 2026 budget. Weston is about six months into her career on city council. She is also on the council working group studying the city administrator plan that could come up for a vote in February. So far, the working group has hosted four public engagement sessions, though turnout has been low — 31 people so far. Today there are two more virtual sessions and Tuesday the final two meetings take place. Both at noon and 6 p.m. Weston, who represents District 12, also talked about the budget process and her experience as a rookie council member going through this for the first time. La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey told WIZM recently the city has about a $3 million budget shortfall. The city council is meeting at 4 p.m. Thursday to discuss the 2026 Operating Budget.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of the monthly meeting, La Crosse city council president Tamra Dickinson in studio discussing the budget process — and shortfall — operations director vs. city administrator, liquor license approval and police reports on bars serving underage people, plus all the groundbreakings. One other thing Dickinson brought up was something discussed by the Board of Public Works this week about shared utilities in places like duplexes, and how the city might help facilitate separating those things.  On the budget, a few weeks ago, La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey said on WIZM the city had about a $3 million budget shortfall for 2026. Dickinson discusses that dilemma, as the council has about a month to approve next year’s budget. There is a 4 p.m. meeting Thursday on the operating budget at city hall, where the numbers could become more clear. The council could also vote on an operations director, which is a similar plan to city administrator — and we talk about the differences even in just the process of getting info on those positions. Lastly, we hit on groundbreakings, including the Haven on Main and the Grandview building — where Dickinson used to work — plus State Road Elementary on Wednesday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clara Gelatt and Katie Bittner stopped in studio to help preview the five-day La Crosse Adventure Film Festival, that begins Wednesday.  Events are taking place at the Pump House, Mt. La Crosse and the Rivoli, featuring “powerful films, storytelling under the stars, inspiring women adventurers, trail cleanups, and opportunities to support our community.” Ticket pricing is below (buy here). Here’s a schedule breakdown: Wednesday, October 8: Wild Women Wednesday at Pump House Regional Arts CenterCelebrate women in adventure with a special “Wild Women Wednesday” event.Screening all new women in adventure films!Hosted by The Pump House – a cozy and creative venue in downtown La Crosse. Thursday, October 9: FireFly Storytelling at Mt. La CrosseA winter-themed evening under the stars.Under a full moon on the gorgeous patio at the base of the ski hill, enjoy tales from four incredible storytellers, a 45 minute selection of winter themed films, hot beverages, and snowy vibes. Friday, October 10: LaCrosseAF – Film Festival Night #1 at Rivoli TheaterA cinematic journey with a longform documentary, celebrating mountain biking culture and the human spirit.Support a local youth who is working to build a brand new pump track in La Crescent. Saturday, October 11: LaCrosseAF – Film Festival Night #2 at Rivoli TheaterAn evening of jury selected short adventure films (from 3 minutes to 25 minutes)! These are the best of the best and can only be seen at the LaCrosseAF. Previous submitted films have gone on to be selected at the Banff Mountain Film Festival and the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival. See them here first in La Crosse!Live audience voting for your favorite films. You select the winners!Filmmakers invited to attend for a Q&A and post-show mingling! Weekend Community Events – Community Impact + Trail Clean-up Leave No Trace certification sessions (limited space – sign up required!) Trail clean-up event to give back to our local outdoor spaces. Art in the Wild Tails and Trails at ORA’s Trail Farm Yoga in the park! Ropes course and rock climbing at University of Wisconsin – La Crosse The event helps these local organizations: WisCorps Mississippi Valley Conservancy School District of La Crosse Local youth outdoor organizations Humane Society ORA Trails La Crescent Pump Track Project highlight! Here’s the ticket breakdown (buy here): Full Festival Pass: Early Bird $40, Regular Pricing $50 Weekend Pass (Fri-Sat): Early Bird $24, Regular Pricing $30 Package of 4 Full Festival Passes: Early Bird $120, Regular Pricing $160 Package of 4 Weekend Passes: Early Bird $80, Regular Pricing $100 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.