1410 WIZM

Maybe a much higher parking fine would get drivers to use ramps in downtown La Crosse...

The city's parking utility board has been looking at ways to increase ramp use by people who work downtown, but prefer curbside parking to the ramps. Board member Dick Swantz says if you get two parking tickets in a short period of time, the second ticket should be much higher than the first. A regular ticket costs 12 dollars, but Swantz would like to see the second fine go as high as 45 or 50 dollars. One problem with enforcing such a plan...city police do not have a quick way to keep track of one person's parking tickets.

It seems unlikely that a La Crosse city council redistricting committee will agree with the county board. The committee meets tonight to discuss whether to go to 13 council members or to stay pat at 17 or to do something in between.   The county appears to be ready to drop six board members, four of those in La Crosse. That's pressuring the city council to also cut four council members.  The council committee meets tonight to hash out options and then again tomorrow to vote on what option to offer to the county board.

Twenty years of chili this year. The State Bank Financial DARE/GREAT chili cook-off kicks off today in La Crosse with a special recognition event tonight. Lee Vieregge is getting some special kudos for his involvement in the cook-off. Vieregge, from Dahl Superior Auto Body in La Crosse, has been involved in the chili cook-off since its inception 20 years ago. He'll get the very first of a thousand commemorative buttons that will be sold this year for the cook-off. The buttons serve as admission. Goal of the cook-off is to raise $20 thousand. It is the source of funding for all teaching materials for the DARE and GREAT programs in La Crosse schools.

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Last Thursday, the La Crosse Police busted 31 year old Jeffery Miche of La Crosse as part of an ongoing investigation into several vehicle entries. These vehicle entries have occurred over the last several months, with the majority occurring in the areas of Hixon Forest, Granddad’s Bluff, Myrick Park, the County Highway B bicycle trail parking lot and Valley View Mall parking lot. In these cases the suspect smashed out a window of the vehicle and took valuables that were in plain sight.

Michel is out on bond and has been charged with the vehicle entries that the investigation has linked him to. The investigation into this matter is ongoing and the La Crosse Police ask that if you have been a victim of this type of vehicle entry that you contact our dispatch center requesting a citizen’s police report. Furthermore, if you have received a citizen’s report for this type incident, please complete it and return it to the La Crosse Police. Full documentation is vital the success of this investigation and eventual prosecution of the individual involved with these crimes.

This string of vehicle entries and the arrest of Michel also serves as a reminder to everyone the importance of keeping valuables, handbags and back packs out of sight when parking.