29th Annual Rotary Lights gets La Crosse into the holiday spirit

 

Retailers aren't the only ones staying busy this Black Friday. From deals and steals to lights and decorations, La Crosse is getting into the holiday spirit. Tonight the annual Rotary lights display is illuminating Riverside Park.

It's been a La Crosse tradition since 1995. Every year, lights shine from Black Friday until New Year's Eve to raise awareness of hunger. Around 130,000 people come annually including the Walkowicz's. 

"We've been coming down for thirteen years and with the kids a good five or six," the mother tells News 8 Now. 

The tradition started when a fellow Rotarian named Duane Moore saw a similar set up in Oklahoma. He decided to bring the idea to La Crosse. Rotary Lights President Pat Stephens has been involved with lighting up the park since then.

"It's therapy for the community. People come down two-three times which we absolutely love," Stephens says. 

Danielle Wissink and her friends come to Rotary lights each year to reconnect.

"We both live in Minneapolis but we're busy. We can always count on getting together here," Wissink explains.

It's the display that keeps bringing them back.

"I think we just love the lights and the holiday spirit and all the music. It's gorgeous," Wissink adds.

Parkgoers can see the decorations by walking or driving around Riverside Park. But it's about more than just entertaining the community. Rotary encourages everyone to donate food or make monetary donations to fight hunger for those in need. Its goal this year is to top 5.3 million food items collected!

The lights will be on display most nights from 5pm-10pm.  Santa will also be there every night until December 23. 

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Sparta, WI Area of Commerce hosts 9th annual holiday market

 

The market has become a Sparta tradition dating back to 2015, which initially began as a much smaller idea. 

 "An idea just to put huts up and have places for people to shop all year round," said Heidi Funkhouser, the Director of the Sparta Area of Commerce. 

The event has grown to be much larger than anyone could have imagined. 

"A group got together that were apart of the Downtown Cooperative, and they created the Kriskindlmarkt," said Funkhouser. 

Throughout the remaining of the market, people can expect to enjoy the addition of five new huts, including traditional German foods, holiday shopping, live music, and much more. 

One of the biggest new additions this year is the Sparta's Back Pack Program, which helps pay for family meals. 

"We have doubled the kids that need meals on weekends, long weekends, and holiday weeks when there is no school," said Funkhouser. 

Funkhouser says with the rising prices of groceries, it costs about $1,000 per week to feed local families. 

"It has definitely been a boost to our local economy," said Funkhouser. 

Sarah Stackhouse, who is the owner of Lavender and Berries Publishing says it is her second time participating in the market. 

"It is a great crowd and a really great way to give back to the community," said Stackhouse. 

Her work consists of children books and puzzles, while also designing the artwork. 

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Fact Check: Wendy's Is Closing All Locations, as Announced in Late 2023?

 

Claim:

Wendy's fast-food restaurant chain plans to close down, as hinted at in online advertisements displayed on Facebook and Instagram in late 2023.

Rating:

False ( About this rating? )

In October and November 2023, online advertisements were displayed to users on Facebook and Instagram that each showed a photo of Wendy's fast-food restaurant founder Dave Thomas.

Thomas became a household name in the U.S. in the 1990s while starring in hundreds of the company's TV commercials.

The caption of the ads in question read, "Closing Time: All The Restaurant Chains Closing." They appeared to hint that Wendy's would be closing down its entire restaurant chain, going bankrupt or going out of business for other reasons.

These were two versions of the ads that ran in late 2023.

Users who clicked on the ads with the Wendy's-themed photo of Thomas were led to one of two articles.

In one lengthy, list-style article hosted by Investing.com , the headline read, "Last Call: You May See Fewer of These Restaurant Chains in 2023." Wendy's appeared in the story at number 44 out of 123 restaurants, with a paragraph that began with, "Wendy's itself is not going out of business":

Wendy’s

Year Established: 1969

Headquarters: Dublin, Ohio, United States

Wendy’s itself is not going out of business, but the restaurant’s biggest franchisee operator, NPC International, sadly is. NPC International operates 385 Wendy’s in the US, meaning that the future of those stores is now in serious jeopardy. NPC also operates over 1,225 Pizza Huts in America.

NPC filed for Chapter 11 in July of 2020, citing  $903 million in debt. NPC tried to sell off 900 Pizza Huts to Yum! Brands to pay off some of the debt, but Yum! Brands backed out of the deal, citing concerns that creditors would snatch the locations up before they got the chance to move in.

The article only ended up revealing that a franchisee named NPC International had sold its Wendy's restaurants to another operator. The sale was approved by a judge in 2021, according to RestaurantBusinessOnline.com , meaning this was old news.

A second article attached to some of the Facebook and Instagram ads led to sportzbonanza.com . The story's headline read, "Classic Fast Food Restaurants That Are Gone for Good." However, Wendy's was not mentioned in the article. Also, the story was dated Oct. 14, 2020, which again also made this article old news.

The reason why these kinds of ads exist on Facebook and Instagram along with their lengthy articles is usually for something called advertising arbitrage. Advertising arbitrage is a strategy by which an advertiser hopes to make more money on ads displayed in a lengthy article than it would cost to display an initial clickbait ad meant to attract users to the article.

Since both articles were at least two years old, we wouldn't be surprised to see these misleading ads continuing to appear well in the 2024 calendar year, and perhaps beyond.

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Two local organizations host annual Thanksgiving feast

 

(ONALASKA, Wisconsin)  Kitchens and dining rooms aren't the only places you'll find Thanksgiving meals.

Community members started their feasts early for an annual holiday tradition. On Thursday morning,

The Onalaska Hilltopper Rotary and Holmen Area Rotary Club hosted its annual community Thanksgiving dinner.  The tradition started in 2011 to bring people together. Each year, it serves 1,600 people.

Folks enjoyed holiday favorites including turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing.

"We lived here for many many years and we've never been in this building. It's very impressive," Jeanne Tesnow says.

Folks enjoyed a sit down meal along with delivery and take out. 

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Thanksgiving stabbing incident sends one person to the hospital with life threatening injuries

(SPARTA, WIS.)One person is in custody and another person is in the hospital with life threatening injuries following a stabbing incident Thursday afternoon.

According to a press release put out by the Sparta Police Department, just after 4:00 P.M. on Thursday, officers responded to a call of a reported stabbing at the 600 block of East Main Street.

Upon arrival to the home, officers allegedly spotted 44 year old Tomah resident "George Solis" leaving the house.

The Sparta police department then took Solis into custody and he is being held at the Monroe County Jail.

According to the press release, Solis is expected to be charged with 1st degree attempted homicide and 1st degree recklessly Endangering Safety by the Monroe County District Attorney's Office.

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Dollar General is overcharging customers at checkout in several states, according to lawsuits and customers

 

• Customers and state governments have accused Dollar General of overcharging for various products.
• It has settled with states that have sued over the matter, but customers say it's still a problem.
• Dollar General settled a lawsuit over pricing in Ohio but still faces one in Missouri.

Dollar General has paid to settle claims that it overcharged customers in two states this fall, but the problem doesn't seem over.

Lawsuits, investigations, and reports from customers and employees paint a picture of widespread discrepancies between the price a customer is charged and the price displayed on the shelf at Dollar General.

Wisconsin is the latest state to receive a settlement from the dollar-store chain. Dollar General has also paid settlements to Ohio and Vermont. The chain is facing a lawsuit in Missouri and has been fined in North Carolina over its pricing practices.

Additionally, two Dollar General customers and two employees told Business Insider they'd been overcharged or had seen customers overcharged in Florida, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Alabama.

The root cause appears to be a familiar problem: Many stores don't have enough staffers to replace shelf tags or update the system when prices change or a sale starts.

High turnover and reduced hours for Dollar General employees have led to merchandise crowding aisles, creating safety hazards.

A Dollar General spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider for this story.

Previously, in response to questions about the Ohio settlement, a spokesperson told Insider that it is "committed to providing customers with accurate prices on items."

"When a pricing discrepancy is identified, our store teams are empowered to correct the matter on the spot for our customers," the spokesman said at the time.

Dollar General is facing a lawsuit in Missouri over allegations it overcharged customers

Wisconsin settled with the chain for $850,000 on Monday. The state's Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection said inspectors had found that Dollar General stores overcharged customers for 9% of products the inspectors evaluated. Dollar General admitted no wrongdoing in the settlement.

In October, Dollar General paid $1 million to Ohio to settle a lawsuit with similar claims.

In North Carolina , Dollar General paid nearly $71,000 in fines related to its pricing practices from August 2022 to April 2023.

Missouri's attorney general, Andrew Bailey, filed a lawsuit against the dollar-store chain in September, accusing it of charging higher prices than what's listed on the shelf for some of the most commonly purchased items in its stores.

A statement announcing the lawsuit said investigators found that 92 of the 147 locations they visited overcharged consumers and that, on average, Dollar General charged $2.71 more per item than it should have.

Vermont settled a similar lawsuit for $1.75 million in 2019. A statement from the attorney general's office said investigators in that state documented more than 360 overcharges, with a median value of 35 cents

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Local tourism and shopping local during the holiday season

 

LA CROSSE, Wis. We're just one day away from Thanksgiving and although it means a lot of eating, it also marks the beginning of holiday shopping season for some.

Shopping can be a time of checking things off your list for the holiday season but it's also a time for making memories and checking out some attractions.

Anne Sayers, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism expressed how you can intermingle shopping and tourism.

You can head to Southwest Wisconsin for four weekends of festivities at the Sparta Kriskindlmarkt this is one of Wisconsin's best outdoor Christmas markets. It replicates the traditional Christmas style markets full of local artisans You can shop for handmade gifts from 27 different huts that are part of that market."

Sayers said that besides Sparta, shopping local is a great opportunity as many local communities have shops lining the main streets and downtown’s and offer great tourism options.

Sayers says although many choose to shop online, they may be losing that interaction and the experience of traveling to a new place

According to financial company IPX 1031, 57% of Americans are willing to pay more at a locally owned shop hopefully boosting tourism in those communities.

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Black Friday Deal: 'Free Minnesota State Park Day'

 

WINONA COUNTY, Minn.-- If you don't want to break the bank on 'Black Friday' tomorrow, there's another opportunity for you and the family. 

Four times a year the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is offering a free park pass day. Every year they hold four free pass days in accordance with different holidays. Since tomorrow is the day after Thanksgiving, anyone is allowed free access too any of the 75 Minnesota state parks. 

For most Minnesotans there is a park within 30 minutes and luckily for those in the Coulee Region, the Great River Bluffs State Park is just under 30 minutes from La Crosse. 

One DNR official says it's not only a fun activity for the family to utilize, but it's also great for your health.

"There's a huge body of research that shows us spending time in nature, regardless of the level of your physical activity, is good for our physical mental health," Sara Berhow, with the Parks and Trails Division, said. 

If you can't make it out tomorrow, you will have four chances to use the 'Minnesota Free State Park Day' throughout 2024. 

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La Crosse Community Theatre's "A Nice Family Christmas" opens this weekend

 

Tickets are selling fast for a show that will get you into the spirit of the holiday season.

The La Crosse Community Theatre is putting on "A Nice Family Christmas."

Shows begin this weekend. Director Marsha Rubinelli joined Daybreak on Thursday with more on this comedic adventure.

The show follows a young newspaper reporter on the brink of being fired. They have one last shot to save their job with a story about their family Christmas. The only problem is that the reporter's family is crazy.

"It's also a good time to see the love that brings a family together, because really, that's ultimately what it's about," said Rubinelli.

The show is a PG-13 comedy. When they learn that he's writing an article about their family dinner, that's when things get out of control.

Performances will take place in the Veterans Studio Theatre at 428 Front St. South, La Crosse.

"It doesn't matter if you are the crazy uncle or goofy aunt or the grandma from Florida or the kid that doesn't fit in; really, family and their love for each other are what bring it all together," said Rubinelli.

More information and ticket details are available here: La Crosse Community Theatre, La Crosse, Wisconsin (lacrossetheatre.org)

Showings run until Friday, December 8.

Several shows are already sold out.

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Sparta Pastor accused of sexual assault makes first appearance in court

 The Sparta pastor accused of sexual assault made his first appearance in court Friday.

46-year-old Travis Becknell is charged with felony sexual exploitation by a therapist and a misdemeanor charge of fourth degree sexual assault.

Becknell appeared in a Monroe County courtroom by Zoom.

His signature bond is set for $25,000.

While out on bond, Becknell is not allowed to have contact with the victim, referred to as L.N.K. He also can't commit acts or threats of violence, or work in any role involving counseling, therapy, or psycho-therapy.

Meanwhile, the church where Becknell used to preach, Berean Way Church, is closing its doors for good.

Friday the church held a rummage sale to sell the contents of its building.

The money made from the sale will be donated to a non-profit.

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Rosalynn Carter, outspoken former first lady, dead at 96

 

ATLANTA — Former first lady Rosalynn Carter, the closest adviser to Jimmy Carter during his one term as U.S. president and their four decades thereafter as global humanitarians, has died at the age of 96.

The Carter Center said she died Sunday after living with dementia and suffering many months of declining health.

The Carters were married for more than 77 years, forging what they both described as a “full partnership.” Unlike many previous first ladies, Rosalynn sat in on Cabinet meetings, spoke out on controversial issues and represented her husband on foreign trips. Aides to President Carter sometimes referred to her — privately — as “co-president.”

“Rosalynn is my best friend ... the perfect extension of me, probably the most influential person in my life,” Jimmy Carter told aides during their White House years, which spanned from 1977-1981.

Fiercely loyal and compassionate as well as politically astute, Rosalynn Carter prided herself on being an activist first lady, and no one doubted her behind-the-scenes influence. When her role in a highly publicized Cabinet shakeup became known, she was forced to declare publicly, “I am not running the government.”

Many presidential aides insisted that her political instincts were better than her husband’s — they often enlisted her support for a project before they discussed it with the president. Her iron will, contrasted with her outwardly shy demeanor and a soft Southern accent, inspired Washington reporters to call her “the Steel Magnolia.”

Both Carters said in their later years that Rosalynn had always been the more political of the two. After Jimmy Carter’s landslide defeat in 1980, it was she, not the former president, who contemplated an implausible comeback, and years later she confessed to missing their life in Washington.

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At least 6 dead, 1 in critical condition after 'major' collision in Houston: Police

 

At least six people were killed and another is in critical condition after a "major crash" in downtown Houston early Saturday, police said.

Police responded to the scene of the two-vehicle collision around 2 a.m., according to Houston Police Department Asst. Chief Megan Howard.

A driver of a black Chrysler 300 sped through a red light at a "high velocity," colliding with a black Acura SUV that had the right of way at the intersection, Howard said.

The impact caused multiple people in the vehicles to be ejected, police said. The Chrysler left the roadway and struck a pedestrian -- believed to be a homeless man -- who was on the sidewalk, police said .

Five men and one woman died in the collision, police said.

Four people were pronounced dead at the scene -- the driver of the Chrysler, two people believed to have been ejected from the Acura, and the pedestrian -- police said. Two people succumbed to their injuries after being transported to local hospitals, Howard said.

Two others -- a woman with life-threatening injuries and a man -- were transported to hospitals as well, Howard said. The man, who was being interviewed by officers earlier, is in stable condition, police said.

It is unclear at this time who was driving the Acura, Howard said.

"We're looking to get more information from what appears to be one of the survivors of the SUV," Howard told reporters during a press briefing .

Houston Police Chief Troy Finner briefly addressed the crash during an unrelated press briefing on Saturday.

"That's just tough," he said. "Six individuals, young people, deceased."

The identities of the six deceased persons are pending verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, police said.

Finner said police will release the names of the victims once all families of the deceased are notified.

A friend of the homeless man killed told ABC Houston station KTRK he was sleeping near the victim when the collision occurred.

"Literally, it sounded like two trains crashing together. I can still hear the sound in my head. It's nerve-wracking," the man told the station. "I was right next to him. I just had something in my gut telling me to get up, and I got up. But it could have been me."

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