The La Crosse Tribune from La Crosse, Wisconsin • 21

Hometown SECTION Hometown: (608) 791:8217 La Crosse Tribune Wednesday, September 26, 2001 Insido Police, fire blotters D-2 Obituaries D-3 Fa row mitoses high-speed rail systems By ED HOSKIN Of the Tribune staff Major airline carriers are offering 20 percent fewer flights nationwide as this months airborne terrorist attacks on the East Coast and the poor economic environment resulted in drastically reduced spending by business and leisure travelers. It shows the need for an alternative (mode of transportation) imme more than 125 miles and less than 350 miles, he said. Highway congestion was another factor he identified. Eau Claire is one community trying to take the Madison-Twin Cities route away from La Crosse, although local officials have said they do not believe that will happen. The development corporation asked area business leaders to express support for the high-speed rail plans in La Crosse as it would be just the ticket for economic growth.

Ed can be reached at ehoskin lacrossetribune.com or (608) 791-8226. diately and long range, Farrow said. We have to have this type of opportunity for individuals, business and tourists. La Crosse looks set to become one of the Midwest Regional Rail Systems high-speed rail stops in 2005. Providing Congress approves the federal government paying 80 percent of an estimated $4.1 billion cost, the rail system would link cities in nine Midwest states with trains traveling up to 110 mph.

Under the new rail plan, there would be six daily round trips out of La Crosse, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Madison would be about 90 minutes away by train and it would take about two hours to reach the Twin Cities. For trips less than 350 miles, high-speed rail is faster, cheaper and better for the environment than flying, said Jean-Pierre Ruiz, executive vice president and CEO of Talgo of America. Ruizs company makes equipment for high-speed rail services in the Pacific Northwest. Compared with other types of transportation, rail travel has traditionally been under-funded, Ruiz said.

Yet it remains the most efficient way to move people distances Fewer flights and more travelers expressing a fear of flying has made high-speed rail plans for Western Wisconsin more crucial than ever, Lt. Gov. Margaret Farrow told La Crosse area business leaders Tuesday. The state needs a mixture of transportation options to help attract new business and tourism, Farrow said. She spoke at the La Crosse Area Development Corp.s 30lh Economic Forum held at the Radisson Hotel.

Pointing To A Better Future Budget cuts hinder the fight against tobacco By RANDY ERICKSON Of the Tribune staff Success of room tax hinges on September and October By JOAN KENT Of the Tribune staff Some of the gains won in the battle against tobacco use could go up in smoke, thanks to state budget cuts. That was one of the messages at a forum Tuesday at Logan High School designed to showcase the strides made locally and statewide to reduce tobacco use. (5(5 The tobacco companies would rather fight one big gorilla than a lot of little monkeys. David Gundersen, Tobacco Control Board La Crosses room tax is up so far this year in comparison with the same period in 2000, the Room Tax Commission learned Tuesday. How the revenue tallies up at the end of the year, however, will depend on whether October is as good as tourism officials hope.

It all hinges on what happens in September and October, said Tom Tourville, executive director of the La Crosse Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. October has become our second-highest room tax month behind July. From the pre-bookings, it appears we will probably be where we need to be in October. Tourville and La Crosse Center Director Art Fahey said they do not yet know whether the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks will adversely affect business here.

The bigger cities are seeing cancellations, Fahey said. It is a travel issue. We are not immune, but we are a destination by car or rail versus an air destination. The city collected $447,361 in the 5 percent room tax by the end of July, compared with $433,685 collected by the end of the same month in 2000. The convention and visitors bureau gets 59 percent of the revenue from the citys 5 percent room tax, while the La Crosse Center gets 39 percent and the city keeps 2 percent for administration.

The revenue was up despite the spring flood and reconstruction' of Rose Street. The hotels (on Rose Street) have been aggressive about marketing, Tourville said. They did a lot of preemptive work. The American Automobile Association is sharing the hotels plan with other hotels, he said. Another reason the hotels werent hurt as much as anticipated is that people working on the road stayed at the hotels, Tourville said.

Thats good, because everyone was anticipating a real disaster, said tax commission member Helen Kelly. You did a good job. Joan can be reached at jkentlacrossetribune.com or 791 -8221. The forum titled Talent, Teaching An Educational Forum on Local Tobacco Prevention Activities brought together local leaders in the tobacco fight, including government officials, medical professionals and teen activists. Also on hand were two local representatives from the state Tobacco Control Board: Dr.

Jack Lockhart, one of two La Crosse area board members, and David Gundersen, the boards executive director and a La Crosse native. The Tobacco Control Board was particularly hard hit in the recently approved state budget. The boards annual $21 million budget was slashed by $6 million. The cuts came after the states proceeds from a settlement with the tobacco companies $5 billion over 25 years was sold for a lump sum payment of about $1 billion, with almost half of that going to reduce the states deficit. Gundersen said the budget cuts will mean the board will have to cut by more than half its advertising budget and wont be able to expand a toll-free quit line that has been used far beyond expected demand.

The TCBs $6.5 million annual advertising budget already was dwarfed by the $100 million that tobacco companies spend annually on promotion in Wisconsin. Still, Gundersen said, the state has 80 antitobacco coalitions, with La Crosse being one of the strongest, to mount grassroots campaigns to prevent young people from starting to smoke, help smokers quit, and push for ordinances to keep smoke out of public places. Grassroots activity, Gundersen said, is whats going to beat big tobacco. The tobacco companies would rather fight one big gorilla than a lot of little monkeys," he said. Peter Thomson of tho La Crosss TVIbuno Colleen Kay Watson, chief executive officer with Career Professionals Inc.

based in Edina, talks about building a good resume during her seminar, Guerilla Tactics for Todays Tough Job Market, during CareerFest at the La Crosse Center Tuesday. A festival of opportunities CareerFest brings employers and prospective employees together By TERRY BURT Of the Tribune staff School Board deadline is today People interested in applying for the vacant seat on the La Crosse School Board must to do by the districts deadline of 4:30 p.m. today. The seat was vacated by Reggie Bicha, who resigned to take a job elsewhere in the state. Applicants must be at least 18, be a U.S.

citizen and have lived in the school district for at least 10 days. Four candidates will be interviewed at the Oct. 15 school board meeting, and the appointment will be made at that time. Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest (not to exceed two pages) and a resume to the superintendents office, Hogan Administrative Center, 807 East Ave. S.

If more than four candidates apply, the board will choose the four people it wants to interview at its Oct. 1 meeting. Four people had applied by Monday afternoon. For more information, call (608) 789-7628. Tomah mother pleads innocent in infants death SPARTA, Wis.

A Tomah woman pleaded innocent Tuesday to four charges related to the death of her 7-week-old son. In her arraignment in Monroe County Circuit Court, Sarah M. Hall entered innocent pleas to three felonies first-degree reckless homicide, child neglect causing death, reckless physical abuse of a child and a misdemeanor charge of obstructing a police officer. The latter two charges were filed Friday. Halls son, Jonathon Fowler, was found dead Aug.

24 in the apartment Hall shared with the infants father, Christopher Fowler. Preliminary autopsy results attributed the infants death to dehydration and malnutrition. Hall also is accused of throwing her son onto a couch. The charges carry a total maximum sentence of 90 years. A status hearing on the case is scheduled for Oct.

30, at which time a trial will be scheduled unless the case is resolved. By 4 p.m., with two hours remaining, more than 1,300 potential employees had visited the center. Gray of Holmen wants to improve her employment. A part-time housekeeper, she is looking for something less physically demanding. There were a few jobs for someone like me, but there were more for the professional, she said.

Army and Navy recruiters were receiving quite a bit of attention in light of the current state of heightened military readiness following terrorist attacks Sept. 11. Weve had a lot of military veterans come by and offer support and encouragement, said Bradley Coleman, a Navy petty officer first class and local recruiter. The Navy has always done well in the La Crosse area, he said. At the Army booth, one non-commissioned officer said interest in the Army has increased in recent weeks.

Army Pvt. Adrianne Klug of Brownsville, is on leave after basic training, and serving 14 days at the La Crosse recruiting station. Recently trained as a Humvee mechanic, Klug is scheduled for duty in Korea. I think itll be great to see other cultures, she said. Gordy Brock, a recruiter for Roehl Transportation Co.

of Marshfield, said job fairs help his company. Only about one in five applicants have, or will obtain, the training needed to drive an 18-wheeier across the country, he said. Driver training is available in various technical schools and also by Roehl, itself, which has 1,300 tractors and hauls products in 48 states and Canada. A first-year driver can earn more than $46,000 a year, he said. Careerfest was sponsored by the La Crosse Tribune, Western Wisconsin Technical College and the Wisconsin Job Center.

Numerous jobs are still available in the La Crosse area, despite the gloomy talk of war and economic recession on national news over the past two weeks. Matching jobs to hundreds of job seekers was the purpose of Tuesdays Career-fest Fall 2001 in the La Crosse Center. By 4 p.m., with two hours remaining, more than 1,300 potential employees had visited the center. Some sought immediate job openings, while others were checking out the local employment scene with an eye toward the future. Were always looking for new people who are looking for work, said John Trevaskis, branch manager for the La Crosse office of Manpower Inc.

Through arrangements with several companies in the area. Manpower can offer job-seekers a range of employment possibilities, from office work to industrial positions. Most are full-time jobs, but some part-time work also is available. Lots of people get bored with one job, and this way they can get a variety, said Trevaskis. Sisters Betsy and Kelly Chew, both University of Wisconsin-La Crosse students, said they were scouting job prospects for the future rather than seeking immediate employment.

Both will graduate from college by May 2002. This is very helpful, Kelly said about the 58 employer booths and numerous job recruitment personnel available to talk about their companies and jobs. This set-up gives us lots of exposure to the different things available, agreed Matt Brogan of La Crosse. Were pretty much here to check it out, and this is more convenient than having to go all over and pick up applications, said his companion, Paul Gross-man. Like some others at the fest, Xicolle WEST SALEM Downtown revitalization mooting sot for today An all-day meeting is being held today to discuss the revitalization of downtown West Salem.

The Village People Forum is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel. The Village People is an offshoot of the West Salem Business Association, which has hired Stitt Facilitations to develop and plan its proposed downtown revitalization. Terry Wagner, Village People co-chairman, said the forum is designed to invite the public to brainstorm ideas about West Salem strengths, weaknesses and its future.

The forum will include small group sessions, setting goals for revitalization and developing a work plan. Cost is $35, which includes breakfast, lunch and refreshments. Walk-up registrations are welcome I Fcingold rep holding office hours Friday Matt Nikolay, western Wisconsin regional coordinator for U.S. Sen. Russ Jeingold, will hold office hours in Whitehall and Alma Center Friday, Sept.

28, at the following times and locations: 9 to 10 a.m., Trempealeau County Courthouse, Badger Room, 36425 Main Whitehall 11 a m. to noon, Alma Center Village Hall, 200 N. Church Alma Center. No appointment is necessary. If area residents cannot attend the office hours, they can contact Feingolds district office at 425 State Room 225, La Crosse, Wis.

54601, or call (608) 782-5585..