The La Crosse Tribune from La Crosse, Wisconsin • 29

New school board member will be chosen Oct. 15 By ANASTASIA MERCER Of the Tribune staff Family Resources and mother of one daughter at Longfellow Middle School. Suchla has 15 years of fiscal management experience in a variety of government and social service programs and has served on many area boards, including the districts Community Collaboration for Four-Year-Olds. By having served on that team, I found out what our community can really accomplish when we focus on the needs of children." Burr and Suchla will compete against four other people for the appointment: David L. Bates, former vice president, general counsel and secretary of Expert Practice.com; Bob Krajewskl, professor of education at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse; Bobble L.

Peterson; national representative for the National Organization on Disability for 21 years; and Michael S. Pucci, security director at Gundersen-Lutheran Medical Center. Wednesday deadline. Bicha resigned after taking a job in another part of the state. The board will decide at Mondays regular meeting which four of the six applicants will be interviewed.

The interviews will take place, and the appointment will be made, at the boards Oct. 15 meeting. The two candidates who submitted applications Wednesday and were not profiled in earlier Tribune stories are: Patricia A. Burr, a homemaker with two young sons at Summit Elementary School. Burr took a job transfer from the Twin Cities to come to La Crosse in 1989 to become a yard clerk for Burlington Northern Railroad.

When her position was downsized in 1997, she started volunteering in the schools and later became a den leader for the Boy Scouts. I can bring a positive and caring approach to this position, she wrote. Dabra A. Suchla, executive director of I know in my heart I couldnt serve Tomah the way that people deserve. Ed Thompson, Tomah mayor Mayor wont seek new term Thompson will devote energies to Libertarian campaign for governor By STEVE RUNDIO Lee Newspapers A full-time homemaker who volunteers in schools and a businesswoman who was part of the team that helped develop the districts preschool program have joined the competition for the appointment to the La Crosse School Board.

In all, six people submitted applications for Reggie Bichas vacant seat by the districts Joanne Litzow, the new Mrs. Oktoberfest, poses with the Cass Street bridge that connects La Crescent, and La Crosse in the background. Formerly a' volunteer brat server at Oktoberfest's Boys and Girls Club booth, Litzow formally joined the Oktoberfest royal family Wednesday night at a banquet. TOMAH, Wis. Ed Thompsons bid for Wisconsin governor means this city will have a new mayor next spring.

Thompson announced Wednesday that he wont seek a second two-year term as Tomah mayor. I dont think I can devote my time to the city, make a run for governor and still run the Tee Pee (restaurant), Thompson said. Its really hard to do this. I love Tomah. Thompson, the brother of former Wisconsin governor and current Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, is stepping aside after one term.

He ousted incumbent Mayor Bud Johnson in 2000. His bid for governor on the Libertarian ticket has garnered considerable media attention, including a recent feature in the New York Times. A recent poll indicated that 34 percent of the electorate would consider voting for Thompson in a three-way race. Thompson said it would have been an advantage in the governors race to run as a sitting mayor. Politically, it would be very intelligent to run for mayor again, Thompson said, but I know in my heart I couldnt serve Tomah the way that people deserve.

Thompson mentioned First District alderman and fellow Wisconsin Tavern League member Charles Ludeking as a possible successor but added, I know there are lots of qualified people out there. If elected governor, Thompson would become the first third-party candidate to win the office since Progressive Orland Steen Loomis in 1942. Incumbent Republican Scott McCal-lum is unopposed for the Republican nomination. Attorney General James Doyle, state Sen. Gary U.S.

Rep. Tom Barrett and Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk are seeking the Democratic nomination. Third District U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, whose district includes La Crosse and Eau Claire, announced earlier he has decided not to seek the Democratic nomination for governor and will run for re-election instead.

The new Tomah mayor will be elected April 4, 2002. If three or more candidates file, there will be a Feb. 19 primary. a Steve Rundio is a reporter for the Tomah JournalMonitor-Herald. Dick Rinlker of tho La Crosso Tribune i Mrs.

Oktoberfest will be eating brats instead of serving them ByGERI PARLIN Of the Tribune staff 2001 MRS. OKTOBERFEST WHO: Joanne Litzow FAMILY: Married to Dave Litzow, both originally from Milwaukee but have lived here since 1968; three children sons Dan, 31 and Zac, 23; and daughter Cory, 29. I had to ask their opinion if I should do it, Litzow said, and they all agreed she should. Theyre really proud of me. VOLUNTEER ACTIvmES: Served on board of La Crosse Area Boys Girls Club and the Chileda Womens Board and has been involved with Tiny Tim benefit.

volunteer for the Boys and Girls Club working at their brat stand on the North Side festgrounds. I loved it, she said. We did it every day for eight hours. But it will be fun to sit on a different side of the counter. I wont be slinging brats.

One of the duties of fest royalty is to visit groups throughout the fest. Members of the fest family often visit nursing homes and schools. On the top of Litzows list is Hamilton School, which has a branch of the Boys and Girls Club. I think that would be great fun. In preparation for her reign, Litzow had hip replacement surgery in June.

Shes recovered and feeling fine, she said, and ready to throw herself into Joanne Litzow will be on the other side of the brat counter this year at Oktoberfest. Instead of serving brats as a fund-raiser for the La Crosse Area Boys and Girls Club, Litzow will be munching on a brat or two during her reign as the new Mrs. Oktoberfest. Litzow began her reign Wednesday night at the Mrs. Oktoberfest banquet, but she has known since June that she would be joining the court of Oktoberfest royalty.

When Litzow was approached about being this years Mrs. Oktoberfest, she asked her husband, Dave, and their three children what they thought. ily member for life. Its all consuming, she said of the next week and the next year. Apd then its for the rest of my life, she said with a laugh.

Instead of going to Mexico in February, Im going to Winnipeg." Litzows consuming passion is children and childrens activities, which is how she ended up as a My initial reaction was no, Litzow said. But Dave said go for it. And the three kids agreed. So Litzow agreed to serve as 2001 Mrs. Oktoberfest.

It will be a hectic year, she said, but she is looking forward to it. And its not just a year, she said, because once you join the Oktoberfest family, youre a fam West Salem Village People assign teams to address downtown issues Holmen land deal stalled By ED HOSKIN Of the Tribune staff By JOHN PAUL SCHALLER Lee Newspapers With downtown revitalization on their minds, West Salem business owners, residents, students and village officials gathered at the Radisson Hotel in La Crosse Wednesday for an all-day forum. Conducted by Bert Stitt and Nancy Rhodes of Stitt Facilitations, the Village People Forum was aimed at establishing the groundwork for a downtown revitaliza- Downtown tion in West adjoining land but were turned down by its land owner. project Salem. This was a group of people working together to create a vision they can approach and be motivated by, said Stitt.

We wanted to create a landmark against which we can measure our business, overall appearance, youth activities and planning organization were named as priorities. he said. After identifying issues and concerns affecting the downtown business district, the group moved ahead to establish priorities, form a vision and develop a work plan to implement that vision. Downtown business, overall appearance, youth activities and planningorganization were named as priorities, and four teams were formed to address each area. About 30 people attended the session.

While turnout was lower than forum organizers would have liked, Village People Co-chairman Terry Wagner was pleased with the progress made. I think it was encouraging and exciting to see other people of like minds getting together, Wagner said. The energy we created will carry us a long way, and thats what we need. It went very well, Stitt said. The quality of those participating and the beauty of the spirit of those participating more than made up for any sense of lower numbers.

The next step, Stitt said, is to implement the work plan developed at the forum. The front line of that work is really study, he said. The first thing to do is to get to know the subject matter better. If you dont understand it, the ability to make progress will be hampered. While the teams begin to address the priorities and take steps to implement the work plan, Stitts firm will put together a comprehensive report on the results of the forum.

We'll publish a report about 80 pages. Everything we did here today will be in the report, said Stitt. It will include a breakdown of issues and concerns, our priorities and our vision. John Paul Schaller is editor of the Coulee News West Salem, Wi 1 HOLMEN, Wis. A land deal involving a reservoir and more than 40 acres of scenic bluff property appears to be stalled because the owner says the Holmen Village Board should offer him more money.

Village officials voted Tuesday to offer $100,000 for Star Hill and an adjoining piece of land. But the owner, Larry Brueske, wants $110,000 for the property, which he said is worth $150,000. Brueske added that private parties already have offered him as much, but he would prefer to see the area preserved and a bike trail go through it. Star Hill contains a reservoir built more than 50 years ago but unused today which the village considers a future wise investment in light of Holmens population boom. I'm not even going to consider the offer, Brueske said Wednesday.

It looks like it can't be done It's my goal to see this as green space, a reservoir; a bike With all the growth were experiencing, were seeing quite a drawdown in these reservoirs, Chapman said. It isnt a concern now, but its something we need to keep ahead of. Star Hill named so because of its trademark lighted star each Christmas would have other benefits for the village. Access to other village land would be easier under village ownership, and its also a locally recognized symbol. Its kind of our village logo, Chapman said.

You can see it for miles. Its our version of Grandad Bluff. Earlier this year; Brueske offered to sell the land to the village for the price now being offered: $100,000. The village offered $18,000 for just the Star Hill parcel, which Brueske turned down. trail.

Unfortunately, there are some members of the board who dont think it has value to the community. Village President John Chapman said a written offer was in the mad, though he personally informed Brueske by telephone Wednesday. He was offended (by the offer), Chapman said. If he doesn't accept, the board has made it apparent to me that they aren't willing to spend more than $100,000 for the two parcels. Chapman said Holmen's population of about 6,400 residents has doubled in the past decade, and a third reservoir could be needed in the future Holmen's own reservoirs both fell to low levels this summer; though no water restrictions were necessary, he said.

future progress. The Village People formed nearly a year ago, after efforts by the West Salem Business Association to establish a state Mainstreet program in the village failed. Stitt Facilitations came on board earlier this year to help the group move forward with its downtown revitalization project. Stitt previously consulted for the Centering Onalaska group, which worked on redeveloping Onalaska 's downtown. Though the West Salem group has been working on the project for some time, Stitt said Wednesdays forum was something of a kick-off for the project This is really the beginning.

The end of the beginning and the beginning of the future,.