☀️ Good Thursday Morning, Coulee

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, my friends. ☀️

It’s a fine Thursday morning, if I do say so myself. I’m here to help you get your day started. And that’s a job I take very seriously.

So, let’s dive in 👇

🎶 Song of the Day

Moving this higher in the email for your convenience 😀

*If you want to listen along as you read, scroll to the top right of this email and click “Read Online”.

If you make music and want to be featured here ☝️, give me a shout!

💬 Today’s Thought

👀 I need your help with something

If you find this newsletter valuable, interesting, or horrible enough that you think a friend might get a chuckle out of it—consider sharing it with someone.

The first milestone in our referral program is a birthday shoutout—pretty sweet, right? Play your cards right and there might be a bumper sticker in it for you somewhere down the line. 😉

👥 Looking to Get Involved?

Our community has some amazing people. And they’re doing incredible work behind the scenes of the hustle & bustle of our daily lives.

Some of those people belong to a group that has caught my attention—La Crosse Area Transit Advocates. And they’re looking for people to get involved.

In their own words, they are a group that is focused on: Supporting, advocating for, and educating about public transportation in the La Crosse, Wisconsin area.

You can learn more about their group here. And, if you feel so inclined, get in touch using the Join Us link on the top right of their web page.

📰 Quick Hits

• Hydro Helpers program in La Crosse enlists community children to help care for fire hydrants (WEAU)

• La Crosse proposes new project to bring more events to La Crosse’s north side (News 8000)

• Oktoberfest Past Parade Marshals give over $12k to local programs (La Crosse Tribune)

Possibly the most positive Quick Hits section on this newsletter ever? 👏 You simply love to see it. 

☀️📰 A Bit of Good News

Onalaska 11th Grader named a 2025 National STEM Champion

On Wednesday, over 100 students nationwide were recognized as 2025 National STEM Champions, including a junior from Onalaska High School.

This fall, students in grades 7-12 had the chance to conceptualize and submit their STEM innovations, inventions, and research for the National STEM Festival hosted by EXPLR.

Among the honorees is Aditi Muduganti, an 11th grader at Onalaska High School, who presented her project titled "A Neural Network Approach Using Deep Learning for Image Classification of Polar-Ring Galaxies."

Well done, Aditi 👏

Read more about this story on WXOW.

📆 What’s Happenin’

☕️ LA CRESCENT MEMBER APPRECIATION EVENT @ Altra

Pick up a free hot cocoa and an Altra mug (while supplies last) at the La Crescent Altra tomorrow from 9a-4p.

📖 FESTIVE & LIVELY STORYTIME FOR ADULTS @ Trempealeau Hotel

Join the community for an enchanting evening of "festive & lively" storytime tailored for adults! Attendees can look forward to a selection of light-hearted and humorous tales, capturing the spirit of holiday gatherings. The storytelling will begin at 6 PM in the cozy all-season porch of the Trempealeau Hotel. Guests are invited to enjoy delicious food and drinks while mingling with friends and neighbors in a warm, inviting atmosphere. This is a wonderful opportunity to unwind and share some laughter during the holiday season!

🎶 LOTS OF LIVE MUSIC (Check our calendar below!)

🌤 Weather

This week, expect temperatures to drop steadily from a mild 40°F on Monday to highs in the low 20s by the weekend. Cloudy skies dominate the first half of the week, with snow showers likely on Thursday. The weekend will be colder but mostly dry and partly cloudy. Prepare for colder weather as the week progresses, with heavy winter gear becoming essential by midweek.

🏈🏀 Local Sports

12/17

Winona Girls Basketball vs. Owatonna // L 15-60

Logan Boys Basketball vs. River Falls // W 100-69

Holmen Girls Basketball vs. Marshfield // L 50-60

Logan Girls Basketball vs. Sparta // L 39-60

Onalaska Girls Basketball vs. Caledonia // L 32-45

Aquinas Girls Basketball vs. Tomah // W 87-24

West Salem Boys Basketball @ Black River Falls // W 87-53

Holmen Boys Basketball @ Caledonia // L 56-83

Onalaska Boys Basketball @ Eau Claire // L 59-60

Aquinas Boys Basketball vs. Prairie du Chien // W 77-10

Central Boys Basketball vs. Menomonie // W 55-54

La Crescent Boys Basketball @ Spring Grove // W 69-40

Winona Boys Basketball @ Owatonna // L 36-75

12/19

Onalaska Girls Basketball @ Holmen // 5:45

West Salem Girls Basketball @ Westby // 7:00pm

Central Boys Basketball vs. DeForest // 6:30pm

Onalaska Boys Basketball vs. Holmen // 7:15pm

12/20

Winona Girls Basketball @ Mankato // 7:30pm

Central Girls Basketball @ Sparta // 7:15pm

Logan Boys Basketball @ Ellsworth // 6:30pm

Logan Girls Basketball @ Tomah // 7:15pm

La Crescent Girls Basketball vs. Lewiston // 7:15pm

West Salem Boys Basketball vs. Tomah // 7:00pm

Aquinas Boys Basketball @ Arcadia // 7:00pm

La Crescent Boys Basketball @ Lewiston // 7:15pm

Winona Boys Basketball vs. Mankato // 7:30pm

🎶🎤 Live Music

Here’s our summary of live music events in and around La Crosse. Having something to add to this list? Email us!

12/19

10:00am // Holmen Area Community Center // The Grumpy Old Men Big Band

5:00pm // Starlite Lounge // John Paulson

6:30pm // Schmidty’s Bar & Restaurant // Andy Hughes

7:00pm // Bodega Brew Pub // The Ex-Bombers

12/20

6:00pm // Hatchery Lounge // Bryce Thomaschefsky Trio

7:00pm // Brick Sip Haus (Tomah) // Mike James and the Jazz Foundation

7:00pm // Little Bird Plants (Viroqua) // Loosey Stone

7:00pm // Elks Club (Decorah) // Various Performers

7:00pm // Stratford Heritage Barn // Empowerhouse Trio (not free)

7:00pm // Onalaska American Legion Post 336 // Larry’s Drifters

8:00pm // Smokey’s Bar and Grill // The B-SideS

8:00pm // HD Tavern // Noah Ertz

9:00pm // Popcorn Tavern // Texas Toast

12/21

11:00am // Eagle’s Club // The Cody’s

1:00pm // Dewey’s Side Street Saloon // Open Jam

12:00pm // La Crosse Bierhaus // Rich Pinski

2:00pm // Tomah Cash Store // Blaine Hackett sings holiday tunes (proceeds to charity)

6:30pm // Franciscan Spirituality Center and English Lutheran Church // Singing Bowls Experience

6:30pm // The Freighthouse Restaurant // Saner & Gibbons

8:00pm // Muddy Waters Bar // Blondie Blue

8:00pm // Robin’s Nest // After Hours Classic Rock Band

9:00pm // HD Tavern // Brett Westgrove

10:00pm // Popcorn Tavern // A Nightmarishly Good Time

And there you have it! The best Thursday, December 19 Coulee Region-centered update email you’ve ever received.

Thank you for reading! See you tomorrow ☀️

Interested in collaborating or participating in one of our segments or sponsored placements?

I would ❤️ to hear from you.

[email protected]