Alcohol panel reviews park options - Nov. 15, 2006
The Alcohol Oversight Committee returned to Riverside Park on Tuesday morning for an on-site discussion about changes it will recommend to the La Crosse Common Council next month.

FBI to review latest drowning - Nov. 1, 2006
FBI analysts will review the La Crosse police investigation report into the most recent alcohol-related drowning death of a University of Wisconsin-La Crosse student, although no foul play is suspected in his death, police said Tuesday.

Alcohol Oversight Committee rejects mayor's lighting proposal - Nov. 1, 2006
La Crosse’s Alcohol Oversight Committee on Tuesday voted unanimously to recommend against Mayor Mark Johnsrud’s proposal to spend $60,000 to install motion-activated lights in Riverside Park.

Alcohol task force gets close look at levee from river’s side - Oct. 25, 2006
You could hardly make out where the levee wall ended and the water began.

Drunk man heading ‘home’ charged with resisting police - Oct. 19, 2006
A University of Wisconsin-La Crosse student faces a charge of resisting officers after police tried to stop him from heading toward the Mississippi River on the same morning another UW-L student, who later drowned, was last seen.

Public weighs in on debate after latest river drowning - Oct. 18, 2006
After saying she felt “blessed” her three college-age children do not attend a La Crosse campus, Cindy Reichgelt had two suggestions for the city’s Alcohol Oversight Committee.

Drowning issue focus of upcoming meetings - Oct. 17, 2006
Local residents will have several opportunities in the near future to talk about possible solutions to the drownings at the Riverside Park levee.

Student in Riverside Park taken to detox - Oct. 17, 2006
A drunken 22-year-old Univer-sity of Wisconsin-La Crosse student was transported to Gunder-sen Lutheran Medical Center early Sunday for detoxification after La Crosse police found him in the south end of Riverside Park.

Alcohol servers fill up class offered by police - Oct. 12, 2006
When La Crosse police announced two sessions of the Responsible Beverage Server Program early last month, they had no trouble filling both to capacity.

UW-L students patrol park over weekend - Oct. 10, 2006
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse students and local law enforcement Monday called the first weekend of having students help patrol the Mississippi River area a success.

Bright idea? Mayor to propose motion-sensor lighting for Riverside Park - Oct. 09, 2006
Mayor Mark Johnsrud will introduce his proposal to install halogen lights at Riverside Park to the La Crosse Common Council Tuesday.

Man protests lack of levee fence - Oct. 08, 2006
When University of Wisconsin-La Crosse student Lucas “Luke” Homan drowned in the Mississippi River last week, La Crosse-area real estate agent Rick Hamilton knew the time was right to step up his efforts to urge the city to make the Riverside Park levee safe.

Drowned student's alcohol level four times legal limit - Oct. 5, 2006
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse student athlete Lucas “Luke” Homan had an alcohol level four times the legal limit for driving when he drowned in the Mississippi River early Saturday, according to a preliminary autopsy.

Students ready to help patrol park - Oct. 4, 2006
Area college students and police plan to patrol Riverside Park together in hopes of preventing further Mississippi River drownings like the weekend death of University of Wisconsin-La Crosse student Lucas Homan.

A horrible reminder of lessons we have already learned - Oct. 4, 2006
The headline says it all: “Another tragedy.” The story in La Crosse is all too familiar: The mixture of alcohol and a river has deadly consequences.

Officials say student drowned - Oct. 4, 2006
An autopsy showed the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse student found dead Monday in the Mississippi River drowned, but full toxicology results could take up to six weeks, authorities said.

City leaders, alcohol oversight committee react to drowning - Oct. 3, 2006
La Crosse leaders and members of the city s Alcohol Oversight Committee expressed sorrow and frustration Monday after hearing the body of Lucas Homan was found in the Mississippi River by Riverside Park.

Homan's death ruled drowning - Oct. 3, 2006
La Crosse police have concluded that University of Wisconsin-La Crosse student/athlete Lucas Luke Homan died of drowning.

UW-L student missing; river search under way - Oct. 2, 2006
Authorities searched downtown La Crosse with the help of dogs Sunday night in hopes of picking up the scent of a missing 21-year-old student.

The list of 19 recommendations by the Alcohol Task Force - Sep. 25, 2006
1. Pearl Street levee safety measures: In July, La Crosse Common Council accepted reports about possible safety measures, but City Engineer Randy Turtenwald said the council did not authorize him to take any action, and he is awaiting council direction.

Barrier could be added to levee - Jul. 4, 2006
The city should consider putting a barrier at the far south end of the Riverside Park levee, the Alcohol Oversight Committee recommended Monday.

City leaders give engineer OK to design levee gates - Apr. 12, 2006
A proposal to have the city engineer design gates and other safety measures at the Riverside Park levee by May got a nod from city leaders Tuesday.

Proposed measures called a start - Apr. 6, 2006
A proposal to make the Riverside Park levee safer gained support Wednesday from the city s Highways, Properties and Utilities Committee.

Add safety features to levee, but change behavior as well - Apr. 5, 2006
The La Crosse Common Council is considering a proposal to design gates and other safety features for the levee at Riverside Park. Those changes are being considered in response to the drowning deaths of seven young men in recent years.

Common Council to consider levee safety - Apr. 3, 2006
The La Crosse city engineer will design gates and other safety measures for the Riverside Park levee if the La Crosse Common Council approves a proposal introduced by members Andy Monfre and Dorothy Lenard.

Levee proposal going to council - Mar. 9, 2006
A proposal is expected at tonight s La Crosse Common Council meeting directing the city engineer to design gates or barriers at each end of the Riverside Park levee.

Services set for student whose body was found after search - Mar. 9, 2006
OWATONNA, Minn. (AP) Services for a St. Cloud State student whose body was found in the Mississippi River have been scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at The Associated Church in Owatonna.

City to consider Riverside levee gates - Feb. 23, 2006
The city would install gates at the north and south ends of the Riverside Park levee under a proposal approved Wednesday by La Crosse s Alcohol Oversight Committee.

Father to offer reward to find missing son - Feb. 20, 2006
MILWAUKEE (AP) A U.S. marshal and his family are offering a 25,000 reward for information leading to his 24-year-old son's whereabouts and to the conviction of anyone involved in his disappearance.

River escapee only had alcohol - Feb. 8, 2006
Tests show a college student who claimed he escaped a freezing Mississippi River on Jan. 8 had only alcohol in his system that night, a family spokesman said.

Police uncover no foul play in river escape, lost truck adventures - Jan. 14, 2006
No foul play has been discovered thus far in an investigation into two men s night on the town that ended with one in the river and another passing out at a hospital, La Crosse police said Friday.

Man claims he woke in river, climbed out - Jan. 12, 2006
An intoxicated college-age man reported he fell into the Mississippi River early Sunday but managed to climb out, authorities said.

Alcohol education next on task force s agenda - Sep. 14, 2005
After a tough bout at the La Crosse Common Council over its first two proposed ordinances, the Alcohol Oversight Committee decided Tuesday to tackle education proposals next.

Report suggests options for Riverside Park levee - Sep. 14, 2005
A report commissioned by the city to look at the Riverside Park levee suggests adding gates, a railing or other barriers and warning signs at the waterfront but stops short of saying change is necessary.

Drinking law debate taps you out - Sep. 6, 2005
Last Tuesday s Judiciary and Administration Committee meeting was a glaring example of the old saying that sausage and laws are two things you don t want to watch being made.

Dion family calls off lawsuit - Jun. 30, 2005
MADISON A federal judge in Madison on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit against the city of La Crosse that had been filed by the family of Jared Dion, a University of Wisconsin-La Crosse student who drowned in 2004 in the Mississippi River.

UW-L students dealing with aftermath of Dion's death - Apr. 9, 2005
It wasn t the image Meagan Kempen wanted for the newspaper. When she took over as co-editor in chief of The Racquet, the student newspaper at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse this year, she inherited a publication that was infamous for running a drink special advertisement on the same page as a tribute to Jared Dion.

City council accepts alcohol task force s report - Mar. 11, 2005
The La Crosse Common Council on Thursday unanimously accepted a report and recommendations designed to deal with binge drinking in the city.

Police step up patrols near river, downtown bars - Mar. 9, 2005
In the roughly 11 months since an intoxicated college student drowned after falling into the Mississippi River, La Crosse police have taken steps to make sure it doesn t happen again.

Popular Safe Ride under fire - Mar. 3, 2005
Lisa Jicinsky hears only good things about the Safe Ride program. An education student and peer educator at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Jicinsky said she also has used the free bus service to go to and from campus and downtown on weekend nights.

Dion's family sues city - Mar. 2, 2005
MADISON The family of a college student who drowned in the Mississippi River in April 2004 has filed a lawsuit in federal court, saying the city of La Crosse fostered binge drinking by providing a "drunk bus service" and allowing a "Little Las Vegas" of bars downtown.

City's alcohol task force makes final recommendations - Feb. 11, 2005
Doing away with late-night drink specials, registering kegs and increased patrolling for party houses were among the recommendations made Thursday by La Crosse s alcohol task force.

Alcohol task force prepares its ideas - Jan. 6, 2005
La Crosse s alcohol task force may recommend a moratorium on additional downtown bars, among several measures to combat excessive alcohol consumption.

Claim filed against city in river death denied - Oct. 6, 2004
A 250,000 claim against the city in the May drowning death in the Mississippi River of Jared Dion, 21, student at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse has been denied.

Students say drinking is the same as it was - Sep. 26, 2004
For some college student, it s drinking as usual at this year s Oktoberfest. Just six months ago, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse student Jared Dion became the seventh young man to drown in area waters in as many years.

This Stuff keeps killer story alive - Sep. 23, 2004
It didn't seem like the most logical place for an investigative piece of journalism. Stuff magazine?

Police, tavern owners, Oktoberfest officials on alert for excessive drinking - Sep. 22, 2004
This year's Oktoberfest president believes the idea of binge drinking at the annual festival is a misconception, but she still added a paragraph in the fest brochure urging responsible drinking.

College newspapers have different policies on alcohol advertising - Aug. 19, 2004
Student newspapers at La Crosse s two universities each accept advertising from bars, but have different standards regarding alcohol marketing.

Lawsuit doesn't feel right - Aug. 18, 2004
Perhaps this is easier. Perhaps it makes sense, somehow, in a world where a son can be senselessly taken away forever without so much as a goodbye.

Dions start process for lawsuit against city, UW-L - Aug. 17, 2004
The parents and brother of Jared Dion have filed a notice of claim with the city and a nearly identical notice with the state, saying the city and UW-L contributed to the student s drowning death in May in the Mississippi River.

A CULTURE OF DRINKING: Binging on the rise - Jul. 5, 2004
Jordan Wood, a fifth-year senior at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, tells incoming freshmen he drank in high school and came to UW-L with every intention to drink.

College students testing limits of detox clinics - Jul. 4, 2004
A 22-year-old man was staggering while walking north on Copeland Avenue at 1:30 a.m. April 27. A La Crosse police officer stopped the man, who said he was on his way home to Angell Hall on the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse campus.

Addressing the culture of alcohol - Jun. 25, 2004
Binge drinking in La Crosse is rooted in Wisconsin s culture of alcohol, several members of a new city advisory task force said at their first meeting Thursday.

Colleges want to nix second Oktoberfest weekend - Jun. 23, 2004
The leaders of the city's three institutions of higher learning have sent a letter to Oktoberfest officials asking them to consider not holding the second weekend of the fall festival.

Gordy did not deserve this ending - Jun. 13, 2004
You want to believe a lot of things about Gordon Stumlin Jr. You want to believe Gordy was supposed to have a perfect childhood.

Decision delayed on levee gates - Jun. 9, 2004
La Crosse leaders voted to delay deciding on a proposal to prepare plans Tuesday for gates at the three entrances to the Riverside Park levee, fearing such action might increase the city s liability.

Body identified as missing La Crosse man - Jun. 8, 2004
An autopsy Monday confirmed that a body pulled Saturday from the Mississippi River was that of a man who disappeared in December, but authorities still do not know how he ended up in the water.

Drowning prevention on agenda - Jun. 1, 2004
Ways to prevent drownings in the Mississippi River off Riverside Park will be considered by the La Crosse Common Council in June.

Medinger appoints task force on drownings - May. 29, 2004
Mayor John Medinger has appointed a 15-member task force to study the Mississippi River drownings off Riverside Park.

Taverns under the microscope - May. 16, 2004;
La Crosse taverns likely will face increased scrutiny in coming months as the city's new alcohol task force starts its work.

Winona takes steps to crack down on binge drinking - May. 16, 2004
As La Crosse grapples with the drowning of Jared Dion, many people wonder why Winona, Minn., hasn t had similar drownings.

Common Council OKs drownings task force - May. 14, 2004
The La Crosse Common Council voted unanimously Thursday to establish a task force on Mississippi River drownings, which is to bring back recommendations in 120 days.

Council members propose interim river safety measures - May. 13, 2004
When Andrew Monfre showed fellow La Crosse Common Council member Andrea Richmond photos he d taken of the Pearl Street walkway entrance to the Riverside Park levee, she agreed it was a dangerous access point.

OUR DRINKING PROBLEM: Weekend bar scene keeps La Crosse police busy - May. 9, 2004
The call comes in to police: A young man 16 to 20 years old, reportedly alone and intoxicated, is stumbling in the dark at Second and Division streets.

Autopsy backs police report: Dion s BAC was 0.289 - Apr. 30, 2004
In many cases, final autopsy reports tell police everything they need to know about how and why an individual died. But, in the death of 21-year-old Jared Dion, the autopsy results clearly show he drowned.

More laughter than tears as UW-L community says good-bye to Jared Dion - Apr. 27, 2004
It was clear, as the church pews filled, that Jared Dion had lots of friends and that his recent death had touched many more who never knew him.

Put personal responsibility into debate on river deaths - Apr. 25, 2004
The biggest problem I have with the idea that a serial killer is stalking young men along La Crosse's riverfront is that it eliminates the need for any personal responsibility.

The rumors need to stop here - Apr. 25, 2004
Don't say anything else about a serial killer. Not one word. Don't write letters to the editor. Don't try to convince your neighbor.

Public still reacting to drownings forum - Apr. 24, 2004
A public forum Thursday night at Central High School about the drownings of seven college-age men in seven years in La Crosse continued to draw mixed reaction Friday.

Downtown patrols increase; task force sought to make area safer - Apr. 24, 2004
La Crosse Police Chief Ed Kondracki on Friday assigned more downtown police patrols and asked to have a task force created to find ways to reduce drinking and make the area safer for bar patrons.

Community discusses river deaths - Apr. 23, 2004
La Crosse Police Lt. Dan Marcou was visibly shaken when he addressed the crowd at the town hall meeting at Central High School Thursday night about drownings off the city s riverfront.

UW-L professors use statistics to debunk serial killer theory - Apr. 22, 2004
Mere hours after Jared Dion's body was pulled from the Mississippi River last week, talk about a serial killer blanketed the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse campus.

Kondracki suggests barrier, security cameras - Apr. 20, 2004
With seven young men drowning in the Mississippi River in the past seven years, La Crosse Police Chief Ed Kondracki said now is the time for the city to take steps to make sure no more lives are lost in the river.

Chief sets meeting on river deaths - Apr. 20, 2004
City officials hope a special town hall meeting Thursday evening will help calm fears and end rumors that a serial killer is drowning college-aged men in the Mississippi River.

Funeral arrangements made for UW-La Crosse student - Apr. 19, 2004
Funeral arrangements have been made for the 21-year-old University of Wisconsin-La Crosse student pulled Thursday from the Mississippi River.

Police see common denominator in river deaths: alcohol - Apr. 18, 2004
Questions have been raised in the minds of police investigators and La Crosse residents alike over a succession of river deaths in the past two years.

Police say facts point not to a serial killer but to fatal cocktail of alcohol, water - Apr. 18, 2004
The bar talk about five river deaths in the past two years in La Crosse doesn't deal with the evidence, the facts or even logic.

Denial about death a part of life - Apr. 18, 2004
Accepting the sudden and tragic death of someone as young, healthy and well-liked as Jared Dion can be difficult, experts on the grieving process say.

UW-L to increase alcohol awareness after student s death - Apr. 17, 2004
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has been aggressive about educating students about the dangers of alcohol, said Petra Roter, dean of students.

Autopsy: UW-L student drowned; no foul play - Apr. 16, 2004
For more than five days, the La Crosse community held out hope that Jared Dion would be found safe. All hopes were dashed Thursday when the 21-year-old college student s body was pulled from the Mississippi River just south of Riverside Park.

Despite the facts, the urban legend won't go away - Apr. 16, 2004
Lisa walked down to Riverside Park on Thursday and sobbed. She did not know Jared Dion. But she knew Nathan Kapfer. He was a friend. He was the Viterbo baseball player they used to call Ko-cheese.

Searching for Jared - Apr. 15, 2004
The search for the missing University of Wisconsin-La Crosse student Jared Dion will continue today. Searchers Wednesday concentrated their efforts on Riverside Park, where a baseball cap believed to belong to Dion was found.

Family, friends keep looking for missing UW-L student - Apr. 14, 2004
The last time Kim Dion spoke to her son, Jared, it was about 8:30 p.m. Friday, and they agreed the family would celebrate Easter in La Crosse because Jared had to finish some surveys for a University of Wisconsin-La Crosse marketing class.

MOTHER OF VICTIM HAS WARNINGS FOR DOWNTOWN TAVERN-GOERS - October 6, 1999
Two years after Charles Blatz drowned in the Mississippi River, his mother is warning others to make sure it doesn't happen to them this Oktoberfest.

Let's make future safer for our kids - July 25, 1999
This summer I buried my son. You may have heard about him on the television or seen his picture in the newspaper.

Police say facts point not to a serial killer but to fatal cocktail of alcohol, water - June 14, 1999
The bar talk about five river deaths in the last two years in La Crosse doesn't deal with the evidence, the facts or even logic.

Main Channel current considered typical - June 13, 1999
It's no surprise that the five young men who drowned in the current of the Mississippi River near La Crosse in the past two years were found in an area that spans less than two miles.

Family, friends have good memories of Jeffrey Geesey - May 26, 1999
Laurie Geesey is relying on her faith for comfort as she deals with the loss of her son.

Discovered body is UW-L student missing since April - May 26, 1999
Authorities confirmed Monday that a body found in Running Slough is that of University of Wisconsin-La Crosse student Jeffrey F. Geesey.

REALIZE THE DANGER OF UNDERAGE DRINKING - February 24, 1999
It has been a year since the disappearance of our son, Nathan Kapfer, and the loss still haunts us.

FOUR DROWNINGS IN EIGHT MONTHS LINKED TO HEAVY DRINKING DRINKING - October 6, 1998
From July 1997 to February 1998, four young men disappeared into the Mississippi River. Autopsies showed all had blood-alcohol levels above the legal definition of intoxication before they disappeared.

KAPFER CASE IS CLOSED NO FOUL PLAY - July 10, 1998
The police investigation into the drowning death of a Viterbo College student has agreed with the La Crosse County medical examiner's conclusion that foul play was not involved.

MEMORIAL WALL A REMINDER OF ALCOHOL ABUSE DANGERS - April 14, 1998
It's been in place less than a week, but a memorial wall in the Viterbo College student union already is almost covered with graffiti.

STUDENT DROWNS IN RIVER - April 4, 1998
The body of 20-year-old Nathan Kapfer was pulled from the Mississippi River, ending a six-week vigil by family and friends hoping for the Viterbo College student's safe return.Kapfer's wallet and cap were found Feb. 22 near the Indian statue in Riverside Park.

Drowning victim had 0.23 % blood-alcohol - October 22, 1997
A La Crosse man who drowned in Isle Le Plume Slough two weeks ago had a blood-alcohol level higher than the legal limit, a toxicology report showed Monday.

ANOTHER BODY FOUND IN RIVER; AUTOPSY TODAY - October 11, 1997
The body of a white male was found Friday floating face down in a slough of the Mississippi River.

Police: Body that of missing North Sider - October 11, 1997
A body found floating in a Mississippi River slough Friday has been identified as that of a 19-year-old La Crosse man missing since he left a party early last Sunday.

FEST DROWNING VICTIM HAD HIGH ALCOHOL LEVEL - October 9, 1997
The University of Wisconsin- Platteville student whodrowned in the Mississippi River during the Oktoberfest weekend in La Crosse had an alcohol level three times the legal limit, a La Crosse Police detective said Wednesday.

POLICE PROBING STUDENT'S DEATH - October 7, 1997
LA CROSSE, Wis. --A University of Wisconsin- Platteville student and his La Crosse friends became separated as they left a downtown tavern and headed through the Oktoberfest crowd to another tavern about midnight Sept. 27.

Man's body recovered from river - October 4, 1997
La Crosse police and firefighters recovered the body of a Platteville, Wis., man from the Mississippi River Friday.