La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

It's the world's shortest race, but it's been going on for a long time. Saturday is 95.7 the Rock's 21st annual St. Paddy's Day .01K down Pearl Street in La Crosse. Bags from the Rock stopped by to help preview the event and tell some stories of past races. This is the type of race anyone can do, and brag about getting a coveted shirt that proves you're a runner. Registration happens online here or beginning at 3 p.m. at Brothers. The race happens at 6 p.m. and ends around 6:01 p.m. — if you take your time.

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He has more receptions in college football history than anyone, he tried out for the Green Bay Packers, he won a European football championship playing both ways, and he might drive his Hall of Fame coach dad crazy with what he wants to do with the UW-La Crosse football team.

Michael Zweifel just took over the UW-L program and he joined Thursday as we relived some of his glory days and discussed how he’s going to approach the new gig as head coach. Zweifel has been with UW-L the past four years, including the last two as defensive coordinator.

As a player, Zweifel won what’s the Division III version of the Heisman (Gagliardi Trophy) with Dubuque, and led the nation in yards (1,915) and catches (140) back in 2011. He also graduated with 463 receptions, the most in college football history.

That earned him a tryout with the Packers, during the height of the Aaron Rodgers-to-Jordy Nelson days. Some years later Zweifel went on to play for the Vienna Vikings, winning a championship there.

Zweifel is also a sports science nerd and his approach to practices and utilizing time might come as a bit of a football culture shock — certainly to his dad, Stan Zweifel. While his father — who coached at UW-Whitewater and Dubuque and has written six books on coaching — believes in traditional "mental toughness," Michael is leaning into "chaos training." He plans to scrap "sterile" drills like hitting the sled or running through bags in favor of "small-sided games" that force players to be adaptable.

"If it doesn't move the needle forward, we're not gonna waste our time on it," Zweifel said, noting that improving weightlifting numbers "doesn't make you a better football player" and he'll eliminate things that don't help on Saturdays.

We also discuss taking over a program that’s been to the playoffs five consecutive years and just watched its rival, UW-River Falls, win the national championship last season. Zweifel is now tasked with rebuilding a defense that graduated eight starters as he looks to take the Eagles to the next level.

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We talked some glory days and previewed the National Championships with Hall of Fame UW-La Crosse wrestling coach Dave Malecek.

That included the coach, in his 20th season, being brutally honest about what “college days Malecek” would do to the eight guys he has headed to Nationals this Friday and Saturday in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Malecek was a two-time state champ at Osage High School (91-9 career record) and went on to qualify for Division I Nationals four times at Northern Iowa, before participating in the USA Wrestling Team Olympic Trials in 1992 and 1996.

Aside from his wrestling days, we get into the eight from UW-L headed to Nationals this weekend and what makes each of those guys unique.

That includes one who graduated from UW-L as a two-time Nationals qualifier — where he took 2nd and 3rd — then went back home to coach his brother in high school for a year and is now back as a grad student and back at Nationals ranked with a 17-0 record.

Over Malecek’s career at UW-L, he’s coached 72 All-Americans, including 14 individual National Champions.

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We covered a lot with La Crosse city council president Tamra Dickinson in studio, including infrastructure projects like the old Kmart, a new restaurant in River Point, and the North Side Library’s future use. We also talked about why Dickinson voted against city administrator, where La Crosse is at with its zoning overhaul and the upcoming strategic planning session. 

With the Northside Community Library scheduled to close June 30, and a news conference from north siders on wanting to use the building as a community center, Dickinson talked about the process of potentially declaring the building a "surplus,” and the "expression of interest" phase. 

In regards to the old Kmart, we did a quick recap of its time with Three-Sixty Real Estate Solutions, which let an 18-month extension for the rezoning to expire, and how it now has to essentially start from scratch with the design review and zoning process. 

Also, two big meetings are coming up this month that could have citywide impacts.

A joint session March 18 will tackle a massive overhaul of residential zoning. It’s the first of two meetings intended to simplify the city's code so it's actually "easier to work with" for residents and developers alike, according to Dickinson. She noted the goal is to refine rules on things like "tiny homes" and having multiple buildings on one lot — things that currently force people to jump through the zoning appeals process. Instead of constant one-off exceptions, the city is looking to modernize the code to match how people are actually living and building today.

The other meeting, on March 24, is a strategic planning session that Dickinson says is designed to help the council "focus and vision" for the city's future. Rather than just reacting to the monthly agenda, she hopes this session allows the council to identify long-term priorities—which is also why she wants the city administrator discussion to happen there, away from the pressure of a looming vote.

Shifting back to more immediate council business Thursday, we got into a $120,000 "beautification" project for 3rd and 4th streets that includes new planters and trash cans downtown and whether that’s logical considering the Wisconsin DOT will tear up all of downtown in 2030. 

Last month, the council saw a city administrator proposal fall two votes short of passing, and Dickinson was one of the no votes but supports the idea. She talked about why, including how the legislation was becoming "hard to follow" with last-minute amendments and five different changes flying around. By voting it down now, she says the council has the "freedom of being able to talk about it without us worrying about it being active legislation," with the goal of bringing a cleaner version back once strategic planning sessions conclude this summer.

To wrap up, we looked at "Renew the Block," a Habitat for Humanity project on Avon Street that Dickinson has been heavily involved with. On March 25, the city will host a presentation at the Nature Place to show other neighborhoods how the project successfully integrated stormwater management and curb appeal — proving that neighborhood revitalization can be a blueprint for the rest of the city.

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After nine months of construction, the "pardon our mess" signs at the La Crosse Public Library are finally coming down.

Library director Dawn Wacek stopped in studio Monday to preview the grand reopening of the facility on Main Street happening from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday — with tours every hour. The $3.1 million interior renovation covered about 40% of the building's footprint — all funded through a competitive state grant from the Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Flexible Facilities Program. Wacek noted the funding allowed the library to "fast-track" upgrades without hitting local property taxes or the city's day-to-day operating budget.

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The conversation touched on the new "vibe" of the space, which Wacek described as more modern and flexible. One of Wacek’s favorite upgrades are the "Brody chairs" — semi-enclosed private nooks with built-in desks and lighting. Beyond the new seating, the renovation added several specialized areas, including:

• A 100-seat auditorium and classroom space on the main floor.

• An updated "CREATE" maker space for hands-on projects.

• Eight new meeting and study rooms spread across both floors.

• A refreshed public computer area and a second-floor computer lab.

• Two first-floor meeting rooms dedicated to community service access.

• Renovated, more accessible first-floor restrooms.

We also half joked about one thing that didn't make the blueprints: a coffee shop. Wacek explained the "pluses and minuses" of bringing in a cafe partner, noting that while it's a popular request, the risk of a partner going out of business often leads to "wasted space" in public buildings.

Beyond the renovations, we discussed how the library is pivoting to meet people where they are. Wacek highlighted a new pilot program for "library lockers" at the Main branch, where patrons can pick up materials after hours using a keycode. The goal is to eventually expand those kiosks to the north and south ends of the city to provide access even when the physical buildings are closed.

We also got into city budget talks, as the mayor has made it a focus to tackle that early on in the year. With the library making up about 8% of the city’s total budget, Wacek talked about being "at the table" for 2026 planning and the long-term goal of launching a fundraising campaign to modernize the "desperately undersized" children’s, teen, and tween areas.

To wrap up, we went through some of the books currently featured on the library's new "face-out" display shelving, plus looked at some of the stats from library use the past few years and went over the logistics of Wednesday's reopening, which will include guided tours each hour from various library staffers.

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Guests on La Crosse Talk PM previewed Irish events in La Crosse, including the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Shamrock Club traditions and the Coulee Hoolie.

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Garrett Paulson, pictured above, stopped by the WIZM studio Thursday on La Crosse Talk PM to talk about financial responsibility, healthy money habits, and why giving back to the community matters.

Jason Spangler hosted the conversation, focusing on practical, behavior-first ideas listeners can use in everyday life — from building a plan and avoiding common money traps to staying consistent and tying financial decisions to personal values.

During the interview, Paulson broke down what “financial responsibility” looks like in real life, emphasizing discipline, routines, and small steps people can take to feel more in control of their money. The discussion stayed centered on education and mindset rather than specific products or personal financial advice.

The conversation also explored habits that can help people make progress over time, including budgeting in a realistic way, building an emergency fund, managing debt without feeling overwhelmed, and using systems like automation and routines to stay on track when life gets busy.

Paulson also spoke about the connection between financial discipline and community involvement. In addition to his work as a financial advisor with Northwestern Mutual, he is involved with the Delta Sigma Phi Alumni Board, Rotary, Next Steps for Change, and the Sons of the American Legion. He shared why service matters to him and encouraged listeners who want to give back locally to start small, stay consistent, and lead with purpose.

The interview wrapped with practical takeaways listeners can put into action right away, including ways parents can model healthy financial behaviors at home and how success can look different when money is aligned with values, purpose, and community.

Listen to the full interview below.

Listen live weekdays at 5:00 p.m. Tune in on the WIZM app or on air at 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM.

More information: Garrett Paulson, Northwestern Mutual, 608-797-4512, 2737 National Dr, Onalaska, WI 54650

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Dave Larsen and Tess Larsen, pictured above, stopped by the WIZM studio Wednesday on La Crosse Talk PM to talk about Freedom Honor Flight — and how the Coulee Region can help local veterans take a powerful, one-day trip to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials built in their honor.

Jason Spangler hosted the conversation, focusing on what Freedom Honor Flight is, who qualifies, what the day in D.C. looks like, and clear ways listeners can get involved — whether that’s applying, volunteering, donating, or supporting local fundraising efforts.

Freedom Honor Flight is an all-volunteer nonprofit based out of La Crosse. The organization serves 22 counties across Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa, flying 200+ veterans annually and helping more than 3,000 veterans since 2008, with both spring and fall flights.

During the interview, Larsen helped listeners picture “flight day” — from the early morning airport send-off, to a full day of meaningful stops in the nation’s capital, and an emotional welcome home. Veterans typically visit key memorials (often including WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and more) plus Arlington National Cemetery, with medical support available throughout the day and a guardian paired with each veteran.

The discussion also covered eligibility and how the priority system works, how families can start the application process, and the important role guardians play in making the trip safe, comfortable, and memorable — especially for veterans with mobility challenges or ongoing medical needs. Larsen emphasized the heart behind the mission: “This is how we say thank you.”

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Joanna Drazkowski, pictured above, stopped by the WIZM studio Tuesday on La Crosse Talk PM to talk fitness, yoga, running, and how small, consistent habits can make a big difference—especially for busy parents. Drazkowski teaches at Root Down Yoga Studio and also instructs group fitness classes at the La Crosse Area Family YMCA’s Houser Branch.

Jason Spangler hosted the conversation, which began with Drazkowski’s personal story—how she found her way to the La Crosse/Onalaska area and why yoga became a natural extension of her background as a runner. At Root Down, she’s been described as a “calm creator,” with a guiding mindset of “embrace the discomfort.” The interview also touched on what she hopes students feel when they walk out of class—both physically and mentally.

In the second segment, Drazkowski shared practical encouragement for listeners who feel intimidated by the idea of getting back into a workout routine, along with approachable first steps people can try this week. The discussion included injury-prevention habits for runners, how to safely “lean into discomfort” without pushing past what’s smart, and what a simple 20-minute at-home routine can look like.

The conversation also included a brief, informational look at Drazkowski’s candidacy for La Crosse County Board Supervisor in District 18, and how community wellness connects to local priorities.

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Assem Izmukhanova Kopitzke, Erica Koonmen, and Lisbeth Reynertson stopped by the WIZM studio Monday night on La Crosse Talk PM to preview the 2026 International Women’s Day Celebration at UW–La Crosse.

Jason Spangler hosted the program, filling in for Rick Solem while he’s on vacation.

The conversation covered this year’s theme, “Give to Gain,” and what the community can expect from the evening — including a panel featuring women representing Denmark, Kazakhstan, and Nigeria, followed by time for audience Q&A.

The 14th Annual International Women’s Day Celebration is happening Tuesday, March 3 from 5–7 p.m. in the Bluffs Ballroom inside the UWL Student Union. The event is free and open to the public. There will also be a menstrual product collection at the door to benefit local schools and women’s shelters (donations of tampons or pads are appreciated).

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