Hillview's Transformation is Complete

A new chapter opened last week for Hillview, which has been owned by the people of La Crosse County for more than 100 years.

Employees, residents, and community members celebrated ribbon cuttings for two major projects. On Tuesday, we marked the grand opening of The Evergreens, a new Community‑Based Residential Facility, along with updated nursing home rooms. The refreshed Hillview now features beautiful common areas and a modern, home‑like design with private rooms.

On Friday, we cut the ribbon on the Hillview Life Center (pictured below), operated by YWCA La Crosse. The center will house Wisconsin’s first Intergenerational Day Program, bringing together a YWCA Childcare Center and an Older Adult Day Program supported by the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of La Crosse County.

The $19.6 million renovation, funded through federal and local dollars, was a complex effort managed by Hoffman Planning, Design and Construction, Inc., with significant cost savings thanks to work completed by our Facilities team. Before construction, about half of the Hillview building sat unused. Today, the campus is fully refreshed, modern, and ready to serve the community well into the future.

Hillview belongs to all of us, and we welcome anyone interested in seeing the updates to reach out for a tour.

La Crosse County will host the 13th Annual Mental Health Awareness Celebration on Thursday, May 21, in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. This year’s theme is “Be Here – Unplug, Connect, Thrive,” encouraging our community to slow down, be present, and support one another.

The event will be held at the Health and Human Services Building at 300 4th Street North, La Crosse. Activities begin at noon with a welcome, followed by speeches and awards. A one‑mile community walk through downtown will kick off afterward. Refreshments will be provided, and a community resource fair will run from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Health and Human Services.

Join Our Foster Care Community

May is Foster Care Month, and we want to say thanks to all our foster parents and relative caregivers. Your compassion and commitment make an incredible difference.

Click the "play" button above to watch Kevin Henry, a Social Worker with La Crosse County Foster Care, talk about how foster homes come in all shapes and sizes.

La Crosse County has a real need for more foster and relative caregivers. If you’ve ever considered fostering or just have questions, please reach out by emailing lkirschner@lacrossecounty.org or calling (608) 789-4834.

Stewart Appointed Director of Land Services

Kathleen Stewart has been appointed Director of La Crosse County’s new Land Services Department. The new department will combine the Surveyor, Land Conservation, and Zoning, Planning and Land Information offices under one structure.

Stewart has worked as the Zoning, Planning, and Land Information Director for about five years. She has extensive local government experience, including working as Director of Town Services for Highland Park in Texas and also worked as Economic Development Director for the Dallas Regional Chamber.

Public Safety Communications Honored

La Crosse County Public Safety Communications has been announced as the winner of the Technology Leadership Award for a Small Agency by the Association of Public‑Safety Communications Officials (APCO). The award will be presented at the APCO conference in San Antonio, Texas, in August. We’ll share more on the award at that time.

The award is a tribute to the hard work and excellence of all staff at La Crosse County Public Safety Communications, which translates into fast response times to emergencies in our county.

ADRC Picnic May 20

La Crosse County’s ADRC will host a free Community Picnic in recognition of Older Americans Month on May 20, at Veterans Memorial Park in West Salem. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes a resource fair featuring more than 20 community organizations, live music by Greg Grokowsky, a picnic lunch at noon, and bingo at 2 p.m.

Lunch is available for adults 60 and older with a reservation, which can be made by calling 608‑785‑5700 by May 15. A $5 contribution is suggested. The menu includes a turkey or ham sandwich, Sun Chips, baby carrots, fresh fruit, a cookie, and a drink, with a gluten‑free option available.

Art to Celebrate our 175th

Staff have been busy hanging artwork in the downtown Admin Center this week for our 175th Anniversary Art Contest. We received more than two dozen entries, including paintings, photography, and mixed media pieces.

We’ll host a reception at 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, to announce the winners. Please stop by the Admin Center (212 6th St. N, La Crosse), open Monday–Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., to enjoy the artwork. We’ll also share entries on our social media channels. Watch for updates in the next issue.

Owlets Take Their First Steps at Goose Island

Jason Schmitz, Goose Island Campground Supervisor, recently captured these great photos of a barred owl pair and their owlets along the Shady Maple Trail at Goose Island. About two weeks ago, the young owls were spotted venturing out of their nest for the first time. This is a great time of year to enjoy our Goose Island Campground. Check availability here.

The La Crosse County Health Department will start beach water monitoring for the 2026 season on Monday, May 18. Staff will test water weekly at eight popular beaches for E. coli bacteria until Labor Day. We share the results on the Health Department's social media and website so swimmers can stay safe. The beaches staff test are:

• Black River Beach
• Pettibone Beach
• Goose Island Beach
• Bluebird Springs Campground
• Airport Beach
• Neshonoc Campground
• Whispering Pines Campground
• Lake Neshonoc Swarthout Park

Staff test for E. coli because it is the best indicator if there are germs in the water that can make you sick. If bacteria levels are high, we close the beach for swimming. Staff test again until the sample meets an acceptable bacterial level, then the beach can re-open for swimming. Learn more here.

UWL Students Present Survey Findings

Students from Dr. Kristina LaPlant’s Political Science and Public Administration class at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse presented survey findings to the County Board on Monday. The survey, which gathered responses from 1,095 residents, measured awareness of and access to a range of County services. We’ll share more on the results in our next issue.

County Duckling Rescue Team in Action

Facilities staff shepherded several families of ducks from our downtown campus to safety at Riverside Park over recent weeks. This is a regular occurrence at this time of year, and staff have become expert duck handlers.

Goose Island Youth Fishing Classic May 30

The first Goose Island Youth Bank Fishing Classic begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 30, at the Goose Island Campground Pavilion.

This free, catch‑and‑release tournament is open to youth 17 and under, accompanied by an adult. Prizes will be awarded for the first 99 registered fish—any size—so every catch counts. Participants can look forward to:

• Food trucks
• Half‑price Goosey Golf
• Fishing gear available for kids who need equipment (first come, first served)

Kids and Mentors Outdoors will host beginner fishing demonstrations, and Coulee Region Trout Unlimited will offer fly‑fishing and fly‑tying instruction.

Thank you to our sponsors: WKTY Care, Earley Drywall, Flyway Fence Company, Fat Cat Bait & Tackle, Edward Jones, Auto & Toy Trader of West Salem, and Emma’s Bait Shop.

Questions? Contact Jamie Rupple, Parks Manager, at jarupple@lacrossecounty.org.