Who needs a county executive? La Crosse County did not, 40 years ago

In 1977, a taxpayers committee in La Crosse County was looking into the idea of a county executive, which didn’t go over too well with county board members.  They may have feared that they would lose power to an appointed administrator.  Supervisors also said the new position would cost too much.  Years later, the county did hire an administrator.

School superintendent Eugene Balts resigned after six years in charge of the La Crosse schools.  Balts was headed to a job in Rice Lake.  Coincidentally, he announced his resignation the week before the La Crosse School Board voted not to re-hire Myron McKee as principal at Longfellow Junior High.  That controversial move led to an August recall election, in which five board members lost their seats.

For live entertainment, you could go to the Sawyer Auditorium in La Crosse for one concert featuring Styx, “Dream Weaver” singer Gary Wright, and Robert Palmer.  On another night, you could see accordion player Myron Floren of “The Lawrence Welk Show” at the Sawyer…40 years ago, 1977, yesterday in La Crosse.