The auto center was going to become the Huber Center, 26 years ago

 
In May of 1992, La Crosse County made a deal to buy the old Montgomery Ward Auto Center at 3rd and Vine and convert it into housing for work-release Huber prisoners.  Price tag…$800,000.  The vacant garage was the last remaining portion of the former Wards store on Courthouse Square which closed in 1986, and was mostly demolished in 1991.  The current courthouse was built next to the Huber Center in ’97, and the work-release building finally came down when the courthouse was expanded years later.
 
The petition drive to recall La Crosse school board members over a busing plan was completed that spring, with recall elections held that summer.  Many families opposed the plan to have kids ride buses to achieve socio-economic balance in the district schools, and to fill the two new schools opening that fall…North Woods and Southern Bluffs.  Tribune columnist Ted Vollmer was bothered by recall organizers saying the end of the petition drive was a “proud day” for La Crosse…and wondered whether the petitioners were proud of getting people involved in government, or proud of trying to, in his words, “boot six people out of office.” 
 
A couple of TV series made headlines during one week in late May.  Johnny Carson retired after 30 years of hosting “The Tonight Show,” and was succeeded by Jay Leno the following week.  And fictional TV reporter Murphy Brown had a baby, becoming an unwed mother…drawing criticism from the real Vice President, Dan Quayle.  Twenty-six years ago, 1992, yesterday in La Crosse.