Yesterday in La Crosse

Widening West Avenue was a hot topic, 41 years ago

Published

5 years ago

September 5, 2019

In September of 1978, the Neighborhood Preservation Association was against making West Avenue 16 feet wider between intersections, and 20 feet wider at signalized crossings. The changes to the north-south road were proposed from King, south to Adams Street. The city council reversed its approval of the widening plan.

La Crosse police were cracking down on prostitution. The city and state had been investigating massage parlor activities at businesses such as Lolita’s Massage on Jay Street, Carol’s Sauna on La Crosse Street, and Ronda’s Rap on Pearl.

For the second time in two months, Catholics were mourning the death of a pope. John Paul I had died suddenly, just weeks after succeeding Pope Paul VI. President Jimmy Carter worked out the Camp David accords aimed at Mideast peace with Menachem Begin of Israel and Anwar Sadat of Egypt, in 1978, yesterday in La Crosse.

Related Topics:John Paul I massage parlor West Avenue

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.