Coronavirus

County health director will be cautious, herself, while celebrating Oktoberfest

Published

3 years ago

September 28, 2021

After being cancelled last year because of the pandemic, La Crosse’s Oktoberfest is celebrating its 60th year.

The county health director, however, is still wary of being around crowds, considering an increased spread of COVID-19 lately in Wisconsin.

So how does Audra Martine plan to observe the fest? Very carefully.

“I’ll participate, but distantly,” Martine said Monday on La Crosse Talk. “I’ll watch the parade on TV, I’ll engage in some things in my own yard, probably, or with people that I’m comfortable with that I know will keep distanced and have been vaccinated.”

Mandates to wear masks or get vaccines against the virus are leading to protests around the country, and some objections have been seen in the La Crosse area.

La Crosse County government, however, is not imposing any health mandates on its workers at the moment.

Martine says she isn’t asking whether county employees are vaccinated or not.

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.