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Wisconsin Special Olympics celebrated in La Crosse with local torch run

Published

1 week ago

June 5, 2025

As Wisconsin high school track and field stars come to La Crosse for their state meet this weekend, the state’s Special Olympics are happening as well, in Whitewater.

Special athletes from La Crosse took part in a local torch run Thursday morning, before traveling to the statewide event with their own torch.

Law enforcement workers from the La Crosse area, including Sheriff John Siegel and city Police Chief Shawn Kudron, gathered with some Special Olympics athletes at the Black River Beach. The brief La Crosse run began and ended at the Beach House, with the torch being carried along Rose Street up to the eagle viewing point near the I-90 bridge, and then back to the beach.

Members of the local torch run return to the Black River Beach House.

Kat Craugh from the La Crosse parks department also took part in the Black River ceremony, saying the torch carried by athletes is “their flame of hope. It represents Special Olympics, and everything the law enforcement does for the community, and for Special Olympics.”

This year’s summer games in the Badger State happen through Saturday at UW-Whitewater.

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.