The race was on to join the lottery business, 45 years ago

In 1972, Wisconsin was among several Midwestern states considering a state-run lottery.  Observers were betting on Illinois or Michigan becoming the first state in the region to offer the games.  Northern Illinois lawmaker Zeke Giorgi was confident of getting a lottery, saying his state was becoming more liberal, having approved bingo the year before.  Wisconsin was known for opposing games of chance like sweepstakes, and a spokesman with the state justice department said organized crime would benefit the most from a lottery.  The Badger State finally did start its own lottery in the late 80’s.  
 
La Crosse County ended the bounty…on foxes.  County board members had argued for about 20 years over whether the county should pay people to shoot foxes.  The bounty would still continue for other animals…$2 for a rattlesnake, 25 cents for a crow, and 5 cents for a striped gopher.
 
On Wednesday nights in late 1972, you could turn on the TV and watch “The Carol Burnett Show,” “The Julie Andrews Hour,” “Banacek,” with George Peppard, and “The Dick Cavett Show.”  On Eau Claire TV, Badger football fans could see Coach John Jardine’s show in 1972…45 years ago, yesterday in La Crosse.