The new church on the hill opens, 10 years ago

In 2008, the church at the Shrine of Guadalupe east of La Crosse opened its doors.  The multi-million dollar facility was a labor of love for former La Crosse Diocese Bishop Raymond Burke, now a cardinal.  Burke was Archbishop of St. Louis that year, but he returned to the area for the dedication, and he routinely comes back to the shrine twice a year during certain holy days. 

The city of La Crosse was breaking ground for a new bus transfer center at 3rd and Jay.  At the ceremony, Mayor Mark Johnsrud pointed out that the new building would be more than just a place to get on a city bus…but it would also have apartments and retail stores.  Johnsrud would be voted out of office, and would move out of La Crosse before the Grand River Station opened in 2010.

Local actors were among the cast members included in a movie being shot in the La Crosse area, called “Fort McCoy.”  Hollywood actor Eric Stoltz headed the cast of the film, set during World War II at the Army base near Sparta.  The movie was made 10 years ago, 2008, yesterday in La Crosse.