Where were you the day the sun went away, one year ago?

 
On August 21st of 2017, a total solar eclipse passed over the U.S. for the first time in nearly 40 years.  Several states from the west coast to the east were in the path of totality.  La Crosse was a few hundred miles off that path, but U-W-L astronomer Bob Allen made arrangements to have people view the partial eclipse through a telescope.  The next total eclipse that will be seen in the middle of the U.S. happens in 2024.  
 
Jerry Lewis died that weekend.  Lewis was 91, known first as the comedy partner of Dean Martin, and then as the star of his own movies including “The Nutty Professor,” and as the host of decades of Muscular Dystrophy telethons.  
 
Long-time U-W-L professor Tom Wirkus passed away the day of the eclipse.  Wirkus taught in the speech department, but he was also known as a drummer for local bands, and served for more than 20 years as the voice of the university’s marching band halftime shows.  
 
And Oktoberfest was about to announce the 2017 Festmaster at the end of August…a full month before the festival.  The change happened because under a schedule for Oktoberfest adopted years before, the Festmaster’s name wasn’t revealed publicly until two days into the four-day celebration.  Brian Rude was crowned the Festmaster in 2017, one year ago, yesterday in La Crosse.