The flash flood of 2007 was one for the record books

The downpour of August 18th and 19th, 2007 in the La Crosse area was the biggest local weather story of that year, according to the National Weather Service.  Rainfall in some areas was up to 17 inches.  Seven people died in Minnesota because of the flooding.  Rushford, Minnesota and Gays Mills, Wisconsin hit hard…and Bliss Road leading up to Grandad Bluff in La Crosse sustained major damage from landslides, and was closed for more than a year. 

Those heavy rains caused the cancellation of a traditional outdoor rock concert at Fort McCoy, which was supposed to feature Steve Miller and Cheap Trick.  Bad weather also kept people away from Riverside Park in La Crosse, where sand sculptures were on display at the Sand on the Riverfront festival.  

That summer, Jay Leno was denying reports of having second thoughts about retiring from “The Tonight Show” in 2009, to make way for Conan O’Brien.  And Bryan Cranston, the dad on “Malcolm in the Middle,” was starting work on a new cable series about a high school science teacher making a career change…to drug boss.  The show would be called “Breaking Bad.”  It was announced 11 years ago, 2007, yesterday in La Crosse.