The Coulee Region celebrated a Packers Super Bowl, 22 seasons ago

In January of 1997, the Green Bay Packers made it back to the Super Bowl for the first time since Coach Vince Lombardi retired…a drought of nearly three decades.  On the day before the big game, a Packer Parade was held in downtown La Crosse as part of a “Super Saturday Celebration.”  The parade started at the Norwest Bank parking lot…now Wells Fargo.  It went up to the Cathedral and turned onto Main Street, ending up at the La Crosse Center.  The Pack did defeat New England, for its third Super Bowl trophy. 

La Crosse County was putting finishing touches on a new courthouse and jail, which would open that summer.  The Law Enforcement Center was being built on the other side of 4th Street from the existing courthouse, which was only two years old the first time the Packers played in a Super Bowl. 

The Parents Television Council issued rankings of the best and worst TV shows for families.  The “best” list included Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman…Touched by an Angel…and Home Improvement.  Among the worst were Melrose Place, Friends, and Married…with Children.  What not to watch in 1997, yesterday in La Crosse.