The closed Genoa reactor was considered safe, 22 years ago

The Genoa power plant was meeting all federal safety requirements.  That’s what Dairyland Power and federal officials told an audience in Viroqua in May of 1998, 11 years after the plant was shut down to save money.  Atomic fuel was still being stored at the site near the Genoa lock and dam.   Nuclear weapons are dangerous, said the Dalai Lama, who was speaking to the Wisconsin Legislature.  But the spiritual leader from Tibet also said that India should not be barred from having nukes, if other major nations have them.  

The La Crosse Community Theatre announced a “dream season” for 1998 and ’99.  The shows included “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “Play It Again, Sam,” “Inherit the Wind,” and “Forever Plaid.”   

The final episode of “Seinfeld” aired on May 14th, 1998, and drew an audience of nearly 80 million viewers.  On that same night, legendary singer and actor Frank Sinatra died in Los Angeles.  By coincidence, La Crosse Chamber of Commerce director Tim Tracy was already scheduled to perform a one-man concert of Sinatra songs that weekend at the Pump House, in 1998, yesterday in La Crosse.