Welcome to KickTime - News of the Kickapoo Valley, WI

A Driftless Regional web space for Kickapoo Valley news, events and local commerce (like recycling, ride sharing, eating from local sources, buying and supporting local entrepreneurs.)

Visit our Kickapedia site for links to local businesses, farms and services. This is a community wiki (like Wikipedia only smaller) that can be updated by anyone who logs in. The more you join in the better the information and quicker the updates. Don't be shy--if you make a mistake an old version can be restored.

Also try the link to the KickTime_Calendar. We try to keep it as complete, up-to-date and accurate as possible. Please forgive any errors and use the contact information provided for events to double check times and dates.

KickTime is a community project--you are encouraged to submit material. The first step is to create a login account. After logging in, submit your story and it will be reviewed and pushed to the front page within a day or two. See the FAQ for more details about posting material here. If you are totally flummoxed, email the story to admins[at]kicktime[dot]org.

So what do we look for? Events notices are common submissions, but a local view on issues would be a nice change of pace.

Please don't submit a reprint of a news story. Instead provide a new perspective or added insight;
Bring several views together to create a new way to imagine an issue;
Be clever, funny, original;
We encourage attitude and self-confidence, but base your writing on facts;
If you wish to pass literary or artistic judgment, or discuss the merits or demerits of someone or something, do it with subtlety and intelligence;
The more voices here the better!

Too much to ask? Well would you want to spend your precious time reading anything less?

Latest News

Saturday Night Music--Ben Gibbard

By borges, Section Saturday Night Music
Posted on Sat Oct 11, 2008 at 06:05:33 PM CST

We are so lucky to have David Dye's World Cafe on WPR weekdays. If you are looking for new interesting music or interview/performances catch it on the LaX station evenings. Last_Thursday I was caught by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds tune "Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!" (look for that on the flip) Right after that David Dye highlighted Death Cab For Cutie, Bixby Canyon Bridge so here is an interesting live version at Sasquatch Music Festival at the Gorge Amphitheatre--rather interesting setting and then their I'll Follow You Into the Dark live acoustic version.

(153 words in story) Full Story

Friday Night Web Picks--Could Be Worse

By borges, Section Friday Web Picks
Posted on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 07:09:00 PM CST

It has been a tough week around the way, so we must remember "It could be worse...could be raining."

Now that we can breathe again, I want to point out the work going on over at purplearth. In particular Obbie set up a nice video about what it is like going to a presidential political rally. He offers some important tips...

A final note that I will follow up on (maybe) next week is the opportunity to follow congressional representatives through twitter. Since Wisconsin has no reps tweeting, you need to pick someone you admire. I am partial to the interests of Keith_Ellison who is a Minneapolis Rep in the House.

example: Final vote to pass the Credit Cardholder's Bill of Rights will take place within the hour: http://tinyurl.com/hr5244 12:11 PM September 23, 2008 from web

Comments >>

Curtis and Loretta at Green Man Music Hall 10/10

By borges, Section Area Cultural Events
Posted on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 02:01:47 PM CST

Faithful music folks at Main_Street_Station are doing it again this week with great live music!

FRIDAY @ Greenman:
Curtis & Loretta
Friday, October 10th, 8pm
the Greenman Music Hall
tickets $8 in advance, $10 at the door

Here they are performing "At the Banquet Table"

Heartfelt original acoustic songs, plus traditional music from the British Isles, America and beyond.

website is here.

"Loretta's almost operatic alto and Curtis' rich tenor form a lush, polished and varied vocal blend. The pair's instrumental interplay is equally compelling, with Loretta's harp textures dancing in and around Curtis' deft guitar and mandolin lines."
.....Dirty Linen

Comments >>

CAFO Trouble in Vernon County

By borges, Section Hills and Valleys
Posted on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 06:02:28 AM CST

For those interested in the latest bad news on the large agriculture front, the Broadcaster has landed another new story here. Mostly it chronicles the "Citizens for Agriculture and Friends of the Environment" who really aren't--or at least one is apparently not. If you forgot the CAFE story the link is here. And here.

Comments >>

Gas Station Truth in Advertising

By borges, Section Philosopher's Corner
Posted on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 07:02:24 AM CST

Bought gas for $3.19/gal up in St. Paul yesterday. This might spell hope for those who feel the high fuel crunch, but it might make us amnesiacs about the need for alternative fuel (remember if you can the Carter years?) Well there is a fellow taking it to the oil companies with posters that say it all..."What Recession? We're Doing Fine." Video has the full story.

Gas Signs Truth in Advertising. from Donny Miller on Vimeo.

Comments >>

Sarah Palin on Health Care Reform: A Modest Proposal

By Quality Counts, Section Opinions
Posted on Sun Oct 05, 2008 at 08:56:07 PM CST

I've spent a good portion of my life working to measure and improve health care quality, so I was very interested to hear what Sarah Palin had to say about the McCain-Palin solution to our health care crisis. It seems that she and her running mate have developed a perfect solution not only for our too costly health care system, but also for all those other financial crises with which our nation is beset. It's called the budget neutral tax credit, and it puts financial derivatives to shame.

Full Story for more...

(384 words in story) Full Story

Saturday Night Music--Montreal Jazz Fest

By borges, Section Saturday Night Music
Posted on Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 09:12:26 PM CST

Imani Gonzalez and Winton Marsales at the Montreal Jazz Festival.

Comments >>

Friday Web Picks--Election Issues

By borges, Section Friday Web Picks
Posted on Fri Oct 03, 2008 at 05:32:27 PM CST

With the election less than a month away there are interesting links and events we ought to be aware of and using. First is the announcement that there will be a candidate forum for State candidates for Senate (Kapanke and Johnson) and Assembly (Klemme and Nerison.) The Broadcaster has the details. Briefly it will be held October 14th at WTC in Viroqua, social time at 5:30 followed by the forum at 6 p.m.

We need to be aware of "voter caging" efforts that are targeting absentee ballot requests to those needing one (the party sending the offer is targeting the other side) and the envelope they provide diverts those requests to the wrong city clerk. The delay involved in this could make the ballot arrive too late to be useful. Details are here.

Another non-partisan group 866OurVote is interested in making the elections as fair as possible and their website serves as a clearinghouse and watchdog on election tampering. If you care about full access to the vote this group has resources and ways to participate.

Comments >>

Next 8 >>