La Crosse Tribune: Clergy organizing to oppose casino

A proposal from the Ho-Chunk Nation to open a gambling casino in the La Crosse area apparently will be challenged by area clergy.

The Rev. Ted Dewald, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, 1010 Sill St., said Wednesday that he has invited clergy from several denominations to meet for lunch at noon today in Ardie's Lang Drive Restaurant to discuss strategies for opposing the Ho-Chunk plan. Any clergy interested in joining the group are welcome to attend, he said.

"We're just doing some exploring and sharing," said Dewald, who was among clergy and community leaders who helped to defeat a city of La Crosse referendum for a similar proposal in 1995 by the Lac du Flambeau.

The Lac du Flambeau wanted to put a casino in the former Holiday Inn/Yacht Club Resorts property on Barron Island, west of downtown La Crosse. The hotel site, which is available again, also has been mentioned in current discussions.

Dewald said he was surprised to hear the idea of a casino surface again after the community's resounding rejection of the earlier plan.

He said representatives from several denominations, including the Rev. Robert Cook of Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman and the Rev. David Holt of First Evangelical Free Church, plan to attend today's meeting.

"We're on the move," Dewald said. "There's going to be real opposition to this."