Today Barack Obama visited my town. The Secret Service moved in two days ago. The entire downtown has been a zoo. An estimated 15,000 people came out to see him speak. It was a cold brisk morning that buzzed with excitement. He gave a good speech that was well suited to the audience. Addressing the middle class, Main Street America - which he was damn near standing on, students - the town has three colleges, teachers and standardized testing - this is a hot issue here right now, and those struggling and working hard just to get by - our area has been hit hard with flooding. He walked amongst the crowd and made an effort to shake as many hands possible, before the secret service swooped in that is.

Close encounters with Barack in La Crosse
By Tribune staff

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The morning workout

When a couple of security men walked into Premier Fitness at 505 King St. late Tuesday, co-owner John Johnson handed out a few free passes.
No one knew one would be for Sen. Barack Obama.

The Democratic presidential nominee walked into the gym about 8 a.m. and worked out for 30 minutes each on a stationary bike and elliptical machine while other members were at the gym, said co-owner Sally Johnson.

“He was moving his lips and shuffling papers, so I’m assuming he was practicing his speech,” Sally Johnson said.

After his workout, Obama stopped to talk to the Johnsons’ two daughters and discussed his own family before leaving shortly after 9 a.m.

“It was just neat,” Sally Johnson said. “He was friendly and gracious.”

— Anne Jungen /ajungen@lacrossetribune.com

Doing his makeup for Rolling Stone

Suzette Everson, owner of Studio 411 hair salon in La Crosse, put the finishing makeup touches on Obama before his photo shoot with Rolling Stone magazine after his rally in La Crosse.

Everson said she was asked by the magazine to apply some makeup before photos were taken of Obama in the board room of the La Crosse Center. She said she was told the photo was for a magazine cover shot.

“This was the biggest thing in my life right now,” she said. “It was really an honor to do this for the next possible president of the United States.”

Everson received a press pass for the rally and was escorted to the room after the rally, where she waited for 45 minutes. She said she shook Obama’s hand and applied a little makeup. Obama also changed his tie for the 10-minute photo shoot.

“He has nice skin and a beautiful smile,” Everson said.

Everson said she received a call Tuesday from someone with the magazine. “I thought they were kidding me, but it was for real, and I was ecstatic.”

— Terry Rindfleisch / trindfleisch@lacrossetribune.com

‘Soda jerk’ gets a handshake

When Seth Schure arrived at work Wednesday at The Pearl Ice Cream Parlor, he knew it would not be like his previous shifts behind the counter.

The day before, the self-described soda jerk got to shake hands with the Democratic nominee for president.

During Schure’s Tuesday evening shift, he noticed some commotion through the windows of the ice cream shop, and with a bit of hustle was able to get outside to see Obama step out of his vehicle.

Schure said he was one of only five or six people to get close to Obama before the Illinois senator ducked inside the Pearl Street entrance of the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites.

On Wednesday, Schure said, chilly customers kept him and others at The Pearl busy with coffee orders. But once Obama started talking, things changed.

“During the whole speech, not one person came in,” Schure said.

— Scott Rada / srada@lacrossetribune.com

Business owners felt increase in security

As a citizen, Carla Callies had a front row seat to a historic moment Wednesday in downtown La Crosse.

As a business owner, she was considering not even opening up her shop, Ambiance at 115 S. Second St., because she doubted anyone would be shopping.

“I can’t open any windows in my building,” she said, on orders from the security detail.

“My parking lot’s been blocked for two days. I have not had any access for two days.”

“It’s a crazy zoo out here,” she said at 8:30 a.m. “You can’t believe what I’m seeing. People are just pouring in.”

Michelle Peterslie, who owns the buildings along the west side of Pearl Street with her husband, TJ, said they, too, felt the increase in security.

Earlier this week, Secret Service officers asked them to close the curtains on the third floor of their buildings to conceal the mannequins that normally keep watch over Pearl Street. The agents didn’t want them to be a distraction for security personnel.

— Scott Rada / srada@lacrossetribune.com