Tomah/Sparta Area (Onalaska, Salem, West Salem: rental, house, safe area)

[infoplus]

I am looking for info on the Tomah/Sparta area. I am looking at relocating from South Carolina. The job is in Tomah. I am concerned about the size of the town, the property taxes, and the public schools.
Also would there be another area you would reccomend to live and then commute to Tomah?
I will not be able to visit the area before accepting the job so any info will be greatly appreciated.

[Drover]

My favorite story about Tomah:

There is a colorful citizen there named Ed Thompson. He is the brother of Tommy Thompson, former governor of Wisconsin and the first HUD secretary of the GWB administration. Ed ran for governor himself under the Libertarian Party and got some 12% of the vote. He also served a term as mayor of Tomah.

Ed owns a supper club called Mr. Ed's Tee Pee. ("Supper club" is Wisconsin-speak for a traditional, family-owned restaurant that serves dinner only, no breakfast or lunch. Contrary to what the name suggests, supper clubs are not "members only" establishments; they are open to the public. Many supper clubs have fish fry specials on Friday Nights, another Wisconsin tradition.) Anyway, back to Ed and his supper club. The Tee Pee is also a tavern, and Ed had several video poker or slot machines in the tavern section that paid out. One night the sheriff's office raided the Tee Pee, confiscated the machines, arrested Ed and charged him with operating an illegal betting facility.

The prosecutor had to drop the charges on a rather bizarre, amusing, and quite telling technicality: when they tried to seat a jury, every single member of the jury pool -- some 70 people -- told the court that if they were seated on the jury, they would refuse to convict him. EVERY SINGLE ONE. They could not seat one single juror for the trial.

Moral of the story: you are moving to a live-and-let-live area.

Unfortunately that's about all I can tell you about the area. Sorry it doesn't really get to your questions but I thought it would be an amusing story that also serves as an illustration of the character of the people there. The only other things I know aout the area that it's scenic and has more rolling hills than most of the midwest because that area was not glaciated. Oh, and that's Cranberry country, a major crop in the area. If you like cranberries, you'll be just as happy as can be. You'll be able to find cranberry wine, cranberry mustard, cranberry raisins, cranberry candles, cranberry potpourri, cranberry incense, cranberry everything. I wouldn't be surprised if you could find cranberry deodorant at a local shop.

Best of luck to you in your new job and home, and hopefully someone more helpful than me can give you better information.

[Birdie]

I think I know everything there is to know about this area. The schools are very good, the taxes are high and if I had to choose which town.. Tomah or Sparta, I would definately pick TOMAH !!! The next biggest city to the west is LaCrosse and thats about a 45 minute drive. I think Tomah is a very safe area and I feel the people are normal. Good luck with your new job! If you need any information you can PM me. A friend of mine owns a rental management company in Tomah so I can hook you up with the right people.

[Brax]

infoplus,

Are you ready for the weather change? You are looking at some long cold winters up in that area.

Better bring your hat and mittens.

[Madonna Inn]

You must be military, lol. That's the only reason to REALLY move there.

Hands down, move to Tomah. I really loved the first response about the Thompsons, it's what makes Tomah, well... Tomah!!! You'll have to eat at the Tee Pee Supper Club to make the story real. My best friend works there and she's hands down, the best waitress they've got!!! She's good friends with Ed's better half.

Tomah schools are better, in my opinion. If Saint Mary's Catholic School is still open, you'd drop dead in your tracks to find out how little the tuition is. While not practicing Catholics, we sent our children there when we lived there. St. Pauls Lutheran is another, but another good friend was a bit disenchanted at times with that school. If you can, stay away from the Lemonwier (sp) area for elementary school, try the one (forget, it's been 8 yrs) closer to 801 housing that almost backs up to the school.

Stay AWAY from Alderman rental properties. That's the best advice I can give you. I might even private message you this, b/c it's that important. If you are military and can swing it, try to stay in temp housing until housing becomes available, even if you have to ask for an extention to stay. If you're looking for a house to buy on 10 acres zoned forestry, totally redone for under 180K, I'm not a realtor, but I can help you on that too!

[redhotcrystal]

I here Sparta has had alot of drugs bust in their high school lately. They were also rated as one of the worst schools in this area. I would pick Tomah over Sparta. If you think it's too small a town alot of people commute from LaCrosse, approx. 51,000 population,it's maybe a 45 min. drive. Hope this helps.Oh yeah get ready to freeze as well.

[needgolf]

Tee Pee = fantastic beer cheese soup (if they still have it on the menu)

[Madonna Inn]

Just don't go there (Tee Pee)opening day of hunting season, lol. Well, unless you're in hunting camo or bdu's with an orange vest on, or else you'll sit there for almost 2 hours without being served.

[nickntara]

I live in Sparta and I wish I could move. I hate it here. When I moved to Sparta 5 years ago I really like it. The area I live in was really nice back then, with nice neighbors. Now, all my neighbors are illegal Mexicans that don't take care of anything, or even speak English. This part of town now looks like crap. Sparta alsohas a lot of drugs and diseases (STDs) in the schools. There is a high pregnancy rate in young girls.
If I could pick a place around here to live in I would pick West Salem, LaCrosse, or Onalaska. They have high property taxes and expensive homes but the neighborhoods are really nice to live in.

[opelske]

Originally Posted by nickntara

I live in Sparta and I wish I could move. I hate it here. When I moved to Sparta 5 years ago I really like it. The area I live in was really nice back then, with nice neighbors. Now, all my neighbors are illegal Mexicans that don't take care of anything, or even speak English. This part of town now looks like crap. Sparta alsohas a lot of drugs and diseases (STDs) in the schools. There is a high pregnancy rate in young girls.
If I could pick a place around here to live in I would pick West Salem, LaCrosse, or Onalaska. They have high property taxes and expensive homes but the neighborhoods are really nice to live in.

I swear it's like we're being invaded! This is happening all over -- not fair to all the hard working Americans who worked hard their entire lives to move up and into a nice area and a SAFE area. This is what happens when our government gives away our money and those receiving it do not EARN it. Save every penny and move away while you're still young -- the older you get the more difficult it becomes. And people worry about 'smoking cigarettes!' This is what should concern everyone -- the taking over of our neighborhoods and towns... and with our tax money! God Bless and good luck to you and yours!