WESTBY, Wis. – The red carpet is is, at least figuratively, for President Joe Biden’s visit to Westby on Thursday. It’s been confirmed that he will be at the Vernon Electric Co-op north of town. If all goes according schedule, Biden will be greeted at 3 p.m. and speak to an invited crowd at the Co-op headquarters. The location had not been announced originally, which set off assumptions around town that but a rally would be at the 500-seat high school auditorium. Since then, the White use has confirmed that te event will not be rally but a gathering of Co-op officials and staff and invited guests. For Westby, population 2,300, the visit is a big deal – and unexpected. Mayor Danny Helgerson said he learned of it from an e-mailed invitation: “Believe it or not I thought it was spam and ignored it.” Soon, however, an advance security team from Washington was all over town. At the Co-op, the President is expected to speak about his priority for investments in local communities. In Westby these include a major Main Street renovation project using Biden infrastructure funds.
Biden itinerary
Biden has been stumping the coutry for Kamala Haris as the Democratic nomiee for president. On Thursday his one campaign sto is Westby He will fly from Washingtin to LaCfosse, 26-miles from Westby, and return toWashjngton. On Friday he camaignsin Ann Arbor, Michigan. For the Westby visit, Biden will be in a motorcade from the LaCrosse airport. The most used iroute would be through LaCrossea and then U.S. Highway 61 to Coon Valley. A less complicated but slightly longer route would be Interstste 90 to State Highway 27 through Cashton. Both are mostly two-lane blacktop roads. There many backroad variations.
Vernon Electric Co-Op. In Westby at 110 Saugstad Road. The co-op serves 10,000 members in six southwest Wisconsin counties. The service territory is primarily rural.
Historical visit
It’s believed that Westby has never in its history had a visit from a sitting president. The town was founded in 1852 when James Polk was presifent an only four years after Wisconsin gained statehood.
Earlier: GOP leader slams Biden’s Westby trip