Health organizations hold policymaker meet and greet

CASHTON, Wis. (WKBT) — It’s been four years since Wisconsin banned smoking in most public indoor buildings, and health educators are hoping for more policies to improve public health.

Monday, county health departments, local hospitals and health initiatives as well as lawmakers came together in Cashton to talk to the public.

It was a chance for residents to learn about resources out there and speak directly to elected officials and candidates about those topics.

One organizer says these events are more common in the bigger cities like La Crosse, but it’s just as important to reach out to the rural communities.

“We know that chewing tobacco is a huger issue in the rural area, so we really want to reach out to that, the baseeball community and the farming community, and this is one way we can do that,” said La Crosse County health educator Judi Zabel.

Organizers say they hope the lawmakers hear from the people that they want reduced health care costs and help preventing risky behaviors by our kids.