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Published - Monday, September 15, 2008

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Oktoberfest Medallion clues released only on Web this year


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La Crosse Festivals will limit the number of people who know the clues to this year’s Wipfli Oktoberfest Medallion hunt to two by posting the riddles on its Web site each morning.

Officials decided not to print the clues in the Tribune or provide other media outlets with advance copies to avoid any information leaks for the annual pre-fest event that starts today, said Angie Haas, events coordinator.
By releasing the information at the Web site www.oktoberfestusa.com each morning at 5:45 a.m., everyone — including the local media — will have access to the clues at the same time, Haas said.

The Tribune will publish the clues at www. lacrossetribune.com as soon as they are made available.

“This way everyone can get them at the same time,” Haas said. “We won’t have to worry about people getting them three or four hours in advance.”

The Oktoberfest Medallion Hunt has generated a lot of public interest in the past several years.

Families, friends and co-workers can be seen combing local parks and well-known sites after school and during their lunch hours looking for the medallion.

Last year’s medallion was found by the ground team for “The All-Nighters” near the gazebo in Pettibone Park. It remained hidden until the ninth clue was released, marking it the longest running medallion hunt in history, fest officials said.

The 2006 Oktoberfest Medallion was found quickly at the Health Science Center by the 17-member Peggy Manson family after only the third clue was released.

Some medallion hunters cried conspiracy. Others chalked it up to another year of family fun.

In 2005, it took Tom Lawrynk and his children six clues to locate the medallion in Copeland Park.

The Hunt is On

  • WHEN: Begins today.

  • CLUES: There are 10 clues. Clues will be made available at 5:45 a.m. for local media outlets and the public on the Oktoberfest Web site, www.oktoberfestusa.com. The Tribune will then publish them at 6 a.m. each day at www.lacrossetribune.com.

  • RULES: The medallion will be located within the La Crosse city limits, is never buried in the ground, is on public property, is accessible 24 hours a day (but posted hours should be observed), fits in the palm of a hand and may be camouflaged.

  • FINDER: The person who finds the medallion should call the phone number on the back, day or night. The finder must wear an Oktoberfest button to collect the entire prize package, which includes $500 cash, several gift certificates and a miniature replica medallion.
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    boobabyc wrote on Sep 17, 2008 4:19 PM:

    " Honda I bet you already have it and are waiting til the last day... of course you know where it is... in your pocket. "

    boobabyc wrote on Sep 17, 2008 4:17 PM:

    " To Honda, what the heck is your problem? why did you even post this when you know nothing? how many people have you fooled into calling you? Yes I thought I would maybe get some insight by checking out what you had to say and all you could say was.."umm I don't know what you are talking about.. maybe I am the idiot for calling but u r the idiot who posts false comments "

    honda0557 wrote on Sep 16, 2008 6:13 PM:

    " name is tyler melson "

    honda0557 wrote on Sep 16, 2008 6:12 PM:

    " Haha i already know where the medallion is located.

    I don't have a oktoberfest button, and i don't care about turning the thing in for some prize. But if any of you kids want to know where it is i can tell you or show you.

    call me at 608-498-3323 for info on it. "

    madhunter wrote on Sep 16, 2008 5:46 PM:

    " I found out something interesting last night...the Tribune charges La Crosse Festivals for them to run the clues. How bout that? La Crosse Festivals is more worried about their pocket book instead of the people in their community...and I think the Tribune could make this easier on them by maybe, Oh, I don't know...eating some of the cost??? "

    backhome wrote on Sep 16, 2008 4:16 AM:

    " You can't imagine my disapointment with the festival only providing it online. I work midnights so yea I can get it,but after comeing back home and bragging to my kids how much fun it is to grab the paper and go look for the clues after school like my dad and I did. I have internet at work but not at home. Society has so few simple family traditions anymore. This is a huge disappointment "

    mac wrote on Sep 15, 2008 7:33 PM:

    " I can speak fairly well on it, as I have said I have more than just a passing interest in this. I know there are many people out there early, but it is still just a small percentage of those that actually take a crack at it. Imagine the number of people that would be out there with an early evening release. As far as internet access goes, like I said, it is not that hard to get the clue from someone that does have access. The internet is hardly less than commonplace anymore. "

    madhunter wrote on Sep 15, 2008 7:16 PM:

    " Well, for being one of the "few" out at four in the morning, I can say that when it comes down to clue 6 or 7, there are more than a few out at that hour...I speak from experience on that and being that you are across the country you cannot...this does not impact you at all with you not getting the tribune and looking forward to seeing what that clue has to say!!! You obviously have a computer with internet access...what about those who don't??? "

    mac wrote on Sep 15, 2008 6:52 PM:

    " I am just as consumed with it, yet I live across the country. I haven't lived there for twenty years but I have good knowledge of local history and the LaCrosse area. I give my inputs to family members who do the searching. The die hards that were hunting at four in the morning were few. Moving the release time to 5:45 has little impact for most. Releasing the clues after dinner would make it more attractive as a family event, yet for people to complain that they are at a disadvantage because they have to go to work is ludicrous. "

    madhunter wrote on Sep 15, 2008 6:12 PM:

    " Mac...you obviously have NO clue...no pun intended...as to what the Medallion Hunt means to some people...For some, this will consume their lives for the next week and a half...they will think about the clues, while they eat, sleep and yes, even work! This is a great way to get people out to enjoy the beautiful area we live in. Now this will change the numbers of people out...guaranteed!!!! "

    mac wrote on Sep 15, 2008 5:33 PM:

    " What a bunch of whiners. This is a great way to level the playing field. Everybody gets the clue at the same time, instead of waiting for a paper to show up on your doorstep or driving to the first Kwik Trip on the delivery route for a head start. For those without internet access, if it's that important to you, call a friend or family member who does. It's not rocket science... The asinine comments about accommodating peoples' work schedules don't even deserve a response... "

    Ackachawanna wrote on Sep 15, 2008 5:15 PM:

    " In the past, I, like many others, have CHOSEN to wake up extra early, get a paper, and go looking before heading off to work for the day. Last year, I can tell you that I was at Pettibone Park VERY early in the morning on a handful of weekdays, along with quite a few other dedicated individuals. (All of us with our flashlights and sweatshirts like this year's first clue suggests...) I cannot see how it was unfair for us to do so since we CHOSE to do so on our own time. Like most working adults with a family, my free time is quite minimal during the workday. Early morning and late night have been the only consistent options, but the former is now no longer available. "

    Ackachawanna wrote on Sep 15, 2008 5:07 PM:

    " Many people, especially the low-income families in our area, do not have internet access; going to the library IS an option, but they would have to wait until business hours to do so. I understand the idea is to "even" the odds, yet people who work regular business hours won't have the opportunity to go searching prior to work. In fact, this new method puts them at a distinct disadvantage, while giving the advantage to people with "open" schedules, like college students, homemakers, and shift workers. I am aware of those who are concerned with the "security" of the clues because of the number of people who needed to know them ahead of time. Was there some sort of issue or incident that we (the public) were not aware of, or is that measure simply meant to deal with a problem that has yet to arise? "

    peace of mind wrote on Sep 15, 2008 4:40 PM:

    " It is just like them taking away my insert from the sat. paper. It SUCKS!! Bring it back!! I want to look at the whole week ahead! "

    conscience? wrote on Sep 15, 2008 2:47 PM:

    " This is sad. My mother enjoys reading the clues in the paper and occasionally even goes looking for the medallion. But she has no idea how to use a computer and pretty much refuses to learn. New policies like this tend isolate our older population. "

    Hudson wrote on Sep 15, 2008 2:33 PM:

    " bb (what do the "small" b's stand for anyway? Hmmm we can only wonder!) If you're trying to use this article to take a cheap shot at a brave P.O.W. survivor who (due to war injuries) can't type on a keyboard anymore because he was fighting for your freedom to live in your parent's basement--thank you. Your ignorance is only helping the McCain-Palin campaign. Keep up the good work and be sure to thank mom and dad for the use of their futon! "

    Lefty MaGuire wrote on Sep 15, 2008 1:32 PM:

    " Mac,

    No, I did not read the article. Who cares. I just make posts to get responses from people. "

    madhunter wrote on Sep 15, 2008 1:09 PM:

    " This is Crazy! I can't believe La Crosse Festivals has no consideration for the people that do not have access to the internet or the means to get to the public library. For us, Part of the fun is getting the paper, to see who can get it first! How is it a conspiracy that last years winner found it on the 9th clue? or the team finding it on clue 5 the year before that? How about when it was found on clue 1? It's more like dumb luck than a conspriacy...When you do this year after year and use the resources that are available to you in the area, you learn to put the pieces together. Maybe it just comes down to some people being smarter than others! "

    mac wrote on Sep 15, 2008 12:35 PM:

    " Lefty, did you even read the article? This has nothing to do with the Trib. Festival organizers decided to limit it to their website. The Trib is then re-posting as clues become available. "

    Darwin wrote on Sep 15, 2008 11:46 AM:

    " It's obvious that the Festival made the choice - and the Tribune is just posting them as soon as everyone else has access.
    What would be the point of printing them? They wouldn't appear in print until the next day's issue as the current clue is posted after the paper has been issued. "

    Skiuseme19 wrote on Sep 15, 2008 10:45 AM:

    " If you have the Time of day to search for the Medallion you should have the time to search the web. Just remember that you have access to the net free of charge at your local Library. "

    bb wrote on Sep 15, 2008 9:27 AM:

    " Well it looks like John McCain won't be getting any Oktoberfest clues this year, maybe Sarah can read them to him. "

    doctor9 wrote on Sep 15, 2008 9:11 AM:

    " Believe it or not, I bet there are a LOT of fans of the medallion hunt who don't have internet access who will not care for this new policy. "

    Lefty MaGuire wrote on Sep 15, 2008 8:17 AM:

    " Why is the Tribune only putting clues online? With declining circulation numbers and dropping revenue dollars; is it simply a matter to drive up unique visitors to the web to have inflated numbers to drive up the cost on your web products? "


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