[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 79 (Friday, June 3, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1051-E1052]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONGRATULATING NORB ASCHOM FOR EXCELLENCE IN RADIO BROADCASTING

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 3, 2011

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Norb Aschom for 50 years 
of excellence in radio broadcasting. Norb has been news director of 
WPRE-AM and WQPC-FM radio stations since 1962. Throughout his time at 
the station, Norb has served a critical role by providing this tight 
knit town with the news each day, installing a sense of community 
through the airwaves.
  Norb is a fixture in the Prairie du Chien community, a town in 
southwestern Wisconsin on the banks of the Mississippi River. At 71 
years of age, Norb has worked in the same building every day for 50 
years. While his broadcasting home on St. Feriole Island in Prairie du 
Chien was recently flooded, he was forced, along with the rest of the 
station staff, out of their office and into a temporary workspace in 
the local Police Department. After a two week hiatus, Norb was able to 
return to his normal office on April 23. Throughout his time working 
out of the police department he never veered from his commitment to 
bring the news to the people of Prairie du Chien.
  In his 50 years, Norb has interviewed everyone from former First 
Ladies Johnson and Carter, to fellow radio personality Paul Harvey.

[[Page E1052]]

He has covered every major local event including the record floods of 
1965, the 1981 closing of the Hwy. 18 bridge and the flooding of more 
recent years. Norb embodies what every rural community needs, a 
friendly and thoughtful voice to bring them the events of the day.
  With no plans to retire anytime soon, Norb plans to continue making a 
difference in the lives of the residents of Prairie du Chien. I am 
proud to know Norb and believe that his work not only impacts his 
community but serves as an example to the rest of the country.

                          ____________________