LaCrosse christens new store building

“Something remarkable has happened,” declared Alex McGregor, his booming voice filling the newly-painted walls of the LaCrosse Community Building.

McGregor spoke as part of Saturday’s dedication of the building, still in the midst of a renovation, which will soon bring groceries back to the western Whitman County farmtown.

The 7,500-square-foot building is the central feature of LaCrosse Community Pride’s efforts to revitalize a downtown that lost its grocery store, bank and hardware store in a three-year span.

Residents volunteered their efforts and formed the non-profit Community Pride group...