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Monday and Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. on Ideas 88.3 WHWC

Join us every Monday and Tuesday at 5pm for "The West Side." It's a call-in program featuring our award-winning reporter Mary Jo Wagner, on Ideas 88.3 WHWC/ Menomonie-Eau Claire.

Starting February 4, 2002, Mary Jo began hosting and producing “The West Side,” an issues-based call-in that delves into topics that may have more impact in western Wisconsin than in other parts of the state. The program airs Mondays and Tuesdays.

We hear from the area’s lawmakers, local government officials and people from all walks of life, and it’s all coordinated and hosted by Mary Jo, a host and reporter for Wisconsin Public Radio’s western bureau in Eau Claire for the past 18 years. The program has won 5 Eric Sevaraid awards from the Northwest Broad News Association and a Second Place from the national Public Radio News Directors Inc. organization.

Two UW-Eau Claire retirees bring a wealth of experience and resources to their roles as volunteer producers for the program. Political scientist professor Mort Sipress and journalism professor Henry Lippold (a 2002 inductee into the Wisconsin Broadcasters Hall of Fame) help brainstorm topic ideas and contact guests.

The topics include the effects of proposed legislation on local residents. We also explore other issues of importance to the west side of the state like the environment, racial diversity, school funding, landfill problems, agriculture, farming and the development of ethanol plants. Once a month on the West Side Outside we focus on outdoors issues. We also welcome ideas for topics from listeners.

The show is similar in style to the statewide call-ins hosted by Joy Cardin (M-F 6-9 a.m.), Kathleen Dunn (M-F 9-11 a.m.) and Ben Merens (M-F 3-5 p.m.), with a regional flavor. Mary Jo’s experience producing call-ins includes the development of election specials featuring regional legislative candidates – forums that continue on “The West Side” during election seasons as all candidates for Assembly and State Senate in the region get an hour with their opponent to provide insight into their perspective.

In comparison to her news duties, Mary Jo finds the call-in format allows her to expand the time she can devote to an issue and give listeners an opportunity to ask questions we may not have thought about. She seeks to make sure we do a good job of covering a wide variety of issues so the knowledge base of our audience is expanded.

LISTEN TO THE LATEST AWARD WINNERS FROM NBNA AND PRNDI:

December 10, 2007: Can homelessness be solved without government help? Hope Gospel Mission in Eau Claire is trying. Guests include Gary Steward, Executive Director; Craig Pedersen, Business Manager of Building Hope, the Bargain Center and the Auto Dealership; Jeff White is a resident in the men's shelter. Listen

December 12, 2006 A homeless shelter in Somerset takes in people from some of the richest counties in the state. Who are the rural homeless and where do they go in western Wisconsin? Guests include Duana Bremer, Director of Grace Place, the Salvation Army's shelter program in Polk and St. Croix County; Robin Tibado is Social Assets director at West Cap; Ken Lowry lived at Grace Place after years in and out of jail and prison. Listen