Good morning!
It is Friday, the 21st day of November of 2025.
27 degrees here in downtown Wausau under mostly clear skies.
We are located at our 98.9 WXCO Studios at the corner of Washington Street and our 3rd Street in downtown Wausau.
With Ian Walsh, I am Chad Holmes.
It is the WXCO morning report.
Part of mornings with Pat Crite Low on 98.9 WXCO.
Online at wxco.fm.
Both devices and Alexa by searching WXCO and on the Civic Media app.
Well, it is Friday.
Yep, we made it to the end of another work week It's great to look forward to the weekend coming up here today on the program in about half an hour at 722 we will look ahead to the Wisconsin sports weekend will be joined by Paul McCleck We'll talk about the Packers getting set for the Minnesota Vikings coming into town this week been a big struggle this season for Minnesota It's almost a must win for the Vikings if they want to keep their playoff hole
the life Packers of course had that comeback win against New York last week against the Giants still a few struggles out there they're banged up
Tucker Kraft all for the year and Josh Jacob's hurting.
So we'll talk about what's going on with the Green Bay Packers with Paul Mickley Badgers taking on their former coach Brett Bielema and Illinois this weekend as well.
So lots to talk about with the weekend sports with Paul Mickley coming up at 7 22.
Meantime across the way it is Mr Ian Welsh and we will have Ian later in the show at the end of our final 822.
segment with the number of the day quiz and it is a must win situation because he is one for four so far this weekend the minimum that we look for is two out of five because that is a passing grade because the way we do it in case you wonder what what what is all point here well number one it's just to have a little fun at the end of the program but number two to give him a little bit of a test here and you get three choices
We have a subject in one, you know, based, but the number is so subject matter.
And then we give you three choices.
And so there's one that's correct and two that are incorrect.
So based on the math, one out of three, 33%.
So anything above 33%, he is able to say that it's a passing grade.
And then we take it up a notch for every correct answer.
Three out of five is more right than wrong.
So that's a winning week.
Four out of five, we consider an A grade.
And then of course five out of five, which does not happen very often.
No, not too often.
Gold star, perfect week.
But this week it's one out of four.
So you do have some work to do today.
I certainly do.
It's a lot of pressure.
And of course next week it's going to be a short week because we have Thanksgiving coming up.
That's right.
You're going to have to be even better next week because we're only going to have four chances.
You're exactly right.
The challenge will be even greater but here today you better be ready to roll in our final segment.
It has been proven I do do a well under pressure because sometimes when I'm close to a losing week I'm able to pull off that necessary win and get a passing grade.
So maybe it'll happen again.
I may only have four days next week, I'll be able to focus more and actually get a perfect week of four out of four, which, well, it's not a perfect week, but
it's pretty close.
No, yeah.
No, you're exactly right.
It's just for the fun of it.
That is right.
Fun of questions, of different categories, and if nothing else, at least you learned something out of it.
Exactly.
So again, that will be coming up at the end of...
The day yes, I saw in the wasa daily Herald a nice little write-up on our friend Rob Hughes Of course we've had Rob on a few times talking about wasa area food for hope and the Herald had a write-up so check out wasa daily Herald calm Talking about as we come up on Thanksgiving and what what Rob and wasa area food for hope is doing
Rob is raised more than $106,000 over the past nine years providing more than 5,500 hams and turkeys to families in need and he's gonna be doing it again here for this Thanksgiving with donations going directly to purchasing the holiday items for families in the wasa school district also DC Everest Bosony Newman Catholic Edgar.
I mean it is really a wonderful
Thing to do and Thanksgiving but the thing that we we touched on with Rob last week when he was on the program is that They're still short of the donation goal because he's bought all the turkeys.
He's bought all the hams But we don't want it to be a case where Rob is short of his ultimate goal.
No, so Right now Rob is about $3,000 shy of his $23,000 goal for this year so
If you have an opportunity, please, and we talked about this, Rob is not looking for those big donations.
He actually gets a bigger kick out of the small donations.
That's right.
And so I'm challenging everybody out there listening right now that if you have an opportunity to make a small donation to this wonderful cause, this wonderful charity, do so, you can
Search Google go wassa area food for hope wassa area food for hope Then you'll find be able to click on their site and there's different ways you can send a check in You can pay by pay pile or Venmo It's all there on the website, but if you're able to please please do so and give to those in need this holiday season
Absolutely
coming up on seven o'clock.
We have top of the hour news update coming up and then we will be back with warnings with pack right low at 706 and we'll be back at 722 with our WXCO morning report and be joined by Paul Mickley Good Friday morning from Ian and for myself and from 98.9 WXCO
And welcome back.
It is WXCO morning report part of morning to pack right low on 98.9 WXCO.
I am Chad Holmes.
It is Friday.
So that means it's actually last week.
We did do it because I was gone.
So you're on vacay.
Well, I think I think I would do that again next week in the week after a week.
I'm getting old.
I'm actually looking forward.
But unfortunately, I'm going to have to work till the day I die.
Well,
We'll see what happens, but Paul Mickley back with us here talk Wisconsin sports Was I talked about package?
Let's talk about the bucks first because they had I mean They had another they've had so many tough losses so far.
They played 16 games now.
They're eight and eight They've had to battle now a little bit without Yanis this year the thing that
I'll throw this out there and you can you can respond the last couple of years the Bucks would have these inexplicable 35 point losses to teams like Charlotte I mean there'd be nice.
They this would not show up I think they've shown up pretty much every night the only game that I can recall that they had a real tough glove it was the second of the back-to-back against Toronto actually
all of them I think the Charlotte one too was was not
That wasn't close
either.
You're right.
You're right.
I didn't see that because I was down at Chicago.
And actually the
LA game wasn't.
Oh, yeah.
They're
having problems with the
back-to-back.
They've had so many.
I mean, even earlier this week, the second time this year, they've gone to Cleveland and they battled.
I mean, they, they were there pretty much the whole game and then kind of faded late.
I have peacocks.
I was able to watch the game because I, it took me a while, but I,
I did find it, but I, I chose to not find it
if that makes any sense.
I have peacocks.
So I saw the game, but, but they've had a number of those kinds of games where, you know, they just, they fought.
They're eight and eight and this is not a case I guess but the point I'm making is I just don't think
they're more than about a 44 and 38 team this year, even with Yanis.
I just, it's going to take a real special effort for them to be beyond that.
Do you, how do you think about that?
Because I think, I think Doc is doing fine this year.
I'm actually more, I think Rivers has actually done a better job with this group than he did with the groups the last couple of years.
I think these guys are giving everything that they have every night.
I just think, and you got some
Better teams now.
I mean, you see Detroit is so much better than they've been.
I think Chicago is even a better team.
I mean, the competition in the East is really stiff right now.
I think it's stiffer in the East than it's been in a number of years.
I think they're all better.
I don't think there's a dominant team, though.
Detroit's not dominant.
If that's the dominant team of the East, which, if you look at the standings, they are the dominant team.
That's not the Boston of four or five years ago, or three years ago, or two years ago.
The Bucks are not close to being a dominant team though.
No, no, I'm not
saying they are.
My point is, I don't think there is dominant team
right now.
But where do the Bucks fit in on this?
And
that's
where
I was going
with it.
That's where I was going with it.
Get with it, three
ampels here.
A 44 and a 38 record, if they could even get to that, hopefully.
I think
they would.
That might be able to get them,
because they have Yanis, they could maybe win some of those games.
In the playoffs, I'm saying
this, because I don't think there's, you tell me who is, you tell me Detroit's dominant.
I don't think they're
dominant.
No, no, I'm just asking no in general.
I'm just saying this.
I think they're better than the Bucks are.
Yeah, yeah,
yeah,
I'm not saying that,
but do they have a better player than the Bucks?
No, but
you know
I'm
getting that that's what I'm trying to get at I know what you're getting at
but
they could make a run with it It would have to be a run against probably four teams because at this point they're gonna have to win at least one play in game
I mean, they're 11th right now.
I mean, yeah.
I mean, I said that's if they get to 44 and 38.
I mean, I mean, right now they're out.
Literally, they would not, they would not be in the play in right now.
I mean, that shows again that there's a lot.
I think that's not not.
I still think I think they're good teams.
I do think they're good teams.
I don't think, but I, again, we're, we're, we're part of the bucks.
Good team.
Are the bucks good team?
I think the bucks are good.
Yeah.
That's what I'm getting at.
And that's where they're not a great team.
I mean, uh,
You know Jordan bowls Kobe Lakers, you know, yeah, I know you're not without Tatum I mean they're not the
same thing and they lost a couple other guys
and right
and even Philadelphia last night They didn't have
that's what that's the only reason last night's game kind of stings a little bit max He does have to he put the team he the last night the difference was normally the Bucks have the best player Yeah, that's
exactly what this and that's what the NBA is a lot of the times and
as as great as Yannis is and a couple times there's a game that he he Didn't finish we they're not they really don't have a complete finisher Damian Lillard when he got to the fall line.
Yeah He was a finisher.
They always had finishers And that right now I don't know if they really have Yannis is the best player But I don't think you can tell me that he's the best finisher
well
I kind of chuckled because you sent a text, what game was it?
It was a Charlotte game, the second Charlotte game last weekend, Saturday night.
And he finished?
But he was at the end of regulation.
No, he's not a finisher.
But the thing I thought was, wasn't like a week before against Indiana, he nailed the shot to win the game?
You remember he's so short.
I'm going to ask you this right now, and you tell me the truth.
Did you ever see Michael Jordan?
Air ball, a 10 foot shot
to win the game.
Did you ever see the bronze
James?
Did you ever see Kobe Bryant?
Air ball, a 12 foot shot,
six feet.
But the idea that he's simply not a finisher, I thought.
Again, right after the Indiana one where he just...
Popped it from and he's miss free throws and he can't he's not the Damian Lillard I don't know if you know, I know I know the thing that I know how you're putting it I do understand how you're putting it.
So Yes, I understand that Lillard has that skill to get to the line He's got more ways to because with with with the honest it's almost like
It's just he doesn't have a he doesn't have more than one move at the end It's like it's because if he gets filed it's not guaranteed.
All right.
We'll have more coming up in 22 minutes here on wxco
you
And welcome back it is WXCO morning report here on 98.9 WXCO talking Wisconsin sports with Paul McLeod Packers in Minnesota This we'll go back to last Sunday Their season was there they were they were facing the the abyss weren't they in that fourth quarter Because I I'm gonna say
You've been calling for the floor's had the previous two weeks.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Yes, you were.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Yes, you were.
Come on.
No, no, no.
I don't call for anybody's head because...
Well, how would you put it
then?
I would say he better start winning.
Otherwise, he's going to have... And I'm a Green Bay Packer fan.
So, for him, if he doesn't make the playoffs, do you think he's going to be there?
That's
sounding like your and you know, that's what I'm a packer.
So the reason that I think that maybe that is happening is because Both he and good accruents Are going into their last season of their contract next year And they have a new club president who has declined to extend at this point It will be a very easy change And if you don't make the playoffs it makes it more difficult because you don't want him going into next year as a lame duck
I think Gouda Kunst is, I don't think they're gonna move on from him.
I think, what do you think?
I don't think they'll move on from him.
I would not be surprised if they move on, because I mean, this policy, Ed policy, I think it's human nature when you take that kind of big job to make a big decision like that.
Are you saying he's trying to make a name for himself?
No, I think you wanna come in there and put your,
but your finger fingerprints on the operation.
And I'm not disagreeing with you in that.
But I think there is a sense of, hey, you know what?
We went out and we got Michael Parsons.
We've put in a lot of money.
We've talked about championships.
So start doing it.
And was it the last two years there were a seven seat?
I think the playoffs began today.
They'd be there six or seven.
And I think somebody on one of the broadcasts said, well, that's not.
but the Green Bay Packers are trying to be right now, every year being a six or a seven seed.
You know, that's not good enough.
They, if you want to, and everybody's like Atlanta, I think some reporter in Atlanta, not reporter, but radio announcer was saying, hey, you know, if they get rid of the floor, you know, we'll take them in the heartbeat.
It's kind of crazy how people just keep on getting
You wanna talk about your, I know you like nepotism.
I know you do, but
to rebuild and say, keep on doing this, he had Aaron Rodgers.
They had Tampa Bay at home, and they didn't get to the Super Bowl.
They had San Francisco, they were number one seed, but they're number one seed when they lost on the field goal.
And they lost at home they lost two games in the playoffs at home where they were they should have went to the Super Bowl They had the best team and and can they get over the hump and now they're they're kind of if you want to say it They've regressed they've regressed since then if they don't make the playoffs.
How are you saying they're getting better?
Never said they're getting better.
No, I'm
asking you though.
I'm just asking that is a you know Are they getting better?
Do you see a light at the end of the tunnel?
And also as you said the Parsons deal is that you put a lot of future draft picks and You're saying now now is the time.
Yep.
Now is the time you're exactly right
Let's talk about the Viking game, because I don't think this is a pushover game.
Vikings have been struggling bad, but for Minnesota.
They've lost
to Carolina at home, and then the
Eagles are home, and they've lost to the Cleveland.
But the reason I say this is for Minnesota, this is it.
If they lose this week, they're done.
I mean, it's gonna be hard even if they win right now, but this is it.
This is the game that they have to win.
It proves against though.
It's like, if you're looking for that perfect,
quarterback.
Well, maybe well, there are no doing play very well last two games and now they got they got a they got a bum.
I'm sorry.
This McCarthy was overrated.
I thought he was the product of Michigan and he was never asked to be the guy at Michigan and they're acting like this is the next coming.
This guy, this guy is not going to be a great quarterback and I'm willing to go on a limb on that.
Well, I mean,
Probably because they do a pretty good job with quarterbacks at Minnesota.
So you
gotta give it you guys got talent I tell you well, they they Addison and Jefferson I mean those are two those are two top-notch receivers You can't make it happen with those guys
and it looks like their lines
gonna be healthy this week.
They've got a really good running game I mean he's got all the tools I mean there's no reason what they scored.
They've been scoring in basing the teens the last number of games.
I mean, it's not been good
The Bears, you said this week was it, they had the Bears at home.
That was kind of a game that they probably are going to go back and say they needed.
But in NFL right now, anybody can beat anybody.
That's truly, that's where we're at.
The two wins he has, these two and three is the starting quarterback.
Where are those two wins?
On
the
road.
On the road against the divisional
opponents.
You're
right.
So this is not going to be,
you're right.
This is not going to be easy.
He's going for the sweep.
The divisional
sweep.
And you're saying that he's a dud?
Well,
if
he goes and wins three games on the road in the division,
you
think
he's a dud?
Well, we'll talk about that next week.
But then again, by the time we get to next week, they'll play, they'll play Detroit again, right?
They have Detroit next week, right?
On Thanksgiving.
So the pretty significant five days, isn't it?
This is a must.
This is
a must game for them.
I mean, I think for the Packers, too, I think this
is,
you can't lose three games at home
in a row.
If you lose to Minnesota, then what are your chances going on the road to Detroit?
What do you think?
Maybe better.
No, no, no, no.
What do you think?
Quick.
There'll be Vikings alludes to Detroit.
I think the Packers are going to win both.
Oh, what do you think?
I'm agreeing with Chad.
Chad's guessing has been good lately.
And Badgers and Brett Bielum on tomorrow.
Big
Brett.
Big
Brett.
I know you're cheer for Illinois, but I'm going to go on the limb here to
Badgers
over your guy.
Oh, we'll see about that.
Come on.
What are you gonna say Illinois?
Big breath sometimes you still get a little foggy in the head
of
our guys
Have a good weekend you
too.
We'll be back
you
WXCO morning report part of morning's the pack right low on 98.9 WXCO online at wxco.fm mobile devices and Alexa by searching WXCO and on the civic media app The time is 8 23.
It is Friday morning November the 21st of 2025 seeing the clear skies to begin our Friday.
There's plenty of sunshine out there temperature getting
towards the freezing mark right now fair skies 29 degrees and we expect a lot of sunshine today really nice fall day 42 degrees and then for the weekend partly sunny tomorrow high of 43 and even better on Sunday if you have tickets to see the Packers and Minnesota at Lambeau
Sunday it will be a great day for football for this time of year mostly sunny skies and 49 degrees so again a great weekend weather wise as Still waiting for that first significant snowfall.
Yeah, usually by this point We have something but we haven't really had much of anything.
No, I mostly frost haven't had like the big Snow yet
have you
Actually, last night I did a Newman Girls basketball game and afterwards I stopped by the the new Hivey store.
It used to be Crossroads County Market, but they they they were sold and then they closed for a little bit and they renovated and for the first time I went over and grabbed some stuff after the game before heading home from Hivey.
Again, located on South 18th Avenue here in Wausau, but they they just opened this week on
On Tuesday of this week the first
Opening of the new store and they had quite an event this week because they like all supermarkets are selling lottery tickets Yeah, and their first week they sold a massive winning ticket a lottery player from wasa Won seven point one million dollars.
Yeah, I heard about this
on
a channel seven.
Yeah, so it's like Seven point one million dollar a winning ticket earlier this week a
mega bucks ticket.
That's huge.
I know it's like a massive, massive win.
And it's like, and the thing about it is not only is the guy that got the ticket a winner, the store that sells the ticket is a winner because Wisconsin Lottery gives what's called a retailer performance winning ticket incentive to the stores that sell the winning tickets with prices over $599.
The store gets 2% of the prize amount up to $100,000.
So that's a terrific add-on for the Hy-Vee store.
So that gets them off to a really good start.
And the jackpot of $7.1 million is the fourth largest megabucks prize since 2017.
So again, that was a massive, massive win for somebody here in Warsaw.
Awesome,
I can't say boy.
I wish it was me because I never buy those tickets.
I never buy lottery tickets.
Do you buy a lot of either?
Yeah, I guess you know,
it's a totally to spend my money.
How why?
If I try to buy like a lottery tickets every week, my dad would definitely be disappointed.
I
mean, well, the person that bought the seven point one million dollar megabooks ticket.
I think it's probably saying, haha, talk about not being a wise purchase.
That was a wise purchase.
Wasn't it?
Yeah,
we know
what the chance
is of winning the lot.
Oh, very smart.
Tickets are, it's like one out of, maybe, what was it, 650 million or something?
You're just making up numbers right now, though.
I don't know, I just took a guess.
I don't know.
I know, it's all, it's like, it is not.
It's like, it's very slim.
Yeah, it's a very slim.
I
feel like that should be a number of the day
next week.
There you go.
Maybe, I'll do it.
What are the
odds of winning?
I'm
winning the jackpot on a lottery ticket.
There you go.
Are you planning on doing any traveling for Thanksgiving next
week?
No, I don't think we're doing much traveling.
I know my brother and sister are coming out from Madison for Thanksgiving next week up to our house to spend Thanksgiving as a family.
So they'll be doing a little bit of traveling, but.
I don't think I'll be doing a lot of traveling on that coming holiday.
I ask because it is time for our number for the day quiz and it involves holiday travel.
The American Automobile Association, the AAA, has made a projection in terms of how many people will travel at least 50 miles from home for Thanksgiving this year.
Okay.
And most will travel by car.
So again,
The number of people that will travel at least 50 miles from home for Thanksgiving this year.
That's our number of the day and your choices are okay your choices are 41.8 million people okay 61.8 million people 81.8 million people so 41 61 81
0.8 million how many people will travel at least 50 miles from home for Thanksgiving this year according to AAA That's either through car or through airplane Whatever it may be if they want to ride a bicycle more than 50 miles that counts as well So again, okay They have to dig in because you're one for four so far this week.
Yep.
You need this one for a passing grade
41.8 61.8 or 81.8
I think people will travel more than 50 miles from home on Thanksgiving.
Okay, I'm gonna say a final answer.
I'm going with my instincts here.
I'm gonna say 61.8 a million.
So my final answer, I'm going with a 61.8 million.
You have this habit of just going with the middle number so often.
It's a bad habit, I know.
And it was a bad habit here today because it's 81.8 million people.
All right, well, we'll try again next week.
You win some, you lose some.
That's how it works.
Have a good weekend.
You too, Chad.
Happy Friday, everybody.
Take care.
And we will be back Monday here on 98.9 WXCO.
