From Our Early Files July 7, 2021
25 YEARS AGO
July 11, 1996
Three courthouse offices will be at stake when Trempealeau County voters go to the polls this fall. This coming election cycle will replace one new county courthouse officer, replacing incumbent Register of Deeds Janet Peterson. A Whitehall Democrat, Peterson is retiring after 10 years in office. Two people have filed as candidates for Peterson’s post including Democrat Rose Ottum of Independence and Republican William Thoma, also of Independence. Another race for county office will be a rematch of a 1994 contest, Incumbent Republican District Attorney LaVerne Michalak, who has served that office since 1978, again is facing opposition from Independence attorney Peter Gierok. Incumbent Sheriff Ralph Weisenberger has filed nomination papers and will seek a third two-year term. Opposing him will be Rick Nemitz of Trempealeau.
People who use in-line roller-skates within Whitehall’s city limits will have to follow the same rules as bicyclists, starting next week. The city council approved a new ordinance governing “roller blades,” which have become increasingly popular in recent years.
Two teenagers were arrested and charged last week following a high-speed chase that resulted in the ramming of a Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department squad car. Jerry Pearson of Westboro and Francis Otto of Spencer appeared in Trempealeau County Circuit Court last week, Wednesday, the day after the car they riding in ended up in a town of Ettrick ditch. Pearson, 19, is charged with obstructing an officer and being a passenger in a stolen car. Otto, 16, is charged with knowingly fleeing a law enforcement officer in a motor vehicle.
The Arcadia Chamber of Commerce decided last Tuesday that they would indeed pursue getting a page on the Internet to help promote the city.
It is now possible to purchase used clothing for your children in Arcadia. Just a Second opened its doors to citizens on July 10. The store is operated by Louise Janke, an Alma Center native.
Rev. Robert Polcyn from the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin has joined Franciscan Skemp Healthcare, Arcadia as chaplain.
Four area women are vying for the Trempealeau County Fair Queen title on July 21. Contestants include Connie Stellpflug, Galesville; Kendra Slaby, Arcadia; Alexis Girtman, Strum and Kim Jaskowski, Eleva.
Chris Mikunda has a restored 1966 Chevrolet Malibu and Don Doering has a restored 1949 Chevy pickup that they’re so proud of, they’d like everyone to have a chance to seem them. Everyone will, if they attend the first Trempealeau County Fair vehicle display Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Associate Justice Sandra Day O’Connor of the U.S. Supreme Court and members of her family visited Trempealeau for parts of two days to celebrate a birthday. She celebrated the first birthday of grandson Weston O’Connor, who is the son of Judy and Brian O’Connor of Phoenix and grandson of Arild and Betty Engelien, Trempealeau and the justice and her husband John O’Connor.
Jim Kleva has been named division manager of Associated Milk Producers, Inc. in Blair.
John Pellowski, a teacher at Blair-Taylor High School, was a recipient of the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation 1996 Fellowship Award.
50 YEARS AGO
July 15, 1971
Trempealeau County farmers are watching the dual threat of disease and insect damage in their cornfields. Southern corn leaf blight has been found in the county for the first time, but according to Ray Reck, fertilizer department manager for the WBI Farmers Union Cooperative, the corn borer problem is epidemic in county fields. The co-op last weekend hired a Janesville firm to provide helicopter field spraying for the borers.
While weeding her garden a few days ago, Mrs. Murel Gleisner found a silver half-dollar, minted in 1918.
A full compliment of councilmen were present for the regular July council meeting Thursday night. The recent resignations of three were not mentioned and Mayor Eugene Killian said later that action is awaiting an opinion by the city attorney, which may take an additional two weeks.
Art Schultz, general manager at A-G Cooperatives, reported that vandalism has been occurring at the new office building. Leaves have been picked from an artificial hedge placed at the front to beautify the building and stones surrounding it have been thrown into the street.
Sodden but undaunted by Saturday’s rain, breeders and handlers exhibited some 135 head of livestock at the annual Coulee Region Guernsey Parish show at the Trempealeau County Fairgrounds in Galesville.
Trempealeau Village President Winston Elkins received word that Friday from Senator Gaylord Nelson of the approval of a $71,040 grant for the village from the Environment protection Agency for financing construction of sewage treatment facilities.
Mr. and Mrs. Roger Herrick, Blair, purchased the furniture and appliance business in Blair.
Mr. Derald Ladsten, Blair, became partners with Amos Kolve, Blair, in Kolve’s already-established Kolve Chevrolet.
75 YEARS AGO
July 11, 1946
The state highway commission has approved a plan of state highway construction in Trempealeau County, as presented by a special committee appointed by the county board in April. The plan, which will be financed by state and federal funds and a county bond issue of $1.25 million, provide adequate surfacing for Hwy. 53 between Osseo and Galesville, Hwy. 93 between Centerville and Eleva, Hwy. 121 west from Independence, and the west portions of Hwys. 35 and 54.
A group of 26 taxpayers, including the three board members, attended the annual school meeting held Monday evening. Without dissenting vote, they approved a school levy of $25,000, an increase of $5,500 over last year’s levy, made necessary mostly by higher salaries for the teachers. The committee appointed at last year’s annual meeting to come up with a plan to relieve crowded conditions at the school, reported that both an addition and a new building had been discussed, but no definite plans had been made due to the shortage of labor and materials.
A.B. Erickson has resigned as station agent for the Green Bay and Western Railroad here after having held the position for 21 years. He resigned because the workload was too heavy, the Whitehall station handling the largest amount of business along the road, excepting the terminal points of Winona and Green Bay, and Wisconsin Rapids, a railroad junction. Mr. Erickson will take the station at Alma Center; his son, Sherman, will be in charge until a permanent agent is secured.
Myron DeBow of Whitehall, who was elected a delegate from this county to the state conservation congress that was held in June, has been asked by the state conservation commission to call a special county meeting to reconsider the deer season as recommended by the congress. That meeting will be held this coming Monday at the courthouse.
Mrs. George Schmidt, Arcadia, was elected president of the Trempealeau County Homemakers Club and Mrs. Tilman Haug, Whitehall, was elected secretary at an achievement day program held in Whitehall last week. Mrs. Harry Grover, Centerville, will continue as vice president and Mrs. Henry Solberg, Ettrick, treasurer, both having been elected last year for two years terms.
H.E. Buffy, 21, Fountain City, will appear in justice court in Arcadia Monday night on a reckless driving charge preferred by traffic officer H.F. Theurer. Buffy’s 1935 two-dour Plymouth went over a 40-foot embankment as a result of excessive speed.
Paul Halvorsen, eight-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Tillman Halvorsen, Blair, received a letter from a mother in Belgium after donating clothes to Red Cross.
100 YEARS AGO
July 14, 1921
The two alleged dispensers of alcohol that were arrested by Sheriff Fredrickson recently came before Justice Larson. Clarence Shisler pleaded guilty to the charge wand was given 40 days in jail. A.D. McCrady plead not guilty and was bound over. The Cadillac car confiscated is now in possession of the state and will be sold. The liquor is in possession of Sheriff Erickson, not disposition having been made of it.
The St. Olaf Male Quartet gave a delightful concert at the Lutheran church in Whitehall Friday night. The occasion was marred by the absence of electric lights, necessitating the use of kerosene lamps, which dimly lighted the large auditorium. While the boys could only be seen in dim outline, the beautiful harmony of their singing was not lost.
Mr. Wright’s corn sample has been beaten. Mrs. R.E. Clark has a stalk of corn on exhibition here that measures nine feet, seven inches to the top of the tassel. Jim gets the gingerbread only, while Mrs. Clark has our permission to take the fruitcake. The contest is closed.
The intense heat of the past five weeks was broken last night when a heavy storm of rain ushered in cool breezes from the northwest. It is too late to save some of the crops, which have suffered from the scorching rays of a burning sun for so many weeks.
Whitehall was without lights and electric power for a few days the past week, due to a burnout of the local generator and damage to a transformer on the main line.
At the annual meeting of the stockholders of the Bank of Galesville, John F. Cance was reelected cashier, beginning his 26th year.
Guy Anderson, Galesville lad recently discharged from the U.S. Navy after four years of service, saw much of the seaboard of his own country and places of interest in foreign lands while aboard ship and on shore leave.
Galesville to La Crosse by streetcar? That’s the latest. No rails are used, but a handsome white truck of streetcar size and built very much like one does the business. The car has a capacity of 17 passengers with seats extending the length on either side.
125 YEARS AGO
July 9, 1896
There was a general attendance at the village school meeting Monday evening. John O. Melby was reelected treasurer for three years. The sum of $1,265 was raised for expenses, and $35 for literary apportionment. Nine months’ school was voted, and the tuition fee fixed at $5 for a term of three months in the highest department, and $1 per month in the intermediate.
Robert Engen is conducting the retail liquor business, Hans Solsrud having retired.
Merchant John O. Gilbertson is laid up with a bad case of poisoning from some local weed.
A five-year-old son of Thos. Hanson of Pigeon fell from a load of hay one day last week, breaking an arm. Dr. Parker reduced the fracture.
Judge Odell has just received two large, finely-bound blank books from the bindery of N. Hearter, La Crosse, for the record of probate matters, which are not only a convenience to the court, but a source of economy to the county.
Pigeon Falls — The United Lutheran congregation at this place held a picnic in Hegge’s grove Sunday, after services at the church, in honor of their pastor, the Rev. A.J. Orke. An excellent dinner was served to all present — about 400 — and it was quite late before the people departed for their respective homes.
Blair — A number of neighborhood celebrations were enjoyed in this vicinity on the Fourth, principal among which were the one at Hans Solberg’s, and the other at James Gibson’s.
