From Our Early Files December 23
25 YEARS AGO
Dec. 28, 1995
Deanne and Al Sczepanski last week officially opened their Mister Kleen Car Wash. The new facility, which is located next to the Sczepanskis’ Chipper’s Laundromat on Ervin Street, is Whitehall’s first 24-hour car wash. It is completely automated and brushless, but also has a separate bay for hand-washing.
A former rural Arcadia resident who was receiving drug shipments from a parcel delivery service was sentenced last week in Jackson County Circuit Court. Jayne Halli was ordered to serve 90 days in jail Thursday by Jackson County Circuit Judge Robert Radcliffe. Halli, 40, who now resides in Lakeville, Minn., had pleaded guilty in November to one count of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver.
Steve LaLiberte has always been impressed with the periodic medical missions that Gundersen Clinic Whitehall physicians Drs. Brad Martin and Joanne Selkurt made to Nicaragua. When Selkurt and Martin suggested that LaLiberte, an optometrist with practices in Whitehall and Onalaska, organize state optometrists to join them on a mission to the Central American country, he readily agreed.
The city of Arcadia will be expanding its wastewater treatment facility because of the rise in the amount of water being used by businesses and the public. According to assistant city administrator Ryan Sheehy, the plan is currently in the draft stages so changes could be made to accommodate those who may not like the current draft. Sheehy said that with the expansion of Gold’n Plump and the water used by the general public and Mid America Dairymen, the expansion of the facility is necessary.
The Arcadia school board passed a resolution to purchase a portable three-classroom unit for the school district. The classrooms will be purchased because of a shortage of space at the current educational facility.
The Blair-Taylor school board approved a $6.5 million proposal to build a new high school building on land owned by the city of Blair located in the town of Preston, an 82-acre site along South River Road. The three-phase long-range plan is to erect an addition onto the high school building for grades five-through-eight in 20 years and then eventually build an addition for kindergarten through fourth grade so all grades would be on one site.
Sandy Jack was installed as the first female member of the Blair Lions Club. She was sponsored by Alan Robertson and was one of three new members installed with the other two being David Smikrud, sponsored by Dennis Stephenson and John Knutson, sponsored by Guy Leavitt.
50 YEARS AGO
Dec. 31, 1970
The responsibilities of two agents in the Trempealeau County University of Wisconsin-Extension office will change effective tomorrow, Jan. 1. Peter Bieri, county agricultural agent since 1950, will become resource agent. Edward Ausderau, county UW-Extension farm management agent for 16 years, will take over Bieri’s previous position.
A fire of unknown origins Tuesday morning destroyed an unattached garage at the Henry Sosalla residence on Ellis St. Lost in the blaze were a 1969 automobile, a lawnmower and 60 Texas quail that Mr. Sosalla was raising.
The 16th annual First Baby of the Year Contest sponsored by business and professional people of Arcadia will begin at dawn of the new year, Jan. 1, 1971.
Bank debits in Arcadia during November showed an increase of 15 percent from the same period a year ago, according to the statistics released by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.
The board of directors of Land O’Lakes, Inc., has authorized the retirement of outstanding patronage equities in the total amount of $5,970.325 to be paid to equity holders in the month of December, 1970.
Private First Class James P. Stellpflug, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Stellpflug, Galesville, recently received the Army Commendation Medal while serving with the American Division near Chu Lai, Vietnam.
The Arcadia Country Club board of directors was increased from five to seven members at the annual meeting of the corporation. Franklin Sobotta and Mrs. Pat (Florence) Nelson were added to the board for terms of three years. Kingo Andow, board president and Ernest Korpal, whose term had expired, were reelected for one and two years, respectively.
Mr. and Mrs. Donald Stubrud and Mr and Mrs. Jesse Lee were the winners of the Blair home decorating contest.
The consolidation of the Ettrick Co-op Creamery with the A-G Co-op Creamery of Arcadia involved the retirement of all stock held by members of the Ettrick creamery at full value. In addition, another $17,000 in dividend earnings was paid to all Ettrick Co-op Creamery patrons for the 1957 and 1957 business years.
Mr. Kenneth Truax has recently been promoted to regional sales manager for the Rural Insurance Companies, affiliates of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation.
The Larry Reick home at Beach was broken into Christmas night and robbed of a new color television set and seven guns. The Reicks were away from home at the time, but neighbors reported having seen car lights there about 5:30 p.m. A door was broken to gain entry.
75 YEARS AGO
Dec. 27, 1945
Servicemen and women will be special guests at the annual New Year’s wake which will be held at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church on Tuesday evening. This will be sponsored by the Senior and Junior Luther Leagues and by the Boy Scouts.
The Hale and Hardy 4-H Club, led by Mrs. C.J. Anderson and Miss Elsie Anaas, has received special state recognition in the field of music. This award is made possible by Mrs. Amundson Erickson, a former Trempealeau County resident.
County Clerk and Mrs. Roy Matson entertained the courthouse girls at a Christmas part at their home Friday evening.
A combined Christmas party and farewell party was held at the courthouse Thursday afternoon. It was the annual Christmas event for the workers at the courthouse, and the farewell for Wm. C. Mason, the outgoing highway commissioner, and Bernice Sampson, who is through as clerk to the county farm agent as of Dec. 31. Miss Sampson plans to return to her home near Mondovi at that time.
Charles York of Hale was in town Saturday attending to Christmas shopping. Charles mentioned that he doesn’t stand cold weather as well as he did when he was younger, as he says he is living on borrowed time, but he puffed up a bit when he stated that he and his wife are great-grandparents.
The Luther Leagues of the Synod Lutheran and United Lutheran churches in Pigeon Falls will hold a joint New Year’s wake at the U.L. Hall. Readings will be given by Adeline Myren, Marion Thompson and Elinor Vesta, Frieda Lundberg will perform a vocal solo, and Solveig Sletteland and Marjorie Erickson will perform musical selections.
Whitehall High cagers were playing a good game of basketball with Blair Friday afternoon, but faded at the end and lost 21 to 14. Don Amundson led the victors with eight points, followed by Lyle Anderson and Willis Johnson with four apiece. Herbert Johnson and Robert Bensend divided honors for Whitehall with four each.
The community of Arcadia was saddened by the news of the death of 13-year-old Rudolph Baker, one of the twin sons of Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Baker. The boy was killed instantly while playing with a .22 caliber rifle at his home.
Two more 4-H clubs have been reorganized for the 1945 season, which makes three to date, reports the county agent’s department. The first one was established at Strum and now St. Stanislaus club at Arcadia with 23 members and Sister Germaine as their leader. The Southside Workers at Trempealeau with 12 members is the other club, led by Herman Eichman.
The Victory Clothign Collection will take place in this area Monday, Jan. 7, according to Mrs. Milton Frederixon, local chairman.
Miss Gladys Mohns, local commercial teacher, was seriously injured when hit by a truck as she was crossing a street in Cambridge Saturday morning.
The Blair Fire Department was called out Wednesday to extinguish a chimney fire at the Iver Berg garage.
100 YEARS AGO
Dec. 30, 1920
A committee, consisting of O.J. Galstad, August Burnquist, Lewis Witt and Peter Simonson, collected a handsome fund for the relief of the Oscar Kleppen family, who have been sorely afflicted. The amount raised by subscription was $226.57.
A Leap Year dance at the Opera House in Whitehall last Friday night was an enjoyable affair.
R.H. Holtan returned to Whitehall from Prairie du Chien Friday evening feeling much better. His brothers, George and Andrew, are here from Stoughton looking after his tobacco business.
Messrs. and Mesdames E.B. Anderson, C.H. Anderson, Holtan, Hagen, Sorenson, Ingalls, Jas. Wood, Gage, Wilken and Lowe enjoyed the entertainment of the young people of our village at a private dancing party last evening. About 150 guests were present and all was festive and gay, until the approach of the “wee sma’ hours,: when a lunch of ice cream and cake was served. The young folks were unanimous in voicing their appreciation of the occasion, and departed with a happy good night, while hearts still young responded to the joy reflected from our youthful guests.
As a token of appreciation for courtesies rendered by Janitor Hans Haugh to the county officers during the past year, they accompanied their Christmas and New Year’s greetings to Mr. Haugh with a sum of money, totaling $16.
Sam Berg of Ettrick marketed tobacco yesterday, sold to the Mabbitt Leaf Tobacco Co. Fred Hagen assisted him in delivering his crop.
The new X-ray machine at the MacCornack Clinic is in full use now, with the new power system to operate it.
Pigeon Falls — Erling Houkom and Ida Staff, who attend the agriculture school at Onalaska, came home to spend the holidays.
York — Hjalmer Sveum is canvassing Mobil oil for the Vacuum Oil Co. of Chicago, Ill.
North Branch of Hale — The Christmas program in the Hale church Sunday evening was well attended and a good program rendered. After the program, a collection was taken for the orphan’s home.
125 YEARS AGO
Dec. 26, 1895
1896 is leap year.
An eight-inch snowfall occurred Tuesday night, which gave us sleighing for Christmas.
The work of cutting ice has begun, J.C. Lamberson being the first to commence packing the crystal blocks, which are from 12 to 14 inches in thickness.
There will be a Christmas tree in the Norwegian Lutheran church here tomorrow evening.
Martin Moen unloaded a new hay press as this station last Saturday.
The Union Christmas tree at the Baptist church Tuesday evening was largely attended and a pleasant event. John Porter represented Santa Claus.
Hale — The Christmas tree at the Grange hall Tuesday evening was well attended. After Santa Claus distributed the presents, a dance was participated in by a large number, Watson and Southworth’s band from Whitehall furnishing music for the occasion.
Elk Creek — A few days since, while Bilson and Co. were crossing Elk Creek, opposite Sam Filla’s place, their traction engine broke through the bridge, but luckily not much damage was done.
Hale — The estate of Christian Bade is now in probate. Albert, one of the heirs, takes the Qually farm by paying $1,000 to the other heirs.
