From Our Early Files July 19, 2023
25 YEARS AGO
July 23, 1998
When it came to honoring a local citizen for his contributions to the community, the Whitehall Lions Club didn’t need to go beyond its membership roster this year. The club chose longtime member Keil Blank as recipient of its 1998 Citizen of the Year Award. Blank, who was selected based on the recommendation of area residents, was presented with the award by outgoing Lions President Mike Headlee during the annual District Governor’s Night dinner and program held at Melby Park on Monday.
The Whitehall city council, concerned about the cost and difficulty of the project, has reversed an earlier decision to require the installation of sidewalks on West Street near the Whitehall Family Aquatic Center. The council voted to rescind a resolution it approved in March to have the walkways built in the block if West Street between Blair and Creamery streets.
A Whitehall city council committee has overridden objections by the union representing city police concerning the wages set for the new officer that is being hired. The council’s law enforcement committee met last week with a representative from the Wisconsin Police Professional Association. The committee had set a starting wage of $10 per hour for the new officer. The WPPA, however, contended that the hourly wage set by the committee, which is about three dollars per hour below that paid to the other full-time officers, was too low.
About 60 people attended the Civilian Conservation Corps’ reunion in Dodge on Saturday. The reunion featured hundreds of photographs of the workers who lived and worked in CCC camps during the Great Depression in the 1930s. The CCC Dodge camp was located on what is now the John Lambert Jr. farm just outside of Dodge. CCC was a depression era work relief project that ran from 1933 to 1942.
Kim Nelson, of Pat’s Market, was named the Clarence Knebel Memorial Award recipient. The national award is given to recognize the best meat product at the American Association of Meat Processors’ Cured Meat Championships.
The Killian farm, located in Hunts Valley, installed air conditioning units in their barn. Bernard Killian said the family thought installing air conditioning units in the barn would keep the animals comfortable and milk production stable.
Bids for the Ettrick Community Center project will be opened Tuesday at Ettrick Elementary School. The community center committee will meet to discuss the bids and will likely have a selection soon.
Trempealeau County has recently been approved for Emergency Conservation Funds to help restore agricultural land damaged by high winds and heavy rains June 24 to 27. Up to 64 percent cost sharing is available to rehabilitate the agricultural land impacted by the storm.
After spending the majority of his life growing up and living in the Coulee Region, Dave Hegenbarth has come back to the area to take over the former Skogen’s IGA in Galesville. Some changes Hegenbarth is planning for the Galesville Our Town grocery store include a slight change in the quality of produce the store has on hand. He also hopes to expand the deli to include “hot food, fast-food type service.”
50 YEARS AGO
July 26, 1973
Members of Battery B of the Fourth United States Light Artillery, a Civil War replica unit commanded by Whitehall policeman Garland Green, are practicing for the competition to be held at this year’s Beef and Dairy Days. The other members of the unit are Green’s brother, Richard, Gary and Dale Fromm, Steve Bautch, Larry Jones, Pete Speerstra III and Larry Estenson.
Whitehall district residents attending the school annual meeting Monday night voted to raise the price of school lunches by 10 cents to help offset an expected deficit of $10,000 in the 1973-74 school year.
Independence American Legion Post 186 and the Conrad’s Bar softball team have completed their softball field, located at the post’s Club 186 facility on Hwy. 121 west of Whitehall.
Gerhard Nilsestuen ended 21 years of active participation on the Arcadia school board. Nilsestuen was first elected to the school board in 1952, the year his home district, Norway Valley, became attached to the Arcadia district. Norway Valley was the first rural school district in the town of Arcadia to return to the Arcadia district after an earlier effort at consolidation had failed, he noted.
Over 500 people attended the open house at Central Manor Apartments, Arcadia’s first senior citizen housing complex. On hand to greet visitors were members of the board of directors of the Arcadia Housing Corporation. Visitors came from Milwaukee, Eau Claire, Wisconsin Rapids, Blair and Galesville.
Arcadia School District residents, at the annual meeting Monday night, approved a budget totaling $1,020,734 for the coming school year and calling for a tax levy of $641,958.
Gerald Gleason, instrumental music instructor at Arcadia Public Schools for 15 years, resigned to accept a position as director of band instrument sales with Hal Leonard Music in Winona, Minn.
Coulee Conference Champions Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau advanced to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association state summer baseball tournament to be held at West Bend after handling Onalaska, 11-3, in the sectional championship at Cashen Park in Arcadia Friday night.
The Galesville Pee Wees won a consolation game and trophy at Ettrick Sunday afternoon by defeating Taylor, 6-2.
The Garden of Eden Club will arrange its 13th annual Flower Show under the theme “Rhapsody of Blooms.” The show will be on display at the Bank of Galesville on Aug. 17.
75 YEARS AGO
July 22, 1948
A ground-breaking ceremony was held in Whitehall Monday for the new flexible dairy plant, which will house the Trempealeau Valley Dairy Cooperative. The new building, approximately 57 by 126 feet, one story, will be attached to the Land O’ Lakes Dairy Co plant, which was erected in 1942.
Citizens from a wide area witnessed the presentation of the historical pageant by the Trempealeau County Homemakers at the fairgrounds in Galesville Sunday afternoon. The Whitehall center opened the program with an Indian act, which represented native Americans as they loved more than 260 years ago, when white men first visited what is now the town of Trempealeau.
A meeting will be held at the Elk Creek schoolhouse Monday evening to consider the proposal of attaching the former Roskos rural district, which has been part of Joint District No. 7, Hale and Chimney Rock. The county school committee is considering combining the Veum, Russell and Borst Valley districts, as the result of the hearing held recently at the Russell school.
John Przybilla, 42, of Independence, is in critical condition at Whitehall Community Hospital as the result of dynamite explosion which occurred Monday afternoon at the lime rock quarry owned by Herman Pape of Independence in Traverse Valley. Mr. Przybilla, who was working with Frank Wozney, had set a fuse and waited 20 minutes, instead of the required 30; when he went to see what went wrong, the dynamite exploded in his face.
Bud Sobotta is again in charge of the restaurant formerly known as Bud’s Café. He sold the establishment to John Eichman in October 1946, but he purchased the business back from Eichman and took possession on Sunday. He promises his patrons good food and a well-run restaurant. Mrs. Dorothy Misch is his cook at present. Bud purchased the restaurant from Warren Shankey in April of 1945 and operated it until the sale to Eichman.
100 YEARS AGO
July 26, 1923
On the courthouse lawn, beneath the grateful shade of beautiful trees, was the setting of an event long to be remembered by Judge H.A. Anderson and his family Sunday afternoon. Hundreds of his friends from far and near were numbered in this assembly, coming miles in a broiling sun to join in paying tributes of respect and love.
A large number of children attended the party in the park Saturday on invitation from the Women’s Civic Club, members of which entertained groups of children with stories and games. Refreshments were served, and a talk followed on the park and our privileges and responsibilities towards it.
Manford Severson, employed as local manager for the Minnesota-Wisconsin Lights and Power Co. at Independence, was killed Thursday night when his body came into contact with a high-voltage wire and he fell 16 feet to the cement sidewalk. Mr. Severson was between 30 and 35 years old, married, and had come to Independence from Blair about three years ago.
Alex Anderson and Nick Peterson of Fly Creek met with a serious accident Sunday near the Leroy Marsolek farm between Independence and Whitehall. They were driving a Ford car toward Whitehall, and while not traveling at a high rate of speed, were unable to manage the car properly and struck a culvert near the Marchinek curve, so demolishing the auto as to render it of no value other than the wheels and body. They were brought to Community Hospital, where their injuries, Anderson’s being more serious, were tended to.
The County Boys’ and Girls’ Club picnic to be held on the Arcadia High School grounds promised to be the biggest event of its kind ever held in the county. Its aim was to be a preliminary to the county fair in order that club members could get practical experience in fitting, showing and exhibiting their club projects.
The Arcadia Farmers Creamery Company shipped 120 tubs of butter in one day, the largest single day shipment of butter ever made by the creamery.
125 YEARS AGO
July 21, 1898
Ogden Bros.’ “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” troupe played in Whitehall Monday night to a full tent, and gave a very pleasing entertainment. As a whole, the acting was most clever, and the troupe are ladies and gentlemen.
During the thunderstorm Monday afternoon, lightning struck a tree near J.C. Lamberson’s house. Nearly all the occupants of the house felt quite severely the effects of the jolt. Fortunately, no damage was done.
One of Ziba Harnden’s dray teams got scared at flies early Tuesday morning in front of Adams and Taylor’s store and made a lively spin up Main Street. The dray struck with terrific force against the elevated sidewalk in front of D. Wood’s building, knocking it off its foundation and breaking the wagon to pieces.
The following corps of teachers has been engaged for the Whitehall schools for the coming year: C.F. Huleatt, principal; Miss Eva Clift of Glenwood, Clark County, assistant principal; Miss Tillie Muir of Arcadia, intermediate; and Miss Myrtle Whitney, Independence, primary. The fall term opens Sept. 5.
Urban Klink, Whitehall, lost his barn and entire hay crop by fire Monday afternoon. The fire was caused by lightning.
Frank Bowen and Thomas Hanson left town this week as employees of Ogden Bros., the “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” people.
Frank Milno is serving a 10-day sentence at the county jail for drunkenness and disorderly conduct, committed from Independence.
N.N. Stalheim of Pigeon writes to his family from Bolstad, Norway, under date of June 25, announcing his safe arrival in the fatherland. The entire journey from Osseo was made in 13 days. Mr. Stalheim found the accommodations from New York much improved since the time he immigrated to this country many years ago.
