Early Files - January 22, 2020
(25 YEARS AGO) Jan. 26, 1995 -
The Whitehall district school board and the union representing district teachers have settled on a contract for the current school year. The school board Monday night ratified the 1994-95 contract, the first to be negotiated under state legislation that effectively limits increases in teacher compensation.
A group of farmers and agri-business representatives would like to see the Whitehall School District’s vocational-agriculture program brought back to life. About a dozen people were present at Monday’s school board meeting to propose that idea. The district’s financial constraints prevented the board from making any kind of commitment to bring back the program, which has been defunct for the most part for several years.
The Whitehall Public Library reopened in its new home, the Whitehall Community Center, the former Memorial High School building.
Gerald “Chalky” Wolfe has decided that it is time for him to step down as vice president of the Arcadia Credit Union, an institution in which he has been involved with for 27 years. “I’m 62 years old and I feel it is time to step down,” Wolfe said.
The Arcadia city council heard from Gary and Arlene Snoeyenbos representing the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce, who discussed reservations people in the city are having about changing their addresses because of the new 911 system. They think it is an unnecessary expense to the citizens and businesses of Arcadia. “We are in favor of the 911 system, there is no question about that,” Gary Snoeyenbos said. “I just think that it doesn’t mean we must change the addresses in our city.”
The Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau Middle School pompom squad are the champions of Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest and are preparing to compete in a national competition in March.
Riding his dirt bike across the ice on Lake Marinuka, Brett Bolman and his passenger, Paul Ammerman, failed to notice the open water until the bike tipped. ‘The ice was gone — it was open,’ Ammerman, 26, said as he walked across the ice toward shore. He was cold and shaken, but reported no injuries. First responders treated Bolman, 25, for suspected shoulder and neck injuries. They wrapped him in blankets and six of them carried him off the ice on a stretcher. Just before that, with about a dozen law officers, fire fighters and first responders on the ice, a loud crack sounded, but the ice held firm. Ammerman said they’d ridden the bike on the lake in recent days and found nothing but ice.
(50 YEARS AGO) Jan. 29, 1970 - Following Tuesday’s deadline for filing nominating papers, there will be contests for mayor of Whitehall and the two county board seats representing the city and the town of Lincoln. R.L. Megrath is running against incumbent Mayor Lester Brennom. Incumbent Odell Schansberg, Francis Hoff and Oscar Lovelien are the candidates for the local supervisory seats; the other incumbent board member, Burr Tarrant, will not seek reelection.
Terri Bensend has been named Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow at Whitehall High. The winner of the Daughters of the American Revolution citizenship award is Jane Sosalla.
Playing without senior center Ralph Rasmuson, lost for the season due to a knee injury, the Norsemen defeated Blair 46-30 to remain tied for first in the conference.
Some 500 people attended the first snowmobile rally which was held at the Arcadia Country Club. About 25 machines were at the rally, with several dealers showing the new snowmobile models for 1970.
Several changes in Arcadia city government seemed assured as the result of filings — or lack there of — by the deadline at 5 p.m. Tuesday. The terms of mayor, three aldermen, assessor and county board supervisors expire. Only one incumbent had filed for re-election, he is Third Ward alderman Edward Sonsalla who is unopposed. Filing for the mayoral post was Eugene Killian.
Circuit Judge Merrill Farr has at last handed down a decision, dismissing the so-called James Leavitt Petition. This petition would have required that all electors in both Gale-Ettrick and the Trempealeau school districts be allowed to vote in the referendum to decide if the Centerville-Tamarack area would be detached from the Trempealeau District and attached to the G-E District. Leavitt had petitioned last September, which would have required the county clerk to include in the referendum the remainder of the Trempealeau School District.
Deer damage to an area orchard has recently caused concern for both the apple grower and area sportsmen. Meeting last Monday evening the Volunteer Trout Project voted unanimously to endorse a letter signed by club president, Leon Sacia, which points out the problem. The Volunteer Trout Project members, who showed concern for the destruction of both deer and orchard decided to circulate a petition to ask the Department of Natural Resources to erect a fence around the orchards in concern, the Jay Spittler Orchards.
(75 YEARS AGO) Jan. 25, 1945 - The new constitution of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church received final approval at the annual meeting held Thursday evening. Passed at two annual meetings as required, the new constitution gives women the power to vote for the first time in the congregation’s history.
At a recent meeting of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees held at Merrillan, James P. Skroch of Independence was elected president and Rudolph Hagen of Whitehall, secretary-treasurer. John Pampuch and Paul Jonietz of Independence were chosen as sentinels, and Walter Magnuson of Whitehall and James Skroch and Adolph Maule were named to the executive committee.
By an overwhelming majority of the membership, the Pigeon Falls U.L. congregation voted at its annual meeting Thursday to build a new church. A building fund committee was chosen, consisting of Oluf Lovlien, Palmer Ackley, Menick Ringlien, Orvil Eid, Eddie Goplin, Palmer Hanson and William Skoyen. The building committee will be E.A. Sletteland, Andrew Lovlien, Bennie Berg, John A. Berge and M.C. Sletteland.
The following program will be given at the Fuller Coulee Community Club meeting Friday evening: Delores Hanson, piano solo; Palmer Hanson, reading; Adeline Lundberg, vocal solo; Adeline Myren, news; Shirley Kastad and Delores Hanson, song; Helen Lundberg, piano solo; and Edna Langseth, talk.
A car driven by Rosanne Bates was struck by a horse near Elk Creek. The car suffered approximately $100 in damages as the result of the collision. The horse suffered minor injuries and Bates and her passenger, Katherine Arnez, were not injured.
The Tri-County Medical society welcomed new members from Buffalo, Trempealeau and Jackson counties. Dr. Elizabeth Comstock of Arcadia is the newly-elected president of the organization.
(100 YEARS AGO) Jan. 29, 1920 - The application of the Lincoln Farmers Telephone Co. for authority to increase its rates from $8 to $15 per year and to be allowed to charges $3 for moving, installing or changing the type of phone in use, was disposed of by authorizing the annual rate, but allowing only $2 for the other fees. The company was directed to charge the same rate to stockholders as non-stockholders. The company serves 275 subscribers and switches 19 others.
Dr. E.A. MacCornack, president of the board of health, state that the flu ban has been extended a week longer. There is a very noticeable abatement of flu cases and no deaths have been reported. If conditions continue to improve as they have the past two days, schools may resume again next Monday. There will be no church services Sunday, and until Monday at least public entertainments and gatherings of all kinds are barred.
Next Monday is Candlemas Day, also known as groundhog day. If the animal sees his shadow, six weeks more of winter must be endured. If he does not — well, better keep the buck saw sharp and the snow shovel handy just the same.
Harvey E. Abend of Independence was granted an assistant pharmacist’s certificate at a meeting of the State Board of Pharmacy at Madison this week.
A wrestling match will be held at the Opera House in Arcadia. Sailor “Bud” Frisk and Thor Jensen will be matched for the mat. These men are both popular wrestlers and will give local fans a clean contest. Albert Soppa will wrestle with William Hanson for the local championship.
The Wisconsin Conservation Commission is seriously considering a closure to the deer and muskrat season because of the high amount of animals which have been harvested. The commission considered the season closure to avert the extinction of the animals in this area.
A law enacted by the last legislature required owners of bulls to keep such animals in an enclosure by themselves during summer months, after a bull has reached six months of age. Bulls cannot be permitted to run at large in pastures, even through the owner’s land.
G.D. Arnold’s Marinuka farm of 55 acres and a fine farm residence was sold to Alfred Twesme for $20,000.
Country roads are so blocked that auto travel is about suspended. Doctors make the rounds partially by sleigh, although their cars are used on main roads.
Many meetings and programs have been cancelled because of influenza. Mumps are also going the rounds.
(125 YEARS AGO) Jan. 24, 1895 - Whitehall has again suffered a destructive fire. On Tuesday morning about two o’clock fire was discovered in the Rogers block on Main St. The fire engine was brought to the scene, but was out of repair and of but little use. The building was then a mass of flames and beyond the power of any water system to save. The efforts of the crowd were then turned to saving Scott’s store building on the opposite side of the street, in which they were successful, thanks to a brisk wind from the west. In an hour the fire was over with and a glowing bed of coals from Main to Abrams St. indicated its extent, the Rogers block, the Solsrud and Engen and P.L. Solberg saloons and the Swarthout buildings being destroyed. The escape from total destruction was as narrow as will ever occur in Whitehall.
Sven Pederson, a Scandinavian about 50 years of age, who had been laying about town drinking for a few days, was killed by the east-bound passenger train on the second curve east of town Monday morning. His only relative in this section was a sister in the town of Hale, who came and viewed the corpse Tuesday, but did not wish to take charge of it. Accordingly, it was taken in charge by the town authorities and interred in the village cemetery.. There was $15 on the deceased’s person, which covered the expense of the burial.
The Clarions, the traveling prohibition quartet, gave two of their concerts here, closing Sunday at the M.E. church. They were well patronized and gave satisfaction.
Blair — Omer Immell jumped 19 feet on ice skates last Saturday. Those not inclined to believe this statement can lose money at any time by betting that the gentleman is not capable of performing this feat.
