From Our Early Files Aug. 2, 2023
25 YEARS AGO
Aug. 6, 1998
Homes in rural West Virginia are looking better these days as the result of the efforts of area teenagers and adult volunteers. Megan Bender, Crystal Heath, Theresa Shilts and Rebecca Ziebarth of Whitehall, Briana Sura and Angela Holty of Independence, Hannah Galewski of Trempealeau and Andy Bulman of Spring Grove, Minn., spent July 19-25 in Lincoln County, W. Va. They were among nearly 400 people participating in a Group Workcamps project. The teens, all associated with the First Baptist Church of Whitehall were accompanied by chaperones Virgil and Linda Dick and Dawn and Darla Fossum.
Part-time Whitehall policeman Bruce Halama will be hired as the fourth full-time officer on the city police department. The city council voted unanimously to hire Halama as the new officer. The fourth policeman is being added under the Community Oriented Policing Services, a federal program that will pay part of the officer’s wages and fringe benefits for the first three years.
Randy and Kari Tollefson recently opened their Tollefson Automotive Center on Highway 121 in Northfield, at the site of the former Amundson Shell service station.
The Pigeon Falls village board Monday night cleared the way for the planned Pigeon Creek dam renovation, authorizing the demolition of the old mill building. The board accepted an offer from George Frei of rural Whitehall to demolish and remove the building. In exchange for salvaging the building materials, Frei will make a $500 donation to the dam project fund.
The Arcadia Raiders baseball team sat in their dugout after they had suffered their last, and perhaps toughest, loss of the season as they were defeated by Ashland 6-1 in the first game of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association State Tournament in Stevens Point. The loss marked the fifth time the Raiders have been defeated in the first round of the state tournament. “We’re not sick of being down here, but we are sick of losing that first game,” Arcadia coach Paul Anderson said.
Results of free water testing in Caledonia and Trempealeau townships suggest that nitrate levels are elevated, said Pat Malone of the University Extension Office, which performed the tests. The high nitrate levels were more significant in Caledonia, she said. Forty-three samples were tested in Caledonia, which represented 38 wells. Of those, 28 samples exceed the health standard.
After hearing comments both for and against allowing a two-family dwelling on a Second Street property, the Trempealeau village board was unable to vote on the issue because the item was not on Monday night’s agenda. The board told those who spoke in favor and against granting a conditional use permit at 24767 West Second Street that their comments had been recorded and would be considered before they make their decision at a special village board meeting. Property owners Dave and Nancy Rolbiecki would like to remove an existing doublewide mobile home that is 40 years old and build a two-family duplex on the property. Neighbors said they did not want a two-family home in their neighborhood because it would create more traffic and parking problems.
John P. McCain, 41, Trempealeau, was killed in a car accident on Highway 93 in the town of Trempealeau on Friday night.
50 YEARS AGO
August 9, 1973
Whitehall city officials were trying to determine the next step in straightening out the city’s sewage problems, after bids on a new wastewater treatment plant came in at nearly double the estimates. The city is under a state order to improve sewage treatment.
Candidates for the title of Beef and Dairy Days queen this year are Beth Anderson, Peggy Blaha, Julie Briggs, Kay Clipper, Andrea Granlund, Lana Guinn, Wendy Humphrey, Debbie Julson, Sue Kopp, Jane Matchey, Holly Schaefer, Carmen Sosalla, Karen Suchla and Julie Thorson.
Ken Stellpflug, Whitehall High athletic director, has accepted the position of head football coach, succeeding Clark Berg, who resigned six weeks ago.
Richard Korpal is being hired as manager of the Arcadia Country Club.
There were crazy things happening in Arcadia on Saturday during the second annual Crazy Days as business owners throughout the city dressed up in celebration of the annual event. Prizes awarded for the promotion include: $25 first place prize to Mr. and Mrs. Don Le Gros, Vogue Theatre; $15 to Elayne Pagen, Ralph’s Bar; $10 to Lois Kaiser, Co-Op Food store; $5 to Dianna Pronschinske, Dianna’s Fashion Hut.
Trempealeau Little League players are proud possessors of a trophy they earned when they were named league champions, finishing the year with a 7-1 record. They are coached by Dennis Blank. The trophy will be placed in the trophy case at the Junior High School in Trempealeau.
Mrs. Joel Underheim of La Crosse has been selected by the management committee as the judge for the 13th annual Flower Show of the Garden of Eden Club. She has experience in judging shows and will bring her own assistant.
75 YEARS AGO
August 5, 1948
Damage estimated at $2,000 by Fire Chief Einar Kildahl was done to the Leslie Hestekin home on Ellis Street on Monday. All the Hestekins’ furniture and personal belongings were removed from the home, but the roof and ceilings are a complete loss. Mr. Hestekin says he does not believe he will repair the house, as it is old and not well insulated.
Scores of Trempealeau County residents spent last Sunday on historic ground, attending the old settlers’ picnic held at Perrot State Park as the fourth number of the county’s state centennial observance. It was at the site of the park that Nicholas Perrot, trader and diplomat, landed in 1685 and built a fort.
Clarence H. Johnson, who some time ago announced his candidacy for Trempealeau County sheriff, and subsequently filed his nominating papers, announced Thursday that he is withdrawing his candidacy. Mr. Johnson has been appointed clerk of the Selective Service Board for Buffalo, Jackson and Trempealeau counties.
Preliminary plans were made at a meeting held at the courthouse Monday for a three-day fall festival which will be held Sept. 24-26 at Arcadia, under the sponsorship of the county association of conservation clubs. Proceeds from the festival will be used for a pheasant-raising project which has been started by the association.
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Halverson have purchased Firpo’s Cafe from Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Steen, and took over the business Sunday. Mr. Steen plans to take a rest. He has operated the restaurant the past two years.
A well has been drilled on the Daniel Davidson place in Irvin Coulee by Frank Kube of Arcadia. It is a great convenience to the Davidson family, who heretofore had to haul their water some distance from a spring.
Verna Hanson, 12-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Art Hanson, Arcadia, was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital for treatment of injuries received in a car accident on Main Street in front of the telephone company building in Arcadia on Sunday night. She was released the next morning.
H.R. Vogel purchased the corner lot on Washington Street in Arcadia across from the W.P. Massuere company store last week. He plans to erect a modern garage building on the site and expects to begin work on it in the near future.
100 YEARS AGO
August 9, 1923
Much comment is heard on the streets in regard to the condition of our tourist camp. The various patrolmen are building and caring for camps on their patrol routes, which offer better accommodations and present a more inviting appearance than the camp provided by the county seat. Perhaps some may think it good enough, but a little money and labor expended to make the ground more pleasant would be well worth while. Let’s give Whitehall a tourist camp that we are not ashamed of.
Oscar W. Elstad was the first in this village to receive the news of the death of President Harding. He tuned up his radio at 10 p.m. Thursday to entertain honor guests, and the first flash was the announcement of the passing of the head of the nation.
The banks of Trempealeau County will close on tomorrow afternoon, the day on which President Harding’s funeral is to be held.
Honest Bill’s America’s Best Shows will spread its thousands of yards of canvas and give two complete performances at Whitehall next Wednesday. This show represents more wealth than any other overland show, and is absolutely the largest in America, carrying over 100 head of performing horses, mules and ponies, 100 tumblers, acrobats, benders, trapeze and playing performers, large animals, and a Wild West Arena.
Mr. and Mrs. F.D. Hopkins received a beautiful mural painting yesterday, the work of their son Harley, the one for which he received $300 in a recent contest. It is certainly a magnificent work of art, the canvas 10 feet long and four feet high, the subject taken from the ancient Egyptian.
The Sons of Norway picnic held at the park last Sunday was attended by about 700 people, eight lodges being represented.
Rev. Clough has suspended publication of his paper, The Gazette, at Eleva, and is moving his plant to Granton, Clark County. Mr. Clough has given the people of Eleva a nice, clean local paper, and Granton citizens are fortunate in getting him there.
125 YEARS AGO
August 4, 1898
Little Grace Towner was quite badly cut on the leg Tuesday by falling on a broken bottle. Dr. Parker took a couple stitches, and the wound is doing nicely.
John O. Melby and son Charlie returned Saturday from attendance at the Monona Lake assembly, riding down from Merrillan on their wheels. They report a delightful time at the assembly.
The carpenter work on Ludvig Solsrud’s new residence is completed, and the painters are expected to finish painting the interior this week, when Mr. Solsrud will move his family into one of the coziest homes in the village.
The harvest dance which took place at Woodmen Hall Friday night was attended by 40 couples, and it was a very enjoyable terpsichorean affair. C.A. Southworth, O.E. Stevens and Mrs. E.A. Southworth furnished music for the occasion.
The committee selected at the last meeting of the county boards, consisting of Messrs. H.A. Anderson, D. Wood and Peter Nelton, to contract for putting in a highway bridge across the Trempealeau River near the Wood farm in this town, let the job to L.H. Johnson of Minneapolis for $1,200. It is to be a single-span, 100-foot iron bridge, exclusive of approaches, with iron tubular abutments filled with oak piling and concrete, and to be completed by Aug. 20. W.J. Webb furnishes the piling and plank to be used in its construction.
E.N. Trowbridge went to Trempealeau Saturday to enjoy a few days’ outing with his family, who are camping at the favorite summer resort.
Independence -- Odin Kaurin returned this week from the gold mines of Alaska, where he has been the past five months. We have been unable to find out whether he has made any great “speck” up there or not, but he is certainly much poorer in flesh, if not financially.
Blair -- O.H. Lokken and John O. Gilbert, who have the job of painting the store building lately put up by Steen, Halverson and Co. at Northfield, spent Sunday with their families in this village.
