From Our Early Files August 23, 2023
25 YEARS AGO
August 27, 1998
About 25 people attended a public informational meeting last week concerning a new state law that requires people convicted of sex-related crimes to register in the communities where they live. Many of those attending last week’s meeting, held at the Whitehall City Center, were law enforcement officials or employees of other government agencies that are affected by the law. But there were also a number of daycare providers and representatives of one neighborhood watch group.
The Whitehall school board approved the hiring of Susan Speltz as associate principal for sixth-through-12th grades. The board action changed the contract under which Speltz, who had been special education coordinator, is employed. She will be paid the same salary, but will be on a 210-day, instead of a 12-month, contract.
Danyelle Snyder, daughter of Dan and Michelle Snyder of Whitehall, was crowned 1998 Little Miss Whitehall.
Libraries in the area are among those benefiting from a program aimed at helping Trempealeau County families. The Promoting Safe and Stable Families project has awarded each public library in Trempealeau County $900.
Bryce Klopotek, son of Sherry and Wayne Kopotek of Arcadia, will be leaving for London, England for three months. A junior at St. Mary’s College in Winona, Minn., Klopotek leaves Sept. 3 and will return Dec. 9. “I want to be the president of the United States,” Klopotek said. “I firmly believe that this experience will allow me to learn more about other cultures and that will give me some insight to the problems people of people who live in other countries.”
Arcadia resident Roman Patzner has been working as an intern this summer in the La Crosse office of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold.
The Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau School District is welcoming four new teachers for the 1998-99 school year. New at the high school will be Deanne Luther, science; Jon Johnson, science and Davina Lawson, vocal music. Debra Welander will be the new vocal music teacher at Trempealeau Elementary and Middle school.
The Ecumenical Gospel Choir, under the direction of Robyn Docken, will present the “Concert in the Square” at 7 p.m. on Sept. 2. The concert is free and will beheld rain or shine. The choir will sing 19 selections.
The Lake District Commission met Aug. 12 to discuss and continue planning dredging of Lake Marinuka. The commission said they plan on continuing with the process beginning this fall with the containment sight preparation and in the spring of 1999 with dredging taking place soon after ice is gone.
50 YEARS AGO
August 30, 1973
Burglars entered Ray’s Vickers Service Station on Ervin Street in Whitehall Sunday night, prying open several doors and taking about $150 from an unlocked safe. Police Chief George Fromm said two suspects were questioned and released on Monday.
About 200 people attended the dedication ceremonies held Saturday for the new Pigeon Falls fire station and community center. State Sen. Raymond Johnson was the main speaker at the dedication of the $500,000 facility.
Negotiators for the Whitehall Teachers Association and the Whitehall district school board reached agreement on a 1973-74 master contract last week Wednesday, three months after talks had started. The contract was settled when the teachers dropped their demand for changes in the language of the 1972-73 contract, which was settled in May. The new contract will pay a beginning teacher $7,600 per year, up $150 from the current contract.
Classes at the Arcadia Catholic School began last Wednesday with 341 students reporting, a decrease of 26 from the opening day enrollment a year ago. The unofficial count for the Arcadia Public School is 1,016, an increase from 981 on opening day a year ago.
Mrs. C.J. (Janet) Smith carded the first ladies’ hole-in-one at the Arcadia Country Club since grass greens were installed in 1965. She accomplished the feat using a four-wood on the 140-yard par three eighth hole. The only other known women’s ace was shot on sand greens about 15 years ago by Mrs. John (Dorothy) Quinn, now of Galesville.
The nursing home for Southern Trempealeau County in Galesville has experienced many setbacks in the past six months, but the hope for a home is still being pursued by the board of directors and others interested in the project.
The Trempealeau Volunteer Fire Department recently took second place in the water fight held in Holmen during Corn Fest. They were defeated by the Bangor Fire Department in the championship fight.
75 YEARS AGO
August 26, 1948
For the benefit of a swimming pool fund for Whitehall, the Lions Club is planning a huge local talent show to be given Thursday and Friday, Sept. 9 and 10, at the City Hall auditorium. Whitehall’s 18 most talented girls are being selected to represent the Roxy Rockettes,” the singing and dancing chorus of the show.
Three new business places have opened in Whitehall this month. The dining room in the Walgert Hotel, closed after the W.R. Hauges sold the hotel to Mr. and Mrs. Harold Everson, has reopened under the management of Ernest Davidson, who has added a coffee shop operation as well. Lee Johnson has opened a grocery store in the Mrs. A.W. Wright building, formerly occupied by the popcorn and Karmel Korn shop. The East Side Grocery has been opened by Mr. and Mrs. William Lietz.
During the hot, dry weather we are now experiencing, from which there appears to be no immediate relief, water users are requested to observe the city ordinance which forbids sprinkling laws and gardens, except between the hours of 5 and 9 p.m. Any person violating this ordinance is subject to a fine of $10.
A new law firm has been formed in Trempealeau County and began operating as such Sept. 1 with offices in Arcadia, Galesville and Osseo. The partners are C.E. Fugina and LaVern Kostner of Arcadia, John Quinn of Galesville and John Ward of Osseo.
Jackie is the name of the pet crow that has made his home with the Lewis Witt family in the town of Lincoln the past 10 years. Miss Elsie Witt, who when she is not home is the chief “hello” girl at the Community Telephone Co. office in Whitehall, is one of his favorites. Miss Florence Witt, who stays at home, is Jackie’s favorite; he will come and perch on her shoulder at her call.
Rodney Rohrer of Alma has been engaged as band director at Whitehall High School, completing the staff of 20 teachers for the new term which opens Sept. 7.
Jeff Larson’s milk pasteurizing plant will open Sept. 1, ready to provide the public with Grade A milk, raw milk, coffee and whipping cream, buttermilk, chocolate milk and, in the near future, cottage cheese. A milk route will be established with deliveries to residences before 6:30 a.m. and to business places as soon as they open for the day. A closing truck, painted white, will be used for making deliveries.
Arcadia Woodmen of the World Life Insurance society is sponsoring a doubleheader bill at the city ballpark under the lights this Friday night. The feature attraction will be a donkey softball game. First on the program is a softball game between the Lewis Valley Cabbagebusters and the Rainey Valley Fencebreakers, to begin promptly at 7:30 p.m. The donkey softball game is expected to begin at approximately 8:15 p.m.
100 YEARS AGO
August 30, 1923
The meetings that have been held in the tent on the Whitehall school grounds the past three weeks have been well attended, and the public has taken great interest in them. Services have been conducted every night except Saturdays, and this Sunday’s will be the closing day of the campaign.
Last Saturday, a gentleman from West Salem, driving a new Velie roadster, stopped at Fransen and Seesen’s garage to have some adjustment made to the engine. After Mr. Seesen had made the adjustment, the driver stepped on the running board and turned the ignition key to test the engine. He apparently had left the auto in gear, and it started off, the man falling off as it gained speed, headed for the mill bridge. The car made a sudden turn towards the footbridge, which stopped its momentum and toppled it into the ravine. The windshield was broken and the top twisted, but otherwise there was no damage.
Chas. Briggs lost one of his large draft horses that he drove on his patrol route on No. 11. The loss splits a fine team, well mated and well matched.
O.C. Torson, Rev. Hofstad and C.J. Van Tassel, the committee appointed to supervise the grading of the schoolhouse grounds, have men at work and have greatly improved the appearance of the building. The work is well done, and with the covering of green grass, which will come in time, our school building and grounds will be one of the beauty spots of our village.
Elk Creek — P.O. Pederson has resigned his position at the Elk Creek Milling Co. He has been a faithful worker, having had charge of the mill for many years. We can safely say that there will be a splendid field open here for a miller, as the farmers in the surrounding territory are realizing more and more the value of feeding their animals, and acting accordingly.
York — Owing to cloudy weather Sunday, many people did not come to the community picnic. The program was brief, but exceptionally good, Ole Eggum and Wm. Dettinger each giving a good speech.
A noon time fire on the Con Weaver farm in Holcomb Coulee destroyed the family home and all its contents.
Fire also destroyed a separator and huller owned by Adam Zeller on the Frank Slaby farm.
Jim Hanson, well known farmer and thresher in Newcomb Valley, lost part of his foot in a threshing accident.
Mrs. Ferdinand Krackow of the town of Glencoe was seriously injured when attacked by an enraged bull on the family farm.
125 YEARS AGO
August 25, 1898
Next week Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday occurs the 12th-annual Whitehall fair, the prospects for which have never been better. Every person who has stock or produce of merit should not hesitate to bring it to the fair and compete for the liberal premiums afforded. The Whitehall fair is not a race meeting but a farmers’ fair, and although considerable attention must necessarily be given to horse racing and other amusements and attractions, the prime object of the fair — the advancement of the farmer — is not forgotten by any means.
C.G. Beach and George Quackenbush were considerably injured last week while pulling on a rope attached to a tree which was being taken out on Main Street to make way for C.E. Scott’s new brick building. The rope broke and the crowd of men pulling on it were forcibly jostled together.
Miss Benson will open a 10-cent lunch room at her house on Scranton Street, where she will furnish lunches during the fair. She hopes for a liberal share of patronage.
More than 100 Whitehall people, accompanied by our band, took the excursion train this morning to attend the Arcadia fair. The day is fine, and the big crowd of jolly county seaters will have a splendid time.
You may legally fish for trout until Sept. 1, when all good citizens will hang up the rod, and if they feel so disposed, can shoulder a gun and hunt prairie chickens.
Blair -- Charlie Knudtson is marketing the remnant of his apple crop, something like 150 bushels. He lost about 200 bushels at the time of the tornado which passed over his farm in July. During that wind storm, his 30- by 52-foot barn, which was filled with hay, was moved three inches off its foundation.
