From Our Early Files August 9, 2023
25 YEARS AGO
August 13, 1998
Whitehall School District residents attending the annual meeting turned down a request to sell the school forest. The 10 district electors attending Monday’s meeting voted unanimously to keep the 44-acre portion of the forest sought by the town of Northfield. The 64-acre forest property, which is located in the Jackson County township, was inherited by the Whitehall school system when parts of the former Hixton district were consolidated into it more than 35 years ago. This was the second time in six years that voters have elected not to sell the property.
Gary and Shelby Kupka will hold a grand opening this Saturday at their Dunnloggen Saloon, 36420 Main Street, Whitehall. The Kupkas purchased the former Hank and Ann’s Bar from Henry and Ann Sosalla in July and opened for business on Aug. 1.
Candidates for Little Miss Whitehall this year are Courtney Kotlarz, Chelsey Frei, Marissa Svoboda, Nicole Moen, McKenzee Bortle, Megan Felix, Julie Oates, Danyelle Snyder and Jodee Taylor.
Officials at Gold’n Plump Poultry are currently in the process of trying to purchase a former Chippewa Falls pizza plant and turn it into a processing plant for items which are being created at the processing plant in Arcadia. According to Julie Berling, a member of GNP’s communications staff, the company is currently awaiting approval of the purchase from the Chippewa Falls city council. The company requires a special permit, which would allow meat processing in the city’s industrial park.
A sex offender registration meeting will be held on Aug. 7 at the Whitehall City Center Community Room. The panel of presenters will include Daniel Schreiner, chief deputy, Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department; Larry Estenson, Whitehall Police Department chief of police; William Nemer, Trempealeau County Assistant District Attorney; Joe Fitzpatrick, Pat Below, Larry Liegel and Marylee Doud, Wisconsin Department of Corrections; Debby Garson, Trempealeau County Victim Witness Coordinator; Michael Wineski, county sheriff’s department and Don Hellrung, moderator.
The Galesville planning commission voted not to allow underground petroleum storage tanks or a convenience store at the former Ace Hardware story, 17464 N. Main St.
At age 81, Mildren Olsen, Galesville, renewed her teacher’s aide contract at Galesville Elementary for the 1998-99 school year. She began her teaching career 62 years ago, in the fall of 1936 at Glasgow rural school. It was a one-room schoolhouse and “we didn’t have a gym teacher, a music teacher or a janitor,” Olsen said.
At a special meeting Monday night the village of Trempealeau granted Dave and Nancy Rolbiecki a conditional use permit to build a two-family home at 24767 West Second St.
50 YEARS AGO
August 16, 1973
Four adults accompanying a group of area Luther Leaguers were robbed at gun-point in the lobby of their Kansas City, Mo., motel early Friday morning. Among them were The Rev. Clifford Ritland of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church and Lillian Magnuson of Whitehall, who each lost about $50 in cash and a wrist watch. Two of the Our Saviour’s youth who made the trip to the national Luther League convention in Houston, Texas, Kathleen Fischer and Kristi Preuss, arrived while the robbery was in progress and were forced into a back room, but the robbers were scared off when other Luther Leaguers began entering the lobby.
With a new coach and little time to prepare, the Whitehall High football team donned its pads and began contact work this week, after several days of conditioning and non-contact practices. Head Coach Ken Stellpflug has 36 players out for the sport this year.
Leo Schank, Arcadia, was elected a delegate for Wisconsin Dairies Cooperative during a meeting for producers in District 36 at Blair recently. Other delegates elected are Odell Borreson, Donald Estenson and Paul Ringlien, all of Whitehall; Lyle Bobo and Arden Skadahl, of Osseo and Russell Estenson of River Falls. Each of the delegates will represent 10 Wisconsin Dairies producers.
The fall term at Arcadia Public Schools will open with some changes on the faculty, reports Denis A. Kirkman, superintendent of schools. Robert Parker will teach government and social problems and coach. Don Smith will assume full-time duties in physical education. Miss Susan Vanderwalker will teach home economics. Miss Sonjia Sherman will teach health occupations and home economics.
Starting this Saturday, market space will be provided in Galesville’s Square to anyone who wishes space to sell garden produce or other items.
Galesville will have two top AA softball teams and the State Class B champions playing Wednesday night. At 6:30, Snappers fastpitch will play Club 95 of Hixton, who have been beaten only once this year and are the Class B champions. At 6 p.m., Menards of La Crosse will play Menards of Eau Claire.
75 YEARS AGO
August 12, 1948
As a result of the public hearing held at the Russell school in Chimney Rock to consider the school reorganization proposed for that area, the joint Buffalo and Trempealeau county school committee have decided to dissolve the Veum and a greater portion of the Russell and Borst Valley districts, and create a new district, which will include that part of the Rindahl district which lies in Trempealeau County.
The Trempealeau County committee on schools and printing met Friday and engaged Miss Jessie Hoogenhouse of Holmen as supervising teacher, succeeding Miss Ruth Schlichter of Hartland, resigned. Also hired, as clerk in the county superintendent’s office, was Miss Frances Nelson, daughter of the Alvin Nelsons of Pleasantville, succeeding Miss Verna Engum of Independence, also resigned.
The Whitehall city playground will close for the season on Aug. 14. The swimming beach will remain open, announces Thomas Larson, lifeguard.
D.A. Bensend has completed the modernizing of his Whitehall residence by installing an electric dishwasher and a garbage disposal unit.
Alvie Roseland of Lincoln, who lost his barn by fire a few weeks ago, does not intend to rebuild this fall. Mr. Roseland not only lost his barn but his entire hay crop, so he decided to sell his herd of cattle and his horses, and may even dispose of his flock of poultry. Mr. Roseland will build a barn before he restocks his farm.
Mrs. Albert Erickson of Pigeon Falls, a member of the committee of Wisconsin women, has accepted an invitation to be in charge of the women’s building at the state fairgrounds at Milwaukee Aug. 14. Mrs. Erickson has assisted in gathering historical costumes for the centennial display.
The Whitehall men’s golf club won the Tri-County Golf Association tournament held Monday on the Arcadia course. The victory entitles Whitehall to permanent possession of the MacCornack Trophy, donated to the Tri-County organization three years ago by Dr. R.L. MacCornack, with the provision that any team winning the tournament three consecutive years should have it permanently. Whitehall golfers competing this year were Jack and James DeBow, John O. Gilbertson, George and Hiram Hegge, Roy Huitfeldt, Clarence and Willie Johnson, Dr. MacCornack, Lyle Pavek, Dr. A.O. Torson and Alvin Windjue. Windjue tied the Arcadia course record a 30 for nine holes.
Mr. and Mrs. John Christ Jr. and sons, John and Jimmy of Peru, Neb., Mrs. Lillian Ticker and son, Redmond, and Mrs. Walter Wenger, Arcadia, were bruised and shaken in an accident which occurred about 5 p.m. on County Trunk E in Buffalo County. A pickup truck heading down the wrong side of the road contributed to the accident.
The A-G Cooperative Creamery was awarded a bronze leadership trophy to honor the firm’s outstanding sales achievement and service to agriculture during the last three months. The award, a bronze plaque, was presented by Cromer Houser, district salesman of the Ralston Purina Company. The Leadership Award is awarded quarterly to the winning Purina dealer in this district and the winner’s name appears on the plaque.
100 YEARS AGO
August 16, 1923
The exercises commemorating the last rites to President Harding were held at the Lutheran church in Whitehall last Friday afternoon. The church was appropriately decorated, a large picture of the president, draped in black, was the center of a setting of beautiful flowers. All business were closed during the time of this service, and flags at half-mast floated from the Village Hall, courthouse and other buildings.
The Honest Bill’s circus showed at Whitehall yesterday afternoon and evening, and everybody was well satisfied with the show. Everything advertised was shown, and no statement exaggerated their acts.
This afternoon and evening, Shaw’s Troubadours open the four-day Chautauqua at Pigeon Falls. Everyone here remembers when they were with the Travers-Wick people when that company gave Chautauqua programs at Whitehall, and will want to hear this delightful music.
Lester Brennom is employed by the county, assisting with the work of marking the highways.
Last Monday night, about 30 sportsmen assembled and took initial steps to reorganize a Whitehall area rod and gun club, which has been inactive for several years. Officers elected were J.E. Rhode, president; J. Orren Gilbertson, secretary; and Walter E. Risberg, treasurer.
This office acknowledges sample boxes of luscious strawberries, the product of the asylum gardens, with the compliments of Superintendent McKivergin.
Mr. and Mrs. John Sygulla were issued adoption papers by Judge Hensel Tuesday, by which Monica Mish becomes the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sygulla. Little Monica is fortunate in getting a lovely home.
John C. Wilken was awarded the contract for addition and rebuilding of the Methodist and Evangelical church at Independence. He also drew the plans and specifications for same.
125 YEARS AGO
August 11, 1898
The Odd Fellows have had nine electric lights placed in their hall.
Bicycle people are invited to meet in front of Anderson and Ekern’s office this evening at 7 o’clock.
Rogan is making some extensive improvements in the interior of his gallery, in keeping with his advanced ideas in all matters of artistic adornment.
A union Sunday school was held in the Allen grove east of the pond yesterday. A nice dinner was served and the young people enjoyed the sport and outing.
W.S. Kidder is having additional porch built on the north side of his Whitehall residence and the second story completed. Richard Mattson and crew are doing the work.
John O. Melby has had an electric light hung in his front yard, which is a nice thing.
The Whitehall village board is considering the advisability of sinking a well on the Sherwood hill near the reservoir for supplying water, and using a windmill of large power to raise it.
Fred Best is tearing down that old landmark, which recently served as the post office. It is not definitely known yet what Mr. Best intends to do with the space made vacant by its removal.
E. Berg is drilling a company of little boys in the manual of arms, and they are becoming quite proficient. If they do not get the tactics down pat, it will be the fault of their patients and skillful instructor.
A large delegation of wheelers of bother sexes assembled and paraded the principal streets on their silent steeds Thursday evening, making an imposing spectacle. There are many graceful riders here, and these wheel pageants will be of frequent occurrence.
