From Our Early Files Dec. 13, 2023
25 YEARS AGO
December 17, 1998
The Whitehall Volunteer Fire Department members moved into the new station, located in the Westside Commercial Park on Dec. 1. The station was built with the help of a 60 percent Community Development Block Grant from the state Department of Commerce. The state grant was for a maximum of about $187,000, based on the original, $300,000 estimated cost of the steel-type building. The building committee opted instead for a larger, concrete-block structure that came in at just under $350,000.
The Whitehall city council last week Tuesday all but closed out the contract for the new family aquatic center. The council approved a pay request in the amount of $17,977.82. That left not quite $5,000 left on the $1.1 million contract.
Two University of Oslo staff members looked over the facilities at Tri-County Memorial Hospital and Gundersen Lutheran Clinic in Whitehall to see if it would be a good place to send Norwegian medical students. The Whitehall hospital and clinic has served as training sites for UO med students for several years.
Things have changed a lot in Arcadia since Angie Wolfe first started writing her personal column in the News-Leader in 1948. “I got to know a lot of people and their nicknames,” Wolfe said. But things are different now. “A lot of people tell me they don’t want their personal happenings in the news.” She laughs when she recalls that Mrs. Gauger, the wife of editor Elmer Gauger, would go to the beauty shop and all people wanted to do was talk about Angie’s Names in the News column. “She and her husband put all their work into the front page and people would talk about my column.”
The Arcadia city council last Thursday gave approval to an amendment of the sewer use ordinance that reduces residential sewer effluent flow charges. Former acting city clerk Ryan Sheehy said that increased commercial and industrial use allowed the residential rate to be lowered.
The town of Gale will not allow the development of a mobile home park on the Charles Murphy property. Murphy brought the proposal to the town board on Dec. 9, requesting permission to sell land he owns to a developer.
This is a record-breaking year. Never before in the 60 years of Lake Marinuka’s recording history has it taken this long for the 70-acre body of water to freeze over.
Tom Pulse of Ayres Associates assured residents and Galesville city council members that reddish-brown water coming out of the faucet flowing from the new well was “not a health hazard.” But resident Debra Becker Galewski countered that the discolored water entering her home was a financial hazard to her family. She said they had to replace a two-year-old water heater. She said she’s had to wash and re-wash clothing to remove stains left by the water. “Do we have any financial redress?” She asked the council. The question was not answered directly, but Pulse assured her that the problem was temporary.
50 YEARS AGO
December 20, 1973
Prosecution of drunk drivers came under criticism from some police chiefs in the county during a meeting of the Trempealeau County Highway Safety Committee held last week Tuesday. Several of the municipal officers attended the meeting at the invitation of committee chairman Fred Berns, and expressed their frustrations.
The Whitehall city council last week approved the reassessment of city property sought by City Assessor Clarence Mathson. Mathson had appeared at two previous council meetings requesting the reassessment, saying that it was necessary because the city assessment rate has slipped to about 67 percent of market value.
Whitehall kept Independence winless in Dairyland Conference action Friday, beating the Indees 67-41. Barry Sosalla had 18 points for the Norse.
Property taxpayers in the town of Arcadia will find a reduction of $5.37 per thousand of assessed valuation on their January tax bills, according to figures released this week by Emil Pierzina, town clerk. The lower tax bill is a result of a combination of increased state credits and township evaluation and decrease in millage rates for several units of government.
Purchase of a used Wausau snowblower for $3,650 from Universal Equipment Supply Company of La Crosse received approval of Arcadia city councilmen at the regular December meeting Thursday night.
Arcadia Chief of Police Edward Kaiser had some advice this week concerning the problem of drunken drivers during the holiday season. “We encourage those who drink to take along a non-drinker who will do the driving,” Kaiser said. ‘We are concerned not only with automobiles, but also with snowmobiles.” He also urged the cooperation of bartenders and holiday party hosts in seeing that those who drink too much are driven safely home by someone who has not imbibed too much.
The Galesville city council authorized the city’s mayor and clerk to sign a construction contract for the new nursing home. The contract was signed on Dec. 14 and Mayor Myhre turned the first shovel.
Because of the number of problems facing the Galesville Golf Club, its directors have voted to investigate the possibility of selling the golf course to a private interest. The land is owned by the city with the golf club leasing the facilities. Councilmen are interested in views and comments from the people of Galesville. No decision has been made yet.
All members of the Ettrick Volunteer Fire Department were reelected at the 44th annual meeting. They are Lyle Krackow, chief; Henry Knutson, captain; Ronald Terpening, secretary; John Sorenson, assistant secretary; Robert Ofsdahl, assistant chief and treasurer. There are 29 members.
75 YEARS AGO
December 16, 1948
The high school tuition bill charged against the townships in Trempealeau County will total $110,144.28, according to County Clerk H.M. Johnson. No charge is made against the town of Unity, because that area is included in a union free high school district. The tax apportioned to townships in this area is: Burnside, $6,142.37; Hale, $12,099.90; Lincoln, $4,680.13; Pigeon, $7,393.79; Preston, $9,393.79.
Harold Everson, proprietor of the Walgert Hotel, announces that repairs and redecorating have been completed following the Nov. 3 fire, and roomers are now being accommodated. The restaurant and dining room, operated by Ernest Davidson, will reopen this coming Monday.
Delta Air Lines announces that Miss Josephine Joan Sylla of Whitehall has been employed as a flight stewardess. The daughter of Henry J. Sylla of Pigeon, Miss Sylla attended St. Mary’s school of nursing and previously was employed as child nurse at Whitehall Community Hospital. She is a graduate of the McConnell stewardess school at Minneapolis.
Strum citizens voted 191 to 57 Wednesday to incorporate as a village.
St. Paul’s Evangelical Church of German Valley and St. John’s Lutheran Church of Arcadia have released the Rev. H.W. Neubauer from his services as pastor. Rev. Neubauer has accepted a call to serves congregations of the same synod at Prairie Farm and Dallas.
Arcadia basketball fans will have a real treat in store next Monday when the Harlem Globetrotters come to the new armory for a game with Headquarters Co., Arcadia National Guard unit.
A 17-year-old boy was fatally injured in a wood cutting accident Friday. He was cutting wood with his brother and father and was crushed when a tree fell on him. He was rushed to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Arcadia, but died shortly after arriving there.
The ladies of St. Stanislaus Church in Arcadia will serve another dinner and supper on Sunday afternoon and evening.
100 YEARS AGO
December 20, 1923
The new Whitehall High School gymnasium was packed for its official opening Monday night, by people who had a very enjoyable evening. The parade Monday afternoon was somewhat of a surprise, so there weren’t as many people there as would have been otherwise, although many were awoken from their afternoon naps by the big brass bands and came out to see what was going on. The sale of tickets, all purchased by Whitehall businessmen, and the profit from food sales will equal about $240, which amount, less advertising, will be spent for gymnasium and dressing room equipment.
Last week Sunday the creamery at York was entered during the night and three tubs of butter taken. A search around the building revealed the tracks of three men, which led to where an automobile had stood. It happened that the car had peculiar tread tires, and the track was followed to Osseo, where the village marshal was informed, and later assisted in locating the guilty parties. They were farmers living north of Osseo, and were taken to Black River Falls, where they are awaiting trial before Judge Crosby.
The protracted drought was broken last night by a bountiful rain that continued the greater part of the night. The ground is not frozen, and Mother Earth absorbed the generous portions, much to the delight of the farming element.
Ted Olson received a 1923 star salesman pin from the Delco-Light people. Ted recently sold a light plant and washing machine to Melvin Hill, plants to Nels Nelson of Lakes Coulee, B.A. Austad and Norval Hanson of Tappen Coulee and Gabe Gilbertson of Irvin Coulee, and a plant and pump to Knut Lynghammer at the Beach store near Ettrick.
The Union church is established in Whitehall, comprising the Methodist and Presbyterian congregations, with services each Sunday morning at 11 a.m. in the Presbyterian church.
Abner Phillipson badly damaged his Oakland Six while driving home from skating in Independence. He turned to the side of the road to let another car pass and caught a guard post, which stripped the fenders, running board and rear wheel completely off. There were several other boys in the car, but no one was hurt.
125 YEARS AGO
December 15, 1898
J.J. Herb has a few more Christmas trees for sale.
Everson and Vold shipped seven carloads of hay and one of clover seed last week.
John Wellan returned home Friday from a visit his old home at Norway. He was 10 days on the ocean homeward bound.
Testimony is being taken at the courthouse before Justice Ecker in a case against Wm. Hauert, a saloonkeeper at Arcadia, charged with selling liquor to a man who had been blacklisted.
Charlie Rumsey took charge of the village light plant Saturday night. Frank Porter, who ran the plant from the time it started until succeeded by Mr. Rumsey, gave excellent satisfaction as an electrician and left the employ of the village with a good record for service to the village and the patrons of the municipality.
The Whitehall village board met in regular session Monday night. The bond of C.J. Rumsey was accepted and contract approved. Mr. Best of the American House was given permission to run all the lights in the hotel at a rate of $4.50 per month.
Blair — Knudt Fjeld was “run in” Saturday by Marshal Mayer for drunk and disorderly conduct, and remained in the village lockup over Sunday. Monday, Police Justice Sly taxed up $9.30 as fine and costs against him, which he paid out of $10 borrowed from a friend. With the remaining 70 cents he started another booze. Getting pretty well shot at, he imagined the police were after him again, and leaving his team in the street, took leg-bail down the railroad track on a roundabout course for home. The following day, his son came to town and drove the team home.
Pigeon Falls — A skating club has been organized at this place, which is keeping a place on the ice free from snow. Dudvik Melbye has the contract for removing the snow.
Independence — James Back had the misfortune Monday, while assisting on the wood sawing machine, to slip and strike his hand on the saw, nearly severing two fingers.
