From Our Early Files Feb. 15, 2023


 

 

 

25 YEARS AGO

February 19, 1998

The Trempealeau County Board of Supervisors created a new office in the sheriff’s department and abolished one that had existed since the county was created. On a 14-3 vote, with two abstentions, the board created the position of chief deputy. The measures enacted also abolish the office of undersheriff – a post provided for in state statutes, which is appointed by the sheriff, an elected official. 

The Whitehall Family Aquatic Center got a little more expensive last week. The city council approved change orders for the new municipal facility — presently under construction — which will add not quite $14,500 of its $1.1-million cost. Most of that money will go to change the location of the stairs that will serve the amusement-park-type water slide that will be a feature of the new pool complex. 

With its multi-million-dollar renovations and expansion project moving to its final stage, Tri-County Memorial Hospital and nursing Home was on the move over the past week and a half. Several departments at the Whitehall facility have moved to their newly renovated areas since Feb. 9, including the emergency ward/Urgent Care, x-ray and pharmacy. Hospital patients and some nursing home residents were being relocated this week. 

The Arcadia city council approved the purchase of a video camera for the Arcadia Police Department to mount in one of their squad cars. Police Chief Pat Grzadzielewski said it would be a be very beneficial tool for his department. It would give him evidence for traffic stops and cut down on the amount of time which officers must spend in court for those citations. 

Coulee Region United Educators presented the Arcadia Education Foundation with the Coulee Region United Educators Merit Award. The local group was created in 1988 to help the Arcadia School District by providing guidance, involvement and financial support. 

The Galesville city council went into closed session Thursday night to discuss the proposals for Marynook property. No action on either of the two proposals the council received was taken after closed session. Besides the proposal from John and Pat Nickles, the council also received a proposal from John Spencer and his wife, Candice Hogden of Stevens Point. Hogden, formerly of Galesville, said she has family ties to the Marynook property. 

Voters in the Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau School District narrowed the field in Tuesday’s primary election. Incumbent Judy Grant will face challenger Timothy Jessesky for the village of Trempealeau seat, while incumbent Rich Geske will face opposition from challenger Aaron Johnson in the town of Gale race. 

The Galesville Republican is looking for intriguing historical interpretations of area families, businesses and other attractions to be included in a special series honoring Wisconsin’s Sesquicentennial year. The Republican would like to publish accounts of G-E-T area history going back to the beginning of statehood in 1848. 

50 YEARS AGO

February 22, 1973

Representatives of the Whitehall Packing Co. and the city of Whitehall went to Madison this week Wednesday with a signed agreement that was expected to end the three-year dispute over the city’s overloaded sewage plant. The two sides reached agreement on Monday, two days before the deadline set by the state of Wisconsin.

The Whitehall district school board Monday night received a letter of resignation from Ken Stellpflug, head basketball coach since 1964. Stellpflug, who wants to continue as teacher, athletic director and golf coach, cited the lack of pay for the hours the job takes and health as among the reasons for quitting.

Whitehall’s Brian Borreson was knocked out of the sectional wrestling tournament on a 2-1 decision Saturday, ending his high school career with a 96-17 record.

Drivers of an Arcadia school bus and an automobile as well as an unidentified child on the bus escaped a crash without serious injury. The collision happened on a town road in Lewis Valley in Buffalo County during extremely bad weather last week. According to officer Charles Pehler of the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department, the bus, owned by Robert Gamoke and driven by Edward Giemza, Arcadia, and an auto driven by Virginia Suchla, Arcadia, met on a slippery curve on a town road. 

A total of 290 snowmobilers and 224 machines took part in the Indian Head Country Sunshine Trail Ride in Arcadia on Sunday. The event was co-sponsored by Indian Head Country and Arcadia Sno-Riders Snowmobile Club. LeRoy Woychik, one of the local organizers of the ride, said people and machines were in Arcadia from Neillsville, Wausau, Milwaukee, Kenosha, Stratford and Eau Claire. 

Cindy Trbovich, a senior at Arcadia High School, has been chosen to participate in the 1973 Congressional Seminar in Washington, D.C. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Wieland, Arcadia. 

Arcadia’s Randy Hoesley will be the lone area mat star to make the trip to Madison this weekend to compete in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association State Wrestling Tournament. 

Progress is moving along on the Galesville nursing home. Legal, architectural, side and selection and surveying are all matters being worked on and underway. The project is not on schedule as officers would like to see it, but work is progressing slowly. 

An immunization clinic for polio will be held for all Trempealeau County children starting March 1. 

75 YEARS AGO

February 19, 1948

“Trempealeau County is about the best-run county that I have run across,” commented F.J. Merriot, state auditor, as made his report of the 1946 audit before the county board of supervisors in special session at the courthouse Tuesday.

The date of the Lions club’s second-annual public banquet honoring the football and basketball players of Whitehall High School has been changed to Tuesday, March 9, for the convenience of the speaker, who will be Roundy Coughlin, well-known Wisconsin State Journal sports writer.

The long-continued cold spell has driven frost deep into the ground, and many farmers are confronted with the problem of frozen water pipes, which result in much extra work in providing water for their livestock. Joe Pederson, who owns the former Hopkins farm east of town, had his water system to the barn out of commission for seven days, even with the pipes about six feet below the surface. Joe had to resort to the old-fashioned method of driving his herd down to the Trempealeau River.

The most welcome occurrence of the week has been the change to warmer temperatures. From below zero weather last week, thermometer readings this week have been as high as 49 above. Sunshiny days and warm temperatures have melted a lot of nice and snow and thawing on some of the side roads is already well advanced. 

Ray Lamberson says his wife has a tomato plant about 10 inches high in her garden already — her indoor garden. The Lambersons expected to have fresh tomatoes by May 1.

The Peterson Implement Co. recently installed an electric “John Deere” sign in front of their implement house in east Whitehall.

Two representatives of the E & J Resuscitator, or mechanical respirator, were in Arcadia last week to give a demonstration of this machine to members of the Arcadia Volunteer Fire Department at the city hall. Described as the “machine that breaths for you,” this type of respirator is a resuscitator, aspirator and inhalator all in one. 

100 YEARS AGO

February 22, 1923

The committee, consisting of Rev. Clark, Sebert Salverson and J.E. Garaghan, appointed by the mass meeting for the purpose of selecting a site for tourist campers, decided on the location east of the highway near the river bridge. The committee reported their action to the village board, which looked with favor upon the site and probably will take action to improve it for the use of tourists visiting or passing through Whitehall.

On Friday, the one important social event of the season will take place, at the Opera House. The Firemen’s Mask Ball is always looked forward to by terpsichores, and this year will be no exception, for the people appreciate that the boys who guard our property from that terrible element of destruction are worthy of much more than a measly thank you when they perform some great task. Buy a ticket and patronize the costume sale. A good assortment has been provided.

A meeting of the Whitehall Creamery Association was held in the town hall Tuesday, and a reorganization to a cooperative form was affected. The creamery has always been profitable to the stockholders, and now the farmers, holding all the stock, will reap the dividends. Those who have assisted in giving to the dairy interests the ground work of a successful enterprise are stepping out, and passing it on to the actual producer.

The motor school conducted by two young men, experts, from Minneapolis, and under the auspices of Gilbertson Bros., Overland and Cleveland dealers, closed last night after a two-day session in which many of Whitehall’s citizens took advantage of the opportunity to learn more about the care and operation of their motors, both auto, truck and tractor.

Donald and Wayne Wright are enjoying their radio at their home, listening to concerts from Detroit, Louisville, Ky., Schenectady, N.Y., Chicago, St. Louis, Davenport, Iowa, Annapolis and Kansas City, Mo.

We have some garden seeds sent with the compliments of Congressman Frear. They are for your use. Come and get them.

Funeral services were held in Arcadia for John Maurer, 82, a pioneer of western Wisconsin and prominent in the Arcadia community as a farmer, hotel keeper, postmaster, merchant and creamery manager. 

W.P. Massuere of Newville, N.D. arrived in Arcadia to look after his business interests.

Albert Wozney purchased the former John Passon farm in Wickham Valley at the Louis Passon auction for $9,100. 

Dr. S.D. Cronk and Dr. I.K. Heggelund are authorized veterinary surgeons in Galesville. One is located on Ridge Street and the other in the Cliff House. 

You could buy a brand new Overland Touring car for only $525 from Carl McKeeth. 

A mausoleum will be built in the Pine Cliff Cemetery. Committees were chosen to investigate. 

Roads are blocked between Trempealeau and Galesville. Lights go out in heavy snow and people went back to candles and kerosene lamps for a couple of days following a blizzard. 

125 YEARS AGO

February 17, 1898

H.W. Plunz has a course in music at the Dissmore schoolhouse.

Adams and Taylor have sold the David Harnden residence on Ellis Street to Knudt Jodalen for $425.

Ever Everson succeeds John J. Vold as agent for the Champion machinery in Whitehall. Ever is a stirring fellow, and is bound to make a success of the machinery business.

Miss Millie Everson has been engaged to teach a term of school in the John Iverson district, to begin Feb. 28. This will be the young lady’s second term in that district, the first giving excellent satisfaction.

Three loads of brick arrived this morning from Ben Dale’s quarry at Galesville for use in the putting in of the new furnace in Judge Odell’s residence.

L.N. Agneberg arrived here Friday from Aneta, N.D., where he has been for two years. He returns to this county to recuperate his health, shattered in the rigorous climate of that state. 

Some excitement was created in town this week over the acts of several of our indiscreet young men, who resorted to pugilistic methods to appease their wraths and even up their imagined differences. But even after these bouts, the desire for blood and satisfaction had to be settled in court, at the expense of the litigants, the lawyers getting the lion’s share of the boys’ hard-earned lucre. These disturbances are not only stains upon the character of the parties involved, but they are also demoralizing and tend to breed contention in the village and community. The old saying that boys will be boys does not apply in this case. The parties to the past week’s disgraceful proceedings are all men grown, and we are sorry to know of their engagement in such encounters.

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