From Our Early Files March 22, 2023


 

 

 

25 YEARS AGO

March 26, 1998

Whitehall district school board members got an idea Monday night of what the local schools will gain, and lose, under the state of Wisconsin’s new public school choice program. The board, at its regular monthly meeting, approved applications for admission to the Whitehall schools under the first-year program, which is called open enrollment. But the board also had to okay requests of district residents to attend school elsewhere – and the latter outnumbered the former, six-to-two.

Whitehall Girl Scout Troop 177 members receiving their Silver Awards Sunday were Jennie Everson, Krystal Tiffany, Ashley Shilts, Aschley Hegge, Jessica Olson, Laura Matchey, Brooke Kopp, Jennifer Kulig, Heather Bailay and Rebecca Odness. 

Persons who would like more information about Trempealeau County Circuit Court now can get it on the Internet, the international computer network. Circuit Judge John A. Damon last week announced the creation of a court site on the Internet’s World Wide Web, an interconnected series of graphical “pages.” The web page allows anyone to learn the working of the circuit court.

This year’s Arcadia Chamber of Commerce Ag Day Program featured Larry McCarren, a former player for the Green Bay Packers. The program was held in the St. Stanislaus Church basement, where area farmers and business representatives came together to dine and get reacquainted with one another. 

Three Arcadia girl scouts, Candice Cyert, Casey Kupietz and Julie Wiskow, earned Silver Awards. 

Kevin Ely has been hired as a new patrolman for the city of Arcadia. Ely was selected by the city law enforcement committee and Arcadia Police Chief Pat Grzadzielewski out of 10 candidates. 

The Trempealeau village board is considering adopting an ordinance to create a Health and Wellness Commission that would replace the current Trempealeau Properties organization. “The idea is to provide an ongoing organization to continue the work we have started,” Ruth Lamke, Trempealeau Properties committee member, said. The main focus of the group was to attract health care professionals into Trempealeau so that the residents would have health care opportunities available to them, Lamke said. 

The spreading of sludge on town of Caledonia fields by the city of La Crosse was discussed at the town’s last meeting on March 17. Stan Brueggen from the Waste Water Utility of La Crosse asked if he could continue spreading sludge and was told that he could. Last month he was given permission to spread on the frozen ground because he told the board he had no other place to go. The permission was granted with the understanding that if one citizen complained of the smell, he would have to stop immediately. An ordinance governing the spreading of sludge was passed last summer after residents complained about the smell. 

Trempealeau residents will see an increase in their electric bills anticipated to begin in June, according to village administrator Jim Mielke. The Wisconsin Public Service Commission approved new rates for the Trempealeau Electric Utility after a public hearing on Thursday. The rate increase will be 11.38 percent for an average residential customer.  

50 YEARS AGO

March 29, 1973

The Whitehall Teachers Association and the district school board, locked in a disagreement that appeared headed for a possible strike by the union, began negotiating through a mediator from the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission on Monday night. The teachers, who had set up headquarters in a building downtown and published a daily newsletter, called for a “citizen’s vigil” during the bargaining, and had conducted informational picketing before school hours.

The Whitehall school district will have a contest for one of the school board seats on the ballot Tuesday, as Len Ellison announced his write-in candidacy against 20-year incumbent Ralph Rasmuson.

Ann Falkenberg, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Falkenberg, Arcadia, has been selected as Arcadia High School’s representative at Badger Girls State in June. She will be sponsored by the Auxiliary to Tickfer-Erickson American Legion Post 17. 

Professor Marshall Finner, University of Wisconsin-Madison, agriculture engineer in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has been selected this year’s outstanding teacher. The $500 excellence in teaching award was presented to Finner during short course graduation exercises at the University Stock Pavilion on March 10. Finner is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwald Finner of Arcadia. 

Three candidates have filed for the two positions on the Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau school board. Mrs. Charlotte Elkins, Mrs. Joyce Sacia and Mr. Frank Douglas have filed to fill the expiring terms of Mr. J.O. Beadle and Mrs. Joyce Sacia. 

In the city of Galesville, Mabel Lovig and Themla McWain are in a two-way contest for city treasurer. An alderman’s race in the second ward features Maynard Olson against Edward Scheller and in the third ward Norman Valiska is challenging incumbent Donn Poss. 

Pre-registration for all children of the G-E-T School District who will attend kindergarten during the 1973-74 school year will have a new look. The registration will be conducted in the three elementary schools over a three-day period. 

75 YEARS AGO

March 25, 1948

Mayor T.O. Rice of Whitehall declined nomination for reelection this year, so papers were filed for Herbert J. Holtan. The only contested race for city offices is Third Ward alderman, where incumbent Alf Wilberg has opposition from Roy Huitfeldt.

Local businessmen are cooperating with Colonel Larson, manager of the Pix Theatre, in a plan to bring more people to town and advertise the city. Commencing April 10, an amateur contest will be conducted at the theatre each Saturday evening for 13 weeks. Recordings of the contests will be broadcast on radio station KWNO of Winona the following Sunday.

Trempealeau County Club Agent Ray Shanklin announces that several new 4-H clubs are being organized, in the town of Dodge, the Cortland school district and in Lewis Valley. The Kings Valley club, which has not been operating for several years, will be re-organized.

Herman Wolfe of Independence, a member of the Trempealeau County school committee, presided at the meeting held at the courthouse Friday evening for members of local school boards and the general public. Miss Dorris Sander, county superintendent of schools, explained the act passed by the state legislature last year which provides for a reorganization of school districts, in order to operate them more economically, and to provide better education for the boys and girls.

The Trempealeau County highway committee has begun purchasing additional right-of-way for the Whitehall to Pigeon Falls improvement of Hwy. 53. Right-of-way had previously been purchased as far as the Lewis Dahlstrom farm east of Coral City.

Donald Tomten of Pigeon Falls, who was spotted by a talent scout for the Boston Braves last year and signed a contract with the baseball club, has received a letter asking him to report to High Point, N.C., for spring practice on April 5.

Jack Haines, 20-year-old Arcadia pitcher, left Tuesday to begin spring practice at the St. Louis Browns training camp at Pine Bluff, Ark. This is the training camp for minor league farm teams and is a school as well as training center. After completing the prescribed course, Jack will report to Wausau to play with that league the coming season. 

Nels Johnson, stock buyer for the Dubuque Packing Co., really rang the bell Tuesday of this week when he shipped out the equivalent of seven cars of stock in one day from this area. The shipment included 368 hogs, 229 calves and three head of cattle. The total weight was 111,400 pounds and Nels paid farmers of this area $32,000. 

100 YEARS AGO

March 29, 1923

The Whitehall and Independence Whist clubs met at Legion Hall here Thursday evening in the deciding session of their three-game series. The game proved to be a landslide for the county seat lads, they taking the rubber 3232 to 2580. Smithe and Hensel were the big scorers for Whitehall, with Scott and Stoltenberg-Hegge a close second; Hotchkiss and Garthus carried off the honors for Independence.

Mrs. N.K. Larson had the misfortune to fall on the ice Tuesday morning. Medical examination disclosed two or more bones broken in one foot and several body bruises.

Judge Wickham will be here next Wednesday, April 4, to hold court, sitting for Judge Higbee in the trial of the action, The Home Bank of Blair vs. H.M. Hanson and a hundred other defendants. The action is to recover three promissory notes involving about $12,000.

Olaf Hagen left today for his home in Schimmerhorn Valley after recovering from an operation for hemorrhoids. Olaf speaks well of the treatment received from the doctors and nurses here.

S.B. Nichols has moved his family to Whitehall and for the present are domiciled at the Wm. Mason house, expecting to go to housekeeping as soon as they can secure a house. Mr. Nichols will, on April 1, become associated with the writer in the publication of The Times-Banner.

York -- John Olson has moved into the Gust Thompson home. Mr. Olson is going to be miller here.

At the meeting of the new creamery company which has been formed by consolidating the former Arcadia Farmers Cooperative Creamery Company and the Glencoe Cooperative Creamery Company Wednesday afternoon, the following officers were elected: President, W.F. Rosenow; vice president, E.O Herbert; secretary and manager, J.J. Fernholz and treasurer, Robert Ashton. The name of the newly organized creamery will be styled A & G Creamery Company. 

Taps sounded for Lewis David Massuere, 80, a Civil War veteran.

A.M. Boland has the misfortune to fall from the wagon while riding home from the creamery meeting on Wednesday afternoon. He broke his left leg above the ankle. 

At a meeting of the Galesville city council, Mayor O.D. Witherbee named the following committees: Phillip Uhl and Pete Enghagen, sidewalks and bridges; Frank Shuster and Lewie Hammer, poor and street lighting; Dr. Senty and Arthur Giere, sanitation, neatness and cooperation and health committees; opera house, O.D. Witherbee. Mrs. Ira Canuteson has entered her duties as city treasurer. 

125 YEARS AGO

March 24, 1898

Now that W.G. Fuller has disposed of his grocery business, he hasn’t decided as to what he will turn his attentions.

Frank Allen has moved his family onto the Palmer farm, which his wife got in exchange for her residence property in the village.

Thomas Davidson has bought of John O. Melby lots three and four, in block five, the property cornering on Scranton and Earle streets, for $90. We are told that Mr. Davidson contemplates building a residence thereon the coming season.

Mrs. Minnie Gilbertson, the wife of John O. Gilbertson, has bought W.G. Fuller’s stock of groceries and will continue the business at the old stand. The business is in the charge of her husband.

The Plum Creek Temperance Society will hold an entertainment in the Moe Coulee schoolhouse next Saturday evening, to which everybody is invited.

Blair -- Henry Weimer has sown considerable spring wheat the past week, being the first person to engage in seeding this seasons, so far as we have learned.

Independence -- Frank Tubbs has erected a farm implement shed east of his barn. W.D. Wickham did the work.

Hale -- An Anti-Treat League has been organized here, consisting of 33 members, with O.O. Hovre as president; Ole Kolden, vice president; Sever Steen, secretary; and O.C. Christopherson, treasurer. They met last Saturday night at the Saxrude schoolhouse. The program consisted of select reading and debate, the question being, “Which is best to live in, the city or on the farm?” Of course, it was best to live in the city if you have anything to live on.

Special Sections

Comment Here