From Our Early Files October 25, 2023
25 YEARS AGO
October 29, 1998
The race for Trempealeau County Sheriff features something that is common in many communities, but apparently hasn’t happened in Trempealeau County before: A uniformed county officer, Republican Terrence Daffinson, is running against an incumbent sheriff, his boss, Democrat Ralph Weisenberger.
Members of St. John the Apostle Catholic Church will mark a half-century of their congregation’s existence. The local church will celebrate its 50th birthday with a special worship service Sunday morning and a dinner and program at Club Midway in Independence in the afternoon. The theme of the anniversary celebration is “50 Years: Our Faith Journey Continues.”
A long-standing tradition at Whitehall High School, the academic top 10 for the graduating class, may be a thing of the past. The Whitehall district school board, at its monthly meeting Monday night, discussed a change in the school policy that might eliminate the class ranking, which is based on grade-point average (GPA). Based on comments by board members Monday, the top-10 is almost certain to be replaced by an honors list consisting of all students who attain a 10.0 (A-minus) GPA.
The Arcadia School District Board of Education Monday night set the tax levy for the 1998-99 school year at $3,011,528. That’s a reduction of $65,852 over last year’s levy. The 1998-99 mill rate has been set at 15.76 per $1,000 equalized valuation, down from 17.18 in 1997-98 and 18.74 in 1996-97. District administrator Roger Derrickson said that school enrollment decreased 21 students this year and, therefore, less state aid has been received.
Christ Lutheran Church in Arcadia will hold its second annual Booya this Sunday. The hunters stew will be served in the church basement with oyster crackers and other fixings.
Ted Kosmo raised a record-setting $2,663 for the Alzheimer’s Memory Walk, held at Memorial Park. A total of 41 Trempealeau County walkers raised $9,404, which bested even the La Crosse total.
The Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau boys cross country team will compete in the state cross country meet for the first time in the school’s history. G-E-T runners earned first place at the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division Two Viroqua Sectional Saturday.
50 YEARS AGO
November 1, 1973
The death of a rural Whitehall teenager on a rain-slicked road near Ettrick early Sunday morning pushed Trempealeau County traffic fatality total to six.
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Dubiel Jr. of Bruce Valley have been chosen as Trempealeau County Farm Family of the Year by the Farmers Home Administration.
A $1.53 million contract for Whitehall’s new wastewater treatment plant was awarded by the city council last week Tuesday to Winona Plumbing Co.
Michael Pronschinske, Arcadia, received the American farmer degree Thursday at special ceremonies held during the 46th national convention at the Future Farmers of America held in Kansas City, Mo. He was one of 564 FFA members selected to receive the degree, highest membership award in the FFA.
The Arcadia board of education and Arcadia Education Association (AEA) have reached agreement on a contract for the 1973-74 school year. The new contract provides a $50 across-the-board raise in all salaries, $250 payment toward teachers’ state retirement fees, and a maximum of $30 family and $10.50 single coverage toward health care insurance.
The Galesville Golf Club closed their season with a banquet at the club house on Saturday. The ladies’ division club champion was Dorothy Quinn and the men’s champion was Bob Quinn.
Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Sandman are now operating a Quick Shop store in the old George’s Fairway building in Galesville. Deanna Kenyon is operating Ye Olde Dress Shoppe in the former Gale Variety building.
75 YEARS AGO
October 28, 1948
The pouring of concrete on the approximately six miles of Hwy. 53 between Whitehall and Pigeon Falls has been completed, but the road will not be open for traffic for several weeks, because the shoulders, now under construction, have not been completed.
Preparation of the ski hill and grounds at the Whitehall Winter Sports recreation area is practically completed, and work will be done on the ski scaffold before the tournament which will be held Jan. 30. Berger Lund, grounds superintendent, engaged the county bulldozer to improve the ski hill, to make the track for the ski tow which will be installed, to make a downhill run. The old jump was improved and a new junior jump was graded. Mr. Lund says that the warming house will be erected this fall and that the organization has plans to build a toboggan slide later.
Scouting in Whitehall is more active at present that in years, according to a report from the Scout committee. Scoutmaster Ralph Rasmuson and his assistant, Neil Goodspeed, report 16 Scouts in the troop. Cubbing, under the leadership of Colonel Larson, is also active.
Lyle Scott of Platteville, hired by the Arcadia city council to conduct a rat extermination here, completed his work last week. From all information, which the city dads have been able to father, citizens are well pleased with the results. The large numbers of rats were destroyed at the stockyards, city dump, dikes and swampy areas in the city.
Marcellus Brownlee was another Arcadia boy who made the supreme sacrifice so that we could continue to live our American way of life. His body is being returned to Arcadia, his home town, for reburial services at the armory.
100 YEARS AGO
November 1, 1923
The Camp Fire Girls will present for your approval Monday night at the Whitehall Village Hall, a dramatization of an old Indian legend, “Little Scar Face,” in one act, followed by a pleasing one-act comedy. This is their initial effort in the development of their several talents, and they are asking the public to come out and encourage them in their work. The aims and ideals of Camp Fire work are many, and we hope for your hearty cooperation.
Theron Scott has purchased the building at the rear of the Fortun drug store, and will move it onto a lot east of the Ed Scott residence. An upright part and a large porch will be added to the building on the new location.
Ole Olson of Osseo, employed with the Williams’ road crew near the Lindom farm in Hale, fell from a wagon last Monday afternoon and dislocated his shoulder blade. Mr. Olson was taken with a fainting spell while at his work, and was picked up unconscious. Dr. Leasum of Osseo was called and reduced the fracture.
Dr. Vold, A.W. Wright. Dr. Van Sickle and Wm. Mason were at Hawkins recently, looking over the grounds for a hunting camp this fall. Fire swept a large portion of the wild land in the vicinity of Hawkins, necessitating a camp further inland.
As a result of an accident last summer near the Wm. Lowe farm, Chester Johnson started an action again Roy Peterson on a complaint of reckless driving. The trial was set for the Oct. 15, but the plaintiff failed to appear and the action was discharged.
Aaron Hulett and Sons of Northfield have won high honors with their exhibits of Guernsey cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs this fall.
Pigeon Falls — The operators at the central office will change Nov. 1. Ernest Hamilton and family will move into the rooms vacated by the Hauge family, and will tend night service. The Misses Nora Isaackson and Edna Moen will take the day service.
Fly Creek — Edwin Mikkelson of Blair is finished building Ole Bakko’s hen house last Thursday and is now working at Archie Lowe’s. Hilman Christianson is assisting him.
The Davies Opera Company presented the light opera “Olivette” as the second number of the lyceum program in Arcadia.
Albert Rotering had the misfortune to have his hand caught in acorn shredder gears, lacerating it quite badly.
Dedication of the enlarged and remodeled Methodist-Evangelical church in Independence was held.
The Bank of Galesville passes its 40th year. The bank was founded by Isaac Clark and W.C. Brooks as a private bank in 1883. In 1885 articles of incorporation were filed. The capital stock was $25,000. Judge Newman was vice president, W.C. Brooks was cashier and directors were J.O. Melby, Wilson Davis, Daniel Kennedy and Iver Peterson. The present bank was built in 1887. When Isaac Clark passed on, his son E.F. Clark, succeeded to be president.
125 YEARS AGO
October 27, 1898
The brick work on C.E. Scott’s new building in Whitehall is completed.
Thomas Davidson has his new residence on Scranton Street enclosed.
The burning out of the chimney on Mrs. Simon Olson’s residence Tuesday afternoon called out the fire team and hose cart, but before arriving at the scene of the alarm, the flue ceased to vomit forth flame. No damage was done, other than to give the people of that locality considerable of a scare.
George W. Taylor of the state board of control examined the county jail and village lock-up yesterday, finding and reporting each institution in excellent and satisfactory condition.
Fred Best is finishing his new building on Main Street for Druggist A.J. McNaughton to use as a pharmacy.
The Whitehall Modern Woodmen have arranged for social gatherings at their camp quarters, to be held on the last Saturday evening of each month.
James Larson has the foundation for his new residence completed. Messrs. Wood and Stevens have the contract for building the residence, which will be begin in about 10 days.
L.D. Parsons received by express Friday, from W.J. Boynton of Rochester, Minn., a yearling, full-blood Shropshire buck, one of the finest-looking animals ever shipped into this section for breeding purposes.
Mrs. E.T. Woodward of Shell Lake has been visiting with her brother, Charles Rumsey, in the village for the past 10 days.
James Wood returned home last Thursday from St. Paul, where he was in the hospital several weeks with typhoid fever. He is to be mustered out of the army shortly. We believe James has had enough of army life.
W.S. Kidder and William Harlow of Whitehall; E.S. Hotchkiss, John Elstad, Enoch Jelen, S.P. Cook, Anton Senty and A.H. Rogers of Independence; and O.A. and G.O. Holman and J.M. Fertig of Arcadia, have taken out deer licenses.
Blair -- Evangelist Baker, who has been conducting revival meetings at the Baptist church here for a few weeks, took his departure Tuesday. The gentleman did some good work here. Among those who joined the church during the meetings was William Welch, who was baptized by immersion in the river last Monday.
