Trempealeau County Times Early Files

25 YEARS AGO

Sept. 28, 1995

 The Trempealeau County Board of Supervisors Monday night rejected.a recommendation from one of its committees to keep the county highway department office in the courthouse. The full board voted 14-7 against a resolution submitted by the joint property building committee. The committee had voted two weeks earlier to reject bids submitted for a new office building for the department. 

 Members of an ad hoc committee created early this ear came before the Whitehall district school board asking for action on their request for an agriculture program. Greg Johnson, and Pete and Jessie Oberlin were part of a group that appeared before the board in January to request that the district reinstate its ag offerings and Future Farmers of America chapter. The high school essentially has been without a vocational ag program for three years.

 A judge last week rejected a plea bargain worked out between the Trempealeau County District Attorney and a former Whitehall resident charged with attempting to smother her infant son. Reserve Judge Robert Weisel refused to accept an Alford-type guilty plea submitted y Angela Middleton of Arcadia. In an Alford plea, the defendant acknowledges that the prosecution has sufficient evidence to obtain a conviction without directly admitting guilt. Middleton, 24, had been charged with felony attempted child abuse as the result of an incident the allegedly occurred last Dec. 15 at the Whitehall residence of her brother. According to the criminal complaint, she deliberately wrapped a blanket around her child in such a way that the child would not be able to breath. The child was six weeks old at the time. 

   In recent action by Trempealeau Electric Cooperative’s board, Robert Kampa was appointed to fill a vacant district director seat.

 The Arcadia Cooperative Association and the Burger King franchise broke ground on the site of a new convenience store/Burger King restaurant east of Highway 93 on Monday.

 It’s been a year since both sides voiced their views of the use of the Redmen logo at Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau High School. Without a lot of fanfare, the school board has weighed in and the answer is on the new sign in front of the high school. Ina. Circle atop the sign is a simple line drawing of an Indian in a headdress. The drawing, which also shows up on everything from school stationary to a gymnasium wall, is the only one authorized by the board for use in the district and reflects a board decision in January to pursue a design “that deems respect.” 

 G-E-T High School students who will be doing double duty with the La Crosse Youth Symphony are Mariah Forster, Erik Hanson and Desirae Schwertel. 

 Named to the 1995 Blair-Taylor homecoming court were Jeremy Duss, Travis Eckman, Derrick Waldera, Dwight Quarne, Ben Massman, Andy Nehring, Matt Bush, Jessica Berge, Robin Carnell, Amy Brueggen, Christina Thompson, Becky Cooper, Christina Miller and Amy Jo Nelson. Crownbearers will be Tyler Marthaler and Laura Howe. 

 Blair-Taylor fifth-through-eighth grade math teachers are pioneering a new type of staff development. Thanks to grant and scholarship money, two teachers are sharing ideas and materials based on the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics standards with other teachers from around the country. The B-T teachers participating are Faye Hilgart and Ned Laughery. 

50 YEARS AGO

Oct. 1, 1970

 Pigeon Falls has experienced a number of business and other improvements this summer. Heading the list is the large cheese plant addition being built at the cooperative creamery. A brand new business has been introduced by David and Louise Hauge of Minneapolis, who have purchased the former H.P Fremstad farm and opened David Hauge Designs, for the production of floral arrangements.

 Deer hunters were lined up in the courthouse and out onto the sidewalk Thursday morning when party permits went on sale at the county clerk’s office.

 Erwin Ganschow, teacher at Arcadia High School, has been appointed chairmen of the child-adolescent committee of the Trempealeau County Association for Mental Health. The announcement was made by Gerhard Nilsestuen, chapter president.

 Henry Gamroth, 51, of Independence filed as an independence candidate for sheriff of Trempealeau County. He has served as Independence Chief of Police for 14-and-a half years and as a deputy sheriff under three county sheriffs. 

 King Tom Sobotta and queen Linda Rossa will reign over 1970 Arcadia High School homecoming festivities which begin Thursday and culminate with the football game and dance Friday night. Other members of the court are Jim Kampa, Jackie Persick, John Hesch and Jane Sobotta. 

 Susan Thorpe was crowned Miss Blair.

 Ettrick Creamery will be joining the Arcadia A-G Coop Creamery. 

75 YEARS AGO

Sept. 27, 1945

 A class of 27 will be confirmed by the Rev. O.G. Birkeland this Sunday at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church. The confirmands are Rosella Austin, Delores Foss, Robert De Bow, James Ellifson, Philip Hamilton, Floyd Hanson, Le Roy Haug, Marilyn Hauge, Beverly Herman, Lester Johnson, Mary Johnson, Ruth Kildahl, Adeline Lien, Ardell Linnerud, Dayton Lovelien, Lester Luken, James Matson, Eleanor Neitzke, Gordon Nordby, Marie Rice, Joanne Roseland, George Skogstad, Ronald Smith, Raymond Stendahl, Irene Stensby, Allen Thompson and Delores Wivelstad.

 Oliver Severson and son Leonard of Hale were in town on business Friday. While engaged in general faring, the Seversons also entered into truck gardening on a moderate scale this year. Mr. Severson devoted three-quarters of an acre to string beans, which were processed at the Osseo canning factory, and from which he realized $200. His son Stanley had one-half acre in cucumbers, from which he realized $150 and is still picking.

 Mr. and Mrs. Joel Moen have taken possession of their farm, the former Arnold Britten place, on the Irvin Coulee ridge. The Brittens have moved to another farm in the same area.

 Joseph Stelmach, 62, died following an accident at the Muir farm. He was painting the barn when the hook at one end of the scaffold gave way and he fell 30 feet, landing on his head. 

 Trempealeau County farms have increased in size and decreased in numbers over the last five years. County agent Arnold Wochos has just received advance reports from the Bureau of Census Department of Commerce, showing that the average size of Trempealeau County farm in 1937 was 147 acres. By 1944, the average size had grown to 152 acres. At this time, there are 3,005 farms listed in the county. 

 The Hans Melby farm, east of Blair, was sold to Herman Zastrow of Arcadia, consideration being $6,400.

 President Truman signed legislation returning time back to standard time, effecting 2 a.m. on Sept. 30.

 Oscar Lee and son Stanley purchased the Gunderson building which E.B. Gunderson occupied as an egg station. Mr. Lee will move is jewelry store in part of the building and the Gamble Store will house the rest.

 Northern States Power expands its substation to 3-500 kilowatt transformers. 

100 YEARS AGO

Sept. 30, 1920

 Last Friday, a deal was closed by which G.S. Rice and son Tracy became sole owners of the Auto Sales Co., including the real estate, they having purchased the stock held by F.A. George, F.D. Hopkins and E.L. Immell. The senior Mr. Rice has been the manager of the company since it was founded in 1908, and is a pioneer in automobile work in Whitehall.

 G.S. Rice sold at auction Monday the old schoolhouse in the Huskelhus district. A new, modern building takes its place.

 The poles for the Wisconsin-Minnesota Lights and Power Co. are nearly all set in Whitehall, and it is said that light and power from this service will be furnished in about four weeks.

 Sparks from the engine of the No. 10 freight train set fire to the dry grass west of town Monday, and the high winds prevailing at the time fanned the flames rapidly toward town. When they came near the Moe property on West St., an alarm was turned in and the fire boys went to the rescue. The fire was soon under control, and the presence of the hydrants on West St. probably saved much property from destruction in that section of the village.

 Mrs. L.M. Clarke received a letter from her son, D.A. Clarke of Berkeley, Calif., which came by aerial route. Allowing for a day to come from Chicago to here, the letter made its flight across the continent in 48 hours; six days is the usual time for rail service from Berkeley to Whitehall. The postage was 12 cents.

 York — Burglars broke into Thompson’s store one night last week, making a getaway with several pairs of shoes and overalls. Nothing else so far has been missed.

 Enrollment in the Arcadia Junior-Senior High School totaled 132.

 Martin Manning was elected chief ranger of Heiss Court 783, Catholic Order of Foresters. 

 Roderick Cowie arrived home in the Arcadia area after receiving his honorable discharge after three years of naval service. 

 An aeroplane belonging to Mrs. Potter of Madison made its appearance in Arcadia landing in Dewey’s field in upper Arcadia. The field was filled with eager persons who wished to see how the plane worked. Ten minute trips were taken by 13 local people.

125 YEARS AGO

Sept. 26, 1895

 C.E. Scott is tearing down the barn on his Main St., Whitehall premises.

 There was enough evil weather visited on this section last Saturday and Sunday to insure good weather for six months.

 For the next two weeks, old papers will be sold at this office for five cents a hundred. Just the thing to put under carpets. 

 The Whitehall Dramatic Club is preparing the comedy drama “Uncle Josh,” and hopes to be able to present it during court week.

 Last week was one of the hottest of the season, and considerable rain fell Friday through Sunday. The culmination of the unsettled weather was reached on Sunday afternoon, when the fiercest rain and wind storm that has visited this section in years struck. The storm did much damage to the fairgrounds on the west side of town, and a number of sheds, out-buildings and shade trees were damaged elsewhere in the village.

 Pigeon Falls — The people in School District No. 2, the Moe Coulee district, are making some tasty changes in their schoolhouse. They have added an entrance, put up a belfry and a flag pole, and also raised the whole building. John J. Moe is doing the work.

 Independence — Albert Zilla has been seriously ill the past week with typhoid fever.

 Blair — Mrs. Frank Dutton sold several wagon loads of watermelons at Whitehall and Independence the past week.

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