From Our Early Files

 

25 YEARS AGO

Aug. 31, 1995

            Construction on Tri-County Memorial Hospital’s proposed expansion and renovation project apparently will start next month, almost a year after it was originally hoped it would begin. The hospital’s $3 million-plus “Building for the Future” project. Was proposed in the summer of 1993, unveiled later that year and expected to get underway in the fall of 1994. But delays caused by state certification requirements, changes in the scope of the plan and other factors pushed back the start of actual construction several times.

            A former manager, charged with embezzling money from the defunct A-G Cooperative, won’t be tried in the county where the co-op was a fixture for nearly 70 years. Jackson County Circuit Judge Robert Radcliffe last week granted a change of venue motion filed by the attorney for Clareton Smith. The former A-G general manager is charged with one count of felony theft by embezzlement for allegedly diverting more than $100,000 in co-op funds for his own use and that of his son. 

            The Whitehall School District has four interns at the high school this year and one practice teacher in middle school, including Sharlene Prinson, JoAnne Freeman, Michael LeBourton, Debbie Larson and Rick Hudson. 

            The construction of the new connector wing at St. Joseph’s Hospital began recently. The $350,000 project is expected to link all five aspects of the Arcadia Health System together as the medical facility takes the continued steps toward integration. It is expected to be completed next February. 

            Money is something we all need to survive in our fast-paced world, those who take the time to plan for the future can enjoy their retired years. Financial planners are those individuals who help people plan for the future and Arcadia native Paul Sobotta has made financial planning his life. Sobotta is a 1987 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and graduated from the College of Financial Planning in 1990. After working as a stock broker with the State Bank of Arcadia, Sobotta opened Prudential Insurance and Financial Services. 

            The world’s fastest snowmobile will be there. So will some of the county’s oldest muskets. And so will musicians, artists, historians, athletes and hundreds of onlookers. They’ll all be in Centerville Saturday, Sept. 9 for the community’s annual fall festival. 

            The state Department of Natural Resources says it will receive written and verbal comments until Sept. 6 on preliminary plans by the village of Trempealeau to expand its waste treatment plant. Meanwhile, the Trempealeau village board at a special meeting Monday night awarded a contract valued at more than $84,000 to Davy Engineering, La Crosse, to design the plant expansion. 

            The Trempealeau County 4-H Horse Project will hold its third annual Open Horse Show Sunday, Sept. 3 at the Trempealeau County Fairgrounds. The daylong event is free and features horses from as far as Rochester and Madison in a number of classes, including gymkhana, driving, English and Western pleasure riding and jumping/hunt seat. 

            Crowned as Miss Ettrick for 1995 was Bridget Brady, the daughter of Richard and Lorraine Brady. Named attendants were Jessica Greendeer, daughter of Kathi Rivera and William Greendeer and Jenny Nohr, daughter of Mark and Alis Nohr. The title of Mini King and Queen was bestowed on Jade Hoff, son of Scott and Lisa Hoff and Nikke Barilani, daughter of Terri and Tony Barilani. 

            The Blair-Taylor football team dominated the line of scrimmage to defeat the Melrose-Mindoro mustangs 29-6. Earning the team’s top defensive honors were Matt Bush and Andy Nehring. Bush grabbed two unassisted tackles and three assisted tackles and recovered two fumbles. Nehring, a senior linebacker, grabbed five unassisted and five assisted tackles and scored a quarterback sack. 

50 YEARS AGO

Sept. 3, 1970

            An old landmark in Whitehall, the Lute Quackenbush barbershop on Dodge St., has been torn down to make way for a modern building that will house the new Holtan’s Discount Store, which is expected to be open for business by Nov. 1.

            Flora Diffie, an Oklahoma native, is the new third- and fourth-grade teacher at the Northfield school. She and her husband Joe have three children, Joey, Meg and Monica.

            A grand opening will be held this weekend at the new automatic car wash at the Foss Mobil station.

            A fire from an undetermined origin burned a large barn to the ground on the Richard Bremer farm in Glencoe last Tuesday. The Arcadia Volunteer Fire Department received a call shortly after 4 p.m. and found the barn in flames and the roof fallen upon arrival. Also destroyed were two silos and several young cattle, hogs and a tractor. 

            The State Bank of Arcadia and Central Yard Company donated two shelters for golfers at the Arcadia Country Club. James Crowley, groundskeeper, built the structures. 

            Russell and Alice Larson were selected Taylor Old Fashion Days King and Queen.

            Marion Olson will have a chair caning demonstration during Old Fashion Days in Taylor.

75 YEARS AGO

Aug. 30, 1945

            Construction work on industrial institutions and homes in Whitehall did not wait for V-J Day, although peacetime conditions making material and labor plentiful again will add to the tempo. In recent weeks, work has been started on an enlargement of the Badger Packing Co. plant, the new slaughterhouse in East Whitehall purchased by the Eau Claire firm from Norman Foss last spring. Nurseryman K.D. Berdan has the mason work well underway for his new building on south Hwy. 53, and the Cooperative Oil and Produce Co. has its new building on Kelly St. almost ready for occupancy. Construction work is going ahead on six new homes.

            L.C. Jorgenson, traffic manager of the Green Bay and Western Railroad, gave his annual courtesy luncheon to Whitehall businessmen in his dining car Tuesday noon. The Whitehall station handles more freight than any GB&W station west of Wisconsin Rapids, including Winona.

            Dickie Stalheim and Paul Parker, both of Madison, who came here on bicycles, were dinner guests at the Peter Nokelby home in Pigeon Falls Tuesday and also visited in Whitehall. They since have shipped their bikes home and hitch-hiked back.

            Lloyd Fernholz, manager of the A-G Hatchery for the past four years, will leave Thursday to accept a position with the Tomah Hatcheries. The move is a distinct advancement for him and promises future opportunity.

            George Abts is proudly exhibiting a lake trout weighing 35.75 pounds, which he caught in Lake Superior on Monday. It is the largest to be taken from there so far this year. The catch was registered with the Bayfield Commercial Club. The fish was 42 inches long and 26 inches in girth. 

            Andrew Roseland, 77, was killed when stuck by a car as he stepped from behind a parked car in front of the Helmer Christianson Harness Shop, Ettrick. 

            Note: A grizzly bear can outrun a horse in a 100-yard dash. 

100 YEARS AGO

Sept. 2, 1920

            Merlin Hull, candidate for governor, talked here Saturday afternoon. His coming was unannounced, otherwise a monster ovation would have been given him. He was passing through en route to the Dunn County fair when his friends stopped him, clamoring for a speech. Frequent outbursts of applause gave approval of his stand on leading issues of the day.

            Capt. Oscar Elstad of the single men’s team and Capt. A. Vold of the married men will stage a game of indoor baseball at the ball park at 2:30 p.m. on Labor Day. They will give a real exhibition.

            The Baptist apron sale and lunch held at the parsonage Friday netter over $30.

            There will be a dance Saturday night in the new barn at Henry Engen’s. Dandy floor, and good music will be furnished. Come and have a good time.

125 YEARS AGO

Aug. 29, 1895

            If the Whitehall fair is not a triumphant success this year, we shall miss our guess. It certainly never opened more auspiciously, so far as the number of horses entered for the racing, and the stock show and agricultural and floral displays are concerned. With continued good weather, the fair will be a “hummer.”

            The Times-Banner force is taking a “day off” which accounts for all shortcomings this issue may contain.

            A terrific electrical storm and windstorm passed over Arcadia and vicinity Thursday night. Lightning struck the large barn of G.O. Nelson, about two miles from the village and it burned. 

            The cornerstone of the new St. Peter and St. Paul Catholic Church will be laid next Wednesday, the ceremony to start at 10 a.m. and last about three hours. The church, when completed about Nov.1, will cost $25,000.

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