From The Early Files
25 YEARS AGO
Oct. 12, 1995
Four-year-old allegations that ended several careers at the Trempealeau County Social Services Department, and also may have unseated a county board chairman, crystallized last week with the filing of criminal charges against a former department employee. Kay Speerstra was charged Oct. 4 with two felony counts of misconduct in public office. Speerstra, 41, was at the center of a controversy that
in 1993 led to the resignations of several senior Social Service Department employees, including former director DuWayne Mickelson. The long-time department head had attempted to discipline Speerstra for violations of department policies and/or criminal acts, suspending her at one point.
An Ettrick developer, whose plans for a new mobile home park in Independence ran into citizen opposition, is proposing an expansion of an existing facility near Whitehall. Harold Olson has filed a petition to rezone a 15.2-acre parcel in the town of Lincoln from agricultural to residential for the purpose of developing it as a mobile home court. The property covered by the zoning request is adjacent to the existing Stagecoach Lanes trailer park.
Industrial Packaging Corporation (IPC) has been a part of Arcadia Industrial Park since 1991 when Jim Genelin and his five sons decided to build a division of the company in Arcadia. According to IPC Sales Manager Tony Genelin said the company currently employs approximately 30 workers and is now constructing a 36,000 square foot addition to the Arcadia location. The expansion is being done so the company may add two more lines, which would result in a 20 to 60 percent increase in the number of employees working at the facility.
For the past two years, the Arcadia Sportsman’s Club has purchased Chinese pheasants to release in this area. Club treasurer Don Kowalsky, maintains that the organization I trying to establish the pheasant in this area once again.
Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau administrators will come up with a plan to resolve a space crunch in two 27-student first-grade rooms in Galesville Elementary School, a plan that might lead to a preschool center that could help with space needs in the other elementary schools as well.
The G-E-T board approved a study costing about $3,200 of four potential sites for what likely will be the next middle or high school. After a report that the district enrollment continues to grow by about one percent annually, the board approved a suitability study by a La Crosse firm of four sites.
Fifth grader Lee Trocinski will be competing in the NFL Punt, Pass and Kick state competition during the halftime of Sunday’s game between the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions in Green Bay. The 10-year-old won regional competition in Galesville several weeks ago and learned Tuesday that his score was one of the best in the state, qualifying him for state competition and the chance to show his skills nationwide during the Super Bowl game in January.
A rural Blair man was injured in a farming accident last week. Todd Quarne, 28, received extensive injuries while removing cornstalks from a plugged-up corn picker before his hand became caught between the husking rollers. He lost both his right hand ring and little fingers at the first joint.
Delegates from Buffalo, Pepin and Trempealeau counties joined with others from Wisconsin in recommending more control over violent felons who were released from prison. A resolution asking for state clarification of laws restricting the release of inmates convicted of violent offenses was passed by the county board delegates at a recent Wisconsin Counties Association annual convention in Milwaukee.
50 YEARS AGO
Oct. 15, 1970
A Trempealeau County citizens committee interested in low-cost public housing has proposed the creation of a county housing authority.
Anne Pietrek of Independence has recently been employed by the Trempealeau County Public Health Nursing Service in the home nursing service.
A.C. Schultz, general manager of A-G Cooperative Creamery, Arcadia, received Farm Bureau’s Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award at the annual Trempealeau County Farm Bureau banquet.
Leonard Lien, Arcadia, shop foreman of the Trempealeau County Highway Department, will be moderator of a panel discussion during workshop sessions at the 29th annual meeting of the Wisconsin County Highway Superintendent’s and Foremen’s Association.
Rest Haven Cemetery, Blair, recently installed three arches as the entry ways of the cemetery.
Gretchen Erickson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bennie Erickson, Osseo, was crowned Miss Trempealeau County Farm Bureau.
Mr. and Mrs. Cyril Nelson, Ettrick, will observe their 50th anniversary.
75 YEARS AGO
Oct. 11, 1945
Whitehall is slated for a post office building, according to an Associated Press report from Washington, D.C., which named 11 new post offices in this area for which funds are provided in a bill now before Congress.
The diamond jubilee of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church will be celebrated with a series of seven programs that will be held next week, commencing on Wednesday evening. At the service to be held Sunday, Oct. 21, an offering will be taken for a Sunday school building fund. Victory bonds purchased before that service and placed on the altar toward the Sunday school addition will apply towards the individual’s quota in the bond drive which opens Oct. 29.
This year at Melby Park, there is a loud-speaking system set up that is used outlines of the plays of the Whitehall High football games. G.C. Boll, high school principal, announces the game to the spectators through the sound system. Motion pictures are also taken of the highlights of the game.
Local sportsmen are looking forward to the pheasant hunting season. The birds, however, do not appear to be as plentiful as in some years, and some blame foxes for the apparent scarcity. It is said that a town of Preston trapper recently dug into a fox hole, got a fox and found 27 pheasants stocked for future consumption.
A horse owned by Bert Kulig, town of Lincoln farmer, was killed by a car on No. 121 just beyond the hairpin curve between Whitehall and Independence Sunday night. The horse, apparently blinded by the car’s lights, was a good farm animal, valued at about $75.
The Arcadia News-Leader reported that the Garrett Marsh farm barn two and a half miles north of Centerville on Highway 93 burned to the ground. A livestock shed, harness, complete set of tools, separator, grain seed and hay were also lost in the blaze.
100 YEARS AGO
Oct. 14, 1920
There was a meeting of the Whitehall village board, representatives of the light and power company and the two telephone companies Tuesday to determine the disposition of the West Wisconsin Telephone Co. lines on Dewey St. It is necessary that the telephone and power lines be on opposite sides of the street. The Farmers company proposes to let the W.W. company use their poles, but who shall bear the expense of the transfer is the obstacle now.
Both meat markets have changes in proprietorship this week, Claire Van Sickle having bought out Martin Simonson’s interest in Simonson Bros., and Fred Hanson buying the Ole S. Foss shop.
Allen Welch of Blair, who was driving team on the road crew, was kicked in the face by a horse Thursday. It is feared that he will suffer the loss of his left eye.
Gilbertson Bros. demonstrated a Samson tractor at George Matchey’s last week by threshing two large stacks of rye in no time. Tom Matchey happened to be the straw boss at the time, and he was so perfectly satisfied with the demonstration that he purchased the tractor and a tractor gang plow.
G.V. Rork, district manager of the Wisconsin-Minnesota Light and Power Co., said last week that it is the intention of the company to place another transmission line on the same poles to bring 33,000 volts to this district. Parties wanting power to any amount will be supplied equal to the large industrial centers.
O.E. Iverson was at his farm in Ettrick last week disposing of his cows there, and brought two of his fine Red Pole cows to his farm in Lincoln. Kins Brothers’ Ford truck was used to bring them over.
Pigeon Falls — School in District No. Four has been closed for a few days while the teacher, Miss Emma Rognlien, is at Eau Claire consulting with a physician.
The Arcadia Community Advancement Company filed articles of incorporation and held its first official meeting at the opera house. Purpose of the organization was to furnish a suitable building for factory purposes and to encourage institutions to locate in Arcadia.
The railroad construction crew was busy at work putting up a new water tank in Arcadia.
Local officers of the Martin A. Erickson Post 17 were busy rounding up ex-servicemen of the World War to become members of the local post.
Mr. and Mrs. M.A. Jensen have moved into the George Metzger home; Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Robbins moved into the larger Metzger home.
Ernest Boe purchased the old Skaar home and Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Duxbury moved into their new home.
Mrs. Julius Johnson was elected president of the Wide-Awake Club at Ettrick.
Howard Mack sold his interest in the Twesme-Mack Barber Shop to his partner, N.C. Twesme.
125 YEARS AGO
Oct. 10, 1895
Contractor Connelly put a coat of facing cement on the bottom of the waterworks reservoir this week, and began pumping Tuesday evening. This morning there is 11 feet of water in the reservoir — over half full.
Dr. J.P. Sonnickson moved into his new rooms in the second story of the Solsrud and Kidder building Tuesday, where he will henceforth have his office.
The slander case of the Rev. Roman Guzowski versus Matthew Brom, which was tried at the March term of circuit court and resulted in a disagreement of the jury, has been discontinued by the plaintiff on payment of $125 to the defendant. The case attracted considerable attention and concerned nearly every person in the town of Dodge. The amount sued for was $5,000, and the base of the slander alleged was the defendant’s calling the plaintiff a cheater at a church meeting at Dodge in the fall of 1892.
English, German, Norwegian, Polish and Bohemian languages spoken at the City Meat Market.
The Whitehall Dramatic Club will present the comedy “Uncle Josh” at the Opera Hall next Wednesday evening, for the benefit of (the creditors of) the Whitehall Yachting Club. Admission, 15, 25 and 35 cents.
M. English, the hustling and successful real estate and insurance agent of Arcadia, transacted business in town Tuesday.
J.O. Gilbertson has got in his new stock of general merchandise this week. L.M. Ekern has taken a position with him.
Elk Creek — Rumor has it that a wedding is about to occur in the vicinity of the Hale post office.
Elk Creek — Our jovial blacksmith, H. Melsness, is being rushed with work, having made 34 new plow-lays this fall.
