From The Early Files
25 YEARS AGO
Nov. 2, 1995
Taking the lead roles in this weekend’s Whitehall High School production of the musical “Babes in Arms” are Ryan Martinovici, Lindsay Nelson, Jeff Martinovici, Neal Moen, Jenny Skadahl, Michelle Koxlien, Beth Martin, Cory Finstad, Mandy Kampa and Justin Solsrud.
The first call made to Trempealeau County’s new 911 number Thursday, its first official day in operation, could have proved one of the selling points of the emergency telephone system. The dispatcher at the county sheriff’s department couldn’t hear the caller, but the “enhanced” 911 system used high technology and a computer data base to identify the address from which calls originate.
The Whitehall city council approved a zoning change that will permit the construction of a solid-waste transfer station on the city’s east side. At a special meeting held following a zoning hearing, the council unanimously approved a request from Tri-City Sanitation to rezone its property north of Melby Street from a business to light industrial. Tri-City is the garbage-collection contractor for Whitehall and several other area communities.
Chuck and Mary Gamez have been the owners of C&M in Arcadia for a long time, but that has changed recently. They finalized a deal this past week in which they sold their farm supply store to Central Tractor Farm & Country, a farm equipment and supply chain based in Des Moines, Iowa.
Do you remember when you were a small child on Christmas morning and you couldn’t wait to open that first gift? Many people in Arcadia had a very similar feeling last week as the long-awaited opening of Highway 93 finally occurred. Several people were eager to drive on the newly-constructed road. With the many months of construction completed, Gov. Tommy Thompson will be coming to Arcadia for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 6.
A rural Trempealeau man and a rural Galesville woman were killed Saturday when the pickup in which they were riding ended up overturned in Tamarack Creek along Sonsalla Road. The victims were Nicholas Sonsalla, 24, and Michelle Symitczek, 23.
The first Veteran’s Day parade in Ettrick will be Saturday, Nov. 11 and will feature two marching bands, veterans from around the region and representatives of the military service. The event will start in the park on the village’s north side and move to the D&K Korral. A short program will be conclude the event.
Cody Fernholz, 19, of rural Galesville, has admitted his role in the brutal beating and robbery of his father and will be sentenced Dec. 5 in Trempealeau County Circuit Court.
Jayme Steien of Blair-Taylor High school was the grand prize winner of a poster contest sponsored by the Trempealeau County Domestic Abuse Task Force. Steien, the daughter of Arlyn and Carolyn Steien, Taylor, won a $500 savings bond.
Cast members of the B-T drama club production of “Godspell” include Bryan Gaddy, Lisa Mathson, Amy Jo Nelson, Kim Axness, Ben Boe, Cory Greenwell, Crystal Lyngen, Katie Heimdahl, Amy Kniseley and Travis Austad.
50 YEARS AGO
Nov. 5, 1970
The Whitehall Lions Club entertained members of the school faculty and guests at the annual banquet held Monday night at the country club. About 110 people were present.
Sverre Aasen of Whitehall has been selected to serve a three-year term on the National Production Credit Association Advisory Committee, representing the PCAs in a four-state area.
The Whitehall Homemakers club has donated $100 from the proceeds of their style show to the swimming pool fund.
Gerhard Nelsestuen, Arcadia, was among those elected to serve on the Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives district advisory committee at the second annual district meeting held in Black River Falls.
Dr. Leon English, Arcadia, will serve as a delgeate to the House of Delegates, the American Dental Association’s policy-making body, at the 111th annual session of the ADA being held in Las Vegas.
Approximately 1,750 people were served a lutefisk and meatball supper at North Beaver Creek Church.
A crew of workers fenced and cleaned the Amoth Cemetery in Stensven Coulee.
75 YEARS AGO
Nov. 1, 1945
The annual Whitehall High carnival will be held Nov. 9 and 10A circus, with John Speerstra as the ringmaster, will be staged by the grade students on the first night. The high school students will put on a minstrel show Saturday night.
The old garage at the rear of the Community Telephone Co. office has been torn down, and a new one is being built, John Fjeld doing the work. Improvements also have been made to the interior of the building, and a telephone booth for 24-hour service to the public has been added.
Dr. A.J. Costa has resigned as veterinarian for the Trempealeau County Breeders Cooperative, and left Monday with his wife and daughter for Sacramento, Calif., were he will work in the small animal hospital operated by Dr. J.E. Stacy, also formerly employed by the co-op.
Raymond Jermstad, 30, Osseo, died late Wednesday evening of a crushed chest and other injuries her received when his Ford coupe failed to make the turn at the junction of Co. EE and Hwy. 53 between Pigeon Falls and Osseo.
Pictures of the Whitehall football squad, taken by Coach Colonel Larson, are on display in the window of the Erickson store. The group consists of Erling Kildahl, Robert Nichols, Laurie Bergerson, Jim Holtan, Byron Hagen, Larry Johnson, Merlin Moen, Allen Stuve, Herbert Johnson, Kenny Fremstad, Bruce Wilberg, Donald Tomten, Robert Nereng, Quinn Risberg, Thomas Larson, David Larson, Alyn Larson, Edward Larson, Art Hanson and Bob Bensend.
Ted Hanson of Blair started teaching the York school Monday. Mrs. Helen Hoff, who started the term, has resigned.
Rev. Edward Roskos, formerly of Independence, is the new pastor of St. Michael’s parish in North Creek. He arrived from Knowlton to assume his duties at the church.
Gleston “Boots” Gunilson purchased the former Century Inn building and is remodeling it into an Electric Shop.
Prie Olson proprietor of Olsons Feed Store and Hatchery is adding a second 65,000 egg incubator which will double the capacity of hatching eggs.
A young people’s dance will be held in the Blair village hall with music by Leo Etibor and Orchestra.
Discharges include: Pfc Basil Mathson, flight officer Carroll Sexe, T/Sgt. Clayton Mahlum, T/S Myron Thompson, Sgts. Eugene Thurston, Roy Matson, Alvin Fredrickson and Roy Kelly.
Robert Wheeler, Ettrick, his hospitalized since he fell from a truck.
100 YEARS AGO
Nov. 4, 1920
At Tuesday’s election, the village of Whitehall case 280 republican votes for Harding and 26 democrat votes for Cox for president, nine prohibitionist and seven socialist votes. The women cast 132 votes.
Miss Agnes Bill, appearing under the auspices of the Red Cross, was given a monster ovation last night at the Opera House at the meeting designed to introduce the county nurse and her great work to our people.
The boys, in their Halloween pranks, got somewhat beyond the bounds of good sportsmanship this year. When their sport takes the form of damaging property, it becomes a nuisance.
F.D. Hopkins, C.B. Melby and Ed Erickson tried duck hunting at Trempealeau Tuesday, without success. Ducks are not yet on the wing, a sign that winter is not yet here.
York — Theo. Larson is employed by the Mill and Power Co. to do carpenter work, getting things ready to receive the machinery when it arrives. We hope it will come soon, as everybody is anxious to get feed grinding accomplished here.
Several “stills” were the find of federal prohibition officers in a raid made Wednesday and Thursday in Arcadia and the surrounding country. Three federal agents arrived in town Tuesday and that same evening made a raid on local soft drink parlors, but failed to find any incriminating evidence. The next day, a search was made for private stills and several of the contrivances were brought to the city hall. No arrests had been made, but the stills were seized to be sent to headquarters as evidence.
125 YEARS AGO
Oct. 31, 1895
The water in the reservoir last week was pumped to a height of 13 feet, but a leak at some undisclosed place let the most of it away Monday night. Contractor Foley arrived Tuesday and will make a thorough, and it is hoped, successful, examination of the system to find the defect.
Another interesting meeting of the literary society was held last Friday evening. The question of whether the United States should recognize the insurgents of Cuba was decided in the affirmative. The society is in a flourishing condition. It has ordered several reference books and subscribed for a magazine.
The second convention of the Seventh District of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union met at the courthouse yesterday. Delegates are present from all the counties comprising the district except Buffalo and Pepin. The members are enthusiastic and the convention proceedings are being conducted in an able, systematic and business-like manner. We can’t see but what the ladies engaged in this work are as competent to run a convention as the men.
Ole Erickson has bought of Herman Rumple a farm in hail, comprising 160 acres, for which he paid $1,600.
The Whitehall camp of Modern Woodmen of America will hold a grand ball at Opera Hall tomorrow evening.
The question of today — will Corbett and Fitzsmmons fight?
Hegg — A special meeting was held Saturday in joint school district No. Six, towns of Ettrick and Preston, the purpose of which was to discuss and decide whether the Baptists should have the use of the school house for religious services. The meeting decided that the building should be closed to Baptist ministers.
