From The Early Files
25 YEARS AGO
Nov. 9, 1995
Neighboring property owners have raised concerns about the proposed expansion of a rural Whitehall mobile home park. At issue is a proposed change in zoning for property adjoining the Stagecoach Lanes trailer park, which is located at the intersection of Hwy. 53 and Schansberg Rd. in the town of Lincoln. Residents whose property adjoins the area to be rezoned were all opposed. The objections included the affects of a larger mobile home court on their properties, but one of them also raising issues that could affect more than just the immediate area round the facility. Jeanne Brown noted that he trailer court expansion potentially could cause a substantial increase in enrollment in the Whitehall School District, potentially compelling the local schools to hire more teachers.
Pigeon Falls-area businesses and individuals upset with a spate of burglaries in the village are putting their money where their emotions are. A total of 21 local merchants have offered just over $1,000 as a reward for the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who broke into a couple Pigeon Falls businesses, one of them twice, over the last month.
Gov. Tommy Thompson was in Arcadia to cut a ribbon on the new five-mile stretch of the new Highway 93. Several local and state dignitaries were also on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The next phase of the flood control project in Arcadia was recently completed. A spillway was created to help move water out of sediment ponds near Ashley Furniture. Along with the completion of the spillway, the rerouting of Myers Valley Creek is also underway.
In the finale of Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau High School’s “Oklahoma” sounded Saturday night as if it had added gusto, it did. From their front row seats, members of the 1976 production who had gathered for a reunion couldn’t contain their enthusiasm and joined in.
A visit with the area recycling center and a talk with its staff have left the Trempealeau village board unwilling, for now at least, to bolt from the regional agency. At its October meeting, the board had balked at approving a new budget for the Southern Trempealeau County Solid Waste Commission and talked of looking for a better deal with a previous recycler.
County supervisors Nels Richason, Galesville, and Dave Mahlum, rural Ettrick, are not seeking reelection to the Trempealeau County board when their terms expire next spring. Supervisor John Sobotta, Arcadia, has also signed a declaration of non-candidacy.
First Lutheran Church in Blair served more than 1,400 people at its lutefisk dinner on Saturday.
Associated Milk Producers Inc.’s seven million gallon pretreatment lagoon was upgraded this summer as part of a half-million wastewater treatment improvement project. This will position AMPI to meet all its efficiency standards in the years to come.
The Blair-Taylor facilities committee continues its footwork on building proposals for the school district, with a final option or options to be brought before the school board at a later date.
50 YEARS AGO
Nov. 12, 1970
The only change in Trempealeau County officers as the result of last week’s election was for county clerk, as Democrat Harold Tomter defeated incumbent Republican Marlys Lietz.
Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council, in cooperation with the Trempealeau County Health and Social Services department, has set up a used clothing outlet in the Lincoln Town Hall, across from the courthouse in Whitehall.
Members of the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce toured Arcadia Furniture Corporation Monday afternoon at the invitation of Ronald Wanek, manager, who had been a guest at the monthly chamber luncheon meeting earlier. Wanek gave a brief account of the progress made since the firm opened Aug. 16.
Greg Buchholz won first place in the Trempealeau County Soil and Water Conservation Speaking Contest. Buchholz took first place in the elementary division for his speech entitled “Bats.”
Three people were injured in a two-car accident Saturday on Highway 35-53 south of Galesville. LaVern Dworschak, 53, of Arcadia, one of the drivers, is in good condition at St. Francis Hospital in La Crosse. Driver of the other car, Lorna Betz, 50, Galesville was released from the hospital on Sunday, as was Robert Betz, 10, Appleton, a passenger in his grandmother’s car.
Twelve head of young stock and 4,000 bales of hay burned in a fire of undetermined origin that destroyed a barn on the George Passow farm, seven miles southwest of Arcadia, early Thursday morning. The farm is rented and operated by Ed Patzner Jr.
The Ridgerunners Snowmobile Club president Roger Fuchs and officers discussed the following events for the year: Trail ride nights, wiener roast, adult day rides, kiddie day rides, snowmobile derby for sportsmens clubs, Grand View rides and others.
Blair Legion Post will sponsor a Veteran’s Day banquet at the Green Meadows Supper Club.
A heart attack claimed the life of Judge Richard Lawton, 50, of Black River Falls.
Ettrick Industries voted to return their invested money to the stockholders.
75 YEARS AGO
Nov. 8, 1945
In the early morning of Nov. 2 this community had an electrical and rain storm. In the afternoon of that day, hail fell and covered the ground. The first snow flurries of the season came Saturday, Nov. 8.
Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Davidson, who have operated the restaurant known as Firpo’s Café in Whitehall since last March, have sold the business to Mrs. Emil Johnson, former proprietor, and Mrs. Edna Kopp, who took over the operation last week.
The pupils of the Fly Creek school and their teacher, Mrs. Ed Schlesser, were entertained at lunch Friday evening at the Archie Lowe home, celebrating the third birthday of Billy Lowe.
York has been improved this past week by the straightening of Timber Creek from the creamery past the blacksmith shop. Gilbert Laufenberg of South Alma did the ditching.
Whitehall High won over Arcadia 13 to 6 Friday, in the final game of the season. The victory put the Orange and Black in second place in the conference. Larry Johnson scored both Whitehall touchdowns, the first on an 82-yard run from scrimmage, the longest in the conference this year, and the second on a 40-yard punt return. Whitehall also suffered its first major injury of the season in the third quarter, when Bob Bensend cracked a bone in his wrist.
Orlando Haines and Bernie Fernholz bagged an eight-pound Canadian honker recently. The bird has a five-foot wing spread. They got the goose in Myers Valley when they were pheasant hunting.
Stanley and Ignatius Sonsalla, new proprietors of the Arcadia Hotel, announced the grand opening of their new tap room this Saturday. Some remodeling has been done to help make it more attractive and pleasant to the patrons.
Curran Valley Evangelical Lutheran Church will celebrate its 50th anniversary with Rev. D.T. Borgen of Viroqua and former pastor here from 1908 to 1920 who will bring the message. Pastor B.J. Hatlem is the present pastor.
Jens Hanson retired from the restaurant business. It will be operated by his son Clarence and called “A Bit of Norway.”
The Clarence A. Knudtson Post of Blair has now changed to the Knudtson-Mattison Post honoring both Clarence A. Knudtson, the first Blair boy to lose his life in World War I and Alden Mattison, Blair marine who was reported missin gin action in World War II.
100 YEARS AGO
Nov. 11, 1920
The death of Sigvald Larson of Blair, who drowned after he jumped from a moving train at Blair Thursday night, falling into the river in eight feet of water, was one of the sad events of the week. There are rumors that Larson and a friend had been down the road to a neighboring town and obtained moonshine liquor, and that he was under the influence of this drink at the time of his plunge into the icy water. His companion, Olaf Gusk, who jumped before Larson and landed safely on the ground, was questioned closely by District Attorney Barlow, and is said to have given information that may be damaging to parties engaged in dispensing liquor containing more than one-half of one percent of alcohol.
The weather touched around zero this week, and snow now whitens the ground.
Mrs. H.A. Towner and daughter grace returned from Nebraska Thursday. They had planned to spend the winter with her son Harry and family, but the climate did not agree with Grace.
C.B. Melby, F.D. Hopkins, Sheriff Erickson, E.A. Sorenson and Cliff Ford will leave next week Thursday for the deer hunting grounds in Ashland County. The boys have a complete hunting outfit, including camp equipage, and have a cabin of their own in which to make camp.
The federal authorities made a raid at Arcadia Tuesday night and Wednesday, and searched at least 10 places in which it was believed intoxicating liquors were being manufactured and sold. The revenue officials refuse to disclose the results of this search.
Peter Spittler of Trempealeau prairie, one of the pioneers of the county, was a visitor at Whitehall Saturday. Mr. Spittler was the first butcher at Independence, having operated there in 1877, shortly after the Green Bay road was built.
The county school committee met Monday at the courthouse, and accepted the resignation of Mrs. George, formerly Miss Paula Toraason, who has been the efficient county supervising teacher for a number of years. Those duties will devolve on Miss Solfest, the other supervising teacher, for the present at least.
Jos. Frie purchased the Commerical Hotel in Arcadia and is expected to pull down the old building to erect a new dwelling house in the spring.
Peter Christ of Montana crushed his index finger while splitting logs.
125 YEARS AGO
Nov. 7, 1895
The repairs on the waterworks reservoir were completed, and the water pumped up to a height of 14 feet last night. Pumping was discontinued, as another leak let off three feet of water last night.
Tom Wright, Will Harlow, Kip Ecker and Ira Thompson went up in the woods near City Point last week on a deer hunt, but failed to bag any game. They returned Tuesday.
A four-inch fall of “the beautiful” last night gives Mother Earth the appearance of winter.
Lewis Haugen of Osseo, while trying to stop his team, which took fright at a passing train, was run over and instantly killed last Wednesday. Aged 20, he was a highly respected young man.
A word from D.O. Sweet, who went west from here with his family about two weeks ago, informs us that he has located at Santa Ana, Calif.. The Sweets many friends in Whitehall will wish them prosperity in their new home.
Blair — Henry Hanson of Pigeon Falls was in town between trains Saturday. His mother, who had been visiting with him, came home. A daughter was born to Henry Oct. 26, and he was feeling correspondingly happy.
Independence — A lawsuit was tried before Justice Taylor Wednesday. The case was brought by Casper Manka against E.S. Coy as marshal of the village. It seems Manka was arrested by the marshal for being drunk, which he claims was not true. There was a jury trial, and the case was decided against the village.
