From the Early Files Dec. 30
25 YEARS AGO
Jan. 4, 1996
The proceeds from Trempealeau County’s controversial new sales tax have started arriving back in Whitehall — in amounts that, so far, anyway, seem underwhelming. The county received its first large payment from the state Department of Revenue last week, a check for just under $19,000. The sales tax was approved by the county board last May, despite opposition from business people and other citizens, two months after the supervisors had voted it down; it went into effect Oct. 1.
It appears that a rural Whitehall man who is fighting Trempealeau County’s mobile home ordinance may win a battle, but still lose the war. John Long was scheduled to be in circuit court twice this week, once on a motion hearing and once for a trial. Long is charged with violating the county code by hauling in two trailers which do not meet standards set in the ordinance, and for which he did not have the required permits, onto property he owns in the town of Hale. A hearing was scheduled for this week Wednesday, at which time a motion filed by Long’s attorney is to be considered. If the motion is granted, the county may have to backpedal on the ordinance; if it is rejected, Long’s case would go to trial on Thursday.
The Jackson/Trempealeau County Crime Stoppers organization is asking for help in solving a burglary, which occurred in Northfield over the weekend. Sometime late Saturday night or early Sunday morning, one or more persons entered Jackie’s Inn, located at Hwy. 121 in that village. A number of items were taken from the bar and restaurant.
Many people in Arcadia were frustrated when they pulled up to the Arby’s fast food restaurant last week. The restaurant closed its doors to people because the managers decided to quit their positions. Part owner Greg Neis said that the move to close the restaurant was something he didn’t want to do, but he had no choice. “When one of our managers quit to go to Burger King, my family and I were trying to keep everything going,” Neis said. “When our other manager quit, we had no choice but to close our doors.”
One local man has been instrumental in the success of the Arcadia-Glencoe Volunteer Fire Department for a good portion of the entity’s existence. Eldon Conrad, who retired from the local fire department after serving for 33 years, maintains that his involvement with the department has made him a better person. The tradition which he started has been continued by his two sons, Randy, 23, and Rollie, 25, who are both members of the department.
Construction of the new connector wing at the Franciscan-Skemp Healthcare Arcadia Campus is nearly completed.
Arcadia’s John Giemza was crowned the Bi-State champion in the 130-pound weight class as the Raiders were third in the team standings.
Centerville’s Laura Delaney rink swept a double round robin in La Crosse to win the state junior women’s curling championship. The Ryan Quinn rink from Galesville went into overtime Saturday to finish second and become the alternate Wisconsin junior men’s team at national competition next month.
Federal funding cutbacks have scuttled grants that were to have been used for historic preservation in the main business districts of Galesville and Trempealeau.
Elsie Schaffner celebrated her 80th birthday New Years Day doing what she’s done nearly every day since she was about 10 — milking cows.
50 YEARS AGO
Jan. 7, 1971
Plowing out, shoveling out and struggling out were the order of the day Monday, after Sunday’s snowstorm dumped 15 inches of new snow on the ground. Records for a 24-hour snowfall were broken in Winona, La Crosse and farther south.
The first baby of the new year to be born at Tri-County Memorial Hospital arrived Jan. 2, a son born to Mr. and Mrs. James Bautch of Chippewa Falls, formerly of Independence.
Bill Hulett’s basket with four seconds left in the second overtime gave Taylor a 96-94 win over the Whitehall city team Sunday. Ralph Rasmuson and Jack Hoyer led the locals with 26 and 21 points, respectively.
The board of education of the Arcadia Public Schools will purchase a double re-locatable classroom unit from the Greenwood School District as a temporary solution to a need for an additional classroom for the next school year.
A total of 182 people came to give some one else a chance to live or provide an adequate supply of blood for themselves last Tuesday at the Arcadia High School gym. Of this total, 160 units of blood were drawn, 27 from first-time donors.
Ettrick village and township residents donated 135 pints of blood Monday to the Red Cross bloodmobile. Of the 254 registered, 84 failed to meet their appointments. A total of 22 came without appointments and there were 28 first-time donors.
The referendum for the reorganization of the Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau School Districts will be held next Tuesday. Everyone interested in education in the Gale-Ettrick or Trempealeau districts should be sure to go to the polls to vote.
After snowplows were unable to clear the road, Vi Smith rode his snowmobile into snowbound Abrahams Coulee to remove Mrs. Jane Kaus who was experiencing labor pains. Vi and Jim Daffinson transported Kaus to a waiting ambulance and she was taken to a Whitehall hospital, but the baby had not yet been born as of press time.
75 YEARS AGO
Jan. 3, 1946
A gift of $100 was presented by W.J. Webb to the public library as New Year’s gift, in memory of Mrs. Webb, who served on the library board from the time it was founded until her death in 1939. Mr. Webb himself furnished the lumber for building the first library, which stood on the site of the present O.J. Eggum law office. Mr. Webb, who has resided in Whitehall almost continuously since 1874, also made gifts of $50 each to the community’s four churches 00 Our Saviour’s Lutheran, the Methodist, First Baptist and Gospel Tabernacle.
Cornel Hagen of Chicago, Ill., arrived in Whitehall Monday and took over management of the Whitehall Service Garage, his father, Maurice, retiring from the business.
Dr. W.J. Reichenbach arrived in Whitehall last week as the new veterinarian, succeeding Dr. M.E. Summers, who has gone to Sacramento, Calif., to be employed at the small-animal hospital opened there two years ago by Dr. J.E. Stacy, former veterinarian with the Trempealeau County Breeders Cooperative.
A business change has taken place in Whitehall. E.W. James has resigned as Standard Oil bulk dealer and purchased the ice and dray business from the Briggs Transfer Co., including the franchise. Charles Schultz had operated the business the past year for the transfer company. Le Roy Hill, World War II veteran who recently received his discharge, has taken over the Standard Oil business.
Kenneth Nehring, recently discharged as a captain with the combat engineers, with whom he served in the European theatre, has been added to the staff of the Trempealeau County Soil Conservation Service.
100 YEARS AGO
Jan. 6, 1921
The Whitehall Concert Band will give a concert in the Opera House in early February. A date is not yet fixed. We make this announcement to prepare the music-loving public for the treat that is coming. The band has been doing considerable work of late, Direction Haesle says the February event promises a musical program of excellence.
Manager Kouf of the Whitehall Undertaking Co. is now at home in the front room of the Farmers Telephone building. Orders for anything in his line should be left at the new office. Prompt attention given to flower orders for funerals and other occasions.
The Farmers Telephone central is now located in their new building, and everything is in first-class working order. Lineman Schilke made the transfer with but slight interference with traffic.
Pigeon Falls — The hockey game between the Pigeon Falls and Whitehall boys Sunday ended in a tie.
York — The Christmas and New Year’s dance given at the York hall Thursday night was very well attended.
The Hardies Creek store started the new year with a brand new proprietor. John Toppen purchased the store from Albert Scarseth, who had conducted the business for about a year.
53 to 9. That’s the tale of the opening basketball game in which the lads of the Rowles Post American Legion starred last Friday night. The victims were the Battery D boys from La Crosse. In the lineup from Galesville were Ed Swinsen, Norris Kellman, Howard Swenson, C. Klanrud, L. Klanrud, Barlow and Bohrnstedt.
Galesville’s one smallpox case is no more. Charles Hallanger, the patient, is again about. There was no spread of the disease.
125 YEARS AGO
Jan. 3, 1896
Rickard Mattson purchased Adams and Taylor’s meat market, and will move it into the Getts building across the street.
Leon Van Tassel, who spent Christmas at his home in Hale, returned Saturday to Newport, Minn., where he is engaged in running a creamery.
An interesting game of shinny was played on the mill pond New Year’s Day between the Whitehall and Blair clubs, which was witnessed by a large crowd. Four 15-minute quarters were played, resulting in a score of four to nothing in favor of Blair. The day was fine, the game exciting, no serious accidents occurred and everything was satisfactory (except the score).
The watch meeting held at the M.E. church Monday night was attended by quite a congregation, a number of whom came from Independence. Revs. Fisher of Arcadia and Lewis preached the sermons, and at midnight the old year was rung out and the new one rung in. The services were much enjoyed by those present.
The New Year’s mask ball at the Opera House Tuesday evening was attended by about 40 couples, and was one of the pleasantest events of the season. The disguises in many cases were perfect. The costumes were obtained from Winona.
Hobart Congdon, who has been at work at the creamery here for the past year, went to Arcadia last Thursday to take charge of the creamery at that place for a time.
Pigeon Falls — The new residence of L.M. Lyngdahl is nearing completion. The building is erected on the other side of the creek, and considerable distance from the old site. The other buildings will be moved to the same location in the spring.
Independence — The Knights of Pythias ball held at Kurth’s Hall Christmas night was well attended, although there were only a few maskers.
