From Our Early Files, April 6, 2022
25 YEARS AGO
April 10, 1997
The death of a town of Burnside man in his home last week is being treated as Trempealeau County’s first murder in nearly five years. Trempealeau County Coroner Bonnie Kindschy on Friday ruled that the death of Aloyzie Przybilla was a homicide. The body of Przybilla, 74, had been found in his home located on Co. Hwy. XX west of Independence, Thursday afternoon by his son, Leon Przybilla. An autopsy was conducted on Przybilla’s remains Friday. The cause of death was found to be a gunshot wound to the torso, according to Lieutenant Dan Schreiner of the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department. Schreiner, who has never dealt with this type of case in nearly 20 years of law enforcement called the Przybilla murder “a stone-cold ‘who-dunit.’”
Two town of Hale supervisors were among a number of area township officials who were unseated during last week Tuesday’s spring general election. Both of the Hale supervisory seats changed hands in last week’s voting, with Richard Morchinek defeating Paul Goplin, 99-81 for First Supervisor and Obert Lundberg downing Paul Franson, 125-57 for Second Supervisor.
A farm accident proved fatal for the child of rural Independence residents Thursday morning. Jonathan Robert Moyer, 3, was killed when a 16-foot gate fell on him at the farm where his parents reside on Plum Creek Road, four miles southeast of Independence. Moyer was the son of Peter Moyer and Laurie Luepton.
Trempealeau County last week was awarded a federal grant that will fund part of the cost of adding a new county sheriff’s department officer. U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl’s office announced the grant award, which comes from the COPS program. The $75,000 in federal funds will cover 75 percent of the cost of salary and fringe benefits for a new county deputy, for three years.
Geraldine Wronske recently opened Olde’ Creamery Antiques and Refinishing in Independence. The store is located at the old Independence Creamery building.
Members of the 1997 Arcadia High School Junior Prom Court are Rocky Pierzina, Ronnie Simmons, Jeff Rotering, Derek Schlesser, Jason Kostner, Justin Halverson, Jenny Bautch, Wendy Sobota, Nicole Pronschinske, Missy Sonsalla, Jenny Lince and Jeni Boberg. The theme song is “Me and You” by Kenny Chesney.
Once again it’s time for the public to have a choice in what happens to the cit-owned former Gale College site. That time will be Wednesday at Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau High School. At issue will be the Gale site “vision statement” adopted by the mayor’s advisory committee in February.
Even as workers removed the last remaining girders in the 1931-built bridge over south Beaver Creek, other crews prepared foundations for abutments for the replacement span. Concrete could be poured some time this week on the supports. That part of the bridge-Main Street replacement project is on schedule.
50 YEARS AGO
April 13, 1972
Flora Diffie of Whitehall became the fifth person to be charged in the kidnapping last month of an Eau Claire youth, joining her husband, Joseph Diffie Sr., and three rural Independence residents. The Whitehall school teacher allegedly brought food to the victim while he was being held at a rural Independence farm house.
Whitehall has been awarded a $43,676 Department of Interior grant for the development of an 18-acre parcel of land on Ellis Street north of Blair Street into a city park.
In the only contested race on the Whitehall city ballot last week Tuesday, incumbent First Ward Alderman Willie Johnson defeated Lambert Gronemus 92 to 50.
A program paying tribute to W.B. Gautch, retiring superintendent of Arcadia Public Schools, will be held April 22 at the high school auditorium.
King Ed Schmitt and Queen Carol Hesch will reign over the junior class prom at Arcadia High School on Friday. Members of the royal court are first attendant Dan Schank and Cathy Chambers; second attendant Bob Kulig and Colleen Maloney; third attendant Mike Krett and Marie Hillig and fourth attendant Tom Filla and Mary Lou Schlesser. Music for dancing will be provided by The Profs. The theme is “Windmills of Your Mind.”
The 1970 Census of Housing counted 7,639 housing units in Trempealeau County and 6,835 households had at least one television set.
Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau Junior Prom royalty included Queen Penny Nichols and King Kurt Wood. Other members were Irv Diamond, Carla Emerson, Mark Severson, Carol Wilber, Tim Hauser, Kathy Rand, Bob Harris, Katy Twesme, Darcy Remus, Pam Sacia, Mark Olson and Peg Wojciedhowski. “Wonderland by Night” will be the theme. Frank Rollins band will play for dancing.
Gale-Ettrick Board of Education passed resolutions to borrow $50,000 for the purpose of constructing a swimming pool and bathhouse on the high school grounds.
75 YEARS AGO
April 10, 1947
Culverts were washed out and roads temporarily closed in the area following the heavy rain that fell for about an hour on Saturday morning. A private bridge belonging to Clarence Mathson was washed out when Moe Coulee Creek rose five or six feet. Irvin Creek in Whitehall was higher than it has ever been.
Jackson County authorities and Dr. R.L. MacCornack have ruled as accidental the death of Timber Creek resident Martin Thomley, who was found dead in a ditch along Co. Hwy. G. north of York Tuesday morning.
The 1923 Model T fire truck owned by the Whitehall Volunteer Fire Department, which was put up for sale on bids, was sold to Clarence Johnson for $62.75. Clarence in turn sold the vehicle to the La Crosse fire department, which will use it for parade purposes.
King Dave Larson has chosen Solveig Sletteland as his queen for the Whitehall High Junior Prom that will be held April 18. A sellout crowd is expected, as Jim Cronen and his fine orchestra from Winona are engaged to play.
The registrations of 8,899 Trempealeau County men were handled by the county Selective Service Board, which was notified Thursday that it has until May 3 to close its records, according to Chief Clerk Clarence Johnson.
Preliminaries to the 1947 baseball season were discussed at a meeting of the Whitehall Cubs held Monday at the Swenson and De Bow Barber Shop. Manager Rudolph Hagen assured the players that the Melby Park field will be ready for play by June 1.
York — The heavy rain here Friday night and Saturday morning caused Timber Creek and Beaver Creek to overflow, flooding bridges and basements. The water was the highest it has been in several years.
Fire completely destroyed the farm home of Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Kotlarz, five miles northwest of Arcadia in Rainey Valley on Friday. The cause of the fire was undetermined, but the fire was reported to have done the damage in one hour. The loss may run as high as $10,000. The value of the house was $7,000. Although the Arcadia Fire Department was called, the house was past saving. The Kotlarz family has five children who escaped the home before it burned to the ground. They ran to the barn to tell their mother of the blaze. Mr. Kotlarz was attending church when the blaze occurred.
Mr. Gus Ball, superintendent of Whitehall schools, has been named the chairman of Trempealeau County for the American Cancer Society. The appointment was made by James Hoeschler, La Crosse, campaign manager for the Seventh Medical District, which includes Trempealeau County.
From time-to-time, the Galesville Republican receives complaints of thoughtless children parking their bicycles on sidewalks. This is particularly true in front of the post office. Last week, a Galesville lady tripped over a bike as she stepped from the post office door. In the mix up her nylons were ruined, her fur coat torn and she lost no small amount of epidermis from ankles upwards. Parents are asked to warn the kids to park their bike elsewhere.
100 YEARS AGO
April 13, 1922
Last Thursday night the climax was reached in the school building preparation, when the voters of the district, by a vote of 264 to 94, decided the second bond issue favorably. There is now at the disposal of the board of education and the building committee about $80,000 from the two bond issues, and slight changes in the plans are being made by the architects. The second floor will be devoted entirely to the high school, the first floor to the grades, and the ground floor to domestic science, manual training and the gymnasium. At last the great handicap under which both instructors and students have labored is to be removed, and Whitehall, instead of having the poorest school building in the county, will rank among the best.
Home-brew was outlawed beyond the question of a doubt in Wisconsin Tuesday, by the ruling of the state supreme court in the case of the state vs. Curtis Nelson. The court held that the home manufacture of wine, in excess of one-half of one percent alcohol, is against the law of the state.
Scranton Street is in the building zone this season. Wm. E. Olson and Theo. Kauf have commenced work on new residences, and more are contemplated.
Sheriff Erickson reports the arrest and conviction of Wm. Galgouski of Galesville on a charge of “moonshining.” He was given 30 days in the county jail. From the same source comes the information of the arrest of Robert Pogreba on two charges, that of having liquor in his possession, and selling.
A sleet and snowstorm wrought havoc with telephone lines again.
The first annual Easter Ball, sponsored by Company A, 1st Infantry, Wisconsin National Guard, was slated for April 17 at the Arcadia Armory Hall.
The annual Galesville Firemens party was held Friday evening when families numbering 200 or more gathered. The entire city building was used. The lower rooms for cards and serving, tables were spread in the council and truck rooms. A five-piece orchestra headed by Clarence Sacia furnished the music.
Galesville High School won in livestock judging in the district contest at West Salem. Vocational director is Mr. Dreier. The team included Arnold French, Clinton Johnson and Earl Trim. French got top honors.
An appeal by Governor John J. Blaine was being made to the American people to contribute money, medicine, grain and clothing for relief to famine stricken in Volga Valley in Russia.
125 YEARS AGO
April 8, 1897
Judge Odell had a majority of 1,600 for county judge in Tuesday’s election, carrying every town except one. It was a clean campaign, both being gentlemen in every respect, and in this instance Mr. Towner’s defeat can only be attributed to a lack of knowledge of the duties of the office. The precedent was set long ago of requiring legal knowledge and ability as qualifications for county judge.
Mrs. W.E. Parker was informed Saturday that the seven-year-old son of her brother, John Stendahl, who resides in Eau Claire, has his right eye put out by a stone while playing with other boys.
Pigeon Falls -- Hans Nyberg and Marcus Tangen have returned from the woods, where they have been preparing victuals at a lumber camp.
Pigeon Falls -- Hans M. Ynsdestad was awarded the contract for building the hall for the Young Peoples Society and has already erected the frame for same. It is located opposite the parsonage on the other side of the street leading to the church, where P. Ekern donated a lot to build on. The old people, as well as the young, are taking a great deal of interest in this enterprise, and hope that much benefit may be reaped from the undertaking.
Blair -- Ole Paulsrud and Paul Loma were at the county seat Monday to secure first papers so they could exercise the right of suffrage.
Ettrick -- Amund Tjoflat has purchased a span of drivers from Galesville parties. He says he will take dust from nobody. He has been called on to explain this fine turnout, but remains mute.
