From Our Early Files May 18, 2022
25 YEARS AGO
May 22, 1997
An Independence teenager has been charged with first-degree homicide in the fatal shooting early Saturday morning of his mother’s boyfriend, 31-year-old Gerald Bisek. Ryan Bogdonovich made his initial appearance in Trempealeau County Circuit Court Monday. Independence officer Jim Konkel was called to the Watenphul residence at about 2 a.m. to investigate a report of a shooting. Konkel arrived to find Bisek on the floor bleeding from the chest. Watenphul told the officer that Bisek had been shot, and that the weapon used, a 20-gauge shotgun was in her son’s room. What led up to the fatal shooting, by all accounts, was a domestic disturbance. But some elements of the incident, based on statements by Bogdonovich, Watenphul and one witness are in disagreement. Bogdonovich told investigating officers that Bisek was threatening his mother with a knife. Watenphul indicated that Bisek may have intended to slash furniture, over which the two were arguing, but did not have a knife in his hands when the shot was fired.
Several people from throughout the Arcadia School District were on hand on Saturday evening just before graduation ceremonies for the official groundbreaking for the new high school facility.
The Broiler-Dairy Days celebration is set to begin this Friday as the Packer Tailgate party is scheduled at the Arcadia Lions Club pavilion at 5 p.m. Hot air balloon rides begin at 5:30 p.m. that day.
If weather cooperates, the reconstruction of Main Street in Galesville’s central business district will be advanced about one month, to June 10. The conditional OK was given Monday by field and project supervisors for the state Department of Transportation.
Like a lot of adults, Mariah Forster recalls Winnie-the-Pooh from childhood books. Who could forget the whimsical, sometimes hapless honey-seeking bear, and his friends of the forest, friends like Piglet and Owl, all with certain adult-like traits. They were important to her then and they’re important to her yet, important enough to share space in her valedictory presentation to the Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau High School class of 1997 during Saturday’s commencement.
With village clerk//treasurer Norma Van Vleet set to leave office in June, members of the Trempealeau village board are scrambling to replace her with an administrator-finance director. The possibility of creating a new position has been discussed by trustees on and off over the years. Van Vleet’s letter of resignation was accepted May 5.
Trempealeau Police Department said Monday that it is continuing its investigation into Saturday’s death of Forrest Day along the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad tracks in Trempealeau. Day, 19, of Galesville, was killed near First and Pine streets at about 3:25 p.m. while he was standing between two sets of tracks. He was struck by a westbound train, according to the police report.
50 YEARS AGO
May 25, 1972
Joseph Diffie of Whitehall, who had pleaded guilty in March to the kidnapping of an Eau Claire dentist’s son, was sentenced Monday to 10 years in state prison.
Litigation between the Whitehall Teachers Association and the district board of education over the 1971 master contract continued Monday and Tuesday in county court here. The WTA is claiming that a verbal contract was made at a negotiating session in December, and that the school board is not abiding by it.
Rev. Gary Clark recently resigned as pastor of the United Methodist parishes here and in Arcadia, Independence and the town of Montana in Buffalo County. Rev. Clark had served here since 1969.
With Arcadia Broiler-Dairy Days on hand this weekend, city Chief of Police Edward Kaiser reminds tavern operators that new regulations apply, referring specifically to the recently passed state 18-year-old majority law — lowering the age of legal adulthood from 21 to 18. Bar owners must acquaint themselves with the new laws and regulations, he emphasized, and must also hire the necessary amount of help needed to maintain order. It is the responsibility of each tavern proprietor to make preparations for security inside his place of business, Kaiser said.
A full weekend of fun is in store for visitors to this year’s 19th annual Lions’-sponsored Arcadia Broiler-Dairy Festival, which gets underway Friday evening and continues through Sunday. One of the highlights will be the big parade on Sunday afternoon.
Graduation exercises for 107 senior members of the Arcadia High School class of 1972 will be held Thursday, June 1 at 8 p.m. This is the 93rd class to graduate from Arcadia High School and the 57th from the present high school building. Ann O’Brien will deliver the valedictory address and Ricky Reuter will deliver the salutatory address.
A slo-pitch softball league was formed on May 19. Teams in the league are Hank and Fran’s, Snappers, Olson-Gilmeister, Ettrick Merchants, Trempealeau and Abby’s. Games will be played at the Galesville diamond on Friday nights. Some games may also be played in Ettrick and Trempealeau.
75 YEARS AGO
May 22, 1947
Volunteers from the girls’ and young women’s organizations of Whitehall will assist the American Legion Auxiliary in distributing memorial poppies on Poppy Day this Saturday, announced Mrs. Vernon Nehring, poppy chairman.
The Rev. Harold Aasen of the French Creek Lutheran Church will conduct baccalaureate services this Sunday evening at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church for the 1947 class being graduated from Whitehall Memorial High School.
Although trout fishing isn’t what it used to be, according to local anglers, it was the pleasure of J.R. Garaghan to exhibit one of the finest specimens displayed in our city in years. The fish measured 29 and three-quarters inches and tipped the scales at 12 pounds.
Mr. and Mrs. O.H. Herbert have sold their farm in Irvin Coulee, to Dominic Sosalla, the son of Joe Sosalla of Lincoln. The farm has been in Mrs. Herbert’s family for nearly 50 years, her father, the C.H. Anderson, purchasing it in 1897.
Stanley Dettinger and sons, who supply the Northfield, York and Pigeon Falls communities with high-grade Guernsey milk and cream, have greatly enlarged and improved their dairy equipment in recent months to meet increased demand and production.
Paul Kania, an employee at the A-G Cooperative Creamery is a patient at St. Joseph’s Hospital following an accident at the plant last Thursday morning. He was standing on a ladder washing out the interior of the spray process cone drier. About halfway up, he slipped and fell, striking a cross bar. He is said to be holding his own.
Rev. Harry Dovenspike, the new pastor of the Evangelical-United Brethren Church in Arcadia, arrived Tuesday to take over his duties. He comes from Marinette where he had completed a year as pastor of the Evangelical church in that city. He is a native of Hawthorne, Pa.
The Green Lantern Café in Galesville has changed hands, Mrs. Belle Steppflug has sold the café to Glen Boullion.
A Norwegian Fourth of July will be celebrated May 17 in Galesville. The custom went out with World War I since then it is coming back.
Mikes Shell Station is having its first anniversary sale May 17: Five gallons of gas for $1,05. Five gallons of premium gas will be $1.15.
Trempealeau County’s war bond quote was over $1,000 for 1947.
100 YEARS AGO
May 25, 1922
The Class Night exercises Wednesday evening were splendid, each pupil taking part doing very well indeed. The musical numbers by the high school orchestra, and the trio by Misses Ina Anderson, Sylvia Melby and Alice Larson, were excellent. The hall was prettily decorated with the class colors of blue and gold, with the class motto worked in these colors and with ferns.
The Whitehall Municipal Band will give a concert in the bandstand Saturday evening, weather permitting.
Sheriff Erickson brought in two young lads from Trempealeau last night, who are alleged to have been the parties who burglarized the F.C. Ford garage at Trempealeau. The sheriff captured them at Minnieska, Minn., where some of the loot was found.
The opening of bids for the construction of the new schoolhouse in Whitehall, which was to have been let May 23, has been postponed to May 31.
A Memorial Day barn dance will be given at the home of Carl Schaefer on May 30, music to be provided by the Pathea Orchestra.
The Baccalaureate sermon Sunday evening to the Class of 1922 of Whitehall High was delivered by the Rev. N.K. Larson at the M.E. church. It was pronounced one of the best ever delivered here to a class of young graduates.
The Northfield Guernsey Breeders Club will give a dance June 3 at Carron Hulett’s farm for the benefit of the York Calf Club. Ladies should bring baskets for the supper.
York — Tom Skoyen takes possession of the repairing in the York garage today.
The Galesville Rod and Gun Club announced that a bug carnival is coming. Starting off with a big supper in the auditorium of the hall in charge of Mrs. Albert Scarseth assisted by Mrs. Ben Davis, Carl McKeeth, Marting Swenson, Frank Shuster, Gerald Arnold, Emery Terpening, John Benrud, Shirley Grover, S.D. Cronk and Bay Parry. Edith Bartlett served as cashier. The proceeds will go to the ladies committee to be expended on beautifying streets and parks.
125 YEARS AGO
May 20, 1897
Solsrud, Kidder and Co. took in 1,050 dozen eggs Saturday.
The dance at Opera Hall in Whitehall Monday night was attended by 34 couples.
G.S. Rice and wife witness the exercises attending the laying of the cornerstone of the new Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church at Eleva last Saturday.
A live tarantula was taken from a bunch of bananas at Scott Bros.’ store Monday and chloroformed by Druggist McNaughton. It can be seen at the drug store.
The concert given by the Junior League at the Methodist church Sunday for missionary purposes was fairly well attended, and the exercises were well conducted by the little folk. The collection received indicated that the efforts of the young people to ameliorate the condition of the suffering heathen were appreciated.
The people of Norway celebrated in fitting manner the Norwegian “Fourth of July” at Eleva Monday, commemorating the achievement of their independence. H.A. Anderson of this place was one of the orators of the day.
Lute Quackenbush, the old reliable painter and paper-hanger, is doing good work, as usual, this season. It doesn’t pay to hire “quacks” when there is an expert to be had.
Dr. Parker had a narrow escape last week from lockjaw. He was injured some days ago by being struck on the knee by the wheel of his buggy, nearly turning the knee cap over. He was confined to bed for some time, Dr. Sonnickson attending him.
Blair -- The new Baptist church is nearing completion. It is to be a fine edifice, costing in the neighborhood of $1,200. The Hogan Lumber and Stock Co. is furnishing the lumber put into its construction.
Blair -- The sugar beet meeting last Thursday was largely attended by representative farmers, and considerable interest developed in the proceedings. As a result, 75 acres of beet culture were contracted for by farmers of this vicinity.
