From Our Early Files Sept. 1, 2021


 

 

25 YEARS AGO

Sept. 5, 1996

Kristi Bothe and Sue Witte are the new teachers at the Whitehall Middle and High schools this year. Student intern teachers include Aimee Gillespie, Jason Reader, Erica Bietz, Wendy Honadel and Melinda Bohlinger.

A total of seven candidates are on the ballot for the Congressional seat representing this area, five democrats and two republicans. Republicans looking to replace Pleasantville native Steve Gunderson, who announced he would not seek reelection, including former state senator Jim Harsdorf of Beldenville and Myron Holley of Holmen. Democrats in the field include Tim Bakken, Eau Claire; Ron Kind and Lee Rasch, La Crosse; Joe Monahan, Hazel Green and Mark Weinhold, Colfax. 

Voters in the Independence School District will have more than a partisan primary on the ballot this coming Tuesday. A referendum on a proposed $6.3 million bond issue that would finance a new preschool through 12th-grade building is being voted on in conjunction with the primary election.

Arcadia-Glencoe Fire Chief Mike Wineski said that multiple sites to fill their tankers have been created throughout the area in the last year. The sites are designed to help fill the tankers, thus saving time and, therefore, the destruction of property. “We can fill our tankers closer to the fire,” Wineski said. “Many of our fires are seven or eight miles away from the station. The sites allow us to respond to a fire in a prompt manner.”

Members of the North American Dairy Foundation, a new organization that will be placed in charge of creating and operating a community/agriculture museum in Arcadia, elected their officers Thursday. Included were president, Dennis Dietelhoff; vice president, Jim Lisowski; secretary, Pete Filla and treasurer, Sharon Fernholz. 

To Trempealeau residents like Patricia Nehs, the overgrown alley on her property is an irritating source of pollen, poison ivy and unsightliness. To village trustees like Nancy Wagner, Marilyn Berger and Lisa Wolters, the platted, but undeveloped alleys, may be something the village will need in the future. They were among the trustees who helped shelve, for at least a month, a decision on a request by residents to close the alley between First and Second streets from Vine to Pine. 

A Blair man was killed Tuesday when a team of Belgian horses he was exercising became spooked and ran him over. The victim was identified as 75-year-old Marshall Grass, a wild champion horse-puller. 

Bookmobile services will be ending in the seven-county Winding Rivers Library System based in La Crosse. The region includes Trempealeau and Jackson counties where the bookmobile makes stops in areas not serviced by local public libraries. The Winding Rivers board voted to quit offering bookmobile services after Aug. 31, 1997. 

Everyone loves Blair cheese and perhaps no one more than Squeek, the Blair Cheese Fest mouse. The only trouble is Squeek keeps getting lost in Blair while trying to find his favorite Blair cheese. He is lost somewhere in Blair on municipal property. If you find him, there is a $100 reward. 

The Blair-Taylor Wildcats turned a defensive struggle into a rout with three second-half touchdowns to defeat Whitehall, 27-6. Matt Dale connected with Andy Gautsch on a 61-yard touchdown pass, Jeremy Tranberg ran up the middle for a seven-yard score and Kris Reismann took an option toss for the third touchdown.

50 YEARS AGO

Sept. 9, 1971

In a special session held this week Tuesday, the Whitehall city council voted to accept bids for the new swimming pool totaling about $160,000, not including architect’s fees. Acceptance of the bids is contingent on the receipt of additional Outdoor Recreation Aids Program funds to cover the higher-than-estimated cost of the pool.

As of Sept. 1, Norman Pederson is the new proprietor of the Shell Service Station in Whitehall. He succeeds his brother, Albert Pederson, who had operated the station since March.

New to the staff at Whitehall High School is Mrs. Bernard (Michelle) Ziegeweid of Arcadia, who teaches freshman English.

John R. English, Arcadia, was installed as the new president of the 800-member Independence Insurance Agents of Wisconsin at special ceremonies Sept. 1 in Madison.

John Misch, son of Clarence Misch, Arcadia, is one of 1,249 freshmen cadets who have entered the U.S. Air Force Academy class of 1975. 

About a dozen members of the nursing home feasibility committee met in the Isaac Clark Room of the Bank of Galesville Wednesday night. The committee has had about eight meetings, visited other nursing homes in the area and done much investigating about the possibility of adding a facility in the area. Ray Anderson and Ken Kopp both said that developers with experience in the building and operation of nursing homes are encouraging a home for Southern Trempealeau County and adjacent areas. From all available information and statistics, it seems that there is a definite need for additional living facilities for the elderly in the area. 

Enrollment in the Gale-Ettrick senior high has reached 499 with 108 seniors, 1265 juniors, 137 sophomores and 128 freshmen. 

Sheldon Bishop, 28, was listed in very critical condition Thursday at St. Mary’s Hospital in Milwaukee were he was transferred after he had received severe burns. He has second and third degree electrical burns over 50 percent of his body, a hospital spokesman said. The accident happened when Bishop was delivering concrete blocks to the Calvin West farm in the town of Gale. He was standing on the ground, when the boom he was operating came in contact with a high line, which carried about 7,200 volts of electricity. 

75 YEARS AGO

Sept. 5, 1946

A Whitehall Lion Club of 22 members will receive its charter at ceremonies that will be held at the Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church parlors tonight. C.L. Larson is the president of the new club; Hiram Hegge is the vice president, and Ralph Rasmuson, the secretary.

LeRoy Hendrickson of Borst Valley was killed when he was thrown from the car he was driving on Hwy. 93 between Arcadia and Independence Monday, his 23rd birthday. Hendrickson was discharged from the U.S. Navy in June after serving two years. The four passengers in his 1940 Chevrolet, Alvin Wiersgalla, Anna Ressel, Stanley Ressel and Marion Kotlarz, suffered only bruises when the car overturned.

Blair photographer Reuben Dissmore claims to be the first hitchhiker by plane in Trempealeau County. Wishing to go to the county fair in Galesville on Labor Day, he went to the Blair airfield to see if he could catch a ride, but found no planes there. When one flew overhead, he waved to it, and pilot Dean Van Gorden landed and obliged him.

Pigeon Falls — The U.L. Saturday School will open Sept. 7, and the parochial committee hopes there will be a 100-percent attendance in the district. Teachers secured are Mmes. A. Burt, Benard Olson, Richard Hoff, Marcus Gunderson, Curtis Kaas, Edwin Fremstad, Lloyd Severson, Clifford Fremstad and C.K. Malmin.

York — School opened here Monday with an enrollment of 24, including three beginners. Theodore Hanson of Blair is teaching. The pupils from Timber Creek are being transported to Schimmerhorn.

C.E. Heath, Osseo, who has served one two-year term as assemblyman from Trempealeau County in the state legislature was defeated in the primary on Aug. 13 by Guilford Wiley of Galesville by two votes. He has announced that he will run as an independent in the November election. 

100 YEARS AGO

Sept. 8, 1921

The Whitehall public schools opened Tuesday under very favorable conditions. The enrollment today shows 87 boys and 97 girls in the grades. In the high school there are 42 boys and 74 girls, making a total of 300 in the various departments. This surpasses any previous enrollment. With a splendid corps of instructors, the personnel of which was given last week, we look forward to a most profitable school year.

The great increase of business at the MacCornack Clinic has made it necessary to secure radium for the treatment of cancer. Previously the clinic has rented radium from Chicago, but the inconvenience involved and the time consumed in obtaining it made it seem advisable for a supply to be kept on hand for constant use. Hence the clinic has purchased a liberal supply of this rare metal, and hereafter will be prepared to treat promptly and effectively that dread disease. This will be an added boon to the community, as only the larger centers usually cam afford to provide such treatment.

York -- Mrs. Nels Heggen and Miss Emma Lier assisted Benny Ofte with his housework during silo filling last week.

Arcadia Motor & Supply Company announced plans to install an automobile paint shop with Ralph Grigoon in charge. 

A Child Welfare Organization was organized here under Miss Agnes Bill, county nurse. Mrs. Otto Hohmann was elected chairman and Mrs. O.O. Nelson, secretary/treasurer.

The mumps is no respecter of dignity nor position. Hizzoner Mayor Witherbee is recovering, after a siege of the old-time family malady. 

The Gilbertson-Myhre Co. is adding a third story to its brick store building. The concern has long been cramped for room to display its big stock. When the addition is completed the store will have four floors, including the basement. 

The Galesville Public School opened the fall term Monday with an enrollment of 325. Of these, 132 are in high school. 

125 YEARS AGO

Sept. 3, 1896

John O. Gilbertson and Co. are selling clothing at 15 percent discount this week. It will pay you to look over their complete line of clothing. They have just what you want.

Hans Nerhaugen of Plum Creek valley sold two bushels of apples to John O. Gilbertson and Co. Monday, which were the largest we have ever seen in this section. They were the McMahan and Wolf River varieties, and 25 fill a half-bushel measure.

Whitehall’s ninth-annual fair opened in the village Tuesday amid a cloud of blinding dust, which was the only bad and discouraging feature of the first day of the exhibition. Tuesday night there was a refreshing rain, which laid the dust and materially paved the way for an auspicious second day’s proceedings. The program for today and tomorrow comprises the most interesting features of the fair, and no doubt will be well-attended. Remember that today is the Democrats and People’s parties innings, and tomorrow the Republicans will be at bat., with horse, bicycle, foot and other races each day, and baseball matches each morning at 9:30.

A People’s Party convention was held at the county courthouse in Whitehall Saturday pursuant to call, for the purpose of electing delegates to attend the state, Seventh Congressional District and Senatorial conventions.

Blair — Blair downed Whitehall in a game of ball the last day of the Arcadia fair, the score standing 20-8.

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