Trempealeau County Times Early Files
25 YEARS AGO
Oct. 5, 1995
The Whitehall city council Thursday approved a low-interest loan that will keep a local industry in town, and also allow it to expand. The council unanimously okayed the application from Whitehall Specialties to borrow from the city’s Development Loan Fund. The approval took place at a special council meeting held following a public hearing on the loan.
Pigeon Falls has a new village clerk as Lon Olson replaced Kathy Hestekin on Oct. 1.
John Long said he’s willing to go to jail rather than pay a fine for violating Trempealeau County’s new mobile home ordinance, but the county may not oblige him. Long, a rural Whitehall farm owner, was cited last spring for hauling two older mobile homes onto his town of Hale property. He is presently awaiting a hearing next week on his motion to reopen the default judgement entered against him in August. Long said his intent was to use the structures for storage and workshop space at his main farm, but he never got the chance to move them here from the temporary location on another property he owns. He received a notice of a violation from the county zoning department in May and an order to remove the trailers by June 15 or a citation would be issued. The county ordinance, enacted in February 1994, prohibits the use of mobile homes or manufactured housing for storage, or for housing if they we rebuilt before June 1976. It also bans new mobile homes outside of licensed trailer parks, except for single units on parcels larger than one-half acre. “All I wanted was alternative uses,” Long said. “Recycling is a big thing…why can’t I recycle a mobile home?”
Clareton Smith, former A-G Cooperative manager, entered a plea of no contest last week Tuesday in Jackson County Circuit Court, where his trial on one count of felony theft by embezzlement was to have begun this week Tuesday. Smith was accused if diverting more than $100,000 in co-op funds for his own use, and that of his son, as the result of an investigation conducted by the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department and the state Department of Justice.
When the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation began efforts to raise $350,000 for the new connector wing at the facility, many people were enthusiastic about their chances to achieve the goal. The dram of a connector wing, which would centralize the Arcadia Health Services, is finally becoming a reality. Construction of the new wing is expected to be completed in February, 1996.
Last week the crushed rock base was set in place on Highway 93 as the project is nearing its completion date of Oct. 25.
For a low-key festival that goes out of its way to avoid publicity, how come the Galesville Apple Affair draws scores of people from as far as Iowa and the Twin Cities every year? And answer, said Allen Rindahl, is family bicycling tours. More than 400 advance registrations have already been received for Saturday’s bike tours. It’s a popular event in urban areas from the Twin Cities to Milwaukee, Rindahl said.
There was jubilation Tuesday in the Ettrick plant of Lucas Body Systems-LCI. The village’s largest employer officially got 34 jobs bigger with. Ribbon-cutting ceremony on a new manufacturing line that turns out a switch for automatic transmissions. The switches are shipped to a plan in France where they’re assembled into powertrains sold to car makers worldwide.
Spurred by an unhappy owner of townhouse units and at least one trustee who prefers that private enterprise handle recycling, the Trempealeau village board Monday night agreed to look at options to its present membership in the Southern Trempealeau County Solid Waste Commission.
The Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association honored coach Randy Storlie of Blair-Taylor with two awards last Saturday, Sept. 30. The first award presented to Storlie was for obtaining more than 100 victories at B-T High School in the past six years. The second was for claiming the fourth consecutive Large Dairlyand Conference Championship.
Midwest Livestock Producers, a Farm Bureau affiliate company, celebrated its 25th year of service to patrons on Aug. 28 at their facility in Ettrick.
Chuck Holmquist, a Minnesota native, has joined the staff at Jack Funeral Homes in Blair and Whitehall. Holmquist began his duties following the recent death of former director/proprietor Dennis Jack. He will be working hand-in-hand with current director Scott House.
50 YEARS AGO
Oct. 8, 1970
The WBI Farmers Union Cooperative will hold an open house at its news headquarters building, the former Hagen Chevrolet garage on the north end of Main St.
The new addition being built at the Trempealeau County Hospital west of Whitehall is progressing, and is expected to be ready for occupancy about Christmas time.
The opening of a senior citizen center in Pigeon Falls is announced by the Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council. The group will hold its first meeting Oct. 14 at the village hall.
Rev. Francis S. Disher, pastor of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, North Creek, has been assigned as pastor of St. James Church, Amherst, effective Oct. 15.
The Arcadia Lions Club purchased a vision tester. The machine makes testing young children much easier, according to Denise Slaby, an elementary school teacher. Karen Gleason, RN, school nurse, administered the test to elementary students.
Three Blair Champs receiving awards were Allyn Johnson with a .488 batting average, John Jacobson, Jr., golf champion and Mark Frederixon, most valuable player.
Rolland Lyga has been named commander of the Knutson-Mattison Post 231.
75 YEARS AGO
Oct. 4, 1945
Work on the Claire-Mont meat processing plant in East Whitehall is progressing satisfactorily, with the block walls now being erected. It is planned to complete the building this fall, and machinery and equipment will be installed immediately after that.
A killing white frost covered this area Saturday morning. During the previous two weeks, corn made little progress, and much of its is too soft for use other than as silage.
Miss Dorothy Ingram and W.C. Foth, home economics and agriculture teachers at Whitehall High, will conduct a series of night school meetings at Pigeon Falls commencing Monday. Mr. Foth will be assisted by Hiram Hegge, who will conduct five lesson on poultry.
California, can you match this? Apple blossoms were blooming on a flowering crab tree at the read of the Anderson and Tarrant law office last week.
N.L. Fredrickson reports that three deer were seen crossing the south portion of his farm Saturday. While deer are quite numerous in the southern portion of Trempealeau County, it is only occasionally that they appear in this area.
The fourth-annual poultry shoot of the York-Northfield Sportsman’s Club will be held at Northfield this Sunday.
The Arcadia Hotel was purchased by Ignatius and Stanley Sonsalla. The Sonsalla brothers purchased the hotel from George and Mary Kostner.
Melvin Brandon is the owner of the Weaver Tin Shop. Brandon, who recently came to Arcadia from California, purchased the equipment and building from Peter Weaver. Brandon lived in Arcadia with his family before moving to Arcadia. He said he returned to the area because he enjoyed it much more than California.
Reveren Luther Borgen will be installed as pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Blair, and North Beaver Creek Lutheran Church, Ettrick.
Scout Edward Hatlem, son of Rev. B.J. Hatlem is the only boy in Wisconsin to receive e the Farm Underwriters Scholarship award
One of the biggest sales in the area was at the Ludvig Lovberg farm when 33 head of cattle sold for an average of $122.
Marin Fenney is putting in a cement floor, stalls and stanchions in the Albin Lien barn on Rose Hill.
100 YEARS AGO
Oct. 7, 1920
A fire was raging in the woods near the Freeman farm today. A large number from town went to the rescue and it is said the fire is under control.
Mason and Olson have installed a gasoline filling tank.
Two fine sample ears of Golden Glow seed corn are on exhibition at this office, product of the W.E. Bishop farm at Arcadia.
Rev. C.J. Bestul, who has officiated at the Fagernes church for upwards of 20 years, was pleasantly surprised by the congregation last Sunday. A purse of $326 was presented to him.
Olaus Jeglum of Hale has sold his farm to Jorden Torpen, who will take possession soon. Mr. Jeglum has bought a home in Eau Claire, and will move there the latter part of the month.
L.H. Robbins, livestock editor of the Wisconsin Agriculturist, was a guest of T.J. Thorson of Pigeon last week. Mr. Robbins was surprised to see so much full-blood and high-grade stock in this section.
Dr. W.E. English was elected post commander of Martin A. Erickson Post 17, American Legion. Other officers: Nic Michalski, vice commander; H.F. There, post adjutant; Roy Hohmann, historian; Arthur Heuser, finance officer; Frank Bleisner, chaplain and Norbert Kostner, master at arms.
Carl Keller had the foundation built an slumber on hand for his new machine shop, which he was about to put up on River Street.
125 YEARS AGO
Oct. 3, 1895
The waterworks are not yet in running condition. Considerable trouble has been experienced with leaks.
Sunday night occurred the first genuine white frost of the season. Everybody was prepared for the visit, and none regretted it coming. It is seldom that killing frosts do not occur in this section before the first of October.
Rev. Lewis requests us to say that he has a lot of potatoes, cabbages, onions, corn fodder and several articles of furniture that he is very anxious to dispose of before his removal.
Simon Olson and Co. opened their new meat market Monday. They have a fine shop and everything is in first-class shape. They employ a Winona butcher.
Town Chairman John Ingalls has rented out his farm west of the village to Joseph Terring and will move his family into the village and reside with his mother. He does this to afford his children better educational advantages.
Hale — The dedication of the German Lutheran church took place Sept. 22, a large congregation enjoying the services. This makes the second church that has been dedicated within the past month, the other being the Presbyterian church. They are both handsome structures and conveniently located, filling a long-felt want.
Independence — S. Bramwell has purchased a building near New City which he will move onto his place and repair, to occupy as a residence. A. Garthus has an elegant flag staff surmounted by a gilt ball on his building, and the signal service flags will be displayed therefrom.
