Trempealeau County Times Early Files
25 YEARS AGO
Oct. 26, 1995
A judge has ruled that statements made by a fatally-injured Blair woman after a 1990 traffic accident can be used during the trial of the man accused of causing her death. Trempealeau County Circuit Judge John Damon ruled last week Tuesday that the prosecution can introduce the words of Julie Murray as testimony at the trial of Eugene Greenwold, also of Blair. But Damon said that county assistant district attorney William Nemer can only do so if Greenwold’s attorney first uses other conflicting statements made by the accident victim.
Whitehall school district residents pressing for the resuscitation of the local schools’ vocational agriculture program got the school board to take a first step in that direction Monday night. The board voted unanimously to hire college interns part-time next year to teach some ag classes.
The Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department is seeking an unidentified suspect in connection with one or more of a string of burglaries that took place last week in Trempealeau County. The county authorities are not certain that all six break-ins, which occurred late Thursday night or early Friday morning, are connected, but circumstances point to the same person or persons being involved in at least two of the incidents.
Two local businesses in Arcadia celebrated groundbreaking ceremonies this past week. On Thursday, John Hagenbrock and associates broke ground on the new location of John’s IGA. The store will be located next to Arby’s in the Arcadia Industrial Park. Gold’n Plump officials were on hand Tuesday to break ground a the new site of the company’s feed mill, one mile north of Arcadia.
Wisconsin Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Terry Mulcahy will be in Arcadia on Nov. 1 to cut a ribbon the new five-mile stretch of State Trunk Highway 93, marking the official dedication of the new road. The program will take place at 11 a.m. at the intersection of State Highway 93 and Blaschko Avenue.
Doug Rebhahn ran for 173 yards on 18 carries and Eric Boberg had 153 yards on 16 plays as the Arcadia football team defeated archrival Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau 45-21 to take third in the Coulee Conference.
A panel of seven recovering teenagers from Minnesota and Wisconsin said some things Monday night that might have made few parents wince. Like, they started to drink at age 11, or 13, after watching their parents. The teens, along with two counselors, spoke to a room full of parents at the Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau library. While the panelists were all from outside school districts, they said was that G-E-T High School had a reputation as “get high.”
The state attorney general used a domestic abuse awareness platform in Trempealeau County Tuesday to support women’s shelters and other local anti-abuse efforts to put in a word for his bid to deny guns to domestic abusers after a court injunction. Justice Department chief Jim Doyle spoke to a Domestic Violence Awareness Day rally at the Whitehall city center. His Trempealeau County appearance came during a swing of several days to west central Wisconsin. Doyle said he was speaking out on the issue of domestic abuse to heighten public awareness that family violence isn’t just family matter — it’s unacceptable and criminal behavior.
Blair native Larry Solberg has been named to the U.S. Dairy Esport Council as the director in Mexico. He brings a long history of Mexican marketing experience to the council as he has made his home in Mexico since the late 1970s.
Jeffrey Hoff, 29, and James Stellflue, 39, both of Ettrick, were injured when their car rolled over on County Trunk T, eight miles south of Arcadia.
50 YEARS AGO
Oct. 29, 1970
The roof on the new school building in Whitehall should be completed by mid-November, and industrial arts students already are meeting in the shop area, which was completed first. The old shop rooms at Memorial High are being converted for use by the art classes.
Holtan’s Discount Store will open for business in Whitehall Monday in the new building recently erected next to the locker plant.
Mrs. Virginia Slaby of Whitehall was one of six person injured in a two-car collision Saturday near Ettrick.
Richard Ellingson, Whitehall, Republican candidate for Assembly, has assured local voters that he will continue to operate his ambulance service if elected.
Funeral services for Richard Ruff, 19, Arcadia, killed Friday evening in a car accident on Highway 53 near Hunter’s Bridge in La Crosse County were held at the American Lutheran Church in Arcadia.
Wisconsin voters go to the polls in the general election next Tuesday to determine state, congressional, legislative and county officers. Polls in Arcadia and surrounding townships will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Thespian Troupe #2546 of Arcadia High School will present three one-act plays entitled “Ladies of the Mop,” “Something Beautiful” and “Curse You, Jack Dalton.” Cast members for Ladies of the Mop include Barb Pehler, Leanna Rosenow, Lori Byom and Kathy Schank. Members for Something Beautiful include Francis Reuter, Peggy Maloney, Scott Koetting, Nancy Kampa and Curse You cast members are John Misch, Julie Pavlicin, Anna O’Brien, Kay Maloney, Vicki Benusa, Gabriel Pehler and Lon Sonsalla.
Nick Misch, former Blair High School ace, will be halfback at Stout State University.
Paul Syverson, Blair, is a member of the 1970 Marching Chiefs Band at La Crosse University.
Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy Tranberg are erecting a dwelling in back of the Lutheran church in Ettrick.
75 YEARS AGO
Oct. 25, 1945
Business places in Whitehall will be closed from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday for the Homecoming game, which will be played at Melby Park against Black River Falls. The bonfire will follow the game, a banquet will be served to the football squad and the faculty, followed by an evening party in the gym for the entire school.
Eldon Weisjahn, a farmer from the Neillsville area who was hunting near Northfield, was killed by the accidental discharge of his own gun Sunday. His hunting partners brought him to Community Hospital, but he was dead on arrival.
Broney Manka of West Lincoln, who advertised the loss of his two prize fox hounds last week, was happy when the dogs returned on their own, one on Wednesday and the other on Friday. The only trouble with them, Broney said, is that when they get on the scent of a fox they follow it through, instead of coming back to see if Broney is still on the trail, too.
F.O. Johnson has sold his residence on Scranton St. to Truman Jacobson, and taken the Jacobson farm in Chimney Rock in exchange. Mr. Jacobson’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jacobson, have moved into the upstairs apartment. The Spangberg family, which lived downstairs, have moved to rooms in the Tom Fremstad house on Blair St., while the Selmer Johnson, who lived upstairs, will occupy rooms in the Peter Norland house.
Mary Jane Klink, five-year-old daughter of Rudy Klink of Arcadia, suffered facial lacerations when she was struck and dragged by a car driven by Clarence Sobotta. It was believed that smoke from burning leaves obstructed Sobotta’s vision as the accident occurred.
Henry Shephard sold his blacksmith and repair shop to Ernest Borreson of York.
Herbert Stone and Everett Berg will open an electric store in the Johnson building now occupied by the Gamble Store.
Ole Olson has been a resident of Blair for 62 years and is the only person still remaining from that time.
100 YEARS AGO
Oct. 28, 1920
Last Friday, Sheriff Skogstad, Undersheriff Erickson and Chas. Schilke went to Osseo, where the sheriff had been notified that two suspicious characters were lurking in the outskirts of the village. They had an Oakland car, which, it developed, they had stolen in Minneapolis, and carried a 32 revolver. They were rounded up, arrested on suspicion, brought here and lodged in the jail. Being given the third degree by District Attorney Barlow and Sheriff Erickson, they confessed stealing the car and the proper authorities were notified.
Dr. and Mrs. S.E. Hutchins have been in Washington, D.C., the past week, called by the announcement of the arrival of their son, Sgt. Otis E. Hutchins, and were present at the ceremony attending the burial of the young soldier in the national cemetery at Arlington. Sgt. Hutchins was the first local boy to die in the late war, killed in the sinking of the S.S. Tuscania by a German submarine.
A banquet given by Gilbertson Bros. in honor of Edry Melby and Paul Evenson, the new garage men at Pigeon Falls, was attended by 23 invited guests, mostly automobile men. Wright and Paulson served, and it is said to have been a swell affair.
Mrs. Gus Phillipson received a severe injury to the skull while alighting from a moving automobile Sunday night, and was unconscious for some time.
The Whitehall fire company has received four new fire extinguishers.
Lyle Scott carried his left arm in a cast, the result of a fall while playing at school.
The first regular meeting of the newly-incorporated Arcadia Community Advancement Company was held at the Opera House with the following elected to office on the board of directors: A. Hess, president; M.C. Abts, vice president; J.J. Schneider, secretary and Emil Maurer, treasurer. Plans were to erect a spacious factory building and secure a manufacturing establishment at the earliest possible time.
Arthur Risberg opened his new restaurant.
Early election returns indicated a landslide for the Republican Party with Warren G. Harding elected president, Calvin Coolidge, vice president; John Blaine, governor of Wisconsin and a victory for the entire slate of Republican county officers.
125 YEARS AGO
Oct. 24, 1895
Squirrels are ripe.
Solsrud and Kidder’s elevator in their new building is in position, and works like a charm.
The reservoir of the waterworks system leaked badly last week, and the water was left out and the inside of the reservoir faced with two coats of cement. It will be pumped up again this week, and everybody hopes it will prove satisfactory.
The entire business portion of Fairchild, with the exception of one store building, with a half-dozen residences and a large hotel, burned Monday. The loss amounts to fully $200,000, about one-half covered by insurance. A town of 1,000 inhabitants and the headquarters of the Foster Lumber Co., Fairchild is a growing town, and the best shipping station on the Omaha line between Eau Claire and Baraboo.
A fish-pond sociable will be given at the Presbyterian church in Old Whitehall on Oct. 31, for the benefit of the Y.P.S.C.E. Everybody is invited to come and fish.
Pigeon Falls — The supervisors of the town took the final action in dividing the school district of this place and vicinity. The district was divided into three parts. Much dissatisfaction is expressed with the way in which the division was done, and there is strong sentiment for an appeal.
