Early Files - February 12, 2020
(25 YEARS AGO) Feb. 16, 1995 -
Whitehall School District electors will go to the polls this coming Tuesday to pick the candidates for the two school board seats that are up for election this year. The Feb. 21 primary was necessitated with five candidates filed for the April 4 general election. The school board seats on the ballot are currently being held by Richard Teska and Mark Windjue. Teska has elected not to seek reelection. Joining Windjue on the ballot will be Mark Franklin, John Gardner, Leah Johnson and Carol Mancl.
Two area teenagers are facing juvenile court proceedings as the result of a vandalism incident that occurred at Lincoln Cemetery in Whitehall last week. The 13-year-old high school students were referred to the Trempealeau County Department of Social Services after Whitehall police identified them as the vandals responsible for tipping about eight grave markers at the cemetery on Feb. 7.
The Arcadia High School chapter hosted the FBLA Region IV Leadership conference, led by Region IV vice president Bryce Klopotek.
The Trempealeau County Board of Supervisors is considering the adoption of the half-penny sales tax in an effort to offset rising property taxes. The state law that authorizes the add on tax requires that it be used only for property tax relief. The half cent tax amounts to a nickel for each $10 worth of purchases.
As the Centerville junior men’s curling team prepares for world title play in Scotland, it has been more than Saturday’s national championship in Hibbing, Minn. to enjoy, according to skip Mike Peplinski. He and his team members — Craig Brown, Ryan Braudt, Cory Ward and Ryan Quinn — quietly developed a quiet confidence, born of expertise and relaxation. Or, as Peplinski put it, it was a case of “zero doubt” as the team went undefeated in national competition.
Closed circuit television apparently is going to play a role in helping the Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau School District shape its staff for 1995-96. The use of TV-linked classrooms in the county is one of several steps in mind as school administrators look for ways to meet demands for new staff at costs estimated at up to $500,000.
Season tickets for Blair-Taylor High School athletic events are being sold at $30 per ticket.
Tyler Ltd. of Benson, Minn. and the Minnesota Department of Transportation have used a new technology to create a new kind of salt and sand application apparatus that offers “zero velocity” spreading. One of the new applicators is being tested by the state of Wisconsin in southern Buffalo County.
A computerized automation system at the Blair-Preston Public Library has been completed and will be up and running later this month or early March. The system will be a time saver and the library will be able to “provide better service” said librarian Elaine Angst.
(50 YEARS AGO) Feb. 19, 1970 - A special Whitehall school district meeting will be held Monday night to authorize the board of education to borrow $375,000 from the state trust fund for the new school building currently under construction near the Sunset school.
Postmaster Bernard Matchey has announced that a new U.S. Postal Department policy will extend carrier delivery service to those persons living at least one-quarter mile from the post office.
The Pigeon Flyers club placed first in the play competition at the Trempealeau County 4-H drama festival Monday evening. Cast members were Lauren Hoff, Terry Berge, Kathie Hoff, Olinda Borreson, Mary Johnson, Natalie Anderson, Charles Smith, Larry Estenson, Ivan Semb and Janice Ackley.
Diane Bagniewski, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bagniewski, Arcadia, has been selected as the D.A.R. Good Citizen at Arcadia High School. Nominees for the award were selected by the senior class and the faculty staff made the final decision.
Mike Angst of Arcadia is in satisfactory condition at at Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse following surgery for injuries he received in a one-car accident in Arcadia on Feb. 14. The surgery was performed to repair a broken bone in his neck.
Weighing heavily on the minds of most area residents has been the upcoming referendum to be held this Friday. In this referendum the voters of the Gale-Ettrick School District and the Centerville-Tamarack area will decide at the polls whether or not the Centerville-Tamarack area will become part of the G-E district.
In an effort to feel the pulse of the G-E School District regarding the Feb. 20 referendum, the Galesville Republican conducted a telephone survey last week concerning the attachment of the Centerville-Tamarack area to the G-E district. Of those surveyed, 78 percent said they were going to vote, 12 percent said they were not and 10 percent indicated they were undecided.
(75 YEARS AGO) Feb. 15, 1945 - At the April election, Miss Dorris Sander will be a candidate to succeed herself as county superintendent of schools.
The Whitehall Volunteer Fire Company received a total of $570 from the sale of dance tickets for the ball Friday evening, and from donations by citizens.
Miss Elaine Swenson has resigned as stenographer in the office of the county superintendent of schools and accepted a bookkeeping position at the MacCornack Clinic.
The traditional game between the Whitehall High faculty and the “A” basketball squad terminated quite unsatisfactorily for many of the students, the teachers winning by the margin of 41 to 35. Students report that they have not seen two of the supposed members of the faculty team, Tom Hegge and Lloyd Windjue, around the school. The “A” squad played in various spring colors and styles, the sportswear ranging from Jim De Bow’s lime-green slacks to Bob Bensend’s lavender trunks.
Capt. Gile Herrick came home to Arcadia after 33 months in the tropics. Herrick served in the South pacific and was in combat for most of his stay in the region. He was later re-assigned to a different location.
A-G Co-op & Creamery held their annual meeting on Feb. 20. The annual report showed a total income of $1,041,704.79 for the cooperative. President Hess said that people in the community would be able to purchase common stock in the cooperative. A.C. Schultz emphasized the necessity for quality milk for the cooperative.
(100 YEARS AGO) Feb. 19, 1920 - B.B. Olson and Son are starting in the machinery business at Whitehall, located at the old City Hotel property which they purchased a short time ago. Their line is the Emerson-Brantingham implements, Rockford, Ill., carrying everything from a threshing machine to a cultivator.
Otto Herb writes to his mother, Mrs. J.J. Herb, of interesting experiences he had while at sea. The U.S.S. Eagle, on which he was sailing, was caught in the worst storm of the year near Bermuda, with the seas running higher than the masts and the ship rolling to 52 degrees.
A severe blow staggers the Nels J. Nelson household of the town of Hale. Both his wife and daughter, Helen, passed away the first of the week after attacks of influenza. Mr. Nelson is a former sheriff of the county.
Workmen for the Wisconsin-Minnesota Light and Power Co. are now working in Blair, setting poles and stringing wire.
G.H. Conrow, George Lamberson, Louie Larson and Hartwig Elstad went to Neillsville Tuesday to take the postmasters’ examination for filling the vacancy made by the resignation of Miss Faith Van Tassel from the Whitehall post office.
The rural carriers will not make their trips next Monday, observing Washington’s birthday.
The Taylor Herald reports that a cold storage plant will be in operation there about April 1. The company, to be known as Valley Produce Co., will candle eggs and buy all kinds of poultry.
On Feb. 20, 1920, the Arcadia Leader reported that Henry Vogel purchased the remaining stock in Vogel Garage in Arcadia. The garage has been completely repaired after a fire destroyed much of the inside of it.
Leo Bischof bought the John Hess property on the hill for $3,000. Bischof will put a basement on the property and make other improvements before he moves in the house in the spring.
Report is current that Alletta Goodhue, editor and publisher of the Trempealeau Herald has sold the plant to Mr. Bauer of Dodgeville.
The influenza epidemic in Galesville and immediate vicinity appears to have about finished its course. There are still many sick people, but fewer new cases reported.
Eugene Cleveland, Trempealeau, is going, or rather has gone, after that $25,000 offered by the Denver Post for a cure for flu. The Post has that amount of money awaiting any person who procures a tried and true cure. Cleveland has the cure, at least it worked for him.
Pigeon Falls — School commenced here again today, after being closed two weeks on account of the flu.
York — Misses Fern Irish, Mildred Hagen and Marie Larson came home from their school duties in Hixton, school being closed on account of the flu.
(125 YEARS AGO) Feb. 14, 1895 - It was 22 below Monday morning, and 23 below Tuesday morning, by government thermometer.
Jim Wood is operating his steam wood-sawing outfit in the village this week, and has run through many a pile.
Solsrud and Engen’s saloon fixtures arrived and were placed in their new building yesterday.
Elder Lewis closed his revival meetings at the M.E. church last week on account of the cold weather.
Snowshoeing is popular just now, especially among our hardy Scandinavians.
Chairman M.B. Gibson and Wm. Cleasby, of Albion, were in tow yesterday to institute proceedings against William Dutter, the Eleva barber, for selling liquor without a license. This is the third case that has been brought against Dutter within the past two months. Notwithstanding, it appears that he continues to dispense the ardent, and the authorities there are determined that he shall be made to stop. That’s right.
Hon. M.J. Warner of Hale made us a pleasant call yesterday. He informs us that the report to the effect that he had bought out H.F. Clausen’s business at Elk Creek is a mistake.
Marius Linberg, a 15-year-old nephew of Peter Larson and residing with him, broke his leg while snowshoeing Tuesday afternoon.
Hale -- Andrew Johnson of North Branch met with a severe accident last Monday. While drawing brush his sleigh tipped over, and in trying to save himself from going with it, he slipped and fell, striking his side across the runner. The next morning he was unable to leave his bed.
Pigeon Falls -- Ole Larson and family, who have been sick with typhoid fever, are all improving. Dr. Sonnickson has attended them and done good work.
