From Our Early Files Feb. 1, 2023
25 YEARS AGO
February 5, 1998
Jerry Freimark wasn’t planning on spending last week Wednesday afternoon in La Crosse. But then, the Whitehall School District administrator wasn’t expecting a call from the White House last week, either. But there he was on Monday, taking a call from an aide to President Bill Clinton – and two days later, appearing on the same stage with the president and Vice President Al Gore. Freimark was one of 15 western Wisconsin residents recognized at a rally held by Gore and Clinton in La Crosse. Referred to as “hometown” or “local” heroes, those individuals were honored for their volunteer efforts.
Trempealeau County residents will get a chance to see what $4 million and 10 years’ worth of a county sales tax, bought them this weekend. The county board of supervisors will host an open house Sunday for the renovations of the Trempealeau County Government Center in Whitehall.
In its effort to repair the Pigeon Creek mill dam, the village of Pigeon Falls may end up getting more than it bargained for. The village board Monday night voted to have the village’s legal counsel look into the purchase of the former Falls Farm Service mill property adjacent to the dam. Village President Kermit Hanvold said that purchase of the mill property became necessary because of complications in the village’s acquisition of the dam, which needs extensive repairs.
Curtis Bisek, Maren Flynn, Lindsay Oelkers and Roman Patzner, all of Arcadia High School, participated in the 1998 Dorian Vocal Festival recently at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.
Ray Walters, Arcadia, was recently selected as the treasurer for the state Ducks Unlimited organization for 1998-99.
The Trempealeau County Zoning Committee decided to take no action regarding the county’s noise control standards after a request was made to the committee in November asking members to review the county’s current sound/noise ordinance. According to District Attorney Peter Gierok at the time of the request, there are no legal remedies within the current laws that would allow the zoning department or his office to seek legal action in a case brought to his attention by town of Trempealeau residents Linda and Daniel Schock, who operate a child care center in their home, and Fred Bork, a farmer, who contends that brothers Wendell and Carlton Klein aimed their guns in their direction, placed them close to the Schock property and fired them after dark. The Kleins have denied these claims.
The historical museum committee is asking the public to “give their input as to whether or not having a historical museum would be worthwhile,” said George Brandt, chairman of the committee. The public forum concerning the museum will be held on Feb. 7 in Arcadia.
The Trempealeau County child care assistance load has increased by more than 30 cases in the past year due to an increase in awareness of help available, according to Tracy Olson, the child care coordinator in Trempealeau County. “Additional child care providers in Trempealeau County are needed. Some areas have a bigger need than others,” Olson said.
50 YEARS AGO
February 8, 1973
The Whitehall Packing Co. announced this week that it will hire and additional 50 workers and add a second shift to its boning operation here, bringing total employment at the plant to about 225 full-time workers.
Pigeon Falls will get a new combination community center, village hall and fire station, Village President Howard Ackley announced this week. The old village hall and fire station has been sold to Kenneth and Kermit Hanvold, who have moved their TV sales and service business into the hall.
The board of directors of the Western Wisconsin Health Planning Organization recommended approval of the IMD Corporation’s application for a construction grant for a new mental health center to be built in Independence.
Eight young men from Trempealeau County gave their lives in Vietnam, according to Everett Guse, county Veterans Service Officer. The count is based on records kept by his office. Guse said that as far as he can determine, no one from Trempealeau County is listed as missing in action or a prisoner of war. The following young men were casualties: Ronald Johnson, Arcadia; Jeffrey Beaty, Blair; Robert Arnold, Jerome Olmsted and Vernon Jacobs, Galesville; Gary Brixen and Craig Olson, Osseo and Glenn Haukeness Jr., Strum.
The 64-team Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau Adult High School Bonspiel was completed on Feb. 4. G-E-T High School students participating numbered 134 of the 470 school population. The bonspiel utilized the Galesville and Centerville rinks.
The G-E-T Junior High music department will present a mid-winter concert on Feb. 14 in the Junior High gym.
75 YEARS AGO
February 5, 1948
Andrew Ambli of Whitehall left Monday by train from Eau Claire for Chicago, where he will catch a plane to Norway to attend the funeral of his father, Christian Ambli. Andrew and his brother, Knut, came to Whitehall about 20 years ago and have not returned to Norway since, although they correspond regularly with their family.
John A. Berge of Pigeon accompanied his son, Jewel, to Whitehall Friday, when the latter completed a deal with Eddie Anderson of Strum for his blacksmith shop in that city. Jewel, who operated the Harold Ellickson shop at Pigeon Falls the past year, will take over his new place of business soon.
The Gunderson garage of Pleasantville reports delivering a new Chevrolet truck to Walter Schroeder last week, and a four-door Chevrolet sedan to Leonard Gjestvang.
Newlyn Nelson, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Nelson of Coral City, was recently promoted to manager of the Western Auto Supply Co. at Minneapolis.
The seven-room home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Theisen in Glencoe was destroyed by fire about noon Saturday. Starting as a chimney fire in an attic over the central part of the building, the flames could not be controlled and the 80-year-old home was completely destroyed.
The fuel oil situation may become critical in Arcadia before long, according to local dealers, who up to the fore part of this week had been able to supply patrons with enough oil to keep their homes heated in practically normal manner. But as of Monday, the picture was growing blacker. Two dealers were completely out of fuel oil and one had a week and a half supply left.
100 YEARS AGO
February 8, 1923
Saturday morning, following the annual appearance of the groundhog on his mission of seeking his shadow, the low mark of 28 below zero was registered at the government observatory presided over by Observer Hans Haugh. Sunday, 27 below zero was recorded, and is has been gradually getting better every day in every way. We do not want to be so uncharitable as to attribute this change wholly to the presence of Oscar Nelson in the weather bureau. We are inclined to lay the blame on the woodchuck, for if the little cuss was out early enough in the morning, he certainly saw his image reflected.
A fire alarm turned in Wednesday morning from the nurses’ home brought out the fire boys. Fire in the roof, starting from a crack in the chimney, was soon subdued.
A player piano has been purchased by Hilman Arneson for the benefit of the customers served at his restaurant. The instrument is from that popular emporium, the Felsheim Music House.
Henry Jackson was in town Monday and reports considerable sickness in his neighborhood. The families of Gabe Anderson and Gabe Gilbertson have been afflicted with winter colds and grippe.
Janitor Hans Haugh of the courthouse is laid up at his home this week with a siege of the grippe. His duties are being performed by Oscar Nelson.
What prohibition agents declare to be the best-equipped still, and the neatest hidden place, discovered in this part of the country, was unearthed Sunday morning at the Sam Welke farm near Fall Creek. By moving a lever and throwing his shoulder against what appeared to be a neat woodpile, the owner opened a secret door in his basement into a room some eight by 10 feet in size. Sixty gallons of mash and 30 quarts of liquor were found.
The American Legion Child Welfare Fund received $72.90, the net proceeds of a basketball game in Arcadia between Co. A and Osseo.
The Glencoe Farmers Cooperative Creamery Co., Arcadia Farmers Cooperative Creamery Co., and Arcadia Farmers’ Shipping Association announced annual meetings on consecutive dates.
Some residents of the Newcomb Valley area reported 40 degrees below zero Saturday and Sunday mornings.
The popular lecture course will come to Galesville Jan. 30, when the Grant Hadley concert company will appear in the city hall. Three men and two ladies comprise the quintet of excellent entertainers.
Measles are making the rounds. Whole families are stricken.
Marinuka Theatre advertises “Brawn of the North.” Children’s tickets are 10 cents; adults, 28 cents.
125 YEARS AGO
February 3, 1898
February came in 26 below.
Material interior improvements are being made at the railroad station.
Robert Engen is figuring with Lumber Dealer Webb for material to put up a business building on his lot on Scranton Street.
The prizes in the Bergum literary contest for best essays last week were awarded as follows: Lulu Solsrud, first; Maggie Buchholz, second; and Mamie Best, third.
Frank Foster, the electrician, completed the work of wiring the village for electric lights yesterday. Nearly every residence and business house in the village is supplied with electric lights, and the system is very satisfactory.
Richard Mattson has finished ceiling the interior of the Lutheran church. The church committee met Monday and made arrangements with Christ Lee and Co., of Blair, to paint and decorate overhead, paper the walls and paint the wainscoting. The repairs and embellishments of the edifice will cost about $300.
Messrs. J.D. Olds, Peter Nelson and H.A. Fremstad of Pigeon returned last week from the vicinity of Trempealeau, where they spent several days angling for fish. They had poor luck, claiming that about all the fish had been caught with seines before their advent. They were in the toils of the game wardens of that section for a spell, but the officers concluded to not prosecute them after an explanation of the law as laid down by the spokesman of the trio, J.D., who is not easily bluffed.
Elk Creek -- Lars Olson and crew have finished filling the creamery ice house, it taking them six days, the quickest this has ever been done.
