From Our Early Files Feb. 22, 2023
25 YEARS AGO
February 26, 1998
Even though it could hold a special meeting on the question, the Whitehall district board of education will wait to decide whether to sell all or part of the school forest land. The board, at its regular meeting Monday night, favored putting the issue on the agenda for the annual meeting to be held this summer. But if district residents attending the meeting split like school board members did Monday, the matter might not be settled then.
The new Whitehall Family Aquatic Center apparently will require double the staff that the old municipal pool employed. The city council’s parks and recreation committee, at a meeting held Thursday, recommended increasing by 50 percent the number of lifeguards at the new pool. The committee also decided that two workers would be needed most of the day to staff the aquatic center concession stand.
Roy Forsyth will be the sole representative for the Arcadia Raiders wrestling team to make the journey to Madison for the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association State Wrestling Tournament. Forsyth qualified after capturing the WIAA sectional crown in the 171-pound weight class.
The winners of the Arcadia School District’s Student of the Month award are: Jenny Lince, Fay Ziegeweid, Nikki Klopotek, Rocky Pierzina and Ross Reichwein.
Dr. Steven La Liberte, an optometrist who works at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare-Arcadia campus, was among a group of doctors from Wisconsin who traveled to Nicaragua to conduct eye exams and provide other care as needed.
Galesville’s newest park will be the home of the sculpture of Rev. Van Slyke, created by Elmer Peterson. The city has agreed to put the sculpture on the city/Galesville Area Chamber of Commerce-owned land next to the Masonic Lodge. The nine-foot sculpture will show Rev. Van Slyke holding a book in one hand and an apple in the other.
The Galesville Downtown Restoration and Beautification Fund Drive has reached and passed its intermediate goal of $150,000. The Galesville Area Chamber of Commerce has raised $157,040 in pledges and money collected for restoration of the downtown area, according to fund drive coordinator Dorothy Twesme.
50 YEARS AGO
March 1, 1973
The state Attorney General’s office and the Department of Natural Resources last week Wednesday approved an agreement between the Whitehall Packing Co. and the city of Whitehall to build a new sewage-treatment plant, ending the threat of legal action by the state. The city must now develop a timetable for construction of the plant.
The Norsemen wasted a six-point lead in the final two minutes of Saturday’s sub-regional tournament game, losing 62-60 to Independence. Roger Johnson and John Peterson had 14 points apiece to lead Whitehall; Gary Sosalla led Independence with 22.
Three young women from the Arcadia area are practical nursing graduates of the allied Health Programs at Western Wisconsin Technical Institute, La Crosse. Area graduates are Jane Sobotta, Judith Olson and Therese Bremer.
Bea Benusa, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Benusa of Waumandee, has been selected as the DAR Good Citizenship Award winner at Arcadia High School. The announcement of the winner was made at the annual Washington-Lincoln Day Program at school last Thursday.
Bringing career information to students in rural areas of Western Wisconsin Vocational, technical and adult education District Two is the purpose of the Mobile Career Planning Unit from Western Wisconsin Technical Institute, center for the district of La Crosse. This week, the mobile career unit is at Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau High School.
75 YEARS AGO
February 26, 1948
William Trinke of Lake Geneva, past state commander of the American Legion and candidate for lieutenant governor of Wisconsin. was the guest speaker at the annual father and sons banquet held at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church Tuesday, which was attended by 225 persons.
The Erickson store at Whitehall marked the recent and extensive improvement to its establishment by holding an open house on Friday and Saturday of last week, at which time all customers were treated to Red Rooster coffee and Minuet cookies. Scores of balloons and Crackerjacks were given to the youngsters as well.
Local people were interested in the concert given at the Eau Claire State Teachers College Sunday by the Chippewa Valley Symphony Orchestra. Performing with the group were Elizabeth Simons, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. N.S. Simons; Mary Louise Johnson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H.M. Johnson; and Norman Selsness, music teacher at Whitehall High.
Arthur Hanson, son of A.B. Hanson of the town of Hale and a senior at Whitehall High, was one of five FFA boys in Wisconsin to be recognized at the annual state convention of the Holstein-Freisian Association.
George Humphrey, who retired last year as director of the York Cooperative Creamery Association, after 50 years of serving continuously, was honored at the annual meeting held at the York town hall Monday.
Buyers from five states added to the crowd of more than 1,000 attending the general farm auction held at the Melvin Monson place last week. The selling was so general that when John H. Johnson laid down his raccoon skin coat while he went in for lunch, the zealous auctioneers sold it.
Donald Warner, Omer and Truman Nelson and Oscar Paulson left Wednesday morning for a motor trip to California, traveling in Truman’s Pontiac. The boys, who took the southern route, expect to be gone a couple weeks.
Last Tuesday evening, ball players of last year’s Woodmen team were treated to a lunch at the Hotel Arcadia and plans were drawn up for the team to be sponsored this season by Woodmen of the World.
Curtis Howard Hackelberg, 22 months, son of Mr. and Mrs. Archie Hackelberg, Tamarack, died at 4 a.m. on Feb. 24 of pneumonia 10 minutes after his arrival at St. Joseph’s Hospital. He is survived by two brothers and his grandparents.
100 YEARS AGO
March 1, 1923
March, the first month of spring, is here and makes is bow in a lamb-like manner. It promises to make amends for the ferocity of February. Some of the local weather-wise foresee a delightful March, but supplement it with the prediction that April will bring something worse than April showers. Why is it that someone is always wanting to take the joy out of life?
The horse sale at the Mathson stable last Saturday brought out a record crowd of horse lovers. While the bidding was slow at first, buyers gradually warmed up and the entire bunch of 17 horses was sold, at an average price of 82.50. N.L. Fredrickson was the first to lead away a pair of fine blacks, costing him $200. This was the highest-priced team sold.
The Firemen’s ball in Whitehall this year was a greater success than for some years past. Their annual social event is always a drawing card, and this year a capacity crowd greeted them. This was not expected, on account of the condition of the roads. Those fortunate in securing prizes were: best-dressed couple, Mrs. J.E. Garaghan and John Jacobsen; best-dressed lady, Miss Elenor Anderson; best-dressed gent, Theo. B. Olson; most comic gent, Mary Stevens; most comic lady, Luella Hammerstad; best group of four, Misses Arlene and Selma Steig, Viola Fredrickson and Evelyn Lyness.
Paul Ackley of Pigeon has sold all the collie pups he recently advertised. These dogs are a cross of the German Police and Scotch Collie. Mr. Ackley owns the mother, and the father is the property of Gov. Blaine. C.B. Melby purchased one of this litter for his children.
York — A sleigh-load of young people from here attended the dance held at the new schoolhouse at Northfield Friday night.
Pigeon Falls — The Ski Club made the following jumps on the Engebretson hill in Tuff Coulee a week ago Sunday: Standing -- Fremstad, 75; Hjornevick, 71; Borreson, 71; Monson, 71; N. Berge, 66; J. Berge, 61, Stalheim, 58; Thompson, 55; Peterson, 54; Koxlien, 45. Falling -- Fremstad, 80; Hjornevick, 83; Borreson, 74; Monson, 75.
Pleasantville — August Johnson, Clarence Swaim, Toralf Thompson, Hilman Jacobson, Theodore Hulberg and Melvin Gunderson assisted Nels Gunderson hauling ice from Elk Creek last week.
Newcomb Valley news notes reported: 70 degrees above zero in the sunshine Sunday morning. The birds are beginning to build nests. Better prepare for spring.”
The mercantile business of Bohri & Son of Fountain City was sold at a closing out sale, marking the end of the pioneer business concern of Buffalo County.
A circuit court jury at Alma acquitted Enos Behner, tried on a first-degree murder charge, for the shooting of Marshal John Gantenbein last November.
The Leader contained a full page of pictures taken inside the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, rule of Egypt, 3,500 years ago, revealing a stone house of treasures and articles used in civilization of the ancient world.
Secretary George Trimm says preliminaries for the 65th annual Trempealeau County Fair are going along with real promise.
O.D. Witherbee wins on a straight ticket for Mayor in Galesville.
Ralph Hamilton will succeed John and Vilas McCollum as owner of the pool room and restaurant in Galesville. John and Vilas will return to the Pacific Coast.
Will Toppen is back at his old job in the Bergquist Pharmacy after a severe illness.
The two trains abandoned by the North Western Railroad several months ago, will be restored by order of the State Railway Commission. This will again give Galesville mail and passenger service.
125 YEARS AGO
February 24, 1898
The schools were closed on Tuesday, Washington’s birthday.
Shirley Sherwood has purchased a lot of John O. Melby, on the corner of Blair and West streets, and has already up a two-story dwelling.
Now is a good time to haul home what land plaster you need, while sleighing is good. Call on G.S. Rice and Co. and get prices.
The Independence Minstrels played to a fairly good house at Opera Hall Friday evening. It was pronounced a very good amateur entertainment.
B.F. Wing returned from Marshfield last week. While there, he purchased the interest of his son Frank’s partner in the drug business, Frank now conducting the entire business.
H.O. Vold, formerly of Whitehall but now residing on a farm he purchased near Eleva, was in town Tuesday after land plaster. He had to break the road a portion of the distance, it being filled full of snow.
J.P. Watson has sold his residence property in this village to S.H. Breed for a consideration of $1,100. Mr. Breed has rented the place out to County Treasurer Larson. Mr. Watson intends to move to Michigan and locate at Montague.
The masquerade dance given by the Modern Woodmen Tuesday evening was a success. Fifty-eight couples participated, and the usual large crowd of spectators made the affair a nice little financial scoop for the wood-choppers.
Mrs. Jennie Kinmore, state superintendent of scientific temperance instruction of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, gave an able and interesting lecture at the Baptist church Sunday evening.
Blair — Charles O. Hanson will put in a bid for the construction of a new schoolhouse in Vosse Coulee, formed out of territory from the towns of Curran and Springfield, in Jackson County, and Pigeon and Preston, in Trempealeau County.
