From Our Early Files Jan. 26, 2022
25 YEARS AGO
January 30, 1997
Whitehall School District students who misbehave on school buses may end up on videotape and in trouble in the near future. The district school board approved a purchase of a video camera and recorder system for use on the buses operated by Thompson Buses, Inc., The aim of the system, which would cost over $2,000, would be to encourage better behavior by riders.
A slightly less-restrictive ordinance governing metallic mineral mining in Trempealeau County will go before a public hearing next month. The county’s zoning and land records and land conservation committees voted to recommend a modified zoning ordinance to the full county board. The ordinance – controversial because of the potential for mining in the northern part of the county – will be the subject of a hearing to be held Feb. 18.
Ivan Stendahl has stepped down as president of the Elk Rod and Gun Club in Independence after serving 38 years in the same office. If you would ask Stendahl what has been the most significant contribution he has made over the years, he would smile and simply tell you that he tried to help preserve the land and animals on the land for future generations to enjoy.
The Arcadia-Glencoe Volunteer Fire Department officers for the upcoming year are Joe Feltes, deputy chief; Jeff Halvorsen, assistant chief; Dan Suchla, training officer; Mike Winesky, chief; Randy Conrad, first assistant and Pat Ganschow, secretary/treasurer.
The Green Bay Packers have waited 29 years to again be called the very best in the National Football League. That title was captured again last Sunday as they defeated the New England Patriots 35-21 in New Orleans.
A Trempealeau girl told police that she awoke to find an intruder in her house and that after he crawled up the stairs to her room, she grabbed her shoes and escaped out a window. The girl, who apparently jumped from a second-floor window into the snow, wasn’t injured. The juvenile said she awoke to the sound of furniture being overturned downstairs. Trempealeau police said she went to a neighbor’s home, they took her in wearing pants and shoes. Police responded and reported finding a man throwing food from the refrigerator onto the floor with damaged furniture overturned in the living room. Jeremy Erickson, 26, of Moundsview, Minn. pleaded not guilty in Trempealeau County Circuit Court.
It was only a dream, a vision – but one that was shared by four different members of the mayor’s advisory committee on the former Gale College site. And, because those four represent a majority, it’s likely the committee will wind up sending a recommendation to the mayor and city council that Old Main, the oldest structure on the campus, will become a museum.
50 YEARS AGO
February 3, 1972
In response to the large losses suffered by local merchants, the Whitehall Police Department has adopted a new policy for prosecuting shoplifters. Juveniles caught shoplifting will be referred to the Department of Social Services. Adults, in addition to being prosecuted under state law, will have their names published in the newspaper.
Two Bloomer men were injured in a two-truck collision on Hwy. 121 west of Whitehall. The driver of the other vehicle, Clarence Haugen of Whitehall, was unhurt.
Incumbents in the Trempealeau County Board of Supervisors from District 10, consisting of the city of Arcadia, will face competition in the April 4 election. Filing by the deadline last Tuesday were incumbents LaVern Auer and William Micek along with Robert Boland and Joseph Snow.
Leroy Hermann began his duties as administrator of St. Joseph Hospital Tuesday morning. He succeeds Sister Mary Agnes, administrator since 1969, who was recently appointed administrator of St. Francis Hospital in Shakopee, Minn.
James Rebhahn, Arcadia, was hired as city administrator at a special meeting of the Arcadia city council last Thursday night. The position was made available under the federal Emergency Employment Act. Funds available though the act will pay the salary of the new officer.
Thirty-five Luther Leaguers from the Ettrick-Galesville area attended a “youth day” sponsored by the Lutheran Evangelistic Movement of Minneapolis, Minn. on Jan. 29.
The 13th annual adult-high school bonspiel was held at the Galesville and Centerville on Jan. 27, 29 and 30. First event winners were Rich Truax, Margaret Welch, Barbara Barenthis and skip John Welch. Second event winners were skip Harlen Hunter, Vernelle Hunter, Kathy Hoem and Kevin Hunter. Third event winners were Debbie Poss, Jim Poss, Bonnie Olsen and skip Dave Olsen.
75 YEARS AGO
January 30, 1947
Pvt. Arnold Davidson recently arrived at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Davidson, in Irvin Coulee, with his Army discharge after spending a year with the occupation forces in Germany. While there, he had the misfortune to be assigned as a military policeman at the Nazi trials in Nuremberg, and was assigned to guard Von Ribbentrop. He says the job was tiring and distasteful but the climax was worse — being at the mass hanging. Arnold was required to be there and deliver his prisoner to the hangman. He had no appetite that day, he says.
Improvements have been made in the Home Dress Shop to give more floor space for display purposes. The changes set off to much better advantage the large stock of merchandise that Miss Esther Mortenson, the proprietor, has secured for the spring season.
A new kind of U.S. Weather Bureau balloon was brought to The Times office last week by Mrs. Ansel Hagen, who found it recently in the front yard of her home in Dissmore Coulee.
Mrs. Albert Erickson of the town of Pigeon has been chosen as one of the 100 Wisconsin women, of every race and creed and almost every phase of activity, who will serve as the Committee on Wisconsin Women for the 1948 state centennial.
At the business meeting held at the Dresselhaus Cafe Thursday, the Pigeon Falls Town Club heard a report from the committee, consisting of Edwin Fremstad, Curtis Kaas and Arthur Dahl, appointed to study a proposed sewage plant.
Marguerite Sather, 11, of Chimney Rock, received a painful injury to tendons in her right leg at the ankle in an accident in Independence on Tuesday. Her leg was rubbed by a bus wheel when the accident occurred. She is now a patient at the Whitehall hospital.
The Arcadia Cooperative Association took over the management of the Nic Jensen store, having purchased the stock and business. They remained in the same location and the same personnel was retained by the new employer. Every aspect of the business was unchanged.
100 YEARS AGO
February 2, 1922
On Tuesday, John B. Sabotta and George Waldera were before Justice Larson, charged with selling intoxicating liquor to two young men. It developed on trial that these boys obtained apricot extract, a flavoring extract containing 50 percent alcohol and sold in half-pint bottles. The district attorney in this case contended that the sale was under circumstances that it could not be said to be sold for flavoring purposes, but that the vendors had good reasons to believe that it would be used for beverage purposes. The justice agreed, and they were bound over to county court for trial.
A jolly bunch of Whitehall girls enjoyed a sleigh ride out to the home of Mr. and Mrs. E.A. Sletteland in Pigeon Falls Monday night. Most of the girls were attired in boys’ attire, and this afforded a great deal of amusement to the party.
A sleigh ride party from Blair came to the Archie Lowe home in Fly Creek Valley Sunday evening and stayed until Monday morning. They came with well-filled baskets and an oyster supper was served. The evening was spent in a most enjoyable manner.
The Arcadia girls played the Whitehall girls basketball team in Whitehall Friday evening, the score being 11 to seven in favor of Whitehall. Although the Whitehall girls had never played boys’ rules, they held down the Arcadia girls wonderfully.
Pleasantville — Gust Guse and his assistant, Ed Schroeder, collected taxes at the store Friday. A large majority of the taxpayers assembled and left with smiling faces, as they found their taxes much lower than they anticipated.
Mrs. Stephen Benusa died of burns received when the Benusa farm residence in Traverse Valley was destroyed by fire.
Raymond Hesch, four-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Valentine Hesch of Waumandee, died of a broken neck when caging in a chicken coop fell over when he climbed on it while hunting eggs.
Arthur Schultz left Arcadia for Heron Lake, Minn., to be employed as buttermaker in the creamery there.
The Galesville Rod & Gun Club enjoyed its annual banquet and much enthusiasm was shown in the popular midwinter number. Two hundred people enjoyed the dinner in the city building on Jan. 16. Herbergs orchestra played the grand march as the guests ascended the staircase to the auditorium. Rev. C.H. Phillips evoked the blessing; W.S. Wadleigh was toastmaster; Mayor O.D. Witherbee gave the welcoming address and Senator E.F. Clark addressed the crowd.
Hook Ladder Co. No. 1 of Galesville Fire Department elected the following: Foreman John Johnson, G. Schlichemmauer, Edward Anderson, Hjalmer Anderson, Will Rall, Henry Gelder, Harry Sturdevant, J.S. Spors. Hose Co. 1 elected: Foreman Carl Anderson, W.F. Barenthikn, Charley Hallenger, J.M. Koehler, John Veir, Ole Sagen.
125 YEARS AGO
January 28, 1897
George Scott is home from a tour of the west and has some hair-breadth escape stories to tell of that snow-bound section.
The oyster supper which was to have been held at the M.E. church tomorrow his indefinitely postponed on account of the weather.
Sheriff Jensen has revoked the appointment of H.H. Beach as turnkey and will perform this duty himself, preferring to take all the responsibility of the custody of prisoners at the jail. Mr. Beach will continue in the capacity of deputy sheriff.
The fire bell rang Friday morning and the hose company hastened to the tenement occupied by Christena Engebretson on North Adams Street, where flames were just starting in the roof around a stovepipe chimney. It was quickly extinguished, and little damage done.
There was no school Monday owing to the freezing of one of the pipes and bursting of a coupling. The damage was repaired by Thompson and Bakken, and school resumed Tuesday.
The Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, and many friends of the host and hostess from outside those orders, were pleasantly entertained last Friday night by Mr. and Mrs. N.L. Fredrickson at their new home in the south part of the village.
Undersheriff Merwin was up yesterday with a tramp by the name of Ray, who was arrest at that place and supposed to be insane. He was brought before Judge Odell on an application to commit to the asylum. Drs. Parker and Sonnickson examined the fellow and pronounced him sane, and he was allowed to depart.
Blair — The Herried Manufacturing Co. has purchased two acres of land from Mrs. Short, lying on the track east of the village limits, for factory purposes. They will commence work soon on the building for their plant for the manufacture of butter tubs.
Independence — The cable between the mill and Sprecher’s elevator broke Thursday and will inconvenience them considerably until it can be repaired.
