From Our Early Files June 2, 2021
25 YEARS AGO
June 6, 1996
The Whitehall School District will consider the possibility of joining the city of Whitehall’s efforts to replace the swimming pool. The district board of education appointed two of its members and one school administrator to serve on a special joint committee with city representatives. The action came after city officials proposed a possible joint effort, most likely on school property.
Whitehall businesses and residents who burn refuse under city permits may lose that privilege this coming Tuesday. That matter is likely to be put to a vote that evening when the city council holds its regular meeting.
Seven Whitehall High juniors were chosen to represent the school at events that will be held over the summer. Melissa Granlund and Kris Van Sickle will attend the Badger Girls State at University of Wisconsin-Madison the same week that Travis Schroeder and Zach Short are at the Badger Boys State at Ripon College. Jamie Hulett will attend the Business World program at Carroll College and Cameron Severson and Amanda Hinrichs will attend the World Affairs Seminar at UW-Whitewater.
It had been 10 years since a Whitehall High athlete had placed first individually in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association boys’ state track meet, but Larry Paul ran a way with the Division Three 100 and 200-meter titles at the state meet last week.
Arcadia High School senior Doug Rebhahn won the 300-meter hurdle state title for the third straight year.
Two local men recently achieved a goal that they set for themselves more than 10 years ago. Greg Roskos and Steve Melby, both of Independence, won the 12th annual Wisconsin Amusement and Music Operations State Dart Tournament held in Stevens Point.
Shireen Bork, Independence, was one of 10,000 Olympic Torch bearers to participate in the flame’s march throughout the United States. Bork carried the torch in La Crosse last weekend.
A rural Galesville man, Hugh Kohlmeyer, has been appointed to a vacancy on the Trempealeau County Board of Supervisors.
The Ettrick village board formally accepted the resignation of village president Ron Loken, who is moving out of the village, and accepted his recommended replacement, trustee Rose Rand.
Another merger by their corporate parent has made the Galesville and Ettrick plants of Lucas Body Systems part of what is expected to be one of the world’s 10 largest auto parts suppliers. Lucas Industries of Britain and Varity Corp. of Buffalo, N.Y. announced a merger Friday. They said the new firm, to be called Lucas Varity, would have had combined 1995 revenues of about $6.7 billion.
Rose Ottum, deputy register of deeds in Trempealeau County for nine-and-a half years is seeking her party’s nomination for the register’s post being vacated by the retiring Janet Peterson.
50 YEARS AGO
June 10, 1971
An agreement was signed Tuesday by Mayor Lester Brennom and City Clerk A.E. Berg which will make $60,000 available from Outdoor Recreation Aid Program funds for construction of a new municipal swimming pool in Whitehall. When the city has received approval for the plans that have been sent to the state, financing will be sought for the balance of the estimated $120,000 cost of the pool.
Martha Halama, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Halama of Independence, was crowned Trempealeau County Dairy Princess at the June Dairy Month kick-off banquet held at Club Midway, Independence, last week Wednesday. Sigrid Goplin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Obert Goplin of Osseo, was chosen as her attendant.
Dyck Shepherd pitcher a one-hitter, striking out 11, as the Whitehall High baseball team opened Dairyland Conference play Thursday with a 6-3 win over Osseo-Fairchild.
Spec. Peter A. Konkel upon separation from active duty at the Pentagon received a citation for outstanding service.
A delay in the opening of Paetow Swimming Pool has been caused by the failure of some needed equipment to arrive, reported Ken Theisen, pool manager.
Galesville will be hosting the Wisconsin Junior Dairymen’s Association convention on June 9 and 10. The convention will bring together young dairymen and their vocational-agriculture instructor advisors from all over America’s Dairyland.
Congressman Vernon Thompson has announced a $272,000 loan to the village of Trempealeau to build a rural community sewer system.
75 YEARS AGO
June 6, 1946
It will be a strictly Republican election in Trempealeau County this fall, as no Democrats have filed for county office or Assembly as of the deadline for nominations last Friday. There will be competition on the GOP ballot, however. Assemblyman C.E. Heath of Osseo, who has served one term, is being opposed by Scott Hotchkiss and G.M. Wiley of Galesville, and former Assemblyman Martin Brom of Dodge. For county clerk, incumbent Roy Matson will be challenged by Everett Guse of Whitehall, former school teacher and game farm operator. Incumbent county officers who filed without opposition are: Marjorie Schaefer, clerk of court; La Vern Kostner, district attorney; Basil Erickson, sheriff; Martin Wiemer, coroner; August Knudtson, treasurer; and Lester Brennom, register of deeds.
The Whitehall High School in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin Extension Division, will offer a full year of college freshman work during the 1946-47 school year, by establishing a university freshman center in Whitehall.
Colonel Larson, who has charge of the playground and the bathing beach this summer, reports that the water is still to cold for swimmers, and he will not begin to give lessons until it warms up. He has the bathing beach in readiness, however, and it is in splendid condition, with a wide and sloping beach, and new lifelines for the younger children. Mr. Larson reports that an average of 55 children are attending the playground games in the park and at the rear of the school each forenoon.
Dorothy Hamilton, Ruth Kildahl, Elaine Foss and Alice Klomsten all have been awarded first place in the American Legion Auxiliary-sponsored essay contest conducted in the seventh and eighth grades at the local school.
Relatives and friends gathered at St. Aloysius auditorium Sunday evening for the graduation exercises held for the 25 boys and girls who had successfully completed the eighth grade.
Children of St. Stanislaus school ad their annual school picnic at the golf grounds. From the smallest to the largest, all played games and enjoyed the automatic victrola purchased by the Very Reverend Pastor.
100 YEARS AGO
June 9, 1921
There has always existed a splendid feeling between the farmers of the immediate vicinity and Whitehall citizens, but this feeling was intensified Monday night when they were the guests of the Improvement Association at a smoker given at the Village Hall. There were 20 tables of players who indulged in the pleasant pastime of Norwegian whist. It was a friendly rivalry in which the farmers were the opponents of the villagers, the total score at the closing showing the latter ahead 4956 to 4166.
Last Friday evening, at the Whitehall Village Hall, the senior class of 18 members were presented with diplomas which certify that they have completed the required four-year course at the Whitehall High school. Following is the class roll” Robert Anderson, Ray Cornwell, Reuben Dissmore, Clara Ekern, Myrtle Engen, Lyle Gage, Meredith Gage, Donald Hanson, Otto Hanson, Arthur Haralsrud, Pearl Langworthy, Mabel Moe, Hjalmer Oerke, Hazel Pederson, Ernest Rasmussen, Evelyn Rice, Edward Roskos, Maynard Steig.
The picnic at Coral City for the Norwegian parochial was a success. A large crowd was present and listened to a program by the children, followed by a lecture by Rev. Hofstad. The receipts were $70.80, which will be used to defray the expenses of the school, which closes this week. Miss Nora Moe was the teacher of the 35 children who attended.
Rev. Clough has purchased an outfit and will soon launch a newspaper at Eleva. Mr. Clough is a good newspaper and a thorough printer. If he has the united support of the people of that thriving northern village, he will do them good service. The new venture will not affect his ministerial duties here.
Thos. Edwin and L.L. Zeller were elected managers and Peter Stoller, captain of the local Arcadia baseball team.
About 150 leading wholesale merchants and manufacturers of St. Paul were scheduled to visit Arcadia while on a trade tour through various cities, coming by special train with a full complement of sleepers and diners.
Emmet Amundson, who purchased the first lot of the Porter property from J.S. Johnson, has the lot cut down several feet and graded. He will begin the erection of a home this fall.
There will be a barn dance on the Earl Kopp farm, Centerville, on June 14.
The Galesville Concert band will appear in new uniforms for the Fourth of July celebration. The new uniforms will cost something like $700.
125 YEARS AGO
June 4, 1896
The village board convened in special session again last Saturday evening to take action on a petition for a sidewalk on the north side of Scranton Street, between, Main and Ellis, six feet wide and of two-inch boards. Favorable action was had, and the walk ordered constructed before June 25.
Lawyer Gaveney of Arcadia was in town Monday soliciting subscriptions for coupon books to be used in the telephone service of a company recently organized in Arcadia for the purpose of extending a line from Arcadia to Independence, Whitehall and Blair, and neighboring points in Buffalo County. The line will be immediately constructed, provided a sufficient amount of patronage can be secured. A telephone system connecting Whitehall to the outside world would prove of incalculable benefit for our citizens.
The band boys have received a set of the celebrated J.W. Pepper band instruments last Saturday. Those of the band who have had experience with band instruments pronounce them first-class, and Prof. Birdsell of Ettrick, instructor of the band there, who was here Saturday, speaks in praise of them. They are of brass composition, trombone style.
The closed season for pickerel fishing expired May 31, and the morning of June 1 witnessed a long string of anglers on the green banks of the Trempealeau River, bobbing for this succulent member of the piscatorial family. Not a very large catch is reported.
A special meeting of the Whitehall village board was held last Thursday evening. Trustees Ingalls, Whitney and Gilbertson were appointed a committee to investigate the law relating to bicycle riding on sidewalks, and to draw an ordinance prohibiting the use of same on said walks within the village limits.
The sisters of the Coral Rebekah Lodge are planning a social to be held on the courthouse lawn Saturday, weather permitting.
