From Our Early Files March 1, 2023
25 YEARS AGO
March 5, 1998
A last-minute settlement has headed off a test of Whitehall’s dangerous-dog ordinance, but apparently will cost a city family their pet. A public hearing was called under provisions of the eight-year-old ordinance, but was cancelled after the agreement. As a result of the agreement, dog owners Tony and Linda Skroch will be allowed to keep their dog, Jake, until May 31 as long as he is kept inside and leashed when outside. Two neighbors had complained that to city officials that Jake was threatening two children who either lived in or visited regularly at their homes.
Four Whitehall High School musicians were among students from 160 schools in a four-state area attending the annual Dorian Band Festival held at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Attending from Whitehall was Eric Moe, Laura Bender, Greg Van Sickle and Todd Getts.
The Bernard and Steve Killian family farm had a forage sample take 12th place at the World Dairy Expo. They also received an award for the high-quality crops which they grow for their herd.
In an attempt to show that they are taking the problem of underage drinking seriously, Trempealeau County officials have created an underage drinking program for teens who get arrested for possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages. Trempealeau County Circuit Court Judge John Damon announced the new underage drinking program will be implemented in the beginning of March.
The biggest time of year in Arcadia takes place when the community celebrates Broiler-Dairy Days. This year’s celebration will be extra special because Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson has tentatively agreed to come to Arcadia for the annual Memorial Day Program on Sunday, May 24.
The Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau School District will buy land for a new school. But don’t expect groundbreaking anytime soon. District officials said a new high school is six to 16 years in the future. District residents approved buying the 140-acre Bender farm on County Highway K, south of Galesville. After more than an hour of discussion, residents voted 122-85 to spend $390,000 for the property, including the house and all buildings located there.
The second annual G-E-T Showcase will be held Sunday at G-E-T High School. More than 65 participants from the G-E-T area will be showcasing their organizations at the event.
Eleven G-E-T students are learning hands-on what the work force is all about through the School to Work program, which is being honored statewide this week. In the program, students are given the opportunity to work at an area business during school hours and feel what it is like to be out in the “real world.”
50 YEARS AGO
March 8, 1973
Following a two and a half-hour meeting of about 40 teachers, the Whitehall Teachers Association voted Monday night to ask the district school board to meet with the teachers’ union’s full membership to discuss discipline in the schools and the trimester system being used. The teachers also took a tougher stance with the board concerning negotiations over the master contract.
Whitehall Police Department officer John Sikora was scheduled to return to duty this week Tuesday, after being suspended for five days as the result of his arrest of Whitehall resident Cornell Hagen. Sikora arrested Hagen in a local bar Feb. 23 for allegedly placing a nuisance phone call, to Sikora’s residence.
Fall Creek defeated Independence in the regional finals Saturday, but Dairyland Conference champion Blair defeated New Lisbon and West Salem to advance to the La Crosse sectional.
Gary Herbert, 24, Trempealeau, was listed in fair condition Tuesday afternoon at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Arcadia where he was taken following a one-car accident on Highway 93, just south of Arcadia. According to the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department, Herbert was alone in the car when he lost control and it crossed the highway before hitting the guardrail and spinning into a ditch to come to a rest on its top some 198 feet from the initial point of impact.
The Arcadia Chamber of Commerce will recognize four outstanding area farmers and one community leader at its annual awards banquet to be held at the Arcadia Country Club. Allen Petersen from Midwest Breeders, Shawano, will be the guest speaker at the dinner program. Officers for the coming year will also be elected.
As part of a Cooperative Vocational Education program between the G-E-T and Cochrane-Fountain City school districts, 10 students are in the process of building a complete three-bedroom home in Trempealeau. Each day students are bused to the building site for a two-hour class period taught by the vocational building trades instructor, Barry Nelson.
An immunization clinic for polio will be held for all Trempealeau County children starting March 1.
Dr. Paul E. Neve, director of the Dana College Choir in Blair, Neb., will direct the choir in concert at French Creek Lutheran Church in Ettrick on April 7. He has a musical heritage which goes back many generations.
75 YEARS AGO
March 4, 1948
Norwegians think the American people are wonderful, declares Andrew Ambli, Whitehall man, who returned home last week from a three-week trip to his native country for the funeral of his father. They appreciate all that the United States government, and Americans individually, have done for them in the way of rehabilitation from World War II.
Gloria Anderson, cousin of Mrs. T.O. Rice of Whitehall and formerly of Rosholt, is featured as a Conover model in seven advertisements appearing in the February issue of Mademoiselle magazine.
A meeting of officers of the nine sportsmen’s clubs of Trempealeau County was held at the courthouse in Whitehall Feb. 24, to discuss the feasibility of organizing a group to be known as the Associated Conservation Clubs of Trempealeau County.
The first annual banquet of the local Bow and Arrow Club will be held at the Walgert Hotel next week Friday evening, with H.M. DeBow as toastmaster. Films of the club’s hunts last fall will be shown.
A meeting will be held Monday evening at the Whitehall Packing Co. for all those interested in organizing a kittenball league for the coming season.
Hensel Jacobson, Pigeon Falls postmaster for the past 12 years, has resigned the position and began work as a rural mail carrier from Strum Monday.
New state highway signs were posted along the former Co. Trunk A from Pigeon Falls through the western part of Jackson Co. to Alma Center. It is now State Hwy. 121.
August Misch of Independence, who clerks auctions for the Northern Investment Co., says that he has a busy month ahead, with bookings practically every week day.
Bobby Rippley, 5, son of Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Rippley of Myers Valley, was injured in an accident near his home on Wednesday. He was following a team of horses and a wagon across the main highway when he was hit by a car. He was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital where he was treated for lacerations and bruises.
The St. Stanislaus Club of Arcadia decided to put some of their projects on exhibit. The results are two window displays in downtown businesses. These exhibits show what teenage girls and boys can do under the supervision of a leader. The girls made clothing for themselves and their mothers, while the boys built bird houses, tie racks, benches and lawn decorations.
100 YEARS AGO
March 8, 1923
Although March came in like the traditional lamb, there was a formidable lion approaching at his heels. Saturday night, snow to the depth of 19 inches fell, and Sunday morning dawned with a back-breaking aspect confronting the householder. Oscar Nelson, with two horses and a snow plow, came to the assistance of the back-aching man behind the shovel. Manager Bensend of the Light and Power company had to wrestle with broken wires during the storm, but was equal to the occasion, and slight inconvenience resulted. With the great body of snow on the ground, the temperature took a tumble toward the bulb, and Monday morning Weather Observer Nelson reported 21 degrees below.
The Whitehall and Independence whist clubs played their initial game of a series last Monday evening at the city restaurant, the local club finishing with the narrow margin of 36 points over their opponents. The high score was made by Southworth and Van Sickle.
Two Whitehall boys are unfortunate in being confined to the infirmary at the University of Wisconsin, George Beach with the mumps and Maynard Steig with erysipelas.
Miss Helen Berg is not a candidate for reelection to the office of county superintendent of schools. This leaves Miss Bjoland a free field in the campaign for this office.
Ideal weather last Friday night favored those who watched the eclipse. It was partial and was visible in this latitude. Those on the street watched it, and others who could tear themselves away from the basketball excitement in the hall, watched it from the east door of the stage.
Pleasantville — The Pike school district has decided to build a new schoolhouse this summer. Rev. Hanke, Gust Guse, Fred Welke and Carl Geffe were up South Branch inspecting the Caswell schoolhouse, as they are planning on building something similar.
Members of the newly organized Arcadia Commercial Club discussed at length several plans, propositions and locations for a stock sales pavilion to be located in Arcadia. Estimated cost was $5,000.
Ex-sheriff Ed Erickson returned from a stock sale at the West Salem Sales Pavilion with a carload of fine Holsteins, including one purebred sire.
Tractors are gradually replacing horses for farm work in Trempealeau County. The horse will always find a place on most farms, but the tractors will do the plowing and heavy work.
The Top Notch Inn was opened in the Galesville area by Mrs. Allen Thompson for a third season and truly is top notch.
Fifteen carloads of cans are being unloaded at the Galesville Canning Co. This is the first shipment for 1923.
The cleanup, paint up season is here. Galesville is a pretty clean town, but there is much to do. The snow is gone and the ash piles and tin can accumulations are sprouting in advance of grass and leaves.
125 YEARS AGO
March 3, 1898
Wisconsin Valley Telephone linemen inspected their line through here on Monday.
Sheriff Jensen sold four horses last week, including his fine driving team. This team he sold to the president of the Empire Lumber Co., of Eau Claire, for $275.
Mrs. H.M. Wade has rented her farm to C.D. Letson for three years. Mrs. Wade has let the job of building an addition to the dwelling on the place to Archie Wood.
John J. Vold has purchased a lot on Main Street opposite the City Hotel to be used for machine sheds and an office. Mr. Vold has recently taken an agency for the Milwaukee Harvester Co.
Thompson and Bakken last week bought a large drive well machine of Quinn and Knight, which they are using in sinking a well on the Hovde farm, know as the McDermott place, north of Whitehall.
Otto Langerfield of Unity, one of the true-blue and representative citizens of the northern portion of this county, made us a pleasant call on Tuesday. Mr. Langerfield is one of the first settlers of Trempealeau County, becoming an inhabitant thereof in 1849.
Two sleigh-loads of young people from Whitehall and vicinity accompanied Prof. H.W. Plunz to the Dissmore schoolhouse in Pigeon Monday evening, the occasion being the first meeting in the second term of vocal music for the class he is teaching there.
