From Our Early Files May 12, 2021
25 YEARS AGO
May 16, 1996
Customers of the Whitehall Municipal Water Utility would pay fire protection charges through their water bills, rather than their property taxes, if the state Public Service Commission endorses a plan approved by the city council this week Tuesday night. The council voted unanimously to allow the utility to assess the charges — which cover the cost of owning and maintaining the water mains, hydrants, etc. that provide water to fight fires — based on the size of the water service. The utility is currently paid from the line item in the city budget, which this year totals about $62,000.
When the BRAD Association disbanded last month, its always-small membership had dwindled to almost nothing, due to death, illness and related factors. But after 11 years, it began with an ending. The handful of people who had comprised the chemical-abuse education group could point with pride to a record of accomplishment. BRAD had disbursed upwards of $10,000 on educational materials, speakers, etc., all aimed at keeping young people from abusing illegal drugs and alcohol.
Jill Patzner, daughter of John and Judy Patzner, a junior at St. Mary’s College in Winona, Minn., was crowned Miss Arcadia on Saturday night as the eyes of city and surrounding area looked on.
There will be 71 students graduating from Arcadia High school this year. Elizabeth Waldera, daughter of David and Mary Waldera, was named the class valedictorian. The salutatorian of the class of 1996 is Elizabeth Maly, daughter of Ken and Janie Maly.
A juvenile student at the Arcadia Elementary School brought a handgun to the educational institution. It is the second time within the last year that an incident of this nature has occurred at the school.
The Galesville city council had good news for tractor pull fans and not-so-good news for owners of dogs that violate an ordinance in city parks. For those who like to watch tractor drivers strain their horsepower, the council granted the Galesville Area Jaycees a Class B beer license and permission to stage a tractor pull on Mill Road in June. Complaints about the unsightly parks prompted Mayor Terry Collins to declare that the police department had been advised to enforce rules requiring pets to be leashed and owners to pick up after their animals on private and public property.
Building permit fees are being hiked in Galesville, but fewer people will need one under a higher exemption adopted by the city council. Accepting changes recommended by the city planning commission, the council voted to raise the minimum permit fee from $5 to $25, plus $1 per thousand of estimated construction cost with a maximum cost of $300. But recognizing the rising prices, the council also advanced the range of minor repairs that don’t involve structural changes and don’t plan review or a permit from $500 to $2,500.
Jack Brenegan, athletic director at the Madison Area Technical College (MATC) and a 1960 graduate of Gale-Ettrick High School, was inducted into the MATC sports Hall of Fame. Brenegan was the basketball coach at the school from 1979-89 when the Trojans won four conference championships and his 1986 team competed in the national tournament.
Dawn Camacho is the new director of emergency government in Trempealeau County.
Adam Leavitt, son of Guy and Rita Leavitt, was chosen as one of 264 students statewide to participate in Science World ’96, held at Pigeon Lake Field Station near Drummond.
50 YEARS AGO
May 20, 1971
The Whitehall city council last week Tuesday set the closing hours for local taverns at 1 a.m., disregarding a 2 a.m. option allowed by state law during daylight savings time. Most of the tavern operators were present, and expressed no objection.
A two-story frame house on the Leon Halpern farm, located three miles south of Whitehall in Irvin Coulee, was destroyed by fire Thursday. The occupants, the Lester Pucik, who lost all their possessions, were not home at the time.
Jeff Dahl was honored as the Norse Award winner during the Whitehall High athletic banquet held last week Monday at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire basketball coach Ken Anderson was the featured speaker.
The Arcadia Broiler-Dairy Festival queen contest will take place this Saturday. Sixteen girls, all spring graduates of Arcadia High School, are competing for the title.
Graduation exercises for the 98 members of the Class of 1971 will be held Friday in the Arcadia High School gymnasium. Student speakers will be Juliann Pavlicin, valedictorian and John Misch, salutatorian.
Darlene Kriesel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Kriesel, and Connie Jessessky, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Jessessky, have been named as valedictorian and salutatorian of the 1971 graduating class of Trempealeau High School.
Mr. and Mrs. David Emmons and their infant son, Matthew, safely escaped from the fire which destroyed their trailer home located on the Ralph Emmons farm just east of Galesville Saturday morning.
Two Cadette Girl Scouts, Paula Hilt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hilt and Lynn Parkhurst, daughter of Rev. and Mrs. Parkhurst, Galesville, received their First Class badges, the highest award in Girl Scouting at the Girl Scout Court of Awards Banquet held Friday evening at Zion Lutheran Church.
75 YEARS AGO
May 16, 1946
Notice of the appointment by Gov. Walter Goodland of Attorney Albert T. Twesme of Galesville as Trempealeau County judge, succeeding John C. Gaveney, who recently resigned, reached Whitehall Monday. Judge Twesme has had a law office in his native Galesville since 1908, which practice will now go to his son Albert L. Twesme, who recently joined his father after serving in the Navy.
Friday was orientation day at Whitehall High for the seventh and eighth graders of the area, and 98 students from the rural schools attended. The program began with a movie at 9 a.m., following by a trip through the school and crop judging for the boys and a style show and home economics demonstration for the girls. After a free lunch and games, a track and field meet was held in the afternoon. Pleasantville won the most events, followed by Carpenter. LeRoy Johnson of Carpenter was the high-point individual.
Whitehall, a city of about 1,500 population, is quite a contrast to the large industrial and shipping city of Liverpool, England, for Mrs. Ingwald Knudtson, the former Hannah Allen, who had always lived there until she came over with 2,200 English brides on the Queen Mary to join her husband. The couple are living in Whitehall as Mr. Knudtson is employed at the Briggs Transfer garage here.
About 65 men and Boy Scouts worked on the Memorial Forest hillside Monday. The heavy growth of hazel brush, sumac and scrub oak was cleaned out of much of the forest.
Joe Maldonado took over the Texaco Oil station May 15, renting the buildings from Iver Olson. He succeeds Adolph Gilbertson, who had been in the business the past four years, and has leased the repair business at the station to Robert Hartman.
Mother’s Day 1946 was a significant day for Mrs. E.C. Reardon and for Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish of Arcadia. That evening, in a ceremony held in the church, Reardon was formally presented with the Papal Cross, which had been awarded to her last Dec. 22 at Rome by his Holiness Pope Pius XII. She received the award for her excellent leadership skills and her work in the community and the church.
The Arcadia High school glee club and band made an excellent showing at the music contest at Eau Claire last Friday and Saturday. The girls’ glee club received a first place, while the band was also awarded a first place rating. The judge for the event was E. Uggen of Minneapolis, Minn.
100 YEARS AGO
May 19, 1921
N.L. Moll and his mechanic, B.M. Narvotz, came to Whitehall by “aeroplane” from La Crosse Monday. Mr. Moll made 11 flights during the day, taking up citizens from our village. Some of the passengers took a little stunt flying, and all that took a ride speak favorably of that way of traveling.
The commencement exercises for the nurses, held at the Lutheran church, was a marked success in every way. The church was elaborately decorated in ferns and roses, and the class colors, pink and green. The class motto, “Not born for ourselves, but for the world,” was in the background of the main decorations. The nurses, the Misses Gertrude and Martha Halverson, Ina Anderson, Petra Larson, Agnes Stone and Mabel Sinrud, are the first to graduate from Community Hospital. Their diplomas give them the same credits they would receive at any other hospital in the larger cities.
The most attractive industry we have now is the robbing of banks, and they are getting closer and closer all the time. Recently Mondovi bank was robbed, and now comes the report that yeggmen looted an Augusta bank of $20,000. Three men believed to be part of the gang were arrested at St. Paul Tuesday.
The “aeroplane” which landed in Whitehall caused a great deal of disturbance in the school. Some of the grade pupils skipped to better observe the aerial flights. But as a punishment extra minutes were enjoyed by them in the school room after 3:40 p.m.
The Fourth of July will be celebrated in Galesville under the direction of the Galesville-Ettrick Rod and Gun Club and the Galesville Concert Band.
Work on the new creamery building in Centerville started Monday.
Vivian Severson is the only graduate in the Caledonia Consolidated School.
The Gale College will hold its commencement on Thursday. The valedictory will be given by the ranking student in the senior class, Willie Rindahl. There are 26 candidates for graduation in the class.
125 YEARS AGO
May 14, 1896
During the thunderstorm Tuesday night, lightning struck the belfry of the M.E. church, shattering the spire and setting fire to the rafters and roof boards, affording a capital opportunity of demonstrating the efficiency of the new water system, and the energy and ability of the fire company. The prompt action of the fire boys and the excellent working of the water system enabled them to promptly save not only then church, but also the nearby town hall.
Ninety degrees Fahrenheit in the shade is a little extreme for early May, yet we have had considerable of this weather during the past 10 days.
Parties who make a practice of catching pickerel at the mill dam, or anywhere else for that matter, and worry them while on the hook, then release and throw them back, are in the eye of the law as guilty as if they were to catch and take them home. If arrested and found guilty, a fine would follow in either case.
Miss Mollie Fossegaard is the recipient of a fine bicycle, “The 1986 Mackinac,” a present from her mother.
Independence — A new firm to be known as the Independence Furniture Co. has been formed, composed of J.F. Dembiski, J.A. Dumback and M. Gauczkiewicz. They will start up in about 10 days in the Senneff building.
