From Our early Files Oct. 19, 2022
25 YEARS AGO
Oct. 23, 1997
Dave Nehring was sworn in as the new District Eight representative on the Trempealeau County board of supervisors at the start of Monday’s county board meeting.
Renewing the contract of Trempeaelau County’s computer specialist got more votes Monday than the original decision to hire one did earlier this year. But that didn’t mean all members of the county board of supervisors were sold on the idea of spending about $100,000 a year with Castle Computers. While voting unanimously to renew the contract of the Newport, Minn., firm, the supervisors also attached some conditions to the deal that could prompt the county, or Castle, to terminate the contract.
Opening a new business in a small town can be a very scary endeavor. John Skogstad, an Eleva native, is learning that firsthand as he recently opened Angelo’s Pizza in downtown Arcadia.
In a continuing effort to help prevent water from standing in pools throughout the downtown district, the Arcadia city council recently passed a motion which would allow water pipes to be buried near Harrison Street and behind Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. The new pipes are now being buried in place before the winter season begins. They are being placed in those areas to help move flood waters out of the city quicker than in the past. They will also prevent water from sitting in the pipes for extended periods of time.
Creating a group to help keep young students off the streets in Arcadia has only been a good concept until now. Recently, Pat Rodriguez, an Arcadia resident and mother, created an organization that will give students who are in fifth through eighth grades something to do in Arcadia. The organization is made up of a network of parents who volunteer their time to help.
Last June, Caitlin Gamroth, 2, daughter of Paul and Victoria Gamroth of Independence was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. The treatment for the disease is expected to cost the family a million dollars a year. If all goes well, she could be cured in three years. A benefit will be held to help the family afford the treatment on Oct. 25 at Club Midway in Independence. All proceeds will go to help pay the hospital bills.
Religious editors and feature writers are still telling the story about the Methodist minister in Galesville who decided more than a century ago that the area where three smaller rivers joined a major river and formed the Garden of Eden was not in Asia, but in southern Trempealeau County, Galesville to be more specific. They sometimes inject some humor or a tsk-tsk tone when they tell the story or Rev. D.O. Van Slyke. But to Ralph Joseph Van Slyke, who is a great-great grandson, the story is this: “He’s never been proved wrong.”
There is no merit badge in scouting for rewriting a trail guide in language that the youngest students can understand, and, in the process, out=maneuvering vandals. But, if there were, Greg Lanik would have earned one. The Eagle Scout candidate spent his summer restoring damaged posts and signs in the nature area adjoining the Galesville Elementary School. When pleased school officials brought the high school senior to the Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau school board meeting for recognition, Lanik said the old posts had been torn down and the plastic signs on them had been “shot up” by BBs.
The G-E-T boys cross country team brought home its first Coulee Conference championship after winning a three-way battle on the Pine Creek course at La Crescent.
50 YEARS AGO
October 26, 1972
Representatives of the Whitehall Teachers Association and the district school board made another attempt at negotiating a master contract, but gave up after two and a half hours of bargaining Monday night, saying that they would seek an outside mediator.
Jerry Kopp scored the deciding touchdown as the Norsemen beat Alma Center Lincoln 12-8 Friday, finishing the season at 5-2-1, third in the Dairyland Conference.
Robert Braun, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Braun, Arcadia, was elected winner in the elementary division in the Trempealeau County Soil and Water Conservation Speaking Contest. Junior high division winner was Kevin Stay, son or Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Stay, Blair. They will both participate in the district contest in Sparta on Nov. 2.
Rollin Possehl resigned from the Arcadia city utility commission Thursday afternoon after an opinion was handed down by the city attorney that no member of the city council can serve with remuneration on another city board. The municipal law, used as the basis for the opinion, forbids city council members to serve in a dual capacity.
The Galesville Elementary School has developed a new program this year. The Special Interest Projects (SIP) program has an objective to take the “blah’s” out of the school day. The whole idea is based on getting students and teachers, plus the community, involved in doing something that is especially interesting to the individual.
The Galesville Lions Club will again sponsor kids festivities on Halloween night. The parade will start at the grade school and go to the lower ball park, where judging of costumes will take place.
The G-E-T Redmen wrapped up their fifth straight undefeated season and 41st straight victory as they rolled over Melrose-Mindoro 32-0 in Coulee Conference play on Friday. Once again, Arcadia played the bridesmaid role as it finished in second place with a 20-13 win over Onalaska.
75 YEARS AGO
October 26, 1947
A transcription will be made of the Trempealeau County barn dance program that will be held at the Pix Theatre this Saturday. The recording will be made by engineers from WLCX in La Crosse, and a half-hour program will be broadcast on that station at 12:15 p.m. on Monday. Talent signed up for the program includes Bennie Zimmerman, Herman Knudtson and Charles Erinberg of Chimney Rock, who will sing to guitar accompaniment; Philip Dahl of Blair, mouth organ; the Rebarchek Sisters, singers from Whitehall; Donnett and Delores Prudlick, Strum; Harvey Johnson, Blair; La Vern Pientok, Independence; the Oliver Brothers, Alma Center; and Bernice Skaar and Lillian Joten, Taylor.
The pheasant hunting season which opened Saturday afternoon had the usual number of nimrods. The supply of birds was smaller than in previous years, although many hunters got their limits, two of them under unusual circumstances. Jim Matson, who was hunting north of town with Quinn Risberg, sighted to cock pheasants running, fired and killed both with one shot. Jack Rhode, who was hunting south of town, didn’t sight a bird until his Chesapeake dog Napoleon came trotting up with a pheasant that had been wounded by another hunter.
A Halloween party will be given at the City Hall Friday, Oct. 31, for all children under high school age. It will be a costume party sponsored by the Whitehall businessmen in cooperation with the Lions Club.
The Community Telephone Co. of Wisconsin held a district meeting at the Walgert Hotel in Whitehall Friday evening, the company’s employees enjoying a sumptuous dinner. Recognition was given to a number of employees who had been with the company 20 years or more, including two from Whitehall, Mrs. Cora Arneson with 28 years, and Miss Ethel Mallery with more than 40.
Two people are dead and six others were injured as the result of a head-on collision of two cars on Highway 35, a mile southeast of Galesville, Sunday afternoon about 4:30 p.m. Mrs. Lawrence Stafford, 25, of La Crosse and her baby son, David, were killed in the crash.
The Riverview Lanes opened with a bang in Arcadia last week Thursday and ever since that time bowling enthusiasts have tried out their skill at this popular sport. Saturday and Sunday night will be reserved for open bowling. League bowling got underway Monday night. It has been organized for some time and is now proceeding accordingly. There are currently 58 teams participating in the league.
100 YEARS AGO
October 26, 1922
From work already performed in the park, it appears that the Woman’s Civic club in Whitehall has decided to build log cabin and have it ready for next season. O.C. Torson has laid the cement foundation and the logs will be laid up this winter.
Electric consumers leaving town or moving from one location or another must contact Mr. Dewey Bensend, resident manager for the Wisconsin-Minnesota Lights and Power Co., so that meter charges can be read and meters disconnected.
Miss Bottolfson has a novel way of teaching penmanship in the eighth grade at the Whitehall school. Pupils write to music. The Victrola is regulated to the proper cadence, then the class keeps time to the music in practicing the various drills. The several grades are emphasizing penmanship, for the Palmer Method representatives will inspect our grades this your.
Within the past week, another carload of Ford automobiles has been unloaded at the Auto Sales garage in Whitehall, and there are still a few in stock. They are taken away almost as fast as the management can supply them.
Plans are going forward for a big time on Nov. 11, when the Community Hospital will celebrate the fifth anniversary of its opening.
The schoolhouse is making rapid progress now. The steel arrived the first of the week, and the seven-ton girders were placed in position without mishap or seemingly extra exertion.
J.C. Wilken has torn down the old Dewey Street Lutheran Church, and on the site of the old place of worship will erect two neat little bungalows.
The Green Bay and Western Railroad Co. is planning the erection of a shed for a coaling station here.
Gus Lundstad is excavating under his Dewey Street residence for a full basement, and a furnace will be installed.
The large barn on the old Hedman farm, now owned by Merton Slette, was destroyed by fire of unknown origin early Wednesday morning, and the entire contents consumed in the blaze. The farm is operated by Richard and Theodore Herman, for whom it is a heavy loss, as they had just started farming the place a year ago.
H.M. Phillips was the victim of a speeding rod hog Saturday afternoon while driving on No. 11 in front of N.L. Fredrickson’s home. The Phillips car was thrown up near the bank and one wheel was completely torn off. Someone suggested that there ought to be a bounty on road hogs, with no closed season.
125 YEARS AGO
October 21, 1897
Rev. N.L. Sweet talked temperance to a large house at Temperance Hall near Square Bluff Sunday evening.
Wm. M. Rogers of Arcadia has purchased the Blodgett building, corner of Main and Scranton streets, the consideration being $1,781. Huleatt and Ekern will continue to rent the building.
J.H. Pierce of Endfield, Conn., who is looking after his real estate interests in and around Elk Creek, was in town Monday. He will not return home until just before Thanksgiving.
E.N. Trowbridge has purchased of Richard Mattson the latter’s residence on Main Street, giving in part his two lots on Broadway. The consideration was $1,000.
The M.E. church people have put a new chimney on their building, to be used in case of festivals. Adam Warren put it up.
Since out last issue, the village board have contracted with the Electric Supply Co. of Madison, to furnish the remainder of the paraphernalia for the electric light plant. This company says that in three weeks from the arrival of the poles, and they are expected daily, the plant will be ready to turn on the light.
Blair — John Fredrickson took the first prize, a necktie, and Harald Soland the booby prize, a stick of candy, for the best and poorest hemming at the apron social Friday night. John manipulated the needle as deftly as the best-looking lady there, and was the envy of all the young men in town. There are no flies on Fredrickson.
Independence — Little Albert Tomasoski had his leg broken Tuesday. Dr. Hutchins being out of town, Dr. Hidershide set the fracture.
