From Our Early Files October 2, 1997
25 YEARS AGO
October 2, 1997
In a scene that was more reminiscent to a World Wrestling Federation match than a city council meeting, Independence city hall was filled with a group of emotional firemen and a city council ready to flex its muscle. Members of the Independence Fire Department were at the meeting because they thought Mayor Gary Smieja had changed plans for a proposed fire station without the consent of the rest of the council. Smieja said he took it upon himself to get some type of plan submitted to the architect to help get the project moving along, later adding it wasn’t necessarily the plan that would be approved by the council. The action by Smieja, along with other allegations by First Ward Alderman William Baecker led to Baecker’s resignation. Baecker was just elected to the post in April, he said he resigned because he thinks the mayor is taking action without the consent of the council.
Pigeon Falls residents and their neighbors Monday overwhelmingly showed their support for an attempt to save the Pigeon Creek mill dam. About 60 people attended a public meeting held that evening at the Pigeon Falls Community Center to gauge support for raising $100,000 toward a dam repair project. Seemingly, everyone of those present raised his or her hand when Pigeon Falls Village President Kermit Hanvold asked for a show of hands on the question.
Trempealeau County is one of a handful of counties that will experiment with new ways of providing long-term care services. The state Department of Health and Family Services last week announced that the county had been chosen for a pilot program that will attempt to create “one-stop shopping” for such services. The program is slated to start in January and run for 18 months. One aim for the program is to create an Aging and Disabilities Resource Center that will consist of a single information access point for elderly and handicapped persons. The center will provide information and assistance on planning for and obtaining long-term care services.
Unlike most college students, Sharon Sobotta hasn’t gone back to school yet. But Sobotta has further to go to get back to school. The daughter of David and Rita Sobotta is leaving this week for a year of college in Japan. She was awarded a scholarship earlier this year to study at Akita National University in Akita. The 1995 Whitehall High School graduate has attended St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minn. the past two years.
David Klink, 31, of Arcadia was killed in a one-vehicle accident on Highway 95/Main Street in the city of Arcadia. According to a police report, Klink was killed when the pickup truck he was operating left the road and struck a tree. The truck sheared the first tree off and proceeded to strike a second tree.
Four local fire departments responded to a fire at the Emil Dorn farm a half-mile north of Arcadia. The fire, which destroyed a chicken barn containing 13,000 birds, took down the entire structure. Firemen from Arcadia, Independence, Waumandee and Whitehall reported to the blaze Tuesday morning.
The Oct. 2, 1997 edition of the Galesville Republican marked the first paper in the second hundred years. The first edition of the Republican was published Sept. 30, 1897 by Bert A. Gipple.
For folks who like their apple pie, apple Normandy or fresh apples served with a hefty side-dish of heritage, Saturday’s Apple Affair should satisfy their appetite. Old railroad memorabilia will be displayed at the Galesville Library and old dairy equipment – the kind used when it was still done by hand – will be shown at the historic home of Alexander and Mary Arnold.
A proposal to create a bird sanctuary covering about 65 acres on the north side of Lake Marinuka is going to the Galesville city council. The request is from the Lake Marinuka Protection and Rehabilitation District.
50 YEARS AGO
October 5, 1972
At the annual meeting of the Tri-County Memorial Hospital board of directors last week, hospital administrator James Broberg reported that revenues had exceeded $1 million for the first time ever. Two new board members, Maynard Clipper and Willie Johnson, were elected, succeeding Tracy Rice and Tony Berg, both of whom declined to seek reelection.
Beginning Oct. 12, the Whitehall post office will become part of a new concept in mail handling that is expected to speed delivery, according to Postmaster Bernard Matchey. Mail will be processed through the Eau Claire post office, and mail sent to Whitehall addresses should have “Whitehall, WI,” rather than the word “City,” in the address.
A nationally known authority on dairy feeding and management will open the 1972-73 diary meeting series at Arcadia according to Ed Ausderau, Trempealeau County agriculture agent.
King Jon Kostner and Queen Marsha Christ will reign over the 1972 Arcadia High School homecoming festivities with began earlier this week and will culminate with a football game and coronation dance Friday night. Members of the court are Russell Weltzien, Ann Herrick, Bill Gamoke, Mary Rose Persick, Mike Slaby, Colleen Maloney, Dan Schank, Carol Hesch, Paul Pronschinske, Ann Sobota, Kostner and Christ.
Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau senior quarterback Fran Peterson took control by running for one touchdown, passing for another and throwing for a pair of two-point conversions to spark the Redmen to a 35-8 win over West Salem. It was the 38th consecutive win for G-E-T.
Selection of the G-E-T Homecoming King and his court has been made by the Lettermen’s Club. On the court are Ken Casey, Paul Halderson, Tim Hauser, Tony Jensen, Todd Johnson, Mark Olson and Darcy Remus. The queen and her court were nominated from the senior class and elected by the senior body. Katy Twesme was elected queen and the court consists of Desiree Anderson, Carmen Emerson, Terry Filkowski, Penny Nichols, Phyllis Trim and Peg Wojciechowski. The king will be announced at the homecoming bonfire on Thursday.
75 YEARS AGO
October 2, 1947
Footings were laid Monday for the dry-cleaning shop which Bennie O. Nelson will build just west of the Knut Amble jewelry store on Scranton Street. In excavating for the basement, Mr. Nelson found the remains of what must have once been a village well. It is said that a sufficient supply of water could not be obtained, using eight, eight-foot points and a pump operated by a steam engine, and the venture was abandoned, the village resorting to taking water from the Trempealeau River. The building housing the pumping station was moved to the back of the C.F. Huleatt store, and used as a mortuary.
Mr. and Mrs. F.O. Bitter have sold their tavern in Whitehall to Mr. and Mrs. Olaf Olson of Mindoro, possession to be given Oct. 13. Mr. and Mrs. Bitter have operated their tavern since the repeal of Prohibition in 1933.
Lester Hanson, who closed his Snack Shop in Whitehall a couple weeks ago, will begin construction this week of a dance pavilion 100 by 40 feet which he will erect on land which he purchased from Lucas Ekern in the town of Pigeon. The pavilion will be located on No. 53 northeast of the Ekern farm buildings.
In spite of the unfavorable weather on Saturday, the grand opening of Tyvand Motor Sales was well attended. Nearly 400 people enjoyed coffee and doughnuts as they viewed the latest improvements in Ford vehicles. Sidney Dissmore, formerly employed as a mechanic for the Dahl Motor Company in La Crosse, has recently been added to the service department staff.
Chester Rossa has moved his radio repair shop to the Roman Feltes building on Cleveland St.
100 YEARS AGO
October 5, 1922
Judge Higbee was in Whitehall Monday and opened the October term of circuit court. The following naturalizations were made at the term: John Byom, Frank Swarts, Nels Bue, Dan Olson Berg, Henry Cleve Ally, Thomas Filla, Alfred Abel Ryder, Wilhelm Stuhlmann and Harold Hanson.
A.E. Brandon shipped a case of strawberries to North Dakota this week. Mr. Brandon is having a surprising yield of this delightful fruit this season, and local points are supplied daily from his Everbearing variety.
John Bretton returned from Minneapolis the fore part of the week, driving a new Hupmobile coupe.
Louis Kulig is another successful potato raiser this season. He exhibited examples of Prize Taker, three weighing 10 pounds. The Whitehall seconds will play Taylor at the Park grounds here Sunday afternoon. Battery for the home team will be Lamberson and Engen, and for Taylor, Bush and Jackson. Admission 25 cents.
Jos. Felsheim of Arcadia is putting in a stock of pianos and phonographs in the building formerly occupied by Theo. Kouf.
Nick Kulas of Dodge is interviewing the farmers of this community regarding the sale of straw to the Winona Fiber Co., of which Mr. Kulas is, and has been for several years, the representative.
John Holtan, warehouse manager for the Wisconsin Tobacco Pool, is inspecting warehouse sites throughout the state. Mr. Holtan is the brother of R.H. Holtan of Whitehall.
A severe electrical storm caused several thousand dollars worth of damage in the Tamarack and Centerville area. Heaviest loss was on the R.A. Rosenow farm where a new 40 by 80-foot barn, 75 tons of hay, grain, farm machinery and two calves were destroyed. Louis Severson lost six head of cattle and L.P. Kolstad’s barn was considerably damaged.
County rural mail carriers reorganized with C.A. Heath of Arc aida named president; LeRoy Arnold, Arcadia, vice president; Louis Larson, Whitehall, secretary and Al Soppa, Arcadia, treasurer.
Peter Passon lost four finger son his left hand when it became caught in a corn shredder on his farm near Independence.
125 YEARS AGO
September 30, 1897
D. Wood is having his new building painted, Rus Morden doing the work.
H.H. Scott has the foundation laid and the carpenters are now at work putting up his new residence. A.E. Wood had the contract for the wood work.
Miss Christene Halvorson of Blair is assisting her brother, Register of Deeds Halvorson, in his office. Henry is obliged to rest up on account of sickness, caused by too close attention to business. He is under Dr. Sonnickson’s treatment.
The 11th-annual fair of the Trempealeau County Industrial, Agricultural and Driving Park Association opened in this village last Tuesday for a three days’ exhibition, under favorable conditions. The weather was propitious, but because of the dry season of the past few weeks, the track was extremely dusty, and to remedy this defect hose was extended from a hydrant on Main Street to the fairgrounds and the race course “wet down” in capital style. The fair was a success from start to finish; it was a hummer, and we are all glad of it.
The three fairs of Trempealeau County have now been held, and we challenge any other county in Wisconsin to produce another such a record. They were all crowd-getters and financially successful. And the pleasure of it all is that there is no cat-hauling or cut-throating between the societies to down each other. Though the bed is full, there is no kicking off the covers to bare the other fellow and subject him to the cold.
Blair -- H. Thorsgaard informs us that he will not sell his large crop of onions this fall. He has storage room for 1,200 baskets of bushel measures, and conveniently store the entire crop until next spring, when he is in hopes to realize close on to $1 per bushel for his nearly, 2,000 bushels.
