From The Times Early Files
25 YEARS AGO
Sept. 21, 1995
Members of the 1995 Whitehall High School homecoming court are: Valerie Ives, Paula Fremstad, Amy Herman, Beth Martin, Rose Kulig, Aaron Geurink, Mark Thompson, Shane Insteness, Josh Windjue and Jeremiah Pientok.
A man charged with taking a Whitehall couple’s car from their driveway in June has been convicted of that crime and also has been sentenced for a second time on an earlier car theft. Alfredo Hernandez pleaded guilty in Trempealeau County Circuit Court to operating a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent, as a repeat offender. Hernandez, 28, was convicted only four months ago of stealing an Arcadia woman’s vehicle. Hernandez was sentenced to six months in jail for violating the terms of his probation from the May 23 conviction. For the most recent charge, Judge John Damon scheduled a sentencing hearing for Oct. 24. Hernandez could be sentenced to up to 11 years in prison and/or fined as much as $10,000.
An abstinence-based sex education curriculum rejected by a Whitehall School District committee when proposed for high schoolers last year may be implemented at the middle school level. The district’s health advisory/human growth and development committee met Thursday to begin consideration of materials for an abstinence curriculum. Such a program tries to teach students to abstain from sexual activity.
The future of the Arcadia Recreation Center seems to be looking bright after the Arcadia city council decided to take on the challenge of making the recreation center more utilized in the community. The first step is the revitalization of the Arcadia Recreation Center was made recently when the council decided to create a new full-time park and recreation director position, hiring Eva Halverson to fill that position. “I knew It was something that I always wanted to do, but with my other full-time position, I never really had the time,” Halverson said.
Members of the 1995 homecoming court at Arcadia High School are Leroy Molitor, Doug Rebhahn, Noah Slaby, Eric Robert, Jim Dabelstein, Tricia Sonsalla, Tina Bautch, Roseanne Kujak, Becky Benusa and Becky Kramer.
The Arcadia Cooperative Association has finalized its decision to build a convenience store on a sight across Highway 93 from Blaschko Enterprises’ location. The new convenience store is also expected to have a fast food restaurant in the same building.
Ten teens willing to answer calls in the night to help in rashes and other emergencies have formed a junior Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau First Responders unit. Most are students at G-E-T High School, where first responder Cathy Haus recruited them last spring.
The state highway department wants to scrap a plan to keep half of Main Street open during roadwork while a new Beaver Creek bridge is built. When the Galesville city council learned that the state wanted to close Main Street for three weeks, it voted to invite the project engineer to its next meeting.
Law officers said a large amount of cash was taken from the Centerville Stop & Shop during a break-in late Friday night or early Saturday morning. County Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for clues leading to an arrest in the case. Lawmen said entry was gained through a back door and that the money was taken from a safe. Cyril Pehler, store owner, said the estimated loss is $3,400, about $1,800 of it is in cash.
Sherry Simmons was crowned Miss Blair last Thursday with Lisa Mathson as the first attendant, Carol Stenberg, second attendant, Melissa Knutson, miss congeniality, Leah Vehrenkamp, Little Miss Blair.
The 2020 Blair Civic Award was bestowed upon Evelyn Brekke and John Angst.
The 1995 Star Family Farm is the Vernon and Carol But family farm, located south of Blair on County Highway C.
50 YEARS AGO
Sept. 24, 1970
Willie Cantrell, 39, of Whitehall, was killed in a one-car accident early Saturday morning on Hwy. 53 just south of Whitehall. His death was the seventh traffic fatality of the year in Trempealeau County.
Dave Tomten and Pam Koepke will reign as king and queen of this week’s Whitehall High Homecoming festivities. Their attendants are Jeff Dahl and JoAnn Duxbury, Jim Ritland and Emily Christopherson, and Bob Shanklin and Carol Hanson.
Lambert Tulius, Dodge, won the Minnesota State Tractor Pulling Championship held Saturday and Sunday. He defeated 459 other participants in the 5,000-pound weight class.
Julianne Pavlicin, a senior at Arcadia High School, is among 14,750 high school students across America who were named semifinalists in the 1970-71 National Merit Scholarship competition.
Newly elected officers of the Arcadia Education Association are Miss Carolee Johnson, president; Mrs. Marion Wozney, treasurer; Miss Patricia Dolan, secretary and Mrs. Lorna Gilbertson, Vice President.
Everett Berg, Blair High School teacher, received a Master of Science Degree in counseling from Winona State University.
A new office addition is being built at the Blair Northern States Power service building.
An open house will be held at Ray Smith’s new calf barn near Beaches Corner.
Army Private 1st Class Dane Harvey, 19, son of Mrs. JoAnne Harvey, Ettrick, received a Bronze Star Medal near Bearcat, Vietnam.
Lightning struck telephones and furnaces in the Tappen Coulee area this past week.
75 YEARS AGO
Sept. 20, 1945
The Wisconsin Highway Commission has released a schedule of projects to be included in the state’s postwar highway program. Included are concrete surfacing of two portions of Hwy. 53, between Galesville and Centerville, and 2.5 miles between Whitehall and Pigeon Falls. The county also has a project planned to grade, drain and surface six miles of Hwy. 53 between Pigeon Falls and Osseo.
The Trempealeau County Safety Council will be revived at a countywide meeting to be held Sept. 28 at the courthouse. Activities of the council have practically ceased during the war, but is being reorganized by Dr. A.O. Torson, chairman of the previous group, Traffic Officer H.F. Theurer and others interested in promoting safety on the highways.
Lee Johnson is engaged again in trapping, and started off with unusual luck. When he made the rounds of his trapping line Monday, he was happily surprised to find a silver-tip fox in one of the traps. While pelts are not in full prime at this time of year, Lee is confident that he will receive a good price for this one, as such fur is very valuable.
The Newland Twesmes have returned to Ettrick after operating their root beer stand at Marshfield through the summer.
The Winona PNAs evened their season series with the Whitehall Cubs at two games apiece Sunday, winning 2 to 1 in 10 innings on their home field. The Cubs scored the game’s first run in the top of the 10th, when Don Warner singled home Ellison, but the PNAs scored twice in the bottom of the inning.
Between $350 and $400 damage was done to two cars which collided between Midway pavilion and the intersection of Highway 121 and 93 near Independence. Bruce Reedy, 24, Arcadia, was driving a 1936 four-door De Soto. Gaylord George, 22, Glencoe, was operating a Chevrolet two-door when he slammed into the left rear of Reedy’s vehicle. George was fined $5 for reckless driving.
There were 300 women who attended the fall meeting of the Arcadia deanery council of Catholic women held at St. Aloysius auditorium. Each of the 11 parishes of the deanery were represented.
Dr. C. Oliver Rogne, practicing physician at Ettrick for 19 years has opened an office in La Crosse.
A new well has been started for the village of Blair.
A softball game between Blair men headed by Lenard Ellison and farm men sparked by Wilber Osgood will be held Sunday at the school athletic field.
100 YEARS AGO
Sept. 23, 1920
The drought has burned the pastures, and dairymen are feeding as in winter; in consequence, milk prices advance.
A letter from A.P. Tallman, ordering a change in address, says he has bought a bungalow at Pasadena, Calif., a place which they like best of any they have seen.
There is no record of a September so hot and dry as the one we are now experiencing. The oldest resident cannot recall its equal for high temperatures and lack of rainfall.
Pigeon Falls has this year been fortunate in securing some very good numbers for their lecture course, the first of which will be given Oct. 5, by Jessie Rae Taylor and her “company.”
Leo M. Haesle has been engaged to instruct the band here the coming year. The boys are fortunate in being able to retain Mr. Haesle, who had contemplated going away.
A visit from the iceman was much appreciated. The excessive heat was largely the cause of the vanishing crop of ice.
The M.E. Sunday School picnic was held on the parsonage lawn Saturday afternoon last. Games were indulged in, and refreshments were served. It was a real enjoyable occasion.
York — School commenced in the school here Monday, with Miss Ruth Emerson as teacher.
Arthur Risberg of Whitehall purchased a building owned by Tom Edwin and presently occupied by I.M. Lillie as a pool hall, with the intention of starting a restaurant, a long-felt need in Arcadia.
The cornerstone was laid and blessed for the new church of St. Michael’s parish, North Creek.
Con Weaver sold his farm in Newcomb Valley to Pete Pyka and moved to Winona, Minn. to make his home.
125 YEARS AGO
Sept. 19, 1895
The evenings are growing perceptibly longer and quite chilly, reminding us of the coming winter.
The coal barons have come to an agreement, and the poor people who have not been able to lay in their winter supply will be gouged.
Rev. T.K. Thorvildson of Eau Claire speaks in English on the evils of drink at Opera Hall. He also sings and plays, using a $300 violin. Everybody go.
A.H. Tangen’s barn in the town of Pigeon was struck by lightning and burned to the ground early Sunday morning. Three horses, harness and a quantity of hay were consumed.
Wm. Kremers of Old Whitehall has secured the agency for the Oriental Paddock washing machine for this county. This machine is superior to all other types in strength, durability and easy manner of doing work. There is no wear on clothes. Price, only $6.
The baseball knickers will soon go into winter retirement, and the football kickers are coming in. How swift the seasons fly!
Blair — Buckwheat is an assured crop in this section, and pancakes will be within the reach of all the coming winter.
Independence — Last week Wednesday morning, a small leak was noticed in the mill dam at the north end of the bridge. The slash boards were taken out and the pond at once drawn off, which action not doubt saved the dam. Work was at once commenced repairing it.
