From Our Early Files Nov. 30, 2022
25 YEARS AGO
December 4, 1997
Men and equipment from Larry’s Excavating of Arcadia were at work rip-rapping the banks of the Trempealeau River along the Whitehall Public Golf Course this week, as part of a project undertaken to keep the river from eroding and encroaching on the city-owned course.
Village of Pigeon Falls officials, scratching to come up with money to fix the Pigeon Creek mill dam, learned that funds may be available from an unexpected source: the state government. Village President Kermit Hanvold told the board of trustees Monday night that a grant from the state Department of Natural Resources apparently is a likelier prospect than previously thought. The board authorized filing an application for a DNR Dam Maintenance, Repair, Modification, Abandonment and Removal Grant.
Connie Przybilla, Whitehall, was to be honored this week by the Wisconsin League for Nursing and Blue Cross and Blue Shield United of Wisconsin. Przybilla, a registered nurse at Tri-County Memorial Hospital, was one of four runners-up in the WLN and Blue Cross/Blue Shield “Outstanding Nurses of the Year” award.
The Arcadia Police Department is currently investigating two theft incidents in the community. According to a press release from Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc., law enforcement officials from the city of Arcadia and Trempealeau County are investigating thefts by a few Ashley employees. While the company has cooperated with law enforcement officials, all investigations are still ongoing and names of the individuals have not been released as of this time. The other theft being investigated was a 1998 Ford Explorer registered to John “Jack” Haines, Arcadia. It was stolen from the driveway of his residence and police found the vehicle on County Road G. The vehicle sustained damage as a result of it being rolled over on its side.
Arcadia native Jeff Kupka was like most hunters who entered the woods in hopes of shooting a trophy buck. His hopes became a realization when he shot a nine-point buck on the Marcel Guza farm just off County XX. Kupka brought the animal down to the farm and had it laying in the back of his truck. He tagged the animal and went back in the woods to hunt. While he was in the woods, however, someone took the deer from Kupka’s truck. Guza immediately contacted the Wildlife Game Wardens to inform them of the theft. No one has been arrested for the theft at this time. Guza has put up a $100 reward for any information that would lead to the capture of the parties responsible for the theft.
Trempealeau residents will change the way they park their cars this winter. Even though there is a sign at the village limits announcing that a winter parking ordinance is in force Nov. 1 through April 1, it has not been enforced. That has changed. The Trempealeau village board enacted a snow and ice control policy at their meeting on Monday. Board members said ordinances on snow and ice removal and parking will be enforced this year.
Three area people have had stories published in a new book released earlier this fall. Lillian Hanson, Andrew Sveen and Nelson Richason, all of Galesville, were a part of a Western Wisconsin Technical College writing for publication class. The result of their efforts was “Celebrate.” The book is already in its second printing.
50 YEARS AGO
December 7, 1972
Daniel Meilman, president of the Whitehall Packing Co., confirmed this week that his company has a tentative agreement to purchase a slaughtering plant in Sioux Falls, S.D. Meilman said his firm’s Whitehall operation were in “a state of limbo,” and that a decision will be made within 30 days whether to continue operating as at present, expand or reduce operations, or close the plant.
Harold and Irene Everson, owners of the Walgert Hotel in Whitehall the past 25 years, have sold the business to Ted and Shirley Johnson of Whitehall.
Fire destroyed the interior of an auto owned by Mrs. Wilbur Holtan while it was parked in front of the Whitehall Bake Shop Monday. Whitehall firemen arrived in time to rescue about $450 in somewhat-scorched bills and coins that Mrs. Holtan was taking to her family’s business, Club Midway in Independence.
Alex Foster, Arcadia nonagenarian, has completed a survey of Arcadia businesses over the past few months. It shows that although the city itself remains about the size it was five years ago, the number of people employed has increased. Total employment has grown from around 800 in 1966 to over 1,100.
Three directors with expiring terms were reelected at the annual meeting of Arcadia Projects, Inc., Monday night. Reelected to new three-year terms were Otmer Schroeder, Clifford Nelson and Ralph Sobotta. Holdover directors are Laurence Jensen, A.C. Schultz, C-E. Fugina and Gile Herrick.
Two students from the Trempealeau area, Gerry Eichman and Dan Thill, were letter-winners on the 1972 Winona State College football team, coach Bob Keister announced.
Members of the Trempealeau County Health Planning Organization heard representatives from a non-profit corporation discuss plans to build a 60-bed rest home outside of Galesville.
75 YEARS AGO
December 4, 1947
Whitehall again displays a Christmas atmosphere. For several days, Electrician Leonard Gruentzel and assistants have been busily stringing the colored electric light streamers across Main Street, and the permanent Christmas tree on the City Hall square has been decorated. To make the Christmas spirit more complete, the Whitehall Lions Club is offering cash prizes of $15, $10 and $5 in a home decorating contest.
David Hauge, 14-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Hauge, will receive his Eagle Scout badge at ceremonies to be held at Logan High School in La Crosse Monday. David is the youngest Whitehall Scout ever to receive the Eagle badge.
The members of the Mothers Club, interested in knowing the names of girls who would act as babysitters, conducted a survey among the seventh- and eighth-grade girls, and some of the high school girls. Those willing to work are Mary Mattson, Joan Thoreson, Georgia Staff, Kari Lynn Rice, Rita Olson, Nancy Lou Boll, Shirley Mae Lee, Mary Joan Klomsten, Sharon Wood, Patty Hegge, Jacqueline Bautch, Yvonne Teigen, Solveig Ambli, Dorothy Swanson, Joan Hunter, Ethel Erickson, Lona Engen, Ardis Christianson, Mary Herberg, Bonnie Mae Klomsten, Beverly Moen, Anne Holtan, Elaine Jacobson and Susanne Bensend.
The fire department was called to the Ernest Foss home in east Whitehall late Sunday evening, when fire was discovered in a second-floor closet. Smoldering clothes caused dense smoke, and the firemen had to cut a hole in the ceiling to let the smoke escape.
Forty-one hunters in the Northfield area who contributed to the $20 jackpot that will be awarded to the one who bagged the largest buck for the season, have been waiting for the final report. High man as of Nov. 30 was Victor Olson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Martin B. Olson of Upper Pigeon, who brought in a 16-point buck weighing 190 pounds.
This fall there have been 12,050 feet of terraces build on four farms in Trempealeau County, according to Jack Dundas of the soil conservation office in Whitehall. Terraces are ditches or channels with a ridge below, constructed across the slope at various distances to catch the runoff.
Leo Bichsel, 57, was under a one to two-year prison sentence after pleading guilty at a bench trial in Galena, Ill., to a charge of bigamy. Mrs. Mary Bichsel, Arcadia, testified she and Bichsel were marred in 1911 and had seven children, the oldest now 35 and the youngest, 14. Bernice Debord testified Bichsel married her in 1946. Bichsel originally pleaded innocent then changed his plea to guilty.
Galesville will welcome children to town on Dec. 22 when an afternoon will be devoted to a Christmas program for them. A large tree in the park with Santa arriving to give out gifts will feature the day’s program.
Clarence Brown, president; William Raichle, secretary; Frank Smith, vice president and Leonard Larson, treasurer continue as officers of the Trempealeau County Fair at their annual meeting.
100 YEARS AGO
December 7, 1922
Mr. Lance, one of the workmen at the Whitehall schoolhouse, fell a distance of 15 feet Friday. His fall was broken by coming in contact with a fellow workman, otherwise death would have resulted. He has gone to his home to recuperate from the bruises. This is the first such accident during the construction.
A fire call last Thursday night during the high wind struck terror in the hearts of Whitehall residents. It was only a chimney burning out at the Ludwig Hammerstad residence, and was quickly brought under control.
Bert Thompson has installed a radio in his residence, and the family and not a few neighbors are enjoying nightly concerts from distant cities — Chicago, Kansas City, and point in Texas.
An illustrated lecture on India will be given by Rev. Geo. Nauman next week Wednesday at St. Paul’s German Lutheran Church at Pleasantville. Pastor Nauman worked among the natives of India as a missionary for 20 years.
Pigeon Falls — Hilman Nelson had the misfortune of having his new brown overcoat with fur collar stolen at the Y.P.S. in the U.L. Hall Sunday.
Pleasantville — Arthur Skundberg is doing some varnishing at the Norwegian church.
Otmer Schroeder and Millard Barlow opened a radio shop in the Michalski building in Arcadia to be known as S7B Radio Shop.
Company A basketball team opened the season Thanksgiving night with a 39-23 win over a fast Neillsville team.
The Arcadia High School presented the play, “Bashful Mr. Bobbs,” at Waumandee.
The Arcadia legion post voted to erect a huge Christmas tree at a central location to be decorated with electric lights.
Galesville Commercial and Galesville Conservation Clubs each are arranging a banquet to be held in the Galesville hall.
The ice in Reception Park is being made ready for the coming festival by the Curling Club.
Postmaster Peterson and his force of clerks are kept busy with the Christmas mail. The rural carriers rigs are piled high as they battle bad weather and roads.
William Rowles Post of the American Legion elected officers at their last meeting. Elected were Vilas Kellman, commander; Guy Carlson, vice commander; Glenn Marsh, adjutant; George Jenks, finance officer; Guy Anderson, historian, Peter Odegard, master-at-arms and S.D. Cronk, chaplain.
125 YEARS AGO
December 2, 1897
Twenty-three below last night, the coldest this winter.
E.J. Kidder has newly papered and otherwise improved the interior of his barbershop.
The Wisconsin Valley Telephone Co. received three carloads of poles in Whitehall the past week.
The deer licenses issued in the state this year amounted to $12,000, which money will go to protect the game.
The band dance at Opera Hall on Thanksgiving was a success. Forty number were sold, and all report a fine time.
Albert Nelson has accepted a position as expert machine man with the Champion people, to commence work Jan. 1.
Mrs. Dr. Parker went to Eau Claire yesterday to place in the Women’s Christian Temperance Union home a two-week-old infant. The mother of the child dropped in here mysteriously the day the child was born, and as soon as she was able disappeared as mysteriously in a closed carriage.
Joseph Sherwood lost several head of cattle last week, as a result of taking them from frosted pastures and turning them into cornfields. At least, this is what the state veterinarian says caused the death of cattle at Ettrick the other day.
Last week B.A. Lake sold to Knudt A. Knudtson of Fly Creek, the two-year-old Shropshire buck that took first premium at our late fair.
Blair -- Martin Lovberg traded his span of mules to Semer Olson for the latter’s yoke of oxen, then sold the cattle to W.H. Carpenter. This it appears that the ox has served out its usefulness in this section. In the early history of this county, and in fact up to the last few years, oxen were principally used for road and farm work, but they have gradually been exchanged for horses, until oxen are now seldom seen on the farm or highway.
Elk Creek -- Frank Wingad of Strum visited friends in this vicinity Sunday. By the way, a number of Strum’s handsome young men have then habit of whiling away the Sabbath in this vicinity.
Elk Creek -- John Marsolek, who spent the past summer in North Dakota, is returning home. He says it is too cold to spend the winter out there on the boundless prairie.
