TEN YEARS AGO
Thursday, April 19, 1990
Traca Danzinger, a senior at Whitehall High School, will complete her one-year term as president of the state Future Homemakers of America-Home Economics Related Occupations organization.
The Whitehall city council last week Tuesday approved guidelines for the new development loan fund created by the repayment of the federal grant awarded to the city and the former Ridgeview Industries six years ago.
Soni Amundson homered as the Whitehall High girls’ softball team evened its record at 2-2 by beating Cochrane-Fountain City 13-3 Thursday.
FIFTEEN YEARS AGO
Thursday, April 18, 1985
Sharon Jacobson of Whitehall, arrested the day after fire caused an estimated $10,000 in damages to her Elm St. residence last week Tuesday, will appear in Trempealeau County Circuit Court today on arson charges.
A proposal for Trempealeau County to fund an improved communications system for volunteer fire departments received a lukewarm reception from the board of supervisors Monday night.
The Norse golf team, led by returning junior lettermen Lane Berg, Huck Koxlien and Chris Nogosek, will have to hold off a veteran Osseo-Fairchild squad to win a third-straight Dairyland Conference title for Whitehall High.
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO
Thursday, April 24, 1975
Trempealeau County has been selected as one of only 14 Wisconsin counties which will get new agricultural service centers. The center, which will house three U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies, will be located in Whitehall.
Truckers Union — Tim and Mark Koxlien, Tom Fonfara and Jon Hegge — and Mary Jo Johnson and Karen Olson topped the 19 area acts performing at Saturday's Whitehall Lions Club talent show, winning the awards for best instrumental and vocal groups, respectively.
Marty Mickelson and Nancy Hegge will reign as king and queen of the WHS Junior Prom this weekend. Their attendants will be Theresa Bautch and Rodney Lindberg, Marie Rasmussen and Mike Dissmore, Beth Burkart and Mark Sosalla, Sue Olson and Dan Olson, Debbie Oates and Ron Olson, and Rhonda Koepke and Tony Smith.
Bob Scow was named recipient of the 1975 Norse Award at last week Tuesday's WHS athletic banquet. Winning the National “W” Award was Larry Dokkestul.
FIFTY YEARS AGO
Thursday, April 20, 1950
The longest freight train ever hauled over the western division of the Green Bay and Western Railroad passed through Whitehall Saturday afternoon, eastbound. Hauled by two diesel engines, the train consisted of 102 freight cars and a caboose. Years ago, the late F.E. Beach, in a reminiscent vein, would occasionally recount the story of the irate pioneer Whitehall citizen who described the G.B.&W. as “two streaks of rust and an old tin can.” That description would no longer apply today, as millions have been spent onimprovements to the rails, right-of-way and motive and rolling equipment.
It was a big weekend for Madonna Olson, seventh-grader from the Cripps school north of Independence, as she traveled to Minneapolis to take part in the Star-Tribune spelling contest. Trempealeau County’s champion speller did not win first prize, but Madonna had the thrill of visiting the city for the first time, and having her picture with the other contestants appear in the Sunday Tribune.
Hildegarde Sletteland received an “A” rating in oratory for her original oration, and Elizabeth Simons was rated “B” in extemporaneous speaking, at the state forensic contest held Saturday in Madison. The entire student body is very proud of these girls, and hopes that Whitehall will have even more representatives at this meet next year.
Tom Decker, who is district forester with offices in the Soil Conservation Service, moved his family from Independence to Whitehall Saturday. They are occupying an apartment in the late Florence Parker residence on Dewey Street, now owned by Benoni Foss of Fly Creek.
Alfred Ellickson, field man for the Pigeon Falls Cooperative Creamery, spent five days last week attending the milk sanitarians in-service training program at the University of Wisconsin.
Frank Vohs has bought the 120-acre Mrs. Paul Lehrke farm in Thompson Coulee, which will be operated by his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Schroeder.
Damage estimated at about $4,000 resulted from a fire which consumed the garage and 1939 Chevrolet on the Henry Sygulla farm Saturday morning.
Olaf Mickelson has rented his residence on Park Street, and has excavated for a basement for a residence he will build on a lot purchased Mrs. Julius Larson in north Whitehall.
SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO
Thursday, April 23, 1925
Leon Lovejoy, a transient who has been employed at Mason and Scott, was sentenced Tuesday to a year in Waupun for joy-riding in a Buick roadster taken from the Whitehall business Sunday. Vernon Peterson, who has had charge of the Whitehall Cow Testers Association the past two years, was arrested with Lovejoy and also given a one-year prison sentence. But since Peterson had been in this vicinity for some time, he was paroled to Dr. Anton Vold.
District Attorney Elmer Barlow informs The Times that he has prosecuted several persons the past two weeks on charges of issuing checks without funds in the bank drawn upon.
Saturday, this section was visited by a heavy rain which late in the day turned to hail, covering the ground in from a thin coat in places to several inches in others.
Guernsey milk, known the world over for its rejuvenating qualities, has been infringed upon by dealers in the product from other bovine strains that the Department of Markets has issued an order with penalty for violation.
Bertha, aged 19, and Gladys, aged 16, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Ole Brown of the town of Lincoln, were brought before the county judge Wednesday, charged with incorrigibility and misdemeanors. They were sentenced to the Industrial Home for Women at Taycheedah and the Industrial School for Girls at Milwaukee, respectively.
Paul Bautch of Elk Creek was a business caller at Whitehall Tuesday. Paul is a busy man, having rented additional land besides his own farm, and in addition hauls cream for the Elk Creek creamery. He has had his share of misfortune recently, too, his nine-year-old son Ensel being laid up with a broken leg, and having lost several farm animals recently as well.
Edwin Borreson of Fitch Coulee went to Green Bay Monday with the intention of entering employment with the Green Bay and Western Railroad as a firemen, but soon found out he would be working only two or so days per week. He has returned to Whitehall and accepted a position with Gilbertson Bros., garage.
The spelling contest held at the Northfield schoolhouse between the best spellers of each school in the town of Northfield, ended with York taking first prize. Miss Ada Larson was the champion speller.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO
Thursday, April 19, 1900
Theodore Moe has his new residence enclosed.
One of the carriage horses at the asylum died Tuesday of colic.
E. Hengel is endeavoring to locate a supposed leak in the water mains.
Last Friday, Trempealeau County’s incurably insane, who have been cared for at Dodgeville, Iowa County, were brought to the county asylum. On Saturday, those cared for at Reedsburg, Sauk County, were brought here. This makes 36 patients at the asylum now, which includes all of the county’s incurably insane except two that are at Wausau, Marathon County.
Our machinery men are putting out quite a number of farm implements.
We had a three-days’ rain storm this week, which was needed, but it retarded seeding somewhat. The season is getting well advanced for this kind of work.
Miss Kate Allen has resigned her position as attendant at the Mendota asylum, after five years’ continuous service there, and returned home on ill health. After recuperating here a few months, she thinks of going to California, where her brother Will resides.
Miss Iva Cliff entertained her Sunday school class at a maple syrup party Saturday evening, at the home of Mrs. J.B. Beach. Crokinole and guessing games provided the entertainment.
A number of the Whitehall nimrods took advantage of the trout season opening on the 15th inst., and caught nice strings of the speckled beauties.
There was a flurry of excitement at the county asylum Friday when William Lowery attempted to escape from that institution. He jumped out of a window in the first ward and started at a good gate toward Trempealeau, it is supposed with the intention of returning to his old home there. Attendant Clyde Palmer started on foot in quick pursuit, while Superintendent Johnson telephoned to neighboring points to be on the lookout, and hitched up a team to assist in the capture. Palmer proved to be a good runner, and after chasing Lowery through fields and woods in about a five-mile bout, he succeeded in rounding up the fellow and returning him to the asylum. Lowery appeared penitent, saying he was sorry for causing so much trouble, and averring that he would not repeat the experiment.