Pages from the Past

Selling eggs by the pound instead of the dozen is envisaged in a bill introduced by Assemblyman Price of Juneau County. This measure would state that in Wisconsin, to be a legal dozen, a dozen eggs would have to weigh a pound and a half.

HE Anderson announces in this week’s newspaper that in a few weeks he will be opening a state-of-the-art meat market in the south room of his building, which was purchased by OG Munson a few months ago and is now occupied by the Snearley restaurant. Mrs Snearley will be moving into the old censorship office across the street now occupied by Keegan & Helegson which she bought from Mr Munson a few months ago.

Pleasant Ridge, January 30th – Our school is currently closed due to a teacher shortage. We hope to find a teacher soon… Pleasant Ridge comes forward: A basketball team has been organized and Earl Kvale is the captain and Albon Tollefson is the coach. The boys have prepared the old hall for playing… Ole Swenson sawed wood for two days.

Some of Westby’s good sports have teamed up and are sponsoring a big ski meet to be held on Thursday, February, on the hill between Westby and Bloomingdale off the State Highway, 2½ miles east of Westby near summer cottage Bekkedal 8, 1:30pm….This is the first time, to our knowledge, that a ski tournament has been held in this vicinity….

The Folsom Telephone Company held their annual meeting… We have a good group of members on our line, no idlers. You pay all your charges and there is no knocking… Our 1923 charges are $5.00 per phone.

Ski fans across the Northwest will have their eyes on Vernon County next Sunday when one of the standout tournaments of the winter season is scheduled at the newly constructed hill near Timber Coulee. The annual ski tournament, sponsored by Westby Snowflake Ski Club, is expected to attract many outstanding skiers.

Members of the Centennial Committee, which was recently appointed in Vernon County to work on Wisconsin’s statewide centennial events, met with Jesse Sands, president of the Vernon County Fair Association, at the courthouse Monday morning.

Plagued by the longest cold spell since 1942 and one of the coldest winters since the memorably cold temperatures of 1936, and faced with a heating oil shortage that doesn’t seem to be getting better, residents of Viroqua braced themselves for another cold spell scheduled for the weekend. Many heating oil dealers in the area advise customers to switch to coal if possible. While we are of the opinion that no homes have actually been closed due to a lack of heating oil, it is definitely known that several homeowners are contemplating such an action. Demand for oil from railroads and industry, as well as the record installation of domestic space heaters over the past two years across the country, is probably the main reason for the current acute shortage.

The Mueller Implement and Garage Company of Viroqua announces the grand opening of the new Mueller-Nash Co. at 114 North Rock Avenue. An all-day open house on Friday invites the public to tour the modern building and indulge in donuts and coffee.

The Vernon County Broadcast Censor

On April 6th and 7th, Viroqua High School presents the mystery comedy The Gazebo.

Westby defeated Cashton, 87-39, in conference basketball played in Westby Friday night. Westby is 5-4 in the Northern Division of the Central Scenic Conference.

Ten drum and bugle corps have already signed up for the “Drum in the Night” pageant, presented under VFW sponsorship during Tobacco Days at the High School Field.

Fourteen girls from the Tewalt Toiler 4-H Club from the Sag City-West Prairie area showed up Saturday. January 27th, on channel 8 of the Carrousel program singing several numbers.

Obituaries: James A. Volden (56) rural Stoddard; Michael Widner (24) Vernon County; Helen Davis Thomson Viroqua; Mrs. Carl Zube (76) Vernon County; Alf Allness Viroqua; Virginia bean (84); Edward Ostrander (77) Seneca; John Jafek (55) LaCrosse; Edward Christianson (75).

The Vernon County Transmitter

January 1998 marks the 25th anniversary of the Thorson Funeral Home at 856 S. Rusk St. in Viroqua. Funeral director Thor Thorson opened the shop in January 1973 with his business partner Richard Arneson. The couple had “hammered and sawed for five months,” converting an auto parts store into the Arneson-Thorson Funeral Home. Two years later, Thorson bought Arneson’s share of the business. They will be holding an open house on February 3rd and 4th in their newly renovated building.

De Soto High School will host the 1998 Western Wisconsin Honors Choir Concert this Saturday, January 31 at 3:00 p.m. The choir will consist of outstanding choir students from eight local schools. Directed by Peter Engh, Margaret Jothen and Tara Stadelman-Cohen.

Thomas Haakenson, 12, of Westby, received a $100 check from the broadcaster for correctly guessing the winner (Denver) and total points (55) in Sunday’s Super Bowl. Second prize of $50 went to Alice Diehl of Viroqua and third prize of $25 went to Kathy Sime of Viroqua.

The Old Towne Inn Supper Club celebrates its 18th anniversary on Saturday 31st January! Reservations required – Dance to the Jim Gorman Band 9:00pm – 1:00am 1 mile south of Westby on Hwy. 14

The Viroqua Blackhawks girls’ basketball team continued their role in the Coulee Conference, defeating Westby Norse 61-38 last Thursday in Viroqua.

Despite an injury-plagued roster and a loss to the same team last season, the Blackhawks hockey team schooled Waupaca 4-1 at Community Arena on Saturday.

Get your button now for the annual Snowflake ski jumping tournament taking place on February 7th and 8th. This year’s competition, which celebrates its 75th anniversary, features the largest field in 25 years and the largest number of countries ever represented.

the Vernon County transmitter

As part of their Reading Action Program (RAP) to promote literacy, La Farge Lions established a free lending library at the La Farge Senior Center in Kickapoo Haven. The donated bookshelf, made by Lion Roger Martin, was filled with more than 50 donated hardcover and paperback books for the public to borrow and enjoy.

Viroqua’s own Jon Ames is the head coach of the University of Wisconsin-EauClaire men’s wrestling team. Ames is a 2006 graduate of Viroqua High School.

Dan Meyer is the new manager of Vernon Manor after longtime manager Nancy Witthoft retired on 18th January.

Marci Sortor, Dean and Provost of St. Olaf College, has appointed Jesse Brault of Viroqua to the list of deans of St. Olaf College for the Fall 2012 semester. Brault is majoring in theory/composition. He is the son of Dennis and Yvonne Brault.

On Saturday, February 9th, ARTT will present its fourth show in the season series, The Lowe Family, at Viroqua’s Temple Theater at 7:30pm. This is the premiere show of the season. The Lowe family has entertained thousands around the world for more than 25 years.

Byron Borland, a resident of Vernon Manor, made a new friend in Noah Nelson during an intergenerational bingo game with a Westby fourth year class. Fourth and fifth grade Westby students visit Vernon Manor throughout the school year to participate in games with the residents. It offers children a real-world learning experience outside of the classroom and residents a connection to the community.