‘Years Ago’ is a compilation of newsy tidbits as published in the Crawford County Independent & Kickapoo Scout on this week ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty or sixty years ago.
TEN YEARS AGO
JULY 29, 2009 – A tornado touched down near Star Valley causing much damage to the area. Hit especially hard was the Doll Farm on Helgerson Hill Road where a machine shed, an old barn and most of the outbuildings were destroyed, and a three-season porch was ripped from the house. County C was closed to traffic as scores of trees fell across the roadway. Fortunately, no one was injured in the storm.
TWENTY YEARS AGO
JULY 29, 1999 – Sadie Sime, of rural Ferryville, competed in the National Power Tumbling Competition in Ames, Iowa and placed fourth overall in her division with a score of 40.6 points (perfect score is 42 points). She attends gymnastic lessons in Prairie du Chien and is coached by Katie Payne of Moser School of Dance & Gymnastics… The annual picnic of the Crawford County Senior Citizens Club was held at the Gays Mills Community Building with 88 persons attending. After a potluck lunch, an informative program, a public hearing, and election of officers were held. Music was provided by local artists, Alfred Nederlo and Gloria Hayes, both of Soldiers Grove. The keynote speaker was Joyce Sundry, gerontology coordinator, Gundersen-Lutheran Medical Center, LaCrosse.
THIRTY YEARS AGO
AUGUST 3, 1989 – Reverend Fayissa Negassa Duguma, from Ethiopia, is a resource person at Sugar Creek Bible Camp for this summer. During his stay, he taught about Christianity, famine, farming and culture in Ethiopia… The Readstown Church of Christ recently sponsored a weeklong Vacation Bible School program. According to director Sharon Olsen, over 60 area youths attended the Bible school, highlighted by a Friday evening program at the church.
FORTY YEARS AGO
AUGUST 2, 1979 – A large turnout of 121 voters gave overwhelming support to the idea of building a levee to protect Gays Mills from flood waters of the Kickapoo River at a public meeting held Wednesday night, July 25. The proposed levee would protect the village by a 6,000-foot earthen structure 10 feet high and 70 feet wide at the base, with a 10-foot surface at the top. Construction costs are estimated at about $3,000,000, which would include relocation of some nine residential units. The advisory vote taken Wednesday night will assist the members of the village board in deciding what steps to take to avoid flooding problems in the future.
FIFTY YEARS AGO
JULY 31, 1969 – Ron Swiggum, Village Trustee, and Dr. James Leary, Crawford County Emergency Government Director, are pictured looking over the $694 check awarded the Village of Soldiers Grove for flood damages by the State Division of Emergency Government. The check represents an advance payment of the total grant of $1,387 approved for Soldiers Grove.
SIXTY YEARS AGO
JULY 30, 1959 – The famed Lincoln Historymobile of the State Historical Society will be one of the many free attractions at the 101stCrawford County Fair, August 7-8-9… Tiny, 86-year-old ‘Grandma’ Zajicek, of rural Gays Mills, has just received news of the arrival of her 99thgreat-grandchild, and proudly asserts that the 100thshould be here any day now. Mrs. Elizabeth Zajicek has many stories of her life as a young, widowed mother at the age of 16. She has ten children and 46 grandchildren.
