‘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
SEPTEMBER 17, 2009 – John Zeher of Star Valley Flowers planted aronia berries to test their potential in the floral market. While the berries flopped as a decorative floral product, it turns out that they are one of the highest antioxidant plants in the world… Legendary Indiana basketball coach, Bobby Knight, is pictured holding one of the many trout he caught during his recent fishing trip with Len Harris.
TWENTY YEARS AGO
SEPTEMBER 16, 1999 – When a broken water line had to be dug up and repaired last week on Rebecca Street in Gays Mills, the village workers had plenty of observers for the project. Richard Skolos was operating the backhoe while Ralph ‘Stub’ Lomas and Wade Hutchison worked in the hole. Observers include village president Larry McCarn, Bruce France, Wayne Jurgensen, Mark Lester, Arvid Kivgne and Pat Boland.
THIRTY YEARS AGO
SEPTEMBER 21, 1989 – or the first time ever, the state apple recipe contest finals will be held in Gays Mills in conjunction with this weekend’s Apple Festival. There will be three categories for the contest: salads, low calorie and breads/desserts. Judges are Carol Roth, home economist, Richland County; Julie Nelson, news anchor, WBT News, La Crosse; and Pearl Swiggum, columnist, Independent-Scout… The Viroqua Community Theater will present a Variety Show. Featured will be the Sweet Adelines, Lana’s Quartet, the Strolling Strings of Viroqua High School and the Viroqua High School Jazz Band, the Cloggers, the Bell Choir and the comedy routines of the Mott family. Hosting the show is the musical group, Bernadot, Briggs and Cody.
FORTY YEARS AGO
SEPTEMBER 20, 1979 – The Independent will offer a year’s free subscription to the private family (within 10 miles of Gays Mills or Soldiers Grove) with the year’s largest wood pile cut for their own use. We expect to see the cords mounting up from now until the snow flies, and we think the family that makes the biggest effort should get some recognition. Wood can be any variety as long as it’s not slabwood from a mill or just bought from suppliers. We want to see well stacked piles without, as Mark Twain once said, “holes big enough to throw a dog through.”… Rod Dull and his wife Laura are pictured with Rod’s grandfather, Edwin Dregne, and employee Jeff Hooverson with tobacco being harvested on 13 acres rented from LaVern Longmeier on Highway 61 just south of Soldiers Grove. Rod and Laura also ‘moonlight’ as musicians, playing country music three nights a week with their duet, ‘Nashville.’
FIFTY YEARS AGO
SEPTEMBER 18, 1969 – Campbell’s Standard Station is now the official Greyhound Bus stop in Readstown. There, passengers can board buses bound for both Madison and La Crosse twice each day... 1969-70 Apple Queen contestants: Nancy Olson, Pam Byl, Deanna Buroker, Linda Latham, Martha Lysne and Debbie VanDyke.
SIXTY YEARS AGO
SEPTEMBER 17, 1959 – Workmen who moved a tavern at De Soto last week to make room for the new Highway 35 discovered a nest of some 60 rattlesnakes underneath the building. The rattlers were killed by a professional snake hunter, a member of the work crew… Senator John F. Kennedy from Massachusetts and his wife will travel to our area during his three-day tour of the state. Mr. Kennedy will deliver an address at the Checkerboard Ballroom, Prairie du Chien Thursday, September 24.
