‘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
DECEMBER 24, 2009 – Maura Otis, librarian at the Gays Mills Library is asking for help from the community to create an original and clever drawing and a catchy phrase to become a signature for its publicity. Otis stated that the ideal entry would include a simple graphic, which is easy to reproduce and a phrase that is short and sweet… The Seneca girls basketball team remained undefeated as they picked up two more victories last week. Coach Kim Redman gave details of the game against LaFarge reporting that Allie Ostrander led the team in scoring with 16 points, Jessica Alanis scored 14 points and Courtney Foley scored 10 points. The following Friday, the team defeated Weston, the defending Ridge and Valley Conference Champion.
TWENTY YEARS AGO
DECEMBER 23, 1999 – Peter Flesch, a full-time rural Soldiers Grove farmer, finished off his twentieth year of drag racing by winning the final race of the season at the Tri-State Raceway in Earlville, Iowa. He’s still racing the same 1970 Chevy Nova he has used since he bought it used with 30,000 miles in 1980. After he bought the Nova he rebuilt it to use strictly for drag racing. Then after he got tired of hauling it on a trailer to drag races, he completely rebuilt it again to drive it on the street. Now he drives the Nova to the racetrack and enters the sportsman class for street driven cars.
THIRTY YEARS AGO
DECEMBER 21, 1989 – The Tri-County Draft Horse Club held its annual Christmas supper at the American Legion Hall in Soldiers Grove. Ham and au gratin potatoes catered by Zimpel’s IGA at Gays Mills were served and door prizes were given, which were made and donated by Florence Gander… Mt. Sterling Elementary School had its annual Christmas program Friday. Besides singing the traditional Christmas songs, and reciting poetry, first through fourth graders wrote and performed in original Christmas plays… The mitten tree at D&D Foods in Soldiers Grove is loaded with gifts for needy children this Christmas. Duane and Debbie Westlie, owners of the store, are donating $1 for each item placed on the tree. The money will be used to purchase additional clothing, which will be distributed along with the tree items by the North Clayton Cardinals 4-H Club which set up the tree.
FORTY YEARS AGO
DECEMBER 27, 1979 – The Crawford County Policy Advisory Council and volunteers met last week to prepare Christmas baskets for the needy. Included in the group were Eleanor Pettit, Gays Mills, Mary DuCharme, Eastman, Mildred Wolcott, Eastman, Jeanette Becwar, Mt. Sterling, Judy Marshall, Gays Mills, Laurayne Prew, Prairie du Chien, and Dorothy Kozelka, Eastman… There is a new voice at North Crawford Middle School. It’s the voice of the student council, formed recently after an absence of several years. The Council includes Sherri Swiggum, Jill Havlik, Craig Olson, Jane Klekamp, Nancy O’Donnell, Monte Adams and Joe Johnson.
FIFTY YEARS AGO
DECEMBER 25, 1969 – The former Independent Press building, at the outskirts of Gays Mills, has undergone considerable alterations in the past few months, and now is the Martin Funeral Home, Mr. and Mrs. Larry Martin… A pre-Christmas Dinner was enjoyed at Soldiers Grove Elementary and the Junior High by students and their invited guests including members of the school board, area pastors, bus drivers, and faculty members. Members of the Junior High Student Council served as hosts and hostesses.
SIXTY YEARS AGO
DECEMBER 24, 1959 – Christmas Greetings published this week: Elm Grove Country Fresh Dairy Products, Richland Center; Bill Johnson and Carl Hutchison Barber Shop, Bell Center; Paul Th. Dommersnaes, Gays Mills; Wandell Store, Gays Mills; Curley Insurance Agency, Gays Mills; Wink’s Mobil Station, Gays Mills; Rural Mutual Insurance Office, Gays Mills; Harris and Faye’s Tavern, Soldiers Grove; North Clayton Cheese Factory, Soldiers Grove; State Farm Insurance, Steuben; Hillman’s Bar, Gays Mills; Mr. & Mrs. John Moses, Gays Mills; Silas Brudos, Tri-State Breeders Cooperative Technician; Bill and Cecelia Crowley, Rising Sun; Reber’s Pureoil Station Gays Mills; Sime Brothers Furniture, Readstown; Pauline Hollenbeck and Shirley Ofstun, beauticians, Soldiers Grove; Glenn, Marian, Jake, Kenny and Pearl at the Crawford County Independent, Gays Mills; Harris Lumber Company, Boaz; Ken Kisting, contractor, Mt. Sterling; Pine Grove Nursing Home, Soldiers Grove; Kickapoo Locker Service, Gays Mills; Crawford County Farmco Co-op; Gays Mills; Fortney Hardware Co.; Gays Mills; Mi-Lady Beauty Centre, Gays Mills; The Rittenhouses; Chestelson Plumbing and Heating, Gays Mills; Jurgensen Appliances; Gays Mills; The Beaumont Hospital, Prairie du Chien; Wiley Implement Sales; Soldiers Grove; Al Oman, plumbing, Boscobel; Dahl and Dahl, clothing, Viroqua; Peterson Garage, Soldiers Grove; Utica Farmers Mutual Telephone Company, Gays Mills; Dan McDonald, electrical, Gays Mills; Hagggerty’s-Jameson’s Gays Mills; Assemblyman and Mrs. Frank Cosgrove; Watson’s IGA, Gays Mills; Nuzum Yards, Gays Mills; The De Soto State Bank, De Soto; Hirsch Clinic, Viroqua; Delbert Orrick; Gays Mills; Nelson Motor Co., Gays Mills; Wisconsin Power and Light Co.; Lightfoot’s Shoe Store, Gays Mills; Dobson Garage, Gays Mills; Larson Creamery Company, Gays Mills; Seneca Dairy, Seneca; Crawford Electric Co., Gays Mills; Vanderbilt’s Radio & T.V., Lynxville; Kickapoo Cleaners, Gays Mills; Freeman Cheese Factory, Ferryville; Uglum Insurance Agency, Mt. Sterling; G-C Farmers Co-op, Gays Mills; Garden Glow Cheese Factory, Rolling Ground.
