‘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
JUNE 3, 2010 – Taylor Moret, newly crowned 2010 Crawford County Dairy Princess, spoke Monday night at the Crawford County Dairy Month Kick-off Banquet in Eastman… Crawford County has received a $418,000 flood relief grant through the Community Development Block Grant Program for clearing obstructions from the Kickapoo River… William Banta received a plaque for 60 years continuous membership in the American Legion Post 220 in Soldiers Grove. Post Commander Ken McCormick made the presentation.
TWENTY YEARS AGO
JUNE 1, 2000 – Three Madison area women were rescued from the Wisconsin River on Friday, May 26 at about 11 p.m. The women had intended to canoe and camp on the river that night but because of high water, fast current and a rainstorm, accompanied by strong winds and heavy rain, their plans changed. The group unable to find a suitable camp spot, decided to try to make it to the Bridgeport boat landing. However, high current caused them to miss the landing. They used a cell phone to contact Wyalusing State Park and made contact with a park ranger. They made an initial plan to get to the boat landing a different way but they failed the attempt and were able to contact the ranger again for rescue.
THIRTY YEARS AGO
JUNE 7, 1990 – Heather Murphy is North Crawford’s first female track champion, taking the Class C title in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:24.45 in the state meet Saturday in La Crosse. She also placed third in the mile with 5:479. Heather has just completed her sophomore year. She is the daughter of Fritz Murphy of Route 2., Soldiers Grove… Floyd Sherrick, a resident of Golden Acres Apartments in Soldiers Grove, was parking his car Saturday afternoon when he lost control and the vehicle rolled backward down the hill and crashed into the back of Sannes Skogdalen Nursing Home. The outside wall of the room occupied by Don and Regis Sime was completely destroyed and an adjoining room was slightly damaged. Don was in the room at the time of the accident, but sustained only minor injuries.
FORTY YEARS AGO
JUNE 5, 1980 – The Gays Mills Swimming Pool opened for the season earlier than usual on Monday, June 2. The new manager is Brad Pettit and the guards are Kevin Martin, Randina Hutchison, Mary Knoble and Cheryl Lasse… Thursday, May 29 was fire drill day at Sannes Skogdalen in Soldiers Grove. Residents and staff went through their paces without incident. Fifteen minutes later, the alarm went off again, and this time, it was the real thing. As it turned out, though, the call that brought the fire department and rescue squad to the nursing home in record time was unnecessary. Don Sannes, home administrator, found that the air conditioning unit had malfunctioned causing ice to form. Melting ice dripped into a transformer, which began to smoke and set off the smoke alarm.
FIFTY YEARS AGO
JUNE 3, 1970 – Leading the Memorial Day Parade in Gays Mills were the massed color guards of the Gays Mills and Soldiers Grove American Legion posts. During the parade the North Crawford Pom-Pom Girls preceded the North Crawford Senior High School band. The North Crawford Junior High School Band of Soldiers Grove also participated.
SIXTY YEARS AGO
JUNE 2, 1960 – Seneca’s Dairy Day will get underway promptly at 1 p.m. Saturday with bands, equestrians, Crawford County dairy princesses, new cars, floats, clowns and novelty units forming a huge parade. During the afternoon program, Robert Lewis, Governor Gaylord Nelson’s agriculture advisor, is slated to discuss timely dairy topics. The members of the Blackhawk Saddle Club will compete for ribbons and prizes in horsemanship featuring star attraction Miss Elaine Kramer of rural Eastman, who has performed before nationwide audiences.
