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October 15: Years Ago…
Years Ago Column

‘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

OCTOBER 14, 2010 – Seneca sixth graders took part in a day of the DeSoto Middle School’s annual outdoor education trip. The students participated in the canoeing, fishing, macro invertebrates, orienteering, and First Aid rotations of the event… Keefe Keeley and Kyle Hines were crowned the 2010 2-on-2 Applefest Champions. The two men managed to go undefeated throughout the tourney defeating Hunter Scott and Lee Coleman in the championship game. Casey Hines and Coach Mike Allbaugh ended up taking third place.

TWENTY YEARS AGO

OCTOBER 12, 2000 – John Barlow and daughters Callie and Riley show their prize-winning pumpkins to the Independent-Scout. The largest one is 829 pounds setting a new record Saturday in the Wisconsin division of the Greater Anamosa Pumpkin Contest... Mike Mills is pictured holding a case of Native American items he found along the Kickapoo River between Gays Mills and Steuben. Mills is donating the collection to the museum located in the dam house in Gays Mills. He said since he was leaving the area, he felt he should leave something behind… Due to the cool weather last Friday, the boilers at North Crawford School were fired up for the first time this season. Unfortunately, a valve that relieves pressure on the system as the water temperature rises, stuck open and caused water in the system to overflow into the boiler room. The odor of the two-gallon spill, which contained an anti-freeze solution, penetrated into the hallways and rooms in the north addition. When doors and windows were opened to vent the area, the smell filtered into the high school section. The decision to close school was made at 9:50 a.m. and the bus drivers were at the school and ready to take the children home by 10:30.

THIRTY YEARS AGO

OCTOBER 18, 1990 – Firemen Larry McCarn and Richard Jacks of the Gays Mills Fire Department visited the North Crawford Kindergarten class at Haney School, taught by Sally Achenbach, during Fire Prevention Week… October 28 is the date set for the dedication of Mount Sterling’s new park, ‘Sterling Mound.’ Senator Brian Rude will be the keynote speaker. The Homemakers Club of Mt. Sterling will present the village with a flagpole adorned with an American flag as a tribute to the community. Music will be provided by some of Robert Chambers’ high school music students from Seneca. Coffee, pie and ice cream will be served following the ceremony… North Crawford hosted its first cross country meet October 11 since cross country was established here as a sport in 1989. The North Crawford girls’ team won the meet with a score of 26, with Cassville in second, and Royall in third. The girls cross country team members are: Varsity - Heather Murphy, Heather Cox, Jenny Bolstad, Sheila Hawkinson, Holly Pfitsch, Danielle Formanek, Bobbi Jo Showen, Brandy Karst, Junior High – Angie Hawkinson, Christine Bonde, Angie DiPadova, Aime Heisz.

FORTY YEARS AGO

OCTOBER 16, 1980 – Robert Tuve, 19, Waterloo, Iowa was riding a motorcycle with a passenger on Highway 18 in Bridgeport. He was following a 1979 Buick driven by Ann Kramer, Jesup, Iowa. When Kramer slowed down for traffic the Tuve cycle hit the rear of the car, and his passenger, Sandra Moore, 19 of Waterloo, Iowa was thrown off the cycle. Tuve however grabbed a rail on top of the car and held on until the vehicle stopped. Both he and Moore were treated at Prairie du Chien Hospital and released… Todd Taylor has purchased the LaFarge Epitaph weekly newspaper from Lonnie Muller. Taylor, 31, a native of Chippewa Falls, has been managing editor of the Vernon County Broadcaster-Censor at Viroqua for the last two years… Bonnie Brockway reminds readers that adults have fears too. She admits to some of her own to including removing tags from pillows, staying alone at night, roosters, swooping bats, and a recurring nightmare of waking up bald… Four local boys are players for the UW-Platteville football team, the Pioneers: sophomore, Floyd Sutton, a 1979 graduate of Seneca is playing offensive guard; senior, Gerald Campbell, 1976 graduate of North Crawford is a defensive end; senior, Brad Petitt, 1976 North Crawford graduate is an offensive tackle; and sophomore, David Boland, a 1979 graduate of Seneca, is defensive back… Jerry Lynch and Maureen Nies reigned as king and queen of the Seneca Homecoming held last weekend.

FIFTY YEARS AGO

OCTOBER 14, 1970 – Local students will get a peek at the future when General Motors ‘Previews of Progress’ research-in-action science show appears at North Crawford High School. Featured in the show are several energy conversion demonstrations including gas turbine engines, fuel cells and solar cells. Another demonstration will emphasize the importance of wearing seat belts when driving or riding in an automobile… Martha Lysne and Mark Lathrop were crowned Homecoming king and queen at the dance held after Friday night’s game.

SIXTY YEARS AGO

OCTOBER 13, 1960 – Telephone service in the La Farge area will take a giant forward step on November 13 when the La Farge exchange of the Vernon Telephone Cooperative coverts to dial operation. R.W. Little, manager of the telephone cooperative, said that La Farge subscribers will be the first in this section of the state with “all number” dialing. Other communities served by the Vernon cooperative include Liberty Pole, Romance, Redmound, Readstown and Viola.