‘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 28, 2010 – At the Driftless Area Art Festival held in Soldiers Grove, Sadie Brosinski from Genoa’s St. Charles School received the first place ribbon in the middle school group for her fall-inspired painting in the Kids Art Show… Brian Murphy and Lee Nerison are candidates for Wisconsin’s 96thAssembly District… Noah Allan, a 10-year-old from Seneca, is pictured with his eight-point buck that he shot at the family farm on opening day of the Youth Deer Hunt. Noah is the son of Gary and Sue Allan… Jeremy Heisz, 41, of Prairie du Chien, was operating a 1994 Mazda pickup northbound on Highway 35 when his vehicle struck two Black Angus cows that had strayed onto the roadway. The cattle were owned by Kapinus Farms of Prairie du Chien.
TWENTY YEARS AGO
OCTOBER 26, 2000 – Ghosts and goblins will greet trick-or-treaters at the Larry McCarn home in Gays Mills on Halloween. Every year the family adds something new to their many different Halloween decorations… The North Crawford High Quiz Bowl Team participated in its first competition at St. Mary’s University in Winona, MN. Team members include Heather Anderson (captain), Keefe Keeley, Martha Gilbert, Katie Triphan, David Daniels and Brent Schwert. Seth Ghormley and Brian Hatlan are alternates. Jon Armbruster is the team’s coach… Ferryville native Harlan Lerum and his wife, Glenda had some Ferryville, Wisconsin T-shirts made up and took them to relatives in Norway. A photo was taken of the group at the home of Arnt and Vigdis Gald in Stryn, Norway including the Lerums, the Galds and Karin Gald-Semb. The Lerums, who now live in Colorado Springs, CO spent 25 days in Norway.
THIRTY YEARS AGO
NOVEMBER 1, 1990 – Heather Murphy, daughter of Fritz Murphy of Soldiers Grove, won the WIAA Division III Cross Country State Championship in Wisconsin Rapids. Her winning time was 11:53, 12 seconds faster than the 2ndplace finisher… Jeanna Lefeber, Gays Mills, graduated at the top of her North Crawford High School class and is receiving free tuition through a new state program. She is one of 18 freshmen at the UW-La Crosse who doesn’t have to worry about paying tuition. She is the daughter of David and Gretchen Lefeber… Errol J., guitarist and ventriloquist, provided entertainment at the Skogdalen birthday party for the month of October. Residents celebrating birthdays were Macel Croninger, Ragna Boltsad and Sophronia Davenport.
FORTY YEARS AGO
OCTOBER 30, 1980 – As part of their B.O.A.C (Building Our American Communities) program, the North Crawford Future Farmers are insulating part of the high school. The four boys are working on the process of covering 36 large windows with one-inch bead board, covering that with quarter-inch plywood, caulking the plywood and painting it. This will be left on permanently. Five classrooms and the library are included in the project, which cost about $300 to complete. The group included Steve Tainter, Larry Hanson, Rick Gander and Phil Crick… Members of the Viola Clowns demonstrated how to apply clown make-up in North Crawford High School art class last week. Diane Ilstrup and Kathy Doolan, both of Viola, are pictured putting make-up on Bucky George and Larry Hanson… Lois and Ole Peterson will be hosting an open house at the New Adventure Child Care Center Inc. in Gays Mills. The center is located on the north edge of the village.
FIFTY YEARS AGO
OCTOBER 28, 1970 – A husband and wife driving separate vehicles were involved in a near head-on collision on a town road five miles east of Eastman. Michael Klema, Wauzeka and his wife, Edith, met coming around a curve and although they both pulled to the right as far as possible they were unable to avoid the collision. No charges were preferred... Dawald Craig, Dora Straka, Joe Phetteplace and Ray Gaidowski participated in unveiling the sign, which identifies Husher Park wayside on highway 131 between Steuben and Wauzeka. A scenic overlook of the Kickapoo valley enables the viewer to look across country for miles. The Fennimore water tower and hills around Woodman, Eagle Point, Mt. Sterling and Seneca can be seen.
SIXTY YEARS AGO
OCTOBER 27, 1960 – The attractive turquoise and redwood Haney Area school is located about six miles south of Gays Mills on Highway 131. Dedication of the new school will be held Sunday. Frank Campbell, state director of Wisconsin 4-H, will be the featured speaker. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Campbell, rural Gays Mills, and a graduate of Gays Mills high school. Mahlon McClurg, president of the new Haney Area Community Club, will be in charge of the program. School principal of the new school is Mrs. Loretta Jenkins… A young deer named Bambi has had the run of the Fred Lester cornfields, pastures, garden, barn and farm kitchen since he was found injured in a hayfield in July. He counts on his best friends Linda Lester, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Lester, rural Gays Mills, six dogs and numerous cats. The Lesters thought Bambi was about a week old when he was hurt as he lay in their field, the family wasn’t sure he would live.
