95 Years Ago – December 25, 1930
Shortly before three o’clock Sunday morning, fire in the J.E. Jalling store building at Withee was discovered by a passerby on the street, and before an alarm could be sounded, and help arrive, the entire building was ablaze and burned to the ground, leaving only ruins. The Jalling building was located on the most important lots in the village, and for the past 30 or more years has been occupied by the owner, as a store building.
Beginning on January 2 and until further notice the Idle Hour Theatre will run only one show each evening starting at 7:30, except on Saturday and Sunday evenings when two shows will be given.
85 Years Ago – December 26, 1940
Master Frank Olszewski, son of Adam Olszewski of Withee, has been reported well on the road to recovery following an unusually delicate operation performed by Dr. Hugh A. Kuhn at St. Margaret’s Hospital here for the removal of a tumorous growth from his nose.
Bud King and Edwin Bemis are spending a few days in Owen visiting with their parents before leaving for the Hawaiian Islands where they will be stationed with the United States Navy. The two boys just completed a course in airplane construction at the air base of the navy at Pensacola, FL.
75 Years Ago – December 28, 1950
Final arrangements were completed yesterday by Miss Bernita Wassenberger, county nurse, and C.E. Beck, president of the Owen Kiwanis Club, for handling the hundreds of persons who are expected to visit the TB x-ray bus when it visits Owen on Friday, January 5. The x-ray unit will be located between the Curtiss State Bank building and the Woodland Hotel.
65 Years Ago – December 29, 1960
Twice within the past 10 days business places in northern Clark County have been visited by prowlers of the night who, thus far, have made away with some profitable loot. A week ago, Sunday night or early Monday morning, the Hardware Specialty at Withee and Silver Dollar Supper Club, south of Thorp, were burglarized and yesterday authorities began their investigation into the thefts which occurred at Will Implement Co., Owen and Mertens Implement Co., Withee.
Local authorities are checking into the theft of a new 1961 model Plymouth from Bergstrom Auto Co.’s parking lot Friday night. The vehicle was discovered by a firm employee, Jim Laski, who was giving a demonstration in another car early Saturday morning. It was nosed into the ditch near W.A. Fritz’s farm home on the north Owen-Curtiss road.
55 Years Ago – December 24, 1970
The Clark County Sheriff’s Department reports that about $500 was taken at the Midland Cooperative at Dorchester during a Thursday night break-in.
Poinsettias and Christmas trees decorated the Holy Rosary Church in Owen where Miss Mary Kathryn Gummerson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Gummerson, Owen, became the bride of Lonnie Gene Melbinger, son of Mr. and Mrs. Celand Melbinger, Owen.
45 Years Ago – December 24, 1980
Navy Radioman 2nd Class Richard F. Wrobel Jr., son of Harriet M. and Richard F. Wrobel Sr. of Route 1, Withee, recently participate in exercise “Valiant Blitz” in the Philippines. He is a crewmember aboard the amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge, operating from Yokosuka, Japan.
35 Years Ago – December 27, 1990
An inquest jury deliberated about four hours Thursday, December 20 and recommended that charges be filed against five employees of the Clark County Health Care Center in the death of a resident. The jury issued its verdict that Herman J. Klabon Jr., 64, died on March 15, 1989, by criminal means, not natural causes.
Charlie Milliren was the lucky winner of the use of a new Ford Escort from Rosemurgy Ford, Wausau, at the Wisconsin Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Professionals Convention. Charlie is the elementary physical education teacher and wrestling coach at O-W.
25 Years Ago – December 27, 2000
Jesse Oberle was the big winner of a ten-speed bike at the O-W Foodliner holiday drawing.
The alternative schools in the area are at Owen-Withee in the west wing of the Clark County Health Care Center and at the Abbotsford Mall. They are a consortium of five area school districts, Abbotsford, Colby, Greenwood, Thorp and Owen-Withee.
15 Years Ago – December 29, 2010
Brittney Peterson, the city’s 2010 Miss Owen was recently seen one misty morning at the Cozy Corner Café. Filled with holiday bliss, she fulfilled a promise to spread Christmas merriment.