95 Years Ago – May 30, 1929

The U.S. Post Office department is considering discontinuing the star route which runs from Owen to Greenwood and is now advertising for bids on a star route from Greenwood to Neillsville.

85 Years Ago – June 1, 1939

The board of education has contracted our local band director, M.G. Hamel, to continue the band during the summer months and band rehearsals will be held every Monday.

Rev. and Mrs. George Autio and family recently moved into the house vacated by the Winrich family, which will serve as the Finnish Lutheran parsonage in the future. The home was recently purchased by the church.

75 Years Ago – June 2, 1949

Memorial Day exercises in this locale were attended by large crowds as the weatherman favored the day’s proceedings with a beautiful sunshiny day. More than 1,500 persons attended the program at the Riverside Cemetery that was sponsored jointly by the Owen American Legion and VFW Posts. Following the exercises at the Riverside Cemetery similar exercises were conducted at the Danish Cemetery, Withee, and at the cemetery in Curtiss.

65 Years Ago – May 28, 1959

Late Friday afternoon Mrs. August Stock, Withee, was rushed to Luther Hospital at Eau Claire in the city ambulance after she had attempted to commit suicide. Her husband had been working in the field and when he returned to the house found a note she had left. He then found her unconscious in the yard. She had slashed her stomach with a butcher knife.

Monday, May 25, officials of the Frederick Post Company and representatives of the Owen Development Corporation met to discuss the feasibility of constructing a new factory for the Frederick Post Company in Owen.

As a class of 76 seniors closed out their high school careers by graduating Thursday evening so did W.K. Doonan close out a professional career of teaching that has covered a span of 42 years. This was the last graduation exercise he was to participate in—his 27th in Owen, as earlier he had tendered his resignation to the board of education which will be effective August 1.

A male black bear which weighed about 125 pounds was killed Monday morning on the Otto Rohland farm, three and one-half miles northwest of Withee in the town of Hixon.

55 Years Ago – May 29, 1969

On Friday, May 23, a Class Day was held for the eighth graders of the Holy Rosary School with their teacher, Sister Mary Irenea. The 7th graders assisted with plans for the afternoon program which included the future occupational predictions, class will and character description for each class member.

45 Years Ago – May 30, 1979

Two Owen-Withee High School track team members, Roger Gostomski and Dale Niemi will be going on to state track action this coming weekend following their taking first place wins in regional track action last Friday.

William T. Niznik, 21, of route 2, Withee, was bound over to Clark County Circuit Court Branch One when his preliminary hearing was waived on Monday, May 21. He is being charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle in the death of Robert Alan Gajda on Friday, April 13, in the town of Hixon.

35 Years Ago – June 1, 1989

The Owen Happy Homemakers toured the Larry Fritz game farm for their April meeting. A Damer Zebra was one of the many exotic and interesting animals they saw.

William and Delores Benzschawel of Owen announce the engagement of their daughter Marcia to Dr. Alan Resch, son of Thomas and Yvonne Resch of Kimberly. A September 16 wedding is planned.

25 Years Ago – June 2, 1999

Corrie Borgeson and Matthew Bottlemy of Wausau, announce the birth of their son Darryn Curtiss Bottlemy on May 21, 1989.

Area ambulance crews from Stanley, Thorp, Boyd-Edson-Delmar, Gilman and Owen-Withee attended a banquet held in their honor at Victory Medical Center in recognition of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week.

15 Years Ago – June 3, 2009

Nathan LePage is on a mission—to get himself and local residents in shape by opening a new 2,749 square foot fitness center in Owen. The name of the new “gym” is Company Store Fitness (CSF), aptly named because it resides on the same property as the old J.S. Owen Lumber Company Store and offices.

After 49 years in the industry, Tom Nelson closed the door to Badger Gunsmithing on Friday, May 29. Nelson began working for Badger Shooters Supply while still in high school before venturing into his own business, Badger Gunsmithing.