95 Years Ago – August 1, 1929

Today installation will be completed for the new 10 hp Fairbanks-Morse Semi-Diesel engine in the pump house west of the Motor Inn. The new equipment will lower the cost of pumping water more than a third over the use of electric motors. The new equipment cost the city $775, and will consume about a gallon of fuel oil an hour when run to capacity.

The people in and around Owen will be very pleased to hear of Clifton’s “Whoopee Boys.” This group of young men, who have been organized by Kenneth Clifton and Prunes Armstrong of this city, are about to appear at several places nearby. The band consists of six pieces and guarantee good hot dance music.

85 Years Ago – August 3, 1939

The latter part of last week all water hydrants in the city were painted a brilliant yellow with a black trim, making the hydrants more becoming in appearance than they have been heretofore.

Hoeper Brothers, on July 20, purchased the dairy business formerly owned and operated by James Devine of this city. August 1, the first change of personnel and ownership was noticed on the route when Claude Hoeper made the business trip for the first time.

75 Years Ago – August 4, 1949

G.R. Scharer, D.C., today announced the opening of a chiropractic clinic at the Hi-Way Hotel, succeeding Dr. L.T. Sternberg, who has given up his practice here, for the purpose of advancing his schooling in this profession.

65 Years Ago – July 30, 1959

Army Pvt. Henry C. Rosin Jr., whose parents live on Route 1, Curtiss, is scheduled to complete eight weeks of advanced individual missile training August 1 at The Artillery Missile Center, Fort Sill, OK. Rosin is being trained in the duties of an Honest John rocket crewman.

Miss Sandra Mae Olejniczak, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Koney of Thorp and George Jarocki, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bruno Jarocki Sr. of Withee, were married in a 10 a.m. ceremony Saturday, July 18, at St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church in Thorp.

55 Years Ago – July 31, 1969

Lonnie Melbinger was informed this past week that he has been accepted as a prospective student in the school of dentistry at Marquette University. He will be enrolled in September following the profession of his brother Jerry who is also a graduate of Marquette and is now practicing in Wausau.

John D. Wuethrich, owner and manager of the John Wuethrich Creamery Company, at Greenwood, was one of six persons honored by the University of Wisconsin College of Agricultural and Life Sciences in special ceremonies on the Madison campus recently. He was presented with a certificate for outstanding contributions to agriculture and rural life.

45 Years Ago – August 1, 1979

The first bridge over the Popple River near Owen on Highway 29 is now completed, after two complete weeks for construction work. The closing off of the two bridges over the Popple and the re-routing of Highway 29 through Owen began more than two weeks ago on Monday, July 16, and appears to be proceeding smoothly.

Sherry Fischer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Fischer, route 2, Withee, was crowned the new 1979 “Miss Withee” during special coronation ceremonies at the Miss Withee Coronation Ball Sunday evening, July 29, ending Withee Community Days for another year.

35 Years Ago – August 3, 1989

The O-W Chapter of Morality in Media met at the Withee Library on Tuesday, July 25, to discuss strategies for combating the deplorable trend in television, radio, records, videos and other media. Nineteen members were present to view the video of Dr. James Dobson’s interview of Ted Bundy, the serial killer who stated that pornography was a primary factor in his mass murders.

Elmer and Hilda Dearth celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday, July 15, 1989, at the Nazareth Church Hall at Withee, with all of their five children.

25 Years Ago – August 4, 1999

Dustin Treffert, swimming in the Popple River on Sunday afternoon, discovered a large Indian spearhead amongst the debris at the bottom of the Popple, just a couple of blocks behind his home in Owen.

15 Years Ago – August 5, 2009

Hannah Shelton donated 15½ inches of hair and sister Hailee donated 10 inches to Locks of Love, a charity that collects hair to be used for wigs and hairpieces for those undergoing cancer treatment.

Three-year-old Aydin Sternitzky, of rural Granton, who went missing last Wednesday afternoon, was tracked and found by Jango the police dog. Aydin followed a farm cat into the corn field and was missing for roughly four hours. The Clark County Sheriff’s Department was contacted, then all the surrounding area was alerted. Police officer Brian Rennie with the Colby-Abbotsford Police Department was called in with Jango.