Greetings friends and fans.

I visited Owen-Withee in person during the recent annual Owen Jr. Fair on July 12 to 14, 2024. I’m back home now in SE Wisconsin and am still recovering (resting) from my busy non-stop weekend of meet and greet activities in the Owen and Withee area.

I was in Owen for the 2024 Golden Blackhawk award ceremonies. As President of the Owen-Withee Area Historical Society, I had the great honor to present Norby Pabich with the 2024 Golden Blackhawk Award. That is a lifetime achievement award sponsored by the Historical Society, to recognize someone who has had a significant positive impact to the Owen-Withee area over a long span of years. Norby Pabich’s connections to Owen–Withee date back to the 1940s. Norby is originally a Thorp area native, but Owen-Withee runs deep in his blood. Since 1955, Norby and his family have been the owners of Owen’s Master Package Company. A regional employer and one of Clark County‘s oldest and most recognizable brands. Master Package has moved its primary operations to Menomonie, but still considers and generously supports Owen as “home”.

While in Owen, I did as many “meet and greets” and outreach interactions as was possible in a limited amount of time. I represented the O-W Area Historical Society. It was nice to hear feedback from people who said, “I read your column in the Enterprise Sentinel”. Thank you, readers.

The Owen-Withee Area Historical Society is an affiliate of the Wisconsin Historical Society. It operates a museum in Owen at 219 E. Pine Street (the former Owen City Hall building). It is a public charity, whose sole purpose is collecting, preserving and educating people on the local history of the Owen-Withee area.

The annual Owen Jr. Fair weekend is a bit of summer “homecoming” for out-of-town alumni and visitors, such as myself. Many families, mine included, that have moved away still have ancestral roots to Owen–Withee that date back multiple generations. A few names that I ran into while in town are Janice King Bottorf (Arizona), Mike McMillan (Minnesota), Nancy Peterson McAleese (Illinois), Bob List (Appleton), Susie Fritz Jablonic (Madison), Art & Jane Petersen (local), Joan Amacher (local), Laurie Shilts (local), Tom Gelhaus (local), Bill Wirtala (local), Dave Jankoski (Stanley), Owen Mayor Scott Jalling, and more. Art Petersen is Owen-Withee’s oldest living person (age 99). I’ve known Art and his family my entire life. And last but not least, I spent time with Tim Nolan (local). Tim is a tireless promoter of all things Owen-Withee. Thank you Tim!!

Glad to see you all, and sorry for those who I missed.