95 Years Ago – January 15, 1931
Oliver Korpala, aged 11, residing five miles northeast of Owen, has been in a serious condition as a result of falling from a tree while playing last Sunday. The little boy was paralyzed on one side of his body when brought to the Legault Hospital here where an immediate operation was performed.
85 Years Ago – January 16, 1941
The Rev. W.P.D. Powe, who for the past year and a half has been the pastor of the Owen Congregational Church and also served the Reseberg and Wolter’s Corners Congregational churches has been called by the United States to serve in the army where he holds a rating of captain and chaplain.
The latter part of last week Nick Grimes started a crew at work harvesting his ice pack for the expected hot months of the approaching summer. For a long while this winter it was very dubious as to whether or not there would be any solid ice for packing. However, the cold streak immediately following the holidays aided in the freezing considerably. The cakes cut from the Mill Pond were 18 inches thick.
Emil Haaya, proprietor of Haaya’s grocery store, has been confined to the Legault Hospital since Sunday afternoon being treated for fractured bones in the heels of his two feet. Mr. Haaya suffered the fractures when he fell from the roof of his home Sunday afternoon while attempting to clean out the chimney.
75 Years Ago – January 18, 1951
The Waddhams service station located at the intersections of highways 29 and 73 in the village of Withee is now under the management of Herbert Stock, Withee. Mr. Stock took possession of the station on Monday reopening it for the first time since it was closed to business when its previous owner and manager, Robert Pence, was called to service in the armed forces last summer.
A business transaction was recently completed whereby the entire stock of the Miller’s Hardware and Appliance was sold to the Griebenow Company of Owen. The transfer was effective as of last Monday. However, the store will remain open the remainder of this month with Vern Miller being in charge. Later the merchandise will be moved to the Griebenow Company’s Store.
65 Years Ago – January 19, 1961
Meeting at the courthouse in Neillsville Monday afternoon members of the Law Enforcement Committee reviewed the bids submitted for consideration in the purchase of four new squad cars for the county traffic department. The order was let to Irvan Sales and Service of Neillsville. Irvan’s bid for four Plymouth police type squad cars was for $4,788, plus three trade-ins. Delivery is expected to be made in about 30 days.
55 Years Ago – January 21, 1971
Putting a chill up the spine of a highly experienced locomotive engineer isn’t an easy thing to do, especially when you consider the muscle he has in the 6,000-ton train behind him. But it is being done as snowmobilers who believe railroad property offers an ideal trail, take to the rights-of-way to pursue their sport. And it’s creating situations engineers best describe as—absolutely frightening.
Marine Cpl. James M. Poehnelt, Route 1, Curtiss, was awarded the air medal and wings of gold while serving with Marine medium helicopter squadron 364 in Vietnam.
45 Years Ago – January 15, 1981
Owen’s landmark Woodland Inn is again closed as of Friday, January 2. Ray and Wilma Helberg, formerly of Ladysmith, took over the management of the building on January 14, 1980. They had operated the restaurant, the upstairs bar and had later also opened the basement bar.
Mrs. Ella Boxrucker celebrated her 90th birthday on Sunday, January 11 and was honored at a party at the home of her daughter, Marie Decker, Owen.
35 Years Ago – January 17, 1991
The O-W Big Buck Contest was once again a big hit in 1990. There were 56 entrants and many big bucks brought in, but none finer than the nine-pointer shot by Noel Barteck in Adams County.
Mr. and Mrs. Don Kohn of Withee announce the engagement of their daughter, Kim to Jim Jalowitz, son of Mr. and Mrs. Al Jalowitz of Withee. A September 21 wedding is planned.
25 Years Ago – January 17, 2001
Anna Jeanette Edmundson and Roger Henry Frese Jr. exchanged marriage vows on November 11, 2000, at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Charles City, IA. Parents of the couple are Ed and Beth Edmundson of Charles City, IA and Roger Sr. and Joan Frese of Owen.
Mary Theodora Carlson’s first efforts of serious writing has brought forth an interesting historical novel, fiction built upon her memories and experiences garnered from life in both England and the United States. Mary T. Carlson came to the United States in 1947 to visit her sister and help with the couple’s new baby. In time, Mary became engaged to her sister’s brother-in-law, Richard Carlson, married and settled on a Wisconsin dairy farm.
15 Years Ago – January 19, 2011
A new building will soon begin construction on the east side of Owen. Syth Construction plans to begin construction sometime in February on a new Veterans Administration Clinic. The building will be approximately 5,000 sq. ft. in size, slightly larger than the Victory Medical Clinic that will be on the same site.