95 Years Ago – February 19, 1931
Fire was discovered shortly after eight o’clock in the engine room of the Owen Box & Crating Co., Monday evening. Sparks flying from the boiler doors to the ceiling of the engine room became ignited in the sawdust, and before being noticed had gained some headway.
Twice within two months the Hoff Hardware Store at Curtiss has been burglarized, and on Wednesday night of last week the heaviest haul was made. In this robbery silverware, cutlery, clocks and watches valued at more than $300 was taken. An entrance to the safe was also made where a small amount of cash was secured. The Laabs Cheese Co. office was also broken into and a small amount of cash taken there. The O&N Lumber Co. office was the scene of another robbery, but here the thieves only secured a small amount of change, which had been left in the till.
85 Years Ago – February 20, 1941
A night of agony and severe pain was experienced by Chris Madsen, a bachelor, who lives on his farm a mile south of Wolters Corners, Wednesday when a cow fell on his leg and broke it while he was doing chores. Mr. Madsen was unable to get to the house and would have added to his suffering had he been able to try because of the severe cold weather and deep snow. He was found this morning by neighbors who summoned help.
75 Years Ago – February 22, 1951
Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Simmons came out second best in their race with the stork to the Victory Memorial Hospital at Stanley Wednesday morning as the child was born in the car as they drove up in front of the hospital at 1 a.m.
Now at her home recuperating from minor injuries and severe bruises is Scotch Copper, owner of the Owen Department Store, who rammed into Soo Line freight train No. 44 at about 7:22 Friday night on the crossing just north of Owen on the Owen-Withee road. Her car struck the last two cars of the train which was being switched. Trainmen came to her aid immediately and drove her to the station where the accident was reported.
65 Years Ago – February 23, 1961
The E.W. Sutters have received word of the birth of a new grandson in Athens, Greece. John Peter is the son of Sp. 4 and Mrs. Dennis Kapas. Mrs. Kapas is the former Gretchen Sutter.
55 Years Ago – February 25, 1971
During the month of January 1971, the total enrollment of the Owen-Withee Public Schools changed from 1,128 to 1,135.
45 Years Ago – February 19, 1981
Everett Lindgren, Owen, has been hired by the Withee Village Board to be the new part-time police officer for the village.
Hene Supply of rural Withee celebrated its one-year anniversary last weekend by serving coffee and cookies and offering specials on items in the store. But if you’re looking for Mr. Hene at Hene Supply, you won’t find him. Hene is an acronym using the first letters of the names of the owners and their wives. The letters stand for Harry and his wife, Elizabeth Weaver, of Fleetwood, PA, and Noah and his wife, Edna Weaver, of Withee.
35 Years Ago – February 21, 1991
Mr. and Mrs. David Hatlestad, Withee, are proud to announce the engagement of their daughter Tanya to William Ovyn, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Ovyn. A September 14 wedding is being planned.
25 Years Ago – February 21, 2001
O-W Sports and Liquor has installed a gasoline pump. It’s only one pump, but it’s a Godsend for Owen. There has been no gasoline available in the city since late fall.
Luverne and Betty Kroeplin of Stanley proudly announce the engagement of their daughter Wendi Kroeplin, to Kevin Henke, son of David and Vicki Henke of Owen. A June 9, 2001 wedding is planned.
15 Years Ago – February 23, 2011
On Sunday, February 13 at 5 a.m. when restaurant owner Sally Smith came to open up, the first thing she saw was no door knob in which to put the key. She didn’t bother going any further; she immediately called her husband Gary, who in turn called the police. The burglar(s) took various items from the restaurant of which Sally wasn’t at liberty to divulge. The burglary is under investigation.
Devin Szpara ran into a westbound Canadian National train at the tracks on County T north of Withee. The accident happened at approximately 6:25 a.m. on Wednesday, February 16. Engineers on the Canadian National train did not know they had been hit until contacted by Clark County Sheriff’s deputies.