A haunting in Elroy

The
County Line
SERVING KENDALL, ONTARIO, NORWALK, WILTON AND ELROY
October 30, 2014
Vol. 31, No. 49
BHS STUDENTS
TO PERFORM PLAY
PAGE 4
ROYALL WINS VB
REGIONALPAGE 6
BHS CROSS
COUNTRY IS
STATE-BOUND
PAGE 7
“Experience is a hard
teacher because she
gives the test first, the
lesson afterwards.”
­— Vernon Sanders
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l
Kendall,
Wilton
have rash
of break-ins
75 cents
A haunting in Elroy
A series of break-ins in Wilton and Kendall over the past
few weeks has area residents
nervous and concerned.
On Monday, Monroe County
Sheriff Pete Quirin confirmed to
the County Line that break-ins
had been occurring, but he declined to say how many to avoid
jeopardizing the investigation.
Quirin did say that rumors
that four men were involved
and that one was brandishing a
weapon were not true.
“I have not heard that number,” he noted, and said there
have been no incidents in which
v ict i ms were t h reatened or
harmed in any way.
He did concede that items
taken were mostly those that
could easily pawned or sold.
He urged residents to lock
their vehicles and homes and
noted that his office’s special
investigative team is now working on the case.
Royall proceeds
with $2.44
million energyefficiency project
By Sarah Parker
County Line Reporter
Moving forward with a largescale energy-efficiency project,
the Royall School Board approved a measure on Monday
to borrow $2.44 million for a
range projects, including a new
roof and an enhanced security
system.
The debt will be outside of
the state-imposed revenue limits for school district, but, due to
state rules, it does not need to be
approved via a referendum.
With the project, the district’s portion of the mill rate
t h is yea r w i l l be $11.56 per
$1,000 of equalized valuation.
To determine equalized valuation, the state Department of
Revenue applies a formula to
the assessed value, taking into
account factors such as property sales.
That’s a drop from last year’s
figure of $14.36; though, if the
district hadn’t approved the
project, the mill rate would have
been $10.19 this year.
The failing high school roof
will account for about half of
the project’s cost, board members noted. But the remainder
of the upgrades, such as new
lighting a nd low-f low water
systems, would result in savings of about $1.2 million over
20 years, according to school
documents.
Swamp Manor
Haunted House in
Elroy will be open
for the last time
Friday night. Hours
are from 7–10 p.m.
Friday, and cost
is $5 per person.
Proceeds from the
haunted house,
which is at Schultz
Park (Hwys. 80/82),
benefit the Elroy Fair.
For more information, call 542-0258.
The County Line
Page 2
Vernon County
Sheriff ’s Report
Monday, Oct. 20, and Tuesday, Oct. 21: The sheriff’s
office responded to two complaints of reckless shooting.
A bullet hit a house on Shady Lane in the town of Forest.
It passed through the wall of a house, through a laundry
room and lodged in a closet wall. Also, a bullet went by
a person at Pine Crest Resort Mobile Home Park in the
town of Wheatland. No injuries were reported.
Monday, Oct. 20: A lock on a barn on Harris Road
in the town of Stark had been cut. It did not appear
anything had been stolen.
Tuesday, Oct. 21: Two Stihl chainsaws were stolen
from an outbuilding on County Highway F in the town
of Forest.
Tuesday, Oct. 21: A Stihl chainsaw was stolen from
a truck at a residence on Hickory Road in the town of
Hillsboro.
Friday, Oct. 24: David Woodliff of Onalaska stopped
in the alley at Center Street near West Street in Stoddard to
get something out of his car trunk. Kathy Larson of Coon
Valley backed out of a parking stall and hit the Woodliff vehicle on the rear passenger side. No injuries were reported.
Friday, Oct. 24: Big River Bar and Restaurant in
the town of Genoa was burglarized. It was unknown if
anything had been taken.
Saturday, Oct. 25: A burglary to a garage at Sunset
Point Court in the town of Bergen was reported. Miscellaneous tools and power tools had been taken, including two Thakita 18-volt drills, a reciprocating saw, a
light and a circular saw. Also stolen were an iPod and
iPod docking station, a camouflage Mathews Bow and
a black bow case.
Saturday, Oct. 25: A second burglary to a garage on
Sunset Point Court in the town of Bergen was reported.
Among the missing items were a chainsaw, a drill, a
ratchet set and a jump box.
Saturday, Oct. 25: Carl Kirschner of De Soto was
turning from Highway 27 onto Highway 82 in the town of
Franklin when he struck a legally parked vehicle belonging to Pixly Sletten of De Soto. No injuries were reported.
ppp
The Vernon County Sheriff’s Office responded to
numerous reports and complaints of trespassers on
private properties last week.
ppp
Ten crashes involving deer or other animals were
reported last week:
• Heather Greeno of Stoddard, on Highway 35, town
of Bergen
• Nancy Wright of Genoa, on Highway 35, town of
Bergen
• Elayne Hass Proksch of La Crosse, on County
Highway O, town of Bergen
• Lucas Begeman of Chaseburg, on Highway 162,
town of Bergen
• Arnold Harris of Boscobel, Wis., on Highway 27,
town of Christiana
• Virginia Booher of Viola, on Highway 56, town of
Liberty
• Jacob Froehlich of Mondovi, Wis., Highway 14,
town of Kickapoo
• Robert Benish of Hillsboro, on County Highway F,
town of Forest
• Brandon Parr of Hillsboro, on Warner Avenue,
town of Union
• Maria Le Jeune of Westby, on Highway 14, town of
Viroqua
Brookwood student in rural Norwalk crash
Brookwood High School student Ashley Letcher sustained minor injuries Friday morning after losing control
of her vehicle on Niagara Avenue in rural Norwalk. She was taken to Vernon Memorial Hospital in Viroqua,
where she was treated and released.
Royall evacuated due
Pete Flesch
to bomb threat
A bomb threat issued by posted note caused Royall Schools to evacuate the buildings Oct. 22.
Police searched both school buildings and found
no evidence of a threat, according to Superintendent
Mark Gruen. Also, a bomb-sniffing dog was brought
in from Madison, but detected nothing threatening
The note was found in a high school bathroom at
the end of the school day. The Elroy Police Department, Juneau County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin State
Patrol, and Wisconsin DNR immediately responded
It likely will be difficult to identify the culprit,
Gruen said, as the school does not have security
cameras in hallways, though enhanced security is a
part of the district’s pending construction projects
Royall Schools was session the following day
Those seeking more information may contact
Gruen at 462-2600.
What’s behind
the picket fence?
Winter is Coming!
Effective
November 17, 2014
Kendall Trucking
And Excavating
Will Be Taking Over For
Schroeder Lumber Yards
Gas And Tank Sales
For Welding And Torch Needs.
Please Call Us At
608-463-7125.
October 30, 2014
Getting things
done for you.
Robust Rural
Economy
Authorized and paid for by Pete Flesch
Strong
Assembly Campaign, Wade Dull, TreasurPublic Schools
er.
Consistent
Local Control
Vote November 4th
Authorized and paid for by Pete Flesch Assembly Campaign, Wade Dull, Treasurer.
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Norwalk, Ontario,
Kendall, Wilton and Elroy
Stop and See Us for All Your
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The County Line
October 30, 2014
Norwalk Thanksgiving
dinner set for Nov. 9
Page 3
Wilton Oktoberfest
The 17th annual Norwalk community free Thanksgiving dinner is set for 4–6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, at the
Norwalk Community Center,
Everyone is welcome. If they’d like, attendees
may bring vegetables, salads, pies ,desserts, door
prizes, donations for the meal, or talent for entertainment.
Turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls
and cranberries will be provided.
If you need a ride or a dinner delivered, contact,
Theresa Lehner at 823-7942.
The event is sponsored by Friends of the Community/Amigos de la Comunidad. For more information,
contact Theresa Lehner at 823-7942 or Barb Ornes at
823-7872.
Wilton Fire Dept.
Halloween
Dance
Saturday,
November 1st
from 8-Midnight DJ
Wilton Legion Hall
•Cash Prizes for
Best Costume at 11:00 pm
•Door Prizes
•Gun Raffle
Bob and Gladys Harrison dance Sunday at Wilton’s Oktoberfest, an event sponsored by the Wilton Lions Club.
The County Line’s deadline is 12 p.m. Tuesday
WHAT’S BEHIND
THE PICKET FENCE?
There’s still time to buy
a Classic...but not much
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Elroy,
City,
StateWi.
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608-462-5119
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*Once proposed EPA rules are in effect, the retail sale of Classic furnaces in the United States will no longer be allowed. According to the
EPA, the proposed standards would only apply to new wood heaters and will not affect wood heaters already in use in home or wood
heaters currently for sale.
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Page 4
The County Line
October 30, 2014
BHS to perform ‘I Never Saw Another Butterfly’
Next month Brookwood High School students will perform “I
Never Saw Another Butterfly,” a dramatic adaptation of the book
by the same name. The play depicts Jewish children who lived in
the concentration camp Terezin during World War II. Showtimes
are slated for 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, and 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov.
15, in the high school gymnasium.
Above: Sabrina Smith (back) and Claudia Alcantar. Right: Danielle Check, Dakota Markell and Hannah Keith. Below, left: Dakota
Markell, McKenzi Rogalla, Hannah Keith and Claudia Alcantar.
Below, right: Ryan Menn and Claudia Alcantar.
Left: Addison Arndt. Above: Emily Kansaku. For more
photos, go to www.thecountyline.net.
October 30, 2014
Kendall Holiday Fair
Friday Nov 7 8:30-5:00
Saturday Nov 8 8:30-1:00
Kendall Community Hall
Free Admission
Lunch Available
Crafts, decorations,
produce, baked goods, Gifts
Lunch Available
The County Line
Fun
&
Food
Page 5
RiversEnd • Ontario
Halloween Bash
Saturday, November 1 9:30 - DJ
CASH Prizes
for Best Costume - 11:30
DAD’S BELGIAN WAFFLES
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8
4:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Ontario Community Hall
Honoring Our Veterans
Sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 467
All You Care To Eat $5.00 per Person
Veterans and Children 5 & Under Free
Monroe County Historical Society’s
79th
Halloween
Skating Party
Friday, October 31
6 to 8 pm
Ontario Community Hall
es
z
i
r
P
s
e
m
Ga ments
h
s
e
r
Ref
Ontario Trick or Treat Hours 4-7 pm
Swamp Manor
Haunted House
at Schultz Park, Home of Elroy Fair
Hwy. 80/82 South
October 17-18, 24-25, & 31
7-10 pm Each Night
$5 per person
Children’s Matinee October 25th from 1-3 pm, $3 per person
Friendlier Monsters for Younger Kids
Information call 608-542-0258
Proceeds to Benefit Elroy Fair
Arts-Crafts
and Country Gifts Show
Saturday, November 1st
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sparta Senior High School
506 N. Black River Street
Sparta, Wisconsin
350 Booths All Under 1 Roof!
Free Admission!
Food Served!
Excellent Parking-with parkers
Handicapped Parking Near Building (Bring Your Card)
Great Christmas Gift Shopping
Holiday Decorations, Jewelry, Soaps, Sweatshirts,
Paintings, Baby Items, Baked Goods, Snowmen, Santas,
Table Runners, All Manner of Stitched Items
The County Line
Page 6
October 30, 2014
Royall rolls to sectionals after narrow win over Hillsboro
By Nate Beier | For the County Line
The Royall (26–10) volleyball team
qualified for sectionals for the sixth time
in program history following a close 3–2
win against rival Hillsboro on Oct. 25.
Hillsboro won the opening set 25–21
and came back to win the third set by the
same score, but Royall won the second
set 25–22 before settling in for a 25–17
victory in the fourth set and 15–7 win in
the finale.
Coach Craig Baeseman said, “We
d id n’t sta r t of f rea l st rong aga i nst
Hillsboro. It was a big crowd, we were
a l it t le ner vou s, may be, a nd t he y
(Hillsboro) played real well. After losing
game three, we settled down and got
off to a big 10-point lead and held that
throughout the game.”
Baeseman continued, “In the fifth
set, we believed we would win, had the
momentum, and t wo si x-point runs
helped.”
Leading all players, Paige Hyer had
32 kills in the win. McKenzie Baeseman
and Bekah Cleaver each added 8 to the
team total.
The visiting Tigers ended the season
16–18 overall.
“We knew them, and even though
they beat us early in the year, we believed
we were more balanced, and if we played
our best, we would win,” said Baeseman.
“It’s the first regional championship for
any of the girls, so it was special for them.”
Allyson Stanek helped the team with
six digs, four serving aces and two blocks.
Baeseman led the team with 30 assists
and 15 digs. Hyer added eight digs; and
Kelsea Storkel, seven.
The win marks the fourth straight
time Royall defeated a Hillsboro team to
advance to sectional play. In 2008–10, the
Panthers were able to defeat the Tigers
to get to the equivalent of the Sweet 16
round of play. Hillsboro defeated Royall
3–0 in 2011 in a Division 4 regional final.
Then, Royall bested North Crawford 3–0
in 2003 and Melrose-Mindoro in 2000
for its first two regional titles, both in
Division 3.
REGIONAL SEMIFINAL
Royall handed Wonewoc-Center a 3–0
loss to cut the Wolves’ season short on
Oct. 23. The Panthers, led by Baeseman
with 12 kills, won 25–20, 25–18 and 25–16.
Cleaver had 12 assists in the win.
REGIONAL QUARTERFINAL
The Panthers opened postseason play
with a quick 3–0 win over Weston on Oct/
21. The team tallied 17 serving aces, four
by Baeseman and three a piece by Hyer,
Stanek and Storkel. Hyer put down 10 kills
in the win.
SECTIONAL SEMIFINAL
Royall will host Plum City (15–14)
tonight (Thursday) as the sectional round
of the WIA A tournament progresses.
The game is set for 7 p.m. at Royall High
School. The winner will face the winner
of the River Ridge/Southwestern match
in Shullsburg at Onalaska Luther on
Saturday at 7 p.m.
AT A GLANCE: PLUM CITY
Coach: Nanette Murray (ninth season)
T he Blue Dev i ls f i n ished 15 –14
overall and 5–4 in the Dunn-St. Croix
Conference, tying St. Croix Central for
fourth place. Colfax won the DSC.
See Volleyball, page 12
Schroeder Lumber
Will Close November 15
All Stock Must Go!
10% OFF
(15% OFF for Purchases
Over $200)
Thank You To Our
Customers For
Your Support
We Will Still Take Orders, But Payment
Must Be Made In Advance
Schroeder Lumber
113 N West Railroad St.
Kendall, Wi.
463-7182
Salvage Yard Remains Open
Paige Hyer (pictured) and the Panthers will host Plum City tonight to begin sectional
play. Hyer recorded 53 kills in Royall’s three regional wins, 32 of which came in a 3–2
win regional final win over Hillsboro. (Nate Beier photo | gx3media.smugmug.com)
Land O’Lakes
Maintenance Technician
The Land O’Lakes Animal Milk Products plant at 654 Bridge St, Union Center, WI presently has (3) full-time Maintenance Technician openings. These positions are responsible for
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Primary work hours for first shift will be 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. and
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Qualified candidates must possess skills in electrical, automation, mechanical, troubleshooting, fabrication and also have some HVAC, pipefitting and welding skills. Previous
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skills are necessary. In addition, a willingness to work overtime is necessary.
Candidates will be required to pass a maintenance aptitude test and
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Land O’Lakes offers excellent wages & benefits as follows
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MANPOWER will be accepting applications at
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Monday through Friday from 8 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
Please call 608-374-2040 if you have any questions or need an application sent to you.
October 30, 2014
The County Line
Page 7
BROOKWOOD BOYS BACK TO STATE
By Nate Beier | For the County Line
Key improvements among the ranks of Brookwood’s
fastest five helped the team capture runner-up honors
in a strong field of competitors and qualify for the WIAA
state meet for the third straight season.
Dylan Smith led the way for the Falcons, finishing
fifth overall while setting a personal record for the
season by nearly a minute. Jared Johnson ran in
17:46.7, good for 11th overall; and Zane Peterson,
18:07.3 for 19th. Chase Ferries cut almost two minutes
from his time on the same course earlier in the year
to finish 28th overall (18:33.4), and Billy Nusse shored
up the scoring runners with an 18:40.7 (31st).
Also, Heriberto Santiago finished in 19:12.7; and
Devan Summerfield, 19:21.9.
Coach Mindy Waddell said, “Although our goal
was to win the sectional meet, we are happy to have
the chance to run again at the state meet on Saturday”
Winning the boys race, Westby’s Spencer Oftedahl
finished in 16:41.9; Aquinas won the team title with
a score of 55. Also, Brookwood’s 91 was just 2 points
better than Cochrane-Fountain City’s score. Westby
finished fourth with 112 points.
The Westby girls, however, won the team title with
a score of 40, 20 points better than that of runner-up
Aquinas, which was in Division 3 for the first time this
season. Brookwood edged Melrose-Mindoro 93–99 for
third place behind top 15 finishes by Allyson Nelson
(8, 20:26) and Alexis Gnewikow (14, 21:06.2).
In a time of 18:58.9, Aquinas’ Jenny Lichter won
the girls race.
As with most races, the final three scoring runners
made the difference, and Saturday’s finish was no
exception. Briana Nelson took 17th overall; and Keelie
Suhr, 25th. Teammate Taylor Schmitz finished with
a time of 22:22.9.
Melrose-Mindoro’s final three scoring runners
finished 20th, 22nd and 38th overall.
“They truly ran their hearts out, and I do not think
a single one of them could have run any harder,”
Waddell said. “Although the girls did not advance
to the state meet, each of them ran their best races
of the season; all seven members of the team ran a
personal best of the season. They all pulled together
at the right point of the season and gave it their best.”
Lailie Gagner finished 33rd overall (22:48.5); and
Leidi Santiago, 55th (25:02.9).
Adva ncing to t he state meet, A l lyson Nelson
finished third among individuals. Joining Nelson
from the Scenic Bluffs were Annie Haas, who became
the second female runner in school history to move on
to the state meet from Hillsboro, and Alex Kershner,
who became the first representative to advance from
Bangor since 2010.
The state meet will be Saturday, Nov. 1, at The
Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids. The boys
race is at 11:30 a.m.; and the girls, at 1:30 p.m.
Above: Dylan Smith and
Zane Peterson lead the
Brookwood boys from the
starting box at the onset
of the boys sectional
race in Westby on Saturday. Smith finished first
for the Falcons, and Peterson, third, as the team
clipped ahead of C-FC by
just 2 points to advance
to the WIAA state meet
as a team for the third
straight season.
Right: Ally Nelson leads
Bangor’s Alex Kershner
to the halfway point
at the WIAA Division 3
sectional race in Westby
on Saturday morning.
Nelson and Kershner
both qualified for the
state meet after finishing
third and fifth individually. (Nate Beier photos |
gx3media.smugmug.com)
Norsemen top Falcons in regional
By Nate Beier | For the County Line
A strong first-set push wasn’t enough
to upset the fourth-seeded Westby volleyball team, as the visiting Brookwood
Falcons were felled 3–0 in the opening
round of WIAA tournament play.
Westby notched a narrow 26–24 win
in the first set, and then cruised through
the second two, 25–17, 25–12, for the
match sweep.
“We had some amazing plays and
really kept the fight alive the first set,
inching our way to a win, but ended up
losing,” said coach Jeanine Brieske. “(We)
started out the next two sets flat. We came
back with big runs in the second set, but
couldn’t get over the hump.”
In the loss, Amber Brueggen and
Zoey Rynes each tallied eight kills and
12 digs. Rylee Hall added five kills; and
Alex Decker, four.
Brookwood finishes the season 15–14
overall.
What’s behind a picket fence?
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Opinion
Page 8 | The County Line
Natural beauty
is Wilton area’s
greatest asset
By Randy Ballwahn
Madison
An open letter to the Town
of Wilton Board:
I grew up in Wilton. I get
it. Any time the area has an
opportunity for economic
development, it’s tempting to
jump at it. But don’t forget that
the natural beauty of the area,
not the gravel underneath it, is
your biggest asset. I still come back several
times a year. I bring my family,
and sometimes we bring friends.
We eat in local restaurants,
drink in local taverns, and buy
vegetables and flowers and
canned goods from farmers.
We camp. And, yes, we ride our
bikes on the Elroy-Sparta trail.
And I know I’m not the
only one bringing money into
Monroe and Juneau counties
on a regular basis because of
the great people and natural
beauty of the Elroy-KendallWilton-Norwalk-Sparta area.
I’ll come back anyway because
of my folks and my friends
and relatives there. But as for
others, there are a lot of recreational choices in Wisconsin.
They dodge plenty of trucks
in Madison and Baraboo and
La Crosse and Janesville. They
ride state bike trails with their
kids so they can avoid dodging trucks. And they will most
likely choose another of the
beautiful state trails when
word gets out that Wilton
doesn’t care about their health
and safety on the Elroy-Sparta
trail. Please consider ways that
everyone can win. If another
suitable site for the gravel pit
can’t be found, at least consider
requiring the construction a
box culvert tunnel under the
road (similar to the one under
Highway 71 near Norwalk) so
that bikes and trucks are not
directly in each other’s path.
I’m sure truckers don’t want to
worry about hitting a biker any
more than bikers want to worry
about getting run over. Thank you for serving your
township, and please don’t
forget to represent the interests
of everyone who loves Wilton,
whether residents or visitors. Nerison is not
a ‘moderate
Republican’
By Don Foy
La Farge
A recent article in a local newspaper described Lee
Nerison, a representative for
the 96th Assembly District, as a
“moderate Republican.”
Not at all. Nerison has
voted with Speaker Robin Vos,
who leads the charge for the
Walker administration’s ALECinspired agenda, 437 out of 440
times. Vos is a member of the
American Legislative Exchange
Council (ALEC), a national
organization of legislators
October 30, 2014
Letters to the Editor
and corporate representatives
that crafts corporate wish-list
laws: things like softening
environmental requirements
to minimize the consequences
of resource extraction, softening consumer protection laws
to let corporations off the hook
if their product proves injurious, and weakening regulatory
agencies so that they can’t effectively do their jobs (as seen
in the case of groups in Kewaunee County petitioning the
EPA to investigate widespread
water contamination there
because the DNR is not up to
the task).
ALEC is a privatized legislation mill that has its members
who are elected officials push
its efforts in state assemblies.
As far as I know, Lee Nerison is not a member of ALEC,
but Robin Vos is, and if Lee
votes with him 99.32 percent of
the time, the effect is the same.
And the effect is NOT a moderate Republican. The effect is
another agent who wants to
undermine the very government he is sworn to uphold and
supplant it with a corporate
fiefdom. Way to go, guys.
Pete Flesch is the Democratic candidate running
against Lee Nerison. Vote for
Pete Flesch on Nov. 4.
Happy dog
teaches lessons
relevant
to local politics
By Tim Welch
Wilton
Last Wednesday morning
when I got up, the happy face
of my dog reminded me that it
was time for my next lesson.
On Tuesday evening, I attended the public hearing of
the Town of Wilton on the proposed Mathy quarry. Emotions
ran high, and I heard many
friends and neighbors passionately arguing their points
during and after the meeting.
It reminded me of the last few
months and the battle I have
had on the Wilton Village Board
over the future of the NorwalkWilton Police Commission.
Village President George
Dougherty and I both believed
strongly in our arguments, and
at times this clearly showed to
those in attendance. George
made a better case, and I lost.
Anyone who owns a dog
will understand what it is that
my dog is trying to teach me,
and it may be hitting home. He
is spoiled rotten. He gets lots of
extra treats, long daily walks
without a leash so he can run
free, and all of the attention he
wants.
Recently he injured his
leg. The vet says he must lose
weight and his exercise must
be limited so that his leg
can heal. As much as I try to
explain this to him, he just
doesn’t get it. His disappointment at the smaller portions
at mealtime, fewer treats, and
fewer and shorter walks on that
blasted leash is clearly communicated.
But you know what?
When I get up in the morning or walk in the house at
night, his tail still wags like
crazy, his face still lights up,
and he still rubs against me
in the same way that feels so
good to both of us.
I was very disappointed
when I lost my battle on the
village board, and I’m sure that
however the quarry issue ends,
it will leave those on one side
or the other feeling much the
same, but I have discussed this
with my dog and he recommends this: In my case, in spite
of my disappointment, the next
time I see George Dougherty or
any of those who voted against
me, I should wag my tail and
lick his or her face (not literally). I should focus more on who
has for years filled my food and
water dishes, scratched behind
my ears, or rubbed my tummy
(also not literally) and less on
the shorter walks. I should
remember the respect and appreciation I have for those who
serve my community and not
some recent disagreement.
We can learn a lot from
our furry friends, but I did
let my dog know at the end of
our conversation that there is
one human trait that I will not
relinquish. If my argument
on the police commission
should prove correct over the
long haul, I will scream “I told
you so,” and if it should prove
incorrect, I shall speak not a
word.
A decisionmaking tool
By Wes Westra
Many years ago, I learned a
technique for decision making. Useful for deciding a job
change, buying a house, picking a college major, or even
choosing or leaving a spouse.
This is how it works:
Take a sheet of blank paper,
draw a horizontal line in the
middle, and place a plus (+)
above the top half and a minus
(-) above the bottom half. All
positive issues are placed in
the upper portion and negatives in the lower.
After the town of Wilton
meeting of Oct. 21, I did this in
reference to issuing a use permit to the Mathy Corporation
for a gravel/sand mine. This is
my result.
On the plus half:
1) Financial gain for Mathy
Corporation
2) Lower cost for gravel and
sand for local residents
3) Financial gain for the
three sellers of land to Mathy
Corporation
There is no tax gain and no
new employment opportunities
for the township. If there are
any additional pluses, inform
me through the County Line.
On the negative side:
1) Twenty-four hours of
rock-crushing noise for nearby
residents
2) Fine dust in the downwind parts of the township
3) Noise and earth-shaking
tremors from the blasting
4) Noise from jake breaks
and safety issues from 100
gravel trucks driving to and
from the mine on a daily basis
5) Damage to the town
and state roads caused by the
above number of trucks (One
18-wheeler loaded does as
much damage to as road as
9,600 cars. A shorter wheel base
loaded gravel truck may inflict
the same of greater amount of
damage as an 18-wheeler.)
6) Noise from diesel engines
traveling up a 13 percent grade
in low gear
7) Logan Road issues with a
large number of gravel trucks
sharing a very steep road with
Amish buggies
8) Integrity issues of a rock
ledge adjacent to the Ross farm
yard
9) Light pollution in the
area around the mine operating 24 hours a day
10) Finding a safe way to
handle the bike trail Logan
Road crossing
11) Possible loss or contamination to adjacent water wells
12) The negative effect on a
nearby bed and breakfast/restaurant and campground
13) Future threat of having
a frac sand mine in the neighborhood
The duties for the three
town board members are to
act in the best interests of the
Wilton Township residents.
This would eliminate the first
plus, as the Mathy Corporation
is not in the town of Wilton. In
light of the above, why would
we want this and how would
you expect the town board to
cast their vote.
In 1971, my wife and I
purchased 66 acres along the
Elroy-Sparta Bike Trail and
developed Tunnel Trail Campground. The first tax year, the
taxes paid on our land were
listed near the bottom in the
yearly resident/business real
estate tax directory. Today,
because of our financial investment in the township, the
campground is near the top for
the real estate taxes paid. Considering the position in the list
of taxes paid, I would think the
town board would work in the
campground’s best interest.
The vote made by my three
board members indicated that
this is not true. Their interest is
providing financial gain for the
Mathy Corporation and three
land-selling owners, and lower
cost for gravel/sand to local
residents.
Three Town of Wilton
board members disregarded
the welfare, safety and quality
of living of the many for the
benefit of the few.
Is this a classic example of
taxation without representation?
Meeting on
stopping Wilton
quarry set for
Nov. 10
By Pat Conway
Ontario
On Nov. 10 at 6:30 p.m.,
there will be a community
organizing meeting at Dorset
Valley School Restaurant to
plan action steps to stop the
Wilton quarry. Dorset Valley
Restaurant is located at 26147
Hwy. 71, outside of Wilton.
At the meeting, we will develop the campaign to replace
all three Wilton Town Board
members in the spring elections.
We will also look into a lawsuit against the Wilton Town
Board for voting to approve the
permit while knowing that one
board member had a conflict
of interest and should have recused himself from the voting.
All are welcome, and any
effort to help stop the quarry
will be encouraged and supported.
The elephant
in the room
By Eric Zingler
Kendall
Michael Caruso, editor in
chief of Smithsonian Magazine, stated in the April 2013
travel issue, “Tourism has
become one of the most powerful, most influential and leastexamined forces in the world.
It produces $6.5 trillion of the
global economy and employs
one out of 12 people on earth.”
He quotes Elizabeth Becker
in her tourism investigative
work “Overbooked,” in which
she says, “In gross economic
power, it is in the same company as oil, energy, finance
and agriculture”: http://www.
smithsonianmag.com/issue/
april-2013/?no-ist. In that issue,
Baraboo, Wis., earned the rank
of No. 4 out of the 20 best small
towns for tourism and culture
based on the analysis of information company Esri (http://
www.esri.com/).
Wisconsin tourism statistics mirror Caruso’s remarks
estimating $17.5 billion in Wisconsin tourism revenue http://
industry.travelwisconsin.com/
the-power-of-tourism. Despite
the economic impact tourism
has on so many Wisconsin
communities, there seems to
be a negative undercurrent
toward tourism in our area,
symbolized by the “highly
overrated” comment Karen
Parker quoted in her article
‘Town of Wilton quarry sparks
high emotion.”
This attitude was echoed by
a bartender when I asked him
if he got business from the bike
trail. His reply was, “Bikers
don’t drink; snowmobilers do.”
But that is not true. The booze
flows freely during RAGBRAI,
Iowa’s annual bike ride across
the state, which generates
See Letters, page 9
The County Line
October 30, 2014
South Ridge News
By Alice Brandau
W
e were on a mystery tour last Wednesday. Our
son Gale and his wife Ardis had been asking us
to set aside a day for this excursion, so we agreed. We
headed southwest, and our first stop was the Sunshine
Orchards high above Gays Mills. It’s a popular place
with two Greyhound busses filled with tourists in the
parking lot at 10 a.m.
After tasting apple cider and buying two dozen apple
cider donuts, we were on our way to ??? We took Highway
131 to Wauzeka, and then headed toward Dubuque,
Iowa, following some country roads unfamiliar to us.
We saw a lot of beautiful country and many fall colors.
Our mystery was solved, and we started a tour of the
National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium. It
is huge. It is very interesting, with excellent displays of
times past and a look to the future with life on this great
Mississippi. Like most museums, you could spend days
watching the large display of turtles from all over the
world, the freshwater fish and the saltwater creatures,
the movies, and so much more. There is much walking,
but wheelchairs are available. It was a great mystery tour
with perfect weather accompanying us.
ppp
The benefit for Jeff Martalock on Nov. 8 will be held
at the Wilton Community Center and not the Wilton
American Legion Hall as I stated last week.
Forty-two years ago, a couple from Chicago purchased an unkempt piece of property on South Ridge.
Their road left County Highway P and went a mile or so
back to this secluded area. They remodeled this charming country home. Family came for visits throughout the
years, but now Mary Kay O’Brien has sold the property.
I met Mary a couple weeks ago and wish I had had the
opportunity to meet her a long time ago. Life is definitely
too busy and going too quickly.
Manuel and Joanne Miranda took Joanne’s mom
Doris Beier on an outing a week ago. They visited Doris’
sister and husband, Doug and Gloria Kendall, in Fitchburg, Wis., enjoyed the Olbrich Gardens in Madison
before spending some time visiting Doris’ brother Rick.
And a beautiful fall day added to their trip.
David and Cathy Brandau, sons Chad and Cade, and
several family members were part of the large crowd
that attended the last barbecue chicken dinner for 2014
at Rockton on Sunday.
Darlene Martalock joined Dave and Myrna Fauska
and Joe and Marge Collins on Wednesday for their annual cousin’s reunion. They gathered at the home of
Jerry and Anita Dahlby of Holmen with 11 first cousins
and seven spouses.
On Friday evening, Frank and Darlene attended the
delicious chili/soup supper at the Ontario Community
Hall. Proceeds from the benefit will support the Ontario
Public Library.
The St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church history book is
finished, and, after the committee and council viewed
a sample copy, it is on its way for the final publication.
It has been a long journey for this group, with a good
number of setbacks. One member, Darlene, kept track
of the times we met, 52 in all, with some long hours and
some short discussions following church services. The
book contains 185 pages with many colored photos as
well as black and white. We are confident it will be a
keepsake for many.
Well, they came with rakes, power saws, cleaning
clothes and lots of ambition on Saturday, and what they
did in six hours would take Bob and I six months or more.
My windows are shining; my bottom cupboards, which
are hard for me to clean, are sorted and now provide
more room. Really, how many Cool Whip/sour cream
containers does one need? They are in the recycling
bin. I have a spotless bathroom with new lighting. The
loads of maple leaves are now mulch for the neighbor’s
garden, and when son-in-law Matt comes with a chainsaw, things happen. There comes a time when age puts
limits on a person, and when family comes with help,
it is a total blessing!
And that’s it for Oct. 27, 2014.
Ontario group to work on community group of stories
By Laurie Erickson | Ontario librarian
Help us create a community book on Friday, Oct.
31, at 12:30 p.m. Do you have stories you would like to put
in writing? They could be stories about growing up, stories
about a fictitious village like Ontario, or stories about the
past or future. Let’s create a community book of stories —
true or not — about the Ontario area. Bring a friend and join
us as we brainstorm what a community book could contain.
ppp
Trick-or-treaters can stop at the library for a treat on
Halloween. Don’t forget your costume.
ppp
Playgroups continue each Wednesday at 10 a.m. for
preschool children. Join us for stories, activities, crafts
and snacks.
ppp
Brookwood High School students are collecting
❚❚ Letters
(Continued from page 8
$21 million dollars in revenue to participating communities and organizations http://ragbrai.com/. As one
cook at a small town said, “Ride RAGBRAI? ... I lost my
virginity on RAGBRAI!” http://draftmag.com/features/
party-in-the-cornfields/. So maybe being Wisconsin’s
most family-friendly trail is not so bad after all.
One problem facing small towns wanting tourism
dollars is decreasing population. I was surprised that my
zip code has only 27 people per square mile http://www.
unitedstateszipcodes.org/54638/#stats. This means
there are fewer people to put in the time and effort to
capture tourism dollars. One solution is to leverage area
charity events. The La Crosse Lions had their seventh
annual ride for sight: http://www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/
lacrossewi/page-7.php. Rotarians ride to cure polio:
http://www.wkow.com/story/25547014/2014/05/18/lacrescent-apple-blossomtour-helps-fight-polio. Another
solution is innovation. Norwalk has a Boston Marathonqualifying event: http:// railstotrailsraces.com/.
None of these ideas may be enough. Tourism is an
interconnected, sometimes hard-to-see web joining all
facets of a community, from a place to stay to an Amish
piece of pie. State-level leadership should be considered.
We have Wisconsin tourism to help (http://industry.
travelwisconsin.com/research/) and the University of
Wisconsin (http://urpl.wisc.edu/people/marcouiller/).
The elephant in the room at the quarry meeting was the
donations for nonperishable food at the public libraries and at Fastrips in Ontario, Wilton and Kendall. The
donations can be dropped off until Friday, Nov. 21, and
will be given to CouleeCap in Sparta. Be the change. Be
the peace. Be the difference.
ppp
The book group will discuss “Fried Green Tomatoes at
the Whistle Stop Café” by Fannie Flagg at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12. The discussion will also will focus on the
movie based on the book. Copies of the movie and book
are available at the library. You can also view the movie
at 11:30 a.m. at the library just before the discussion on
Nov. 12. There will even be popcorn, or bring your lunch.
ppp
The Knit Wits meet each Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Bring your knitting or handwork project and join in the
spirited conversation. New knitters are always welcome.
future of our small towns. We need greater networking and participation from all trail town stakeholders
to leverage what each one offers. And we need vision.
This should be on the agenda of all town and township
board meetings.
What about the unalienable
rights of the unborn?
Page 9
South Side News
By Myrna Fauska
O
ctober 2014 is almost history as I write this. We have
a few busy days yet this week, but we will be ready
to welcome the 11th month on Saturday. Remember to
vote Tuesday.
Evelyn Zirk always enjoys visits from her nieces,
and on Tuesday, Diane Lawry and Debbie Jackson came
and took her out to lunch at the Hidden Inn in Kendall.
When they brought her home, they helped her with
some household tasks. On Wednesday, Ev’s three sons
returned from a trip to Jerry’s lake home in Hayward,
Wis., where they took out the pier for the winter. When
they got home, Jerry attended the visitation for Gale
Burkhalter in Kendall.
On Thursday, Steve Zirk called on his cousins, and
later in the day, Jerry attended the monthly reunion of
his high school class at Rotten Brothers in Clifton. On
Saturday, Ev and Jerry went to Elk Mound, Wis., to her
granddaughter Amanda and hubby Bryan Dachel’s,
having lunch at the Acoustic Cafe.
On Sunday afternoon, Lance and Rachel Schumann
came from Sun Prairie, Wis., to spend several hours with
his dad, Steve.
My husband Dave and I picked up his sister Darlene
Martalock on Wednesday and met sis Margery and
spouse Joe Collins in Sparta. From there, we drove to
Holmen for a Dahlby cousins reunion at the home of
Jerry and Anita Dahlby. Darl’s husband Frank was still
suffering from his bout with shingles and elected to stay
home and rest. On Friday evening, Dave and I watched
the movie “Heaven Is Real” at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kendall. The Kendall Public Library
sponsored the showing.
On Thursday afternoon, Bob and Gladys Roszkowski
of Eagle, Wis., arrived at Ron and Arlene Garvens to
spend a few days with them. They went to Marshfield,
Wis., where they attended the annual quilt show at the
high school Saturday.
Mary Parkhurst hosted the Helpful Homemakers
for brunch Wednesday morning. They firmed up plans
for the rest of the year and cleaned out Mary’s horde of
old homemaker material that has been collecting in her
spare room. They also elected officers, and Karen Arzt
is the new president, with other officers remaining the
same. On Friday evening, Jim and Mary had supper at
the Milk Jug Cafe in Ontario.
On Tuesday night, Lynette Vlasak and Sally Dana
attended the Kendall Lions Club meeting at Thunder
Alleys. On Thursday the gals attended Gale Burkhalter’s
funeral at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Kendall. That night, they attended the Royall volleyball
game, and on Friday evening, they were at the movie at
the church. On Saturday they attended the 50th anniversary celebration for Harry and Linda Fiske at the Ontario
Community Hall, and that night they watched the Royall
volleyball team win the Scenic Bluffs championship. On
Sunday they were at The Ranch with the Zellmer family
as they celebrated Lowell and Arlys’ 46th anniversary.
As you can see by reading this column each week,
the Lord continues to bless us abundantly. In spite of
ailments and times of grief and mourning, He is still in
charge. This life isn’t perfect, but for those who put their
faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior, the next life
will be. As we muddle through each day, trying to live as
He would have us do, we can remember that when our
time here is over, a new and perfect body awaits us where
there is no pain or sorrow. Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Working For You!
By Michael T. Gjefle | Ontario
I could not help but notice the ad in last week’s
County Line by the Vernon County Democratic Party
stating that “we believe that human beings are born
with certain unalienable rights.”
Let’s just stop there for a minute. This is the same
party that consistently supports a woman’s right to
take the life of her unborn child by legalized abortion. Every human comes the same avenue, through a
mother’s womb. Life begins at conception, and killing
an unborn baby takes a human life every time. Of all
the unalienable rights to concern ourselves with, the
right to life ought to be first and foremost. Abortion is a
tragic method of birth control. Often people talk about
women’s rights, yet half of all unborn children aborted
are likely girls, and what about their women’s rights?
I would encourage all citizens to vote and inform
yourselves where politicians stand on the issue of abortion. It is a matter of life and death for those who have
no voice — the unborn. Vote for leaders who are pro-life.
The Only
Candidate With
The Experience To:
✓ Protect your pocketbook and
strengthen our economy.
✓ Grow and protect agriculture.
✓ Ensure our workforce is trained to meet the needs of
employers.
Vote NERISON
For State Assembly
November 4th
Paid for by Friends of Lee Nerison, Roger Niedfeldt, Treasurer
The County Line
Page 10
A very thought-provoking question
By Pastor Michael T. Gjefle | Faith Independent Baptist Church, Ontario
Proverbs 20:9 — “Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from
my sin?”
How would you answer that question? Each of us has a problem with sin — our
own. Mankind through many different ways tried to cover up, ignore, or get rid of
our sin. Yet the Bible makes it clear in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and come
short of the glory of God.”
Later, Romans 6:23 tells us that the “wages of sin are death BUT the gift of God
is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
As sinners, we all will someday die. The old must die, and the young may die …
then what? Hebrews 9:27 — “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after
this, the judgment.” This is serious business. Listen, only by repenting of our sin
before God and by having faith (believing) on the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior
can we be saved and then say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin.”
By believing on the Son of God our Savior, He saves us and cleanses us from
sin, makes us one of His children for all eternity. He promises us that He will never
leave us for all eternity. That is good news for mankind, and now is the time to
act upon it.
Isaiah 1:18 — “Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your
sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow.”
BANK OF
ONTARIO
Full Service Bank
Drive Up and Night
Depository
Ontario, Wi.
337-4406
MEMBER FDIC
ARCHIE MONUMENTS
Monument Counseling
Reasonable Prices
Peter Krueger
608-985-8026
E4249 Hwy. 33, La Valle,
WI 53941
archiemonumentsandstone.com
St. Matthew’s Lutheran
Church, South Ridge
Steve Neuman, Pastor
Worship, 10:30 a.m
Sunday school, 9:30 a.m
www.alivethroughchrist.com
Do you need an extra encouragement from God’s Word
this week? View weekly Bible
Based messages online at
www.alivethroughchrist.com/
sermons
Grace Lutheran Church
226 Erickson St.,
Elroy
462-5398
Pastor Wes Dunbar
5 p.m. Saturday and
10:15 a.m. Sunday —
Worship
(healing service instead
of worship on last full weekend
of the month)
9 a.m. Sunday — Sunday school
Zion Ev. Lutheran Church
520 Fountain St., Elroy
Sunday service 9 a.m.,
Lord’s Supper second
Sunday,
fellowship third Sunday
Faith Congregational
Church, Wilton
Worship — 9 a.m.
Grace Community
Church, Ontario
Pastor Bruce Milleman
Sunday Worship:
9:30 a.m.
Sunday School: 11 a.m.
St. Joseph’s Catholic
Church, Kendall
Saturday, 7:15 p.m. Confessions,
8 p.m. Mass
Sunday, 7:30 a.m. Mass
Faith Independent
Baptist Church
Mike Gjefle-Pastor
Smith-Nelson
Funeral Home
Tomah
•Kendall
463-7178
•Wilton
435-6622
Picha
Funeral Home
Hillsboro
Elroy
489-2516 462-8256
Serving the Area Since 1962
Prearrangements/Prefunding
Monument Sales
Torkelson WILTON
Funeral
Home
Ontario, Wi.
337-4787
501 E. South St., Ontario
337-4295
Sunday School-9:30 a.m.
Worship 10:30 & 6:30 p.m.;
Wednesday-Worship at
6:30 p.m.
Mt. Pisgah
Wesleyan Church
Rev. Robert Streeter
Sunday morning worship:
10:30 a.m.
Wednesday night for youth,
7th–12th grade, Ontario Community Hall: 5:45 to 7 p.m.
Saturday Night Contemporary
Worship: 7 p.m.
St. John’s Catholic
Church, Wilton
Sunday, 11 a.m., Mass
St. John’s Evangelical
Lutheran Church,
Kendall
Steve Neuman-Pastor
Sunday Worship-9 a.m.
Sunday School 10 a.m.
www.alivethroughchrist.com
Do you need an extra encouragement from God’s Word
this week? View weekly Bible
Based messages online at
www.alivethroughchrist.com/
sermons.
Immanuel and Salem
United Methodist Church,
600 Main Street, Norwalk
608-823-7523
9 a.m. Sunday School
10 a.m. Worship
Thanksgiving service
Wednesday, Nov. 26, at 7 p.m.
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
(ELCA)
401 Mill Street
Wilton WI
Fall/Winter Schedule
Sunday School 9:00 am
Worship 10:15 am
608/435-6647
[email protected]
PH. 608-435-6616
October 30, 2014
The call is confirmed
By Pastor Steve Neuman
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Kendall
St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, South Ridge (rural Ontario)
When an NFL referee announces the results of a replay review, normally one of
three possible answers is given: “the call on the field is confirmed,” “the call on the
field stands,” or “the call on the field is overturned.”
If a call is confirmed, it means there is visual evidence that the referees made the
correct call. If a call stands, it means that there wasn’t enough visual evidence to
confirm the call, but there also wasn’t enough evidence to overturn the call either. If
a call is overturned, it means that there is visual evidence that the referees made the
wrong call on the field. By NFL rules, there has to be “indisputable video evidence”
to overturn the call made on the field.
What if our eternal salvation worked like an NFL replay review? What would God
find if he went into the replay review of our lives and took a look at the evidence? If
our eternal salvation were based on a review of how we lived our lives, our salvation
would always be overturned. The evidence that stands against us is indisputable.
We are reminded of that in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God.”
But the amazing thing about that passage is that it doesn’t end there, it continues
in verse 24, “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came
by Christ Jesus.” To understand what that passage is saying, we need to understand
what it means to be justified. The word “justify” is really a courtroom term. It is a
declaration of “not guilty.”
How is it that we can be declared “not guilty” when a review of our lives proves
the exact opposite to be true? It’s all because of Jesus! When Jesus willingly went to
the cross and died, he did that for us. And when he died, he died for the sins of the
whole world (including yours and mine). Therefore, our sins have been taken away
and replaced with the perfect life Jesus lived on our behalf.
Therefore, when God goes into the replay booth of our lives, he no longer sees the
evidence that stood against us (i.e., our sins); instead, the replay shows the perfect
life that Jesus lived for us. That’s what it means to be justified.
If you would like an easy way to remember the meaning of the word “justify,” just
break it down into smaller part: just/if/y. Through Jesus’ death on the cross for us,
he made it “just” as “if” “I” never sinned. Therefore, the official review of our lives
announces: “the call of your eternal salvation is confirmed in Jesus.”
Kendall Lions Club to sell Christmas wreaths
By Lynette Vlasak | Kendall Lions Club
St. John’s Evangelical
Lutheran Church,
Ridgeville
-WELS Matthew Minzlaff-Pastor
Sunday School — 8:45 a.m.
Divine Worship — 10 a.m.
Tri-Parish
Catholic Community
Rev. Father Michael Klos
(608) 823-7906
Masses
Blessed Virgin Mary Church,
St. Mary’s Ridge
8 a.m. Sunday (11 a.m. Latin
Mass)
St. Augustine’s, Norwalk
7:30 p.m. Saturday (4 p.m.
Sunday Spanish Mass)
Sacred Heart, Cashton
4 p.m. Saturday
10 a.m. Sunday
St. John’s, Summit Ridge
8 p.m. Sunday
Evangelical Free Church
of Kendall
Pastor Robert Waschek
Sunday 9 a.m ., Family
hour 10:15 a.m., Worship
St. Patrick’s Catholic
Church, Elroy
Sunday, 9 a.m. Mass
Elroy United
Methodist Church
10:30 a.m. Worship
Brush Creek Lutheran
Church, rural Ontario
Nov. 2: 9 a.m., worship; and 10
a.m., Sunday school
Nov. 6: Brush Creek church
council meeting
Nov. 16: 10 a.m., Sunday
school; and 11 a.m., worship/
dinner
Nov. 30: 9 a.m., worship; and
10 a.m., Sunday school
Please recycle this newspaper
The Kenda l l L ions Club held its
monthly meeting Tuesday, Oct. 21, at
Thunder Alleys.
The club will again sell Christmas
w reat hs. The w reat hs come in t wo
sizes, 24 inch and 36 inch. The 24-inch
wreaths sell for $12; and the 36-inch
ones, $20. Wreaths can be preordered
at the Kendall Library during regular
library hours or at the Kendall Holiday
Fair on Friday, Nov. 7, and Saturday,
Nov. 8. Wreaths will arrive the week of
Thanksgiving.
A note to all deer hunters: Deer hides
are again being sought. Watch for deerhide collection boxes; one is located at
the Fastrip in Kendall. Your donation of
deer hides goes to help support the Lions
Camp in Rosholt, Wis.
Lion Cheryl Scheeter was presented
a president’s pin for her service as the
president of our Lions Club for the past
year, and Lion Raye Walz received a pin
recognizing his work in advancing Lion
Club membership.
The Kendall American Legion and
the Kendall Lions Club will again work
together on the senior fruit bags.
Elroy meal site to offer Thanksgiving meal Nov. 25
By Karen Nelson
Elroy meal-site manager
November is here. We hope everyone
got out to enjoy the beautiful fall colors.
They were just gorgeous this year.
We will have our Thanksgiving meal
at the Elroy site on Tuesday, Nov. 25.
Come and join us for turkey, stuffing and
all of the great fixings. Call 462-5175 if
you plan on coming. Don’t forget to take
time to remember all that we have to be
thankful for.
The foot clinic will be back to the
second Thursday of the month (Nov. 23).
Call for an appointment.
The senior bus will go to Tomah on
Friday, Nov. 14, and it will go to La Crosse
for a viewing of the Christmas lights
Friday, Dec. 12. Call the ADRC office in
Mauston at 847-9371 to reserve a spot.
The birthdays for November are the
following: Nov. 4, Norm Hyer; Nov. 7,
Karen Nelson; Nov. 8, Brenda Steinmetz;
Nov. 22, Joan Sartori; Nov. 23, Dickie
Towne; and Nov. 27, Gene Preuss. We
wish all of these people a happy birthday.
What’s
behind
the
picket
fence?
A Sweet Lady In Arlington, Va.
Is 101
Happy Birthday
Ruth Kramer
From Fern, Louise,
Ed & Ardys
Visit us online: www.thecountyline.net
The County Line
October 30, 2014
VILLAGE OF KENDALL
PROPOSED 2015 BUDGET
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR TOWN OF RIDGEVILLE
Notice is hereby given that on Monday, November 17, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ridgeville Town Hall, a Public
Hearing on the proposed 2015 budget of the Town of Ridgeville in Monroe County will be held. The
proposed budget in detail is available for inspection at the Clerk’s office by appointment. The following is a
summary of the proposed 2015 Budget:
PROPOSED
GENERAL FUND
2014 BUDGET
2015 BUDGET
Revenues
Property Tax Levy
WI Shared Revenue
Transportation Aid
Other Revenues
TOTAL
$134,739
$37,193
$82,690
$24,288
$278,910
$136,070
$37,193
$85,966
$77,027
$336,256
Cash Reserves
TOTAL
$20,000
$298,910
$5,000
$341,256
Expenditures
General Government
Public Safety
Public Works
Health & Human Services
Capital Outlay
Debt Service
TOTAL
$58,988
$57,626
$30,300
29,500
$180,279
153,800
$1,575
3,100
18,000
$0
$27,768
$298,910
$62,693
$32,638
$163,577
$1,580
$53,000
$27,768
$341,256
Notice of Special Town Meeting of the Electors for the Town Of Ridgeville-2015 Budget
Notice is hereby given that on Monday, November 17, 2014 immediately following completion of the Public
Hearing on the proposed 2015 budget, a Special Town Meeting of the electors called pursuant to Sec. 60.12
(1)(c) of WI Statutes by the Town Board for the following purposes will be held:
1. To approve total highway expenditures for 2015 pursuant to Section 82.03 of WI Statutes.
2. To approve the 2015 town tax levy pursuant to Section 60.10 (1) (a) of WI Statutes.
Notice of Town Board Meeting
The regular monthly Town of Ridgeville Board Meeting will be held immediately following the Special Town
Meeting on November 17, 2014 at the Ridgeville Town Hall. The meeting agenda will be posted.
Dated: 30 October 2014
Rita Williams
Town of Ridgeville Clerk
WNAXLP
NOTICE OF PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING
TOWN OF Wellington
Notice is hereby given that on Tuesday, November 11, 2014 at
7:00 p.m. at the Town Hall in Wellington Township, a public hearing will
be held on the 2015 Proposed Budget. The Proposed Budget in detail is
available at the clerk’s home by appointment. The following is a summary of the proposed 2015 Budget.
General Fund
2014
2015 Proposed
Revenue
Local Levy
Shared Revenue
Transportation Aid
Miscellaneous
FEMA Reimbursement
TOTAL
Budget
117,441
58,273
94,672
5,000
0
275,386
Budget
118,182
58,387
98,473
5,000
0
280,042
Expenditures
General Government
Public Safety
Recycling & Solid Waste
Highway
Equipment Reserve
FEMA (Town’s Share)
TOTAL
45,000
23,000
13,000
189,386
5,000
0
275,386
46,000
28,000
13,000
181,682
11,360
0
280,042
NOTICE OF SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
Notice is hereby given that on Tuesday, November 11, 2014, immediately following the Public Hearing on the Proposed Budget, a Special Town Meeting of the Electors called pursuit to Section 60.12(1)C of
WI Statutes by the Town Board for the following purposes:
1. To approve the 2015 highway expenditures pursuant Section (82.03)
of Wisconsin Statutes;
2. To adopt the 2015 town tax levy to be paid in 2015 pursuant to Section (60.10)A of the Wi. Statutes;
3. To adopt the 2015 Proposed Budget.
Notice of Town Board Meeting
Notice is also hereby given, that the regular monthly Wellington Town
Board meeting will be held immediately following the adjournment of
the Special Town Meeting on November 11, 2014 at the Wellington Town
Hall. The meeting agenda will be posted.
Larry Arndt, Town Clerk
WNAXLP
Please recycle this newspaper
Page 11
Notice is hereby given that on Monday November 10, 2014 5:45PM, a Public Hearing for the proposed
Village 2015 Budget , will be held at the Kendall Community Hall. The Regular Monthly Board Meeting
will follow the Public Hearing for adoption of the 2015 Budget. The proposed budget in detail is
available at the Village Office during regular office hours.
% OF
2014
2015
REVENUES
CHANGE
BUDGET
BUDGET
2014
GENERAL PROPERTY TAXES
116,300
125,266
OTHER TAXES
33,813
15,107
INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUES
173,525
190,412
LICENSES & PERMITS
3,793
2,660
PUBLIC CHARGES FOR SERVICES
20,548
24,120
MISCELLANEOUS REVENUES
48,340
47,255
TOTAL REVENUES
396,319
404,820
2.145%
EXPENDITURES
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
68,530
90,550
PUBLIC SAFETY
79,575
75,359
PUBLIC WORKS
140,661
130,551
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
4,011
3,700
CULTURE, RECREATION & EDUCATION
51,017
54,509
CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT
385
485
CAPITAL OUTLAY
10,740
4,160
DEBT SERVICE
39,000
39,506
POST EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT
2400
CONTINGENCY FUND
6000
2.145%
TOTAL EXPENDITURES & RESERVES
396,319
404,820
CASH BALANCE (EXCLUDING ADVANCE TAX ROLL
COLLECTIONS)
RESERVED
UNRESERVED
TOTAL CASH BALANCE JANUARY 1
January 1
204,612
190,945
395,557
December 31
204,612
190,945
395,557
The amount levied is the General Fund only, TIF District Funds ar not included
NOTICE OF PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING FOR
THE VILLAGE OF NORWALK
Notice is hereby given to the residents of the Village of Norwalk
NOTICE OF PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING FOR THE VILLAGE OF NO
that a Public Hearing for the 2015 proposed budget will be Tuesday,
November
14given
at 6:45pm
in of
the
Village
meeting
room.
Notice is hereby
to the residents
the Norwalk
Village of Norwalk
thathall
a Public
Hearing for
the 2015A
propo
Tuesday, November
14 at 6:45pmVillage
in the Norwalk
Village
hall meeting
room.
meeting ofhall
the Norwalk
meeting
of the Norwalk
Board
at 7:00
pm in
theAVillage
will V
in the Village
hall willthe
follow
to adopt
the 2015 budget.
A detailed
2015 Budget
is onisfile
in the
follow
to adopt
2015
budget.
A detailed
2015
Budget
on
fileclerk’s
in of
during regular office hours.
the clerk’s office and can be inspected during regular office hours.
2014
REVENUE
Taxes:
General Property Taxes
Other taxes
Intergovernmental Revenue
Licenses & Permits
Public Charges for Services
Interest Income
Total Revenue
EXPENDITURES
General Government
Public Safety
Public Works
Sanitation
Leisure & Conservation
Urban Development & Housing
Non Departmental & General
Debt Service
Reserve for Contingencies
Total Expenditures
Cash Balance January 1(excluding
Advance Tax roll collections)
Reserved
Unreserved
Total cash balance January 1
Budget
Proposed
167,005.00
2,006.00
221,391.00
2,080.00
23,168.00
_ 200.00
415,850.00
169,587.00
2,006.00
220,018.00
2,780.00
23,320.00
___________
417,711.00
56,600.00
82,875.00
98,000.00
23,000.00
60,375.00
3,000.00
17,000.00
75,000.00
__________
415,850.00
56,600.00
88,500.00
103,711.00
23,000.00
60,900.00
3,000.00
17,000.00
65,000.00
____________
417,711.00
144,000.00
126.000.00
270,000.00
Cash Balance December 31 (excluding
Advance tax roll collections):
Reserved
Unreserved
Total cash balance December 31
150,000.00
200,000.00
350,000.00
Property Tax levied for Municipality
169,587.00
Sharon K Karis
Village clerk/treasurer
2015
139,000.00
110,000.00
249,000.00
150,000.00
160,000.00
310,000.00
Sharon K Karis
Village clerk/treasurer
WNAXLP
The County Line’s deadline
is 12 p.m. Tuesday
The County Line
Page 12
October 30, 2014
Elroy Public Library has open house for new community room
By Mary Waarvik | Elroy librarian
The newly restored basement of the Elroy Public
Library was dedicated at an open house on Saturday,
Oct. 25. A good group of people enjoyed both the wonderful weather and the first view of this newly remodeled facility.
The estate of Gib and Evelyne Lee was a major
❚❚ Volleyball
(Contributed from page 6)
Senior Taylor Chilson and junior Jillian Holt lead the
Blue Devils’ offense, with plenty of help from setter
Jillian Holt.
In Murray’s first season (2006) as head coach, the
team won the Alma regional and fell to Hillsboro 3–0
at Cashton in a sectional semifinal. Plum City last advanced to sectionals in 2012, after defeating CochraneFountain City 3–2. Hillsboro dropped the Blue Devils
again in a sectional semifinal at Brookwood 3–1.
What’s
behind the
picket fence?
Election Notice
Notice is here given that a General
Election will be held on the 4th day of November, 2014. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m.
until 8:00 p.m.
Town of Clifton
20785 Co. Hwy A Camp Douglas
Mary Cook, Clerk
Town of Glendale
27337 Mocha Road Kendall
Cheryl M. Scheeter, Clerk
Town of Sheldon
29490 Hwy 131 Ontario
Deborah Ferries, Clerk
Town of Ridgeville
103 E. Water St., Norwalk
Rita Williams, Clerk
Town of Wellington
27503 Cty Hwy P Kendall
Larry Arndt, Clerk
Town of Wilton
23988 Hwy 71 Wilton
Becky Pitel, Clerk
Town of Whitestown
S1701 Sandhill Rd. La Farge
Mona Spohn, Clerk
Village of Kendall
210 South Railroad St. Kendall
Evelyn (Lynne) Hanson, Clerk
Village of Norwalk
208 S Church St. Norwalk
Sharon Karis, Clerk
Village of Ontario
205 State St. Ontario
Terri Taylor, Clerk
Village of Wilton
400 East St. Wilton
Lori Brueggen, Clerk
WNAXLP
donor to this project. In thanks to them, the room
has been designated the Lee Communit y Room.
Their three daughters — Kathy Olson, Marcia Lindner and Rebecca Lee — were present to cut the three
ribbons.
John Weger, president of the Elroy Library Board of
Trustees, made a brief speech about the project and its
donors. The Friends of the Library and library board
members decorated and provided refreshments for this
special day. The Nifty Needlers sewing group lent the
quilts on the wall.
The Lee Community Room is available for use by
public organizations or by rental by private groups.
If you are interested in making use of this new community area, please contact the Elroy Public Library
at 462-2407.
NOTICE OF GENERAL ELECTION
AND SAMPLE BALLOTS
November 4, 2014
OFFICE OF THE VERNON COUNTY CLERK
TO THE VOTERS OF VERNON COUNTY
Notice is hereby given of a general election to be held in the several wards in Vernon
County,on the 4th of November, 2014, at which the officers named below shall be chosen. The
names of the candidates for each office to be voted for, whose nominations have been certified
to or filed in this office, are given under the title of the office and under the appropriate party or
other designation, each in its proper column, together with the questions submitted to a vote, in
the samp1e ballot below.
INFORMATION TO VOTERS
Upon entering the polling place, a voter shall state his or her name and address and sign
the poll book before being permitted to vote. If a voter is not registered to vote, a voter may register
to vote at the polling place serving his or her residence if the voter provides proof of residence.
Where ballots are distributed to voters, the initials of two inspectors must appear on the ballot.
Upon being permitted to vote, the voter shall retire alone to a voting booth or machine and cast
his or her ballot except that a voter who is a parent or guardian may be accompanied by the
voter’s minor child or minor ward. An election official may inform the voter of the proper manner
for casting a vote, but the official may not in any manner advise or indicate a particular voting
choice. Where hand-count paper ballots are used, the voter shall make a mark (X) in the square
next to the name of the candidate of his or her choice for each office for which he or she intends
to vote. To vote for a person whose name does not appear on the ballot, the voter shall write in the
name of the person of his or her choice in the space provided for a write-in vote. On referendum
questions, the voter shall make a cross (X) in the square next to “yes” if in favor of the question,
or the voter shall make a cross (X) in the square next to “no” if opposed to the question. Where
an optical scan voting system is used, the voter shall fill in the oval or connect the arrow next to
the name of the candidate of his or her choice for each office for which he or she intends to vote.
To vote for a person whose name does no! appear on the ballot, the voter shall write in the name
of the person of his or her choice in the space provided for a write-in vote, and fill in the oval or
connect the arrow on the write-in line. On referendum questions, the voter shall fill in the oval
or connect the arrow next to “yes” if in favor of the question, or the voter shall fill in the oval or
connect the arrow next to “no” if opposed to the question. Where touch screen voting systems
are used, the voter shall touch the screen next to the name of the candidate of his or her choice
for each office for which he or she intends to vote, To vote for a person whose name does not appear on the ballot, the voter shall type in the name of the person of his or her choice in the space
provided for a write-in vote. On referendum questions, the voter shall touch the screen next to
“yes” if in favor of the question or the voter shall touch the screen next to “no” if opposed to the
question.
NOTE: A voter must vote for Governor and Lieutenant Governor jointly on one ticket. A
vote for Governor is also a vote for Lieutenant Governor. To vote for persons whose names do not
appear on the ballot, write the names of1hdfviduals for both offices on the lines provided. The
vote should not be cast in any other manner, Not more than five minutes’ time shall be allowed
inside a voting booth. Sample ballots or other materials to assist the voter in marking his or her
ballot may be taken into the booth 1ftld copied. The sample ballot shall not be shown to anyone
as to reveal how the ballot is marked. If a voter spoils a paper or optical scan ballot, he or she
shall return it to an election official who shall issue another ballot in its place, but not more than
three ballots shall be issued to any one voter. If the ballot has not been initialed by two inspectors
or is defective in any other way, the voter shall return it to the election official who shall issue a
proper ballot its place. The elector may spoil a touch screen ballot at the voting station before the
ballot is cast. . After casting his or her vote, the voter shall leave the voting booth, properly deposit the ballot, and promptly leave the polling place. After an official hand~count paper ballot is
marked, it shall be folded so that the inside marks do not show, but so the printed endorsements
and inspectors’ initials on the outside do show. The voter shall then deposit his or her folded ballot in the proper ballot box or deliver the ballot to an inspector for deposit, and leave the polling
place promptly. After an official optical scan ballot is marked, it shall be inserted in the security
sleeve so the marks do not show. The voter shall then insert the ballot in the voting device and
discard the sleeve, or deliver the ballot to an inspector for deposit. If a central count system is
used, the voter shall insert the ballot in the ballot box and discard the sleeve, or deliver the ballot to an inspector for deposit. The voter shall leave the polling place promptly. After an official
touch screen ballot is cast, the voter shall leave the polling place promptly. A voter may select an
individual to assist in casting his or her vote if the voter declares to the presiding official that he
or she is unable to read, has difficulty reading, writing, or understanding English, or that due to
disability is unable to cast his or her ballot. The selected individual rendering assistance may not
be the voter’s employer or an agent of that employer or an officer or agent of a labor organization
which represents the voter.
The following is a sample of the official ballot:
GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND OFFICIAL SEAL
At the Vernon County Courthouse in the
City of Viroqua, Wisconsin
This 10th day of September, 2014
Ronald C. Hoff Vernon County Clerk
WNAXLP
The County Line
October 30, 2014
Page 13
Beier donates brown bear skeleton, black bear skull to Wilton library
By Gina Rae | Wilton librarian
p p p
We received an incredible donation
of a complete brown bear skeleton and
a black bear skull this week from Wilton
native LaVern Beier.
LaVern is an expert wildlife technician
with the Alaska Department of Fish and
Game, studying brown bear ecology. He
is in the latter years of a distinguished
career and says that he is happy to have
found a home for his specimens, and we
are proud to be the recipient. If you are
a conservationist, a hunter, or a student,
stop in the library to see this magnificent
example of our natural world. Are current events your bag? Please
join us at 10 a.m. Fridays for coffee and
civil discourse on entertainment, sports
and politics. p p p
Our knitting group is rejuvenating
with the change in the seasons. Join us
Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon to work
on a current project and keep up with the
work of others. p p p
Our new session of the Wilton Writer’s
Workshop is underway, and it is not too late
for you to join us. Our schedule is as follows:
Nov. 4, an event; and Nov. 11, an opportunity
missed or an opportunity taken.
We will meet on those Tuesdays from
2–4 p.m. If at all possible, please submit your
story by email ([email protected]/
wilton) ahead of time so that I can have a
printed copy on hand. Attendance each
week is not mandatory, but I do think there
is much to be gained by sharing your work
and hearing the work of others. ppp
There will be no school Friday, Oct.
31, and we will show the movie “Hocus
Pokus” in the library at 10 a.m. This will
be a fun morning for kids of all ages to
pass the time before trick-or-treating.
ppp
Preschool playgroup is at 10 a.m.
Wednesdays. Join us for stories, crafts and
NOTICE OF REFERENDUM ELECTION
NOVEMBER 4, 2014
a snack. N-O-W teacher Kathy Johnson’s
4-year-old kindergarteners will join us
Wednesday, Oct. 29. We’d like to invite
preschoolers to come in costume on that day
for a Halloween-themed program and some
practice trick-or-treating. Mostly treating.
p p p Save t he date! We w i l l spend a
morning with local author Larry Scheckel
on Monday, Nov. 17. Scheckel has just
released his new book, “Seneca Seasons:
A Farm Boy Remembers.” In the book, he
recalls growing up in the hill country of
southwestern Wisconsin, where he and
his eight siblings lived on a farm and
attended a one-room school.
He will lead a discussion of his rural
life experience and sign copies of his
book. This event will be free of charge.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that at an election to be held in the several towns, villages, cities, wards, and election
districts of the State of Wisconsin, on Tuesday, November 4, 2014, the following questions will be submitted to a vote
of the people pursuant to law:
QUESTION 1: “Creation of a Transportation Fund. Shall section 9 (2) of aiticle IV and section 11 of article VIII of the
constitution be created to require that revenues generated by use of the state transportation system be deposited into
a transportation fund administered by a depaitment of transportation for the exclusive purpose of funding Wisconsin’s
transpo1tation systems and to prohibit any transfers or lapses from this fund?”
This referendum is a result of 2013 Enrolled Joint Resolution 1, a copy of which can be viewed or downloaded from
the Government Accountability Board’s website at http ://gab .wi.gov. A copy also can be obtained from the office of the
county clerk, or the Legislative Documents Room at I East Main Street, Madison, Wisconsin.
DONE in the County of Vernon, this 11th day of September, 2014.
GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND OFFICIAL SEAL
At the Vernon County Courthouse in the City of Viroqua, Wisconsin
This 11•h day of September, 2014
/s/ Ronnld C.Hoff Vernon County Clerk
LaVern Beier, formerly of Wilton, donates a brown bear skeleton and a black bear
skull to the Wilton Public Library. (Contributed photo)
NOTICE OF PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING
TOWN OF WHITESTOWN, VERNON COUNTY
Notice is hereby given that on Tuesday, November 11, 2014 at
6:30 p.m. At the town hall a public hearing on the proposed 2014 Budget of the Town of Whitetown in Vernon County will be held. The proposed budget in detail is available for inspection at the town clerk’s
home or town hall by appointment. The following is a summary of the
proposed 2014 budget:
General Fund:
Revenues
Tax Levy
Shared Revenues
Transportation Aid
PILT Payments
Bridge Aid
Misc. Revenues
TOTALS
2014 Budget
$129,498
$56,958
$105,088
$109,488
$2,708
$10,621
$414,361
2015 Budget
$129,621
$56,958
$109,307
$109,222
$41,000
$8,682
$454,790
Expenditures:
General Government
Public Safrty
Roads
Bridges
Re-Evaluation
Loans
TOTALS
$52,198
$15,000
$284,599
$5,416
$0.00
$57,148
$414,361
$55,800
$15,000
$228,594
$82,000
$16,500
$56,896
$454,790
NOTICE OF SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
OF THE ELECTORS OF THE TOWN OF WHITESTOWN,
VERNON COUNTY
Notice is hereby given that on Tuesday, November 11, 2014 following the completion of the Public Hearing on the Proposed Year 2015
Budget, a Special Town Meeting of the Electors called pursuit to Section
60.12(1)C of WI Statutes by the Town Board for the following purposes:
1) To adopt the 2014 Town levy to be paid in 2015 pursuit to section
60.10(1)(a) of WI Stats.
2) To adopt the 2015 Proposed Budget.
Notice is also hereby given that the Regular Monthly Board Meeting will be held immediately following the adjournment of the Proposed
Budget Hearing. Agenda will be posted.
Dated this 27th day of October, 2014.
Mona Spohn, Clerk
WNAXLP
The County Line
Page 14
Kendall Public Library book
sale slated for November
By Lynette Vlasak | Kendall librarian
We will have a second book sale this year. It will be
the same week as Kendall’s Holiday Fair and will feature
a large number of children’s books.
The sale will be in the library on Thursday, Nov. 6,
and Friday, Nov. 7, during regular library hours, and on
Saturday, Nov. 8, from 8 a.m. to noon. In addition to children’s books, we will have a variety of adult titles for sale.
ppp
The Sit ‘n Knits will have a table at the Holiday Fair
(Nov. 6­–7), and their afghan will be on display. They are
accepting donations for a chance to win the afghan, with
proceeds to benefit our library.
ppp
The next meeting of our book club will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, at the library. We will discuss “Confessions of a
Shopaholic” by Sophie Kinsella. If you would like to join us,
stop in the library to pick up a copy of our November book.
The Professional Directory
To advertise in the Professional Directory,
call the County Line at 337-4232
Valley Wood
Products
Handcrafted Custom
Fine Furniture
on Floor Display
Bring Your Special Ideas
We Build Your Dreams
8 am to 5 pm Mon-Sat
18736 Nickel Ave.
Norwalk, Wi. 54648
ppp
As Friday is Halloween, we are looking forward to
seeing some of our costumed patrons stop by for a treat.
We are open until 6 p.m., so be sure to put us on your
trick-or-treating route before we close.
New children’s books available
at Norwalk Public Library
By Jeanne Rice | Norwalk librarian
The Norwalk Public Library has new children’s
books:
• “Bear Says Thanks” by Karma Wilson, with illustrations by Jane Chapman
• “Five Silly Turkeys” by Salina Yoon
• “Little Red Riding Hood,” retold and illustrated by
Andrea Wisnewski
• “Thanksgiving Day Thanks” by Laura Malone Elliott, with illustrations by Lynn Munsinger
L.G. Nuzum
Lumber Co.
Senior Menus
Specializing in Transmissions
Tires, Brakes,
Exhaust and more
21640 Nordale Ave
Ontario, WI 54651
608-435-6443
Mon-Fri 8am-5pm
Saturdays
830am-12noon
New construction and
plumbing repair.
Home and farm
Affordable rates and
free estimates
Dustin Landsinger Master Plumber
727 Water Ave.,
Hillsboro
489-3141
Andrew N. Peterson,
Elroy Auto Supply, LLC
and Home Store
263 Main
Elroy, Wis.
(608) 462-5192
Restoration of
Antique & Modern
Clocks
509 Main St, Wilton
608-435-6806
Joe Hernandez
Horologist
FROM THE PHARMACIST WHO
KNOWS, AND KNOWS YOU
Farmers Town
Mutual Ins. Co.
400 East St.
Wilton, WI 54670
Phone: (608) 435-6901 or 1-800-499-6650
*More than 125 years of service*
Farm-Home-Business-Auto-Liability-Renters
Serving Monroe, Juneau, Vernon, La Crosse &
Jackson Counties
~Before you renew,
call us for a free quote~
Pete Schmitz
Darlene Wedemeier
Ray Moriarty (Auto)
Lynn Miller
Hillsboro, WI
1-608-487-5358
KENDALL, NORWALK
AND WILTON MEAL SITES
Monday, Nov. 3: Pork cutlets and mushroom gravy,
baked potatoes, green beans and peaches
Tuesday, Nov. 4: Barbecue chicken, herb rice, pickled beets and cookies
Wednesday, Nov. 5: Polish sausage, mashed potatoes, kraut and pears
Thursday, Nov. 6: Ham, au gratin potatoes, lettuce
salad and cranberry fluff
Friday, Nov. 7: Cream of broccoli, hot dogs and fruit
cocktail
ELROY MEAL SITE
Monday, Nov. 3: Ham sandwiches, cheese slices,
potato soup, fruit salad and cookies
Tuesday, Nov. 4: Baked chicken, potatoes and gravy,
carrots, cranberries, dinner rolls and fruit
Thursday, Nov. 6: Beef stroganoff over noodles,
broccoli, dinner rolls, fruit and cake
Friday, Nov. 7: Sausage links or patties, hash
browns, scrambled eggs, fruit and cinnamon rolls
Lars
Auto
Service
•Complete Auto
Repairs
•Full Service
Auto Body
308 Main, Norwalk
823-7706
William Hagerman, P.T. JSCC
Certified Specialist in
Strain - Counter Strain Technique
100 W. South Street
Corner of HWYS 33 & 131
Ontario, WI 54651
608-337-4222 (office)
608-337-4827
(home)
608-337-4222
(fax)
Peterson
Pharmacy
ONTARIO MEAL SITE
Monday, Nov. 3: Barbecue pork sandwiches, scalloped potatoes, cheesy cauliflower and carrot cake
Tuesday, Nov. 4 (music day): Chicken casserole,
cheese sticks, spinach salad, pears and ice cream
Thursday, Nov. 6: Hamburgers, potato salad, green
beans and fresh-fruit cups
Friday, Nov. 7: Potato-crusted cod, rosemary potatoes, coleslaw, whole-wheat bread and cookies
Precision Physical
Therapy, LLC
Quality Building Materials
523 Broadway St.
Cashton, Wi
608-654-7871
8-5:00 M-Th
8-5:30 Fri.
8:30-1 Sat.
MC and Visa
The Country
Clocksmith
Landsinger Plumbing, LLC
Cashton
Building Supply
Full Service Auto Repair
122 E. Mill St.
Hillsboro, WI 54634
Office: 608-489-3132
[email protected]
ppp
The Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton Elementary School
traveling preschool playgroup will visit the Norwalk
Public Library from 10­–11:30 a.m. on the following
Wednesdays: Nov. 12, Dec. 17, Feb. 4, March 4, April 8
and May 6.
Three- and four-year-olds will play, hear stories and
have snacks while parents and caregivers get a chance
to talk to the playgroup presenters. Please feel free to
bring younger or older children.
Countryside Auto
L. G. Nuzum
Lumber Co.
The mystery-book group’s next meeting will be from
1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, when we’ll discuss William Kent Krueger’s “Red Knife,” the eighth book in the
“Cork O’Connor” mystery series. ppp
October 30, 2014
Schroeder Lumber Co.
113 W. N. Railroad St.
Kendall, Wi. 54638
608-463-7182
Check us out for:
•Small Projects •Remodeling
•Siding •Roofing •Additions
•Insulating •Pole Buildings
•New Construction
O’Brien Seed Dealer
Window & Screen Repair
Contractors Available
Please Check Us Out
(608) 823-7951
(608) 427-6650
(608) 847-7123
(608) 463-7163
Mid-Wisconsin
Pump & Well Service
•Residential •Farm
•Industrial
Old &
New Installation
•Goulds •Jacuzzi •Myers
24-Hour Service
Call 269-5178
Jason Schaitel
Call for a FREE Bacteria Water
Sample Test
Torkelson
Funeral
Home
Ontario, Wis.
Call 337-4787
Todd Torkelson
Classifieds
October 30, 2014 • Page 15
For Classifieds: 337-4232
SERVICES
SERVICES
FOR SALE
RUMMAGE
SALES
REAL ESTATE
NOTICES
COMPUTER REPAIR
Contact Dave Heilman at 608463-7646 or email dheilman@
centurytel.net. New and refurbished computers in stock. I
make house calls!
42tfnc
_________________________
EXPERT REPAIR on most brands
of appliances – 4 certified technicians to serve you. Mitby’s in
Cashton, 654-5144.
14uc
_________________________
QUALITY FOAM
SPRAY FOAM INSULATION
Crawl Spaces
NEW Construction
Almost Any Sealant Job!
608-343-4881
Mark “Smudge” Calhoun
608-317-8318
Bob “Tex” Ritter
17-9p
_________________________
MARGIE’S ON MAIN
SALON AND TANNING
Come in and see Margie or Kristen Simons for perms, cuts, colors, pedicures, manicures. Stop
in for all of your hair care needs
for the whole family. 416 Main
St., Wilton or call 435-6768.
47-49p
_________________________
MARGIE’S ON MAIN
SALON AND TANNING
Where bling is our thing. Huge
selection of western bling. Purses, wallets, caps, boots, belts,
jewelry and more. 416 Main St.,
Wilton. 435-6768.
47-49p
_________________________
CASHTON CUPBOARD &
CLOSET
It’s autumn, and prices are falling
at Cashton Cupboard & Closet!
Oct. 23 thru Nov. 1, everything in
the store is half-price! Check us
out at 9785 Ogden Ave. Mon.-Fri.
10-4; Sat. 10-1
48tfnc
________________________
FOR SALE on Sealed Bid. 60 acre
Farm on the edge of Norwalk, WI.
Borders Hwy 71 and Sparta/Elroy
bike trail. 43 tillable acres. Barn,
duplex home, and outbuildings.
Contact [email protected] or
608-823-7580 for details. Open
House Oct. 25 & 26 1:00-3:00 pm
47,48c
________________________
The Wilton American Legion Hall
is always available for wedding
receptions, banquets, parties, anniversaries, business meetings,
dances, etc. Call 608-343-5742
for appointment.
_________________________
FFA FRUIT SALE
The annual Brookwood FFA fruit
sales is currently going on. Apples, oranges, grapefruit, pears
as well as mixed fruit boxes will
be available. If an FFA member
does not call on you first, feel
free to call Mr. Von Ruden at 3374401 after 3:15 in the afternoon
to place an order. Orders need to
be placed before November 14th
to assure delivery before Christmas. We THANK YOU in advance
for your business.
48-50c
_________________________
“The Home of
Hand Picked
Used Cars”
The
A uto
Expo
305
West Clifton
Tomah, WI
(608) 372-3926
CONSTRUCTION-REMODELING
Doug Broxham
Nate Tainter
Carpentry, window replacement,
drywall, tile, finish painting
“We Do It All”
Please call 337-4334
47tfnc
_________________________
Use the
County
Line
Classifieds,
the
Best
Bargain
Around
FOR SALE: New Weatherby Upland 12 ga. pump shotgun. 2 3/43 in. barrel. $400.00. New Winchester 70 Featherweight 308
bolt action, 22 in. barrel. $800.00.
Call 608-387-5454 after 4:00 pm.
48,49p
_________________________
MARCELLA’S CHILD GIFTS, Division & Main St., Ontario, WI. Open
Wed.-Sunday 10-4, Friday noon6 pm. Candles, baby items, greeting cards, Western & country
decor. 1/2-price area. Facebook
page.
29ctfn
_________________________
HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED: Hiring machine
operators for all shifts. Apply at
NTM, Inc., 113 Railroad St., Elroy.
Phone 608-462-5066. Equal Opportunity Employer.
24tfnc
_________________________
LOWER YOUR HEATING COSTS WITH
• Low cost geothermal
• High efficiency gas furnaces
• High efficiency air conditioning
Sparta - 269-1500 Tomah - 374-5500 Cashton - 654-5522
www.flocksheating.com
For Your Convenience,
Classified Ads can now be submitted
through the County Line website,
and will be billed via Paypal.
Classified Ad Rates
First 30 words — $5.00/week.
Each additional word — 10¢/week.
To place an ad, send the ad,
WITH PAYMENT,
to County Line,
P.O. Box 7,
Ontario, WI 54651,
or bring the ad and payment to
our office,
207 N. Garden St., Ontario.
All classified ads must be paid before publication.
We are not responsible for content of ads
placed over the phone!
Ad deadline — noon Tuesday
FOR RENT
FOR RENT: Apartment for Rent
in Cashton. Ideal for Mature
Adults, Seniors, or People with
Disabilities: spacious 2- bedroom accessible apartment with
emergency monitoring call system, appliances, and convenient
laundry. Lawn care and snow
removal provided. $565/month
includes heat, garbage pick-up,
water and sewer. Optional garage rental. Call Debbie Tewalt
(608) 637-6340, Bethel Village,
904 Wall, Cashton.
49-51c
_________________________
FOR SALE: Land for sale between Wilton and Ontario. 34.5
acres , 11.5 is work and balance
pasture. Good for hunting. Call
343-6271.
49,50c
_________________________
WANTED
WANTED: Waste oil. Can pick up.
Call 608-435-6443.
49tfnc
_________________________
VISIT THE
COUNTY LINE
ON THE WEB
WWW.THECOUNTYLINE.NET
FOR SALE
2008 Hyundai Santa
Fe with 105,000
miles. See Lars Auto
in Nowalk or
call 823-7706
Indomitable
Pluck
One Railroad,
Three Tunnels and
America’s First
Rails-to-Trails Bike Path
-by Karen ParkerKickapoo Valley Press, 2010. Soft cover. 99 pp. including bibliography and index. Book details the history of the construction, operation, and eventual demise of the 32 mile stretch of North Western
Railroad track from Elroy to Sparta, Wisconsin, and how this 32
mile right-of-way became the first bike trail in the nation. Profusely
illustrated with photographs, and giving histories of the villages
(Elroy, Kendall, Wilton, Norwalk, and Sparta) along this stretch of
track. Special detail is given to the building of three tunnels along
the line, and the difficulties they posed for the North Western.
Order Your Copy by Sending $25
plus $3 Shipping ($28.00 total) to
Kickapoo Valley Press
PO Box 7
Ontario, Wi. 54651
Or Stop In at The
County Line Office in Ontario
CARD SHOWER
For
Floyd Prell
Floyd will have his 90th Birthday
November 8
Mail him at:
743 Arrowhead Blvd.,
Wilton, Wi. 54670
49p
_________________________
BARBER/BEAUTY SHOP
Still looking to set up Barber/
beauty shop, and also need 10
acres for horses, with or without
barn. Call Chris at 352-821-0884.
49-52p
_________________________
Do You Need?
Business cards?
Letterheads?
Price lists?
We also have rubber stamps,
wedding invitations,
thank-you notes,
NCR forms, receipts, and
just about anything else!
For all your business
stationary needs,
contact
The County Line
207 N. Garden St.,
Ontario 337-4232
Visit the County Line | www.thecountyline.net
The County Line
Page 16
Backtalk
By Karen Parker | County Line Editor
M
y favorite spot on the Elroy-Sparta State Trail
is Summit, the tiny town that once was and is
no more. Legend has it that when hundreds
of laborers were toiling away, digging tunnel number
3, diphtheria swept through the work camp, killing
dozens of men.
Most of workers were immigrants, unable to speak
the language and alone in a strange land. Certainly none
would have had the funds to be returned to his home
country for burial. And so where they dropped became
their final resting place. Over the years the wooden
crosses marking their graves crumbled away. As the
story goes, one of the Chicago and Northwestern’s last
tunnel watchers, Clarence Dittman, made new crosses
for the graves, perhaps in the 1930s or so.
Those crosses also are now gone, if they indeed ever
existed. I was never able to verify any part of the story in my
research, but it seems entirely possible. Untold numbers
of immigrant laborers died serving the explosive growth
of railroads in the 19th century. We do know that about
that time, the CNW began to require their employees to
wear numbers that matched their names in a company
book. The CNW then could match a body with a name,
something that previously had not been done.
Those men’s bones have long ago crumbled to dust,
and absolutely no one remembers their names. But what
if in some alternate reality, they could rise up and attend
the meeting last week on the proposed Mathy quarry?
What would they have thought?
Most likely they would be totally puzzled over by the
bike trail. Bicycles were not in common use in 1873. The
laborers who spent grueling days chipping away at the
rock in the tunnel would be astonished to encounter
men and women in bright-colored spandex wearing
protective helmets, Tourism for these guys was a 12-hour
day followed by a visit to the saloons and whorehouses
that followed the labor camps.
This was the Industrial Age, and progress lurched
forward with little care for the environment. Outside
the tunnel, the visitor can still see the seemingly endless
berms of rubble dug from the tunnel and cast aside. In
the interest of progress, they filled ravines, rerouted
waterways, and totally altered the landscape. I have a very
early photograph of the west end of tunnel No. 3 showing
the hillsides stripped bare of trees and vegetation.
The bike trail slices through some beautiful country,
but the trail itself is a creation of man, and the path it takes
would have appeared far different in 1870 than it does today.
It would be another 40 years before Theodore
Roosevelt designated the country’s first national park
and nearly a century until the railroad pulled up stakes
and sold its right-of-way for what was to become the first
rails-to-trails conversion
As the Mathy quarry controversy unfolds, it appears
the factions are lining up on two sides. Of course, this is
not a perfect division of the two sides, but it’s darn close.
On one hand are the environmentalists, convinced
that a quarry would do irreparable harm to a national
treasure. Last week, we heard from the head of the
Wisconsin Bike Federation, and judging from the
inflammatory language on its website, I suspect we will
hear even more in the future from the bicycling lobby.
On the other side are the entrenched locals, many of
whom can trace their stake in the area back generations.
They are likely to become immediately huffy when told
by “outsiders” how to manage their own environment.
Is it any wonder the t wo groups are at crosspurposes?
What seems to be forgotten in all the shouting is that
the Elroy-Sparta State Trail is not a pristine wilderness,
nor has it been for a long time. The moment the CNW
laid down tracks, the company created a transportation
corridor, and on the heels of the railroad builders came
the builders of stockyards, grain bins, coaling stations,
depots and warehouses.
When the automobile came into use, the highway
was constructed to parallel nearly all of the railroad
bed. The trail still crosses the highway in one place, and
there are dozens of secondary road crossings.
If the Public Service Commission grants ATC the
right to build a high-voltage line in its southern option,
bikers will see enormous transmission towers as they
bike the Great River Trail near West Salem, and in
Onalaska, the transmission lines will cross the trail.
Having survived all of those obstacles, what does
the biker have to greet him or her at the juncture of
the La Crosse River Trail and the Great River Trail? Oh,
nothing more than the sprawling Mathy asphalt plant.
If you hate quarries, imagine how you might feel about
October 30, 2014
an asphalt plant. But it doesn’t seem to stop the bikers.
They would agree with the words of the late Helen
What recreational users of the trail do not understand Bassett of Ontario, who told me more than once, “You
is, in this area, it is hard to throw a rock and not hit either can’t eat the scenery.”
a Mathy employee, someone related to a Mathy employee,
Each side v iews the quarr y proposa l through
or someone who has done
its ow n lens: One sees
bu si ne s s w it h Mat hy.
a recreat iona l to be
What seems to be forgotten in protected; and the other, a
Attempts to portray the
company as the nefarious,
all the shouting is that the Elroy- resource to be used.
no-goodnik Boris Badenov
nlikely
Sparta State Trail is not a pristine t h eIrt e s iese ma ns yu m
f r om t h e “Ro c k y a nd
idd le
wilderness, nor has it been for a g r ou nd . I n t he l a t e s t
Bullwinkle” cartoon series
fall on deaf ears. Between its
long time. The moment the CNW chapter, the disgruntled
own self-restraint and the
qua r r y opposit ion w i l l
laid down tracks, the company attempt to take over the
restraints of environmental
regulations, the company
created a transportation corridor, tow n boa rd w it h ne w
appears to have a sterling
ndidates. Imagine, a
and on the heels of the railroad ca
reputation in its business
real competition! Interest
builders came the builders of in serving on town boards
practices.
Those who support the
stockyards, grain bins, coaling is so low that most elected
quarry tend to be those
to serve can expect to stay
stations, depots and warehouses. for life if they so choose. I
who still toil at farming,
log g i ng , con st r uc t ion,
am always a skeptical of
and, yes, digging rock out of the ground. They are less single-issue candidates who run with an agenda, but I
likely to care about a great experience on the trail and can think of several times when they turned out to be
more about the fuel surcharges to the township for good board members.
hauling aggregate from a long distance.
Stay tuned. It ain’t over until it’s over.
$
THEY ARE BACK!
ENJOY A DAY IN THE TROPICS
AND SUPPORT
PALEN PARK IMPROVEMENTS
F
Great Stocking Stuffers
F
Thrill the grandkids
F
Take the
Whole Family
$5
Water Park
Passes
A $12-$25 value for just $5
F
Passes Good Thru
May 31
Buy 10/Get 2 free
F
On Sale ‘Til Dec. 24
F
Buy at:
The County Line,
Bank of Ontario, Ontario Library
Milk Jug Cafe,