EXTRA
Pedestrian struck on Highway 27, near Cashton
A pedestrian was struck by a commercial motor vehicle on Highway 27, about 1½ miles south of Cashton, in the town of Christiana at about 9:45 p.m. Saturday, April 19, according to Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson. The preliminary investigation revealed that...
Wisconsin libraries brace for steep drop in services under federal funding cuts
By Baylor Spears, Wisconsin ExaminerApril 21, 2025 Threatened federal funding cuts are causing uncertainty for the future of Wisconsin libraries and the programs they provide to the public, especially for those serving rural areas — and libraries are pushing...
Norwalk’s floral fundraiser
Contributed by the Norwalk Rails-to-Trails Committee One of the highlights of driving through Norwalk in the summer are the flower baskets hanging from the light poles and in the planters lining the street. These indicators of summer have been sponsored by the Rails...
One injured in Clinton rollover
The Vernon County Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatch Center was notified at 4:45 p.m. Sunday, April 6, of a single-vehicle rollover on County Highway D, east of Hall Road, in the town of Clinton. Ralph E. Smalley, 62, of Richland Center, Wis., was operating a 1999 Ford...
Local Easter egg hunts set for April 19
Local communities will host the following Easter egg hunts April 19: • Elroy — 10 a.m. Saturday, April 19, at the Elroy American Legion Hall. For ages through fourth grade. Hosted by the Elroy American Legion Auxiliary. • Ontario — Saturday, April 19, at the Ontario...
Brookwood track and field to host inaugural meets starting next week
Contributed by Brookwood High School Since it was established in the early 1960s, Brookwood has had a successful track and field program. Over the 60 years of the school’s existence, these athletes could be seen running in the parking lot and on the school’s hilly...
Brookwood selling items from Classic Gym | Facility will be remodeled into auditorium
NEWS
‘Wisconsin for Kennedy’ set for April 24 in Sparta
Contributed by the Monroe County Local History Room On a snowy March 9, 1960, day, then Sen. John F. Kennedy and wife Jacqueline entered a packed Tomah High School gym to be greeted with applause by 1,300 Tomah high school students and area residents. Senator...
Signs of spring
A pair of sandhill cranes forage in a field along Highway 33, between Ontario and Cashton.
Vernon County Sheriff’s Report for March 30 to April 5
Sunday, March 30: The driver of a car called into dispatch after attempting to miss a deer and striking a mailbox and road sign on Highway 162 in the town of Hamburg. No injuries were reported. The car was still operational, and the owner was able to return home....
Vernon County I&E Club to offer program on open-source technology
Contributed by the Vernon County Economic Development Association The next meeting of the Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club will be Wednesday, April 9, at the Food Enterprise Center, 1201 N. Main St. in Viroqua. Open-source software is abundant these days, it's...
Vernon County Sheriff’s Report for March 23–29
Sunday, March 23: While on patrol, a deputy initiated a traffic stop on Highway 131 just outside of La Farge, heading toward Viola, on a truck with a loud exhaust that was weaving within its lane. The deputy determined the driver was operating while impaired. The...
The dangers of online child sextortion: A presentation
Contributed by Gundersen St. Joseph’s Some topics are difficult to talk about. The issue of online child grooming and sextortion is growing and has recently made the headlines in Wisconsin when a teen died by suicide after becoming the victim of online sextortion....
Monroe County Local History Room to host program on JFK on April 24
The Monroe County Local History Room will host a public history program, “Wisconsin for Kennedy: The Primary that Launched a President and Changed the Course of History,” at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 24. Author BJ Hollars, a University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire English...
Norwalk to seek $728,000 in CDBG money for street work
By Sarah Parker | County Line Editor Norwalk will apply for $728,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant funds to help offset the cost of its $1,092,000 street project, the village board decided at its meeting April 8. The venture will consist of roadwork and...
Kendall considers rules on shipping containers
The Kendall Village Board considered how to regulate the use of shipping containers at its regular meeting Monday and will … Read the rest
After federal cuts, N-O-W’s FEMA grant remains in place
Wisconsin Emergency Management informed the Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton School District this week that it still would receive its $2,043,865 grant that it … Read the rest
Kendall Mustang Riders donate to Village of Kendall
The Kendall Mustang Riders ATV/UTV club has donated a HeartStart Automated External Defibrillator to the Village of Kendall to have … Read the rest
Scenic Bluffs donates toward N-O-W’s negative school-lunch balance
Scenic Bluffs Health Center recently presented a donation of $389 to the Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton School District to go toward negative student … Read the rest
N-O-W, Royall superintendents have not received more information on federal funding
When President Donald Trump signed an executive order March 20 to dismantle the federal Department of Education, he said the … Read the rest
Vernon County Health Department may lose federal funds
After the federal administration cut $11 billion in public health funding March 24, the Vernon County Health Department learned it … Read the rest
Trial for former Wilton clerk/treasurer postponed
At the defense’s request, Monroe County Circuit Court adjourned a trial for former Wilton clerk/treasurer Leigha Barton at a Tuesday … Read the rest
Dancing the night away in Ontario
The Ontario Community Club hosted a concert with Cashton band Leather & Lace on Saturday at the Ontario Community Center. … Read the rest
Switz named Kendall Citizen of the Year
Buck Switz was named the Kendall Citizen of the Year on Saturday at the Kendall Lions Club’s annual Fundfest fundraiser. … Read the rest
Wilton Legion honors Vietnam veterans
March 29 is designated as National Vietnam War Veterans Day.
Royall may start school earlier next year
The Royall School District will ask the state to allow it to start classes one week before Labor Day weekend … Read the rest
Community
Seeing Stars: The Star Tender
By Susan Cushing | Kickapoo Dark-Sky Initiative There are stories of special people who take children on nighttime travels to the stars, but I met a real Star Tender on the sidewalk in downtown Tucson, Ariz. Tall and silver-haired, Star Tender presides over the...
Gearing up for summer reading
By Kelly Lupton | Wilton Public Library director The Wilton Public Library is getting ready for summer and our summer reading program. This year’s theme is “Color Your World,” and registration for the summer reading program starts Monday, June 2. This year, we have a...
Ontario Public Library to host ‘Crochet for Beginners’
By Rachel Conner | Wilton Public Library director “Crochet for Beginners” will be offered at the Ontario Public Library on Tuesday, April 29, from 3–5 p.m. All ages are welcome and encouraged to come to learn, practice, and explore the versatile crafting possibilities...
Wilton Public Library to offer programs this month
By Kelly Lupton | Wilton Public Library director The Wilton Public Library will offer the following events: • 10 a.m. Friday, April 18: Current-Events Discussion Group • 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 22: Book Club for Adults with Special Needs • 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April...
Births
Ayla Grace Arndt A daughter, Ayla Grace Arndt, was born March 20, 2025, to Spencer Arndt and Andrina Macnamer of Wilton at the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse. She weighed 9 pounds, 4 ounces, and was 21 inches long. The birth was reported by...
Obituaries
Timothy J. Downing
Timothy J. Downing, 66, of rural Ontario passed away peacefully at his home on April 21, 2025, recently diagnosed with liver/pancreatic cancer. He was born on March 31, 1959, at Tomah Memorial to George and Delphine (Dorner) Downing of Ontario. He...
Loreen Hendricks
Loreen Hendricks, 83, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Loreen was born at home on Nov. 28, 1941, to Earl E. and Inez Pearl (Burch) Ferries. The youngest of six children, she grew up on a farm located near Ontario, Wis., a small village in Vernon County on the...
Geraldine R. Gerke
Geraldine R. Gerke, 89, of Tomah died Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Elroy Health Service, surrounded by her family. She was born to Lyle and Gertrude (Mistle) Henry in Tomah. She was a member of the Tomah Senior High School graduating class of 1954. She was...
Anthony J. Anderson
Anthony J. Anderson, 89, of Kendall, died suddenly on Monday, April 7, 2025, at his home. He was born on May 20, 1935, to Alfred and Lulu (Preuss) Anderson on the family farm in the town of Clifton. Anthony was baptized and confirmed at Fountain Lutheran Church....
Janice Helene Tassler
Janice Helene Tassler, 73, passed away March 27,2025, at the Wild Rose Hospital. She was born Feb. 6, 1952, in Wisconsin to Elgard and Ora (Sauerbriet) Foelske. She married her soulmate Aaron (Moose) Tassler. He has preceded her in death. Jan and Moose ran...
Opinion
Letter to the editor: Kennedy documents may reveal more about assassination
By Kent Gallaway | Readstown With the disclosure of the Kennedy assignation documents , hopefully we will learn more about he murder of a peace president on the streets of Dallas. There have been so many conspiracy theories and misinformation on the...
Letter to the editor: ‘Hands off’
By Lee D. Van Landuyt | Hillsboro On April 5, there were massive, coordinated national protests involving over three million angry citizens. This protest was entitled “Hands Off!” Sign-carrying protesters rejected massive cuts to essential government programs relied...
Guest view: Wisconsin residents at risk as federal low-income home energy assistance program employees abruptly fired
Contributed by Couleecap A program that keeps Wisconsinites safe by ensuring homes stay warm and cool during extreme temperatures is at risk after abrupt actions by the federal government. Last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) fired all...
Letter to the editor: Federal government cuts program for food pantries
Editor's note: Couleecap leases and independently operates the food pantry at Scenic Bluffs Community Health Center in Norwalk; therefore, the Norwalk food pantry will be impacted by the program cuts. By Hetti Brown | Couleecap executive director Last week, Wisconsin...
Letter to the editor: Consider voting for incumbents in school board election
By Debbie Tainter | Ontario This morning my husband woke me up so I could see the beautiful display of orange and red before the sunrise. Breathtaking ... what an inspiring way to start the day, I thought. But then, as I often do, I turned my...
Sports
Brookwood has end-of-season banquet
The Brookwood girls basketball team held its annual end-of-the-season banquet March 18. Pictured are the Brookwood Girls Basketball team players who received Scenic Bluffs All-Conference awards (left to right): Deanna Wallace, Scenic Bluffs sportsmanship award;...
Brookwood halted in first round of play
The No. 15 Brookwood boys basketball team traveled to No. 2 Royall on March 4 in the first round of the WIAA Division 5 regional tournament. Here, Jackson Cunitz leads an offensive play early in the first half. (Tasha Mueller photo) Brennen Mack started the game...
Brookwood students named athletes of the month
The following Brookwood High School students were named athletes of the month for February. Coaches’ comments follow the students’ names. BOYS BASKETBALL • Julian Cunitz: “Julian has really put all the pieces together to finish off his sophomore season on a...
Brookwood girls conclude season
The Brookwood senior girls basketball members (left to right: Deanna Wallace, Emily O'Rourke, Willow Pasch, and Alice Wiedmeyer) were honored at their last home game of the season Feb. 18. The team traveled to Cochrane-Fountain City on Feb. 25 in their first round of...
Royall girls stop at first-round tournament play
The No. 10 Royall girls basketball team traveled to No. 7 Hillsboro on Feb. 25 in the first round of regional tournament action. Elizabeth Klipstein steadied the early first-half pace, and the game was close going into halftime. (Tasha Mueller photo) Kayla Rick posts...
Backtalk
It will be a seemingly endless campaign season
By KAREN PARKER County Line Publisher Emerita I would imagine if Eric Hovde has secured any demographic in his campaign for Wisconsin Senate, it would be lonely ladies over 40 swooning over his rugged, Marlboro-man-lookalike appearance. You may have noticed that a...
A vibrant press is essential to democracy
By KAREN PARKER | County Line Publisher Emerita Sadly, there was no obituary in the paper for the Vernon Focus. You likely did not know Vernon, but in his past life, you might have known him as Foxxy Shopper. In my salad days, the Foxxy Shopper was the 800-pound...
America’s bent toward fascism
By KAREN PARKER | County Line Publisher Emerita Imagine living in a country where the simple act of gathering together to lay flowers after the death of a prominent person could result in a two-week jail sentence. Worse yet, two weeks in a Russian prison possibly...
In 2024, remember that politics were ugly 100 years ago, too
By KAREN PARKER | County Line Publisher Emerita Good grief! We are barely into the new year, and I am ready to go back to 2023 or leap ahead to 2025. Are we really in for an entire year of presidential election babble? While they exerted monumental efforts to convince...
Looking back on our 40th year, 1983–2023 (part two)
By KAREN PARKER County Line Publisher Emerita Forty years is a long time. Sadly, it’s long enough for most of our area business to have gone away. It’s hard to believe now, but in 1983 Ontario had two bars, two grocery stores, three gas stations, a variety store, and...
E-Edition
Pictures from the Past
Wilton baseball, 1937
WILTON BASEBALL 1937: The village of Wilton’s baseball team won the Milwaukee Sentinel’s state championship in 1937. Left to right, kneeling, are Hunts Steffen, Don Harrison, Vern Ferries (manager), Bud Martalock, Bud Schneider and Bill Heilman. Standing are Bud...
Ontario, 1915
This 1915 photo depicts the road from Hillsboro into Ontario, past the Charles Lord house (a pillared house that's still in place), as the road turns the corner into Ontario. (Photo courtesy of Bob Breidenstein)
Wilton senior quartet, 1955
The following students were members of the senior quartet at Wilton High School in 1955: Orvis Schindler, Roger Pasch, Charles Zellmer and Merlyn Eckelberg. This photo appeared in the Wilton High School yearbook, “Wiltonian.”
Kendall High School class of 1934
Photo courtesy of Dean Hutchens
Ontario High School basketball, 1949–50
The 1949–50 Ontario High School basketball team sits on the Ontario Community Hall stage. Back row (left to right): Roger Budde, Donald Breidenstein, Bob Bassett, Stan White and coach Joe Ott. Front row: Dale Thomas, Bill Calhoun, Dick Olson, Bill Jantz and Bob...
School
N-O-W goes to Kid’s College
Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton Elementary School sent a group of sixth graders to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Kid’s College on Friday, April 11. The UW and the Mississippi Valley Gifted and Talented Network partner to offer the event. Students were able to get a...
Brookwood forensics excels at state tournament
Contributed by Brookwood High School Brookwood Forensics had 27 entries that were presented at the Wisconsin Interscholastic Speech and Dramatics Arts’ State Competition on April 11 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Speakers spoke one time and were assessed by a...
Royall celebrates prom
Royall celebrated its prom last weekend. The following made up the court (left to right, back to front): Trenton, Savannah, Brycen, Liza, Dylan, Aunika, Lucas, Emma, Brock, Ella, Carter, King Trey, Queen Bria, Maddison, Beau and Oaklyn. (Contributed photo)
Brookwood students named to third-quarter honor roll
The following Brookwood Junior/Senior High students were named to the third-quarter honor roll: SENIORS High Honors: Payge A. Clark, Brayden T. Thieman and Deanna M. Wallace Honor Roll: Carter H. Arbuckle, Emma J. Baldwin, Alexander Bautista Velasco, Camden L....
Brookwood names artists of the month
The Brookwood High School Artists of the Month for March are Deja Jimenez (top) for her original watercolor, Alina Vogel (center) for her oil pastel Northern Lights drawing and Jackson DeWitt (below) for his selfie colored-pencil drawing. Art teacher Patricia Holte...