FOUR GENERATIONS: Emma Hanko, her mother Sara Hanko, her grandmother Veronica Lange, and her great-grandmother Helen Walters (Contributed photo)

By MARY WAARVIK | Elroy librarian

At the Elroy Public Library, we had a chance to photograph one of our favorite groups a few weeks ago: four generations of women who use the library faithfully.

They are Emma Hanko, her mother Sara Hanko, her grandmother Veronica Lange, and her great-grandmother Helen Walters. And each always seems to find something to read that is just perfect for her. Can you top this family group?

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The library will be closed Saturday, May 26, and Monday, May 28, in honor of Memorial Day celebrations.

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We also have had several inquiries about this year’s summer reading program. Here is what is planned: Since so many children’s events are scheduled for June, we have decided to begin the program in July this year. It will run through Saturday, Aug. 11. This way, we hope children won’t have to from activity to activity.

So plan to register your children at the Elroy Public Library on Monday, July 2, or after. We will hand out a schedule of events and activities at that time.

During the program, we will offer a pool party, a movie showing, book and movie groups, Thursday activities, story times and more. We also welcome suggestions for making the summer reading program even more fun.

Norwalk Public Library will be closed Monday, May 28, for Memorial Day.

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The mystery-book group’s next meeting will be from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Friday, June 1, when we’ll discuss Victoria Houston’s “Dead Tease,” the 12th novel in the “Loon Lake Fishing Mystery” series.

Three Brookwood Junior/Senior High School students were named artists of the month for April.

Stephanie Leis and Whitney Geier created their own parodies of Grant Wood’s famous painting, “American Gothic,” using tempera and watercolor paint. Stephanie (middle painting), a senior, is the daughter of Laurie and Gary Leis of Norwalk. Whitney (last painting), a junior, is the daughter of Janelle Geier Stoikes and Ronald Stoikes of Norwalk.

Erica Olsen, a senior, created a flower and leaf-shaped bowl (top photo) for the Empty Bowls project, using the potter’s wheel and hand building techniques. She is the daughter of Jeff Olsen of Camp Douglas. (Contributed photos)

Martin Trucking intends to purchase the Village of Wilton-owned Tillman property and construct a new office building on the site.

The village board agreed at its meeting Monday to have its attorney draft a developer’s agreement with the company, setting the land sale price at $10,000.

The 36-by-64-foot single-story building would be valued between $220,000 and $240,000, said Allen Martin, owner of Martin Trucking, at the meeting.

Martin also intends to have a second, similar building constructed on the site at a later point.

In exchange for the $10,000, the board plans to allocate Tax Incremental Finance money for infrastructure costs associated with the construction, such as, for example, water and sewer laterals and foundation.

At least one other person had intended to purchase and develop the property, though. Dan Buchholz of Wilton had been working with the public building and grounds committee for the past year, developing plans for a five-unit apartment building.

According to the minutes of the committee’s April meeting, Buchholz asked the village to set a price on the property, but did not receive an answer.

At its meeting Monday, the board did not indicate it would put up the land for bids.

In recent years, the village has attempted to launch several business endeavors at the property, all of them unsuccessful.

At one point, former Wilton residents Mike and Jaleata Kindt proposed to develop a complex housing a Post Office, a pharmacy and retail shops.

Then, in the fall of 2008, Madison-based company Two Bikes and a Map proposed to build a storage facility on the Tillman property, but withdraw its proposal in the wake of a deteriorating national economy.

Board member Lorrie Bever advocated approving the sale to Martin in short order. “I think if we wait and lose this, I think we’re going to be sorry,” she said.

The Village of Wilton purchased the Tillman property in 1999 for $32,500, and then demolished the buildings on the site. After selling part of the property to the Wilton Fire District, the village’s share of the ownership dropped to 29,955 square feet of the original parcel.

KENDALL AMBULANCE

In preparation for the Wilton Ambulance Service assuming part of the Kendall Ambulance Service’s area, the board approved mutual-aid agreements with the Elroy and Camp Douglas ambulance services, which will now border the Wilton Ambulance Service coverage area.

Due to a lack of volunteer EMTS, the Kendall Ambulance Service will disband June 30.

ROAD PROJECTS

After debating how the village should allocate its road-repair budget, the board agreed to repave the northern section of Main Street and patch Enderby Street for $91,146, accepting bids from Scott Construction.

OTHER BUSINESS

The Village of Wilton open book and board of review, both slated for Wednesday, June 6, will be from 3-5 p.m. and 5-7 p.m., respectively.

The board agreed to donate $1,000 toward the Wilton Wood Turtle Days fireworks, which are scheduled for Friday, Aug. 3.

The board hired the following lifeguards for the Village of Wilton swimming pool.

Returning guards: Nate Beier, Jamie Schmitz, Matt Dutton, Morgan Touchstone, Alexis Brandau, Stephanie Leis and Cody Leis.

New guards: Morgan Berendes, Amber Brueggen and Alex Shaker. Enderby? Scott’s regular bid, $37,764

This year’s theme centers on music from various radio stations.

Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for students, and free for those younger than 5.

Pie and punch will be served at intermission.

CLARIFICATION

Kendall Village Board President Richard Martin and Elroy City Administrator Mark Steward have discussed the possibility of the City of Elroy contracting with Baraboo District Ambulance Service.

Martin indicated at the Monday, May 7, Kendall Village Board meeting that the talks had occurred, and Steward confirmed that fact when the County Line questioned him about the matter earlier this week.

It was only a discussion between those two men, though; no decisions have been made.

CORRECTIONS

Kendall Ambulance Service will cease to operate July 1, not June 1, as was reported last week.

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The Wilton Ambulance Service proposed charging $2.50 per capita to provide coverage in the Kendall area. Last week, the per capita charge was incorrectly reported as $250.

Also, at Monday’s Wilton Village Board meeting, President Ted Barnes suggested that a village committee review the per capita cost and possibly increase it.

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Longtime Kendall Ambulance Service director Ron Woodard did not recently announce his retirement. In fact, he gave two years’ notice to the Kendall Village Board two years ago, and that period will end June 30. Woodard has served as an EMT with the Kendall Ambulance Service for about 20 years.

Including Woodard, four personnel, not two, comprise the Kendall Ambulance Service. Only two of those four, however, have been consistently active members of the volunteer service.

The location of the June 30 tractor pull came under extended scrutiny at the Ontario Village Board’s meeting on Monday.

Each year for the past two years, the event has been held in front of the Ontario Fire Station, but resident Leon McElhose, who lives directly across the street, has indicated he would like to see it moved elsewhere.

Although the board considered a number of alternate solutions, all of them presented problems, such as lack of access to water, the need to move concrete barriers for setup, little space for bleachers, and blocked streets.

In the end, the board agreed to use the same location but will move a shorter mini-pull to Main Street, where it was last year.

OTHER BUSINESS

• The board approved the sale of $44,880 in bonds to defray the cost of reservoir improvements.

• Greg Decker was granted an operator’s license for Wildcat Bar.

• Outdoor music at RiversEnd was approved for multiple dates during the summermonths.

• Paul Gerber of Ontario was hired for about eight hours a week to do string-trimming and other landscape tasks.

• A deep ditch near Grace Community Church will get a box culvert and will be filled to facilitate mowing.

• A business block grant load issued to former owners Denise and Vince Hartley for $8,100 for the Garden Street Cafe will be transferred to Cheryl Eness, who is expected to reopen the restaurant later this month.

Board members Bette Ferries, Josh Curtis and Don Ferries were appointed to the board of review.

• Academic Excellence — Morgan Touchstone

• Adam Luing Memorial — Emily Schendel

• Alois and Laverne Schendel — Alexis Brandau and Emily Schendel

• American Quarter Horse Association — Cassandra Shaw

• Bank of Ontario — Sydney Knoll

• Blood Center of Wisconsin — Alexis Brandau

• Bohle Family Memorial — Hunter Chadwick and Matthew Ruesch

• Bredlow-Ewing Post 467 — Jason Ebert

• Bredlow-Ewing Auxiliary — Cassandra Shaw

• Brookwood Student Activity — Sydney Knoll

• Brookwood Student Council — Lance Baldwin, Claudia Hagerman, Stephanie Leis and Brittany Nusse

• Clarence Oldenburg Memorial — Hunter Chadwick

• Donnie Oldenburg FFA Scholarship — Cassandra Shaw

• Dustin Levy Memorial — Cody Schwartz

• Falcon Booster Club — Alexis Brandau, Hunter Chadwick, Claudia Hagerman, Sydney Knoll, Emily Schendel and Alexander Stoikes

• FFA Donation Scholarship — Cassandra Shaw

• FFA Scholarship — Cassandra Shaw

• Frances Esther Pearson Memorial — Morgan Touchstone

• Gertrude Genske Memorial — Alexis Brandau

• Gundersen Lutheran Sports Medicine — Cody Schwartz

• Ida Palen-Brockman Memorial — Lance Baldwin

• Immanuel and Salem United Methodist Church — Jason Ebert

• JADE Scholarship — Cassandra Shaw

• Jane Jacobsen Memorial — Emily Schendel

• John and Byron Dreier Scholarship — Emily Schendel

• Leo and Marjorie Woods Memorial — Stephanie Leis and Cassandra Shaw

• Letterclub — Jason Ebert, Claudia Hagerman, Sydney Knoll, Cody Schwartz and Morgan Touchstone

• Marrs Corporation — Cody Schwartz

• Morrow Home Foundation — Emily Schendel

• Norwalk Lions Club — Alexander Stoikes

• Norwalk Lioness — Stephanie Leis and Emily Schendel

• Norwalk Rod & Gun Club — Cody Schwartz

• Norwalk Trailriders — Alexander Stoikes

• Ontario Community Action — Jason Ebert

• Ontario Fire Department Auxiliary — Emily Schendel and Cassandra Shaw

• Rockton Sportsman Club — Cassandra Shaw

• Ron Lehner Scholarship — Alexis Brandau

• Snowmobile Trails of Monroe County — Sydney Knoll

• Tamara M. Farmer Memorial — Alexis Brandau

• Thrune Scholarship — Alexander Stoikes

• Vernon Electric Scholarship — Claudia Hagerman

• Viola Quik Stop — Claudia Hagerman and Emily Schendel

• Wilton American Legion — Cody Schwartz

• Wilton Legion Auxiliary — Emily Schendel

• Wilton Lions Club — Alexis Brandau

• Wisconsin Department of the American Legion Auxiliary — Morgan Touchstone

The weather on Mother’s Day was absolutely perfect, and families gathered together over the weekend to remember these special people in their lives.

Bob and Barb Heinz had their family over for a cookout on Saturday and were recipients of two tickets to the first Packers football game this fall. It was a Mother’s Day/Father’s Day combo from their kids.

When we came around the corner where County Highway Z and County Highway P connect, we noticed a large group of people and horses saddled up Sunday afternoon. Conrad and Carol Zielke hosted a Mother’s Day celebration for Carol’s family and Doris Beier and her families.

Scott and Daguin Downing and family were guests at David Downing’s home on Saturday. Fred Pasch and his crew recently built a garage at David’s house, so it was also a perfect place to celebrate Dave’s 60th birthday, and that’s just what they did.

Hazel Pasch, Pastor Steve and Sarah Neuman and other ladies from St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church on South Ridge attended the annual Mother’s Day banquet at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Kendall on Friday night.

Four students will be confirmed at St. Matthew’s during services Sunday, May 20. They are Katelyn Lunde, Haley Tanton, Alex Eckelberg and Brian Gruber.

David Brandau had a nice surprise as he was coming home from the auction in Kendall on Saturday. Two bald eagles were found sitting on the line fence between our properties.

Jeff and Emily Meltesen, who will be married two years this week, were victims of the fire that consumed an apartment building near Mill Bluff on Friday night. They escaped but lost many belongings. Emily is a granddaughter to Aaron and Hazel Pasch.

It was a busy weekend for Frank and Darlene Martalock. On Friday night, they were in the audience at grandson Drew’s graduation from Western Technical College in La Crosse. Drew now has a degree in biomedical electronics.

Matt Collins played hockey in Sparta on Saturday night, and Frank and Darl watched that game.

On Sunday they left for Milwaukee, where they enjoyed the annual dance recital presented by granddaughter Marja, who serves as director at the Elation Dance Center.

My husband Bob and I were guests of Matt and Ann Hynek and boys on Sunday evening for Mother’s Day, plus we received calls and cards from other family. I’m a blessed mom.

It’s surprising to see the equipment used nowadays to take down huge trees. I stopped by Martalocks on Monday morning to watch the guys from Art’s Tree and Lawn service in Tomah remove a huge maple from their yard.

From there, they headed to the South Ridge Cemetery, where they cut down a tall cedar that had been hit by lightning a few weeks ago. The tree was shattered, and debris flew a great distance when lighting hit. A lightning strike has lots of power.

And the black walnut tree was removed and stump ground out at the St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church parsonage.

I recently finished reading “Secretariat’s Meadow,” a book by the granddaughter of the couple who raised the famous racehorse. It brought back some memories of when Bob and I, along with some of our family, visited Claiborne Farms while attending the National Auctioneers Convention in Kentucky. We were some of the tens of thousands who visited Claiborne Farms with the hope of seeing Secretariat.

The author wrote, “He remained as much a ham at the farm as he was at the race track, posing regally for his fans.”

And he certainly did. I have a photo somewhere that proves it.

And that’s it for May 14, 2012.

At the Elroy Public Library, we had a chance to photograph one of our favorite groups a few weeks ago: four generations of women who use the library faithfully.

They are Emma Hanko, her mother Sara Hanko, her grandmother Veronica Lange, and her great-grandmother Helen Walters. And each always seems to find something to read that is just perfect for her. Can you top this family group?

The library will be closed Saturday, May 26, and Monday, May 28, in honor of Memorial Day celebrations. 

We also have had several inquiries about this year’s summer reading program. Here is what is planned: Since so many children’s events are scheduled for June, we have decided to begin the program in July this year. It will run through Saturday, Aug. 11. This way, we hope children won’t have to from activity to activity.

So plan to register your children at the Elroy Public Library on Monday, July 2, or after. We will hand out a schedule of events and activities at that time.

During the program, we will offer a pool party, a movie showing, book and movie groups, Thursday activities, story times and more. We also welcome suggestions for making the summer reading program even more fun.

Contributed photo

Four generations: Emma Hanko, her mother Sara Hanko, her grandmother Veronica Lange, and her great-grandmother Helen Walters.