EXTRA
Man hurt in single-motorcycle crash
A man sustained injuries in a single-motorcycle crash Sunday afternoon in the town of Portland, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. The Monroe County 911 Communications Center received the 911 call regarding the crash at about 3:23 p.m. The operator,...
Court appearance for Barton changed again, postponed until July
A preliminary hearing for Leigha Barton, the former Wilton clerk/treasurer accused of embezzling from the village, was postponed to 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 2, in Monroe County Circuit Court. Leigha Barton Originally, the hearing had been set for next Tuesday, and then...
Norwalk man sentenced to 42 years in prison for child sex crimes
Monroe County District Attorney Kevin D. Croninger announced Tuesday that Monroe County Judge Richard Radcliffe sentenced 46-year-old Jonathan L. Ellenburg to a 42-year term in the Wisconsin prison system. Jonathan L. Ellenburg After completing his 42-year term,...
Brookwood graduate wins $1,500 poetry prize from Winona State
Jack Mulvaney, a Brookwood graduate, recently won a $1,500 prize from the Winona State University English Department for his poem, “Airing Out My Poetry.” Jack Mulvaney, a Brookwood graduate, won a prize from Winona State University for a poem he had composed....
Vaccine clinic will be offered in Wilton
Scenic Bluffs Community Health Centers and the Monroe County Health Department have undertaken a collaborative effort to host a community vaccine clinic on Wednesday, April 10, from 2–6 p.m. at the Wilton Public Library, 400 East St. The clinic will provide access to...
Brookwood students named to honor roll
The following Brookwood Junior/Senior High School students were named to the third-quarter honor roll: SENIORS High Honors: Taylor R. Freed, Alexis J. Lacy, Amelia R. Muellenberg, Kylie Powell and Sophie Teynor Honor Roll: Vanessa A. Anderson, Timothy J. DeWitt, Jaden...
Two injured in two-vehicle crash near Ontario
A two-vehicle crash occurred Friday afternoon, March 29, in the town of Forest in rural Ontario, according to Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson. Vernon County Sheriff's Office photo At about 12:45 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatch Center was notified of the...
NEWS
Vernon County Sheriff’s Report for March 31 to April 6
Sunday, March 31: Sheep were reported out on a property along Bohland Hollow Road in the town of Wheatland. The deputy spoke with the owner of the sheep and gave him a warning for animals running at large. Monday, April 1: The Zzip Stop in Genoa reported a gas...
Retired Royall teacher receives musical delight through Milestone’s ‘Dare to Dream’ program
Contributed by Milestone Senior Living of Hillsboro At Milestone Senior Living of Hillsboro, residents are like family. Each month, the community aims to make a resident’s dream come true. In March, the spotlight was on Verda Jean Miller, a beloved member of the...
Monroe County Health Department: Are you vaccinated against measles?
Contributed by the Monroe County Health Department There has been a recent increase in cases of measles in the United States, the most recent cases in Illinois. Wisconsin currently has no confirmed measles cases, but it is important to be prepared and ensure...
A scramble for eggs: Ontario hosts its annual Easter egg hunt
Ontario put on its Easter egg hunt Saturday morning, March 30.
Vernon County Sheriff’s Report for March 24–30
Sunday, March 24: Chase Montgomery of Plainview, Minn., was traveling northbound on County Highway P in the town of Christiana when he came across a snowplow traveling southbound on County Highway P. Montgomery attempted to move over to make room for the snowplow, and...
Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club: Articulating your company’s purpose
Contributed by the Vernon County Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club A company’s mission statement, core values, and purpose are all important elements that define the company’s overall goals and beliefs. A mission statement is a brief statement that summarizes the...
Program on Palestine set for April 4
Driftless Palestine Solidarity will present “Palestine: A Deeper Look” from 6–7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4, at the Vernon County Museum, 410 S. Center Ave., Viroqua. A guided slide and film presentation, which will be open to community questions, will examine how the...
Sewer-rate increase set for Wilton
The Wilton Village Board agreed to a $1.9 million, 25-year loan Monday to help cover the costs of renovating and upgrading its wastewater treatment plant, which was constructed in 1980.
Ontario board resolves cut-electrical-line issue
After a few months of wrangling over who was going to pay for a severed electrical line near the community pavilion, the Ontario Village Board finally settled on a solution.
Date changed for Barton’s hearing
A preliminary hearing for Leigha Barton, the former Wilton clerk/treasurer accused of embezzlement from the village, now is slated for 1 p.m. Thursday, April 18, in Monroe County Circuit Court.
Wilton’s Easter festivities
The Wilton American Legion Auxiliary hosted its Easter egg hunt Saturday.
Norwalk celebrates Easter
The Norwalk Public Library hosted its Easter egg hunt Saturday morning.
Preliminary hearing for Barton set for April 16
A preliminary hearing for Leigha Barton, the former Wilton clerk/treasurer accused of embezzlement from the village, is set for 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, in Monroe County Circuit Court.
New trustees to join Wilton Village Board
Ed Wilde was the sole incumbent reelected to the Wilton Village Board on Tuesday, plus newcomers Cindy Short and Jen Wallman garnered enough votes for board spots.
Wilton to raise sewer rates to offset cost of plant upgrades
The Wilton Village Board spent its March 11 meeting considering its options for a sewer-rate increase and likely will make a final decision at its meeting Monday.
BHS showcases talent
Brookwood High School had its spring showcase concert March 21.
Royall board hears budget forecast
Mary Blaha of Baird, a financial services firm, gave an outline of variables affecting the district’s fiscal outlook when the Royall Board of Education met Monday.
Strains of spring
Brookwood Junior/Senior High School hosted its spring concert Thursday. Esther Wooten and Drew Powell provide percussion for the senior high band, which performed Robert W. Smith’s “Encanto,” Eric Whitacre’s “The Seal Lullaby,” and Hector Berlioz’s (arr. Custer)...
Pretrial conference for Barton yields no updates, more charges possible
Monday’s pretrial conference for former Wilton clerk/treasurer Leigha Barton, who was charged in January with counts related to embezzlement from the village, resulted in no new developments, according to Monroe County District Attorney Kevin Croninger.
Community
Chicken day in Wilton
Nalani Bever collects tickets Sunday at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church’s drive-through chicken dinner in Wilton. The congregation is raising money to improve handicapped accessibility at the church.
Vernon County Museum Notes
By Kristen Parrott | Vernon County Museum curator Spring has sprung, and the Vernon County Museum and History Center is moving to its springtime hours. During April and May, we will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday or by appointment. Cleaning...
Ontario Public Library to offer free books, cookies
By Rachel Conner | Ontario Public Library director Stop by the Ontario Public Library on Friday, April 12, to celebrate the last day of National Library Week 2024 with cookies from Echo Valley Bakery and a free book from our book sale for each person! “Protecting Our...
Wilton Public Library to host array of events this week
By Kelly Lupton | Wilton Public Library director These events will be hosted at the Wilton Public Library: • 10 a.m. Friday, April 12: Current-events discussion group • 10 a.m. Saturday, April 13: Second-Saturday Writer’s Club • 4 p.m. Tuesday, April...
South Side News for April 11
By MRYNA FAUSKA It’s Monday morning of the second week in April, and the first news I have for you is not very pleasant. Arlene Garvens called me this morning, and I expected her to give me her news for the past week, which she did. She reported that she had been...
Obituaries
Alrita Ornes
Alrita Ornes, 89, of Norwalk, Wis., passed away peacefully at the Morrow Memorial Home in Sparta, Wis., on Wednesday, April 10, 2024. She was born Jan. 7, 1935, in the quaint town of Dell, Wis., to William and Loretta (Brueggen) Laufenberg. She graduated...
Mary Jane Parkhurst
Mary Jane Parkhurst, 93, of Elroy passed away Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Tomah. She was born Feb. 14, 1931, to Clyde and Annie (Blaha) Winchel in Vernon County. Mary was a person of high integrity and was never afraid to “tell things as they are.” Although she could...
Karen K. Parker (full obituary)
Karen K. Parker, 77, of Ontario, founder of the County Line newspaper, died April 1, 2024, at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse. Karen was publisher and later publisher emeritus of the County Line newspaper for 40 years. She documented life in the...
Karen K. Parker
Karen K. Parker, 77, of Ontario, a longtime publisher of the County Line newspaper, died Monday, April 1, 2024, at Mayo Health System in La Crosse. A full obituary is pending. Private services will be held at a later date. The Torkelson Funeral Home of Ontario is...
Donald R. Stedman
Donald R. Stedman, 86, of Powell, Wyo., and formerly of Ontario, Wis., passed away Saturday, March 23, 2024, in Ontario. He was born Aug. 25, 1937, a son of Carl and Ethel (Maitland) Stedman in Vernon County, Wis., and graduated from the Ontario High School. Donald...
Opinion
Your Right to Know: Shine more light on open investigations
By Kelly Lecker A horrific scene played out in February in an apartment complex in Middleton, a Madison suburb. A woman and her two young children had died. The tight-knit community mourned for this family as its members asked: How could this happen? Kelly Lecker...
Letter to the editor: We give praise and thanksgiving to the memory of Karen Parker
By Gary and Phyllis Winkler | Ontario It is with a heavy heart that we learn of the loss of our dedicated community publisher, Karen Parker. We first started reading her BackTalk years ago when we were only weekend campers here, enjoying them so much that we would...
Letter to the editor: State policies run against monitoring water quality
By J. Farrar | rural Ontario In 1974, the Environmental Protection Agency first began monitoring the quality and quantity of Wisconsin waters. Over the past 50 years, the contamination level has been going up while the groundwater level has been going down. Most...
Letter to the editor: Are you better off?
By Dani Sulik | Kendall Republican candidates are asking, “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?” Well, I haven’t had to go on a scavenger hunt for toilet paper. We have effective protocols for Covid. We didn’t experience the projected recession. We’ve...
Letter to the editor: Trump: Man or Beast?
By Kay Ziegahn | Richland Center What would our world be like if it was ready for a heavenly existence? I believe all humanity would be living in peace and equality, without the fear, hate, hunger and wars that plague so many now. Then that would actually be...
Sports
Brookwood, Royall athletes selected for All-Star team
Marah Gruen Vanessa Anderson, a senior at Brookwood, and Marah Gruen, a senior at Royall, both have been selected by the WBCA (Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association) to play on the WBCA Division 5 South All-Star team. They will play against the Division 5 North...
Scenic Bluffs announces all-conference list
The Brookwood girls basketball team held its end-of-the-season basketball banquet on Thursday, March 21, and the following awards were handed out on behalf of the Scenic Bluffs Conference (left to right): Kymber Kaiser, Scenic Bluffs Conference Sportsmanship Award;...
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 • Brady Hansen: “Brady has been a treat to work with all season. During February, especially the last half...
Royall falls short in sectional semi-final
The Royall boys basketball team are greeted by their biggest fans as they run onto the court. The team played for a sea of fans at Adams-Friendship on March 7 in the WIAA Division 5 sectional semi-final against Columbus Catholic. (Tasha Mueller photo) Tucker Wildes...
Brookwood boys downed by Cashton in regional play
The Brookwood boys basketball team traveled to Cashton on Feb. 27 for the first round of WIAA Division 5 regional action. In its third meet up this season, No. 15 Brookwood didn't back down a 30–16 halftime deficit over No. 2 Cashton. Brady Hansen tosses up a shot...
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
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...
Pictures from the past: Early 20th century Ontario
These undated, early 20th century images depict Ontario. Can you offer more information on the photos and what they portray? Contact the County Line at (608) 337-4232 or countyline@centurytel.net. (Photos courtesy of Aldis Strazdins)
Vernon County Museum Notes: Reflections on early Ontario, Whitestown
By KRISTEN PARROTT | Vernon County Museum curator Summer is winding down, and that means that the historic Sherry-Butt House at 795 N. Main St. in Viroqua is coming to the end of its season. The house is open for tours from 1–5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Labor...
Palen Park: Before and after
Although Ontario has diminished since the August 2018 flood and the subsequent removal of many downtown buildings, one bright spot remains. Pictured above is Palen Park in 2012. Below are photos from last August featuring the gardening skills of Ontario resident...
St. Luke’s to be placed on National Registers
Contributed by MARIE SCHAUER FINDLAY Descendant of St. Luke’s founders On Saturday, Oct. 1, St. Luke’s Church, located at 30013 Oxford Road in rural Elroy, invites everyone to join them to celebrate being officially listed on both the State and National Registers of...
School
Royall FFA makes donation
The Royall FFA recently decided to donate all of the money collected from its Kiss the Critter contest and part of the money from its pancake breakfast to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Left to right: Sylvia, Makayla, Teagan, Gemma, Marah and Alex....
N-O-W hosts spelling bee
Twenty-four students spanning grades four through eight engaged in the Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton District Spelling Bee on Thursday, March 7. Emerging as our 2024 Spelling Bee Champion was Violet Havlik, a fifth-grader, with Linus Arndt, a sixth-grader, securing the...
Brookwood names artists of the month
The Brookwood Junior/Senior High School artists of the month for February are Sophie Teynor (top photo), Toby Eness (middle photo), Dawson Thieman and Lydia Voigts (bottom photo). Sophie, a senior, made a drawing of a Star Wars Storm Trooper, using colored pencils,...
N-O-W competes in invention fair
Contributed by N-O-W Elementary School — Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton Elementary School third-graders finished a unit looking at inventions and inventors. Some even became inventors themselves by presenting a unique idea at the Invention Fair on Feb. 13. There was lots of...
N-O-W competes in Battle of the Books
Contributed by the N-O-W School District — Several fourth- and fifth-graders from the Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton School District have been reading above and beyond their normal classroom requirements. They have been participating in a statewide program in which teams of...