EXTRA
Kendall Mustang Riders donate to fire, ambulance services
Contributed by the Kendall Mustang Riders ATV/UTV Club — The Kendall Mustang Riders ATV/UTV Club has once again had some very good support from our local communities over the past years and once again at our annual fundraising bowling tournament we host each March. As...
Royall to host concerts
The Royall School District will host the following concerts: • Royall High School Pops Concert: “A Night at the Movies” — Friday, May 10, at 7 p.m. Dessert and punch will be served at intermission. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for students. • Sixth- to...
Embracing culture: N-O-W celebrates Community Night
The Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton School District hosted its 25th annual Community Night on Friday evening, when children gave performances from around the world. The event also featured a dinner and piñatas. Josue Valdivia Kevin Antonio Ian Alvarado (back) and Mark Bautista...
Rural Norwalk man arrested on several counts
Nicholas Lee Calhoon, 41, of rural Norwalk was arrested April 27 for allegedly committing a range of offenses, including operating a firearm while intoxicated, according to Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson and Monroe County Sheriff Wesley Revels. Nicholas Calhou On...
First set of twins born at Tomah Health
Contributed by Tomah Health It was a historic day for the Tomah Health Women’s Health Department when a set of twins was born April 24. Eli and Morgan Yoder of Wilton welcomed Penelope Sue at 10:12 p.m. and Franklin Miller at 10:35 p.m. “It was quite the little...
Royall to host ‘Meet the New Superintendent’
The Royall School District will host an opportunity to meet its new superintendent, Scott Uppena, at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 2, at the school’s patio lounge between the middle school and high school wings. If weather doesn’t allow for an outdoor meeting, it will be...
Man arrested after hit and run in Norwalk; shot fired
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a reported hit-and-run traffic crash at about 8:38 p.m. Wednesday at Main and S. Water streets in Norwalk. Eduardo Gomez Jimenez Police later located the suspect vehicle behind an address on Main Street in Norwalk....
NEWS
Vernon County Sheriff’s Report for April 21–27
Tuesday, April 23: A deputy went to a residence in La Farge to attempt service of a warrant for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. The offender was located and taken into custody. Wednesday, April 24: The sheriff’s office received a report of a female...
Kendall movie night set for May 3 at fellowship hall
By Lynette Vlasak The Kendall Public Library’s May Movie Night will be Friday, May 3, at St. John’s Church Fellowship Hall. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., the 2023 movie “The Hill” will be shown. Based on a true story, “The Hill” is an inspiring story of baseball...
Norwalk gas-station remodel
Renovations are underway at 71 Express in Norwalk. The facility will get new underground tanks and gas pumps.
Vernon County Sheriff’s Report for April 14–20
Sunday, April 14: A citizen reported someone banging on the door and ringing the doorbell at their residence in the town of Bergen. A deputy made sure the residence was secure. He searched the area and did not come across anyone. Sunday, April 14: A deputy was...
Vernon County Sheriff’s Report for April 7–13
Sunday, April 7: The sheriff’s office was notified of four horses running in the roadway on Highway 82 in the town of Union. A deputy responded and assisted the caller with locating the owner of the horses. The owner was notified. Sunday, April 7: Two fly fishermen...
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...
‘Apache Blues’: Documentary on Vietnam War will be shown in Ontario; movie includes interviews with Hillsboro veteran
Work progresses on new Royall gym
Work has begun on the floor of the new Royall High School gymnasium, which is part of an addition including a new entrance linking the two school buildings and a new agricultural room. Now projected to cost $11,952,780, the addition will be 25,993 square feet. Kraemer...
Sally Dana named Kendall’s 2024 Citizen of the Year
The Kendall Lions Club hosted its annual Fundfest auction Saturday night, when rural Kendall resident Sally Dana received the club’s Citizen of the Year award. Proceeds from the auction will go toward Lions projects.
Wilton woman marks 100th year
N-O-W’s health insurance premiums drop by 15%
Norwalk grapples with reports of homelessness, unsafe living situations
Celebrating 105 years
N-O-W board approves $22.9M in second round of bids
By Pat Mulvaney | For the County Line The N-O-W School Board at a special meeting last week approved $22.9 million in bids for the remaining part of the referendum project set to get underway this spring. According to Superintendent Travis Anderson, the project is on...
Kendall OKs new parks ordinance
Sewer-rate increase set for Wilton
Ontario board resolves cut-electrical-line issue
Date changed for Barton’s hearing
Community
Senior menus for May 13–17
Kendall, Norwalk and Wilton meal sites Call 463-7622 (Kendall), 343-3158 (Norwalk) or 487-6130 (Wilton) by noon two days before to reserve a meal. Suggested donation is $4 per meal. One-percent milk is served with each meal. Monday, May 13: Three-inch Italian...
Vernon County Museum Notes: Museum to host exhibit on Civil Defense program
By Carol Krogan Vernon County Museum assistant curator A new exhibit recently been has completed; it’s entitled “Civil Defense in Vernon County.” It is located on the third floor of the Vernon County Museum & History Center. The United States Government created...
Ontario Public Library to host viewing of ‘Migration’
By Rachel Conner | Ontario Public Library director The Ontario Public Library invites you to see the animated comedy “Migration” at Monday Family Movie Night on May 20 at 4 p.m. The movie is free, and snacks will be available. The annual spring bake sale to...
Wilton Public Library to host programs
By Kelly Lupton | Wilton Public Library director The Wilton Public Library will host the following activities: • 10 a.m. Friday, May 3: Current-events discussion group • 10 a.m. Saturday, May 4: Breakfast and Stories with Mom • 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 7: Board-game club •...
Ontario Public Library bake sale slated for May 10
By Rachel Conner | Ontario Public Library director The annual spring bake sale to benefit the Ontario Public Library will be Friday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or until gone! Choose from a selection of homemade baked goods. Spring story time happens every...
Obituaries
Glenda G. Huschka
Glenda G. Huschka, 85, of Elroy, Wis., passed away Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at Gundersen St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hillsboro. She was born March 1, 1939, the daughter of Antony and Maxine (Severson) Garwy in Hillsboro. Glenda graduated from the Elroy High School in...
Myrna E. (Zirk) Fauska
Myrna E. (Zirk) Fauska, 86, of Kendall passed away on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at her home. She was born April 10, 1938, to Herbert and Grace (Sweet) Zirk in St. Paul, Minn. Growing up, Myrna would spend her summers with her grandparents on the Zirk family farm....
Roger J. O’Gara
Roger J. O’Gara, 79, died Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, at the Serenity House in Tomah. Relatives and friends are invited for a celebration of Roger’s life on May 11 from 12:15 to 3 p.m. at the Hanson-Stark-Leith-Peth American Legion Post American Legion Post 508, Walker...
Sandra (Clark) Von Ruden
Sandra (Clark) Von Ruden, 82, of Cashton, Wis., passed away peacefully Wednesday, April 24, 2024, after a long battle with cancer, in the arms of her cherished husband. Sandy’s devotion to her family and her firm belief in God supported her in her struggle and...
Lora E. Dunwald (full obituary)
Lora E. Dunwald, 90, of Ontario, Wis., passed away on April 22, 2024, at Vernon Memorial Healthcare in Viroqua, Wis. Born on April 3, 1934, in Vernon County, Wis., to James and Alma (Hatfield) Skarda, she lived a life marked by kindness, devotion to her family, and...
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 softball in double-win column over New Lisbon
Brookwood softball hosted a pair of games against New Lisbon on Monday, May 6. In game one, the team gained a large 5-run lead, with Kymber Kaiser hitting a home run. Also, Emily Cunitz doubled and Kylie Powell singled. Here, Kaiser advances to third in the fourth to...
Teams compete at Royall Invitational
Royall track and field hosted its annual Gerard Brunner Invitational on Thursday, April 25, with 12 teams competing. Royall’s Jaiden Walters takes part in the girls shot put and places 16th with a throw of 24-10, with throw mates Maddison Peterson taking 17th at...
Royall’s Gruen selected as WIAA Scholar-Athlete
Royall High School student Marah Gruen recently was selected as one of 32 statewide finalists for the 2024 WIAA Scholar-Athlete Award. Only four boys and four girls from each of the four WIAA divisions were selected based on both athletic and academic achievement....
Brookwood girls capture second at Cashton meet, boys place fourth
Track athletes competed at the Cashton Invitational on April 20, through cold temperatures and wind gusts. Brookwood’s Gavin Havlik and August Rueckheim place eighth and ninth, respectively, in the boys 1,600-meter run. (Tasha Mueller photo) Royall’s Jackson Bender...
Inaugural game at Wilton’s new softball field
The Brookwood High School softball team played its first-ever game on the new softball field owned by the Village of Wilton. The Falcons defeated Mauston 15–0. Above is Bella Erickson; and below, Reagan Muehlenkamp. (Kathy Nelson photos)
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
Brookwood hosts FFA banquet
The Brookwood FFA hosted its annual banquet Sunday, when the following awards were given out: • Discovery Degree recipients — Landyn DeWitt, Wyatt Ferries, Stella Mack, Addison Miller, Breanna Nevismal, Jay Ottum, Sierra Pasch, Annabelle Rasmussen, Charles Wallerman,...
BJHS competes in quiz bowl
A group of Brookwood Junior High School students traveled to Necedah on April 23 to compete in the Seventh Grade Quiz Bowl sponsored by the Mississippi Valley Gifted and Talented Network. They had to answer questions about a variety of topics, including geography,...
Brookwood trap club hosts fundraiser
The Brookwood Trap Club hosted a fundraiser at the Wilton Fire Station on Sunday, selling brat and hot dog plates. Students Marshall Doll and Allison Maulsby assemble brat and hot dog plates. Dustin Pasch serves the fundraiser attendees. Deagan Halderman and Amyia...
Brookwood names artists of the month
The Brookwood High School artists of the month for March are Alexis Lacy, Bella Erickson and Marcos Djibouti-Gander for their fiber arts. Lacy felted bees, Erickson constructed a string art hummingbird with flowers, Djibouti-Gander felted a Mohawk ducky and crocheted...
N-O-W staff takes to the skies with the USAF
The F-35s are refueled during the mission. (Contributed photo) Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton School District staff members Jeremy Mack, business agent; David Gruber, N-O-W maintenance team and Air Force veteran; and Superintendent Travis Anderson “had the amazing...