EXTRA
Meet the bard at Wildcat: ‘Shakespeare in the Park’ set for July 11
Wildcat Mountain State Park will host Summit Players’ “Shakespeare in the Park” on Friday, July 11, at its amphitheater. The following is the schedule. • 5:30 p.m. workshop — “Playing with Shakespeare: Get Outside with Will” This workshop focuses on helping...
Norwalk spill affects 8 miles of trout waters
At least eight miles of a Southwest-Wisconsin stream were polluted by a manure spill earlier this month. The spill killed hundreds of fish, including many wild brown trout. The affected waterways — Spring Valley Creek, Moore Creek and the Kickapoo River — have long...
Your Right to Know: Want a closed session? Explain yourself!
By Tom Kamenick Probably the most commonly used — and, in my opinion, abused — exemption in our state’s Open Meetings Law is the one that lets governmental bodies meet behind closed doors “whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session." The...
Springtime birding on the Kickapoo
By Charlie Luthin of Lodi, Wis. The month of May brings fresh rains to the Kickapoo Valley, and paddlers ready themselves for their spring float or paddle down this iconic Driftless Area River. May also brings...
Narcan training will be offered in Elroy
SAFE in Juneau County will be hosting a FREE community Narcan training in Elroy at the Elroy Public Library on Thursday, June 12th at 5pm. This training will teach participants how to take life-saving steps in the event of an opioid overdose. Participants will...
County Highway U scheduled for resurfacing
County Highway U in the towns of Jefferson and Wells in Monroe County, between Nemo Avenue in Cashton and County Highway XU, 7.9 miles in length, will be restricted to alternating one lane of traffic beginning Wednesday, June 4, and continuing for about two...
DNR responding to manure spill near Norwalk
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is responding to a recent manure spill near Norwalk in Monroe County, according to a press release prepared by the DNR. Spill response began over the weekend, and DNR staff continue to monitor the situation. The DNR...
NEWS
Wildcat’s music in the park is July 5
Wildcat Mountain State Park will host music in the park with Ryan Meisel at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 5. Meisel blends his background in jazz with the sounds of indigenous music from around the globe. He performs live saxophones, native flutes, indigenous woodwinds,...
Wilton Legion donates to VA
The Hanson-Stark-Leith-Paeth Wilton American Legion Post 508 donated $800 to the Tomah VA Voluntary Services Department in support of the National Adaptive Sports Program. The donation enables veterans to attend the national program in events such as cycling, archery,...
Vernon County Sheriff’s Report for June 15–21
Sunday, June 15: Deputies responded to an altercation that occurred at a rural De Soto business, in the town of Wheatland. The caller reported three males had been in the business and pushed an employee and had also put their hands on them. The investigation is...
Rails to Trails to host 5K and 1-mile runs
The inaugural Black Squirrel 5K Scamper and 1-Mile Runs will be sponsored by the Rails-to-Trails Marathon Organization on Saturday, Aug. 9. This event will happen in Norwalk on the Elroy-Sparta State Trail, starting at the DNR parking lot. Proceeds from this...
St. Luke’s Cemetery vandalized
Contributed by St. Luke’s Auxiliary In what appears to be a senseless act of destruction, a large section of the newly installed, commercial-rated fence at St. Luke’s Cemetery in rural Elroy was destroyed by a vehicle either late Friday, June 13, or early Saturday,...
Vernon County Sheriff’s Report for June 8–14
Sunday, June 8: Deputies responded to a one-vehicle crash on Highway 56 in the town of Liberty. The driver left the scene and was later found walking eastbound. Deputies determined the driver was impaired; the driver was processed for operating while under the...
Wildcat offering monthly hikes on Hemlock Trail
As part of the Wildcat Mountain State Park nature program, the Kickapoo Valley Plant Lookers will offer a hike on the Hemlock Trail from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month through September. The hike will offer the opportunity to learn more...
Wilton to do electrical repairs at campground
At a special meeting Monday, the Wilton Village Board hired Scott Lind of Ontario to do electrical repairs on the … Read the rest
Ontario gas station has kitchen fire
A kitchen fire ignited but was quickly extinguished at the Ontario Zzip Stop last Wednesday.
Wilton Legion donates toward swimming pool
The Wilton American Legion hosted a Father’s Day chicken dinner, and proceeds from the event will help pay for concrete … Read the rest
Norwalk initiates reconstruction of N. Church, North streets
Norwalk agreed to start phase one of N. Church and North streets reconstruction at its regular meeting June 11.
Wilton’s WWTP project appears to be reaching completion
Work continues on Wilton’s wastewater-treatment plant, and a final checklist is soon pending, the village board learned at its meeting … Read the rest
N-O-W’s construction project continues
The Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton School District’s wide-ranging construction project continues to make headway, general contractor Market & Johnson representative Craig Nameyst told … Read the rest
Kendall American Legion donates to kitchen project
Kendall’s kitchen renovation project got a boost Tuesday when the Kendall American Legion donated $2,000 toward the project.
Whitestown board will vote on quarry Tuesday
The Town of Whitestown Hall was filled to capacity Tuesday evening when the board hosted a public hearing on Kale … Read the rest
Adventures in Ontario
Ontario churches put on their Adventure Day for kids on June 7 in the Ontario square and pavilion and the … Read the rest
Police chief warns Ontario is going to the dogs
According to Ontario Police Chief Dave Rynes, the Village of Ontario has a problem with dogs running at large and … Read the rest
Donations sought for new playground equipment in Ontario
Wilmer Pearson of Ontario is seeking donations for new playground equipment at Palen Park in Ontario.
Swiss student lives as American teenager during year at Brookwood
When Alina Vogel of Lucerne, Switzerland, prepared to spend a year in the United States, she aimed to live as … Read the rest
Community
Seeing Stars: The green flash
By Susan Cushing | Kickapoo Dark-Sky Initiative There is a special event that happens at sunset called a “green flash” or a “green rim.” As the last edge of the sun disappears below the horizon, sometimes a green flash of light shoots up from the edge of the sun, or...
On Campus
• The following local students were named to the spring dean’s list at the University of Wisconsin-Madison: Emma Green and Olivia Saemisch, both of Elroy; and Amelia Muellenberg of Ontario. • Maddie Honaker of Norwalk was named to the spring dean’s list at...
Ontario summer reading program continues
By Rachel Conner Ontario Public Library director SUMMER READING PROGRAM 2025 — COLOR OUR WORLD! This year’s summer reading theme is “Color Our World,” and we will explore the many ways we can color our world. In addition to fun programs, kids can read to earn prizes....
Vernon County Museum Notes
By Carol Krogan Vernon County Museum assistant curator At one time, Vernon County had over 150 country schools. As townships were settled in the 1840s and 1850s, schools were built to teach the children of these early settlers. Consequently, lots of teachers were...
Senior menus for June 30 to July 4
Kendall and Norwalk meal sites Call 463-7622 (Kendall) or 343-3158 (Norwalk) by noon one day before to reserve a meal. Suggested donation is $4 per meal. One-percent milk is served with each meal. Monday, June 30: Three-inch Italian subs on whole-grain bread,...
Obituaries
Rosella M. Schendel
Rosella M. Schendel, 91, of Tomah, Wis., passed away Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at Close to Home in Tomah, Wis. She was born Sept. 18, 1933, to Matt and Ottilia (Schreier) Schmid in Hillsboro, Wis. Rosella was united in holy matrimony to Darwin L. Schendel...
Kenneth Odell Ottum
Kenneth Odell Ottum, 84, of Ontario, Wis., passed away Friday, June 20, 2025. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, June 30, at Brush Creek Lutheran Church, rural Ontario. Pastor Pat Ziems will officiate. Burial will follow in...
Buddy “Bud” L. Speicher
Buddy “Bud” L. Speicher, 87, of Wilton passed away on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at his home, surrounding by his loving family. Bud was born July 3, 1937, in Fredericksburg, Iowa, to Earl and Verla (Haag) Speicher. He attended country schools and later high school...
Harold “Buzz” Jensen
Harold “Buzz” Jensen, 82, of Elroy, Wis., passed away on Monday, April 28, 2025, at the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse due to complications from Parkinson’s disease. Buzz was born Aug. 2, 1942, in Plymouth, Wis., to Lawrence and Cora (Smith) Jensen. At...
Kent Louis Hendrickson
Kent Louis Hendrickson, 73, of rural Ontario, Wis., passed from this life to be forever with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, April 26, 2025. He was born to Earl Henry Hendrickson and Geneva Merle (Gardner) Hendrickson on Sept. 29, 1951, joining...
Opinion
Letter to the editor: Bluebells
By Lyda Lanier | Town of Ridgeville In her column “South Ridge News,” Alice Brandau always brought us up to date in the spring when the bluebells were in bloom. This year, Carolene Martalock encouraged readers of the County Line to take a drive in Vernon County...
Letter to the editor: Democracy has been deteriorating
By Kent Gallaway | Readstown Democracy in America has been deteriorating for decades from corruption, inequality, and a flawed campaign election process. The accumulating causes have resulted in a dangerous election of a power-hungry character, Donald Trump....
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...
Sports
Brookwood names athletes of the month
The following Brookwood High School students were named athletes of the month for May/June. Coaches’ comments follow the students’ names. BASEBALL • Julian Cunitz: “Julian led the team in batting with .480 average for May. He also was one of our most reliable...
Local athletes named all-conference
The following local high school athletes were named to the Scenic Bluffs All-Conference Teams: BASEBALL First team — Braeden Pasch, Owen Wang and Jackson Cunitz, Brookwood; and Seth Brandau, Jackson Bender, Trey Wildes and Cole Eberhardt, Royall Second team — Ben...
Falcon softball claims regional title
The Brookwood softball team claimed the WIAA Division 5 regional title with a 15–5 win in six innings over No. 6 Kickapoo on May 29. In the regional semifinal, Brookwood hosted No. 7 Wonewoc-Center on May 27 with a 12–0 wn in five innings. Brookwood traveled to No. 1...
Royall softball runs to regional final
The No. 4 Royall softball team hosted No. 5 Cochrane-Fountain City on May 27 in the regional semifinal WIAA Division 5 tournament game. Kenady Olson catches a quick ground ball and tosses to first for an out in the fourth inning, as Royall led 6–1. (Tasha Mueller...
Falcon baseball flies past CFC
The No. 4 Brookwood baseball team hosted No.13 Cochrane-Fountain City on May 29 in the first round of tournament play in the WIAA Division 4 regional. Braeden Pasch bats a fly out to centerfield in the second inning. Drew Thurston fueled a homerun to bring in four...
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
In 1942, Wilton woman joined husband in blacksmith shop
After Fred W. Lueck (right) couldn’t find help for his blacksmith shop in Wilton in 1942, his wife, Anna Lueck (left), joined him in the endeavor. The blacksmith shop was behind the Polstin’s building, which is on Main Street. Herbert Anderson photo (courtesy of Aldis...
Kendall dramatic club, circa 1900
This circa 1900 photo shows members of “Finnegan’s Alley,” which was an amateur dramatic club in Kendall. Seated, from left to right, are Mamie Moote and Clarence S. Dodge. In back are Mayne Daily, Louis H. Felker, Edward DeBarr, Walter F. Houk, Roy Ebert and Mayme...
Wilton Memorial Day parade, 1965
Herbert Anderson of Wilton (1887–1989) captured these photos of the Wilton American Post’s Memorial Day parade in 1965. Along with the legion members, the Royall High School band took part in the event. Do you have more information on these photos? Contact the...
Bill Karis Shoe Store, Norwalk, circa 1910
The Bill Karis Shoe Store, located at 105 Main St. in Norwalk, circa 1910. Left to right: Joe Wepfer, Alvin Wruck and William Karis. More historic photos are available at the Monroe County Local History Room’s website at www.MCLHR.org. In its April 24 issue, the...
Tuttle Hill, 1910s
Men construct the road on what is now County Highway ZZ, on Tuttle Hill, just southwest of Ontario, most likely in the 1910s. The back of the photo has the inscription, “Grandpa Phil Bolden driving 1st team working on Tuttle Hill.” Do you have more information about...
School
Brookwood hosts trap shoot
Before school got out, the Brookwood High School trap club hosted a trap shoot. Bella Brandau (Kathy Nelson photo) Katherine McElhose and Gracin Stebbins (Kathy Nelson photo) Sophie Hyatt. (Kathy Nelson photo) Marshall Dol (Kathy Nelson photo)
Royall seniors receive scholarships
The following 2025 Royall High School graduates received the following scholarships and awards: • Royall Alumni Association Scholarship — CJ Anderson, Tyler Marshall, Maddison Peterson and Piper Pursell • Royall Booster Club Athletic Scholarship — Jackson Bender, Seth...
Brookwood’s night of musical magic
The Brookwood music department put on its pops concert May 13. Jocelyn Pacheco Pastrana and Drew Powell play with the high school band, which performed the main theme from “Mandalorian,” “Defying Gravity” from Broadway’s “Wicked,” and “My Shot” from Broadway’s...
Brookwood students named to honor roll
The following Brookwood Junior/Senior High School students were named to the fourth-quarter honor roll: SENIORS High Honors: Payge A. Clark, Deja S. Jimenez and Hunter A. Zimmerman Honor Roll: Emma J. Baldwin, Camden L. Brueggeman, Marshall C. Doll, Savannah Groom...
Brookwood High School seniors receive scholarships
The following members of the Brookwood High School class of 2025 received scholarships: • Bank of Ontario — Emily O’Rourke • Bohle Family Memorial — Deanna Wallace and Carter Arbuckle • Bredlow-Ewing American Legion — Deanna Wallace, Payge Clark and Emily...