EXTRA
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...
Brookwood to offer shuttle bus for graduation Friday
Brookwood High School will host its graduation for the class of 2025 on Friday, May 23, at 7 p.m. in the high school gymnasium. Due to construction, parking is a bit limited, but there will be a shuttle-bus service provided from the Ontario Pavilion to the school....
County Highway P in Sheldon, Wellington scheduled for resurfacing
County Highway P in the towns of Sheldon and Wellington in Monroe County, between the Vernon County line and County Highway Z east of Ontario, will be restricted to alternating one lane of traffic effective Tuesday, May 27, to facilitate rehabilitation and resurfacing...
Emplify Health by Gundersen urges caution amid rise in pertussis cases
Contributed by Emplify Health by Gundersen LA CROSSE — Emplify Health by Gundersen is raising awareness about pertussis (whooping cough) cases, which we continue to see in the community. Emplify Health is particularly focused on educating the community about this...
Vehicles collide off Irish Ridge Road
The Vernon County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call at about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday reporting a two-vehicle collision on Oneida Road, off Irish Ridge Road, in rural Cashton, in the town of Clinton. Wayne K. Kruizenga, 64, of rural Viroqua was driving a 2011 Ford...
Your Right to Know: When people die, openness matters
By Tim Vetscher In any community, the role of the medical examiner is vital. Medical examiners — or coroners, in the nearly half of Wisconsin’s 72 counties that have them as an alternative — determine the cause and manner of death, support the criminal...
NEWS
Wilton Rod & Gun Club hosts free fishing day for kids
The Wilton Rod & Gun Club put on its annual free fishing day for kids on Sunday. This year, the family of Jeff Clark donated in memory of him toward the event. 115 kids signed up. Ben Kiel caught the first fish of the day. Noah Perrigo waits for a bite. Cashton...
Norwalk Public Library puts on bike rodeo
The Norwalk Public Library hosted its annual bike rodeo and carnival Sunday in front of the Norwalk Village Hall. Damian Garcia Barr hands out balloons to the children. Oliver Bautista Velasco makes his way through the bike-rodeo course. Addie Degenhardt takes part...
Friends of the Elroy-Sparta State Trail meets June 9
Submitted by Friends of the Elroy-Sparta Trail Now that we’re into spring and having some better weather, you may feel like spending some time on the Elroy-Sparta State Trail. The trail provides countless benefits: exercise, peaceful surroundings, and a chance...
Vernon County Sheriff’s Report for May 18–29
Sunday, May 18: A deputy conducted a stop on Highway 82 in the town of Viroqua on a vehicle with no taillights. The deputy detected the odor of intoxicants coming from the driver and other signs of impairment. The driver was taken into custody for operating while...
Monroe County, ADRC to offer program to reduce falls in older adults
One in four older adults has a fall each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Wisconsin leads the nation in fall-related deaths for people aged 60 and older. But the good news is that falls are not a normal part of aging...
KVR to host rededication ceremony
The Kickapoo Reserve Management Board invites the public to a rededication ceremony and reception from 1–4 p.m. June 7, at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve Visitor Center, S3661 Hwy. 131, La Farge. This event marks 25 years of the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, celebrating...
Larry Scheckel to discuss ‘Murder in a Small Town’ at Kendall Public Library
By Charissa Finn | Kendall Public Library director The Kendall Public Library invites you to an author talk by Larry Scheckel on Wednesday, May 28, at 1 p.m. He will discuss his newest true crime book, “Murder in a Small Town,” about the Kyson Rice case,...
Norwalk marks Memorial Day
The Norwalk American Legion hosted ceremonies at 11 locations on Memorial Day.
Wilton remembers the fallen
The Wilton American Legion hosted a Memorial Day ceremony at the Wilton Veterans Memorial.
Kendall puts on Memorial Day program
The Kendall American Legion gave its annual Memorial Day program at Glenwood Park.
Royall hosts commencement 2025
Royall put on its graduation ceremony Saturday morning. Below, see a photo gallery of the event.
A new journey begins for BHS class of ‘25
Brookwood High School hosted its graduation Friday evening.
Local communities to host Memorial Day ceremonies
The following Memorial Day ceremonies will be offered Monday.
Ontario looks to settle lot dispute on North Church Street
The Ontario Village Board is attempting to come to an agreement with a resident who bought a lot on the … Read the rest
Royall’s health insurance costs go up by 19 percent
For the second year in a row, the Royall School District will face a 19 percent increase in its health-insurance … Read the rest
Royall puts on pops spectacular
The Royall High School music department performed its annual pop concert Friday.
Brookwood to host conference track meet showcasing some of the best athletes in the state
If one scrolls through the Wisconsin State Honor Roll for Track and Field, posted and compiled weekly by Milesplit.com, one … Read the rest
Kendall receives $35,000 in memory of Sally Dana
By Sarah Parker | County Line Editor Donating in memory of Sally Dana, Lynette Vlasak of rural Kendall gave $35,000 to the Village of Kendall at the board’s regular meeting Monday, with the money earmarked for renovations of the Kendall Community Hall Kitchen. ...
N-O-W construction continues to make headway
Progress continues on the Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton School District’s expansive addition and renovation project, Craig Namyst of Market & Johnson told the … Read the rest
Community
On Campus
• Kim Downing of Norwalk was named to the spring dean’s list at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. • Jack Mulvaney of Norwalk was named to the spring-semester dean’s list at Winona State University.
Kendall Public Library group reads ‘Save Me the Plums’
Contributed by Charissa Finn Kendall Public Library director Our book club read “Save Me the Plums,” a cooking memoir by Ruth Reichl. We discussed the book and made Gina Marie’s cheddar scallion biscuits from one of the recipes in the book. This was a great...
Ontario Hat Luncheon set for end of June
By Rachel Conner | Ontario Public Library director The much-anticipated annual Hat Luncheon to benefit the Ontario Public Library will be held June 25, 26, and 27. A lovely luncheon will be served beginning at noon at 302 Park St. in Ontario. The suggested donation is...
Wilton Public Library to offer programs this month
By Kelly Lupton | Wilton Public Library director The Wilton Public Library will host the following events: • 10 a.m. Friday, June 6: Current-Events Discussion Group • 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 9: Second-Monday Book Club discussion of “Into the Wild” by Jon Krakauer • 4...
Seeing Stars: Mosquitoes
By Susan Cushing | Kickapoo Dark-Sky Initiative Well, they’re back. A couple ankle bites while sitting on the porch in the evening gives notice that the insect we universally dislike is here for the summer. But, wait, is our discomfort the whole story? As usual, there...
Obituaries
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...
Leila Helen Moseley
Leila Helen Moseley, 95, of Cassville, Wis., formerly of Tomah, died April 19, 2025, at Eden Vista, Madison. She was born Oct. 27, 1929, to Alloth and Helen (Mahoney) Westpfahl in Tomah, Wis. She was a member of the Tomah High School graduating class of 1947. ...
Deanna Rae Bell
Deanna Rae Bell, 78, of Kendall, Wis., passed away on April 15, 2025. Born on Feb. 24, 1947, to Everett and Donna (Severson) Walter, Deanna spent her early childhood in Minneapolis, Minn. At the age of 7, she moved to a family farm outside Kendall, where she was...
Metro Palamaruk
Metro Palamaruk, 94, of Kendall, died Saturday, April 19, 2025, at Touch of Home. He was born Feb. 7, 1931, to Konstantine and Victoria (Mamoff) Palamaruk in Fort William, Ontario, Canada. After graduating high school, he served in the Canadian Armed...
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
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...
Harriers claim conference titles
Area track and field athletes earned Scenic Bluffs Conference titles on May 20 at Brookwood’s new track and field, a first for the school. Royall’s Adonu Ingraham clears the 5’10” mark in the boys high jump before clearing 6’ to take the conference title. (Tasha...
Brookwood sets three new school records, advances 14 to sectionals
Brookwood Track and Field traveled to Onalaska Luther for the WIAA D3 Regional Track and Field Meet on May 27. During competition, three new school records were established. The new records are the following: • Boys 800-meter relay — Carter Arbuckle, Eligh Holmquist,...
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 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...
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)
School
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...
N-O-W fourth graders in Heritage Fair
Fourth graders at Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton Elementary School recently completed their required Heritage Fair research project. Students selected a topic relating to Wisconsin and prepared an in-depth presentation. They were given the option to present in front of the...
Brookwood names artists of the month
The April Artists of the Month for Brookwood High School are Savannah Groom Cruz, Calista Zimmerman and Madelin Matias Perez (below, left to right) for their two-sided tempera paintings called Agamographs. The fourth Artist of the Month is Brayden Thieman (bottom...