EXTRA
Your Right to Know: Nursing home sale shows why transparency matters
By Jeff Seering On Tuesday, Sept. 17, the Sauk County Board voted to spend $40,500 to buy a sheriff’s department vehicle to replace one totaled in a July incident. The resolution printed on the agenda included details of the incident, the car dealer and...
OFD responds to car fire at gas station
The Ontario Fire Department responded to a car fire Thursday, Sept 19, at the Zzip Stop. Ten firefighters spent about a half-hour on the scene, and the fire was contained to the engine. The driver was Sherie Wondra of Norwalk. (Contributed photo)
Royall School District homecoming slated
The Royall School District will celebrate homecoming next week. The homecoming parade will be in Elroy starting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2. It will start at North Street and end at the school parking lot. The school’s annual community night will follow at...
Man accused in Dolowy murder grew up in Kendall
The man accused of the 1985 murder of La Crosse resident Terry Dolowy spent his childhood in Kendall. Michael R. Popp Michael R. Popp, 60, a current Tomah resident, was charged with first-degree murder Tuesday in Vernon County in relation to the 1985 case. ...
Several vehicles struck in Hillsboro hit-and-run crash
A hit-and-run crash occurred late Saturday night, Sept. 14, in Hillsboro, according to Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson and Hillsboro Chief of Police Patrick Clark. At about 11:45 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatch Center began receiving calls reporting that...
Your Right to Know: Using outside record vendors brings risks
By Tom Kamenick Last March, the Wisconsin Examiner asked the Black River Falls Police Department to search for emails regarding the death of a missing Indigenous man. The department said it would process the request but the news outlet would have to pay...
Half of Wisconsin school districts go to referendum amid debate over state aid for public education
by Hallie Claflin / Wisconsin Watch, Wisconsin Watch September 16, 2024 Come Nov. 5, nearly half of all Wisconsin school districts will have gone to referendum in 2024, asking for almost $6 billion in total from Wisconsin residents in districts scattered across the...
NEWS
Vernon County Sheriff’s Report for Sept. 29 to Oct. 4
Sunday, Sept. 29: Deputies initiated a traffic stop on northbound Highway 35 in the town of Bergen for a vehicle that appeared to be speeding and was confirmed by radar. The driver was cited for speeding in 55-mph zone (20–24 mph) and issued a warning for green...
Lutheran group to host fall rally in Sparta
The Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society Scenic Coulee Circuit Fall Rally will be Saturday, Oct. 12, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 419 Jefferson Ave., Sparta. Registration will begin at 12:30 p.m., with the program starting at 1 p.m. The guest speaker for the...
I&E Club to explore content marketing and social media
Contributed by the Vernon County I&E Club The next meeting of the Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club will be Wednesday, Oct. 9, at the Food Enterprise Center, 1201 N. Main St. in Viroqua. With the topic “Content Marketing and Social Media,” attendees will learn how...
Vernon County to offer caregiver summit
The Aging and Disability Resource Center of Vernon County, in collaboration with St. Croix Hospice, will offer a free Caregiver Informational Summit Series from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, in Viroqua. The summit includes speakers discussing topics such...
Vernon County Sheriff’s Report for Sept. 22–28
Monday, Sept. 23: At 5:36 p.m., Michael R Popp, 61, of Tomah was arrested for first-degree intentional homicide–murder and nonnegligent manslaughter for the 1985 disappearance of Terry Dolowy. He is being held in the Vernon County Detention Center. The charge is...
Vernon County Sheriff’s Report for Sept. 15–21
Sunday, Sept. 15: A deputy conducted a traffic stop on Highway 14 in the town of Kickapoo. Field sobriety tests were performed and found the driver to be operating under the influence. The driver was arrested and taken to the Vernon County Detention Center for...
CWD summit slated for Oct. 12
A chronic wasting disease summit, a free event open to the public, is set for 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Recreation Station, 316 Arthur St., Tomah. DNR biologists, landowners and hunters will give presentations on CWD history in Wisconsin and...
Brookwood’s Cunitz nets 1,000 assists
Coming into the Brookwood girls volleyball team’s match with Bangor on Thursday night, Falcons senior captain Emily Cunitz needed 33 … Read the rest
Benefit for Lynn Evans family of Wilton is Oct. 12
Lynn (Schmitz) Evans of Wilton had already beaten cancer once; she won her fight against breast cancer in 2018.
Royall approves preliminary 2024–25 budget
Royall’s board of education and local voters approved a provisional 2024–25 budget Sept. 23 at its annual meeting.
Kendall Lions Club to host holiday fair
The third annual Kendall Lions Holiday Fair is just around the corner, so save the date!
N-O-W celebrates homecoming
The Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton School District put on its homecoming parade in Norwalk last Friday.
Ontario sewer upgrade has public hearing
Ontario residents will likely see an $8.40 hike in their monthly utility bill late next year due to a required … Read the rest
Jury trial scheduled for former Wilton clerk/treasurer
Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Todd Ziegler recently scheduled a jury trial for Wilton’s former clerk/treasurer, Leigha Barton, who is … Read the rest
A floral fundraiser
One of the highlights of driving through Norwalk in the summer are the flower baskets hanging from the light poles … Read the rest
Informational sessions slated for Royall’s referendum
The Royall School District will host a series of informational sessons on its $1.5 million operations referendum, which will be … Read the rest
N-O-W receives construction update
A representative of Market & Johnson gave the Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton Board of Education a construction update at its meeting Monday.
Barton’s attorney requests more time for discovery
Russell Hammer, the public defender representing former Wilton clerk/treasurer Leigha Barton, told Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Todd Ziegler on … Read the rest
Kotten named to Ontario police commission
The Ontario Village Board appointed Tom Kotten to the police commission at its monthly meeting Monday.
Community
Ontario Public Library to host Amish presentation Oct. 14
By Rachel Conner | Ontario Public Library director Please join the Ontario Public Library for presentations this October: • 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14 — Local author Larry Scheckel will be at the Ontario Public Library to speak about “The Amish in Wisconsin.” His...
Kendall movie night is Oct. 18
Contributed by Lynette Vlasak The Kendall Public Library’s movie night will be Friday, Oct. 18, at 6:30 p.m., at St. John’s Church Fellowship Hall. We will show the western movie “The Long Ride Home,” starring Randy Travis. Jake Fowler (Randy Travis) is...
‘Seeing Stars’
By Susan Cushing | Kickapoo Dark Sky Initiative This week our Kickapoo dark skies offer two special sights. The first is a view of Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons. Get the binoculars out, wake up early on Oct. 11, and look east before sunrise. One of Jupiter’s moons,...
OHS class of ‘60 reunites
Contributed — The Ontario High School class of 1960 had its annual reunion in Ontario this year. It was an enjoyable time with old friends, and we will plan to do it again next year! Back row (left to right): Minnie Nofsinger Woods, David Kennedy, Rita Rynes Downing,...
On Campus
• The following local freshmen at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire received scholarships: Marah Gruen of Elroy, Carol Krohn Scholarship and Chancellor’s Scholarship; and Jordyn Anderson of Kendall, Carol Krohn Scholarship.
Obituaries
Lewellyn Mae (Noth) Ahlfs (Lou)
Lewellyn Mae (Noth) Ahlfs (Lou), 91, of Security, Colo., and formerly of Norwalk, Wis., passed away Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, at her home. She was born Aug. 27, 1933, in the Township of Sheldon, near Norwalk, Wis., to Clarence Anton Wm. And Mildred Edith...
Peter L. Fitch
Peter Lynn Fitch, 70, passed away Oct. 1, 2024, in Elroy, Wis. Born on May 31, 1954, to Max and Bernice Fitch. Peter was known for his outgoing personality, personable nature, and an uncanny sense of humor that brought joy to those around him. Peter attended...
Gilford Hoel
In the darkest hour before dawn on Sept. 26, 2024, lung cancer took Gilford Hoel from us, and he was NOT happy about it. He wanted to stay with Julie, his wife of 45 years, their daughter Jillian Hoel Winters and her daughter, Lola, and their son Timothy Hoel and his...
Helen A. (Geier) Summerfield
Helen A. (Geier) Summerfield, a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, was called into eternal life with the Lord on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. Helen was born Dec. 5, 1931, one of 13 children of Basilius and Francis (Rondorf) Geier of Norwalk, Wis. She...
Simon E. Joseph
Simon Elmer Joseph, 28, of Wilton, Wis., passed away on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at home. He was born Nov. 21, 1995, the son of Melissa Kiel and John Joseph in Hillsboro, Wis. After graduating from Tomah High School, he attended Western Technical College for...
Opinion
Letter to the editor: If Royall referendum doesn’t pass, it would mean demise of the school district
By Lynette Vlasak | Kendall Royall High School class of 1969 To the voters of the Royall School District: I personally do not know anyone who wants their taxes to go up. I do know lots of people who value the Kendall and Elroy communities and the Royall School...
Letter to the editor: But for the grace of God
By Danell Sulik | Kendall As everyone is aware, the South is suffering the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Over 200 souls have died in North Carolina, and some are still unaccounted for. Many who survived the storm live in remote areas and were without food, power,...
Letter to the editor: Farm Bill should continue to support conservation programs
By John Welter | Viroqua As a lifelong outdoors person, I deeply appreciate the opportunities Wisconsin offers to anglers, hunters, and other outdoors folks. Here in the spectacularly beautiful heart of the Driftless Area, those opportunities are influenced by...
Letter to the editor: Trump imagines he is superior to those who disagree with him
By Kay Ziegahn | Richland Center In denigrating others just to get a laugh, Trump imagines he is superior to all who disagree with him. Therefore, he blithely continues mudslinging anyone he considers a rival. Who but a fool would say, much less believe, that Kamala...
Letter to the editor: Democratic bus needs work, but Republican bus is stuck in reverse
By Kent Gallaway | Readstown I’m a conflicted independent voter, and it’s a shame that in 2024, when the choice for president should be clear, it isn’t! We don’t have rank choice voting, and we are left with what the oligarchs have left, an undemocratic...
Sports
Falcons seize win streak
The Brookwood volleyball team seeks toward the top of the conference play by adding two additional wins this week over Wonewoc-Center 3–1 on Tuesday and Necedah 3–1 on Thursday. Calista Zimmerman reaches over the net to keep the kill down over Wonewoc-Center on...
Ithaca spoils Royall’s homecoming
The Royall football team breaks through the banner prior to the start of Friday's homecoming game. (Tasha Mueller photo) Jackson Bender leaps for an attempted catch attempt past Ithaca's defense. (Tasha Mueller photo) Samson Degner and Lucas Peterson make a stop on...
Royall chips away at Bangor
The Royall football team hosted Bangor on Sept. 27 in conference play, and Bangor marched ahead early on, leading 14–0 at halftime. Carter Uppena punts for a second-half start. (Tasha Mueller photo) Jackson Bender powers through Bangor’s defense for a third-quarter...
Brookwood football falls to Cashton 28–14
The Brookwood Falcons football team fell to Cashton on Friday night in the Eagles’ homecoming game by 28–14. Cashton rolled to a 21-0 halftime lead and held off a strong Falcon effort to close the gap in the fourth quarter. Cashton relied totally on its ground...
Brookwood volleyball holds onto conference wins
Brookwood volleyball traveled to New Lisbon on Sept. 17 and got the sweep in three sets, 25-13, 25-18, and 25-14. Setter Emily Cunitz tallied 16 assists in the win. The team then traveled to Bangor Sept. 19 and held onto a 3-1 win. Cunitz gained 40 assists in the...
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 senior quartet, 1955
The following students were members of the senior quartet at Wilton High School in 1955: Orvis Schindler, Roger Pasch, Charles Zellmer and Merlyn Eckelberg. This photo appeared in the Wilton High School yearbook, “Wiltonian.”
Kendall High School class of 1934
Photo courtesy of Dean Hutchens
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...
School
Brookwood names artists of the month
The Brookwood artists of the month for September are Lilly Brueggeman for her visual pun (football), Deja Jimenez for her Expressionist-inspired tempera painting and Adeline Slattery for her color-wheel families tempera painting. (Contributed photos)
Royall FFA gets donation for national convention
The Royall School District recently thanked American Family Insurance-Ruiz-Jorandby Agency in Reedsburg for donating money from its summer block party and pig roast to the Royall FFA Chapter, plus the home office matched the donation. The funds will be used to help...
Brookwood names artists of the month
Fernanda Garcia Barr (top), Deja Jimenez (middle) and Sophie Teynor (below) were the Brookwood High School artists of the month for April. Sophie painted an album cover using acrylic paint, Deja created original portraits of the members of the Prom Court using an iPad...
Brookwood students put on concert
Brookwood put on its pops concert May 19.
N-O-W highlights for fourth-quarter
By Travis Anderson | N-O-W Superintendent Wow, what a great year the 2023–2024 school year was thanks to all of our wonderful students, staff, and our supportive community.One thing I mentioned in my graduation speech this year was that the old saying rings true, “It...