EXTRA
Your Right to Know: Long waits undercut records law
By Bill Lueders The other day, in my role as an advocate for open government, I heard from a Wisconsin resident who has waited more than five months for records he requested from a local law enforcement agency. He has gently prodded the agency several times,...
Drugs, firearms seized near Mount Tabor
Brandon Robert Sebranek, 30, is facing several drug charges after a search warrant was executed Wednesday, Nov. 20, at a residence on Mount Tabor Road in the town of Forest, according to an announcement by Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson, in partnership with the...
N-O-W has gas leak, but episode doesn’t spur further problems
By Sarah Parker | County Line Editor A valve broke on a 500-gallon LP tank that contained about 300 gallons of LP on Monday at the Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton School District’s construction site, causing an emergency response but resulting in no hazardous incidents. The...
Three local churches to host ecumenical Thanksgiving Eve service
Contributed by Immanuel United Methodist Church Immanuel United Methodist Church in Norwalk will host its yearly Ecumenical Thanksgiving Eve Service. This service has been done for many years in conjunction with St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Wilton...
Vernon County seeks residents’ input on housing matters
Vernon County, in partnership with UW-Madison Extension, announces the launch of a housing study aimed at addressing the current and future housing needs of Vernon County. A first step is the release of a housing survey, which launched Nov. 8. This study...
Clifton church to host free brunch for hunters
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, on 30032 County Hwy. A, rural Tomah (just outside of Clifton), will host a free brunch for hunters on opening morning, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23. A press release from the church states, “We miss the good ole days when...
Your Right to Know: A fund to fight government secrecy
By JONATHAN ANDERSON In 2022, the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council created a designated fund to help cover legal costs associated with fighting to pry records into the public domain. Called simply the WFOIC Legal Fund, it has never had more than $4,000 in its...
NEWS
I&E Club to host program on specialty crops
Contributed by the Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club Have you ever considered growing a specialty crop such as elderberries, honeyberries, currants, aronia berries, hazelnuts or small grains? Join us at the next meeting of the Vernon County Inventors and...
Former KVR director to host book talk
Former Kickapoo Valley Reserve Executive Director Marby West, author of the newly released “Protecting Paradise in the Driftless: How the Kickapoo Valley Reserve Came to Be,” will have a book talk and signing at 12:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, at Let’s Shine Coffee in...
Royall holiday concerts slated
The Royall School District will host the following holiday concerts: MONDAY, DECEMBER 9 In the old high school gymnasium • 6 p.m. — Fifth and sixth grades • 6:45 p.m. — Middle school • 7:30 p.m. — High school MONDAY, DECEMBER 16 In the elementary school...
Vernon County Over 50 to offer events in Ontario
The following are the Vernon County Over 50 activities for December. For more information, call (262) 384-0082. • 1–1:45 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2 — Tai Chi exercise at Bethel Home Fellowship Hall, 614 S. Rock Ave., Viroqua, the Ontario and Readstown public...
Vernon County Sheriff’s Report for Nov. 17–23
Sunday, Nov. 17: A sheriff’s deputy initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle that was traveling southbound on Highway 82 in the town of Bergen at an excessive rate of speed and was displaying a license plate not registered to the vehicle. Citations were issued for...
Deer season underway
The nine-day gun-deer season began Saturday. Here, Jennifer Hammon stands with the deer she harvested opening day near Kendall. Do you have a deer photo to submit to the County Line? Email it to countyline@thecountyline.net.
Kendall receives donation
Gail Johnson of Kendall (right) and her daughters, Sherry Spies and Angela Joosten, raised more than $500 by selling concessions at the Kendall Holiday Fair earlier this month. The proceeds will go toward kitchen renovations at the Kendall Community Hall. At right is...
Uppena gives update on Royall operational referendum
Superintendent Scott Uppena gave a post-referendum report Nov. 25 at the Royall School District’s board of education meeting, thanking board … Read the rest
Songs of the season
Members of the Brookwood High School choir, along with their teacher, Hunter Evenson, sang Christmas carols Friday at the Wilton … Read the rest
Brookwood theatre sweeps awards at state festival
Brookwood theatre participants attended the Wisconsin State High School Theatre Festival, which was sponsored by Wisconsin Interscholastic Speech and Dramatic … Read the rest
Wilton considers ways to pay for Highway 71 utility reconstruction
Wilton has a few options to pay for utility upgrades along Highway 71, the village board learned from engineering firm … Read the rest
Thanksgiving in Norwalk
The Norwalk Friends of the Community group put on its annual Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 10.
Free-roaming chickens a dilemma in Norwalk
Chickens are roaming free on the north edge of Norwalk, and the village board considered remedies to the problem at … Read the rest
N-O-W board approves two actions
The Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton School Board approved an overnight trip for theatre students and accepted the resignation of long-time activities director Ken … Read the rest
Kendall approves 2025 budget
The Village of Kendall’s budget revenues will remain essentially unchanged this year, going from $492,567 in 2024 to $493,017 in … Read the rest
Status hearing set for Dec. 2 for former Wilton clerk/treasurer
A status hearing for Leigha Barton, Wilton’s former clerk/treasurer, is set for 10:15 a.m. Monday, Dec. 2, in Monroe County … Read the rest
Royall thanks veterans for their service
Royall Elementary School hosted its annual Veterans Day program Monday.
Brookwood theater advances to state
Brookwood’s theater program went to Waunakee, Wis., on Saturday, Nov. 9, to compete in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Speech and Dramatic … Read the rest
N-O-W honors men and women who served
The Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton School District gave a Veterans Day program Monday, performing music, giving patriotic recitations, and honoring local veterans.
Community
Kendall Public Library to host holiday events
Contributed by the Kendall Public Library The Kendall Public Library Cookie Walk will be from Saturday, Dec. 7, at St. John’s Church. Get some delicious treats without having to bake. Items are by donation and benefit the library movie nights. The Kendall Public...
Ontario Public Library bake sale slated for Dec. 14
By Rachel Conner | Ontario Public Library director The holiday bake and craft sale to benefit the Ontario Public Library will be held at the Old-Fashioned Ontario Christmas celebration at the Ontario Community Center on Saturday, Dec. 14, beginning at 9 a.m. What a...
Kendall movie night set for Dec. 13
Contributed by Lynette Vlasak The Kendall Public Library’s December movie night will be Friday, Dec. 13, at St. John’s Church fellowship hall in Kendall. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., the movie “Christmas with Holly” will be shown. The movie tells the story of a...
Wilton Public Library to host events
By Kelly Lupton| Wilton Public Library director The following events are coming up at the Wilton Public Library • 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 6: Current-Events Discussion Group • 10:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 9: Second-Monday Book Club Discussion of “Big Magic Creative Living...
Seeing Stars: Have you seen U.S., Chinese space stations in the night sky?
By Susan Cushing | Kickapoo Dark Sky Initiative There are always humans above us in space. When looking at the night sky, have you seen the International Space Station zooming overhead? Check NASA’s Spot the Station page for times it passes overhead. The sun reflects...
Obituaries
Jerry D. Lowrey
Jerry D. Lowrey, 79, of Hillsboro, Wis., passed away Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, at the Tomah VA Medical Center in Tomah, Wis. He was born Aug. 30, 1945, in La Farge, Wis., to Everett and Irene (Campbell) Lowrey. Jerry graduated from La Farge High School and proudly went...
Jack Melby
Jack Melby, 75, formerly of Ontario, died Nov. 16, 2024, at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Madison. He was born in La Crosse to Orville and Lucille Melby. He received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. He also served in...
Connie (Jensen) Summerfield
Connie (Jensen) Summerfield, 61, passed away Nov. 16, 2024, at Serenity House in Tomah from pancreatic cancer. Connie Elizabeth was born June 28, 1963, to Genevieve (Samz) and Gerald Jensen. Though Connie was born prematurely, she had a strong constitution. As...
Eldora Helen Thomas
Eldora Helen Thomas, “Dory,” 89, of Norwalk, Wis., passed away peacefully Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, surrounded by her family. She was born Oct. 6, 1935, on the family farm in Oakdale, Wis., to Rineholt and Beata (VonHaden) Wagner. On Oct. 2, 1965, she was united...
Fred Albert Summerfield
Fred Albert Summerfield, 82, passed away peacefully Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, at the Tomah Veterans Hospital. Fred was born Jan. 10, 1942, to Fred and Pauline (Marcum) Summerfield in Parkersburg, W.V. After completing high school, Fred felt a strong call to serve his...
Opinion
Letter to the editor: Thank you for remembering high school English teacher
By Lyda Lanier | rural Norwalk Thank you, Mr. Bob Breidenstein, for acknowledging the impact and the influence Mrs. Woods had on your life as your English teacher in high school. You remember those quotes from Thomas Moore and Shakespeare you had to memorize. You...
Letter to the editor: A new day is upon us
By Dena Eakles | rural Ontario A new day is upon us. Rejoice. Black youth received messages telling them they will be taken back to plantations to pick cotton. Check CNN and other legacy outlets for details — while you still can, of course. News outlets that...
Letter to the editor: A glance at the past and a peek at the future
By Bob Breidenstein | rural Ontario “Oft in the stilly night, Ere slumber’s chain has bound me, Fond memory brings the light of other days around me.” — Thomas Moore County Line, Oct. 3, I left the Ontario High School class of ’56 in limbo, 16 years old, on the cusp...
Letter to the editor: Nation is experiencing critical moment
By Rosalind Woodward | Madison Our country is experiencing a critical moment where a powerful leader, shaped by personal struggles and survival instincts, has gained significant political influence. This leader’s rise reflects deeper, unresolved issues within our...
Letter to the editor: Biased news media
By Jan Path | Wilton I would like to urge all Americans to watch/listen to a wide variety of news sources. Getting all your news from the mainstream media will not give you a well-rounded perspective. MSNBC was recently recorded admitting the news of the day...
Sports
Falcon girls basketball go 2-1 in opening season week
The Brookwood girls basketball team marked the start of its season with a number of non-conference games. In its first game, Brookwood traveled to La Farge on Nov. 19 to earn a 53–30 win. In the second game of the season, Brookwood hosted its home opener over North...
Royall drops first two non-conference matchups
The Royall girls basketball team opened its regular season Nov. 19, hosting Mauston in non-conference play. Brynn Olson rushes the ball up the court for a quick pass to open the game. (Tasha Mueller photo) Laya Wainwright holds the pass while looking for an open spot....
Royall marks sectional final berth
The Royall volleyball team secured a spot in the sectional finals in their WIAA Division 5 bracket with a 3–0 defeat over Ithaca Oct. 31 at Ithaca. Liza Krueger attacks the net for a second-set spike. (Tasha Mueller photo) The team celebrates after a late second-set...
Runners place in conference, sectional
Cross country runners competed in the Scenic Bluffs Conference championship meet Oct. 19 and the Division 3 Sectional meet at Prairie Du Chien on Oct. 26, with teams and individuals competing for the top spots in conference and advancing to the state meet. Katie Field...
Royall volleyball rolls to regional title
Royall volleyball captured a stunner of a finish over No. 1 Highland in the sectional final Oct. 26. Royall gained wins in the first and second sets, 25–22 and 25–20, as Highland came back 25–22 in the third. Royall sealed the win in the fourth set, 27–25, for 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
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)
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)
School
N-O-W hosts leadership conference
The Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton School District hosted an eighth-grade leadership conference Nov. 14 at the Wilton Community Center gymnasium. Ten schools took part in the event. The speaker, Carl Olson, “encouraged the students to make a difference in their schools and be...
RMS students in honors choir
Hillsboro hosted a middle school honors-choir event Nov. 15. The following Royall students were invited to attend. Front row (left to right): Ronan Brunner, Jaxon Velazquez, Brynleigh Trankle, Hannah Biermeier, Kolton Hauge and Kellen Brown. Second row: Lola Palmer,...
Royall madrigal performs at school board meeting
Members of the Royall High School madrigal performed an a capella version of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” at the board of education meeting Nov. 25. The group had performed the song at its fall concert.
Royall National Honor Society conducts fundraisers
Above — During its Hurricane Relief Coin Wars, the NHS raised $309, which will be donated to Samaritan’s Purse. Back row (left to right): Mason Morrissette, Carter Uppena, Ben Crneckiy and CJ Anderson. Front row: Piper Pursell, Sylvia Rafajko and Maddison Peterson....
Royall Safety Patrol raises money for D.C. trip
The Royall Safety Patrol is working on raising funds for its trip to Washington D.C. this spring. Students who worked Culver’s on Nov. 24 were the following. Front row (left to right): Weston Rumppe, Micah Reavis, McKinley Lunde and Charlee Crawford. Back row: Carter...