EXTRA
A list of local food pantries
ELROY EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY 226 Erickson St., Elroy (608) 462-5398 Anyone who lives in the Royall School District is eligible for assistance. IMMANUEL AND SALEM UNITED METHODIST CHURCH BLESSING BOX 403 Main St., Norwalk Donations of nonperishable food items and...
Oct. 30 issue of the County Line significantly delayed
The U.S. Postal Service did not deliver Oct. 30 copies of the County Line for several days. Below, see the Oct. 30 e-Edition at no charge. If you have further questions, email us countyline@thecountyline.net or call us at (608) 639-0379.
Wilton Halloween dance set for Saturday
The Wilton Fire Department's annual Halloween dance will be tomorrow. See advertisement below.
Kendall Holiday Fair is Nov. 7–8
NOTE: The advertisement for the Kendall Holiday Fair that appeared in the County Line's Oct. 30 issue contained the wrong dates. The fair is on Nov. 7 and Nov. 8, not Nov. 1 and Nov. 2. Below, see the correct advertisement. The County Line regrets the error.
Local trick-or-treat hours slated
The following are local treat-or-treat hours: • Elroy — 4–7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31 • Kendall — 4–7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31 / Kendall Public Library trick-or-treating from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. • Norwalk — 4–6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31 / Norwalk Lions Halloween party at 6 p.m. at...
Brookwood High School Veterans Day program set for Nov. 11
Brookwood High School students invite the community to join them in honoring veterans at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, at the high school varsity gymnasium. Note that construction is going on the school. Enter the school through the high school entrance ramp. ...
Tomah church to present ‘The Laramie Project’
Contributed by Peace Lutheran Church There will be a staged reading of “The Laramie Project” on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 6:30 p.m. at Peace ELCA Church in Tomah. “The Laramie Project” presents a deeply complex portrait of a community’s response to the 1998 murder...
NEWS
LEGO exhibit starts Nov. 24 at Monroe County Local History Room & Museum
The Monroe County Local History Room & Museum will host “For the Love of LEGO,” an exhibit featuring 40 highly detailed LEGO sets. Two original builds have been provided by WisLUG (Wisconsin LEGO Users Group) members and “LEGO Masters Jr.” season-one...
Scenic Bluffs launches community food drive
Scenic Bluffs Community Health Centers is inviting community members to join in supporting local food pantries through a drive held at Scenic Bluffs locations from Nov. 3–14. The initiative aims to help stock local pantry shelves and ensure that neighbors in need have...
Vernon County Sheriff’s Report for Oct. 26 to Nov. 1
Sunday, Oct. 26: A deputy initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling 72 mph in a 55-mph zone in the town of Kickapoo. The driver’s parents were notified of the traffic stop, and the juvenile was cited for speeding. Sunday, Oct. 26: A deputy was dispatched to...
Monroe County seeking volunteers to deliver senior meals to Norwalk
The Aging and Disability Resource Center of Monroe County is seeking volunteers to deliver meals to the homebound from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday through Friday. Mileage will be reimbursed. Meals will be picked up in Kendall and delivered to four to five homes in...
St. Paul Lutheran Church & School to rededicate gymnasium
St. Paul Lutheran Church & School will host a gymnasium rededication and ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, at 525 Superior Ave., Tomah. The celebration will include the formal reopening of the newly renovated gymnasium and a special...
Vernon County Sheriff’s Report for Oct. 12–25
Sunday, Oct. 12: A resident reported that her mailbox on County Highway P in the town of Christiana was damaged during the night. A sheriff’s deputy responded to the scene and noted silver vehicle parts near the mailbox. It is believed the vehicle was traveling...
Two arrested in Ontario on meth-related charges
Ontario police took Jeffrey Wittren and Nancy Carroll into custody Oct. 23 after a search warrant was conducted on a residence on N. Garden St., in Ontario’s downtown. The two face charges for possession with intent to deliver narcotics (methamphetamine) and...
Wilton clerk/treasurer resigns
Wilton’s clerk/treasurer, Mindy Haase, submitted her resignation last week.
$336,923 of N-O-W revenues will be routed to private-school vouchers
This year, $336,923 of the Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton School District’s revenues will be earmarked for private-school vouchers, according to a budget presentation … Read the rest
Royall approves budget
Royall’s board of education approved 2025–26 expenditures of $11,044,132 on Monday, resulting in a mill rate of $9.12, a decrease … Read the rest
County offers its resources to address Norwalk housing challenges
Communities throughout Wisconsin are suffering through an unprecedented housing crisis, and Norwalk, like so many other rural areas, is no … Read the rest
Norwalk street project on schedule despite setback
The Village of Norwalk will be delaying its bid process on the first phase of a multimillion-dollar street project after … Read the rest
Ontario hosts fundraiser for man injured in accident
Ontario area residents put on a fundraiser for Dustin Wallace, who was severely injured in a vehicle accident on July … Read the rest
Homecoming 2025: Unleashing the power of Panther pride
Royall put on its homecoming celebration last week.
Fiber internet is coming to Ontario
Village of Ontario residents could soon have access to high-speed fiber optic internet.
Construction on gym, auditorium continues at N-O-W
Progress still is underway on the Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton School District’s building project.
Kendall Lions holiday fair is Nov. 7–8
Christmas is just around the corner so let’s start thinking about helping Santa with that wish list!
Wilton board grapples with problem of noisy special events
The Wilton Village Board considered requiring that those who rent the Wilton Community Center gymnasium for special events also hire … Read the rest
Enrollment drops at N-O-W
The Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton School District’s total enrollment dropped this year from 623 to 598, but on a brighter note, parents from … Read the rest
Community
Norwalk Lions award its members, conduct school eye tests
The Norwalk Lions Club administered eye screenings at the Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton Elementary School on Tuesday, Oct. 21, and Wednesday, Oct. 22. Two Welch Allyn spot vision screener cameras were provided by Gundersen St. Joseph’s Hospital and Clinics out of...
Kendall Public Library celebrates Halloween
By Charissa Finn | Kendall Public Library director We had a wonderful time at our kids’ Halloween party at the Kendall Public Library on Oct. 21. There was story time in a “haunted house” with flashlights, make your own Frankenstein, jewelry, decorate a pumpkin, and...
Ontario offers ‘Fitness for All’ each Monday
By Rachel Conner | Ontario Public Library director “Fitness for All,” led by certified trainer Daisy Hansen, is held every Monday from 10–11 a.m. in the lower level of the Ontario Public Library. Join a fun group for a free community workout! This class focuses...
Wilton Public Library has successful Halloween party
By Kelly Lupton | Wilton Public Library director Thank you to all our volunteers and local businesses, especially Twin Peaks Ice Cream, DJ JRod, Jasper Apples, and the Wilton American Legion, for helping to make the Halloween party a great time. Without all of you,...
Senior menus for Nov. 10–14
Kendall and Norwalk meal sites Call 463-7622 (Kendall) or 343-3158 (Norwalk) by noon one day before to reserve a meal. Monday, Nov. 10: Spaghetti bake with meat, broccoli, garlic bread, parmesan cheese packets, pears, and black bean cookies Tuesday, Nov....
Obituaries
James “Jim” Godshalk
James “Jim” Godshalk, 97, of Kendall, Wis., a former Naval aviator, passed away peacefully Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, at the Tomah VA Hospital after an extended illness. Jim was born June 17, 1928, in Hinsdale, Ill., the son of Clarence Edwin Godshalk and Margaret...
Fredrick John Schaefer
In Loving Memory It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Fredrick John Schaefer, who departed this life, unexpectedly, on Oct. 19, 2025, at the age of 46. Fred was a beloved husband, son, brother, uncle, nephew, and cousin, cherished by...
Robert “Horsefly” C. Gnewikow
Robert “Horsefly” C. Gnewikow, 81, of Tomah passed away on Sunday, Oct. 19, at Emplify Health-Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse. He was born April 7, 1944, to Ottis and Bernice (Giraud) Gnewikow in Sparta. He was a member of the Tomah High School...
Beth Ann Calkins (Mueller)
September 16, 1949 – October 13, 2025 Beth Ann Calkins (Mueller), 76, of Elroy, Wis., passed away peacefully October 13, 2025, in La Crosse, with her husband by her side. Beth was born on September 16, 1949, in West Bend, Wis., to Francis and Ruth Mueller, graduated...
Joanne E. Pasch
Joanne E. Pasch, 88, of Elroy passed away Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, at Crest View Nursing Home in New Lisbon. She was born Aug. 3, 1937, to Paul and Glenn (Tompkins) Zirk on the family farm in the Township of Glendale. She was baptized in September of that year at St....
Opinion
Letter to the editor: Entire U.S. military was antifa
By Don Foy | La Farge “Antifa” is short for “anti-fascist.” My dad, uncles, and all the dads and uncles of my neighborhood pals were once antifa. That label didn’t exist yet, but they were anti-fascists. They risked their lives to fight the fascist threat in World War...
Letter to the Editor: No Kings Day
By Lee D. Van Landuyt | Hillsboro Consumers spend money. Big businesses benefit. Billionaires get richer. And on it goes! If this pattern were broken for one day, do you think it would get any attention from the uberwealthy? Of course it would! This is their Achillies...
Letter to the editor: We have president who is turning country inside out
By Kent Gallaway | Readstown It’s pretty clear to me what’s happening at the federal level. We have a president who is moving very quickly to turn the country inside out. The president is removing opposition to a corporate takeover of all institutions that support...
Letter to the editor: Alone
By Lee D. Van Landuyt | Hillsboro In addition to committing so many unconstitutional atrocities, Donald has left us standing alone. He daily does Putin’s bidding by dismantling and destroying our democracy from within. We are too powerful to lose our freedoms from...
Perspectives: A glance at the past
By Bob Breidenstein | rural Ontario A glance at the past — 1954. Mother kept a diary. • Wednesday, May 12: Such a beautiful day. Merril dumpy when he came home from school. Coughing a lot. • Tuesday, May 13: Merril has the measles. Linda came home sick —...
Sports
Royall, Brookwood volleyball unable to surpass regionals
Both the Royall and Brookwood volleyball teams advanced in the WIAA regional finals, and both fell in their home seeded matches. Royall's senior libero Ella Schroeder reaches on a fast play as it extends to the back court line to stay in bounds, as No. 1 Royall hosted...
Cashton too much for Brookwood in playoff run
No. 4 Brookwood hosted No. 5 Cashton in the first round of WIAA Division 7 football playoffs on Oct. 24. Brookwood football has not seen a playoff seed since 2019, as the Falcons faced the Eagles earlier this season to catch a 15–0 win. In the first quarter, both...
Falcons dominate home conference meet
The Brookwood cross country team hosted this season's Scenic Bluffs Conference meet at the Noth farm of rural Norwalk. The Brookwood boys claimed the title with 30 points, Bangor earned second at 76 points, and Necedah rounded out the top three with 79 points. (Tasha...
Royall volleyball gains conference title
In their continued season battle, Royall gained the SBC title October 16 with a 3-0 (25-14, 25-15, 25-18) victory over Necedah. The team rounds out the regular season 13-1 in conference and 22-7 overall. The Panthers look toward the postseason, as the team received a...
Royall football closes out regular season
The Royall football team stands on their home field for the last time in the regular season, hosting Cashton on Oct. 17. (Tasha Mueller photo) Both Cashton and Royall came into the final game 4–2, looking to advance into the postseason with a playoff bid. Braxton...
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 Home Bakery, 1935
In this 1935 photo, Erwin C. “Stub” Mannel and Almeda Tonn work in the Wilton Home Bakery. Mannel was the proprietor. More historic photos are available at the Monroe County Local History Room’s website at www.MCLHR.org.
Norwalk Creamery float, 1935
In this 1935 photo, a float sponsored by the Farmers Co-op Creamery Association of Norwalk makes its way through a parade. More historic photos are available at the Monroe County Local History Room’s website at www.MCLHR.org.
Georgia’s Cafe, 1942
This 1942 photo shows people at Georgia’s Cafe, 114 W. South Railroad St., Kendall. Georgia Matthews and Sylvia Smith are behind the counter. The boys are LeRoy Matthews and Dick Smith, with Charlotte Smith at the right and Elle Matthews sitting. More historic photos...
Wilton women’s basketball, 1925
A black and white postcard shows the 1925 Wilton High School women’s basketball team. Left to right: Dave Hulbert, Hilda Blado, Susan Hillyer, Gertrude Cox, Luella Stark, Viola Boetzel, Agnes Riordan and Luella Wendorf.
Ontario Odd Fellows, 1905
This photo shows the members of the Ontario Odd Fellows Lodge in 1905.
School
Royall puts on fall concert
Royall put on its fall concert Oct. 27. Sydney F., Cydonia R., Layla M., Lily W., Brea L., Devyn J., Denali N., Sage F., and Hannah B. Kayden H., Josh A., Delvin S., Jaxon V., Kellen B., Adonu I., and Brooklyn M.
Brookwood theatre students advance to district level
Contributed by Brookwood theatre On Friday, Oct. 24, Brookwood’s theatre production of “Greek Mythology Olympiaganza” qualified to advance to district level of Wisconsin Interscholastic Speech and Dramatic Arts One-Act Theatre Festival. The 14 members of the...
Brookwood to partner with Kwik Trip in fall fundraiser
Contributed by N-O-W Schools How often do you find yourself stopping at your local Kwik Trip for gas and/or groceries? Once a week? Twice a week? Every day?! Kwik Trip is not simply a gas station to many of us — it is the first stop on a road trip, an endless supply...
Royall fall concert is Oct. 27
Contributed by the Royall music department The Royall High School music department will present its annual fall concert Monday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m. in the OLD Royall High School gymnasium. It will include performances by the concert band, concert choir, and...
Brookwood among schools that will take part in Youth Government Day
The 59th annual Vernon County American Legion Youth Government Day is Wednesday, Nov. 5. High school students from La Farge, Brookwood, Kickapoo, Westby, De Soto, Hillsboro and Viroqua will attend. The event is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Students...