Clark County News

 

December 23, 1937

 

Santa Claus is popular visitor

 

Passes out 2,500 bags of candy at party in city

 

In one of the biggest and most popular Christmas parties ever held in Neillsville, Santa Claus gave to the kiddies of the community over 2,500 sacks of candy and peanuts, which were received by them with the greatest of enthusiasm.

 

The program opened promptly at 7:30 with three vocal selections by the boys and girls of the public schools under the leadership of Miss Grace Elkert followed by community singing.

 

Santa arrived amid youthful cheers, on a sleigh drawn by horses, and with a large Christmas tree decorated with lights and tinsel. The back party of the sleigh was loaded down with the sacks which he distributed to the thousands of children present.

 

Santa was aided in his work by Bob Schiller, Glen White, Lester Zaeske and Ed Sullivan, all members of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, who sponsored it with funds left over from the donations to community days.

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No extension on real estate taxes

 

Legislature failed to pass law giving more time Taxpayers are finding an unpleasant surprise in the fact that there will be no extension in the time for payment of real estate taxes as in the past. For a number of years it had been customary to give until July 1.

 

March 1 will be the deadline for paying realty estate taxes, and personal property taxes are due on or before Feb. 28.

 

City Treasurer H.L. Albright has a notice elsewhere in the Press notifying taxpayers of the change this year, so that they may make their plans accordingly for earlier payment.

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Ferguson gets poacher

 

Roy Ferguson, a son of John Ferguson of the town of Washburn, is making good in a real way as a ranger on the Upper Mississippi wildlife refuge. Discovering several muskrat poachers busy with spears, he got them and after a chase of several hours and several hand-to-hand encounters subdued one of the obstreperous pair named Frank Slate, whom he chased through the brush and across ice. Roy caught the man, who is now held for resisting an officer as well as poaching and stands to get a stiff sentence.

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Students’ holiday party

 

Students of Neillsville school held a “mixer” for all high school students and graduates Thursday evening. The young people presented two short plays. There was a tree, exchange of gifts and a dance. It was a most enjoyable affair.

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Odd Fellows elect

 

The following officers were elected by the Odd Fellows Saturday evening: Geo. Burdick, N.G.; Elmer Keller, V.G.; W.E. Forman, Rec. Sec’y.; N.F. Toptine, Fin. Sec’y.; Geo. A. Ure, Treas.; C.R. Sturdevant, Trustee, 3 years; and Guy Potter, Trustee, one year.

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Purse snatchers busy

 

Two purse snatchers, operating with a car, have robbed dozens of women at Marshfield, Medford and other cities. One man sneaks out of the car, grabs a purse and then jumps back in, and his companion drives him away.

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December 18, 1947

 

Little fire brings lots of inquiries in Sunday

 

Switchboard is flooded by the curious, creating a public menace

 

More than 500 telephone calls hit the switchboard in Neillsville Sunday evening at about 7:30, when the fire siren blew. The fire itself didn’t amount to a great deal, but the danger to the public amounted to a lot, according to Herbert Smith, manager of the telephone. It took at least half an hour to clear the board, and Mr. Smith would like to have somebody tell him what would happen if one of those 500 calls had been an emergency call for a doctor or an ambulance or another fire.

 

Neillsville, like most small cities, has no municipal fire alarm system of its own. The city depends upon the service of the telephone company. In case of fire, the person who discovers it is expected to call central and to tell her there is a fire, and where. She then touches off the siren and that gets the fireman on the way.

 

Up to this point the present program is efficient and satisfactory. It gets the siren going and gives the fire boys notice. But from this point forward everything goes haywire. Almost all phone owners in Neillsville, and some of their neighbors, to boot, rush to the phone and ask central where the fire is. The result is that the phone system is tied up tight for close to half an hour.

 

This tying up of the telephone system would be bad enough if it only put a crimp in the regular service. But the danger is that it may block a subsequent emergency call.

 

“It is only a question of time,” said Mr. Smith, “before something terrible will happen in Neillsville as a result of this custom. There will be a second fire, or there will be an accident requiring the service of a doctor and an ambulance; plenty of things like that are likely to come up. If the phone system is completely tied up with inquiries about the fire, then the second emergency will go with tardy attention or with none at all.

 

“We do not dare to take this chance. The community does not dare take it, and the telephone company does not dare. Hence, we are obliged to ask the people of Neillsville not to ask central where the fire is. That question ought to be asked only by firemen and by public officials who have some responsibility in connection with the fire. The others are only interfering with the public service.”

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Ad in the Dec. 18, 1947, issue of The Press

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Oldest native of county observes 91st birthday

 

Rudolph Frantz is the only surviving member of old Clark County Zouaves

 

Conrad Frantz, believed the oldest living native of Clark County, observed his 91st birthday last Thursday at his home on South Grand Avenue.

 

Still active and spry for his years, Mr. Frantz was born on what is known as the old Borde Farm, south of the city in Pine Valley, on December 11, 1856. He also is the only survivor of the original National Guard unit of Neillsville–the Clark County Zouaves–formed following the Civil War.

 

In observance of his birthday, the Neillsville American Legion post presented Mr. Frantz with a box of cigars on his birthday. In the evening Mr. Frantz puffed away on the cigars and played a few games of cards with Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Frantz, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Frantz, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Roehrborn and Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Hunt.

 

Mr. Frantz is the father of five children, the grandfather of 17, and the great-grandfather of 16. His children are Robert and Ben Frantz of Neillsville, George of Fennimore, Mrs. Ed (Bessie) Roethe of Fennimore, and Mrs. Victor (Gladys) Hetland of Fort Atkinson.

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December 19, 1957

 

Stores, post office busy as Christmas day approaches

 

Predict Yule shopping will equal last year; parcel post is heavy

 

With Christmas next Wednesday rapidly approaching, all signs in the area point to a very merry day indeed.

 

Neillsville stores have been as busy as ever during a holiday period, and the belief of local merchants is that this season will equal or better that of 1956.

 

Given good weather for shopping, the merchants are looking forward to a continuance of trading that has moved at a fast pace for the last three weeks.

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Ad in the Dec. 19, 1957, issue of The Press

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Hold banquet

 

The Loyal F.F.A. Chapter members entertained their fathers at a father-son banquet in the school dining room December 11. The meal was prepared by the school lunch cooks and served by F.H.A. girls. Presiding and in charge of arrangements was Rodelle Scheel, president. The following program was presented: opening prayer, Richard Meyer; welcome to fathers, Pres. Scheel; initiation of “Greenhands,” F.F.A. officers; recording of speech made by national F.F.A. president at state convention; report on farm products, Larry Schmidt and Rodelle Scheel; remarks, Prin. Warner F. Berry; presentation of awards. advisor, Carl E. Lawrenz; and accordion selections, Norman Schmidt.

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Venison feed for sportsmen tonight

 

The last meeting of the Neillsville Sportsmen’s Club for 1957 will be held Thursday night at the V.F.W. Hall on Court Street, with barbecued venison and venison meatloaf to be served to members and guests. Two movies will be shown, one on dog retrieving and the other on forest fire prevention. The annual award will be made to the member killing the largest deer in 1957. Presiding will be Donald W. Johnson, president. Matt Gassen, secretary, states that guests are always welcome at the meetings, which are held every third Thursday.

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Candlelight service at Alma Center, Merrillan

 

Christmas Eve candlelight services have been scheduled at the Merrillan and Alma Center Methodist churches, the Rev. Robert Isler, pastor, announces.

 

The service at Alma Center will start at 9:30 p.m.; at Merrillan at 11 p.m. The services will provide music and Scripture. At Merrillan the youth choir will have charge of the music; and at Alma Center music will be presented by the adult choir.

 

At services Sunday morning, the Rev. Mr. Isler will speak on “This is a Wonderful Christmas.”

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Military Notes

 

Gerald Walter, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Walter of Neillsville has been promoted to DK2 in the Navy. He is stationed in Cuba and has served for 27 months. His advancement was effective December 1. He graduated from Neillsville High School in 1955

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A sign of the season – Skating on O’Neill Creek Pond

 

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