Time Machine Trip to April 1968

April 3, 1968

Gilbert J. Anderson was re-elected to the post of Mayor of Kaukauna by a total of 2623 to 1437 vote over challenger Russel Dix. Anderson won every ward for his victory. City Attorney Donald Green retained the post by 2,104 votes to challenger Emmet Rohan’s 1,924.

April has been designated as the month for the National Cancer Crusade which will be headed in Kaukauna by Lester Forde of Giddings and Lewis.

The Outagamie County Draft Board has announced the inductees that entered the armed forces on the 28^th of March. The only draftee from Kaukauna is Dennis H. Wittman of 7^th street.

Tom Ashauer bombed a 257 singleton and fired a 641 series to set the individual scoring pace in the KC league at the Bowling Bar. 

  

April 5, 1968

Kaukauna Utility employee Mark Romensko suffered burns Tuesday morning when 34,000 volts arched through him at the Island Sub Station. Romensko was leaning over to read a plate on the machine when the arch occurred.

April 10, 1968

Miss Kathleen Lappen was fatally injured in an auto accident Saturday morning on Highway 96 east of Appleton. Kathleen was a passenger in the car that collided head on with another vehicle. Three other young people remain hospitalized.

April 12, 1968

Two Holy Cross students, Edward Van Zeeland and Doug Van Dyn Hoven were among the eight contestants in the Optimist Oratorical Contest held in Appleton. Edward finished first and received a $25 savings bond. Doug placed second and received a pen and pencil set.  

April 17, 1968

Leo H. Schmalz, Kaukauna Savings and Loan Association has been appointed to the 1968 Committee of FSLIC Law and Regulations of the United States Savings and Loan League.

Army Second Lieutenant Bernard F. Micki, Kaukauna, is participating in “Operation Truong Cong Dinh” om Vietnam with other members of the 9^th Infantry Division. The operation is designed to drive the communists away from the major population centers.

April 19, 1968

Striking workers at both the Kaukauna Badger Northland plants returned to work Thursday morning following meeting Wednesday with Union officials. The unauthorized strike began Tuesday evening at 6:30 pm when workers walked off their jobs.   

April 24, 1968

The new president of the Kaukauna council is alderman James McDaniel who succeeds alderman Lloyd Kloehn.

Lieutenant Robert Main of the Kaukauna Police Department submitted his resignation from the force to Mayor Gilbert Anderson last Tuesday. The resignation is effective immediately after almost 31 years of service in the Kaukauna police force.

April 26, 1968

The sale of Coffey Motors Inc., a Ford automotive agency here for 26 years, to Les Stumpf Ford of Sherwood was announced this week by Leo Coffey and Stumpf. The Ford dealership in Kaukauna was started by William Van Lieshout in 1913. After his death in the 1930’s it was operated by De Brue and Ives. Coffey took it over in 1942. 

Patty Ashauer and Dick Vandenberg have been elected king and queen for this years’ Junior Prom coming up Friday, May 3. Representing the sophomores will be Lee Schwalenberg and Kathy Walsh while the senior representatives are Dan Siebers and Bonnie Borchardt.

Time Machine Trip to April 1928

April 1, 1928

Mayor W. C. Sullivan polled a total of 1353 votes to secure the mayor’s seat. Sullivan carried every ward in the city over his two rivals for the position.  

The census bureau says United States population next July will be 120,013,000. At the end of the century the population will be 256,000,000. In the last eight years the population has increased 14,302,389 as the births exceed by one million the deaths each year.

The excitement of the election was enlivened Tuesday morning by a garage fire at the Goese home on the corner of Tenth street and Kenneth avenue. Two cars, a Hudson and an Essex, were totally demolished by the flames. It is believed the fire started in the Essex.

April 6, 1928

Another lot of baby chicks made the walkin ring around the post office today with their chirps. Three hundred were included in this lot. It is expected that many thousands of little chicks will find their way in and out of the local postal station.

April 10, 1928

Anton Jansen, village president of Little Chute, is ready to enter strenuous objections at the railroad commission hearings to be held Wednesday this week. Mr. Jansen will protest the discontinuing of service on the interurban from Neenah to Kaukauna because of the number of Little Chute people who use the street cars. 

April 17, 1928

Does the average reader of The Times seek only those articles which express his own convictions? Is he afraid to read the thoughts of men who attack his cherished opinions? How many of us in reading what another writes attempt to secure the fair intendment of the authors? Or, do we impute the hot flame of indignation in defense of our own position. There are three sides to a story, “my side, your side and the right side.” You will never find the third side unless you can see the other two sides.

April 20, 1928

George Hopfensperger, 24 years of age, died Wednesday as a result of injuries received when he was crushed under the dipper of a steam shovel here at the Kaukauna Quarry.   

 April 24, 1928

In the fall of 1881, in a little one story wooden structure, G. W. Fargo, with his wife, Margret, established the business which now is marking another milestone in its business life in the opening of Kaukauna's largest store, home of Fargo's furniture and undertaker business, located on Wisconsin Avenue. Local and out of town people showed much interest in the formal opening of Fargo’s on Wisconsin avenue. Every woman entering the doors of the building received a fine gift and the prize contest had a large number of registrations. Baskets of flowers donated by various firms in the area were spread throughout the building.

April 27, 1928

The number of registered voters in Kaukauna now totals 2,600.

Time Machine Trip to April 1988

April 5, 1988

An archeological study is being considered in the park land behind the Kaukauna Library as the first step in developing the area as an entertainment site. City Engineer Ken Schoenike said the study will look for evidence of Indian occupation in ancient times. Eventually the city will lease the area and build a stage for performances and restrooms to serve the crowds. 

After much planning and decision making the St. Paul Home Board of Directors decided to build a new 129-bed St. Paul Home adjacent to the Kaukauna Community Hospital. 

April 7, 1988

Scott Eiting was selected the Most Valuable Player on the varsity boys’ basketball team at Kaukauna High School for the 1987-88 season. Eiting, a 6-foot-4 senior was an honorable mention all-conference pick in the Fox Valley Association.

Seaman Apprentice Andrew J. Niesz, Kaukauna, graduated with honors from Great Lakes Naval Center, Illinois. He is assigned to a Destroyer, The Charles F. Adams, and is serving sea duty in the North Atlantic. 

April 12, 1988

A ten-person committee has added its recommendation to a proposal to permanently close the Rapide Croche lock as a physical barrier to prevent parasitic sea lamprey from entering the Fox River and Lake Winnebago. The committee stressed that discussion is not over and that more traps be set to prove the presents of sea lamprey in the area.

Marie A. Jansen began work with the City of Kaukauna Election Board 57 years ago back in 1931. During this time, she has seen Ward and voting site changes, plus a changeover from paper ballot to the voting machine. It was Kaukauna Mayor John Niesen who contacted Mrs. Jansen to serve on the Election Board in 1931.

Brian Sanderfoot was chosen as the Most Valuable Wrestler for the 1987-88 season at Kaukauna High School. The 145-pound senior also was one of the team’s five captains for the Ghost team.

April 19, 1988

Last week the Corps of Engineers stated they had concluded that there was no apparent interest in continuing to operate and maintain the Fox River systems. The government conducted a study on turning the operation over to the state of Wisconsin.

Daniella Wall, age 6, daughter of Richard and Donna Wall Taylor Street, Kaukauna, will be a state finalist in the Miss American Princess Pageant to be held June 2 in Milwaukee.

April 26, 1988

Scott Hansen will be seeking his fourth straight Fox River Racing Club championship, when stock car races begin Thursday night May 5, at the Wisconsin international Raceway in Kaukauna.

One-time Kaukauna High School star football lineman Dave Viaene, received the news Monday that he had been drafted by the Houston Oilers in the 8^th round of the NFL draft. Dave is completing his college years at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, where he starred playing offensive and defensive lines as a center and nose tackle.

The varsity boys’ basketball team at Kaukauna High School had a 7-13 record overall for the 1987-88 season. Kneeling left to right front row are Eric Lucas, Brian Schell, Ray Buchinger, Marc Lankey, Bill Huss, and Scott VandeWettering. Back row, Fran Schmidt, Mike Zimmerman, Doug VanAsten, Ryan O’Neill, Scott Eiting, Al Verhagen, Jeff Schmidt and Head Coach Ron Margelofsky.

Time Machine Trip to April 1955

April 6, 1955

The home construction business seems to have become brisk as Kaukauna is experiencing a building boom according to assistant engineer Luther Kemp.  January had no permits, February had one and March had nine building permits.  

The Wisconsin Telephone Company increased the number it serves by 41,600 to reach a total of 835,000. The system receives an average of 3,750,000 calls a day. The phone company spends on average $2,000,000 a month on construction and improvements.

Named Co-Editors for the 1955 edition of the “Alumni News” are Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kindler, both KHS graduates. They are pictured with their daughter Christine Ann.

April 8, 1955

John Deno, 83-year-old retired Kaukauna businessman, has not missed going to an election day but only once since he reached voting age.  

April 13, 1955

Elmer Vandenberg with a 248 game and 560 series topped the members of the KC bowling league on April 6 at the S&B.

According to word received by his parents Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Lappen, Bill Lappen who helped to pitch the Kaukauna Galloping Ghost baseball team to a State Championship in 1953 has been signed with a class “D” ball club in the south, the Donalsonville Indians. The team is a subsidiary of the Chicago White Sox.

Kaukauna High School journalism society paused outside of the offices of the Kaukauna Times for a photo. Left to right front row are Charles Lieding, Mike Walsh, Sue Berens, Belle Golden, Judy Kiffe, Jean Sachs, Sue Lewandowski, Cecelia Bouche, Lucille Gerig, Donna Wyro, Lois Van De Loo, Naomi Carnot, Judy Ditter and Sarah Brenzel; second row Tom Hennes, Nancy Mathis, Jim Rausch, Janice Chevalier, Jerry Schubring, Tom Trettin, Janice Welter, Joan McGinnis, Janice Woelz, Margaret Ludvigsen, Jane Wouters, Dorothy Ferrige, Rosalie Powell, Sue Skibba, Sonia Voet, Elizabeth Kessler and Mary Bachhuber; Third row, Tom Kerscher, Alicia Hennes and Marie Bauer, back row David Ludke and Gretchen Rohlf.

With the announcement Tuesday morning of the 80 to 90 percent effectiveness of the new Salk polio vaccine, interest was increased. City nurse, Mrs. Thomas Pearman announced that of the 568 forms sent to parents of first and second graders 459 have been signed and returned  to receive the Salk serum.

April 15, 1955

Sam Dubow, Kaukauna High School’s head football coach, Wednesday afternoon announced his resignation effective at the end of the current school term. Dubow has been head coach since 1952.

Boy Scouts from Troop 31 under the direction of Scout Master Jack Verbeten worked with a volunteer group of Fox Valley golf club in the transplanting of fifty evergreen trees on the course Saturday.

April 20, 1955

Keith Head, Kaukauna’s favorite young boxer, Saturday night took his eight-straight win in as many starts when he fought Robert Waite of Waukesha at Fond du Lac at the YMCA sponsored event. Fred Barribeau, former coach at KHS, was in Head’s corner during the bout. Another Kaukauna lad, Bobby Lamers, fighting at 131 pounds, took his match  in a decision over Don Oneson of Sheboygan. The upset of the evening came when Russ Bishop, a former Kaukaunan, took a decision over Carl Schwendler of Appleton who won the 175-pound novice boxing crown earlier this year.

April 22, 1955

Dave “Hawg” Hanner, veteran defensive tackle, has signed a contract with the Green Bay Packers. Coach Lisle Blackbourn disclosed that Hanner who has soared to 280 pounds must prune his weight to 250 by the time he reports to Stevens Point training camp.

April 27, 1955

The Tennessen brothers, Bill and Louis paused temporarily in the cleaning out operations at the Farm Equipment Company on Second street to pose in front of the building where they maintained their blacksmith shop and farm equipment building for more than 30 years. The building was recently sold to Henry Carstens and Son who operate the grain elevator to the rear of the building.

April 27, 1955

Class representatives for the Junior Prom were chosen last week. Paul Sager and Ida Peterson for the senior class; King and Queen Joe De Bruin and Joan McGinnis for the junior class; Karl Frank and Mary Lou Berens for the sophomore class and John Rogers and Darlene Vandenbroek will represent the freshmen class.

The swearing in of four new lady police officers for Kaukauna took place at city hall with Karl Marzahl administrating the oath, while chief of police Harold Engerson looks on. Left to right are Engerson Mrs. William Weyenberg, Mrs. Melvin Skalmusky, Mrs. Joseph Mayerl, Mrs. Dan Van Linn and Marzahl. The ladies assumed their duties as crossing guards.

The Brownies inside of the entrance of the Times Office left to right, front row, Rosemarie Pieters, Mary Zarter, Susan Garvey, Pat May and Sharon Stecker; second row, Janice Nussbaum, Lynn Heindel, Pamala Hartzhein, Betty Boyd, Mary Jane Vande Hey and Mary Lee Oliva; third row Frieda Jeske, Linda Morgan, Susan Patterson, Karen Van Dyke and Shirley Van Vonderen and standing behind the girls is Mrs. Victor Pieters, the troop leader.

Sergeant and Mrs. James J. Wagnitz were witnesses of an accident in which a soldier and his wife were killed at a trailer park near Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri Monday. The couple, friends of the Wagnitz, were flying a kite when the string touched a high power electric line. The couple were enveloped in a ball of flame. The Wagnitz’s, in an effort to help the couple, suffered burns and shock.

Staff Sgt. Robert Strom, Kaukauna, received a gold wrist watch from Brigadier General Augustus M. Minton, deputy base commander, in recognition for being named “Chanute’s Airman of the Month” Sergeant Strom was honored for his fine work in the hospital Neuropsychiatric Department of the 3345^th Chanute USAF, Ill.

Donald Van Wychen, Kaukauna, is completing his Air Force basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. He will be now leave for an Air Force base in Illinois to attend an engineer’s school.

Ronald W. Jakl, Kaukauna, is completing Air Force military training at Lackland Air Force base, San Antonia, Texas.

A/B Kenneth C. Schumann is home on furlough and will leave for Chanute Field, Ill.

2nd Lt. William O. Glaff, Kaukauna, is among 26,000 soldiers slated to participate in Exercise Apple Jack in May at Yakima Firing Center, Washington.

Pvt. Leroy W. Romenesko of Kaukauna has arrived in Germany. He left the states from Camp Kilmer, N. J. on March 17.

Staff Sergeant Jerome Kaufman, stationed at Francis Warren Air Force base at Cheyenne, Wyo., is home for a two week leave.

Army Pvt. David J. Gatz, Kaukauna, is a member of the 507^th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion at Honshu, Japan.

Eugene Miller, Kaukauna, enlisted in the Army Ordnance Corps five years.

William J. Flynn, aviation electronics technician third class USN reported to duty with the Air Transportation Squadron at Alameda, California.

Pvt. David A. Ristau, Kaukauna, arrived in Germany on March 30. He is stationed as a clerk-typist in the personnel section of the U, S. Army Hospital at Land Stu Hl, Germany.

Time Machine Trip to April 1918

April 5, 1918

Kaukauna’s red hottest election in years on Tuesday resulted in the re-election of Mayor C. E. Raught by a majority of 88, of James Mc Fadden as treasurer by a plurality of 214, and of N.D. Schwin as assessor by a plurality of 69 votes.

The Kaukauna Public Library reports that citizens have thus far contributed 224 books for the use of our soldiers and sailors. Citizens are asked to contribute books until the war is over.

“I claim exemption for my son John on the grounds that he is the durndest coward that ever lived, the laziest skunk that you ever heard of and I am ashamed to own him,” “I am sixty-one years old and the old woman is fifty-nine,” continued his father, “Big as he is, I can lick him with one hand tied, and so can his mother.” “But if you can make anything of him by training him in the army, then put him in the ranks and make him do his duty.”

April 12, 1918

Going at rate of speed said to have been about sixty-five miles an hour the motorcycle on which Mike Pennick and Ervin Weber were riding near Little Chicago road on Thursday night struck a bump in the road and threw them into the ditch. Both suffered painful bruises and the machine was wrecked.

L.M. Mann, engineer at Oshkosh, has given notice of the opening of the navigation season on the Fox and Wolf rivers. Monday, April 15.

April 19, 1918

400 gasoline tractor drivers and 150 truck drivers are needed at once for the war service. Applications should be made for early overseas tank units.

A stranger might have thought early this morning that there was a circus in town there were so many people and automobiles about and all headed one way. Kaukauna was taking a half holiday to say good-bye to thirty-eight selected men who left for Camp Grant, Illinois.

April 26, 1918

John Barleycorn has raised his prices. Hereafter it will cost a bit more to have a cup of kindness for o lang syne. The new price schedule adopted by the saloonkeepers of Kaukauna, who were forced to follow the actions of dealers throughout the country. Effective May 1, 1918:

Whiskey per drink…15c

Brandies……………15c - 20c

Scotch, Gin………….25c

Wines……………….10c and up

Bottled beers……….15c – 20c

The poor army censor gets blamed for lots of things - - - for cutting out the most interesting parts of soldiers’ letters for instance. But a Kaukauna girl got a letter from somewhere in France with a procession of “x’s”. She blamed the censor for that. As she says her “friend” didn’t put the mystic symbols there.

The city was taken by surprise this week when W. B. Montgomery, superintendent of the Kaukauna Utility and light plant, resigned the office he had held and so ably filled for the past thirteen years. The Utility commission was slow to accept Mr. Montgomery’s resignation and vainly tried to persuade him to reconsider the matter.

A stranger might have thought early this morning that there was a circus in town there were so many people and automobiles about and all headed one way. Kaukauna was taking a half holiday to say good-bye to thirty-eight selected men who left for Camp Grant, Illinois.

The Dodge County Banner, which has been published in the German language for the past twenty-four years, appeared on Friday of this week printed in the English language. 

Time Machine Trip to April 1908

April 3, 1908

The Thilmany Pulp and Paper Company, always abreast of the times in the line of improvements and latest mechanical appliances has just installed sixteen electrical motors driving nearly all their small machines in all parts of the mill, including the printing department.

Gov. Campbell of Texas was visited the other day by an escaped convict. Will Garner. who presented affidavits to show that he was not guilty of embezzlement, on which he was found guilty and sent to prison for two years. Garner says after his escape he walked 700 miles, where he obtained the documents and then walked another 500 miles to the governor’s home in Austin. The governor expressed his admiration for the man’s grit and paid his fare back to the penitentiary, where he will await a pardon which will be issued to him in a few days.

Three Kimberly people were carried over the Kimberly dam Thursday afternoon. While crossing the river by boat one of the oars was torn loose from the boat. The occupants clung to the sides of the boat and were rescued at the foot bridge below the dam. 

April 10, 1908

Work was resumed at the new electric power plant with a crew of about 30 men. This number will be doubled before the end of the month. The greater part of this week spent in disposing of the water. A mammoth pump was installed to empty the tailrace immediately below the wheel pit which has been full of water since operation ceased about fall.

The Wisconsin Telephone Company is investigating a new device which is claimed to prevent the deafening noises transmitted to patrons while using the phone, the trouble is due in the instances to the rule, which requires the operator to ring a certain length of time on each call. When the subscriber put the receiver to his ear, before the ringing was concluded the painful sounds are received in the ear.

April 17, 1908

Eight years ago, the Kaukauna High School was placed on the accredited list of the state university. This meant that its graduates could enter that institution without examination. The school has been inspected annually and retained its accreditation. At a convention in Chicago a few years ago there was formed an association of fourteen states to raise the standards of high schools, colleges and universities. The local high school was approved on this list, which means that its graduates may enter any school in these fourteen states without examination. Out of 300 high schools in Wisconsin only 59 high schools are on this list.

The fire department was called out about 6 o'clock Sunday morning for the first time since January 5. During that interval, which is one of the longest in the history of the city, there was not even so much as a chimney fire. The alarm was turned in from William Hyland's residence, the roof of which supposed to have caught fire from a spark from the chimney. The damage resulting was estimated at $25.

Mayor Julius Kuehn

The Kaukauna Sun says: “The new mayor delivered a short inaugural address in which he outlined his policy for the coming year. He criticized the former administration severally for expenditures made and which he claims had brought little results. He said too much had been spent for salaries. There will be reductions in city salaries coming”. His honor Mayor Kuehn then turned on a cool draught and made the audience turn up their coat collars with words to this affect.  “We have been hit hard in the last year and the town is in bad condition; why you could shoot a cannon up our main street most any time without hitting a soul. Half the buildings are vacant, and our merchants are starving to death”.

All those having empty beer bottles belonging to the Pabst Brewing company which were found during house cleaning are requested to notify J. H. Corcoran by telephone or mail at once.

April 24, 1908

Photographer, W.M. Richardson is mourning the loss of 19 plates. Before going to dinner, he placed the rack where the plates would have an opportunity to dry and when he returned he found that the wind had swept the whole outfit into the river. In order to replace his loss, it will be necessary for Mr. Richardson to have his patrons sit a second time.

Mrs. Olga Bergerman of Hibbing, Minn., was awarded a verdict of $4,750 for a kiss. She was a tenant of Jacob Kitz of Hibbing and claimed that he kissed her by force when he called to collect the rent. Kitz’s defense was he claimed blackmail.

Faith Smith has been selected as valedictorian and Hugo Ringlund as salutatorian of this years’ Kaukauna High School graduating class.

When a policeman called at a residence in Fond du Lac the other afternoon he found the man he was looking for in an unusual condition. He was tied hand and foot and was lying on the floor of his residence. Near him stood two women who had objected to the man being drunk and when he created at disturbance they promptly tied him up. The police untied his feet and took him off to the station.

Charles Bowens of Elton is charged with dynamiting trout in the Evergreen river near Elton. He appeared in court in Antigo and plead not guilty. It is claimed that Bowens set off a charge of dynamite in a pool in the river and slaughtered a large number of fish.