Time Machine: Time Machine Trip to February 1944

Kaukauna Times – February 1944

By Lyle Hansen

February 2, 1944

Carlton Denzer, a freshman with an average of 97 tops 63 high school students on the honor roll for the first semester. This includes 22 freshmen, 19 sophomores, 8 juniors and 14 seniors.

Over 80 percent of the persons whose driver’s privileges were curtailed in Wisconsin last year are guilty of driving under the influence of intoxicants according to the motor vehicle department reports. Tipsy driving led to 3029 revocations of driver’s permits.

Kaukauna was a law-abiding city during the first month of the year according to the monthly report of James E McFadden, chief of police, which shows that only one person was arrested during January for reckless driving.

February 4, 1944

A countywide campaign to raise $1000 for a Military Jeep has been launched by the Jaycettes, an auxiliary of the Appleton Junior chamber of commerce. Coin barrels have been placed in County schools, where students are participating in a contest to name the Jeep. The winner will receive five dollars.

Otto Doering, 523 Six Street, received an interesting letter from his son; Cpl. Ralph Doering, who is stationed in Italy. We are living in tents now, so we can be near our equipment. A Castle is not too far from our guns. We have a 55-gallon drum for a stove, having fixed it up with a door and a stove pipe. Everything is going good over here are ready for the Heinies any time. Don’t worry about me, things are all right and fit as a fiddle. Might add that a fellow doesn’t realize how good home was until he gets away from home.

February 9, 1944

Miss Gertrude Buehler, Kaukauna's new librarian, arrived Monday to assume her duties at the free public library to replace Miss Bernice M. Happer, who resigned to accept a position in Ohio.

Wisconsin farmers are being paid wages nearly 18% above the level a year ago. Hired men are averaging $61 per month with board and $88 without board. Day workers are paid $3.25 with board and $4.25 without board per day.

Ronald Ludke, seven-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Ludke, Ducharme Street, received injuries to the right side of his face and cuts and bruises about 8:30 Saturday morning when the car in which he was riding driven by his father and orange line bus making a run from Madison to Green Bay collided on W. Wisconsin Ave.

Pvt. Isadore J. Lucassen of Little Chute, who killed in Italy on November 18^th, 1943, has been awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, the war Department has announced. The Purple Heart medal has been received by his daughter, Janice Lucassen, who is four years old.

The monthly pig fair sponsored by the Tri-County Pig Fair Association will be held Saturday, February 12 on Dodge St., fairgrounds. A large number of farmers from Kaukauna and the vicinity are expected to attend the fair.

February 11, 1944

The Eagle Scout award was presented to Harry Knox at a potluck supper and court of honor sponsored by Rotary Troop 20, Wednesday evening in observance of Boy Scout week.

Application blanks for soldiers for mustering out pay are available at the Kaukauna, Real Estate and Insurance Company office on W. Wisconsin Ave. with George Egan in charge. Discharged war veterans are entitled to payments ranging from $100-$300 depending upon the length and the place of service.

February 16, 1944

Kaukauna boxing fans will get their first glimpse of the current edition of Coach Fred Barribeau’s Kaukauna high school boxing squad at Kaukauna high school gym Monday night with 12 to 15 bouts of three rounds each.

Edmund Mauel of Thilmany’s team rolled a high series of 649 in the major league Monday evening. His game of 276 has high game for this league this season.

February 18, 1944

Thurston "Bud" Lambie was the high kegler in the Major Bowling League Monday evening when he rolled a series of 613.

More women must join the march to victory the United States Civil Service Commission states in an announcement that stenographers and typist are needed to operate a vast battery of typewriters. Salary started at $130 - $246 per month.

A claim amounting to $47.04 submitted to the common Council by Mrs. Arthur Oettinger for injuries sustained in a fall on a defective sidewalk on Doty Street was referred to the city attorney. In her claim she stated she can produce bills showing the amounts paid for medical attention, x-rays and hired help which resulted from the injury.

February 23, 1944

Robert Kandler and Dolores Hamilton were chosen as the annual Sweetheart swing couple held at the gymnasium Saturday night. The couple was presented with a gift bag Mrs. Carl Swedberg, a member of the first sweetheart couple. The music for the dance was furnished by the

Kaukauna high school orchestra.

The National Lumber Manufacturers Association announced that under a new war Department order states prisoners of war can now be used in the production of saw logs as well as pulpwood. The association says that the order will help break the bottleneck in the lumber business.

February 25, 1944

“Do not grumble when filling out your 1943 federal income and victory tax return I tell you picture the plight of the servicemen. The average servicemen need not file a return but neither does he have the income of the average workers on the home front.” That is the advice of Frank Kuhl, collector of internal revenue Wisconsin taxpayers. Lucrative wage earners who are apt to overlook the hardships and sacrifices of servicemen preserving the freedoms of the United States, are urged by Kuhl to consider the sentiments of the soldier before complaining about filling out a return.