Time Machine

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Time Machine Trip to April 1976

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen KAHS

April 1, 1976

Viewpoint - Last week you shot my son's family pet, a Husky named “Bandit” through your clumsiness you failed to kill him, and my son had to finish the job. Can you imagine how he felt. Some people in the area think they know who you are, but it wouldn't do any good to do anything about it as it wouldn't bring back his pet.

Chief Petty Officer Richard J. Mueller, McKinley St. will retire from the U.S. Navy today after 20 years of service. Mueller enlisted in the Navy immediately upon graduation of Kaukauna High School.

April 6, 1976

Leo H. Schmalz, President of East Wisconsin Savings and Loan Association, Kaukauna, has been appointed to the 1976 committee of FSLIC Law and Regulations of the United States League of Savings Associations.

President Gerald Ford, in a sweep through Green Bay, unveiled the cornerstone at the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame at the Brown County Arena. He told Packer coach Bart Starr a story concerning his nearly signing with the Packers in 1938.

April 13, 1976

Kaukauna is going to the dogs? Seems that way and the dogs are the increasing numbers of strays on the city streets, a violation of the city ordinance said Police Chief William Nagel. The problem is not so much the strays on the streets or the fact that they must be transported to Mackville to the county’s animal shelter. The problem is that because more dogs are running on the streets, there has been a drastic increase in the number of dog bites, particularly among children.

"This one", Dena Platten tells Kaukauna Public Schools’ speech specialist Jerry Brien, as he tests her skills at screen sessions for preschoolers Thursday at Park school.

April 15, 1976

Two children perished Monday night in a fire which started at a basement stairwell in their home then spread through the lower floor of the two-story duplex with astonishing speed. The victims were Melissa Ann Bartles and Bobby Jo Bartles, the daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bartles Jr. residents of the home on Metoxen Ave. Melissa was three years old and her sister Bobby Jo was two.

The question is: must Wisconsin restaurants serve only butter? The answer is yes with certain qualifications, said the administrator of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture division. He points out that Wisconsin law requires butter to be served at public eating places, but customers may ask for oleomargarine.

April 20, 1976

A retired man whose house was the scene of a fire last Monday was made a victim a second time Thursday or Friday. Police said that Frank DeMar’s whose home on Augustine St. was damaged by the fire, returned to the home Friday discovering that intruders had taken many items from his home.

April 22, 1976

Restitution has been ordered for 2 youths who shot out the yellow rotating flashing lights on a city vehicle on Tuesday. Police said the two allegedly used a pellet gun to shoot the lights. The youths were referred to their parents, and they were ordered to repay the city for the damage. Police confiscated the pellet gun. Three other yields were referred to juvenile authorities after they were arrested following the vandalism spree last week.

Kelly's Plumbing and Home Improvement Center located at 103 E 3rd St. Kaukauna announced their grand opening this week.

Steven Smith and Gwen Noonan are two Kaukauna high school seniors named as National Merit Scholarship winners. They are among 1000 high school seniors from each of the 50 states.

A $500 donation from the Farmers and Merchants Bank is the most recent receipt to be added to the fund for the new addition to the Kaukauna Public Library.

April 27, 1976

Jack Colon and Martin Janssen turned over the keys to the Royal Clothiers, men's store on Wisconsin Ave. to new owners Dennis and Steven Schaetz Freedom, who purchased the business.

A 3-car collision early Saturday morning resulted in minor injuries to three women and damage to all cars involved including city squad car. A car driven by a Little Chute woman turned left from Lawe St. onto Wisconsin into the path of a second car driven by a Kaukauna woman. Unable to stop her car was pushed into a squad car that was waiting in traffic at the intersection.

April 29, 1976

Miss Joette Steger, a Kaukauna high school senior who set a school record by winning first place in the math contest three years in a row, was named winner of a college sponsored 4-year merit scholarship.

The 1975-76 Kaukauna Ghostettes came within one game of qualifying for the girls’ state tourney this year. Team members bottom row Paula Giordana, Marianne O’Connor, Lisa Schwalenberg, Jean Meyerhofer, Sue Gerow and Lynn Van Vonderen. Back row, Debbie DeBroux, Helen Wall, Cindy Mischler, Tine Klister, Deb Meehl, Yvonne Evers and Coach Janet Knapp.

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Smith

Son to Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy Menting

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. James Lamers

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Victor Courchane

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Gary Wyngard

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. David Van Den Berg

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. John Vanden Heuvel

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Michael St. Aubin

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Stoeger

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Randall Van Asten

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. David Vanderloop

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Russell Robley

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. John Kappell

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Carl Van Helvoirt

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Roland Huss

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. David Dunsmore

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Paul King

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Gary Hammen

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. James Shirk

Son to Mr. and Mrs. LaVerne Schunk

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Keith Simons

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Mark Wildenberg

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Wolfinger

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Earl Vande Hey

Son to Mr. and Mrs. John Rabideau

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. John Nettekoven

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Wollengang

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Dale Burton

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Danial McHugh

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Conrad

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Knapp

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Donald Hoffman

Sunday, April 26, 2026

Time Machine trip to April 1966

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen KAHS

April 1, 1966

The merger of the Giddings and Lewis Machine Tool Company and the Gisholt Co., Madison, was announced Thursday. Giddings and Lewis is based in Fond du Lac, but has a foundry and drilling machines plant in Kaukauna that employs 440 men.

Kaukauna high school head coach, Harry Wilson, has high hopes to taking his squad outside next week to begin preparation for the 1966 mid-ease conference season. The team will have a nucleus of seven lettermen for the upcoming campaign with hurling ace, Dave O'Brien, heading the list. O'Brien threw two no-hitters last season. Also returning are pitcher Joe Schouten, a Junior with a good fastball: Mike Grogan, a catcher: Dennis Bloy, and outfielder and Kurt Luedtke, a sophomore second baseman.

The mercury vapor street lighting program initiated by the Kaukauna Electric and Water Co., in 1962 will be completed this week. The utility has installed 737 lamps in the city of Kaukauna, Little Chute, Combined Locks and the Town of Vandenbroek. Mercury vapor lights are rated to last four years as the incandescent lights average six months according to Norbert D. Rhinerson, Utility manager.

April 6, 1966

Kaukauna voters re-elected Joseph F. Bayorgeon to the mayor office. He defeated Clarence Sullivan in every ward for his victory. Donald Green unseated incumbent Emmet W. Rohan in the race for city attorney. Clarence O’Connor won the post of municipal justice.

April 8, 1966

The Kaukauna high school cheerleading tryouts were held Wednesday, March 30. The two squads were chosen from a list of 29 finalists. The varsity cheerleaders for the 1966-67 sports season are Cindy Noie, Pamela Pitz, Susan Anderson, Lynn Leddy, Cheryl Kobs, and Vicki Weyers. The Junior varsity cheerleaders are Jane Chamness, Joyce Gerrits, Nancie Vaubel, Patty Leddy, Christina Kandler and Barbara Pebbles.

April 13, 1966

A new program instituted by the Kaukauna Kiwanis club, called “We Care”, will strive to honor servicemen from Kaukauna who have served, or will be serving in Vietnam. Dr. David Grunwaldt, president of the club, said the Kiwanians plan to honor as many of these men, publicly, as possible, at the Kiwanis meetings.

April 15, 1966

Seaman apprentice Donald J. Mitchell, USCG has completed eight weeks of intensive recruit training which gave him the skills he will need as a coast guardsman.

April 22, 1966

Kaukauna high school won first place in only six events but still managed to edge Appleton Xavier 62-57 in a dual meet at the Kaukauna high school track. The dramatic finish to the meet came on the last event of the day. Greg Eslein and Gary Riemer took second and third place in the high jump to give Kaukauna enough points for the victory. Bob Promer of Kaukauna gained a double win. Promer put his first shot 49 feet 8 1/2 inches for first victory. Later the Ghosts star through the disk 131'2" for his other victory.

April 27, 1966

The world champion Green Bay Packers have signed veteran linebacker Lee Roy Caffey; it was announced yesterday. Caffey is 6-3, 250 pounds and is six a four-year veteran who came to the Packers in 1964 from the Eagles.

Thomas Look, formally of Little Chute, has been added to the staff of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Kaukauna. The appointment was announced by John Van De Loo, executive vice president of the bank.

Michael Brautigan, Kaukauna sailor who received nationwide fame last fall for heroism in Vietnam, has returned home after receiving a medical discharge from service. The 18-year-old Navy man received multiple fractures and lacerations when enemy fire struck the small boat in which he was making a landing. Brautigan was given the bronze star for heroism in action in October previous to his being wounded. He was released from the Philadelphia Naval hospital, where he had been convalescing since December. Brautigan also received the U.S. Navy commendation medal for bravery during a 14-hour fire on board the USS Piermont on which he was stationed.

Miss Judy LaRock, age 24, died early Sunday morning after a short illness. She was the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Francis Van Abel. She survived by her parents and two brothers, Lee and David LaRock.

Bob Promer set a new track record in the shot put as Kaukauna high school defeated Clintonville and Kimberly in a triangular meet at Kaukauna track Friday. Promer threw the 12-pound shot 2 feet further than he ever had before in competition or practice. His throw is the best for the new track but is still a foot and a half short of the school record which is held by Pat Flanagan in 1946.

April 29, 1966

Susan Biese, a senior, has won first place in the annual Elks Constitution contest. She competed in the state finals in Madison last Saturday. Prizes in the state competition are scholarships. Instructor Mary Wilson said he would like to see more students enter this competition. He feels the contestants learn great deal about the Constitution while preparing for the test

Coach Vince Lombardi today announced the signing of veteran guard Fred “Fuzzy” Thurston for the 1966 season it will be his 10th year in the league. Thurston came to the Packers from Baltimore in 1959 and was named All-Pro in 1962.

Gary Riemer led the players in the Saturday matches of the Junior boys’ recreation league, at the bowling bar, with a high game of 201 and a high series of 376.

Back row: Coach Bruce Warner, W. Neissen, P. Van Deurzen, R. Promer, D. Minkebige, W. Chamness, D. Lust, J. Skibba, J. Niessen, Coach Ronald Margelofski. Row 2: J. Niessen, J. Kromer, M. Baisch, P. Bordini, R. Kuehn, H. Gosdeck. Front row: P. Kiffe, R. Stegeman, G. Therriault, W. Peters, D. Kiffe, J. Kahler.

The Kaukauna high school cindermen remain unbeaten as they swept to a decisive 74-43 victory over New London at the Kaukauna track Wednesday. The Ghost landslide was led by Paul Keefe, who took the 100-yard dash in 11.1 seconds and the 220 in 24.7 seconds.