THE TIME MACHINE

From past files of The Star News 10 YEARS AGO

JULY 12, 2012

The Taylor County Fair is trying something new this year—letting people in for free. “Times are tough and we want to do our part to help out,” said fair board president Chuck Zenner. The 2012 Taylor County Fair will have free gate admission on a one year trial basis. There will continue to be admission charges for the tractor pulls, truck pulls and the demolition derby events held in the grandstand area, but there will be no gate admission for people wanting to come in and see what the fair has to offer.

25 YEARS AGO

July 9, 1997

The Medford Area School District could start setting aside money now for construction of a new middle school in seven years if a state proposal comes through and citizens agree at the annual meeting later this month. The Legislative Joint Finance Committee surprised school districts last month with a proposal that the lowest spending school districts could raise their revenue formula by up to $5,900 per student. That would translate into about $83 additional per student or $200,000 extra for the Medford Area School District. The proposal is part of the new state budget waiting for final approval from the legislature and Governor.

50 YEARS AGO

July 13, 1972

The Medford city council Tuesday evening approved the reduction of fines for violations of parking meter regulations from $1 to $.50. All the aldermen, except Stanley Kowalewski, gave their assent to the reduction. The fine had been $.25 before it was raised to $1 in June 1970. The council had received a petition from merchants and citizens requesting the reduction. The petition also included a request that all revenues from parking meters and parking meter violations be put into a separate fund to improve the present parking facilities and build additional parking facilities. Another proposal asked for a re-survey of the advisability and placement of the present blue meter loading and unloading zones.

75 YEARS AGO

July 10, 1947

Three thousand legal sized German Brown trout were planted in Rib river during the week of June 22 to June 28. They were distributed from the junction of the river and county trunk C to Goodrich after being brought by state truck from the Brule hatchery by Conservation Aid Gilbert Petersen of Brule. In the absence of Warden Marcon, who was on duty elsewhere, Frank Macik, Dick Ruesch, Ed Ruesch, and Casey Willemssen assisted in planting these trout.

100 YEARS AGO

July 13, 1922

Taylor County is offered something new this week. We have a woman candidate for Sheriff. Mrs. Chas Pitzke of the town of Deer Creek seeks the nomination for that office. Mrs. Pitzke has some qualifications for sheriff that should make the unrighteous pause before crossing her path. The county might go a long ways before finding a woman better qualified for the position. She was born 42 years ago in the town of Deer Creek, within a half mile of the farm on which she now lives.

125 YEARS AGO

July 17, 1897

A man named Knute Knutson, working in Sprague’s bark camp, had his right leg so badly crushed last Saturday that amputation was necessary. He was brought to the city and Drs. Nystrum and Miller, after a careful examination of the injury, decided on amputation as the only remedy. A falling tree had struck his leg between the knee and ankle, breaking the bones into splinters. He was in a very healthy condition and the doctors report a very successful amputation, and that the patient is doing remarkably well. The unfortunate man came here from Tennessee a short time ago and intended to make this his future home. He has a wife and family in Tennessee and is entitled to considerable sympathy.