THE TIME MACHINE

From past files of The Star News

10 YEARS AGO

July 21, 2011

The National Weather Service reported storms that struck Taylor County on July 19 resulted in three to five inches of rain falling across Taylor and Clark counties. As a result of the storms, Taylor County officers responded to and located several storm related incidents.

According to a press release from Sheriff Bruce Daniels, multiple road hazards were reported including some road closures. A driveway washed out at W10177 Hwy 64 in the Town of Maplehurst, causing flooding on the highway. One lane of traffic was closed down for a short period of time. Hwy 64 near Gilman was closed down for a short period of time as a result of water diverting around a culvert and ultimately washing out a section of the highway.

25 YEARS AGO

July 24, 1996

Broadway Avenue a.k.a. Hwy 64, will be resurfaced next year from Main Street to Hwy 13 as part of the 1997 Capital Improvement projects. The project was originally scheduled for this year, but was pushed back due to the Main Street project. That project took a back seat, however, to more immediate concerns at a joint meeting between the Committees on Public Works and Pub- lic Utilities last week about storm drainage in the northeast quarter of the city.

The discussion began with the members of the committees discussing the five-year capital improvements schedule. The committees pushed some projects back a year or two and discussed moving some up and making some additions to the list.

50 YEARS AGO

July 22, 1971

A member of the Wisconsin State university board of regents told county board members here Tuesday that, while he knows how important a branch of WSU is to this area, a better enrollment picture will be needed by 1973 in order to assure the continuance of the branch.

John Lavine, publisher-editor of the Chippewa Herald-Telegram, Chippewa Falls, recently named to the WSU board of regents, said he was sympathetic to the plight of downed enrollment which is a national trend, but that he came before the board “to tell it like it is.” He listed the “not happy facts,” and then cited the “plus” side of the future of the Medford campus.

75 YEARS AGO

July 18, 1946

“The good old days” when the sawing of white pine was commonplace in the numerous northern Wisconsin sawmills were recalled Tuesday in Rib Lake’s large mill.

A lumber retailer from Butternut brought six logs to be sawed so large that they were three to a semi-trailer. The “big fellows” taxed the mill with their size and they could not be handled through the regular channels.

One of the logs scaled 1400 feet of lumber.

100 YEARS AGO

July 21, 1921

The Meridian Cheese Factory located just off the Meridian Road between Medford and Lake Easadore, burned to the ground Sunday afternoon.

Mrs. Christ Brunner of Stetsonville, sister in law of Mr. Skabroud, first heard the crackling of the flames from the inside of the house, which was a part of the factory building. The flames were first seen coming from the roof near the ventilator.

Neighbors and passers by made strenuous efforts, and with their help Mr. Skabroud was able to save the greater part of the contents.

125 YEARS AGO

July 18, 1896

St. Louis, Mo., July 13.—At 2:30 o’clock this morning fire was discovered in the boiler room of the Merchants’ Terminal elevator, located at Second and Biddle streets. An alarm was immediately turned in, which was soon followed by a general alarm and although the fire department responded promptly the large building was completely enveloped in flames upon their arrival.

About 30 minutes after the fire broke out a 200-foot smokestack fell, narrowly missing a number of firemen below.

Remember When — 2002

A disaster drill was held in early July to help area EMTs, ambulance services, fire departments, law enforcement and Memorial Hospital personnel prepare for potential life threatening situations involving a large number of people. The scenario in this case was the touch down of a tornado at Medford Elementary School during a PTA meeting, resulting in several injured people scattered around the grounds.