THE TIME MACHINE

From past files of The Star News

10 YEARS AGO

March 17, 2011

More than 50 residents attended two referendum information meetings Monday, but rather than asking questions on the project, several used it as an opportunity to air their complaints about the proposed $10.6 million addition to Medford Area Senior High. The project will be put to a vote April 5.

Both meetings opened with presentations from district administrator Pat Sullivan, school finance expert Lisa Voisin of Robert W. Baird and MSA architect Tom Cox. Sullivan said the project is a similar but scaled back plan compared to the proposal that failed in 2009.

This project would include a threestation gymnasium, reduced from the previous plan’s four-station fieldhouse, and an eight-lane pool. The current pool would be filled in and remodeled to move the fitness center from its present location in the basement. A parking area to replace the one lost in the addition’s footprint is also included in the plan.

25 YEARS AGO

March 20, 1996

An elderly couple in southern Taylor County were burned out of their home late last Monday afternoon (March 11).

A fire, believed started in a fireplace chimney, totally destroyed the three bedroom ranch-style home of George and Dorothy Shattuck of 3457 County Line Rd. Also lost were an attached garage, their car, snow blower, air compressor, chain saws, paintings and antiques, as well as the family cat.

According to Dorothy Shattuck, 72, she and her husband, 76, were watching the five o’clock news on TV in the living room when she smelled smoke, and went to the basement to investigate and discovered a fire burning around the paneling next to the chimney.

50 YEARS AGO

March 18, 1971

Deep penetration of frost this winter has been causing freeze-ups of water laterals in the city and on Sunday a 6-inch water main near Harvey Co. burst from freezing.

Commissioner of public works Walter Tylka reported Tuesday that the city crew repaired the broken water main Monday, but the main broke later that day at another point about 150 feet from the first break. In the process of excavating to the break, a gas line hookup was severed, requiring Wisconsin Gas Co. to be called in for the repair of the small line.

75 YEARS AGO

March 14, 1946

Two car accidents occurred in the county during the week. One happened Sunday about a quarter of a mile east of Neubauer’s tavern on county trunk M. A car driven east by Frank Lemke, Medford, and a truck being driven west by Ernest Krueger, Medford sideswiped. The Lemke car hit a snow bank and was damaged to the extent of $125. No damage was done to the truck.

100 YEARS AGO

March 16, 1921

The most severe fire loss the city has had in many years occurred early Sunday morning when the Kostner Bros. store on River street was practically ruined by fire or water. About one o’clock Ralph Kostner, who slept over the office at the rear end of the store, was awakened by something falling below. He attempted to make an investigation and found that the lights were off and that the room was filling with smoke.

Remember When — March 2002

125 YEARS AGO

March 14, 1896

How to make a good country road is a problem of widespread interest. In large areas of the country common, earth road will have to answer all purposes for some time to come. In a recent number of the Pittsburgh Dispatch, Mr. John M. Burns describes a plan he has followed for several years with entire satisfaction, as follows: “Cut the ditches down three or four feet lower than the roadway use a two horse scraper to curve the surface, and the natural forces set in operation will do all the rest.”