THE TIME MACHINE
From past files of The Star News
10 YEARS AGO
October 13, 2011
How long should taxpayers be responsible for a retaining wall put in by the city? That was the question before members of the Medford City Council during Monday night’s committee of the whole session. About two decades ago, the city reconstructed N. 3rd St. and at the time contracted with George Voss to construct a wood retaining wall on city right-of-way on front of the property located at 318 N. Third St. About three years after this wall was built it began to tip out and push toward the road. “The wall was never built right in the first place,” said property owner Jim Sova, noting the absence of drains and pea gravel. Now, the wall has failed and Sova is calling on the city to replace it at a cost of $13,231 for a concrete block wall. Alderman Greg Knight questioned why concrete versus replacing the wood wall with another wood wall. Sova said in his research wood walls would only last about 15 years.
25 YEARS AGO
October 16, 1996
Taylor County residents should see a decrease in their property taxes this year. According to County Clerk Roger Emmerich, a county tax rate of $8 per $1,000 of full equalized value is being proposed for the 1997 budget, which is 27-cents less than last year. Emmerich said that means that a property with $50,000 equalized value in 1995 and again in 1996 would have a decrease in 1997 of $13.50 for county property tax. Emmerich said the actual proposed levy is $4,329,971, which is $234,911 (5.7%) higher than the 1996 budget levy of $4,095,060.
50 YEARS AGO
October 14, 1971
Fathers of football players will be special guests tomorrow night, Friday, at “Dad’s Night” on Raider field where the Medford squad will meet the undefeated Mosinee Indians.
Game time has been set for 8 o’clock.
Dads will be introduced during the halftime show by the Red Raider band in a theme revolving around parenthood.
Coach Gary Reineck’s red and white squad, holding second place in the Lumberjack conference with a two-win, no loss record, will be given an opportunity to move into a first place tie with Mosinee tomorrow night.
75 YEARS AGO
October 3, 1946
Mr. and Mrs. John Colbath of Medford observed their fiftieth wedding anniversary on Thursday September 19. They celebrated the event Saturday, the 21st, with a reunion at their home on Park Avenue.
The Colbaths were married in 1896 by the Rev. Ingham at Medford and lived here and at Perkinstown. Mr. Colbath was employed as a teamster and a tanner.
They have three daughters, Thelma, Mrs. Herb Bruegl of Medford; Ruby, Mrs. Fred Glander of Oshkosh, and Mrs. Winifred Edge of Santa Ana, California.
100 YEARS AGO
October 6, 1921
Royal Neighbors in Home Talent The program for the vaudeville entertainment to be given at the Germania Opera house on Friday evening, October 14 for the benefit of the Royal Neighbors will be composed of “Stunts” and acts of the higher class of vaudeville. Five big numbers will be presented. Novelty and variety in the extreme predominates in the program of the “Mardi-Gras Jazz Band of New Orleans” who will open the entertainment. Their forte is unusual versatility and originality.
125 YEARS AGO
October 10, 1896
Wisconsin’s Resources are attracting general attention, and its railroads furnish the means to develop them. The limitless iron ore deposits of the Penokee and Gogebic Iron Ranges provide abundant opportunity for the establishment of Iron Furnaces and general iron working industries. Hardwood timber in great quantities attract manufacturers of all wood articles, including Furniture, Woodenware, Staves, Headings, Hoops, and Veneering; the Granite and Lime Stone quarries are attracting attention, as their quality is unsurpassed for fine building work and strong lime. Numerous Clay, Kaolin and Marl beds furnish the best material for Tile, Brick and Pottery.
