Clark County News

August 11, 1966

94th annual edition of the County Fair is a “success”

The 94th edition of the Clark County Fair went down in history Sunday evening.

Despite threatening rain showers Saturday and Sunday, the fair was reported well-attended and financially successful, although a final accounting remains to be made.

In the following stories will be found some of the results of competition at the fair.

55 tractors compete in pulling contest

A total of 55 tractors competed in five classes in the tractor pulling contest last Friday night at the fair. The event was staged by the Granton Rotary Club, with Victor Wagner, farm and home management agent, as master of ceremonies, and Francis Steiner, Granton agriculture instructor, as judge.

Top winners in each class were: Class A (4500 pounds and under): Harlan Schnabel of Granton, field, 127 feet, five inches: Jim Vorland of Colby, second, 89 feet, eight inches; Fred Cox, Loyal, third, 80 feet, 11 inches; Rodney Hoeper, Neillsville, fourth, 78 feet, 10 inches. There were eight entries in this class.

Class B (4501 to 5750 pounds): Gary Gilbertson, Black River Falls, field, 73 feet, seven inches; Gary Kuechenmeister, Neillsville, second, 46 feet, seven inches; Charles Matousek, Neillsville, third, 45 feet, 10 inches; and Dan Strangfeld, Neillsville, fourth, 45 feet, 11 inches. There were 11 entries.

Class C (5751 to 6999 pounds): Gib Loos, Loyal, field, 157 feet, nine inches; Willie Volovsek, Willard, second, 156 feet, 10 inches; Gordon Opelt, Neillsville, third, 155 feet, seven inches; and LeRoy Todd, Marshfield, fourth, 154 feet. Eighteen entries competed in this class.

Class D (7000 to 8249 pounds): Ron Abel, Loyal, field, 200 feet; Francis Herr, Greenwood, second, 183 feet, four inches; Noel Olson, Loyal, third, 77 feet, 11 inches; and Paul Habeck, Unity, fourth, 76 feet, one inch. Eight units were entered in this class.

Class E (8250 to 9999 pounds): Ray Seefeldt, Marshfield, field, 200 feet; Larry Cooper, Colby, second, 195 feet, three inches; Hammy Brey, Greenwood, third, 193 feet, eight inches; and Wayne Kuhl, Granton, 193 feet, six inches. Ten entries competed in this class.

Trophies were awarded in each class, along with $15 cash for field place, $10 for second, $7.50 for third and $4 for fourth.

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Another “field” for the county fair

Vahla Pierce, county clerk, believes that the Clark County Fair hit a new high when it was the scene last Saturday of receiving an application for a marriage license, the field time in the 94 years of the fair’s history.

The parties were Kay Holt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Holt of Neillsville, and William Kent of Illinois.

Both of them work out of state and were unable to get to Neillsville in the normal hours of the courthouse. So, Mrs. Pierce, always anxious to give Cupid a boost, waited upon them at the fairgrounds.

The young people are to be married in Neillsville September 3.

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Merrillan plans Labor day event

The third annual Labor day weekend celebration and Christmas Tree-Arama will be held in Merrillan Saturday and Sunday, September 3 and 4. The event will be sponsored by the Merrillan American Legion Post.

Highlighting the celebration will be a kiddie and pet parade Sunday afternoon. Children in the area may enter pets and hobbies in festival dress in competition for prizes.

Saturday afternoon events include a ladies’ softball game played at the ball diamond north of the Merrillan elementary school; a horseshoe tournament, to be played on Main Street, north of Reinart’s tavern; and a street dance on Main Street, between Pearl and Charles Streets, beginning at 9 p.m. Music will be provided by Helen’s Merrymakers of Wausau.

Following the parade Sunday afternoon, the Davis- Porter American Legion post will sponsor a greased pig chase and a sack race.

Barbequed chicken and spare ribs will be provided by the Legion and auxiliary members both days of the celebration.

Representatives from Northern Christmas Tree Growers of Merrillan will be present both days to explain planting, growing, shearing, grooming and spraying of Christmas trees grown on plantations in Jackson County. There will also be guided tours of plantations in the area.

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Respect for officers’ policy brings three-day sentence here

For using abusive language to a police officer Allen Miller of the Greenwood area spent three days in the county jail. This sentence was pronounced by Judge Richard F. Gaffney in county court, consistent with the court’s policy of insuring respectful treatment of officers of the law.

In addition to disorderly conduct, Miller was charged with destruction of property. In addition to the jail sentence, he was fined $10 and costs, and was ordered to make restitution for damage to the officer’s car. The damage consisted of a broken window, through which Miller, in a rage, had slammed his fist.

The officer was Donald Clark, and the incident took place at 1:15 a.m. Friday, near the Blue Mirror Tavern. Clark later told the story to the judge. Miller and his car were noisy, and Clark tried to get him to go home. Miller resented the officer’s interest and responded violently, with abusive language and the smashed glass. Thereupon Clark put him under arrest, brought him down to the county jail and concluded the incident in court a few hours later.

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Chamber plans 4th annual picnic

The fourth annual picnic for chamber of commerce members and their families has been scheduled for next Tuesday, August 16, in Schuster Park, Secretary E. A. Georgas announced this week. Guests and employees of chamber members also are welcome.

A social hour will be held from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by a picnic dinner. Bratwurst, wieners, ice cream and refreshments will be served free. Each family attending is asked to bring a dish to pass, plates, cup or glass and silverware. A $2.50 charge per family is being made.

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Little Leaguers to see Dubuque play

Approximately 100 Little League baseball players of Neillsville will travel to Wisconsin Rapids Sunday, August 21 to watch the Dubuque Indians play Wisconsin Rapids in a Class AA baseball game. They hope they will get a glimpse of Dick Zank, former Neillsville mound ace now pitching for Dubuque.

Two busloads of youngsters will leave the high school at noon, according to C.G Jordahl, league official.

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St. Mary’s parking lot is blacktopped

A major job of blacktopping has been done on the grounds of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Neillsville. Included is all the area upon which motor vehicles travel or are parked: the entire parking area at the south side, with the driveway extending to East 15th Street; an extensive area back of the convent, and the driveway running along the north side of the convent and providing exit to Highway 73.

Thus, the members of the congregation will have to clean and smooth footing to the entrances of all the buildings.

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Granton local

Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Dahl of the town of York, and his mother, Mrs. Verla Hales, were Sunday guests at the William Miller home in Clintonville. Mr. and Mrs. Dahl were sponsors at the baptism of Janet Kaye, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Miller.

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Lady Bird gets boost in campaign to beautify here

Lady Bird Johnson’s “Beautify America” campaign got a large shot in the arm this week with the meeting of the county board of supervisors.

The board may have been just an incidental; but the so-called “lawn” around the courthouse, which had grown up to weeds three feet in height in some places, suddenly was made respectable looking, and other exterior finishing was being done in a hurry.

The county highway department, which has started sending its blacktop mix from its blacktop plant in the north end of the county, was laying the block on East Sixth Street the full length of the courthouse block. Earlier the city had prepared this street to receive the permanent surfacing, and the highway commission had prepared the parking lot now standing on the ground where the old courthouse once stood, between the new courthouse and the jail.

The north and west lawns of the courthouse had been sodded and planted, and, despite the July and August heat, the catch of grass seed on the north side of the building was good.

Joe Morzinski of Wisconsin Rapids and his crew were hurrying to finish the area on the south side of the building Monday to have it a picture of beauty when the county board met for its regular one-day midsummer session Tuesday.

The sod being laid had been cut at 6 a.m. Monday and transported to Neillsville. It is blue grass, specially grown on a 600-acre plot, and mechanically cut. Morzinski said that it takes three years to produce a crop of grass for sodding.

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Two Granton girls receive honors 

Honors have come to the two daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Montgomery of Granton.

Colleen received word that she has been awarded a $525 scholarship in music from Wisconsin State University - Oshkosh. A 1965 graduate of Granton high school, Colleen was one of two freshmen in the Oshkosh concert band, and was a soloist in the concert choir.

Connie, the second daughter, has completed training and has graduated from the Manpower Business Training Institute in Milwaukee. She took a six-week course in total key punching, completing 9,358 strokes per hour and a one percent error average to top all others in class. She also received a pin in recognition she had exceeded the average, which is 7,000 strokes per hour. 

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