A Look Back At The Times
10 YEARS AGO
MARCH 14, 2012
The Turtle Lake Lions Club hosted foreign exchange student, Marieke van den Zee from Belgium at their March meeting. She shared information about her country and her family. Marieke said she experienced a hard time adjusting to small town Turtle Lake, after coming from a city that boasted a population of approximately 1-million residents. Lion’s members asked questions pertaining to education and life in general. Marieke explained to the group that in most of Europe the schools do not have sports programs, so she enjoyed playing volleyball last Fall and is looking forward to playing softball this Spring. While here in Turtle Lake Marieke is being hosted by the Jackie and Shad Torgerson family.
Meet Gary Solum, Barron Electric Cooperative’s latest Megawatt Community Service Award winner. Gary has been a member of the Turtle Lake Lions Cub for 53 years, currently serving as President. He also had the opportunity to serve as District Governor and the State Lions President. Some of the projects he helped with included the Christmas Lights in the Park project, and taking seniors from elderly housing to see the fall colors and holiday lights. He has also chaired the Turtle Lake Fair Committee for 42 years and is active in the FFA Alumni, American Legion, and Parkview Methodist Church. He was the ag instructor at the Turtle Lake High School prior to taking the position of Adult Farm Instructor at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College. There he worked with 435 farmers throughout his career. He was also the State Ag President. In 1995, he spent a month in the Ukraine with VOCA (Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance), to help bring agriculture education to the farmers.
On January 18-19, 2013, five members of the Turtle Lake Bands were honored with the opportunity to participate in the National Band Association’s All-State Bands held in Wisconsin Rapids at the association’s state convention. High schoolers Kollin Horn and Tasha Henck began rehearsals on Friday the 18th and worked through the 19th with Dennis Glocke from Penn State University. Middle schoolers Lucas West, Travis Henck, and Isabella West started their rehearsals on the 19th with Wittenberg-Birnamwood director Joann Kekula. In addition to the rehearsals, they had the opportunity to attend concerts, including a College All-Star Band and a professional wind ensemble.
Caleb Peterson, an eighth grader at Turtle Lake Middle School, competed in the Knights of Columbus State Math Contest this past Saturday, March 9th, in Wisconsin Rapids where he took 2nd place. Caleb advanced to the state competition with a first place finish in the opening round held in Rice Lake in January. He then finished first in round two in Ladysmith in February, qualifying him for state. This was Caleb’s fourth consecutive year, and his last year of competion eligibility.
Kyle Steffen, a 6’ 3”, 175-pound senior wide receiver for the 2012 Laker football team was recognized for his outstanding performance on the field this year by being selected to participate in the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-Star Game. The game will be played Saturday, July 20, at Titan Stadium in Oshkosh. Steffen, representing Turtle Lake, will play for the North Small team. Steffen led the Lakeland South Conference and the state in average receiving yards per game with 129. He also tied for first in the state in total receiving yards for the season with 1168. He was tied for 11th in receptions with 56 and averaged nearly 21-yards per reception. Steffen caught 11 touchdown passes and helped the Lakers to a 5-4 record and a trip to the playoffs, losing to the eventual state champions, Glenwood City, 54-36.
“It’s a good day for what?” Coach asks before the start of each game. “HOCKEY” the team yells back. “Go out and have some fun” Coach says as the kids line up behind their goalie and take the ice cheering. It wasn’t just a good day for hockey, it was a great weekend for hockey this past weekend, March 9-10, as the Cumberland Squirts became State Champions after winning the State Tournament in Sparta. A pair of Turtle Lake students, Maddux Allen and Bayden Roff, are members of the Squirts.
20 YEARS AGO
MARCH 13, 2003
“Can’t take ‘the sky is falling’ attitude, but it’s going to be pretty darn tough,” explained Mr. Mark Collins, District Administrator at Turtle Lake schools, while discussing the budget for the next couple of years. He went on to explain some of the procedures of the budget but told the three members present he would have more budget information at the next meeting. With a couple of members absent, Mr. Collins thought it necessary for the full board to be in on the budget discussions. At that time he would be able to project some shortfalls for next year and the following couple of years.
Curves, the 30 minute fitness and weight loss center in Turtle Lake, will be joining the Curves International Inc., “Food for Friends” food drive to benefit local food banks. Anyone joining Curves the week of March 17 may bring a bag of groceries and have the normal service fee waived. Anyone may drop off non-pereishable food items at Curves Monday through Friday during business hours. Last year the food drive collected over 2,000,000 pounds of food.
The Laker guys closed out their 2002-03 basketball season last Tuesday night with a 77-34 first round tournament loss to the number one seeded Birchwood Bobcats. The Lakers finished a struggling season with a winless record and saw four seniors, Kris Kraemer, Nate Johnson, Ryan Nexvold and Brad Heyer, end their high school careers on the Birchwood floor. Leading the way for the Lakers were Kyle Stalpes, Brad Heyer and Nate Johnson with six points each.
30 YEARS AGO
MARCH 11, 1993
The FFA Alumni State Convention was held February 12 – 13 in Eau Claire. Representing the Turtle Lake FFA Alumni Chapter were Don and Sheila Dipprey, Dave and Rose Gross, Wayne andn Bev Jansen, Don and Sandy Johnson and Renny Glaubitz. Harry Schnell, Rose Gross’s father, made three Wisconsin clocks, sheep and cow centerpieces for the table decorations. The table decorations were given away as door prizes and the clocks were auctioned to the highest bidder. The Turtle Lake Chapter also received three awards at the Convention, including a first place gold for their scrapbook, and a second place silver for the affiliate and newsletter. The scrapbook will go on to the National Convention for judging.
Marvin Coleman of Turtle Lake has completed the course of instruction at Continental Auctioneers School, Mankato, MN. Marv received instruction in all phases of the auction profession and was awarded a diploma and the title of Colonel on February 20 from Rich Haas, president of the school. He decided to add the skills of an auctioneer because of the auction method becoming more popular as the public is made award of this fast sure way of selling goods, property and real estate.
With wins over Luck, Frederic and Webster this past week, the Turtle Lake Lakers have been named Regional Champions and have earned the right to continue post-season play this Friday evening in the WIAA Division 4 Sectional Tournament in Spooner. Turtle Lake and Elmwood will play at 8:00 p.m. Jamie Torgerson led the way for the Lakers with 17 points in a 90-46 win over Luck. Jesse Nitchey had 14, Todd Richter added 13 and Jerry Gamache had 10. Jesse Nitchey grabbed scoring honors against Frederic with 28. Todd Richter chipped in 14. In the 65-56 win over Webster Todd Richter and Jesse Nitchey led the way with 14 each. Jamie Torgerson followed with 13.
Ryan Shortess, Turtle Lake, and Jeremy Gazdik, Somerset, are cousins. While this is nothing earth-shattering, several areas of their lives are very similar. Both Ryan and Jeremy have just completed their high school wrestling careers by representing their respective schools in the 1993 State Wrestling Tournament. Ryan placed third while Jeremy placed fourth. Both young men have finished their varsity careers with over 100 wins. Their mothers are sisters while their fathers are both former wrestlers. Both have wrestled since elementary grades and have participated in several regional and state free-style tournaments. Throughout their parallel careers, Ryan and Jeremy never wrestled each other during a. match. As Ryan’s father, Wayne, stated, “Our families felt it would be in the best interest of both boys that the added competition of wrestling each other not be placed on their shoulders.” And with a smile he added, “And it kept peace in the family.”
40 YEARS AGO
MARCH 10, 1983
Proposed placement of a Computed Tomography Scanner, (CAT Scanner) at a physician’s office building in Rice Lake won endorsement of the Western Wisconsin Health Systems Agency Board of Directors at their March 3 meeting. Debate over establishment of a fixed CAT scanner in rural areas was central to the vote taken by HAS members. The proposal is subject to state certificate of need review, and the HAS endorsement will be forwarded to the State Division of Health for final action.
The Anchor Inn Resort, owned and managed by Ken Segner, received the Golden Butter Knife Award from the American Dairy Association of Wisconsin on Tuesday, March 8. The award was presented to Mr. Segner by Mrs. Karen Schaaf, Chairman of ADA District 10 following a “Dutch: treat attended by nearly 100 ADA of Wisconsin dairy farmers, industry representatives, local businessmen and friends of Mr. Segner.
Four teams, Cumberland, Prentice, Ondossagon and Turtle Lake, entered the girls basketball Sectional Tournament at Turtle Lake last Wednesday evening, March 2, all hoping to qualify for the State Tournament this coming weekend. Ondossagon, trailing 22-18 at the half, outscored Cumberland in periods three and four to post a 44-37 victory. Turtle Lake held a 20-16 lead at halftime but couldn’t hang on as Prentice pulled out a 46-45 victory. Debbie Carlson and Cathy Carlson led the Lakers with 15 points each.
On Wednesday, March 1, the Turtle Lake Lakers traveled to Osceola for the opening round of the Boys Class C Sub-Regional Basketball Tournament. The Lakers took a 16-14 lead at the end of the first period and trailed 32-30 at the half. Osceola outscored the Lakers 18 to 14 in period three and went on to post a 58-52 win. Laker Mike Schradle led all scorers with 22 points. John Hinck added 14.
50 YEARS AGO
MARCH 8, 1973
Dick Waite of Columbia, Minnesota, a former Almena resident and a graduate of Turtle Lake High School, was awarded the High Point Driving Trophy at Crooked Mile Snowmobile Raceway at Siren. This trophy was presented to the driver who had won the most races at the track during the winter.
A crowd of enthusiastic spectators and a group of eager drivers gathered at the high school athletic field Sunday afternoon to enjoy the Turtle Lake Lions Club 4th Annual Novice Snowmobile Races. The racing action began just after 12:00 noon and saw drivers from as far away as Monroe, Exeland and Woodville competing with local drivers for first, second and third place trophies, and the overall trophy awarded to the top driver of the afternoon.
There are two vacancies on the Turtle Lake Board of Education for the 1973 election, and four candidates have filed their intent to run for office. The Turtle Lake Board has drawn lots for the placement of the candidates names to appear on the official ballot. They are, No. 1 – Otto Becker; No. 2 – Lloyd Hoffman; No. 3 – Marvin Dietrich; No. 4 – Harvey McCann.
One of the largest groups in recent years gathered at the Village Library Tuesday evening to participate in the Village Caucus. A total of 46 interested citizens attended to nominate their favorite candidates for positions in the Village Government. Results of the nominations were: President – Carly Carlson and AJ Perrault; Treasurer – Don Wick and Margaret Wick; Clerk – Dave Ritsche and John Sauerberg; Assessor – Bernard Leisz and Tom McGuine; Municipal Justice – PC Hart and RE Miller; Constable – Francis (Swede) Anderson and Robert Tarman; Trustees – Louis Breneman, Edward Wrickson, Ronald Fischer, Lloyd Hoffman, Tom McGuine and Stanley (Buster) Warland.
The Andersen Chevrolet garage was burglarized for the second time in less than one week on Sunday night, March 4, sometime between 10:30 and 11:00 p.m. Entry was gained by breaking the 30×18 glass window in the overhead door on the west side of the building. Five Firestone belted tires and a complete set of mechanic’s tools were taken. The thieves left the building through the front door entrance.