News: Columbia (1 June 1972)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Endel, Putz, Thoma, Mashin, Werderitch, Sollberger, Jurkiewicz, Bohnhoff, Leslie Cook, Wetzel, Laager, Rieder, Hart, White, Wulf, Brown, Marty, Leahy, McDonel, Clodfelter, Williams, Sischo, Winter, Lockman

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co, WI) 6/01/1972

Columbia (1 June 1972)

Mr. and Mrs. Norbert Endel, owners of the former Frank and John Putz farm, have moved here from West Allis. Mrs. Endel is the former Marie Thoma and was born and grew up in Neillsville.

Many snakes about

A large number of snakes near residences have been seen in the area. A very large snake is reported to have crawled over the Endel lawn and disappeared into the woods.

Two boys, fishing near the Fall River bridge, killed two large snakes there Sunday.

Mrs. George Mashin says she killed a large snake near her home last week and four smaller ones at the Donald Mashin residence a short distance to the north.

Last week Wednesday morning as I returned from helping get the cattle to pasture the parent robins were putting out an S.O.S. in the Chinese elm tree west of the driveway. Hearing their cries and seeing them dart at something near the nest; I stepped closer and saw a large pine snake crawling up the tree trunk.

Feeling unable to cope with this situation I called to Mike Werderitch and Bill, my husband, who were inspecting the railroad fence along the cow pasture. The men came quickly; Mr. Sollberger grabbed a hoe nearby and jerked the reptile from the tree. Sensing my presence and hearing my calls it had crept to an outer limb near the nest. The snake was quickly disposed of and thrown across the road into a field.

As Mr. Sollberger left the house after dinner that same day he found another larger pine snake crawling on the driveway. This one he also killed and came back into the house for a yardstick. It measured over five feet. The first one was a few inches shorter.

Having saved the lives of the nestlings twice, first from the cat and also from the snake, I hope the birds will be soon able to fly from the nest.

Columbia Locals

Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Jurkiewicz of Milwaukee, who spent the weekend on their farm here, visited Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Bohnhoff Saturday evening. The Jurkiewiczes own the former Leslie Cook property.

Mr. and Mrs. Otto Wetzel of Pine Valley were Sunday Supper guests of the Bohnhoffs.

John Laager of Thorp visited at the William Rieder home Sunday.

Mrs. Teresa Hart of White Bear Lake, Mn, is visiting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Mashin. Her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Joe White, brought her here last week Wednesday.

Vacationers in Columbia over the holidays were Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Wulf of West Allis, Mr. and Mrs. Lester Brown of Beloit, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Marty of Elkhorn, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Leahy, Lawrence McDonel and son Gary, of Milwaukee area.

Mr. and Mrs. Wulf and the Lester Browns visited Mr. and Mrs. William Sollberger Monday morning.

Michael Werderitch returned to West Allis Thursday after several days at his cottage here.

Waldimar Clodfelter II (“Butch” to us) who has been attending college in Lincoln, Ne, in preparation for the ministry, was a supper guest Sunday at the George Mashin home. He is planning to spend the summer in Cambria where his father, Waldimar, Sr., resides.

Other visitors of the Mashins were Mr. and Mrs. Morrie Williams of Cambria, Ed Mashin of Humbird and Leo Sischo.

Clifford Winter of Pine Valley visited Mr. and Mrs. Ward Lockman Monday afternoon.