The La Crosse Tribune from La Crosse, Wisconsin • 2

B-4 La Crosse Tribune, Tuesday, March 23, 1993 Hometown MONROE COUNTY COURTS" BRIEFS jj- By PAT MOORE Of the Tribune staff Ag meeting today at Holiday Inn The Greater La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce Agri-Business Committee will hold a National Agriculture Day Luncheon today in the Mississippi Room of the Holiday Inn. A program on how Coulee Region-style agriculture helped farmers in eastern Europe will be presented by William Ross and his wife, Joan Clements-Ross, of Stoddard, and Wayne Peters of Cbaseburg. The Rosses were in Bulgaria and Peters was in Residents thankful they weren't in, bank Spsrta man pleads not gui.ty SPARTA, Wis. A 36-year-old Sparta man pleaded not guilty Monday in Monroe County Circuit Court to two counts of telephone harassment. Guillermo Vargas allegedly made threatening phone calls in late February after a woman he had been dating told him she wanted to end their relationship.

According to the complaint, Vargas, who was paroled in June 1991 after serving more than five years in prison on an attempted manslaughter charge, called the woman and told her he would "blow her away with a machine gun." He allegedly also made threats against the woman's husband and children. Judge James W. Rice set a pre-trial conference for March 29. Hearing set in sex assault case SPARTA, Wis. An April 8 preliminary hearing was set Monday in Monroe County Circuit Court for a Sparta man charged with three counts of felony first-degree sexual assault of a child.

Brian H. Kuruzovich, 22, allegedly admitted to a social worker that he fondled a 5-year-old girl. According to the complaint, Kuruzovich told authorities the incidents began in late 1992. He was allegedly involved in two more incidents with the child earlier this year. If convicted, Kuruzovich faces a maximum of 30 years in Li: Estonia as part of the help University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

That meant Charlie got busy at the restaurant and didn't get a chance to go to the bank. His mother, Myrtle Glennie, was thankful she had parked her car in front Monday morning instead of in the back where she usually does. That's where the robbers had their getaway car and she might have run into them. "Did you see anything or anybody strange in town this morning?" sheriff's deputy Tom Olson asked the handful of people eating at the counter. All shook their heads no.

By By PAT MOORE Of the Tribune staff MINDORO, Wis. Inside the Farmer's Cafe, across the street and down the block from the bank that was robbed Monday, several people thanked their lucky stars that they hadn't gone to the bank that morning. One of the cafe's owners, Charlie Glennie, said he probably would have been in the First National Bank of Mindoro at the same time the robbers were, except that his wife, Cindy, who helps out in the cafe, left early for La Crosse and her classes at the ing program for eastern European farmers. For reservations, call the Chamber at 784-4880. Cost is $10.

Crash victim still listed serious HOKAH, Minn. A 40-year-old Houston, man remained in serious condition in St. Francis Hospital in La Crosse Monday after he was injured in a traffic accident Friday. PAGEANTS 3r MINDORO, Wis. Monday's heist wasn't the first time the First National Bank of Mindoro was a target for robbery.

The last time the bank was hit was about 1 a.m. on Oct. 25, 1932. The attempted robbery, described in a Mindoro history book, reads like something from the Keystone Kops. Strangely enough, one who still remembers, Lois Schiller, watched the robbery in progress from the window of the house across the street the same house where Reuben Sto-randt lives now.

Schiller said the 1932 heist could only have been foiled in a small town. "The robbers, there were four of them, came into town a day or two ahead of time. They were driving two high-powered coupes. Mr. Welda had the gas station, and any strange car that came into town he took their license number down.

"One fellow stood out, too, when they went into the restaurant and he ordered a can of salmon to eat. People around here just didn't do that," said Schiller. As the four men worked in the early morning darkness readying an acetylene torch to cut open the steel doors of the vault, an alarm sounded at a nearby hardware store. Someone notified sheriff's deputy Ed Fox, who lived down the road. He crept up the road and hid behind a wood pile at the rear of the bank.

As the four men carried the torch inside the bank, Fox opened fire. The robbers returned about 15 shots before fleeing toward West Salem. Miss Onalaska contestants sought Entries are being accepted for the Miss Onalaska Scholarship Pageant on June 5. Contestants must be single; between the ages of 17 and 24, and live, work or go to school in the areas served by the Onalaska post office. The pageant, sponsored by Onalaska Festivals is a preliminary to the state and national pageants and part of the Miss America Scholarship program.

For information, call Kathy Sjolander at 783-2830. Fairest of Fair deadline Wednesday Applications for the 1993 La Crosse Interstate Fairest of the Fair are. due by Wednesday. Single women ages 18 to 22 who have been residents of La Crosse County for at least one year are eligible to compete. All contestants must have a sponsor who will be required to pay a $20 entry fee.

Applications are available at the La Crosse County Extension Office or by calling Laurie For-manek at 783-9361. The winner will be crowned April 2 at the La Crosse County Agricultural Society Benefit. east on nwy. it aDoui tnree miles west of Hokah when his vehicle slid sideways into the path of a westbound truck driven by Ronald Nok-ken, 31, of La Crosse, the Minnesota State Patrol said. Gerald Feldmeier, 21, of Houston, a passenger in Carrier's car, was treated in St.

Francis for minor injuries and released. Nokken was not injured in La Crosse County Sheriff Albert "Casey" Riley was notified and several cars full of deputies headed toward Mindoro. The robbers' two Cars were spotted near Midway by deputy Lloyd Johnson. He opened fire and wounded one of them before his car was stopped and riddled by bullets. Meanwhile, deputies Chet Riley and Orgie Woll picked up Johnson in Midway and continued toward Melrose, then Black River Falls to alert Jackson County authorities.

Then there was the roar of gunfire as La Crosse deputies spotted the two cars and opened fire. The robbers in one car were wounded, but the other car got away and headed for a nearby tourist camp. Although bloodhounds were brought in, they eluded police by staying under water in the Black River and breathing through hollow reeds. The two were captured two years later in Omaha, and sentenced to prison. The other two men, Charles Ross, 60, and William Richards, 32, (later discovered to be Ole Olson from Spring Valley, Minn.) were both thought to be from Kansas City and went on trial in La Crosse.

Four months later, on Feb. 4, 1933, the Bank of Mindoro, which had opened in 1916, was among many banks across the country that closed during the Great Depression. For 35 years the small community of Mindoro was without a bank until the First National Bank of Bangor remodeled the building and opened a branch in Mindoro on May 1, 1968. -the accident, which hap- c.nr WELS members reaching out Area members of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod will take to the streets during the next few weeks to deliver a message of salvation through Christ. "Living Free in Jesus" is part of an area-wide effort to reach hon-churchgoers in the local community, said the Rev.

Scott J. Dummann, chairman of the campaign. Fourteen area WELS congregations in La Crosse, Onalaska, Viroqua, Sparta, Tomah, Cashton, rural Tomah and Hustler and La Crescent, Hokah, Ridgeway and Dakota in southeastern Minnesota, will participate in the project, according to Dummann, who is pastor of St, John's cal Lutheran Church and School in Sparta. LA CROSSE SCHOOL BOARD frj Committee asks for school dress coda jjeneu cu o.oo a.m. HIV testing set in Monroe County The Monroe County Health Agency is now offering anonymous HIV counseling and testing.

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. Clinics will be held on the first Monday of every month from 4 to 6 p.m. Ap- "pointments can be made by calling (269) 372-8672 or (269 372-8870. Fees are income based and no one will be excluded based on inability to pay. Student exchange hosts sought ASSE International Student Exchange Programs seeks hosts for exchange students for the coming year.

Call Deanna and John Culp at (608) 783-0813 or (800) 736-1760. By JOAN KENT Of the Tribune staff WW Alltel with profanity or ads for alco- hoi, tobacco or drugs. She said she wants a district-wide dress code separate from any policy to prevent youth gangs on campus. But committee member Neil Duresky indicated he would prefer putting all clothing bans, including those related to gangs, in one policy. And committee member Gary Harter said he does not like the idea of district-wide dress codes.

"We should leave it up to individual principals," he said. Teachers have told her that caps are a nuisance, she said, citing a letter from one teacher who said students snatch each other's caps and sometimes use them to slap other students. The teacher said some teach- ers in her school, which Sundet did not name, ban caps, but others do not. As a result, the teachers said students often are late to class because they go to their lockers to get or store their caps. In addition, Sundet said she would like a ban on clothing The La Crosse School District's policy committee has asked Superintendent Richard Swantz to draw up a district-wide dress code.

Since one of the district's goals is to graduate responsible citizens, students should learn the rules they will need to live by, committee member Anna Sundet said in asking for the policy. VISA COULEE CALENDAR Seminar: Why Diets Don't Work Lutheran Hospital will present, "Why Diets Don't Work," Thursday at noon in West Wing II and 7 p.m. in the Rasmus Center. Dietitians Diane Hindrichs Kelbel and ChristoDher Larson With 4-year car loans now as low as 7.39 apr- Will you finance your car at Trane Federal Credit Onion? will lead the program in recognition of National Nutrition Month. Archaeology program planned The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will hold a free program open to the public entitled.

"Oxygen Isotopes, Artifacts and cal Research." It will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday in if, iuu towiey Hall. The program will feature Nelson "No. I work at a bank downtown." Ik "No. I pay cash." Shaffer from the Indiana University Department of Geology and Kenneth Tankersley from the Illinois State Museum.

The program is sponsored by I the UW-L Geography Earth Science Department and Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center. I Lead screening scheduled The La Crosse County Health Nursing Division rr will screen for lead in children ages 6 months to 6 years from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday. For an ap-pointment, call (608) 785-9723.

Cost: $5. Cataract PTO bingo set a CATARACT, Wis. The Cataract PTO will sponsor bingo at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Cataract Elementary School. Proceeds will go toward the school's new playground equipment.

Cost for cards will be 50 cents each or three for $1. Woman to describe welfare program i Oyo Fummilayo will speak on "Myth, Fiction "I would, but I'm not a member." (608) 782-9622. YMCA open house planned The La Crosse Family YMCA open house will be from 5-7 p.m. Sunday at 1140 Main St. There will be guest passes, refreshments and drawings.

Legion to serve breakfast LA CRESCENT, Minn. The La Crescent American Legion Post 595 will sponsor an all you can eat breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday in the clubrooms. Cost: $3.50 for adults and $2.50 for children under the age of 12. West Salem to hold open forum The West Salem business Association and the League of Women Voters will present an open forum for the candidates for village president and village It will be held at 7:30 p.m.

Monday in the West Salem Middle School cafeteria. It will include presentations by each candidate and responses to written questions. Educational program offered LA CRESCENT, Minn. The La Crescent-Hokah Public Schools will feature Dr. Larry Cozad, education president at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in its final Educational Speakers Series.

His presentation, "Expectations for the 21st Century Adult and Significant Trends in Education," will be at 7 p.m. Monday in the La Crescent High School Media Center. The event is free and open to the public. Child care is available by calling (507) 895-2428. Viterbo recital on Friday Viterbo College students Linda J.

Lewison and Molly Thomas will hold a joint recital at 7:30 p.m. on Friday in the Recital Hall in Viterbo's Fine Arts Center. Lewison, a violinist, will perform works by Handel, Severn, Accolay and Rachmaninoff. Thomas, who plays trumpet, will perform works by Haydn, Bach and Gibbons. They will be accompanied by Randy Lyden on piano and harpsichord and Mary Amundson on piano.

Kris-tine Lemmer will also assist with the performance. The recital and reception that follows it are -free and open to the public. and Reality: One Woman's Journey Through Wel fare, at P-m. Wednesday in 339 Cartwnght Center in UW-L. She will illustrate cultural heri- Jage of African-American personal experiences You're eligible to join if: You are related to a Trane Federal Credit Union member You work at Trane, Altec, or several other local companies You are age 50 or over and live in the La Crosse area with race, gender and class through storytelling and poetry.

The program is free and open to the public. Helping the survivor survive is The Family YMCA will offer five classes, "Helping the Survivor to Survive," from 7-8 D.m. TRANE FEDERAL 1 Thursdays, March 25 to April 22, in Room 203 of the YMCA. 1140 Main St. Rev.

Bernard C. Jef- feries, retired Presbyterian minister and re 7 Z7 CREDIT UNION 2715 Losey Blvd. La Crosse, 787-4500 1807 E. Main St, Onalaska, 783-5600 Rate effective through April 15, 1993. searcher on the subject, will speak on how to alleviate the emotional pain.

The program is free but enrollment is limited. For registration call.