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• Updated: Man killed in Pepin County farm accident
• Fire damages announcer's stand at EHS football field
• Pierce County History center invites railroad buffs on board

FRANKFORT, Wis. - A rural Pepin County man was working alone when he died Tuesday in a farm accident, authorities said.

Pepin County Sheriff John Andrews said Timothy D. Anderson, 37, died after being pinned beneath a Gehl Skid Steer early Tuesday afternoon. The Skid Steer is a small tractor.

Authorities were called at 1:10 p.m. to the farm at N3142 County Highway N on the western side of Frankfort Township. The farm is about seven miles north of Pepin, Andrews said.

Anderson's father had found him, and Pepin County Coroner Dr. David Castleberg pronounced him dead at the scene. The sheriff's department was assisted at the scene by Wisconsin State Patrol and Durand emergency crews.

The incident is still being investigated, Andrews said, but no foul play is suspected. He said it is unclear how Anderson became pinned under the tractor.

"He was cleaning a barnyard" when the accident happened, Andrews said Wednesday.

Anderson had lived with his wife, Bethany, on the family farm. He served for seven years with the Wisconsin National Guard out of Eau Claire.

A fire damaged the announcer's stand atop the home bleachers on Fuller-Symes Athletic Field at Ellsworth High School Wednesday.

The Ellsworth Fire Department was called shortly before 5 p.m. to the scene, where smoke was rising from the top of the structure. Fire fighters brought hose up the bleachers from a pumper below and also attacked the blaze from above by working on the stand's roof. The department's ladder truck was available.

Fire extinguishers had been used at the site by school district personnel. The fire's cause was unknown Thursday; it was believed to have started in the middle of the stand's floor and there was broken glass evident.

The structure, which was unoccupied at the time of the call, had heavy smoke damage. School officials hoped it can be repaired and ready for the upcoming EHS football season.

The fire department was on the scene for approximately an hour.

BAY CITY - Railroad transportation will be the focus of an open house this weekend at the Pierce County History Center and log cabin. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Pierce County once was served by two rail systems, according to the 1908 county atlas. The Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railroad started at the depot in East Ellsworth, went through Beldenville, which also had a depot It proceeded to River Falls, where the depot was located on River Street between Cedar and Pine streets, then went into St. Croix County.

Another line of the same railroad came from Dunn County into Elmwood, then through Spring Valley, with a side spur to the Spring Valley Iron and Ore Co. It then went through the northeast corner of Gilman Township and north to St. Croix County. Neither line is operational today.

The main line of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad went along the western edge of Pierce County, crossed the St. Croix River at Prescott and continued through Diamond Bluff, Hager City, Bay City and Maiden Rock. All had depots along the track.

Passenger service on this line was discontinued in the 1950s, but the main line today carries more than 40 freight trains daily on what has become the Burlington, Northern and Santa Fe Railroad.

The transportation display at the history center this weekend will include 1900s photos of trains and depots and railroad items, along with pictures of steamboats, horses and buggies, and vintage vehicles. An old-fashioned buggy and an airplane also will be displayed.

The history center, located in a former church, is one block west of Highway 35. The 1850s Conlin log cabin is adjoining. Pierce County Historical Association volunteers will be available to assist visitors. Admission is free.