60 Years Ago This Week - 1961
St. Roch students Julie Ratz, Joey Obergfell and Susan Strack helped to decorate the school for its three-day festival, which featured games, carnival rides, music and a roast beef dinner for $1.25.    
* * *
One-hundred sixth-graders from Southport Middle School flew to Chicago for a day of sightseeing. They toured the Shedd and Natural museums and the Prudential Tower and took a bus ride down the Magnificent Mile.
* * *
Meridian Meat Market opened a store at 5650 McFarland Road, where Joe Cortner was the head butcher and T-bone steaks cost 89 cents a pound.
  
50 Years Ago This Week - 1971
James Stone won a color TV during the grand opening of Preferred TV, 6845 Madison Ave.
* * *
Melinda Merrell, a recent graduate of Manual and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Merrell, was installed as honored queen of Job’s Daughters, a Masonic-affiliated organization. 
* * *
A three-room half-double with a nice back porch rented for $60 a month.
* * *
Tuition at the University of Notre Dame cost $2,300.  

40 Years Ago This Week - 1981
Janet Woodworth, Sally Hammett, Kellie McGuire, Susan Spencer, Linda DeWester and Susan Goen were queen candidates for the Strawberry-Art Festival at the Southside Community Center, 1941 E. Hanna Ave.
* * *
Monsignor Downey Council of the Knights of Columbus, 511 E. Thompson Road, presented its Catholic Lay Award to Tony Fussner for his service to Sacred Heart Church. 
* * *
Monte’s Place, 3747 S. Meridian St., featured a buy-one-get-one special on pizzas. 
* * *
An oil change cost $10.95 at Cain’s, 8010 Madison Ave.
* * *
The Crows’ Nest, 3512 Madison Ave., served 10-ounce draft beers for 25 cents on Wednesdays.

30 Years Ago This Week - 1991
The University of Indianapolis announced plans to build an $8 million fine arts center, which would be named in honor of Christel DeHaan, the major donor. 
* * *
Resurrection Lutheran Church, 445 E. Stop 11 Road, installed the Rev. David P. Schreiber as pastor.
* * *
Brian Binninger, a sixth-grader, and his father, Karl, were raising two orphaned raccoons on a diet of milk, raisins and bran flakes.

20 Years Ago This Week - 2001

​George P. Cafouros, who founded The Spotlight in 1939 and published it until 1979, died.

Mary Bryan Elementary School named Lindsey Rosenberg, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Rosenberg, as its Student of the Year. Lindsey is seen with Principal Steve McGee.

​* * *
A carton of Liggert Select cigarettes cost $12.99.
* * *

The mother and daughter team of Marilyn Degenhardt (right) and Nancy Tibbets worked at the American Council of the Blind Thrift Store, 4072 S. Keystone Ave. 

10 Years Ago This Week - 2011
Nathan Pace joined The Southsider Voice staff as an intern.
* * *

Burkhart Elementary School raised more than $7,800 for its cultural arts program through its annual Walk-’n’-Roll event. Participants included (from left) Blake Kottlowski, Cooper Hutson, Alexander Eck, Jasmine White and Cara Hutson.
* * *

Roncalli graduates Elizabeth Coons, Claire Curtis, Johnna Lorenzano and Rachael Rose received the Pope John XII Award -- presented for demonstrating sound religious practices at school and in their home parishes -- during commencement exercises. 

60 Years Ago This Week - 1961
Harry’s Hamburgers opened at 3445 S. U.S. 31 and featured burgers for 15 cents. Eight sandwiches, four shakes and four orders of fries cost $1.99.  
* * *
Perry Township residents were questioning the $2.8 million cost of a new junior high school, especially when a Lawrence Township school with twice the amenities -- a swimming pool, air conditioning, a full gym and a 1,000-seat auditorium -- was priced at only $3.5 million.  
* * *
G.C. Murphy’s in Fountain Square celebrated its 55th anniversary with many specials: bath towels, 42 cents; boys polo shirts, 55 cents; tennis shoes, $1.79; bedspreads, $2.99; women’s swimsuits, $3.98; and small swimming pools, $5.99.
* * * 
The following quip was published: A man frequently complained that his wife had a bad habit of staying up until 1 or 2 a.m. “What is she doing,” a friend asked. “Waiting for me to get home,” the man replied.

50 Years Ago This Week - 1971
The average monthly Social Security check for a retiree was $126; the average payment for a couple was $199, and the average benefit for a widow with two children was $324.
* * *
Central Hardware opened at South U.S. 31 and Shelby Street. 

40 Years Ago This Week - 1981
Steve Burch and Jamie Bales, seniors at Southport and Perry Meridian, received $400 scholarships from the Southport chapter of Kappa Kappa Kappa.
* * *
Perry Meridian English teacher Gary Demes replaced Chuck Robbins as football coach at Southport. Demes, a graduate of Indiana University and a former Marine, previously coached at Hanover College.
* * *
Spotlight Publisher Jerry Cosby reported on some of the “sights” he saw while visiting “The Snakepit” at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway: an extremely pregnant woman sporting a string bikini; young ladies passed out in lawn chairs, women exposing their breasts; and a million empty beer cans. “The place has become a hellhole,” he said.

30 Years Ago This Week - 1991
Southport High School named David Frick as its Alumnus of the Year. Frick, a 1962 graduate, served as deputy mayor under William Hudnut from 1977-81.
* * *
Larry Harrell, who owned Harrell’s Car Wash, won $8,000 on the “Hoosier Millionaire” show.
* * *
Roncalli recognized Mark Craney as its valedictorian and Jeffrey Utnage as salutatorian. Craney, son of Ronald and Frances Craney, planned to major in aeronautical engineering at Purdue. Utnage, son of Richard and Cynthia Utnage, intended to pursue a degree in business at Indiana University. 

20 Years Ago This Week - 2001
Elda Dale (left) and Sarah Stoel were honored as Volunteers of the Year for South Group Women’s Committee of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. They are seen with Kevin Garvey, ISO vice president of development.
* * *
Lincoln Elementary School students Krista Davis, Emily Herron and Todd Welcher were named recipients of the Keith A. Brown Achievement Award, presented for outstanding achievements in academics and citizenship. Brown was the school’s first principal. 
* * *
Commencement ceremonies were held at Southport High School.
* * *
Gasoline cost $1.70 a gallon.
* * * 
Southport’s Alumni Association awarded its $2,500 Margaret Davis memorial scholarships to Christine Garrabrant and Sarah Montgomery. 
* * *
Ann Puckett-Harpold, principal of Jeremiah Gray Elementary, set to open in the fall, was named a Sagamore of the Wabash, the honor that the governor could bestow upon a Hoosier.
* * *
Brian Bock was named valedictorian of Lutheran High; Erika Willig and Jennifer Batteiger shared salutatorian honors.

10 Years Ago This Week - 2011
Beech Grove High School named Ron and Mary Ann Nelbert as its Teachers of the Year and Steve Yeager as Alumnus of the Year.
* * *
Franklin Central’s girls track and field team won the Shelbyville regional behind the first-place finishes of Meredith Jackson in the 800-meter run and Jasmine Al-anzi in the 3,200-meter run.
* * *
Winners in the Southport Artistry Committee’s arts show were Roy Boswell, Nicholai Shaver, Craig Hensley, Theresa Taylor, Melodie Ramey, Travis Own, Duane King, Brooke Taylor, B.T. Sang, Ben Lopez, Noah Dillehay and Lizzy Flanigan.

60 Years Ago This Week - 1961
Stinson’s Mobile Service Centers awarded its customers 100 extra Top Value Stamps for each 10 gallons of gas purchased.    
* * *
Southport High School elected its student council officers for 1961-62: David Frick, president; Rex Joseph, vice president; Andrea Deever, secretary; and Janice LaFlamme, treasurer.  
* * *
A 1960 Ford convertible was advertised for $2,495.
* * * 
A heavy-duty grill with 10 pounds of charcoal and a can of lighter fluid was on sale for $10.99 at G.C. Murphy’s in Fountain Square.
  
50 Years Ago This Week - 1971
A two-bedroom home in Southport rented for $130 a month.
* * *
Manual senior Glenna Byrd was honored as the school’s Outstanding Business Student. 

40 Years Ago This Week - 1981
The Ayr-Way built in 1963 and located in the 3700 block of South U.S. 31 changed its name to Target, and Indianapolis Public School eighth-grader Michele Shockley cut the ribbon to officially usher in the transformation.   
* * *
Monsignor Downey Knights of Columbus, 511 E. Thompson Road, was planning a dinner dance to celebrate its 28th anniversary. Tickets were $11 and available by calling Kathryn Massing, Dottie Lynch or Ann Wehlhieter.
* * *
Danny Arndt and Michael Houston earned Eagle Scout status, the highest rank in Scouting.
* * *
Construction on the Block’s store in Greenwood Park Mall was progressing nicely, with an anticipated opening date in early August.
* * *
Monsignor Leo J. Schafer, founding pastor of St. Jude Catholic Church, was retiring.

30 Years Ago This Week - 1991
A 30-car pileup on I-465 just east of the Meridian Street overpass left 13 people injured and 13 cars totaled. Sherri Harvey of Greenwood and Larry Scutt, Randy Mussleman and their horse Walter were among those involved.  
* * *
The Indianapolis Department of Transportation was struggling to fill more than 600,000 chuckholes. 
* * *
The Central Indiana Chapter of United Senior Action, led by Forest Handlon, rallied at the Statehouse to voice its support of House Bill 1172, which levied a permanent ban on local measured telephone service.
* * *
Boasting more than 168 years as teachers, Southport High School educators Richard Theil, William Pickard, Harold Methany, Marvin Hawkins and Charles Robbins closed their instructional books for the last time.

20 Years Ago This Week - 2001
St. Jude Grade School’s 5-6A volleyball team won the Catholic Youth Organization city tournament. Squad members were Eric Ross, Jane Keyler, Sarah Byrne, Megan Clements, Kerry Lynch, Rachel Bartley, Emily Smith, Emily Buckley and Mel Keyler.
* * * 
Barbara Wampler, a secretary at Clinton Young Elementary, was presented with Perry Township Schools’ Human Relations Reward.
* * *
Bill Hagy opened an optical shop in his home at 6553 Spring Flower Drive. Because of his low overhead he offered customers a 50 percent discount on their purchases when compared to retail outlets.

10 Years Ago This Week - 2011
Southport High School named Dr. Jeffrey Dewester, a family medicine specialist, as its Alumnus of the Year and Jamil Odom as Teacher of the Year. Barb Brouwer was named District 7 Principal of the Year.
* * *
Some of Beech Grove High School’s jazz singers were making plans for their trip to perform in Hong Kong in July. Those making the journey were Shelby Bradford, Kendall Burgess, Ivy Lee Coble, Sam Gallagher, Matt Havens, Carly Knight, Hannah Laughlin, Jacqueline Lynch, Hannah Simpson, Ellen Skidmore, David Walker, Alycia White and Ashley Whiteside.