60 Years Ago This Week — 1963
Baby turtles cost 23 cents at The Pet House in Southern Plaza.
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After a normal down payment on a new Ford Falcon convertible, the monthly payment was $56.25.
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Louis Borinstein, an 1899 graduate of Manual, was named the high school’s Man of the Year.

50 Years Ago This Week — 1973
First-place winners in St. Roch Grade School’s science fair were the teams of Paul Peaper and John Hanley, Rob Annee and Paul Schmoll, Jennifer Feldhake and Dawn Kristel and Brian Jardina and Jim Dilger.
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Harold Disler, a German teacher at Southport High School, and his wife were planning on chaperoning a trip to Germany for students interested in studying abroad for a month during the summer.
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Indy Parks outlined its plans for a park along Madison Avenue between Morris and Orange streets.
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Lester Neal was re-elected president of Marion County’s East and Southwest health centers.

40 Years Ago This Week — 1983
Manual basketball coach Fred Belser won his 200th game as the Redskins defeated Southport 69-49. Lennel Moore and Keith Richardson led Manual with 13 points each.
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Dr. John Swengel, a veterinarian, was preparing to open an animal hospital at U.S. 31 and Southport Road. Swengel was leaving the small practice that he had been affiliated with since graduating from Purdue in 1971.
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The boys basketball team from Perry Meridian upped its record to 16-4 after setting a school record of winning 11 consecutive games.

30 Years Ago This Week — 1993
Marcia and Mike Shields opened Mike’s Card Shop on Madison Avenue in Greenwood. The business featured sports cards and IndyCar and NASCAR collectibles.
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The cast in Perry Meridian’s production of Oklahoma included (front, from left) Teresa Brandkamp, Christie Allen, Bryce Johnson, Dan Fair; (back) Jeremy Bergman, Amy Gustitus and Dan Tresta.
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Lisa Heap, who attended Meridian Middle School, took first-place honors in the Freedom Essay contest hosted by the Southside Sertoma Club. Sarah Ketterer and Jean Buckel, both from St. Jude, finished second and third, respectively; St. Barnbas’ Kate Campbell was fourth; and Greg Bradley from Keystone Middle placed fifth.
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Although not among the top winners for the Kiwanis Abe Lincoln Scholarships  — presented for excelling in academics while facing hardships — Amy Bohannon from Roncalli and Dave Garmene from Perry Meridian were recognized for their achievements.
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United Methodist Churches initiated a petition drive to publicize their opposition to casino gambling in Indiana.

20 Years Ago This Week — 2003

Presented for excellence in the fine arts, Prelude Awards were presented to Roncalli’s Donnie Glowinski, Andy Betz, Erica Hagner, Manuel De La Rosa, Ben Hewett, Matt Lewis and Nathan Bohney.
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The girls basketball team Perry Meridian won its second consecutive sectional title by drubbing Southport 67-34. Squad members were Katie Ferguson, Christina Cunningham, Tanisha Duerson, Brittany Moore, Sarah Bose, Melenda Hawthorne, Jaymie Whitman, Brittany Moline, Samantha Saba, DeAnna Pflum, Heather Burleson, Kelsey Gurganus and Laura Gaybrick.
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Jacob Skirvin, a fifth-grader at Mary Bryan Elementary School, cashed in big-time for making a layup, a free throw, a 3-pointer and a half-court shot during a timeout at a Butler basketball team. Jacob won $200, gift certificates, tickets to an Indiana Pacers game and a limousine ride.

10 Years Ago This Week — 2013
Perry Meridian High School’s wrestling team won its third straight state title behind the efforts of individual champions Cody LeCount (132 pounds), Riley McClurg (160) and Donte Winfield (285).
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Jaime Robbins, a senior at Southport, received the second-place scholarship of $12,000 at the Abe Lincoln Awards luncheon hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Indianapolis. The program recognized students who had excelled academically despite facing major obstacles. Other honorees were Joe Kieffer from Roncalli; Mary Lunsford, Perry Meridian; Alyson Obermeyer, Franklin Central; Marissa Short, Manual; and Ellen Skidmore, Beech Grove.
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Michael Millott, a Roncalli senior who played the euphonium (a brass instrument), was invited to perform with the Indiana All-State honor band.

60 Years Ago This Week
Editor George Cafouros didn’t publish a paper.

50 Years Ago This Week — 1973
The boys basketball team from Southport High School, coached by Richard Theil and captained by Fred Poe and Dale Nordholt, was honored for winning the Marion County tournament.
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James Lyles achieved Eagle Scout status after completing his service project, which included collecting and repairing more than 325 toys for the American Red Cross. Lyles was a member of Troop 118 at St. Roch School.
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The Singing Grannies from Greenwood performed at Friedens United Church of Christ, where guests were treated to cherry pie and coffee after the performance.

40 Years Ago This Week — 1983
The Spotlight celebrated its 45th anniversary.
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Donald Resener was named The Spotlight’s Southsider of the Month for his service to Boy Scout Troop 545 and Christ United Methodist Church. Resener and his wife, Jewell, had four children (from left) Jeanice, Larry, Michael and Rick (not pictured).
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Famous Recipe Fried Chicken served a nine-piece meal, a pint of mashed potatoes and slaw and six biscuits for $4.99.
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Herman Strakis, Indiana’s Auctioneer of the Year, was selected to emcee Lutheran High School’s dinner-auction.
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Carl “Blackie” Braden, a teacher and former basketball coach at Southport High School, was retiring after 45 years as an educator.

30 Years Ago This Week — 1993

Seven-year-old Natalie Raimondi, daughter of Paul and Dorothy Raimondi, was attentive to a Southport cheerleader during a basketball game.
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The University of Indianapolis’ Polar Bear Run & Walk attracted 2,000 participants.
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Dr. Ann Sablam was named senior pastor of Southport United Methodist Church.
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Manual named Dave Shaw as its Alumnus of the Year. The 1945 graduate played football, coached and taught at the school.
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James Hill II, a 1989 graduate of Perry Meridian High School, served as an intern in Nevada’s House of Representatives.

20 Years Ago This Week — 2003
Perry Meridian students D.J. Green, Joel Donnell, Dan Nitsch and Jesse Wilson were rehearsing for their school’s production of “Footloose.”
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Greenwood Sertoman Jim Crick was named the club’s Man of the Year for his service to the community. The agency’s Service to Mankind Award, an honor bestowed upon a nonmember, was presented to Philip Milto Jr. for his dedication to finding a cure for Batten disease, a neurological order that afflicted two of his children.
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Perry Meridian’s wrestling team defeated Warren Central 33-19 for a regional title.
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Roncalli senior Marcus Nalley, son of Denise Nalley and the late Dick Nalley, who was member of the two-man Olympic bobsled team in 1980, signed a letter of intent to play football at the University of Indianapolis.

10 Years Ago This Week — 2013
Sarah Quebe, a 2009 graduate of Perry Meridian, was named to the dean’s list at Hanover College.
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Roncalli held its annual battle of the bands contest, which was won by The Nerdlucks, whose members were Mark Fanelli, Stephen Gadaleta, Joey Madden, Kevin McNamara and Joey Wolf.
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​Award-winning author Jordan Sonnenblick spoke to students at Perry Meridian Middle School.

 ​60 Years Ago This Week – 1963
The Old Dutch Delicatessen opened at 2949 S. Meridian St. Owned by Tony Hoeping, the deli featured sandwiches, fine sausages, cold cuts and frosty beer.
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Albums by Elvis Presley, Andy Williams, Chubby Checkers, The Kingston Trio and Brenda Lee were marked down to $1.47 at Woolworth’s in Fountain Square.
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The following quip was published. During the celebration of a couple’s golden wedding anniversary, the husband was asked the secret to his health and happiness. “It’s like this,” he said thoughtfully. “When we first got married my wife and I decided that when we had a disagreement and it was her fault, she was to go to her room until I told her to come out. And if it were my fault I was to go outside until she told me I could come in. Well … you can see what 50 years of outdoor living has done for me.”

50 Years Ago This Week – 1973
The McDonald’s at 5416 S. U.S 31 celebrated its grand reopening to showcase its dining room.
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Residents came out in full force to protest the proposed relocation of the Indianapolis Stockyards to 900 W. Troy Ave. The remonstrators dubbed themselves the “Southside Paul Reveres.”
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The Keystone-South Racquet Club, an indoor tennis facility, celebrated its grand opening. The facility also offered handball, racquetball and squash.

40 Years Ago This Week – 1983
Perry Meridian wrestlers Brian Mohr, Jeff Ford, Mike Hollen, Frank Berry, Gary Dickey, Eric Black and Daryl Jones advanced to regional competition.
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Queen candidates for Southport High School’s valentine’s dance were Kristie Weliever, Tina Shotts, Roni Embry, Julie Breeden, Kathy Hudson and Beth Storm.
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Katrina Fair, daughter of Charles and Jacqueline Fair, was named Miss Ball State University, where she was a telecommunications major.
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Christine Bevelle, Ron Haboush and Cheryl Robinson served as pages for state Sen. Larry Borst during a session of the Indiana General Assembly.

30 Years Ago This Week – 1993
The Perry Township Board of Education was asked to investigate racial slurs allegedly made by a teacher at Southport High School.
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The girls basketball team from Southport High defeated Roncalli 63-59 in overtime to win its third consecutive sectional title. 
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A new media center opened at Southport High School.
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Beech Grove Eagles Airie 4167 donated $1,000 to the BG Police Department to enhance its fitness program. On hand for the presentation were Eagles President William Jarvis, Mayor Warner Wiley, Chief Michael Johnson and Deputy Chief Michael Curran.
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Meghan Goff, a fourth-grader at Eleanor Skillen School 34, was the district winner in Indianapolis Public School’s Kodak/Alan Page essay contest, which focused on the merits of an education.

20 Years Ago This Week – 2003
Roncalli basketball player Jeff Manley broke the school’s scoring record (847 points, held by Ron Roembke) by pouring in 37 against Manual. Manley finished the game with 879 career points.
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Formerly known as the Fireside South Restaurant at 522 E. Raymond St., T.J. Grayson’s Restaurant and Bar was opened by Timothy Jefferies and Scott Grayson. The eatery offered fine and casual dining.
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Conner Ayers, a sixth-grader at Kitley Intermediate School in Franklin Township, won the school’s spelling bee; Josh Jackson placed second.
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Central Elementary third-grader Cody Lisby, who was recovering from brain surgery, got a basketball and a hug from Beech Grove High School basketball star Katie Geralds during a pregame program.
(Note: Cody Lisby passed away  Oct. 7, 2008 at the age of 15. He was a freshman at Beech Grove High School.)

10 Years Ago This Week – 2013
The Ray Skillman Auto Group donated $900,000 to Perry Township Schools for a synthetic football field at Perry Stadium.
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Perry Meridian Middle School eighth-grader Jenna Sears won a gold medal in singing at the Indiana State School Music Association contest.
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Gerdt Furniture, a Southport landmark for more than 50 years, was closing. Owner John Gerdt said an evolving economy doomed his store. “The business has changed so dramatically, and it’s long, tough hours. It has stopped being fun.”
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Perry Township preschoolers Gunner Rupert and Carsyn Philips participated in a science project. 
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Mary Bryan Elementary students Addison Meredith and Hunter Geloff made paper airplanes and tested them to see how far they would fly.