Sixty Years Ago This Week – 1956
The Rev. James Higgins was appointed superintendent of Cathedral High School.
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Retired workers in Marion County received an average monthly check of $63.80 from the Social Security Administration. 
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Crossroads Taverns at Bluff Road and Raymond Street claimed that it served the best turtle dinners and sandwiches in the city.
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WTTV Channel 4 was granted permission by the Marion County Planning Commission to construct studios and offices on 18 acres of land at Sumner Avenue and Bluff Road. 
 
Fifty Years Ago This Week – 1966
The Lake Shore swim team’s record was 1-1. Among the top performers were Diana Powers, Kristi Green, Sandy Pollard, Larry Lammert, Kris Lindgren, Eric Brunoehler, Steve Short, Karen Green, Melanie Miller and Bill Quick.
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Southsiders serving in the armed forces included Frank Hernly, William Wasson, Robert Kenieczny, Thomas Kivett, James McDaniel, William Ford, Jack Owens and Phillip Myers.
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The Cheese Shop celebrated its grand opening at the Ayr-Way South Shopping Center, 3642 S. East St. The store featured more than 100 varieties of cheese and hoped to increase that number to 200.
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Plans were unveiled for a $700,000 recreational facility/pool/student center at Our Lady of Grace Academy, 1402 Southern Ave., Beech Grove. 

 Forty Years Ago T-his Week – 1976
Vandals destroyed the tomato plants and other vegetables that Francis Ehrlich was growing in her garden.  
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Roncalli student Deborah Beretta was crowned queen of the annual strawberry festival hosted by Greater Southside Inc.    
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The United Southside Community Organization was seeking 10 major improvements to area parks. The list, which was presented to the City-County Council, included bike paths, a skating rink and more recreational centers.   
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The Perry Township Democrat Club elected news officers: Cathline Mullin, president; John Westrick Jr., vice president; Norman Merkler, treasurer; Metty Meyer, recording secretary; and Susanne Wells, corresponding secretary.
  
Thirty Years Ago This Week – 1986
Fishing buddies Jim Long, Tut Debaum, Tom Holt, Carl Risch, Bill Baldwin, Ken Wheeler and Kevin Wheeler returned from an outing in Canada. “We had a good time, and boy did we slay them fish, said Risch, who wore a hat bearing the inscription: “Fishing is not a matter of life and death ... it’s much more important than that.”  
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The wrecking ball came down on the pool and bathhouse at Long-acre Park, 4701 Madison Ave. Built in 1932, the facility had been closed for two years.    
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Roselyn Wild was the weekly winner in The Spotlight-in-the-Sky contest. Wild identified the aerial photograph as being taken over Harvard Square. She won dinner for two, a helicopter ride and a floral arrangement.  
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Among those enjoying the Greater Southside Inc.’s strawberry and art festival were Wally and Roma Sims, Carol Starks, Dick Hopper, Jack Reid, Marilyn Reid, Malcomb and Myrna Crosby, Francis Thomas, Lorene Beasley and Betty Jeffris. 
  
Twenty Years Ago This Week – 1996
Fifteen months after enduring a six-hour surgery to rebuild a shattered shoulder, Perry Meridian graduate and Olympic diver hopeful Russ Bertram failed in his attempt to make the U.S. team.    
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Ben and Mary Jo Brown, both graduates of Roncalli, joined the sales staff at Carpenter Realtors/Better Homes and Gardens.   
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The Center Grove Stealers, a girls 12 and under softball team, took first-place honors in the inaugural NSA tournament at Center Grove Lassie League. The squad featured Sarah Lambert, Jennifer Mullikin, Angie Davis, Abbey Rogers, Heidi Turk, Hillary Davidson, Alisah Baker, Erin Detty, Heidi Shreve, Danialle Spears, Ashley Heatwole, Sara Patrick and coaches Mike Baker, Dan Spears and Larry Heatwole.
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The Indianapolis Zoo’s 2-month-old African lion cubs, Dumisani and Sekaye, were introduced to the outside world.

Ten Years Ago This Week – 2006
The archives from 2006 are missing.

Sixty Years Ago This Week – 1956
Nine sets of twins attended Southport Grade School. They were first-graders Charles and Nancy Lyon, Ann and Helen Fox and Terry and Jerry Holtsclaw, second-graders Wayne and Elayne Church, fourth-graders Sue and John Soroko, fifth-graders Ronald and Donald O’Neal and James and Diane Norwood and sixth-graders Jerry and Larry Lynch and Jeannee and Jeanne Wagner.
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Indiana National Bank announced that its second branch on Madison Avenue would be constructed in the 3300 block. 
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Huggins Appliances, 2604 Madison Ave., advertised a matching RCA Whirlpool automatic washer and dryer for $399.90. 

Fifty Years Ago This Week – 1966
The Indianapolis Baptist Temple, 2635 S. East St., was undergoing a $600,000 expansion. The addition would include a 28,000-square-foot sanctuary capable of seating 2,500 people, making it one of the largest auditoriums in central Indiana.
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The license branch at the corner of Meridian Street and Hanna Avenue received numerous complaints on a daily basis.  
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G.C. Murphy’s Fountain Square store, which many customers said defied description because of its tremendous selection and low prices, was holding a sidewalk sale.
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Specials at Buck’s Quality Foods, 3001 S. Meridian St., included ground beef and sugar for 49 cents a pound; bacon, 79 cents a pound; cans of E-Z cool soft drinks, 7 cents; eight cans of pork and beans, $1; and a half-gallon of ice cream, 69 cents.

Forty Years Ago This Week – 1976
The Penny Patch Garden Club installed its officers during a program at Valle Vista Golf Club & Conference Center.  
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Epsilon Tau chapter of Kappa Kappa Kappa sorority awarded $400 scholarships to Ann Marie Huber and Cynthia Lane, who had recently graduated from Perry Meridian and Southport high schools, respectively.    
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The Southport Lions Club installed its officers: Dr. William Green, president; Paul Mills, first vice president; Cy Harmon, second vice president; David Nice, third vice president; Paul Shigley, secretary-treasurer; Al Kingham, director; and Frank Sisson, tail twister.  
  
Thirty Years Ago This Week – 1986
Vernon L. Parish was presented the inaugural Conservateer Award for his volunteer efforts at the Garfield Park Conservatory. 
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Southport High School’s marching band accepted an invitation to perform in Macy’s 1987 Thanksgiving Day Parade.    
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Paintings, drawings and sculptures by the Buck family – Harold, Tom, Luke, Paul, Brad and Michael – were on exhibit at the Southside Art League Gallery, 703 Executive Park Drive, Greenwood.   
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Michael L. Baughman, Gregory A. Dunlop, Ronald W. Inman, Jill A. Kerr, Howard A. Smallwood, Brent A. Smith and James B. West made the dean’s list at Vincennes University. 
  
Twenty Years Ago This Week – 1996
The Very Rev. Basil “Michael” Mattingly was celebrating his golden jubilee Mass. After being ordained in 1946 he earned his Ph.D. at Notre Dame and then headed the philosophy department at St. Meinrad Major Seminary. During an interruption for military service, Mattingly served as chaplain for the 101st and 82nd Air Borne Divisions.    
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The Central Indiana Better Business Bureau warned that the door-to-door racketeers were back. Many of the schemers claimed that they repaired roofs, gutters, downspouts and chimneys, but in reality all they did was take the money of residents and run.    
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St. Jude Grade School students Mike Shaw, Renee Goss and Jim Huser won awards in the writing contest sponsored by the Mary Bryan chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
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Volunteers from Christ Church Cathedral served more than 6 tons of strawberries and 16,000 shortcakes during their strawberry festival on Monument Circle. The shortcakes contained 1,175 pounds of flour, 570 pounds of margarine, 300 pounds of sugar, 120 dozen eggs and 72 gallons of milk.
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The Garfield Y Yankees minor league baseball team won its division by posting a 12-0 record. The squad featured Adrian Jones, Mike Townsend, Jason Anderson, Tommy and Timmy Rippy, Scott Flouts, Aaron Morrow, John Rardon, Eric Lane, Mike Busbin, Brian McWilliams, coaches Tim Rippy, Kyle Elkins and Hank Pogue and manager John Rardon.    

Ten Years Ago This Week – 2006
The archives from 2006 are missing.

Sixty Years Ago This Week – 1956
A dozen hot yeast donuts cost 35 cents at University Pastry Shop, which was located at the corner of Hanna Avenue and Shelby Street.
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St. James the Greater Catholic Church,1156 Cameron St., served a country-style chicken dinner with all the trimmings. 
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Grace Kelly and Cary Grant were starring in “To Catch a Thief” at the Oriental Theatre, 1105 Meridian St. 
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Heiskell’s Garden & Gift House, 3850 S. Meridian St., advertised Lawn Boy mowers for $89.95 and fruit trees for $2. 
 
Fifty Years Ago This Week – 1966
Davidson’s Southport Lumber Co., 101 Union St., expanded its business by opening a Home Supply Center.
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The PTA of Southport High School elected its officers: Jeff Nicoson, president; Marion Sanders, first vice president; Albert Theil, second vice president; Mrs. Don Ciolli, recording secretary; Mrs. Paul Elsbury, corresponding secretary; and Mrs. John Kraas, treasurer.  
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The following merchandise was advertised: a used sectional davenport, $40; a Corona typewriter, $25; 1 ton of coal, $10; a Schwinn 26-inch bicycle, $15; a 15-foot boat, trailer and 25-horsepower engine, $300; and a five-room house, $8,750. 
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The Glass Front Bar, 1430 Raymond St., served chicken and shrimp dinners for 50 and 98 cents, respectively. 

Forty Years Ago This Week – 1976
The Southport Masons were preparing to fry more than 4 tons of fish  in what was billed as “Indiana’s Largest Fish Fry.”  
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Queen candidates for Greater Southside Inc.’s annual strawberry festival were Nancy Best from Southport High School; Janice Soden, Wood; Deborah Beretta, Roncalli; Rene Balogh, Franklin Central; Lori Wilson, Perry Meridian; Tammy Dukes, Beech Grove; and Robin Henderson, Manual.    
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Manual’s Raymond Whitley, Peggy Dotson and Carrie Kennedy received $25 government bonds for being named the school’s Most Outstanding Athletes.  
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An open house was held for Richard Curtis, who was leaving for the Air Force Academy. Curtis, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kulke, was a graduate of St. Roch Grade School and Manual High. 
  
Thirty Years Ago This Week – 1986
Area valedictorians were Sherry Moore from Perry Meridian, Andy Ratz, Roncalli; Laura Leavitt, Southport; Lucinda Robinson, Kevin Singleton and Sharon Owen, Baptist Academy; Todd Scherer and Scott Creed, Franklin Central; Teresa Eggert, Manual; and Ross Barton, Beech Grove. 
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Lisa Combs and her brother, Doug, were named the Most Valuable Players on Perry Meridian’s golf teams.    
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The Spotlight launched its “In the sky ... where are we this week” promotion. The campaign featured a different aerial shot of the Southside each week. Whoever could correctly identify the location would be treated to dinner for two at Fireside at the Heliport, a 10-minute helicopter ride and a floral arrangement.   
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Diane Hoereth, a three-sport athlete at Roncalli, was named The Indianapolis Star’s Female City Athlete of the Year. She was “all-everything” in volleyball and led the Rebels to the state finals as a sophomore and semistate as a senior. She also excelled in basketball and led her team to the final four as a senior.
  
Twenty Years Ago This Week – 1996
The Perry Township School Board unanimously rejected further consideration of options that would result in year-round school.    
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Groundbreaking ceremonies for the expansion of Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church were held. Participants included Lyndon Callahan and Kevin Callahan, the Rev. Art Wehrweister, Stephen Rensner, Bruce Montigney, Gilbert Mascher, Rich Wilson and Les Brandt Jr.   
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Dr. Lawrence M. Borst, a veterinarian and an Indiana state senator representing the 36th District, received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Ohio State University. 
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On the heels of a heavy remonstrance from local residents and businesses, the University of Indianapolis pulled its proposal to close Hanna Avenue as part of its modifications to the thoroughfare.

Ten Years Ago This Week – 2006
The archives from 2006 are missing.

Sixty Years Ago This Week – 1956
Southport’s Tom Bennet was named the Marion County High School Athlete of the Year by The Indianapolis Times, which named Crispus Attucks’ Oscar Robertson the City Athlete of the Year.
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Drs. R.J. Orbick and R.E. Cole, chiropractors, opened associate offices at 1105 Prospect St. 
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The Indiana Central Y Little League was going to kick off its season with a big parade and a full schedule of games. 

Fifty Years Ago This Week – 1966
Floyd and Clare Lively were chairing the 15th annual National Square Dance Convention at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, where more than 20,000 dancers were expected to compete.    
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Acton Baptist Church was celebrating its centennial with a variety of activities.  
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Chartrand High School named Barbara Frieders and Thomas Hobman as its valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively.
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G.C. Murphy in Fountain Square advertised 8-by-10-inch colored portraits for 99 cents (plus 50 cents for handling and wrapping).  
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Queen candidates for the Greater Southside Inc.’s strawberry festival were Juanita Brandlein, Paulette Brehob, Ann Fox, Julie Seal, Carla Francis, Barbara Braun and Marsha McFarland.

Forty Years Ago This Week – 1976
Dr. and Mrs. J. Wayne Ebert, Mr. and Mrs. Carl A. Strack and Mr. and Mrs. George D. Ketcham celebrated their 50th wedding anniversaries.  
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Peggy Switzer, Mary Lou Spearing, Chris Brafford and Fran Rajk were preparing for St. Jude Catholic Church’s boutique and bake sale.    
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State excise police confiscated 1,060 cases of Coors from bootleggers at the Indianapolis 500. While officials said they were going to pour out the beer, many race fans were skeptical.  
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Featuring live music and daily specials, the new Chateau Restaurant & Lounge opened at 8902 S. St. Peter St., just north of the Greenwood shopping center. The business advertised the best steaks and lobster in town and served them until 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
  
Thirty Years Ago This Week – 1986
Kelly Dresbach, Jessica Umbreit, Sabrina Lane, Emily Burns, Emily Thomas and Jessica Fiddler – all considered part of the tiny tots at Tippy Toes Dance Studio – were going to tell the story of “Mother Goose” in dance at Franklin Central High School. 
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WTTV Channel 4 and ESPN sports reporter Gary Lee opened The Courtyard, a delicatessen at the Jane Tillery Plaza, 49 N. State Road 135, Greenwood. Lee’s employees included manager John Barto, Mary Scruggs, Connie Hale, Sherri Lutz, Carl Olmstead and Angie Ryburn.    
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With the help of former Southside high school baseball players Dick Winzenread, Tony Vittorio (Southport), Dave Hendricks and Jeff Bray (Perry Meridian), Hanover College won the Hoosier-Buckeye Conference double-elimination tournament.   
  
Twenty Years Ago This Week – 1996
Yours truly penned a column about Olivia the mallard who nested near the front door of my home. Just hours after her adorable babies cracked out of their shells, mama and her ducklings took a dip in my cement pond before heading across Meridian Street to a larger water hole. 
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Often criticized, ridiculed and scorned, the Indianapolis Police Department was making progress with its community policing project – especially the South District’s bike patrol, which featured Jeff Horn, Scott Teagardin, Brian Clouse, Pete Wynalda and Rob Wheeling.    
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Southport graduates Erica Powell, Jeffrey Hearrell, Aaron Holman and David Jarvis were awarded $200 scholarships from the Perry Township PTA Council during the school’s 102nd commencement ceremony. The council also presented grants to Perry Meridian’s Amy Roosa, Tim Schlugel, Shana Prata, Kristina Wiegman and Teresa Hassler.   
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Marion County law enforcement officials announced that they were going to turn up the heat on curfew violators during the summer. “Students and parents need to take curfew laws seriously,” warned Prosecutor Scott Newman. “Because if you don’t, you may find yourself at the juvenile center – and that includes parents and guardians.”
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Brandi Bowers and Sarah Planalp shared valedictorian honors at Manual.

Ten Years Ago This Week – 2006
The archives from 2006 are missing.