Sixty Years Ago This Week – 1955
Maxine Arlic and her 10-year-old son, Larry, caught 9- and 6-pound walleyes, respectively, while fishing on the Manistee River in Michigan.
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Bob Hope and Millie Vitale were starring in “Seven Little Foys,” which was showing at the Fountain Square Theatre. Admission was 25 cents per child, 50 cents per adult. Also showing was “Lord of the Jungle” with Wayne Morris and Johnny Sheffield.
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The summer concert series at Garfield Park was closing with performances by the Murat Shrine Band and Chanters.

Fifty Years Ago This Week – 1965
Nearly 330 pupils, including 57 first-graders, were enrolled at St. Barnabas Catholic School, which would soon open its doors for the first time. The faculty featured four Benedictine nuns, Sisters M. Carlene Eckert, Marie Oliger, M. Bernadette Funk and M. Bernardine Ludwig. Completing the staff were Jerry Gudorf, Terry Worland, Providence Tantillo, Mrs. Frank E. Mapel and Mrs. Herman F. Spacke Jr. 
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Sears, Roebuck & Co. was scheduled to open in a couple of weeks at the new Greenwood Center, which was Indiana’s largest shopping mall. The store would also be the largest – 260,000 square feet – at the 87-acre complex. L.S. Ayres & Co. was going to open a week after Sears.
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Sanders Cleaners was celebrating its 25th anniversary. Brothers Larry, Tom and Bob Sanders operated stores at 3709 and 7017 Madison Ave. and in Greenwood.
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Robert Bonke and Hugh Baker served as chairmen of the benefit dance for the Latin School Foundation at Monsignor Downey Knights of Columbus Council 3660, where the Russ Carlyle Orchestra performed.
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Dr. D. Mathew Thoman opened a dental practice at 7210 Madison Ave. A graduate of Wabash College and Indiana University School of Dentistry, he and his wife, Carolyn, had two children, Robin and Kimberly.
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In an odd letter to the editor that was penned as to be written by people buried at Holy Cross, Calvary and Hebrew cemeteries, the headline read, “Deceased citizens protest city plans.” Those intentions called for developing dumps near burial grounds. 

Forty Years Ago This Week – 1975
Perry Township 4-H members Kim Wiles, Sally Hohlt, Susan Schmid, Annmarie Huber, Lynn Spivey and Chris Ernst were named champions at the Marion County Fair’s dress revue and would represent the county at the Indiana State Fair competition. 
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James W. Seltzer, a retired engineer, taught a course in telescope making at Indiana Central University.
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Jacob Freije wanted all of his friends to know that he celebrated his 73rd birthday at Princess Lake.
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A dozen ears of corn cost 80 cents at Rucker’s Greenhouses, 5336 Bluff Road, where watermelons, cucumbers, squash, tomatoes and onions were also sold at bargain prices.
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William A. Haines, who had driven about 400,000 miles in 29 years with Ryder, was nominated for Truck Driver of the Month by the Indiana Motor Truck Association.
 
Thirty Years Ago This Week – 1985
To help curb the problem of teens cruising along “The Strip” on South East Street and Madison Avenue and loitering on business properties, city and county police were given powers of attorney to arrest trespassers. (I bet today’s officers would love for that to be the biggest teen issue they have to deal with.) 
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The Republican Party got a good play on Page 1 as Mayor William Hudnut and Marion County Prosecutor Stephen Goldsmith were pictured during promotions for Say No to Drugs and Hoosiers Against Drunk Driving, respectively.
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The Rev. Gerald J. Kirkhoff was appointed pastor of St. Jude Catholic Church, where he would serve with the Rev. Francis Dooley. Kirkhoff replaced the Rev. William Morley, who had recently died.
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Larry Harrell, owner of Harrell’s Car Wash, 4128 Madison Ave., was treated to a steak dinner by the Rev. Quinten Small of Southport Presbyterian Church for being in business 25 years.

Twenty Years Ago This Week – 1995
More than 350 guests attended a dinner garden party at Garfield Park, which raised $60,000 toward a goal of $2.3 million for renovation projects at the Southside landmark. The musical entertainment was provided by the Steve Allee Big Band and Cathy Morris & Collage.
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The German-American Klub was hosting its 21st annual Oktoberfest for two weekends at German Park, 8602 S. Meridian St.
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Representatives from city and state transportation departments were planning a meeting to discuss their plans for widening Stop 11 Road from U.S. 31 to Madison Avenue.
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Edgewood Preschool buddies John Gregory and Sawyer Smith enjoyed visiting the Indianapolis Children’s Museum on a dress-up day.
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While posting a 38-20 record resulted in an exciting season for the Center Grove Lassie League 14U softball team, the real thrill came dodging Hurricane Erin during the National Softball Association tournament in Jupiter, Fla., where the squad finished 2-2. Team members were Jenny Ancelet, Jaime Richards, Katie Davis, Amanda Allanson, Christina Vanderberg, Katie Stephon, Nikki Smith, Kim Lohr, Jill Paxson, Kelli Lay, Sarah Robards, Jamie Mennel, Melissa Hurm, Kristi Reinacker and coaches Jack Stephon, Bob Lohr and Bill Davis
   
Ten Years Ago This Week – 2005
The archives from 2005 are missing.

Sixty Years Ago This Week – 1955
The Won-Ten Restaurant & Bar, 110 S. Pennsylvania St., served shrimp cocktails for 50 cents and ribeye dinners for $1.45.
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Higgins Restaurant, 2206 Shelby St., featured a daily luncheon special for 50 cents.
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Perry Township 4-H’ers Gordon Scifres, David Weber, Ann Eggarding, Gilbert Murphy and Charles Gerdt were crowned grand champions at the Marion County Fair in New Bethel, but the story didn’t list what they won their ribbons in.
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The newly formed Indianapolis Symphonic Band performed at the Indiana War Memorial.

Fifty Years Ago This Week – 1965
A host of swimmers from the Lake Shore Country Club were finalists (top eight) at the Central Indiana Swimming Conference championships in Bloomington. Coached by Dick Brunoehler, the swimmers were Sandy Pollard, Debbie Powers, Leesa Wilson, Jeanni Danner, Paul and Karen Gedig, Vince Pollard, Debbie Klasing, Kristi Green, Ted Pollard, David Zirkle, Kirk Klasing, Jessica and Joe Brink, Kenny Green, Jan Zirkle, Lisa McDaniel, Debbie Nigh, Phillip, David and Eric Brunoehler, Karen Green, Brent McDaniel, Brad Braden, Con, Mike and Thomas Largey, Mike Killion, Dianne Buergler, Melanie Miller, Donna Burton, Pam Cottongim, Nancy Fedowicz, Rick Newman, Larry and Lee Lammert, Joe Pearson, Jim Norwood and Kathy Swengel. 
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University Heights Hospital, 3350 Carson Ave., installed an oxygen system. The oxygen, which was piped in from a central supply, was immediately available at a patient’s bedside when needed.
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Ruthie’s Uniforms, 2226 Shelby St., was opened by Ruthie Copenhaver, who offered uniforms in a variety of sizes and styles. Prices ranged from $3.99 to $16.99.
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The book rental fee for students attending Perry Township Schools was $10. The first day of classes was Sept. 7.
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Dr. Richard E. Barb – following in the footsteps of his late father, Dr. William E. Barb – opened an oral surgery clinic at 360 Madison Ave., Greenwood.
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The Prologue Players experienced a drama more thrilling than anything they had staged when Bill Kendall cut his hand with a power saw while working on a set. Kendall was taken to a nearby firehouse for treatment, but there was no first aid equipment, so he was transported to Central Hospital, where he remained until a surgeon could be located to mend his hand. The surgery was eventually performed at Community Hospital. 

Forty Years Ago This Week – 1975
Chris Kepright, a senior at Southport High School and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Kepright, was named Miss Indiana National Teenager and received a scholarship and $1,000. 
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The chancel handbell choir of Faith United Church of Christ, 4040 E. Thompson, returned from the 14th annual National Festival of the American Guild of Handbell Ringers. Directed by Mrs. Eugene Raines, the ensemble featured Debbie Crimson, Jayne Ozment, Ronna Brenton, Cindy and Carl Scheib, Nancy Nitsch, Jim and Tim McAdams, Dory Crimson, Kenny Schoch and Roger Engelau.
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Kevin J. Sauer, son of Mrs. Phyllis Sauer, and Jeannie Shaw, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James O., Shaw, were among 277 youths who attended Camp Riley for Physically Handicapped Children at Bradford Woods in Martinsville.
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The Perry Township Volunteer Fire Department celebrated its 25th anniversary.
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Steve Burch’s 1,050-pound steer fetched $630 at the Marion County Fair 4-H livestock auction.
 
Thirty Years Ago This Week – 1985
This issue of The Spotlight is missing.

Twenty Years Ago This Week – 1995
John T. Jones, Jerome L. Hubbs and Jack L. Nunn retired from the Marion County Sheriff’s Department. Ernest C. Riggs was promoted to lieutenant, and Matthew R. Iaria was named to the merit board.
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Janet Brennen, Shuana Troxel, Brandi Wilkins, Tiffany Wiarek and Kala Baker were pictured blowing bubbles while rehearsing a scene in Youth Fest’s production of “How to Eat Like a Child and Other Lessons in Not Being a Grown-up.”
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An early morning fire at Southport Middle School disrupted first-day plans for students and staff. While the blaze was contained to two offices, there was considerable smoke damage in some areas of the building. School was expected to be canceled a day or two.
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Cathy Morris & Collage and Steve Allee’s Big Band performed as part of the Indianapolis Parks Foundation’s “An Evening Under the Stars” at Garfield Park.
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The Dancedreams Traveling All-Stars placed second in jazz and tap at the Dance Educators of America competition in Las Vegas. Team members were Katrena Surface, Breanna Stroub, Jennifer MacBeth, Kelli Bush, Katie Putnam, Ashley Wire, Heather Wright, Angie Dougherty, Lindsay Smith, Natalie Smith, Amy Vaughn and Tiffany Wire.
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Perry Township 4-H members April Herman and Doug Roberts won first-place honors at the Marion County Fair for their reproduction of a skit from “Forest Gump.”
   
Ten Years Ago This Week – 2005
The archives from 2005 are missing.

Sixty Years Ago This Week – 1955
Lake Shore Country Club, 4301 Carson Ave., celebrated the grand opening of its $125,000 Olympic-size pool, which featured a large diving area. There were also splash and wading pools. The pool contained 300,000 gallons of water and was “fed” from a well 140 feet in depth. The pumping system had a 15,000-gallon-an-hour capacity.
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The massive restoration of Vollrath’s Cafe and Bar, 118 E. Palmer St., was completed. The popular watering hole had suffered extensive damage in a fire several months earlier.
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A $75,000 fundraising campaign was launched for Noble School, an institution for mentally challenged children.
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Wheatcraft Airport at the corner of South Emerson Avenue and County Line Road was offering free airplane rides to anyone who made a small contribution to the Civil Air Patrol.
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The Rosedale Hills subdivision was being developed at Keystone Avenue and Thompson Road, where three-bedroom homes started at $13,500.
Fifty Years Ago This Week – 1965
“Garbage Collection Stinks” was the banner headline for Lillian Smith’s letter to the editor. An excerpt read: “My 2-month-old metal cans are beaten up so badly that I can’t use them any longer. I bought a plastic one, and the collectors threw it down the alley; now it’s lost. What are we paying a $12 monthly service fee for”?
* * *
Mrs. Russel Hargrave won a new Ford Mustang in the Sunoco Greater Indianapolis Sweepstakes. She deposited her winning ticket at Dan Ketterman’s service station at 2020 Shelby St. 
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G.C. Murphy in Fountain Square enjoyed so much success with its recent sidewalk sale that it was repeating the event. Most merchandise was marked down between 50 and 70 percent. 
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Joseph Jekel won a gas grill during the Mardi Gras at Southern Plaza.
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St. John’s United Church of Christ, 7031 S. East St., opened a kindergarten.
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Lake Shore Swim Club members Larry Lammert, David, Eric and Phillip Brunoehler, Lisa McDaniel, Ted Pollard, Con Largey, Mike Killion, Kenny Green, Sandy Pollard, Karen Gedig, Dianne Buergler and Donna Burton turned in fine performances at the fifth annual Midwest Invitational meet. 
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The following quip was published: “Nobody is perfect ... except the man your wife could have married.”

Forty Years Ago This Week – 1975
In a letter to the editor, Dale Kuhn pointed out that Federal Judge S. Hugh Dillin’s recent ruling to bus black children out of inner-city schools to suburban ones created so many inequities that it was hard to believe that any reasonable person, let alone a federal judge, could have made such a decision.  
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A man was offering a $100 reward for the return of his lost keys.
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Since Indianapolis had received a $910,000 federal grant for the speedy demolition of unsafe homes, Mayor Richard Lugar was soliciting the addresses of dilapidated ones. 
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The starting salary for a recent college graduate with a degree in accounting was $8,400; a bookkeeper could earn $130 a week; and an electrician with two years’ experience could make more than $4 an hour.
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The following quip, titled “Paying Deerly, was published: A reindeer walked into an ice-cream parlor, ordered a 50 cent sundae and paid with a $10 bill, but his change was only $1. “You know,” said the waiter slyly, “we don’t get many reindeer in here. In fact, your the first one I’ve ever had.” “Well,” the reindeer replied, “at $9 a sundae you’re not likely to get too many more.”
 
Thirty Years Ago This Week – 1985
Harrell’s Car Wash, 4128 Madison Ave., was celebrating its 25th anniversary by offering car washes at 1960s prices – $1.50. Customers were also treated to cherry Cokes and cake. Owner Larry Harrell jokingly noted in his ad that his employees would work for 1960s wages.
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Olympic gold medalist Bart Conner was the featured speaker at the Hoosiers Against Drunk Driving conference at Indiana Central University. 
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Karla J. Dittman and Todd A. Smith and Kelly Pahud and Jeffery Durm were married; Diana Kay and Rick Pittman were engaged; and Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Frazee celebrated their 40th anniversary.
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The traveling Major All-Stars from Edgewood Little League won the Plainfield Invitational Tournament and were runner-up in the Elletsville Tourney. Team members were John Jaffe, Brian Barrett, Robbie Butler, Robbie Woolwine, Denny Church, Jason Bailey, Matt Casse, Drew Johnson, Tommy Hoereth, Bobby McCoy, Matt Poe, Paul White, Josh Karwowski, batboy Ryan Woolwine, manager Hal Butler and coaches Rick Woolwine, John Jaffe and Paul White.  
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A picture of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School’s Class of 1935 was published to generate interest in an upcoming reunion. The class had located everyone but Dorothy Synder, James Coyne and James Murray.
Twenty Years Ago This Week – 1995
Adrienne Payne, daughter of Randy and Melanie Payne, and Ashley Koertge, daughter of Rick and Debra Koertge, teamed to take first-place honors in the Marion County Fair youth talent competition.
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Helen Snead, a soon-to-be former employee of the Fireside South Restaurant, hit the Powerball jackpot and won $19 million. She opted to receive her money in $700,000 installments over the next 20 years. Owner Andy Hohlt said he was trying to talk Snead into buying the eatery so he could work for her.
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The football teams from Center Grove, Franklin Central, Perry Meridian and Southport high schools were participating in the jamboree at Southport. Team captains from CG were Jeff Paxson, Nick Kidd, Jeff Ferrand, Jeremiah Spuliag; FC: Steve Strykowski, Sunungura Rusununguko; PM: Brian Mercer, Ryan Copley, Mark Brown, Rudy Wade; Southport: Travis Gill and Ricky Sessions. 
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The death of Jerry Garcia, the iconic leader of the Grateful Dead, prompted Jeff Cosby to write a tribute about the man who defined the band, which fused elements of rock, country, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae and jazz.
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Around the Corner Market, 1234 S. Meridian St., gave away a gallon of milk with each $10 grocery purchase.
   
Ten Years Ago This Week – 2005
The archives from 2005 are missing.

Sixty Years Ago This Week – 1955
Indiana Bell was prepared to put an additional 70,000 telephone numbers into service in Greater Indianapolis.
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Five big musical shows would be presented at Garfield Park over the next 10 days.
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The fine for driving over a fire hose or disobeying a police officer’s signal was $11. 75; the fine for driving through a funeral procession or leaving a vehicle with the engine running was $6.75.
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Bean soup was the specialty of the house at Joe’s Tavern, 2849 Shelby St.
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If you purchased a 1-pound package of Stark & Wetzel wieners for 49 cents at Miller’s Regal Market, 215 Terrace Ave., you got a free jar of Kraft mustard. Other specials included 10 ounces of breaded shrimp for 49 cents; 2 pounds of cheese spread, 49 cents; two 6-ounce cans of lemonade, 29 cents; a 5-pound bag of flour, 49 cents; and 2 pounds of bacon, 89 cents.

Fifty Years Ago This Week – 1965
Editor George Cafouros was gone fishin’.

Forty Years Ago This Week – 1975
Must have been another good week to go fishin’.
 
Thirty Years Ago This Week – 1985
Beth Ann Hillan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Hillan, and Francis Todd Bearsch, son of Mr. and Mrs. Francis R. Bearsch of Bloomington, were married at St. Roch Catholic Church. The bride, a graduate of Roncalli, was employed by the Monroe County State Bank. 
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Bethany Village Nursing Home, 3518 Shelby St. was celebrating its first anniversary with an ice-cream social, a country and western music festival and a 1930s fashion show.
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Dennis Jackson was named to replace Ray Schultz as football coach at Manual High School. Schultz, who had coached the Redskins for 22 years, had been appointed athletic director. 
* * *
Boy Scout Troop 118 returned from its canoeing trip to Quetico National Reserve in Canada. Members were Richard Masters, Tim Tummers, David Miller, Seth Miller, Allen Vaughn, Art Timpe, Carl Risch, Greg Moebs and Scoutmasters Jay Morelock and Victor Risch.
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Harrell’s Car Wash, 4128 Madison Ave., was celebrating its 25th anniversary by offering car washes at 1960s prices – $1.50. Customers were also treated to cherry Cokes and cake.
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Linda Buroker and Cindy Schlichter, employees of Marsh Supermarkets, took first-place honors in a talent contest at Kings Island during a company picnic. The duet performed “Bosom Buddies” from the Broadway production “Mame.”

Twenty Years Ago This Week – 1995
  More than 150 residents of East Prospect and adjoining streets continued their marches against crack houses.
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Many old-time Southsiders probably teared up as the original portion of Emma Donnan Indianapolis Public School 72 fell to the wrecker’s crane.
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The shelter house that the late John Coffin II had always envisioned at Rosedale Hills United Methodist Church was dedicated. Coffin was killed by a drunken driver Sept. 3, 1992, and left behind his wife, Loralie, and two young children, Kristen and Kyle.
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Heather R. Hopkins was crowned Marion County queen. Her court included Megan Miller and Charity Turpin, graduates of Perry Meridian and Lutheran high schools, respectively.
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Dale Earnhardt won the second annual Brickyard 400 with an average speed of 155.218 mph.
   
Ten Years Ago This Week – 2005
The archives from 2005 are missing.