​60 Years Ago This Week — 1963
Classes at most grade and high schools would not resume for about two weeks; students at Indiana Central College still had nearly three weeks of summer vacation left.
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J.C. Brill Appliances in Southern Plaza took out a two-page ad to promote its huge sale. Owner Mr. Brill said he needed to sell a lot of merchandise so it wouldn’t be in the way when remodeling his store.
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An open house was held at the new Edgewood Preschool, 1829 E. Epler Ave., where Mary Ann Berry and Nancy Barnett taught the tiny tots.
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Don Lehman was named the new pastor of Faith United Church of Christ.
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Customers who bought a sandwich at Frisch’s Big Boy, 1142 Shelby St., got a second one for 1 cent.

50 Years Ago This Week — 1973
The teaching staff at St. Roch Grade School featured Marjorie Cox, Mary Ann Agresta, Pat Meyer, Kathleen O’Banion, Dorothy Frye, Maura Watson, Greg Harveth, Dick Gallamore and Trudy Armbruster.
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The following quip was published on the front page: A dad holding his son’s report card said, “Son, it’s too bad they don’t give a grade for courage. You would get an A for just bringing this card home.”
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Mike Duval assumed his duties as manager and head pro at Keystone-South Racquet Club, 3510 S. Keystone Ave.
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Dr. Larry Roberts opened a dental office at 8241 Bluff Road.
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Ten-year-old Becky Bohman attended Camp Ladyglen, which was operated by nuns in Ohio. 

40 Years Ago This Week — 1983
A hearing to discuss widening Meridian Street to four lanes from Edgewood Avenue to Smith Valley Road was discussed.
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Fresh New England lobster or 20-ounce T-bone steak dinners were served for $8.95 at Hagan’s Bar & Grill, 1121 E. Troy Ave. (I worked there at the time and remember having lobster races across the parking lot after we closed.)
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Heath’s Hair Styling gave paperback romance books to its customers.
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The Beach Boys, Wayne Newton and Willie Nelson performed at the Indiana State Fair.

30 Years Ago This Week — 1993
Southport Little League’s 11- and 12-year-old girls softball team finished fourth in the World Series in Kalamazoo, Mich.
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St. Mark Church parishioners (front, from left) Michael Hill, Jay Allen, Clara Starks; (back) Celeste Allen, Will Hendricks, Brian Bates, Joe Cole, Eric Allen, Erin Fitzpatrick, Matt Schwartz, Erin Speth, Joe Berkemeier, Kelly Hoffman and Chris Werner attended World Youth Day in Denver, where Pope John Paul II spoke.
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Jerry Dunn, a marathon runner and a graduate of Manual High School, was nominated for the National Caring Award.
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Meridian Middle School teacher Chuck Bonnet chaperoned a group of eighth-graders on a trip to Washington, D.C.
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The top video rental was “A Few Good Men.”

20 Years Ago This Week — 2003

The Perry Lady Falcons sixth-grade basketball team finished its season with a 19-3 record and was runner-up in the National American tournament at Indiana University. Squad members were (front) Casey Newhouse, Caylee Joetcheus, Jessi Darmelio, Kateland Walker, Bridget Kress; (back) Sarah Keene, Samantha Hawk, Sarah Quebe, Julie Engle and Kristine Booth.
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Marine Pfcs. Lynsey Receveur, Matthew Griffin and Thomas Kraft completed recruit training in San Diego.
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Ben Felix, a graduate of Perry Meridian and a sophomore at Manchester College, was honored for winning many reserve and grand champion awards while competing in Perry Township 4-H and Marion County fairs over the past 10 years. He was the son of Dave and Becky Felix.
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Children in the Richmond Hills neighborhood, near Sherman Drive and Stop 11 Road, participated in a bicycle parade as part of National Night Out, a program where the community and police united in an effort to thwart crime.
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Terri Sylvester was named Clinton Young Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year for 2002-03. She was active in developing a program to help special needs students meet academic requirements.
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“The Bookman” columnist Don Fogleman offered some financial advice to his readers: Invest big in General Motors because it has a line of hydrogen-powered cars, and it’s going to be huge (didn’t GM file for bankruptcy in 2003).


10 Years Ago This Week — 2013
The Hubler Automotive Group expanded the scope of its 10 dealerships by opening Brad’s Car Wash at 8135 Shelby St.
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Perry Stadium boasted a $900,000 artificial turf field, thanks to the generosity of the Ray Skillman Auto Group.
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Perry Meridian High School’s golf team defeated Greenfield Central 186-193. The squad featured (front) Kathryn McCaffrey, Katie Vaud, Taylor Matthews; (back) Ashlan Helterbrand, Hanna Davis, Erika Shellenberger, Kristin Travis and Hanna Fidler.

60 Years Ago This Week — 1963
The Murat Shrine horse patrol held its annual show in Carmel, where more than $3,500 was awarded in prizes.
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Customers who bought 8 gallons of gas at the new Deep Rock service station at 4915 Madison Ave. got a free carton of Coca-Cola.
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Helen Sparks played the piano every night at the Colonial Inn, 4343 Madison Ave.

50 Years Ago This Week — 1973
Kenny Cowden’s diet was paying off as he had shed 70 pounds in five months.
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Manual High School’s (center, bottom to top) Marti Berzins, Clarice Favors, Cindy Dillon, Niecy West; (left) Sindi Shelton and Patti Burnette returned from cheerleading camp at Vincennes University.
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Work continued on the three-story addition to University Heights Hospital, 3300 Carson Ave. The new wing would house a surgical unit, laboratories, a pharmacy, an X-ray department and a 40-bed patient unit.
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St. Francis Hospital’s new emergency department opened on Albany Street in Beech Grove.
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Manual sophomore Emile Abel, daughter of Robert and Shirley Abel, was crowned Miss Teen Indiana.

40 Years Ago This Week — 1983
A scant shell of the office portion of Indianapolis Statuary’s West Arizona Street warehouse was all that remained after a fire tore through the building.
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Karl Westenfelder, an honor roll student at Perry Meridian High School, achieved Eagle Scout status after coordinating a project that allowed handicapped children to participate in a swimming program at Baxter YMCA.
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Rosedale Hills United Methodist Church hosted an old-fashioned picnic at Craig Park in Greenwood.
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The Indianapolis Police Department’s horse patrol expanded it’s scope to cover four major shopping centers, including Southern Plaza, 4200 S. U.S. 31.
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Bethany Village Apartments, a seven-story facility for senior citizens, opened at 3554 Shelby St.

30 Years Ago This Week — 1993
More than 2,000 people attended the Indianapolis Police Department’s South District Community Day at Garfield Park, where guests enjoyed music, games, food and demonstrations from IPD’s mounted patrol.
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Southport Little League’s 11- and 12-year-old girls softball team was competing for the world title in Michigan.
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Established in 1879, Barringer’s Tavern, 2535 S. Meridian St., was finally air-conditioned by owners Tom and Iola Logan.
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The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra performed at Garfield Park.
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The Indianapolis Department of Transportation awarded a $1.1 million contract for the resurfacing of 11 Southside streets.

20 Years Ago This Week — 2003

Edgewood Little League’s 18-and-under girls fast-pitch all-stars took second-place honors in Carmel’s Back-to-School Bash. Team members were (front, from left) Morgan Ruyle, Dee Cline, Brandi Rose, Catrina Kord, Brittni Greig; (middle row) Jennifer Williams, Melissa Wall, Amanda Mattox, Heather Golden, coach Larry Williams; (back) coach Joe Clyburn and manager John Benedict. Not pictured: Rachel Bartley, Brittany Suiters, Bailey Clyburn, and coach John Stiles.
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The 11th annual South Central Corvette Club Show at Reeves Buick Pontiac in Greenwood raised $10,000 for the Ronald McDonald House of Indianapolis, which accommodated families that had young ones being cared for at Riley Hospital for Children.
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The 16 brightly colored young osprey’s brought to Indiana in June took flight. Staff from the Department of Natural Resources raised the endangered raptors in wildlife areas near Warsaw and Patoka Reservoir in Crawford County.
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Thomas Finchum, an eighth-grader at Emmaus Lutheran School, won the U.S. Diving Association’s platform diving championships for divers ages 13 and under.
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Robert and Hermine Ewick won a $349,900 home in the raffle hosted by Community Hospital East Foundation. The couple planned to sell it and continue living in Forrest Commons off Meridian Street and Banta Road.

10 Years Ago This Week — 2013

Kendra Norris, Sydney Sears and Camile Dilk attended a summer camp hosted by Beech Grove Schools.
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Members of Roncalli’s senior class hosted an orientation program for incoming freshmen.
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Charles Pennington won $7,000 in Realty World-Harbert’s Co.’s $10,000 raffle.
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60 Years Ago This Week — 1963
Construction was underway on Laughner’s Cafeteria at 4100 S. U.S. 31. The restaurant would be able to seat 300 diners.
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Debe Smith, the 13-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Smith, took top honors for the second consecutive year in her age group in the America Accordionist Association’s contest in Chicago.
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Harold Joergens and James Gates were named chairmen of the Woodlawn Festival, annual event that featured food, music, games and crafts.

50 Years Ago This Week — 1973
Residents of Meridian Woods Park, off West Southport Road, hosted their annual swim meet and water show. First-place winners were Sherrie King, David Hunt, Mary Schueth, Tom Kern, Nicole Scholling, Steve Roller, Leslie Vitag, Bruce Fayern and Cindy and Rick McHenry.
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Free swimming lessons were offered at Longacre Pool.
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Kathy Rivers (front, from left) Diana Powers, Alisha Shuck; (back) Vince Pollard, John Shuck and Mark Gritton, all swimmers from the Baxter YMCA and coached by Dick Brunoehler, were competing in the Scarborough Peace Games in Toronto. Not pictured: John Click. 

The Y’s soccer team, which included (front) Mark Smith, Dan Sullivan, Kevin Johnston, Stu McKeehan; (back) Steve Smith, Marc DeLong, Dale Feldmeyer, and Paul Haupt also made the trip. Not pictured: Greg Kyle.
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Wallie Sims, former president of the Indianapolis Board of School Commissioners, criticized Judge S. Hugh Dillon’s highly controversial decision on busing, saying, “To bus thousands of youngsters from elementary and high schools — whether it is confined to city children or involves city and suburban youngsters — is asinine and costly. The time wasted on buses could be spent in the classroom.”
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One-, two- and three-bedroom apartments — all air-conditioned — at the newly opened Carriage House on Smith Valley Road in Greenwood leased for $130, $156 and $175 per month, respectively.

40 Years Ago This Week — 1983
The following quip was published: “A farmer was herd to say, “It’s been so hot that I have had to feed my hens ice to keep them from laying hard-boiled eggs.”
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Holy Name Catholic Church in Beech Grove celebrated its 75th anniversary.
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Judy Robinson won grand-champions honors for her pears at the Marion County Fair.
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The American Cancer Society hosted a skate-athon at the roller rink behind Southern Plaza.

30 Years Ago This Week — 1993
More than 1,100 youths and young adults convened at Roncalli High School for a prayer service in preparation for their pilgrimage to join Pope John Paul II at World Youth Day in Denver.
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Spotlight Editor Jerry Cosby returned from a fishing trip in Canada. He was photographed holding some large fish but admitted that his biggest hit of the week, which bent his pole in half, came when hooking the bottom of the boat during a sharp turn. Others making the trip were Jack Toliver, John Black and Wes Lanze. Leland Richards was supposed to go, but an illness in the family kept him from joining in the fun.
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Courtney Krebs, daughter of Jack and Betty Krebs and a dance student of Rebecca VanBriggle, represented Marion County at the Indiana State Fair’s dance solo contest.
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Epsilon Tau chapter of Kappa Kappa Kappa awarded $1,000 scholarships to Jennifer Renner of Southport High School and David Alford of Perry Meridian.
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Kristie Short, daughter of Mike and Rosie Short, was named Miss Indiana Teen Hostess.

20 Years Ago This Week — 2003
A celebration to mark Sister Rose Seyfried’s 60th year as a nun was held at St. Roch Grade School, where she used to teach yours truly.
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The girls all-star team from Southport Little League won the District 7 title. The squad featured (front) Stephanie Winter, Lauren Roelling, Amy Angrick, Chelsi Carter, Trista Cox; (middle row) Zoey Freeze, Jordan Ketchum, Erin and Morgan Burkman, Jamie Jenkins, Amanda Stutiz; (back) manager Walter Freeze, Alexis Rippy, coach Scott Rippy, Chelsi Brothers and coach Ron Brothers.
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Insect-eating plants like sundews and Venus flytraps were exhibited at the Garfield Park Conservatory.
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The Indianapolis Police Department opened a substation at Southern Plaza. The facility provided officers with a phone, restroom and an area to complete paperwork.
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Kevin Harvick became the first driver to win the Brickyard 400 from the pole. Local favorite John Andretti disappointed himself and many Hoosiers when crashing early in the race.

10 Years Ago This Week — 2013

Larry Hanni was beginning his 30th year as a NFL timer. Hanni worked the home games of the Indianapolis Colts.
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The newly constructed Gateway South Arch — the centerpiece of the $1 million economic revitalization project along the point of U.S. 31 and Madison Avenue — was dedicated.
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Carolyn Collins, mother of Southsider Voice Publisher Kelly Sawyers, and Tom and Bev Massengale were among those who attended the newspaper’s inaugural Car Nutz Cruise-in.

60 Years Ago This Week — 1963
Manual High School students Bob LaFara, Linda Watson, Jo Neil Rugenstein and Dennis Reasner attended a journalism program at Indiana University.
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A variety show at Garfield Park showcased musicians, a cute dog act, singers and magicians.
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Fisher Bros. Home Furnishings, 1315 Shelby St., advertised 16- and 23-inch black-and-white TVs for $158 and $188, respectively.
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Buck’s Quality Foods, 3001 S. Meridian St., featured the following specials: 14 ounces of ketchup for 15 cents; a quart of cottage cheese, 39 cents; a pound of ground beef, 39 cents; 5 pounds of sugar, 59 cents; and 10 rolls of toilet paper, 89 cents.

50 Years Ago This Week — 1973
Seven-year-old Annie Prodan suffered a severe dog bite to her face — just missing her eyes — while playing with dolls on her neighbor’s porch.
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Walter Lee, Ted Lam and Paul Chan opened The Great Wall Inn at 3820 Madison Ave., where Chinese delicacies were served.
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G.C. Murphy’s in Fountain Square held a three-day sidewalk sale that featured the following specials: plastic red wagons for $1.19; boys swim trunks, 67 cents; panty hose, 25 cents a pair; 45 rpm records, three for 10 cents; and electric can openers, $5.
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Eli Lilly and Co. announced plans to construct an industrial complex at 1555 Kentucky Ave.

40 Years Ago This Week — 1983
This issue is missing from the archives. It was probably destroyed in the flood that ravaged The Spotlight’s lower level in June 1992.

30 Years Ago This Week — 1993

The Class of ‘93 volleyball team won the high school division of the White River State Games. The squad’s members were (front, from left) Jill Maude, Erin Brannigan, Katie Andrews; (back) Erika Zimmerman, Missy Abbott, Mandy Holbrook, Molly McCarthy and coach Cindy Maude. Not pictured: Karrie Stanley.
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Phil’s 31 Bar opened at 3131 Shelby St. and hosted a hog roast to celebrate the occasion.
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Roncalli high schoolers Cara Quillico, Matt Oskar, Tanya Wright, Chris Digusto and Emily Dwenger were among 700 students from a 25-state region who attended the Showchoir Camps of America in Tiffin, Ohio.
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Dr. Penelope Moyers was named director of graduate programs in the University of Indianapolis’ occupational therapy department.
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Pork chop dinners were served at the city of Southport’s inaugural Summerfest.

20 Years Ago This Week — 2003
A polite but mostly angry audience of nearly 300 people at Rosa Parks Elementary School voiced their displeasure to state officials about the plan to construct I-69 from Evansville to Indianapolis. Residents aired their concerns that the right-of-way and the overpass would be built near the State Road 37 and I-465 interchange.
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Youths from Concord Center’s Now for the Future program opened Dynki Deli at 324 W. Morris St.
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The Edgewood Bulldogs 11-and under traveling baseball team finished second in the Indiana State Games. The squad consisted of (front) Scott Kern, Jesse Herrman, Ross Collins, Shaun Heinzelman, Nick Schwartz; (middle row) Michael Mislan, Matthew Zieles, Jonathan Wolfschlag, Blake Stasik, Andrew Byrne, Kenton Armbruster; (back) coaches Mark Wolfschlag, John Heinzelman, Jim Zieles and Jerry Collins. Not pictured: Tyler Thomas.
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10 Years Ago This Week — 2013
Seventeen-year-old Spencer Jackson, a senior at Greenwood High School, was blistering area golf courses, having hit two holes-in-ones and firing several sub-70 rounds.
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Indiana Central Little League’s 12-year-old team won the District 7 title to compete in the state tournament in Fort Wayne. The team featured Jeremy Pierce, Junior Moreno, Devon Shaw, Elijah Mosley, Jalen Kendrick, Frank Anderson III, Nathan Brown, Tristan Henson, Jeff Sutton, Gavin Thompson, Collin Rees, coaches Tom Rees, Cory Thompson and Carl Henson and manager Frank Anderson.