60 Years Ago This Week - 1961

​C. Diane Hunt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Hunt and described as a gorgeous blonde by Spotlight Publisher George Cafouros, was crowned queen of the 500 Festival.    
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Ed Gerdt, known to many as a mattress specialist, opened Gerdt Furniture & Interiors in Southport.  
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Just in time for Mother’s Day, Murphy’s in Fountain Square advertised two pairs of “attractive and lace-trimmed Hollywood panties” -- in assorted colors -- for 97 cents. A more conservative gift idea would have been 12 ounces of chocolate-covered cherries for 43 cents. 
  
50 Years Ago This Week - 1971
Tandem bicycles could be rented for $1 an hour at Garfield Park.
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The average daily cost of caring for a patient in a state hospital was $13.65. 
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Bananas cost 8 cents a pound at Porky Lane, 1229 Kentucky Ave., where chuck roast was advertised for 55 cents a pound; 3 pounds of bacon cost $1.
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Michael J. Sahm, son of Mr. and Mrs. Victor A. Sahm, was promoted to Army Spec. 5 while serving near Saigon, Vietnam.

40 Years Ago This Week - 1981
Garfield Park celebrated its 100th birthday. 
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Joe Butler, supervisor of attendance for Perry Township Schools, received the Southport Lions Club’s Citizenship Award.
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University Heights Hospital announced its plans to move to County Line Road between U.S. 31 and Shelby Street. 
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Hubler Chevrolet was a primary sponsor for Indy 500 driver Pete Halsmer.

30 Years Ago This Week - 1991

​Perry Meridian graduates Shaune Campbell, Kristina Tuttle, Christian Vice and Paulann Johnson were 500 Festival princesses.
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The second phase of construction in Forrest Commons, located at Meridian Street and Banta Road, was underway, with lots priced from $45,000 and homes starting at $200,000.
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St. Patrick Parish celebrated its 126th anniversary with a two-day festival. 
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Jason Dill, the 10-year-old son of Robert and Linda Dill, placed second in the Indiana State Wrestling Association finals.

​20 Years Ago This Week - 2001

Perry Meridian’s robotics team competed at the national level of the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology program in Orlando, Fla.
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St. Roch School competed in the statewide Academic Super Bowl, where its interdisciplinary team took first-place honors in its division. The squad featured (in no particular order) Andy Davis, Matt and Chris O’Neal, Abby Hurrle, Harrison Stone, Chris Feltman, Rob Herrod, Kathleen Flannery, Brian Leppert, Megan Schmoll, Emily Grounds, Katie Bradley, John Mather, Joe Yates, Josh Fox, Amanda Adams, Jennifer Ragland and Kristina Mitchell.  
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​Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Tony George was flanked by previous winners of the Indy 500: (from left) Buddy Lazier, 1996; Al Unser Jr., ‘92 and ‘94; Arie Luyendyk, ‘90 and ‘97; and Eddie Cheever, ‘98.
10 Years Ago This Week - 2011

​Shellie Hartman, right, Roncalli’s assistant principal for student activities, presented  senior Jacob Pollard with the school’s Leadership Scholarship.
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Bob Seger performed before 13,000 fans at Conseco Fieldhouse.

60 Years Ago This Week - 1961
The starting salary for a Perry Township teacher with a bachelor’s degree was $4,650; the pay jumped to $6,750 for an educator with 13 years’ experience.   
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Manual students Karen Smith, Marlene Stachow, Jerry Steadham, Sharon Chenoweth, Linda Abrams, Sandra Coffey, Chuck Williams and Bob Surber attended Journalism Day at Ball State University.  
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A.J. Foyt signed autographed pictures of himself at Southern Plaza.
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A five-room home at 1662 S. Delaware St. was listed for $5,350.
  
50 Years Ago This Week - 1971

Our Lady of Greenwood students (from left) Kelli Commisky, Kathy Bedan, Jennifer Sipes and Derek Isom were models for their school’s fashion show.

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Bob Elsea, Ivan Kidwell and Lorn and Mary Kidwell opened Preferred TV at 6845 Madison Ave.
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Ten pieces of fried chicken and two large side dishes cost $3.99 at Church’s. 

40 Years Ago This Week - 1981
Manual senior Phil Fingers cleared a state-tying record of 7 feet, 2 inches to win the high jump at the Tech Invitational, where he also won the long jump with a leap of 23-2.

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Cases (24 12-ounce cans) of Stroh’s, Miller, Miller Lite and Budweiser cost $6.99. For those short on cash and with indiscriminable taste buds, Red White and Blue was $4.99. 
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Led by Beth Kessling and John Cranfill, the Southside Youth Council kicked off its annual fundraising campaign.

30 Years Ago This Week - 1991
Southport Presbyterian Church dedicated the ground in the 7500 block of McFarland Boulevard for the construction of its new sanctuary and educational center.
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Southport High School’s social studies team, consisting of Joe Bernardi, Ralph Feldhake, Trien Nguyen and Michael Zimmer, was crowned state champions at the Hoosier Academic Super Bowl. 
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Tonya Fouty, Jodi Brink and Doreath Eads served as pages during a session of the Indiana General Assembly. 

20 Years Ago This Week - 2001
Roncalli’s softball team was off to an 11-0 start behind the pitching of Christy Cothron (6-0) and Andrea Wheeler (5-0) and the batting of Terri Quackenbush (.346), Amy Roberts (.316) and Amanda Thomas (.300).
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And Heee’s on it! Four-year-old Bailey Greenlee tries his bicycling skills on a course designed by the Indianapolis Police Department South District. Bailey, son of Shelley Greenlee, was under the watchful eye of officer Tobi Cobian. South District Lt. Bettye Dobkins and Deputy Chief are in the background. 
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Lutheran High School senior Jennifer Broughton, daughter of Leon and Kristi Broughton, was named to the Academic All-American swim team.
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Manual junior Katie Linville, daughter of Jack and Judy Linville, was recognized by Eli Lilly and Co. for her academic achievements, which included a 4.0 GPA.
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Wynter Drummond (front), Morgan Besser, Sarah Bauchle; (back) Tesla West, Katja Borton, Tricia Higby and Joey Bauchle participated in the 30th annual Children’s Folk Dance Festival at the Indiana Convention Center.

10 Years Ago This Week - 2011
The 25th and final Docs vs. Jocks vs. Drugs basketball game was going to be played at Manual. The event, which had raised more than $125,000 over the years to support drug, alcohol and tobacco prevention programs at local schools, would feature five physicians who had played in all of the contests: Donald Rockey, Pat Enright, Bob Robinson, Phil Synder and Tom Wisler.
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Patrick Mulawie, Alice Langreck, Karen Smithers and Jennifer Wayman participated in the Keep Southport Beautiful clean-up program.

60 Years Ago This Week - 1961
The starting pay for Indianapolis firefighters was $1.40 an hour, and they worked 63 hours a week.    
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The Bell-Aire Drive-in Theatre at Kentucky and Tibbs avenue was showcasing a triple feature: “Black Sunday,” “The Last Rebel” and “The Hand”; admission was 75 cents.

50 Years Ago This Week - 1971

​Rhonda L. Hill (third from left), daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Hill was crowned Miss Mini Queen for Southern Plaza’s 10th anniversary celebration.  

Southport teacher (from left) Evelyn M. Lovelace and area students Tim Riggs, Jeff Hoffmeister, Brian Brandley and Gregg Backemeyer were mapping out their trip to Kenya, Africa, where they would participate in a studies abroad program. 

​40 Years Ago This Week - 1981
The Indianapolis Department of Public Works was interviewing for positions at its new wastewater treatment plant. The salaries ranged from $9,000 to $29,000 annually. 
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Southport senior basketball standout Linda Mallendar, who was bound for Miami of Ohio University on a scholarship, was named to Adidas’ All-American team. 
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Mike Chupp, a student at Baptist High, was named an Eisenhower Scholar and received a $10,000 scholarship. 
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Cigarettes were 70 cents a pack.

30 Years Ago This Week - 1991
Bob and Margaret Ann Hillan wrote a letter to the editor to voice their concern over increased theft on the Southside. Someone had swiped their figurines, “Tucker,” a flag-waving lad, and “Mother Goose.”
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Ponderosa served a strip steak dinner and a sundae special for $4.79. 

Perry Meridian High School’s Brain Game team defeated Franklin Central 78-56 to win the state title. The squad featured (kneeling) Andy Wilson, Aaron Kemple; (standing) Trevor Grove, coach Mrs. Karty, Clifford Leslie, coach Mrs. Brown and Jim Hauser.

​20 Years Ago This Week - 2001
A fire at Sacred Heart Church destroyed the altar, and water and smoke damage was evident through the historic structure. The damage was estimated at more than $1 million.
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Emmaus Lutheran School seventh-grader Matt Muncy won a $50 savings bond for winning the district competition in the RespectTeen program, which allowed students to voice their opinions in writing on any issue to their U.S. representatives.
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At 656 feet long and topping out at 21 mph, Kombo, the city’s only roller coaster, was up and running at the Indianapolis Zoo. 
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Butler graduate and dentist Mark Bohnert received the university’s Catharine Merrill Graydon Alumni Award, presented for outstanding community service.
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Roncalli pitcher Christy Utnage delivered a fastball in a game against Carmel; the Rebels won 4-3.

​10 Years Ago This Week - 2011
Kent John was a candidate for Indianapolis’ City-County Council District 23.
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Roncalli juniors Casey Corsaro and Katey Blackwell earned first- and second-place honors, respectively, in the Holy Cross Family Ministries Try Prayer! It Works essay contest.
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Located at 1110 Prospect St., Square Rootz was a unique deli that served distinctive sandwiches and sold records, compact discs and artwork.

60 Years Ago This Week - 1961
Every customer who placed a $2 dry-cleaning order at Minnesota Alteration Service and Cleaning, 1704 Minnesota St., received a free six-pack of Coca-Cola. 
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Look what $1.81 bought at Kroger during its grand opening in Southern Plaza: two half-gallons of milk, two heads of lettuce, a pound of ham, two bottles of ketchup and 5 pounds of sugar.

50 Years Ago This Week - 1971
Kathy Walter and Phil Hotle were among the junior winners in a piano competition at Indiana Central College.
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A brand-new and fully loaded Mercury Marquis Brougham was advertised for $4,784.
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The Perry Perkers Homemakers Club met at the home of Mrs. Thomas Bowman. 

40 Years Ago This Week - 1981
St. Roch students Todd Cunningham, Barb Schmall, Jill Lucid, Jimmy Pinna, Jennifer Brown, Steve Welch, Dana Brancheau and Denise Schafer were promoting their school’s annual open house. 
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Julie Breeden and Tim Burke were named drum majors for Southport High School’s marching band.
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Faith Fellowship Baptist Church broke ground for its worship center in Greenwood. On hand for the spadework were Cliff Connerly, Pastor Ed Schaefer, Bob Rollings and Don Jones.
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Marien Pro Hardware, 3604 Madison Ave., was holding its annual spring sale.

30 Years Ago This Week - 1991

Manual High School honored William R. Kniptash as its Alumnus of the Year.
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Airmen Norman L. Nevins II and William F. Stewart  Jr. graduated from Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. 
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The Rev. Fred B. Oaks was installed as pastor at Southport Baptist Church.

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 Indianapolis Fire Department Capt. Phil Ochs served as master of ceremonies for the dedication of Fire Station 29, 602 E. Pleasant Run Parkway North Drive. 

20 Years Ago This Week - 2001

Kate Kiefer-Andrew, daughter of Jim and Karen Kiefer and a graduate of St. Roch School and Roncalli, made the dean’s list at IUPUI.
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William Bryan was appointed to fill the vacated seat on the Perry Township School Board. 
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Tom and Shelia Lauck and their children, Matt and Liz, opened Blimpie Subs & Salads at 5905 Madison Ave.

10 Years Ago This Week - 2011

The Blue Lonesome Bluegrass band, featuring Joe Davidson, Dolly Mae Bradshaw, Hank Cawthorne and Natalie Grimes, played monthly at the Southport Community Center.
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Sister Sharon Bierman, administrator of St. Paul Hermitage in Beech Grove, presented Ave Maria Guild President Vicki Spicuzza with a Certificate of Appreciation for her service to the nursing home. 
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Featuring intricate routines combined with acrobatic moves choreographed to music, the Indy Air Bears jump rope team performed at Franklin Central High School.