MAXWELL BRINGS SIGNIFICANT HONOR

This story originally appeared as a V-M Viewpoint in The Vidette-Messenger on March 12, 1970.

A 35-year-old Morgan Township resident has brought significant honor to local agriculture and to Porter County.

Phillip A. Maxwell, who lives on Indiana 49 a mile south of U. S. 30, has just been acclaimed as Indiana Jaycees’ 1970 Outstanding Young Farmer. The award stamped the former Morgan Township High School athlete as the best in the state among an imposing entry list of 17 other statewide Jaycee club preliminary winners.

As recipient of the Indiana Jaycees OYF award, Maxwell will now represent the state at a national contest in Belleville, Ill., April 5 through 8, a distinct honor for any young man.

Winner of the local Jaycees’ first OYF award earlier this year, the judges at that time demonstrated their choice of Maxwell was no accident. This young farmer “works at his trade.”

To be eligible as a nominee for local, state, and national competition, participants had to be between 21 and 35 years of age, and derive a minimum of two-thirds of their income from farming.

Judging was done on the basis of progress in agricultural careers, soil, and natural resources conservation, and civic and social contributions to community, state, and nation.

The Porter County entry filled all these requirements admirably.

(Phil) was born into a farming family and was reared on the homestead he now occupies. Not content with getting by with the practical aspects of farming he had learned throughout his boyhood, Maxwell went to Purdue University, where he obtained a BS degree in animal husbandry.

In the 10 years he has solely operated a farm, Maxwell has consistently tried new ways to increase his profits. This includes a switch from dry to liquid fertilizer, for corn and beans; planting corn on unplowed ground; use of chemicals; and narrow plantings.

And, this young man has a goal; to expand hog production by investing in new buildings and automation.

Maxwell, operator of 1,130 acres of land, of which 1,053 are tillable, says he is farming “because I believe I can contribute more to a rural community, and feel there is no better place to raise a family and live a wholesome family life.”

He is raising a family, Cheri, 10, Debra, 8, and Mark, eight months, with his wife, the former Jane Smoker, of the prominent Wanatah area farming family.

His farming innovations hav been definite contributions to Porter County’s rural community.

Winner of the first two plateaus in local and state competition, Maxwell now goes on to the national event and possibly more honors next month.

He will take with him the best wishes of Valparaiso, Porter County, and the entire state.

Dec. 19, 1970: ‘Doc’ McCann Closes Office

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on December 19, 1970.

‘Doc’ McCann Closes Office

Dr. Jesse McCann, a man who has eased the foot troubles of local citizens for 49 years and still found time to make a large contribution to local softball and basketball activities, closed his office doors at 51 Franklin for the last time today.

The 76-year-old entrepreneur of boys and girls semi-pro softball, a sports activity which he managed in Valparaiso for 40 years, said today he has been easing off his practice of podiatry each year until “my wife talked me into callin it a day.”

A graduate of the former Chicago-Illinois College of Podiatry, Dr. McCann has been a resident of Valparaiso since 1921, when he came here from Park Ridge, Ill., to take a position as a buyer of shoes at Lowenstine’s and conduct the podiatry practice in his home.

Before moving to his present location, he had a ground floor office north of Lincolnway for 20 years.

His interest in softball stemmed from the great pitching of his son, Bryce, now of Goshen, with the old Valpo Kernels. When Tom Sargent gave up management of the team 40 years ago, “Doc”, as he was familiarly called by all in the realm of softball, took over. After many successful years managing the male athletes, McCann organized the Queens, a girls’ softball team which attained country-wide acclaim for 18 years until it disbanded in 1964.

On the basketball scene, Doc is credited with organizing the city league and also thrilled the local populace by bringing the Harlem GlobeTrotters here for many entertainment presentations.

After many miles of walking up and down the base paths coaching and managing the Kernels and Queens, Doc still had the stamina to walk up and down the aisles of the First Methodist Church of 38 years as head usher.

In addition to Bryce of Goshen, who was a pitching star for the South Bend Studebaker and Bandix softball teams, the McCanns have a daughter, mrs. Vivian Small, Valparaiso, and Clyde, Kansas City. A son, Vern, is deceased.

Doc and his wife, Vera (Merrill) reside at MR 1. They have no definite future plans except to rest and relax.

After 49 years of taking care of other people’s feet, Doc McCann has certainly earned a rest for his own tired “tootsies.”

Dec. 15, 1970: County Park Board Primary Objective

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on December 15, 1970.

County Park Board Primary Objective

Primary objective of the Porter County Open Spaces Committee is creation of a Porter County Board of Parks and Recreation. The committee’s recent seminar was organized not only to demonstrate the need for open spaces, but to show how they can best be obtained.

Once the questions of moral imperatives, future necessity and shortage of time were discussed, the seminar turned to questions concerning county park boards. Only one potential problem remainedーthat of state parks.

To answer the questions of whether state parks could effectively provide Indiana and Porter County citizens with open spaces, David Griffith, area supervisor of Northern Indiana Parks, was asked to speak at the seminar.

State parks are not a duplication of city and municipal parks, said Griffith. “State parks utilize the natural features of parks for nature study, trails and specified recreation opportunities. Our main consideration is to maintain and protect the natural beauty and features of our parks. We use them for recreation only in compliance with these natural features.”

Griffith said that in any given park, two-thirds of it would be left natural and not used for recreation, except perhaps nature study. In addition, between 40 and 60 percent of the people who use Dunes State Park are out of state residents.

Griffith said Indiana is short of needed recreational facilities such as campsites and picnic tables. “We can only supplement the national, county and municipal levels.”

Discussing the function of the county park department was Bill Beech, area extension agent at Purdue University.

Beech said the 1965 Recreation Act provides a simple method for establishing county parks boards. The county council passes an ordinance establishing a county park district. The circuit court judge then appoints a county park board that must be impartial politically and may have a county extension agent and school board official ex officio.

The board, said Beech, has several specified functions. Board members must do the planning, which said Beech, “should be done by professional planners.” They have power for the acquisition and development of land. They may hire personnel, accept gifts for the park district and issue bonds. They have the power of eminent domain and they must cooperate with other units of government, especially the county council, from whom they receive their operating money.

Beech said the problem of bonds “worries some people” because the board is not an elected body. “But our experience has been that the elected officials have to approve the bonds before they are sold. We have had one experience where a park board tried to sell bonds without the approval of the elected officials and they could not get them sold.”

Beech added that most counties get started with gifts and matching funds from state and federal agencies. “But it will cost you some money. If you don’t think open spaces are important enough to spend some money, you had better forget it.”

Also tackling the problem of money was Kenneth Harris, an extension agent in water resources with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

Harris stated that he too did not think that the burden should fall on the property owner alone. Jokingly, he added, “There is only one good tax, the one the other guy pays.”

Harris then outlined several ways parks could be obtained at a minimum cost to the taxpayer. He considered gifts one of the most valuable ways of obtaining parks. He noted that many of the state parks were originally gifts and gave several examples of how county park systems were started with gifts. But, he noted a county park system is necessary for a county to accept land for a park as a gift.

Another way county park systems can obtain land for parks is through cumulative funds. That is, a small tax is levied and money from the tax is allowed to build over a period of years.

State and federal funds are also available, said Harris, but again a county park system is needed to qualify. Indiana has funds available under the watershed funds act and ASCS payments can be used for purchasing open spaces.”

From the federal government, there is money available from HUD and through the Farmer’s Home Administration.

Harris cautioned seminar participants to use care in financing a county park board. “Those counties who try to do it all by themselves are asking for trouble. But those counties who take every handout the government offers without planning adequately are also asking for trouble.”

Harris suggested that every county considering a county park system should take inventory of what they have, carefully sort out all facts concerning the project, determine a set of alternatives based on the facts and take into consideration the consequences of the alternatives.

In the final analysis, said Harris, “it is the county officials who must take action.”

Dec. 10, 1970: Pupils Need Articles For Yule Project

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on December 10, 1970.

Pupils Need Articles For Yule Project

Wheels and tires from bicycles, tricycles, and buggies are needed by the Vocational Industrial Club of America (VICA) at Valparaiso High School. They will be used to repair toys for needy children for Christmas.

The VICA is repairing the toys in shop classes. Beta Sigma Phi Sorority will distribute them to needy homes.

The youths, whose instructor is Ronald Pollock, are accepting repairable toys, puzzles and games until Monday. They now have 25 to 30 toys repaired.

Members of the club earned funds to buy supplies for repairing the toys by cleaning the football field after games this fall.

Persons wishing to donate toys or wheels may call Valparaiso High School and members of the club will pick up the articles.

Repair Toys For Needy

Members of Vocational Industrial Club of America at Valparaiso High School repair toys which will be distributed to needy children for Christmas. From left are Chuck Watson, vice president; Bob Ranson, Student Council representative; Mrs. Ron Pollock, service chairman for Beta Sigma Phi, the organization which will aid in distribution of the toys; Jan Nelissen, treasurer; and Dean Anderson president.

Dec. 9, 1970: Break School Windows - Vandals Smash 350-400 Panes

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on December 9, 1970.

Break School Windows

Vandals Smash 350-400 Panes

Between 350 and 400 windows and glass door panels at six schools and a gymnasium in Porter County were broken early this morning by vandals, who also struck two business firms where six windows were smashed. One school cancelled classes today.

A white compact car, possibly a Ford, was being sought by police who said a vehicle of that description with three persons was observed driving away from the scene of one vandalism.

Schools sustaining damage and the number of windows or door panels broken include Washington Township, 115; Jackson, 95; Kouts, 86; Morgan, 46; Liberty, 17; Westchester Junior High School, 7. Two glass door panels and a window were broken at Chesterton High School’s Goldsborough gymnasium.

Business firms sustaining damage by vandals are Don’s Sinclair Station, U.S. 6 and Meridian and Brown Tire Co., Inc., Indiana 49.

The vandalism in most cases occurred between 4:45 and 7 a.m., Sheriff’s Detective George Earley said. Deputies regularly patrol the schools and when Jackson and Liberty were checked at 4:45 a.m. everything was in order.

All classes in schools are in session with the exception of Morgan Township School.

There was no estimate of damage, but costs of replacing windows and other school equipment will probably mount to the thousands of dollars.

Vandals used rocks, pipes, teeter-totters, and portions of cement blocks, to cause the damage.

Band equipment at Morgan and Washington schools was damaged by items which were thrown or pushed through windows.

Majority of damage at the schools occurred on the first level, Earley said, and vandals kept away from the fronts of the buildings to avoid detection.

Rocks found at the scenes indicated that vandals picked them up elsewhere than on school grounds.

Washington School, where the largest number of windows were broken, is not covered by vandalism insurance. Most of the county schools do not have vandalism insurance and the cost of repair will have to come from the schools’ budgets.

Damage At Washington

All windows in overhead door in shop area at Washington Township School were broken today by vandals. Removing glass (top photo) is Glenn Brown, who along with other Washington students assisted in clean-up so classes could be held. Principal James Dold holds 3-pound which was thrown with such force it traveled 30 feet, broke exterior overhead light fixture and smashed through inner office glass panel.

Dec. 5, 1970: VHS Will Play Trojans Tonight

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on December 5, 1970.

VHS Will Play Trojans Tonight

New Suede Shoes

Jeff Butterfield, center, Valpo High senior guard, models new green uniform and holds new green suede shoes he will wear tonight when Vikings play Trojans at Chesterton. Players in practice uniforms are Mark Schafer, left, and Mike Frey, right.

HOBART ー The Valpo Vikings ー the boys in the green suede shoes ー put a quick end to Hobart High’s three-game winning streak Friday night by easily defeating the Brickies on their own floor, 70-56.

It was the third straight win of the season for the Vikings and their second Duneland Conference win. They will journey to Chesterton tonight to take on the Trojans in another league tilt.

In defeating the Brickies, the Vikings came up with their best game to date. They played outstanding defense, shot well from outside, controlled the boards and came through with a devastating fast break.

The VHS defense held the Brickies to just four baskets in 22 shots in the first half and 16 for 52 for the game. VHS, meanwhile, hit 28 baskets in 65 attempts. The Vikings outrebounded the Brickies, 53-26.

Jeff Butterfield and Tom O’Neill led the Viking attack with 18 and 20 points, respectively. Butterfield was 9 for 19 from the field while O’Neill hit 7 of 14 goals and 6 of 7 free throws.

Shooting of the other Vikes were Mike Frey, 1 for 3; Mark Schafer, 2 for 4; Dan Keefe, 1 for 4; Jim Doane, 2 for 4; Freeman, 3 for 9; Domke, 3 for 8; Gordon, 0 for 1.

Slow Start

Both teams had trouble getting started in the first quarter. John Dubenetzky opened the scoring with a free throw and Jim Doane tallied a field goal to give the Vikings a 2-1 lead. They never trailed thereafter.

With less than a minute to play in the slow first quarter, VHS led 12-7. However, just before the gun, Dennis Doll came up with a three-point play for the Brickies to make the score 12-10.

Mark Freeman and O'Neill picked up quick baskets at the start of the second quarter and then Jeff Butterfield put on a display of outside shooting. He hit six long shots in the period in seven attempts as the Vikes rolled up 26 markers while holding the Brickies to 11 to take a 38-21 lead into the dressing room.

The Vikes slowed the game down in the third quarter and were outscored, 16-14. O’Neill had six points for VHS in the period and Larry Domke and Butterfield, four each. Dubenetzky led Hobart with five.

Reserves for both teams saw plenty of action in the fourth quarter as the Brickies again outscored the Vikings by one point ー 19-18.

Dec. 2, 1970: High Winds Topple Wall Hurt As Wall Falls

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on December 2, 1970.

High Winds Topple Wall

Hurt As Wall Falls

Edward J. Koutsky, 54, of Portage, injured Tuesday when cement blocks toppled on him as he was working at the Kroger Family Center site, was listed in guarded condition today at Porter Memorial Hospital where he is in the intensive care unit.

Koutsky and his son-in-law, Ronald Pearce, 30, of Portage, were working at the site between East Chicago Street and Lincolnway east of Roosevelt when high winds forced over a 15-foot portion of a 30-foot high wall.

Pearce suffered minor leg injuries, police said, when attempting to come to the assistance of Koutsky when he saw the wall beginning to fall.

Koutsky, who was on a ladder attempting to brace the wall, was buried in the mud when the blocks fell, police said.

Developer of the complex is Trebor, Inc., headed by Robert J. and Dolores Cooke, of Portage.

High winds Tuesday apparently caused a 15-foot portion of a wall to collapse, seriously injuring Edward Koutsky, 54, of Portage, who was working at Kroger complex site on East Chicago Street near Roosevelt. Koutsky was attempting to shore wall when wind toppled cement blocks.

Nov. 30, 1970: Police Here Probing 20 Weekend Break-Ins

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on November 30, 1970.

Police Here Probing 20 Weekend Break-Ins

Four business firms, 14 residences in the Jefferson Park area, and two homes in other sections of the city were reported broken into during the weekend, police said today. One attempted break-in at a home in the Jefferson subdivision, was also reported.

Total estimate of loss was not available as police continued the investigations.

Many of the homeowners advised police they heard noises during the night but failed to investigate.

Business firms entered by force included David E. McDaniel Co., 1055 Joliet; Schultz Florist, 2204 Calumet; Rudy’s Service Station, Calumet and Glendale; and Gene’s Standard Station, 1806 East Lincolnway, where a safe was entered and $80 stolen. The safe was not forcibly entered, police said.

Thieves who broke a window to gain entry at the McDaniel firm apparently used a blowtorch to open a money changer machine. It was not known how much cash is missing. A handle on an overhead door was bent, police said, when thieves apparently attempted to gain entry through that entrance.

A screwdriver, pliers and a metal chisel were found near the machine. The blowtorch used was owned by the firm.

Stolen from a cash box at Schultz Florist was $25, police said. The box was found outside the building, which was entered after a side door lock was pried off.

Investigation into the break-in at Rudy’s station was continuing this morning and no estimate of loss was yet available.

Addresses of homes entered in the Jefferson subdivision include 1507 Monticello resident not listed; Michawl Koshuta, 1508 Monticello; Alfred Hohneck 1804 Rockcastle; Alan G. Wood, 1701 Rockcastle; Dennis Hartman, 1903 Rockcastle; Lee B. Steeler, 1805 Rockcastle; Vincent Mrzlak, 1902 Rockcastle; Kenneth E. Landstrom, 1701 McCord; Edward Moore, 1719 Whittier Park; Donald Foreman, 1409 Chesapeake; Kathy Vzap, 1502 Chesapeake; Thomas Zimmerman, 1308 Monticello; James McKesson, 1605 McCord; and Jody Schoenbeck, 1907 Rockcastle.

Thieves entered many of the homes in Jefferson Park through entrances from attached garages after forcing the garage doors open, police said.

Purses and wallets of homeowners were stolen, in some cases, and in other cases the cash was taken from the wallets. In many cases the purses and wallets were found outside the homes, police said. Some homeowners reported credit cards missing along with cash.

Mud was found inside one of the homes, indicating thieves went across rear yards from house to house.

An unsuccessful attempt was made to enter the home of Robert Skalku, 1504 Monticello, police said.

In a break-in at the home of Bernard Meyerowitz, 1906 Calumet, thieves made off with a coin collection valued at $200 and $20 stolen from a purse.

When the family returned home, they apparently interrupted thieves as a back door was slammed as the family entered.

The home was entered after thieves broke a bedroom screen and crawled through a window, police said.

A grandfather type wall clock was the only item reported missing in a break-in at the home of Mabel Bownell, 705 Erie, police said.

Meanwhile, loss was set, at $216 in the theft of various items from a shed at 5971 Central, Portage.

Thieves entered the property, which was fenced, on horseback, police said. Hoofprints were found around the shed.

Stolen were a log chain, hand saw, level, square, hoes, shears, spade, water pump and rope. Roy Lindstrom reported the theft Saturday.

Some Heard Noises, Didn’t Investigate

With the report of 20 weekend break-ins at residences and business firms, Chief Lee E. Miller is urging residents observing suspicious vehicles or persons or anyone hearing strange noises to contact police immediately.

Crime alert telephone number can be used to notify police of any suspicious acts, Chief Miller said, adding that an officer would immediately investigate. The Crime Alert number is 462-3222.

In previous instances involving a criminal act police have been informed by residents that they had heard noises but did not contact police. If police had been notified, perhaps a crime would have been prevented and an arrest might have been made, Chief Miller said.

In the weekend break-ins, some residents told police they heard noises during the night but they failed to investigate. One resident told police she saw a flashlight, but thought she was dreaming so did nothing.

Had police been notified immediately of these facts, perhaps the break-ins would have been prevented, said the chief.