Nov. 13, 1940: SUCCESSIVE STEPS THROUGH WHICH A SELECTEE PASSES WHILE BEING TRANSFORMED FROM A CIVILIAN INTO A TRAINED SOLDIER IN THE ARMY OF THE U.S.

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on November 13, 1940.

SUCCESSIVE STEPS THROUGH WHICH A SELECTEE PASSES WHILE BEING TRANSFORMED FROM A CIVILIAN INTO A TRAINED SOLDIER IN THE ARMY OF THE U.S.

Homes of Selective Service Men from which they leave to go to Register

Steps taken by a civilian subject to selective service from the time he leaves home to register, October 16, until he becomes a soldier are pictured in this accompanying chart prepared at Fifth Corps Area headquarters, Fort Hayes, Columbus, O.

All selective service trainees coming from Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia and Indiana will follow these steps. They include:

1. Men report to their nearest registration board, October 16, complete registration and again return home.

2. Some time later一after first prospective trainees are selected by civilian boards一those called report to their local boards. They are placed in charge of a group leader and are taken to an induction center.

3. Upon arrival at the induction station一similar to a recruiting station一prospective trainees meet army personnel for the first time. Heretofore civilian personnel have been in charge exclusively but now the shift to army supervision begins.

4. The selectees are checked in at the induction station, given a standard army physical and mental examination. Some prospects are rejected because of physical or mental disqualification and are returned to civilian life. Qualified selectees are sworn into the military service for the first time, again are placed in charge of group leaders and sent to a permanent reception center.

5. At the permanent reception center, and hereafter until they complete training, the recruits are under control of army personnel. The selectees are checked in, housed, classified according to abilities, vaccinated and immunized against smallpox and typhoid, offered opportunity to take out government insurance and make allotments to dependents, clothed and equipped, and finally assigned to a unit of the army of the United States. Then they are sent out to join their units.

6. Men who arrive at an induction center too late to accompany their group to the permanent reception center may be sent to a temporary reception center instead. Here they undergo the same processing as that followed at the permanent reception centers.

7. Upon reaching their regular tactical divisions or training units the recruits begin their year’s training as a soldier.

8. After original tactical divisions or training units are filled with their initial quotas, remaining recruits will be sent to replacement training centers. These men will join newly formed tactical units or will join the original divisions. Others will be sent back to reception and induction centers to fill posts vacated there by the original army personnel.

9. Completing their year’s service and needed no longer for an emergency, the selective service soldiers will be given full physical examination and returned to their homes. For 10 years thereafter they will remain members of the army of the U.S. Reserve. If they desire to remain in the active army longer they may enlist as one-year or three-year volunteers.

Nov. 12, 1955: Pupils Show Varied Forms Of Education

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on November 12, 1955.

Pupils Show Varied Forms Of Education

By ROLLIE BERNHART

Many of the grades throughout the schools in Valparaiso were actively engaged this week in producing some form of pictorial instruction in conformance with National Education Week which officially closed today.

During the week of observance of the national event, which opened on Nov. 6, classes throughout the schools in the city contributed various types of educational endeavor which aided materially in giving the pupil a better understanding of the subjects.

During the current week, The Vidette-Messenger published photos of several of these activities which graphically depicted pupils in action during actual class instruction.

Photos shown in today’s series are the remainder of contributions of Education Week class instruction as snapped by a V-M photographer.

Bulletin Board Project

In the top photo, second grade  pupils at Banta school are shown combining a science lesson, art and social studies in a bulletin board project.

After a study of leaves, the pupils organized into committees to make the fall bulletin board showing a life-sized boy raking leaves. In the photo, left to right, are: Peni Coon, Kenneth Barber and Terry Giesler.

In the second photo, a typical Valparaiso Junior High school scene is shown, placing primary stress on the use of the library for reference purposes.

The number of the students in the library each period ranges up to approximately 100 students. All students, except those who must leave early on the bus, are assigned six periods of 55 minutes each in the library, thereby providing time for work on class preparation, reference, and perusing of various fictional books and magazines to which the library subscribers.

Depict Luther’s Life

In photo three (from top to bottom), members of the fifth and sixth grades at the Immanuel Lutheran school are shown during an act of the play “Life of Martin Luther,” produced by the combined classes for Education Week and Christian Education Week. The play was shown to parents and teachers of the LaPorte avenue school Thursday.

Characters in the play as shown in the photo are: Jackie Peck, Jeannette Binder, Linda Rechlin, Bruce Martin, seated right; and Norman Dygert, center, as Luther.

At the Central school fourth grade, photo four shows three pupils using their word attack skills (phonics) in their geography lesson. Together with the use of the vowel sounds, they are able to learn the use of the vowel marks. Left to right in photo are: Jimmy Shinabarger, Kay Nielsen and Lois Flesner.

At Northview, the sixth grade instructor Mel Crisman, employed the use of clay to depict the country of Egypt as a history lesson. The girls shown examining the clay exhibit in the bottom photo are Sarah Brown and Judy Jones.

It was found that both teachers and pupils in the schools visited during Education Week exhibited considerable enthusiasm and unusual thought in presenting their instructional projects.

Nov. 11, 1935: Principal Goldsborough of Chesterton High, Now In 25th Year In That Office of School

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on November 11, 1935.

Principal Goldsborough of Chesterton High, Now In 25th Year In That Office of School

(BY ROBERT ALLETT)

Principal F.M. Goldsborough is celebrating his 25th anniversary this year as principal and his 30th year as a faculty member of the largest unit in the county educational system, Chesterton high school.

In 1905 Mr. Goldsborough was assistant principal and in 1910 became head of the school which at that time had a high school enrollment of between 40 and 50 pupils. Today, with 291 pupils, Chesterton is second in the county as far as size of the student body is concerned.

Principal Goldsborough received his higher education here in Porter county, having earned his A.B. degree from Valparaiso university in 1922. His faculty at Chesterton numbers 15, of which three are new this fall. Miss Avola Watkins has been placed in charge of the newly organized art department, Miss Beulah Eldridge replaced Miss Elizabeth Zehner in biology and physical education, and Miss Lillian Sayers, formerly of Morgan township, has taken the vacancy left by Miss Elizabeth Bescherer who taught Latin and English.

Miss Bescherer was given a surprise party by members of the classes of 1933, 34 and 35 at the high school Friday night, in celebration of her approaching marriage to Paul T. Copp of Gary. Mr. Copp in 1932 was an instructor in mathematics at Valparaiso university. Miss Bescherer was presented with a dinette set, a table and four chairs by her former pupils.

Prominent activities at Chesterton include debate for both boys and girls, band, orchestra and glee clubs; one of the two Hi-Y clubs in the county, the other being at Valparaiso high school; student council; G.A.A., and of course, sports. While Walter Jones is coach at Chesterton George Lowry is known throughout the county for his interest in and knowledge of athletics.

Mr. Lowry has designed various scorebooks for baseball and basketball which have been accepted for publication by leading companies specializing in athletic equipment.

Chesterton excels in its science courses and is the only school in the county system which boasts a complete chemistry department.

Something special in the line of outside entertainment is being offered to Chesterton high school students this year. Sponsored by the Northwest Assemblies, a series of six programs will be presented, three per semester, and will include appearances of musicians, lecturers and entertainers.

Chesterton graduates of 1935 now attending college are: Barbara Brunk, Oberlin college; Howard Carlso, Morningside, Iowa; John Rooney, Indiana university; Howard Smith, Purdue; and Robert Sabinski Indiana university.

Nov. 11, 1935: CITY OBSERVES ARMISTICE DAY; SALUTE FIRED

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on November 11, 1935.

CITY OBSERVES ARMISTICE DAY; SALUTE FIRED

Legion Members Conduct Program Which Includes Speeches at City Schools and University

ROOSEVELT HONORS UNKNOWN SOLDIER

Uncovered heads turned toward the east in Valparaiso today as hundreds stood at attention in commemoration of the signing of the Armistice which halted hostilities of the World War seventeen years ago.

Charles Pratt Post of the American Legion, took charge of the outward activities of today’s celebration, with many former soldiers in uniform and a firing squad firing a three-round salute at the courthouse square.

At 11 a.m., a halt was called for all activities throughout the city. At that moment those in the downtown district faced east as soldiers fired volleys. A bugler sounded taps immediately thereafter.

In city schools, members of the local American Legion post spoke to the students. Commander T.O. Dillon, of the local post, was speaker at the Gardner school; Howard D. Clark at the Banta school; John W. Larrew, at the Central grades, a Edmund J. Freund at the Central junior high school and Columbia schools.

Attorney Ira C. Tilton spoke at the Armistice Day celebration held this morning at Valparaiso university, where a large gathering of the student body assembled for impressive rites.

At Valparaiso high school a fine program was given by the students. “America, the Beautiful,” was sung by the students under the direction of Mrs. Mary Myers, supervisor of music, after which Superintendent Roy B. Julian read selected scriptures. A vocal solo “There Is No Death”, was rendered by Prof. Burton L. Conkling, of the high school faculty.

Talks were made by Harry LaForce, high school senior, on “The American Spirit”, and by William Burk, also a high school senior, on “The Zero Hour.” Principal H.M. Jesse spoke on “Fort McHenry, the Scene of the Writing of the National Emblem.”

James Stoner, a high school senior, sounded taps, and the students were dismissed for the noon recess.

Importance of Armistice day was also registered in the religious services held on Sunday when members of the American Legion attended the Methodist Episcopal church at the morning service and heard a splendid address on “The Man Power of America,” by Rev. J. E. Porter, pastor of the church and a chaplain in France during the World War. in the evening at the Presbyterian church a union Armistice Day service was held in the evening with Rev. Porter and Rev. Chester W. Wharton presenting “A Conversation with the Unknown Soldier.” Large crowds attended the services.

Nov 10, 1955: 285 Teachers, Businessmen Exchange Ideas At Sixth Annual B-E Program Here

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on November 10, 1955.

285 Teachers, Businessmen Exchange Ideas At Sixth Annual B-E Program Here

Two hundred and 85 businessmen and educators from this community gathered at a banquet Wednesday evening on the Valparaiso university campus to climax the 6th annual Business-Education Day.

It was the biggest affair of its kind held here, Robert F. Smith, president of the Indiana Steel Products company, who served as master of ceremonies, told the audience.
During the afternoon some 25 Valparaiso business firms played host to teachers of the city public and parochial schools, Valparaiso University, student teachers there, Valparaiso Technical institute and the clergy of the city. The businessmen in the respective places took their guests on a tour of their facilities and then sat down and discussed various phases and problems of their business.

Teachers serve as hosts in alternate years, and they will entertain the businessmen in 1956.

The individual businessmen had as their dinner guests Wednesday evening the educators they entertained during the day. This banquet was held in the Great hall of the V.U. Student union.

During the prime roast of beef dinner, music was provided by an instrumental trio from the university. The Rev. Percy Thomas, pastor of the First Christian church, said the invocation.

Introduces Groverman

After Chairman Smith made the introductory remarks following the dinner, he called on Morris Groverman, Jr., president of the program sponsoring Chamber of Commerce to make a special presentation to a local educator.

There was a special certificate which had been prepared for the occasion and which was enclosed in a frame. Groverman announced that the recipient was to be Hanns Matthias Mueller, an exchange teacher at V.U. from Germany.

The presentation was planned as a surprise proved to be on the group, for the intended recipient who had been a guest at the Continental - Diamond Fibre company plant during the afternoon, had partaken of the dinner, but had left a few minutes earlier to attend another meeting.

Nevertheless the text of the certificate was read as follows:

“In recognition of the position of Hanns Matthias Mueller as an exchange teacher at Valparaiso university under the Fulbright Act we, the officers, directors and membership of the Valparaiso (Ind.) Chamber of Commerce do hereby extend to you our best wishes and sincere friendship in the interest of furthering the International relations between our country, the United States of America, and your native country, the Federal Republic of Germany.

“Awarded this 9th day of November, in the year of our Lord, 1955 at the Business-Education Day dinner.”

It bore the C of C seal and the signatures of President Groverman and Chairman Smith.

Hear Industrialist

Principal speaker of the evening was William Caples, vice president in charge of Industrial Relations, of the Inland Steel corporation.

He talked of what is going to happen in the next 25 years and how it will affect both industry and education.

Leisure Is Growing

Community leisure is another increasing problem Caples noted. He said that one of the problems for educators is how to meet these needs.

Among other jobs of the educators, as Caples sees them, is for schools to be familiar with business problems, and to meet the steady changes in American society.

Caples contended that while the White House Education conference is studying the buildings and bricks (material) needs of schools, as it should, it is overlooking the point as to what should be taught to meet these sociological changes.

It is necessary for education and industry to cooperate closely, and Caples added, it is necessary for business to bring out the proper status of the teachers in a community, and with a wage scale commensurate with that status.

Industry must offer its time and people to serve on school boards for a sympathetic understanding of education, the speaker said. It should also open its laboratories to the schools.

“I predict that the next 25 years will be the most glorious experience in education and industry,” Caples concluded.

First Graders Learn Art of Reading

DEMONSTRATING ONE OF the forms of instruction used in the Valparaiso city school system in conformance with Education Week, Nov. 6-12, these first grade Gardner pupils are shown learning to read independently by using phonetics. Lois Williamson, standing extreme right, is shown with her group, reading sentences containing new words that are different from known words only in the beginning letter. The teacher is Mrs. Neil Dinsmoore. (V-M Staff Photo)

Nov. 9, 1960: Nixon Wins In County By 10,700

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on November 9, 1960.

Nixon Wins In County By 10,700
The majority of Porter county voters went with the minority of the nation in the attempt to elect Vice President Richard M. Nixon as President of the United States.

Total county returns in the heaviest vote in county political history at 2:30 a.m. today gave Nixon 4,927 votes over Sen. John F. Kennedy as the Vice President scored a vote of 15,666 to 10,733 in Porter county.

Unofficial totals of voters in the county showed 26,557 residents going to the polls out of 32,284 registered voters. Percentage figures however, showed only a small increase over the percentages recorded in 1956 and 1952, as a county-wide percent of 82.2 percent voted this year and 81.5 percent voted in each of the last Presidential elections in 1956 and 1952.

Nixon Loses Three

In the county, Nixon lost only three precincts out of 29; Portage’s precincts 2,3, and 5. He and Kennedy “tied” with 220 votes each in Portage’s first precinct.

The only other county precinct which showed Kennedy particularly close in votes to Nixon was Pine township which “went Democratic” except for the Presidential election in which Nixon eaked out a vote of 519 to 509 for Kennedy.

The Vice President did not hit the mark set by President D.W. Eisenhower, who received the widest Presidential majority in the history of Porter county politics with 72.7 percent of the votes.

As the number of Democrats in the traditional Republican stronghold of Porter county increases, the figures of voting trends showed a number of Democrats crossing the line to vote for Nixon to give the Vice President a percentage of 59.1 percent of those voting in the Presidential race.

The Socialist and Prohibition Presidential candidates did not record more than 75 votes in the county. The Socialist candidate for President received 16 votes, the same number as 1956, and the Prohibition candidate for the office had 59 votes, an increase over the 45 given to him in 1956.

A Democratic Presidential candidate has never received the majority of votes in Porter county.

HAPPY ABOUT KENNEDY-WELSH VICTORY 一 Porter County Democratic chairman Maurice Mason, center, heads happy group of Kennedy-Welsh adherents in victory cheer at local Demo headquarters Tuesday evening.

Nov. 8, 1965: Signs Up 50 People Over Age 65

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on November 8, 1965.

Signs Up 50 People Over Age 65

By BARBARA STUHR

“For medicare, the magic age is 65,” Howard M. Jennings, district manager of the Gary Social Security office told The Vidette-Messenger today.

By 10:30 this morning Jennings had signed up approximately 50 persons for hospital insurance under the medicare plan at Social Security Day at the county courthouse.

Some of the persons who completed applications were drawing social security; some had never owned a social security number; but all were over 65. In fact, according to Jennings, one man was 94 years old.

“I’m just disturbed that more people over 65 have not realized the benefits they are entitled to,” he said.

Jennings added he’s also interested in those people between ages 60 and 72 who are still working at their own business and who must register a claim so that they will be eligible for health insurance when they reach 65 or stop working.

All persons over 65 are entitled to hospital insurance which will help pay hospital bills and will provide payments for skilled nursing care and other services in an extended care facility after hospitalization. Outpatient hospital services and home health services are also included.

Medical insurance however, is voluntary and costs $3 per month with the Federal government paying an equal amount toward the cost.

The voluntary program covers bills for doctors’ services and a number of other items not covered under the hospital insurance program. The $3 could possibly come from either a person’s friends, family, social security check, or township trustee.

Jennings and Social Security Representative Mrs. Evelyn Firzgerald will be in Porter county again next Monday, Nov. 15 at the Chesterton Town hall. The two will be available to answer any questions regarding medicare and to register persons over 65 for hospital insurance.

MEDICARE EXPLAINED一Howard M. Jennings, seated left, district manager of Gary Social Security office, today explained government’s health insurance program, Medicare, to E.F. Schwinkendorf, RFD 1, Valparaiso, at special Social Security Day in courthouse for persons over 65 years of age who wish to apply for benefits. Standing, Mrs. Evelyn Fitzgerald, Gary, field representative.

Nov. 8, 1950: North County Twins Invent Reel To Cut Farm Labors

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on November 8, 1950.

North County Twins Invent Reel To Cut Farm Labors

By MRS. NORMAN B. FINNSTROM

CHESTERTON, Nov. 8一Sylven and Sieverd Bodin, twin brothers from the Chesterton area, started last week to combine soybeans with machinery they built themselves and on which they have applied for a patent.

The self-propelled combine has a reel attachment that was designed and built by Sieverd, with Sylvan’s assistance. An eccentric in the reel keeps the tines pointed downward and in position to comb the soybeans across the cutting bar into the combine.

This reel is the result of seven years of work. Earlier they had a similar machine, but it was of lighter material and not as efficient. Seamless tubing helping in improving the original invention.

The twins report that it is not unusual for some interested farmer to stop his car along the highway while they are combining soybeans and to question them. Some of them even take notes on the operation.

With their special equipment, the Bodins reportedly are able to “save” grain where other farmers have “failed.”

It was pointed out that oats readily succumb to the whims of the wind during a storm. With their combine, however, which combs the matted grain, they can harvest a “lost crop.”

Like Comb In Hair

Sylven stated that the combine works “like a barber holding the comb in a hair while he cuts it.”

Sieverd built a tractor from parts he bought at sales throughout the country, the cost being very reasonable through this method.

Both of the men hold pilot licenses and by means of an airplane they are able to attend farm sales anywhere and thus can buy materials they need for their “tinkering.”

Sieverd, to whom Sylven gives all the credit for building the farm machinery, said his specialty is tinkering. Sylven would rather fly and works in a coke plant in addition to farming along with his brother.

Edna, Sylven’s wife, also likes to fly with the brothers, but her principal hobby is raising African violets and refinishing antique furniture.

The twins are members of the Flying Farmers organizations and frequently go on trips with this group.

TWINS SIEVERD AND SYLVAN Bodin, of North Porter county, have invented a reel attachment for a combine which works “like a barber holding the combs in hair.” By this means they are able to combine matted grain, such as oats. This week they started combining soybeans. The reel is the result of seven years of work. They are flying enthusiasts and regularly fly to farm sales to collect machinery at a saving for their tinkering with farm machinery.