April 26, 1971: 125 Students Take Part In Peace March

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on April 26, 1971.

125 Students Take Part In Peace March

An estimated 125 Valparaiso University students marched on the courthouse Saturday morning in support of Vietnam Solidarity Days.the students carried flags, placards and sang patriotic songs as they walked from the university, via Lincolnway, to the courthouse war memorial where a brief rally was held.

Gene Gross, VU junior from East Lansing, Mich., a march coordinator, explained to the crowd that the United States government policy in Southeast Asia was immoral, unnecessary and a failure. Gross stated that it was part time for the American people to take matters into their own hands and sign a separate peace with the Vietnamese.

Following Gross’s talk, marchers divided into groups and passed out copies of the People’s Peace Treaty, described as “a joint treaty of peace between the people of the United States, South Vietnam and North Vietnam.”

According to this peace treaty, Americans will set a date of total withdrawal of troops, the Vietnamese will agree to an immediate cease fire, all military prisoners will be released, Vietnamese will form a provisional coalition government to organize elections, all parties will guarantee the safety and political freedom of persons involved in the war and all parties will respect the independence, peace and neutrality of Laos and Cambodia.

Police Chief Lee Miller later described the marchers as “well-behaved” and reported the only incident occurred when an unidentified local resident jumped from his automobile, tore down a make-shift Viet Cong flag from a flag pole and drove away.

The turnout of 125 was far below the estimated 500 expected. Various students said the low number was because of chilly weather the general feeling of hopelessness on college campuses, the alleged inability of citizens to influence government policy and the memory of Kent State.

To Courthouse

Nearly 125 Valparaiso University students marched down Lincolnway Saturday protesting American involvement in Vietnam. Group held rally at courthouse. Copies of People’s Peace Treaty were distributed to members of community. Demonstration was noisy but peaceful, police said.

April 25, 1931: UNEMPLOYED OF VALPARAISO WILL BE GIVEN CHANCE TO USE LOTS FOR GARDEN TRUCK

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on April 25, 1931.

UNEMPLOYED OF VALPARAISO WILL BE GIVEN CHANCE TO USE LOTS FOR GARDEN TRUCK

A move to assist unemployed in Valparaiso by means of making use of vacant lots for the producing of vegetable crops was suggested to members of the city council at Friday night’s session at city hall.

It originated with Councilman Myers E. Zimmerman, College Hill representative on the council. It was the belief of Councilman Zimmerman that a number of persons in the city could be helped materially this summer being permitted the free use of vacant lots for the raising of garden truck.

He suggested that the city engineer’s office be made an exchange whereby lot owners and persons desiring ground space be brought together so the parcelling could be made.

Councilman Kane was of the opinion that The Vidette-Messenger service could be utilized to better advantage, in bringing the information to the lot owner and those desiring lots.

Councilman Harry Albe finally settled the argument by suggesting that the Community Chest organization was the proper agency in this form of welfare work, and others agreed. So the matter of lot exchange and distribution will be placed in the hands of the Community Chest committee.

April 23, 1956: PLANE CRASHES; COUPLE KILLED

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on April 23, 1956.

PLANE CRASHES; COUPLE KILLED

Wrecked Found On Area Farm

Believe Mishap Occurred During Sunday Snowfall

By CHUCK ZULICH

Bodies of a 44-year-old Chicago man and his wife were found at 10:45 a.m. today lying in a field 3½ miles northwest of Valparaiso near the wreckage of their 1946 Ercoupe model airplane.

The couple was identified as Gordon Blake, 44, and his wife, Josephine, age unknown, of 5732 W. Cornelia, Chicago.

Their light plane apparently crashed during the blinding snow storm that struck Valparaiso at about 8 p.m., Sunday evening.

Mrs. H. Howard Smith, who lives near the site of the crash, stated that she heard what she thought was a plane in trouble when she arrived home at 8. She added that visibility was zero because of the wind and snow.

Sees Wreckage

Mrs. Smith said that she talked about it with her husband and they both decided that it was just the wind that made the noise.

However, this morning as she was hanging out the clothes in her yard she noticed the plane wreckage in the field. She walked to the scene to confirm that it was a wreck and then notified authorities.

Willard Rusk, operator of the Urschel field, north of Valparaiso, stated that Mr. and Mrs. Blake visited his airport on both Saturday and Sunday. They were shopping for a bigger and better plane.

Rusk said that the Blakes left the local airport shortly before dark Sunday for Chicago. He stated that the plane was based at the Sky Haven airport in Chicago.

Leave Two Children

Rusk reported that the couple had visited the airport on numerous other occasions. He also said that they were the parents of two small children.

The scene at the field shows that the Blakes were apparently attempting an emergency landing. The wreckage was found 150 feet from the spot where it first touched the ground.

Blake’s body was thrown 66 feet from the final resting place of the plane and the body of Mrs. Blake, 32½ feet. The two bodies were 31 feet apart.

The light plane was completely demolished in the crash. The motor was torn loose and found 10 feet from the fuselage.

Wayne Michaels’ Field

Neighbors at the scene stated that the field in which the plane crashed is owned by Wayne Michaels. It is located west of Campbell road and north of Cooks Corners school.

State police notified the CAA in South Bend of the crash. Nothing was to be moved from the site until CAA officials could arrive on the scene, police said. The bodies were brought to the LePell Funeral home.

Deputy Coroner Leonard Wetmore reported that the couple was apparently killed outright. He stated that Blake’s watch stopped at 8 p.m., and Mrs. Blake’s at 8:03.

The last fatal airplane crash in Porter county occurred on Aug. 18, 1952, when three Porter county men died in the crash of a three - place P-13 Consolidated Vultee in a field on the Serial Warren farm, five miles northwest of Valparaiso.

They were Joseph W. Cook, 29, 504 Jefferson; Benny F. Ripley, 41, Flint lake; and Wendell DeForest Stoner, 19, RFD 2.

April 22, 1961: Teaching Offers Many Rewarding Experiences

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on April 22, 1961.

Teaching Offers Many Rewarding Experiences

(EDITOR’S NOTEーApril is Teacher Career Month. In observance The Vidette-Messenger presents the fourth in a series of weekly articles on that subject by teachersーpast, present and to-be.)

By DOROTHY LANDING

(1st Grade Teacher, Northview)

Do you enjoy being with children? Do you like to help them? Do you have a moderate amount of patience? Are you considering college?

If you can answer “yes” to these questions, you should seriously consider entering the teaching profession.

It seems like only yesterday that I was a senior at Valparaiso High school doing my cadet teaching. But I must admit it has been six years.

During this time I have received my B.A. from Valparaiso university and I have had two years of delightful experience teaching the first grade at Northview school.

I became interested in the first grade particularly because this is where the reading program begins. I have found that the satisfaction one gets from teaching a child to read, and to love reading is one of the greatest rewards of teaching. Also at this age they are extremely eager to learn.

Not a “Job”

Teaching can not be regarded as just a job. It is one rewarding experience after another.

These rewards cannot be measured in money, for a teacher is blessed with the satisfaction of seeing her children progress; and in knowing she has done her best to help prepare them for the future.

Of course there is work involved such as grading papers, preparing lessons, etc., but anything worth-while involves work.

There is never a dull moment; and each day brings many humorous episodes such as the time a child hurried into the room to give me a Hershey bar but with a sorrowful look on her face whispered, “I accidentally dropped it in a mud puddle.” we carefully dried it off and I gratefully thanked her for such a nice gift.

Then there’s the little boy who happily brought me a worm. What could I do but show my delight?

These little things are so important to a child and must be handled with tact and a big smile. I could go on and on with my experiences as every teacher could.

Fine Program

I think the cadet program is extremely worth-while. This program places the cadets in the classroom as prospective teachers instead of students. It gives them an excellent opportunity to examine the elementary school program.

The children welcome the cadets wholeheartedly; and have the greatest respect for them. I find the cadets to be a great help and inspiration in the classroom.

The high school students here are especially fortunate to have a fine teaching program offered at Valparaiso university. College can be a wonderful experience, whether at home or away from home.

The teaching profession offers you immeasurable satisfaction, room for advancement, security, and a valued place in your community. If you enter the teaching profession I know you will love teaching just as I do.

April 21, 1951: Stake Out Site of First YMCA Unit

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on April 21, 1951.

Stake Out Site of First YMCA Unit

JOHN MacFARLANE, 8 Roosevelt Road (right), sights down the line of the rear wall of the $40,000 YMCA unit, excavation work on which will begin in the near future, according to “Y” Secretary Harold Xavier (left). MacFarlane is standing where the northwest corner of the youth center and office unit will be and is looking south along the line of the rear wall. The batter boards have been placed in the ground at the “Y” site at Chicago and Washington and strings now mark the outline of the 34 by 72 foot building.

April 20, 1971: V-M Viewpoint - Soap Box Derby Nearing

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on April 20, 1971.

V-M Viewpoint

Soap Box Derby Nearing

Women’s liberation has prompted invasions and attempted invasions and attempted invasions into male activities where females heretofore feared to tread. Comes now “gal’s lib” to threaten male domination of the Soap Box Derby.

Officials of the All-American Soap Box Derby at Akron, O., have decreed that girls can qualify for the world’s gravity car championship by competing in local classics, which have been heretofore confined to boys ー aged 11 through 15.

In fact, sponsors of the Fort Wayne derby this year have already okayed entries of three sisters, whose brother was 1970 winner of the event. A. Mason Bell, All-American Derby general manager, waived the “boys only” rule after the president of a women’s lib group threatened to take the national sponsor. General Motors to court if girls were refused entry.

Actions in favor of participation of girls in local and national derbies remains the responsibility of the respective sponsored.

Soap Box Derby racing cannot be classed in the “dangerous” category. But, neither can it be said to be without chances of injury.

All hills are not the same, but where races are run on hills conforming to national derby specifications, it takes strong wrists and equally strong nerves to control a gravity driven car within set lanes at 40 to 45 miles per hour.

And, it takes split-second thinking and timing to apply the brakes after crossing the finish line without causing the car to swerve and crash. There have been some of these “accidents” in the Valparaiso classic over the years, and there’s  usually three or more annually in the national event. Nothing serious, but the drivers involved are not always free of injury.

Then there would appear to be another factor: Do the girls have the engineering ability to plan and build a car according to specs? This could cause problems.

Up until the present time the sponsors of the local race ー The Vidette-Messenger, Jaycees, Valparaiso Park District and Paul Dolembo Chevrolet and Cadillac, Inc. ー have received no request for entry by girls.

However, the success of any sports promotion is always based upon response and enthusiasm. Two years ago a peak of 68 entrants was reached. Last year this dropped to 60.

If the decline continues, there would be a possibility that the impetus needed to retain the derby franchise in Valparaiso would result in the waiver of the “all-boy” rule here.

A goal of 100 registered entrants with cars has been set by the sponsors for the 1971 inaugural run down a new hill being completed at Harold Rogers Lakewood Park north of the city.

Meanwhile, sponsors are planning to have girls competing among themselves in a “Powder Puff Derby” on July 5. They don’t have to build their own cars, but may use any of the many fine racers now gathering dust in garages or in basements. But, before these gals are allowed down the hill, the cars will undergo the same rigorous inspection given racers made by the boys.

As for the boys, they are urged to sign their registrations, to build a car and to be at the city’s brand new hill and ready to race on July 5.

April 19, 1961. BEGIN URSCHEL PLANT ADDITION CONSTRUCTION

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on April 19, 1961.

BEGIN URSCHEL PLANT ADDITION CONSTRUCTION

Bulldozer rips up existing concrete base west of present Urschel Laboratories, Inc., building on north Calumet (Ind. 49) as work on firm’s new $125,000 expansion project started Tuesday. Second major expansion at food processing machinery manufacturing plant will be construction of 180x72 foot building and will include 110 percent increase in office space, new foundry, heat treatment department and increased machine shop area. Manufacturing area will be increased to more than 50,000 square feet, it was noted. General contractor is Tonn and Blank, Michigan City.

April 16, 1981: Indiana wins bout with Germany

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on April 16, 1981.

Indiana wins bout with Germany

by Jim Ecker

International wrestling in Valpo

Jim Popp (bottom) of Chesterton gets two points for exposing Richard Krausert’s back to the mat during the Viking International Wrestling Meet Wednesday night. Making the call is Wilfred Petrak of West Germany, the mat official. Later, Petrak disqualified Popp in a controversial decision with the score tied 11-11.

(V-M: Kathy Steinbach)

It’s a good thing the United States and West Germany are friendly allies in the world of foreign affairs. Otherwise, sparks from Wednesday night’s Viking International Wrestling Meet might have ignited World War III smack dab in the Valparaiso High School gym.

More than 1,000 wrestling fans saw the Northwest Indiana team win nine of 13 matches from the West Germans, and also witnessed some international intrigue as the referees ー two from the United States and one from Germany ー didn’t always agree on the interpretation of freestyle and Greco-Roman rules.

Minor disagreements came to a head in the meet’s sixth bout, a 136-pound match between Jim Popp of Chesterton, a 1981 Indiana state champion, and Richard Krausert of Goldbach, West Germany, a 1980-81 Hessian champ.

That Greco-Roman match was tied 11-11 with 49 seconds left when the mat official ー Wilfried Petrak of West Germany ー suddenly stopped the action and awarded the bout to Krausert. The side officials ー Jerry Bratcher of Merrillville and Paul Green of Indianapolis ー looked bewildered, but were powerless to overrule Petrak, who alternated with Bratcher and Green as the head official.

Petrak apparently ruled that Popp had violated Greco-Roman guidelines, which prohibit leg action and stress upper-body maneuvers. Petrak had also warned Popp to be more aggressive during the match. But nobody knew exactly what transpired, and a language barrier shrouded the decision in mystery.

“I don’t think we still understand why the guy called Popp out,” said VHS wrestling coach John Cook, the program director. “He (Petrak) was very definitely standing up for his boy. It happens in the Olympics. It happens at the international meet in Joliet (where the West Germans are headed later this month).”

Popp, confused by the proceedings, nonetheless took the outcome in stride. “I guess I’ll survive,” he said. And what happened? “I don’t speak German.”

Later in the evening, an exhibition match between Robin Haddox of Chesterton and Werner Posselmann, a trainer for the West Germans and older than the other contestants, produced some tense moments when Posselmann gave Haddox a head slap. Some of the fans ー especially Haddox’s father ー took exception to the maneuver, but cooler heads prevailed.

There was action from start to finish last night, as the international freestyle and Greco-Roman rules encouraged aggressive, wideopen bouts. The Northwest Indiana grapplers earned a 3-3 split in matches wrestled under Greco-Roman rules, which are commonplace in Germany. And the Americans grabbed a 6-1 edge in freestyle contests, which are more common here.

“We held our own in Greco-Roman,” noted Valpo’s Cook. “In freestyle we had the advantage. We attacked the legs ー that’s our style.”

State champions Dave Lilovich of Michigan City, Rogers and Ken Taroli of Hammond both solved the Greco-Roman riddle, Lilovich winning by pin and Taroli taking an 8-6 verdict. Vince Stigler of LaPorte also captured a Greco-Roman bout with a stitch in 1:22, the fastest pin of the night.

Three Valparaiso High School grapplers ー Mark Remijan, John Hay and Greg Emig ー chalked up victories in freestyle competition. Little Remijan won 8-0 at 88 pounds, Hay got a pin in 4:36 and Emig prevailed 9-4. “Our kids did very well,: said Cook, who called the entire program a success.

Tim Walsworth of Chesterton, Rodney Robison of Lowell and Ben Puntillo of Highland were the other freestyle winners for Indiana. Walsworth won 13-1 in 5:46, with the match stopped when the point spread reached 12. Robison worked for a quick pin in 1:37, while Puntillo recovered from an early 6-0 deficit to stick his man in 1:53.

The meet was held under the auspices of the Indiana State Wrestling Association in conjunction with the Amateur Athletic Union. The Viking Wrestling Club organized the meet in Valparaiso. The Valparaiso High School foreign exchange club and student-faculty senate assisted with the visit, as did the local Kiwanis club.

Special recognition should go to Lew Rhinehart, the VHS sophomore basketball coach and German teacher who served as an announcer, interpreter and international peacekeeper.