May 14, 1951: Fox Population Is Depleted

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on May 14, 1951.

Fox Population Is Depleted

GENE BURSZEWSKI, Wheeler rural route resident, poses with 10 of the 11 foxes bagged by he and his ‘hunting’ party on the Schumacher farm two miles south and east of Wheeler Sunday. The group drowned out the foxes and the clubbed them with sticks. With Gene were Louis, John and Otto Gruel of the Wheeler area. The group was out last night looking for more of the animals when the above picture was snapped.

(V-M Staff Photo)

May 13, 1931: Porter County Going Forward Making Way for Prosperity

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on May 13, 1931.

Porter County Going Forward Making Way for Prosperity

Every true citizen has faith in Valparaiso and Porter county, and is loyal to it. But a city or county cannot remain great and achieve greater greatness on faith and loyalty alone. It must have normal amounts of money and credit flowing through the marts of commerce and the reservoirs of industry to stimulate business, put money into the workers pockets and absorb the offerings of trade.

The man or woman who has faith in Valparaiso and Porter county and is loyal to them can show this to the best advantage now by buying in Valparaiso and Porter county. Many have ample resources and permanent jobs or positions, but they are not doing this, they have been putting money away, for a rainy day. Some of them have planned for a flood such as Noah saw.

This is socially and economically wrong. Stunted buying makes for the loss of jobs, the closing of factories and business houses, vast unemployment in lines not directly connected with the line in which business has fallen off. NOW is the TIME to show faith in Valparaiso and Porter county by spending money for reasonable and necessary goods and service. We must remember that Valparaiso is a growing city which needs the full SUPPORT of every citizen to achieve its magnificent destiny.

FORWARD INDUSTRIAL PORTER COUNTY.

May 12, 1951: Hollywood Brunette Finds Valparaiso Is ‘Romantic’

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on May 12, 1951.

Hollywood Brunette Finds Valparaiso Is ‘Romantic’

By JOHN HARMON

What does a Hollywood screen actress think of Valparaiso?

Miss Margaret Field, playing one of the lead roles in the motion picture being produced on the Valparaiso university campus, chowed enthusiasm campus, showed enthusiasm about the city and the picture when interviewed by a reporter for The Vidette-Messenger.

“It’s a lovely city,” Miss Field said and then added ー “A very romantic little place.”

The pretty brunette, who is starred in a film now being released in Hollywood, had more to say on the subject:

“I think Valparaiso university would be a very wonderful place to go to school.”

When asked about the VU picture, the Hollywood actress was even more enthusiastic:

“It’s a very fine picture and I am happy to have a part in it. It should be a great inspiration because it tells a story and will be even more impressive because it is based on true facts of what actually happened, as I understand them.”

The picture, titled “Faith That Moves Mountains,” was inspired by the university students who built the engineering laboratories on the local campus three years ago.

On TV, Too

Miss Field, who was under contract to Paramount Pictures for four-and-one-half years, will soon be seen in the lead role of the film “The Man From Planet X”ーjust released. Among her other achievements is a leading role in “Solitaire,” a television program sponsored by The Fireside Theatre to be released over TV channels in September. She was graduated from Pasadena Junior college where she was studying when a Hollywood talent scout discovered her.

Working on the set here Friday was Hollywood Actor Monte Blue who will be remembered for his star roles in silent films. Also on location at the university campus yesterday was Charles Lane, one of the top characters in the movie colony. Both men flew from Hollywood Thursday and returned to the motion picture capital today after contributing their part to the film.

Miss Field was not the only member of the Hollywood party who expressed enthusiasm about the town Guy V. Thayer, Jr., vice president of Roland Reed Productions, Inc., and associate producer of the film, told The Vidette-Messenger:

“The cooperation here has been wonderful and we are about a day ahead of schedule. If it hadn’t been for the rain we would have been even further ahead.”

Other Hollywood people taking parts in the movie include Miss Marjorie Lord, Robert Clark, Jimmy Lloyd, Clark Howatt, Tom Neal, Summer Getchell, Ralph Brook and Don Hayden.

The picture is directed by Frank Strayer.

Actress Says She Likes Valparaiso

HOLLYWOOD ACTRESS Miss Margaret Field, who has a part in the motion picture being produced on the Valparaiso university campus, tells V-M Sports Editor John Harmon all about the movie in a special interview at Hotel Lembke here. Harmon, incidentally, is scheduled to have a small bit in the picture, playing the part of a visiting sports writer who has come to see the Valparaiso university Crusaders play basketball. The picture is being produced by Roland Reed Productions, Inc., of Hollywood.

(V-M Staff Photo)

May 11, 1961: Postal Force Is Moving At Chesterton

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on May 11, 1961.

Postal Force Is Moving At Chesterton

By ADELYNE RUOFF

CHESTERTON ー Today was moving day for the Chesterton postal force. From now on the government employes will occupy their new 82x50 feet building on Third and Broadway, Postmaster Irvin Dolk announced.

The building, which contains twice the floor space of the old postoffice, was built by the Morgan Construction company. It has an exterior of brick and Luxite Coolite plate glass. Free offstreet parking is also provided on the west side of the building.

There are 274 boxes available to patrons at the new building, compared to the 200 which were provided formerly. A loading dock is located in the rear of the building for incoming and outgoing mail. The working area is newly equipped.

CHESTERTON POSTOFFICE TO OPEN
Chesterton’s new postoffice at Broadway and Fourth, is scheduled to be turned over to town’s postal authorities this weekend, according to contractor on job Wednesday. Most of exterior parking lot and landscaping has been completed. Carpenters were working on necessary interior fixtures for new postal unit, for which ground was broken by Rep. Charles A. Halleck last November.

(V-M Staff Photo)

12,500 People Served

The Chesterton postoffice serves 12,500 people, Dolk noted. This number includes all of Westchester, part of Portage, Liberty, Jackson and Pine township. The local postoffice is expected to lose about 300 families now serviced by Chesterton, when the new Portage postoffice is completed, Dolk noted.

There are four city routes and a new route will be added this summer. Three rural route carriers cover more than 135 miles per day. In the new building there is window service from Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 5 p.m.; and Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon.

Gross receipts have increased 75 percent within the last five years, Dolk stated. The local office was advanced to first class rating in 1955.

The first postoffice was established in Chesterton in 1835 and was called Coffee Creek. This postoffice was situated one mile east of the present town of Chesterton. In December of 1849 the name was changed from Coffee Creek to Calumet.

The Village of Calumet, which took its name from the postoffice, was laid out in 1852 along the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern railroad, which later joined railroad, which later joined with the New York Central railroad.

In 1869, the Village of Calumet was incorporated into a town, and the name was changed to Chesterton. The 187- the Postoffice department designated the name of the local postoffice as Chesterton.

Serves 7 Years

Postmaster Dolk has served the Chesterton area for seven and one half years. He is a life-long resident of the community.

His assistant is Owen Gavagan. Additional employes are Robert Thoesen, Eugene Groff, Margaret Johnston, Allen Fuller, Lawrence DeKoker, Harry Ray, Albert Bushore, Donald Sabinski, Charles O’Brian, and Ronald Schroeder.

Rural carriers are Richard Wagner, Robert Carlson and John Hoover. Rural assistants are Florence Nelson and Ralph Stinchcomb. Custodian is August Janoski.

Postmaster Dolk said the expanded facilities will enable the local office to expedite service. however , he noted, it will still be up to the patron to make certain the mailing addresses are complete and legible.

May 10, 1986: Cruise-control measure on agenda

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on May 10, 1986.

Cruise-control measure on agenda

by Pat Randle

Staff writer

Brain McMillan, 16, skate boards downtown Friday night

(V-M: Kathy Woodward)

Valparaiso may outlaw skateboarding in commercial areas, loitering, and standing or sitting on cars in an attempt to control teenage cruising on Lincolnway.

An ordinance designed to end problems created by the weekend cruise will be introduced to the City Council when it meets at 7:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall.

The effect to the law probably would be to close down the cruise, Police Chief Walter Lamberson said.

On Friday and Saturday nights, teenagers and others cruise the Lincolnway strip. Some ride in cars. Others walk, skate or skateboard along sidewalks, stopping to talk with friends in cars or on foot.

The cruise is so popular that it congests traffic.

And it upsets downtown business owners and some adults who want to go downtown or just drive across Lincolnway after dusk on weekends.

Last year the city proposed an ordinance, but tabled the issue and asked cruisers to control themselves.

City officials apparently have decided that has not worked.

The proposal would make it unlawful to loiter in any public place, to stand or sit on vehicles in any public street, and to roller skate or skateboard on any roadway or sidewalk in a commercial zone, according to the agenda for Monday’s council meeting.

To enforce the new laws, city police would be paid overtime to work Friday and Saturday nights, Lamberson said.

“Once the ordinance is passed we’re going to try and get some officers to work overtime for the areas where there are problems.”

Volunteer police will be used as well, Lamberson said.

“Along with the ordinance, heavy enforcement is going to have to take place in order to control the problem or alleviate it.”

City police worked with other officials, including City Attorney Brad Koeppen and members of the city’s cruiser control committee, to gather information for the new ordinance.

Lamberson and others looked at the laws other cities use.

May 12, 1951: Sunday Is Mom's Day

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on May 12, 1951.

Sunday Is Mom’s Day

MOTHER’S DAY isn’t an entirely work-free day for mom as Mrs. Victor Hokanson illustrates above. The Porter woman is shown with a grandchild, Lynn, 5, making preparations to greet her eight children and their families tomorrow. There will be 28 people present at the Hokanson home Sunday. It’s a potluck affair, but Mrs. Hokanson is preparing a few of her favorite dishes. Those planning to help her celebrate are Atty. Maynard Hokanson, wife and two children of Indianapolis; Mrs. Arnold Bonander, a daughter, her husband and three children, Mrs. Jack Gawley, a daughter, her husband and child, and Mrs. Wendell Green, a daughter, and her husband, all of Chicago; Mr. and mrs. Alvin Hokanson and two children; Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Hokanson and two children, Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Hokanson and two children, all of Porter, and Clarence Hokanson, youngest son, who lives with his mother.

(Saidla Studio Photo)

May 8, 1981: Planting for Mom

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on May 8, 1981.

Planting for Mom

Primary teachers and 85 students from Brummitt School in Chesterton stopped at the Samuelson Nursery Thursday on their way to lunch at the Dunes National Lakeshore. With the help of nursery owners Max and Fran Samuelson, each child planted a plant (we can’t tell what it is) for their mothers for Mother’s Day. To keep the plant a secret until Sunday, only fathers were allowed to chaperone the trip

Teacher Alma Hall uses the colorful and fragrant setting to talk to the students about the wildflowers they will hunt for at the park after lunch.

(V-M photos: Nancy Pekarek)

Nick Dailey (above) packs soil around his special plant.

(V-M photos: Nancy Pekarek)

During the tour (above) the children walked through greenhouses, saw flowers being watered, looked at various seedlings and learned how the soil is cleaned by being baked in a hopper.

(V-M photos: Nancy Pekarek)

May 7, 1956: Multiflora Roses Planted At Dunes State Park

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on May 7, 1956.

Multiflora Roses Planted At Dunes State Park

RICHARD ALLISON, VHS shop teacher (upper right), directed multiflora roses planting Saturday at Dunes State Park to prevent erosion on sandy slopes. The first shift planted about a thousand of them when the rains came. Edward Weisse, of Chesterton, assistant principal of Evans school, Hobart, was in charge of the group camp which included 110 pupils of the sixth to eighth grades at Evans school.