Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
2000
• Girls high school basketball sectional champions included Terre Haute South Vigo in the Terre Haute North Sectional and West Vigo in the Class 1A Edgewood Sectional. Alan Maroska and Dave Cassel were the coaches.
• The Indiana State University Board of Trustees named Lloyd W. Benjamin III of Valdosta State in Georgia as ISU’s 10th president.
n Jim Cook, Terre Haute North Vigo tennis coach was inducted into the Indiana High School Tennis Hall of Fame at Indianapolis. He had coached tennis at West Vigo before moving to Terre Haute North in 1993.
n The Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department conducted its 14th Maple Syrup, Pancake and Sausage Breakfast in Fowler Park. The syrup was made from the sap tapped from trees in Prairie Creek Park.
n Allied Wholesale Electrical Supply Inc. and Lighting Center celebrated its grand opening at 950 Ohio St., former location of Terre Haute Electric.
n Tim Weir, local antique expert, presented “The Art of Collecting” and evaluated items at the “Tea and Treasures” program at the Vigo County Public Library.
1985
n Joe Melvin retired from the Terre Haute Fire Department after 31 years of service. He had been appointed to the department in 1954 by Mayor Ralph Tucker.
n Henry Barnhill received the top award from the Terre Haute Branch of the NAACP and the local chapter of the Negro Business & Professional Women’s Club at a dinner at Gran-ma Joy’s Restaurant.
n Five Wabash Valley troops were participating in the national Daisy Girl Scouts pilot program for girls of kindergarten age. Jane Davison, assistant executive director of the Girl Scout Covered Bridge Council, expected the program to go full-scale the following year.
n United War Veterans Council of Vigo County installed these new officers: Lester Curtis, James Helmick, Fred Schwartz, Harold Zenor and Lewis Berry.
n The Terre Haute South Vigo High School team, coached by Bernie Ridens, defended its crown in the Junior Engineering Technical Society (JETS) regional competition at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. The North Central team coached by Terry Keaton, was the first place winner in the small school category.
1960
n The Terre Haute City Council unanimously approved a resolution calling for voters to be allowed to vote on the fluoridation of the city’s drinking water supply in the May primary election. The ordinance providing for fluoridation had been repealed at the January meeting.
n The Smith Park Methodist Church of the Ferguson Hill community, northwest of West Terre Haute, was dedicated. The Rev. James R. Dickey was the pastor.
n Jack Thrasher Ford Sales, 3033 Wabash Ave., advertised a 1960 Ford priced at $1,895 with a $58.50 monthly payment plan available.
n John F. Roetker, Wiley High School and Indiana State Teachers College graduate, was named personnel director at St. Anthony Hospital.
n The Vigo County Historical Society hosted a dinner at the Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church followed by a tribute to the late Guy Stantz at the museum. Ben Blumberg had funded the new Guy Stantz Room on the lower level.
n Teddy Stump and Julie White, Wiley High School Y-Teens, chaired the annual Sweetheart Dance at the Terre Haute House Mayflower Room.
