Dorothy Jerse
Special to the Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE —
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
2000
• The Vigo County Council approved a transfer of $214,000, the amount collected from the wheel tax since Jan. 1, to use for paving and repairing roads.
• The Gathering of the People powwow was staged at the Vigo County Conservation Club grounds located off U.S. 40 east of Terre Haute. Brenda Maconaquah Lindley, a Wea, celebrated “the first time any member of my tribe danced in Terre Haute since the U.S. government removed Native Americans from Indiana nearly 175 years ago.”
• David Nowack, Terre Haute amateur photographer, won the Anheuser-Busch Inc. Blue Waters contest. His winning entry was featured on a billboard in front of 2212 S. Third St.
n William C. Minnis, director of the Center for Research and Management at Indiana State University and publisher of the Terre Haute Journal of Business, resigned from the university to accept a faculty position at Eastern Illinois University.
n In response to complaints, the Vigo County board of commissioners approved an ordinance designed to control any source of loud noise generated in the county, with fines set for violators.
1985
n Cathy Rose, a Indiana State University student, reigned as queen over the 1985 Vigo County Fair.
• Kim Parker was the first woman inducted into the Terre Haute Jaycees. A 1984 U.S. Supreme Court ruling had opened membership to women.
• Ku Klux Klan Imperial Wizard James Blair reported that Klan members from at least seven states were participating in a rally on his farm near Mansfield in Parke County. Wesley J. Lyda, local NAACP president, acknowledged that the KKK had “a legal right to assemble.” The last KKK rally took place in 1973 when robed Klansmen marched through the streets of Rockville.
• Terre Haute North won 9-2 over host West Terre Haute in the championship game of the District 4 Little League Tournament. Scott Gilson was the winning pitcher.
• The Rev. Cecil Fuson, Evelyn Shook, Susan Fuson, Floye Federick and Vina Redifer were the officers of the Golden Age Club meeting at the Dreiser Square Community Center.
• Dolores Hedges succeeded Carolyn Toops as executive director of the Vigo County Taxpayers Association.
1960
• O’Days was celebrating the grand opening of its “most modern air-conditioned downtown restaurant” at 673 Wabash Ave. and the second anniversary of O’Day’s Drive-in restaurant at 2645 Wabash Ave. A nine-cent chocolate milkshake was offered at each location.
• The Terre Haute Babe Ruth League Inc. hosted the single-elimination District Babe Ruth All-Star Tournament at Memorial Stadium. Ten All-Star teams from cities surrounding Terre Haute competed for the right to represent the 7th District in the State Finals at Anderson, with Plainfield winning the tournament.
• Nineteen mail truck drivers received awards for safe driving performances from the U.S. Post Office Department. Heading the list with 30-year records were Noah A. Goodman and Benjamin F. Figg, who retired after 36 years service.
• Band students from Garfield, Gerstmeyer and Wiley high schools presented the annual school-city summer recreation program concert. Leslie Evinger, Malcolm Scott and Leslie Bain were the directors.
• Union Laundry-Dry Cleaners, 117-129 N. Third St., advertised family laundry service at “5 lbs., only $1.49; additional lbs., 16 cents each.”
