Remember When for Jan. 21, 2009

Compiled by Cassie Schroder

5 years ago
From the Tribune-News, Wednesday, January 21, 2004

Dawn and Dan Friedman, the owners of Friedman’s Finer Foods grocery store was closing. There was a 50% off everything must go sale in progress. The grocery building was sold to National Oil Company, in October and the Friedman’s were leasing the store. A sickness in the family caused them to need to close and return full-time to Arkansas.
The Whitko BPA competed at the District Leadership Conference and brought home 37 awards. Those participating in the competition were: Jennifer Keplinger, Katie Strandlund, Dawn Bayles, Kate Gerard, Kelly Wall, Kendra Craycraft, Amanda Busz, Katie Trump, Diane Beets, Jaclyn Glaze, Alyssa Newswanger, Serena Miner, McKenzie Swihart, Jayanna Begley, Shelby Kreger, Abby Iddles and Ron Wilson.
Several children were pictured as Citizens of Tomorrow. Those children were Nathan and Abigail Smith; Carter and Claire Keirn; Karson and Keaton Gilson; Keegan John and Lynsi Jo Hicks; Jordan, Jaiden and Trevor Gilbert; Sydney Krider, Griffin and Nash Brown; and Jared, Nick and Stacie Francis. Those children featured were from South Whitley and North Manchester.
Forty-two people braved the cold weather to attend the South Whitley Chamber of Commerce Annual Recognition Banquet held at Eberly’s Hall. Several attendees were honored for their participation in the revitalization project. Those honored were: Shep Moyle, Simon Dragan, Alan Fox, Dennis Eberhart, Kent Slater, Ron Anderson, David Mains, Bill Harter, Lanny Idle, John Whitt, Joni Walker, and Mike Defreew.

10 years ago
From the Tribune-News, Wednesday, January 20, 1999

Schools were closed due to winter weather conditions. Pierceton residents stayed busy by going sledding and ice fishing. Brothers Brian and Josh Lardino and Travis Spangler enjoyed making a “sled train” and traveled the streets of Pierceton. Chris Alley, Tommy Roberts and Jeremiah Eckert went ice fishing on their favorite pond just outside Pierceton.
Jonathon Damon, the South Whitley Park Board Secretary submitted a drawing of a new fountain idea to the Whitley County Foundation. The fountain was an idea that would be added to the South Whitley Town Park. The drawing was accepted and the County Foundation awarded $3,000 for the project.
Children around town were pictured as Citizens of Tomorrow. Some children pictured were: Samuel, Alexis and Emma Darley; Tony, Jolene and Todd Reed; Casey and Wesley Renshler; Curtis and Amanda Shepherd; and Gabrielle Anglin.
The South Whitely Town council elected Glee Eberly as president for 1999. The position was previously held by Tony Starkey.
Unusual weather conditions struck the Whitko area again. Tuesday, the weather became very severe due to the flowing snow accumulation. The canopy at the car wash was broken off because of heavy weight of snow. Then on Sunday a fierce thunderstorm hit and the area was pummeled with rain and lightning.

25 years ago
From the South Whitley Tribune - Pierceton News, Tuesday, January 24, 1984

Dale Haupert announced his candidacy for the Whitko School Board. He served earlier from 1976-1980 one year of that he served as Board President. His wife Elaine, and sons Vince and Jason, lived on a farm south of South Whitley.
The Whitko School Board released a copy of their brochure seeking a Superintendent of Schools. The Superintendent position would become vacant on July 1, 1984, as J.O Smith’s contract was not renewed.
The South Whitley ambulance garage in South Whitley was undergoing an expansion. South Whitley Emergency Medical Technicians and friends had been busy working on the expansions. Those involved in the expansion work were: John Able, Floyd Bolinger, Ray Bowers, John Whitt, Jim Anderson, Harold King and Dennis Norris.
The old Whitley Products Inc. building in Pierceton was sold to Lake City Bank. Mrs. Rosemary Parsons, local realtor and president of the Chamber of Commerce; Mr. Randy Lowe, vice president of Whitley Products; Gary Lyon, vice- president of branching operations at Lake City Bank; and Kenneth L. Rucker, vice-president at Lake City Bank were present to finalize the deal.
The United Methodist Senior High Youth was going to Haiti for a work program at the Grace Children’s Hospital. The members included: David Bruch, Kim and Missy Copeland, Dana and Chad Geer, Terry Nicodemus, Tim Ridenour, Kristine Shupe, Jeff Sickafoose, Amy and Eric Wagner and Pastor Dan Berger.

50 years ago
From the South Whitley Tribune, Thursday, January 22, 1959

The South Whitley Business Men’s Association held a meeting and appointed officers. Rex Irelan was appointed president; Larry Pressler, vice-president; and Joe Geyer, secretary-treasurer. The Business Men’s Association is comparable to the Chamber of Commerce in larger cities.
The small gravel pit located on Ray Bowers property was safe for ice skating and sliding. The owner requested that people wishing to go ice fishing use the larger pits so the smaller one would be safe for children. Mr. Bower purchased the property from Bertha Bricker.
Local students competed in the speech contest held at the local high school. Martha Harshman and Pat Bresnahan represented South Whitley High School and received superior ratings with their humorous readings. Also receiving superior ratings were Carolyn Shaffer and Tom L. Hontz of Larwill.
Six South Whitley men completed Marine “boot camp” at San Diego, California. Those six men were: Private First Class Donald D. Hollar, 20; PFC Robert C. Stidham, 18; Private Russell C. Cagnon Jr., 19; Pvt. Fred Cruz Jr., 19; Pvt. Gerald N. Arnett, 21; and Pvt. Edward D. Schwartz, 19.

65 years ago
From the South Whitley Tribune, Thursday, January 20, 1944

A group of local boys from ages 10-12 formed a new club known as “Future Champions of America”. The clubs purpose was to collect scrap materials for the war effort. Over ten days the boys collected over one thousand pounds of scrap paper. That paper was sold and they purchased war stamps with the income. Those boys forming the club were Tommy Michael, David Bollinger, Roger Thomson, Nolan Bohnstedt, Charles Eaton, Joe Michael, Gene Wise and Wayne Stewart.
The local Church of God was to begin a series of Revival meetings. Reverend H.M. Riggle of Anderson was secured as the evangelist. Rev. Riggle was in great demand for his efforts so it was hard for the church to secure him for the meetings. He had preached more than 14,000 sermons in the more than 50 years spent in the ministry.