Remember When for 18 March

5 years ago
From the Tribune-News, Wednesday,
March 17, 2004
South Whitley Town Utility Department staff members Kent Slater, David Mains, Dennis Eberhart and Ron Anderson installed new “old-style” street lights on the Eel River bridge last week. The lights are part of the Downtown Revitalization Project.
Cub Scout Pack 3085 received a donation of $400 from Biomet, Inc. to be applied toward a new Pine Wood Derby Track. Larry Feasby filled out the request for the money. This donation is a big step towards their goal of $1,500. Donations to date exceed $900, and include donations from local businesses, Tim Smith Construction and John Dunn’s Barbershop.
South Whitley’s Kent Theatre was recently named “Reader’s Choice” for theaters in the area from a survey by the Columbia City Post and Mail Newspaper. Larry and Libby Reynolds purchased the theatre from the Lebrun family and have been operating the theatre for 4 1/2 years. The Reynolds have maintained the historic character of the theatre while making many renovations to provide quality movie entertainment. The theatre has a wide screen and a seating capacity of 230. The seating has been refurbished to provide comfortable unobstructed view. The seats are designed for the sloped floor and represent the latest technology with cup holders.
The ticket price ($3.50) and concession prices are less than half of any surrounding and/or proposed theatre in the area.

10 years ago
From the Tribune-News, Wednesday,
March 17, 1999
Pierceton Elementary School has received a $5,000 grant from the Dekko Foundation to continue the Cubs Connecting with Computers program.
Cubs Connecting with Computers is an after school computer enrichment program in which third and fourth grade students have been participating. In this computer enrichment class, students have identified how to access information on the computer network and have gained a lot of knowledge. The computer enrichment class has been a great experience to further develop a partnership among students, teachers, parents, administraors and our entire school community.
The Lynch dental offices on State Street in South Whitley have recently undergone extensive renovation both inside and out. The renovation includes an all-new exterior, expansion into the adjacent space to the north, and new carpet and furnishings.
Steve Reiff, Inc. moved last week into their new office building a few miles south of South Whitley. The all-new structure is located on the former site of Coble Farm Equipment. Their formers offices were destroyed by fire last year.

20 years ago
From the Tribune-News, Wednesday,
March 15, 1989
The Dr. Manasseh Cutler Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution of North Manchester, presented the South Whitley - Cleveland Township Public Library with several books recently, in memory of a former member, Mrs. Furel R. Burns, Honorary Vice President General of the DAR.
South Whitley Elementary School recently held their spelling bee. Winners from the fourth and fifth grades were Colleen Tucker, Susan Dome, Ben Staller and Chad Eviston. In the fourth grade category, Colleen placed second and Susan placed first. In the fifth grade, Chad was first place winner and Ben was second.
Pierceton - The 10th Annual Three Rivers Conference Jr. High Wrestling Tourney was held on March 11 at Whitko High School with 9 schools participating; N. Manchester, Northfield, North Miami, Oak Hill, Pierceton, Rochester, Southwood, South Whitley and Tippecanoe Valley. Those wrestlers receiving ribbons or medals from the Pierceton Middle School were: Terry Stoddard - 2nd; Nathan DeLaCruz - 1st; Josh Gilbert - 4th; Jack Funnell - 2nd; Jimmy Pearcy - 3rd; Matt Yates - 4th; Danny Garwood - 3rd; Brent Kilbourne - 1st; Dean Adkins - 1st; Adam Robbins - 2nd; Lester Bays - 2nd; Rodney Ousley - 3rd; Shawn Castillo - 1st; Mike Whetsel - 2nd; Jeremy Wilhelm - 1st; and Tim Hall - 3rd. Coaches were Tony Phillips, Tim Smith and Billy Smith.
Whitko High School Jazz Band received a First Division Rating at the Indiana State School Music Association Jazz Contest in Fort Wayne on Saturday, March 4. The contest was held at Snider High School. Whitko played “A Little Minor Booze”, “Come In From the Rain”, and “Blue Suede Shoes”. Band director Mike Clark remarked that the soloists did “an outstanding job,” according to the judges. The three solo performers were Pat Foreman, Kevin Harter and Natalie Lude.

25 years ago
From the Tribune-News, Wednesday,
March 21, 1984
Pierceton - Mr. Paul Wood and Mr. Dave Diffendarfer, along with Fire Chief Merritt Hyndman, presented a program of safety and electricity last Thursday evening at the Pierceton Community Building.
The Pierceton Fire Department was the host to the Kosciusko County Fire Departments, the Sheriff’s Depts., E.M.S. and any other people interested in safety when working around electricity. Mr. Dave Diffendarfer, the Safety Co-ordinator for Whitley County R.E.M.C. and Mr. Paul Wood, Supervisor for Outside Services gave the large crowd attending a very informative and intersting presentation concerning the safety of those involved when fighting fires and rescuing those involved in accidents.
Midge’s Beauty Salon in South Whitley advertises a Spring special - perfect touch perms for $22.
The rains of last Thursday evening caused the Goble Drain (Sugar Creek) to rise high with water and wash out the bridge on County Road 475W in southeastern Cleveland Township about 4 miles east of South Whitley. The washed-out bridge is located about 1/2 miles off of State Road 14 at 475W near the Marge and Paul Kite residence.
County highway crews were busy most of Friday refilling the washed-out area with dirt and packing it down. By mid-afternoon the bridge was again usable. These same rivers caused the Eel River to rise to flood level in the area through the South Whitley Park and along Johnson Brothers and the Wastewater Treatment Plant. No damage was reported as the level began going down before it reached the adjacent properties. Everyone had visions of a repeat of the flood two years ago, but the rains stopped and the river subsided on Friday.

50 years ago
From the South Whitley Tribune,
Thursday, March 19, 1959
The South Whitley Lions Club held its regular meeting Monday evening at the Veterans of Foreign Wars hall. After the usual enjoyable dinner the members were called to order by President Russell Baker for a business meeting which took the place of the entertainment portion of the program.
It was decided to sponsor the annual Easter Egg Hunt. The Easter Egg Hunt had formerly been sponsored by the Business Men’s Association of South Whitley, but was given up this year by that organization. The Delta Theta Tau Sorority will be co-sponsor of the event. It was also decided to put on a minstrel show. This show is planned for April 24 and April 25.
The barn on the Edward Blain farm just north of Larwill was completely destroyed by fire yesterday afternoon. The cause of the fire is not known but is believed that sparks from a nearby brush fire might have caused the fire. Three tractors and a truck stored in the barn were saved with the exception of one tractor which was damaged when the wiring caught fire. Other small implements and numerous small articles stored in the barn as feeders, tools, etc., were lost.
Bayman’s Superette advertises the following specials: pork tenderloin - 89 cents per lb.; fresh stuffed sausage - 49 cents per lb.; meaty spare ribs - 45 cents per lb.; Burgers milk - 60 cents/gallon and Burgers ice cream - 89 cents/gallon.

65 years ago
From the South Whitley Tribune
Thursday, March 16, 1944
The senior “Lucky Leaf” 4-H Club of Cleveland township met March 14 to elect officers. The results of the election are as follows: President, Glee Penrod; Vice-President, Patty Bayman; Secretary-Treasurer, Pollyanna Mink; Assistant Secretary-Treasurer, Helen Hollman; News Reporter, Alda Jean Krudop; Song Leader, Carolyn Dickerson; and Pianist, Helen Cook. This year we have an enrollment of 49 in both Junior and Senior clubs.
Another class of aerial triggermen to guard Army Air Forces’ bombers has graduated this week from the Harlingen Army Air Field at Harlingen, Texas, aerial gunnery school of the AAF Training Command, and among the qualified “Sharpsooters of the Sky” was Sgt. Robert Richards, foster son of Mrs. Orthos E. Mink of Route 1. Along with his diploma he received a pair of Aerial Gunner’s wings and a promotion in grade at brief graduation exercises. After a brief delay in route to visit his relatives and friends, he will join an aerial combat team, unless retained at Harlingen to serve as a gunnery instructor.






















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































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