10 Years Ago Citizens Police Academy graduates, Nov. 10: Patrick Brown, Tina Dunkleberger, Teresa Dittmar, Deb Shilling, Janet Rupp, Sherri Shafer, Deon Dittmar, Kris Madison, Joyce Norris, De Strang, Kathy Hamman, Jim Smith, Bob McClurg, Marc Weissman, Trent Shively and Nicole Derenzo. Award plaques were given to three alumni: Trish Marshall, administrative; Shirley Swartz, president’s award; Laura Curtis, alumni of the year. Winona Lake Fire Chief Roger Gelbaugh presented the Fireman of the Year Award to Ed Ksiezopolski and the Service Award to Ron Sellers at their Christmas dinner and award ceremony Dec. 11. Chief’s awards went to Assistant Chief Kip Shuter, Rick Hurley, Mitch Titus and Chad Harter. 25 Years Ago Bruce and Ann Howe’s home, four miles south of Warsaw on County Farm Road, once again has one of the most outstanding and largest electrical Christmas displays in the Midwest. There are more than 60,000 lights, 8,000 more than last year. Visitors are greeted from the roadside by a huge four-foot by four-foot 400-watt electric Santa Claus. The Star of Bethlehem is displayed in a giant tree; a cherry picker was used for this installation as Bruce and Ann do all the other work. They also have a 12-foot tree in their home with several hundred lights. Bruce secured parts of the display from his friend, Charles Finley, LaPorte. Mike Hall, Leesburg, and his son, Kevin, 11, braved the cold Sunday afternoon for some ice fishing on Chapman Lake. It was their first time on the ice this season, the ice being about three inches thick. 50 Years Ago Washington School Hornets won six games with no losses in the elementary football league, according to Principal Francis Reece: Steve Tarner, Dennis Manning, Steve Bair, Mike Simpson, John Wallace, Bob Longenecker, Mike Donovan, Fred Ramsey, Mike Deeter and Coach Roland Fletcher. Cheerleaders are Karen Jensen, Janet Klier and Joan Taylor. Mayor Joe Johnson has named Pat Ragan, sanitation superintendent, to the dual post of street commissioner/sanitation superintendent starting Jan. 1, 1965, succeeding Marion “Lefty” Konkle, present street commissioner. Sgt. Donald Snyder becomes chief of police, succeeding Eugene Brumfield who reverts to patrolman. The post of meter maid, presently held by Martha Bruner, will be dissolved. 75 Years Ago Atwood’s Wilma Cochran, member of the singing “Hoosierettes” heard frequently over Radio Station WOWO in Fort Wayne, is on her way to Tucson, Ariz., for several months. “The Sweater Hop” is the first social of the year sponsored by the Girls Athletic Association. The dance will be held a week from tonight in the newly-constructed high school gymnasium, with their newly-organized orchestra providing the program. They have been playing extra splendidly during rehearsals: Edward Treesh, Forrest Schrader and Cameron Robinson, saxophones; Stan Smith and Robert Kelly, trumpets; Roger Kelly, bass; Jerry Lessig, drums; Argel Brallier, piano. Treesh doubles on accordion; Robinson doubles on clarinet.
