10 Years Ago Daniel Stichter, Etna Green, was one of 40 Indiana high school students named 2005 Indianapolis Star Indiana Academic All-Stars. When asked which school employee was the most influential to him, Stichter named his physical education teacher and football coach at Triton High School, Rodney Younis. David A. Singleton, a senior at Lakeland Christian Academy, has won an R.R. Donnelley & Sons-sponsored Merit Scholarship. Milford is celebrating National Library Week. Patrons who visit during the week are encouraged to take home a packet of seeds to help their imaginations grow. Reading the most books in the children’s department: Jessica Beer, Austine Swanson, Tae Wright, Jake Wilde, Bryce Wuthrich and Cassie Martinez. 25 Years Ago Tippecanoe Valley’s prom transformed the dance room at Grissom Air Force Base into “Heaven.” The committee built an 11-foot, four-tower castle which was transported to Grissom and set up under the 12-foot ceiling from which more than 1,000 balloons floated, some formed into clouds. Miniature castles made by parents were used as centerpieces. Amanda Fellows, with escort Spencer Mikel, chose a short, black bubble dress; Rachel Stone, with Joel Harmon, wore a traditional long gown of light blue. Junior class sponsor Barb Merritt said this was the best prom of the four she’s worked with. Cousin Clem: Lydia L. Cook Dodge, the daughter of John and Ann Cook who moved from Ohio to Kosciusko County in 1834, was the wife of Civil War Colonel Joseph B. Dodge of this county. She became a nurse when he was wounded and taken to Gun Factory Hospital in Nashville, Tenn. Joseph and Lydia are buried in Oakwood Cemetery. 50 Years Ago At the third grade spelling contest at Syracuse, Michael Bitner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Bitner, correctly spelled “decide” to become champion; second place went to Danny Webster, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. Reyburn Webster; third, Kevin Fry, son of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Fry. Larwill High School will present the play, “Cheaper By the Dozen,” April 30 in the gym. Cast: Mike Milles, Delilah Hyndman, Susan Tuttle, Steve McManama, Linda Stewart, Ronnie Reece, Roberta Elliott, Becky Gebert, Jayma Adams, Patty May, Dick Schroeder, Rick Helfrich, Linda Spurrier and David Menzie. Jim Sloan, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Sloan, Warsaw, captured the fifth/sixth county spelling championship last year. He won the Warsaw Junior High Spelling Bee this year and will compete in the seventh/eighth finals April 10. His instructor is George Plew. 75 Years Ago A group of Warsawans attended the dance at Palais Royal, South Bend, March 24, hearing the music of Ted Weems and his orchestra. They were Marilyn Mowrey, Dora Marie Ruse, Elnore Hatfield, Ann Franklin, Ann Hover, Doris Hire, Ruth Byrer, Duane Gable, Jack Olds and Jack Smith. Also were Jack Harley, Leesburg, and Clifford Wert and Warren Ulrey, both of Goshen. Directors of the Warsaw Kiwanis Club, at a special meeting, elected Hermon Bodkin, Warsaw abstractor, as secretary to succeed Dr. W.B. Siders, who passed away last week. Avery Kimes, Claypool, reports that no one was able to plant potatoes on Good Friday (March 22), the ground being frozen deep and hard. Some 17 years ago, on March 23, he was able to plant oats.
