10 Years Ago The winners of Etna Green's Sesquicentennial Anniversary Children's Essay Contest read their essays at the Etna Green Fire Hall. Autumn McKenna, a fourth-grader at Triton Elementary School, won first place and received a $100 Savings Bond. Ben Johnson, a sixth-grader at Triton, received a $50 savings bond for second place. The theme of the contest was "If were elected leader of my community, I would...." Autumn wrote that she would plant flowers around town and close Heritage Park at 7 p.m. each night. Ben's ideas included a police station, a tornado siren that could be heard in the country, and a $100 fine for not wearing seat belts. Both thought writing would be "something fun and challenging." 25 Years Ago Johnny Heggelund, 17, is from Hammerfest, Norway, 300 miles into the Arctic Circle where the sun never sets from mid-May to July. He arrived last Aug. 3 through the Youth For Understanding exchange program and will go back home Tuesday. He spent the past year with his host family, the Paul Grossmans of Bourbon. Heggelund was active in school at Triton, attending many ball games throughout the year. His typical American experiences included the prom, a rock concert and seeing trick-or-treaters for the first time. Heggelund enjoyed his year in the states and said he would do it again. "Indiana winters were colder than I expected. Norway is warmed by the gulf stream and Hammerfest's harbors are ice-free all winter." 50 Years Ago It has been announced that the South Whitley Post Office has advanced to first class. Postal officials state that receipts of the post office during the past year have made it possible to advance the office from a second- to a first-class position. Raymond Slaybaugh, of Route 2, Nappanee, reported to Sheriff Sam Holbrook that someone has been damaging mailboxes in his area. Rev. Richard Woodworth, formerly of Chicago, now residing in Winona Lake, has accepted the pastorate of the Calvary Baptist Church in Oswego. He and his wife have three children; David, Daniel and Rebecca. 75 Years Ago Work will be started by contractors next week on tearing up the floor of the Silver Lake gymnasium, which has been completely ruined by termites. The new floor will also be made of wood, but special precautions will be taken against future damage. Trustee Asa Sprigg and members of the advisory board have visited several schools in the county and they have been impressed by the method taken by Syracuse to protect their gymnasium floor from termites. The present floor at Silver Lake has been in use since the school was built in 1930. The Silver Lake Harvest Festival sponsored by the Silver Lake Lions Club will be held over four days, opening Aug. 31, and closing Sept. 3. One of the main features of the fair will be the Kosciusko County 4-H Beef Calf Show.
