Compiled by Mary Hedge, LaPorte County Public Library

June 29, 1913 – A man living on Perry Street went on a rampage last night and this morning he is living in an empty house, with his wife, child, and mother, who had been living with him, gone.

June 29, 1963 – Martha Arlene Orszulak, a spring eighth-grade graduate of St. Peter’s Catholic School, drowns at Stone Lake Beach.

June 29, 1988 – A LaPorte High School teacher testifies that she saw accused rapist Peter Ulrich kissing a special education student in a classroom.

June 29, 2003 – Screen great Katharine Hepburn dies at 96.

This artist’s rendering shows potential development at 1010 Pine Lake Ave. (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Information and image from Unity Foundation of LaPorte County

The Unity Foundation of LaPorte County received generous support from two local businesses to advance the “Love Our Lakes” project. Horizon Bank and Alcoa Foundation have made gifts of $75,000 each toward the project at 1010 Pine Lake Ave. in LaPorte.

The Love Our Lakes Pine Lake Avenue project includes a vision to preserve the beauty of the lakefront, and enhance the community for generations, by preserving the two-acre site of the former Roskoe’s restaurant. Unity Foundation is partnering with the LaPorte Parks Foundation, LaPorte Park and Recreation Department and others to create a public space on the water for all to enjoy.

Discussions have been held with the LaPorte Park and Recreation Board, LaPorte Parks Foundation and others regarding possible usage for the land, which provides one of the last open views of the lake for people entering LaPorte from the north side.

“Horizon Bank is pleased to contribute to the preservation of the lakefront on Pine Lake,” Horizon Chief Executive Officer Craig Dwight said. “This will ensure the beauty of one of LaPorte’s most precious assets, providing access to the lake for residents and visitors for generations to come.”

“Alcoa Howmet is excited to join forces with the Unity Foundation and LaPorte County businesses and leaders in support of the Love our Lakes project,” Alcoa Human Resources Director Tera Grinnell said. “Alcoa is committed to supporting community initiatives that seek to preserve our natural resources and give back to the residents of LaPorte.”

Additional corporate and private donations are being sought to help finance purchase of the land and work on the property. More than $830,000 has been raised in pledges to date.

Supporters of the Love Our Lakes project include: Construction Advancement Foundation, LaPorte Savings Bank, LaPorte Park Foundation, Unity Foundation, IU Health LaPorte Hospital, NIPSCO/NiSource, General Insurance Services, American Licorice, PNC Bank, Bruno Enterprises, Packaging Logic, Howes & Howes, Pine Lake Association, LaPorte Lions Club, Newby Lewis Kaminski & Jones, Tonn and Blank, LaPorte Urban Enterprise Association, and many individuals and families.

For more information, visit www.uflc.net and the Love Our Lakes Facebook page.

The Battle of Gettysburg was fought 150 years ago, July 1-3, 1863 — a turning point in the Civil War. In observance of this anniversary, on Tuesday, July 9, the LaPorte Genealogical Society will hear Mark Chase, founder of the Calumet Region Civil War Preservation Project, who has worked to replace some 80 deteriorated headstones on Civil War veterans’ graves in the Calumet Region. His research on these men is part of the new historical tourism trail, the South Shore Civil War Memorial Trail.

The society’s regular meeting place will change as of this meeting. The group will now meet in the LaPorte Park and Recreation Department building at 250 Pine Lake Ave. in LaPorte. The society meets at 7 pm on the second Tuesday of each month, weather permitting. The public is welcome at all meetings.

For more information about the society’s activities in awards, research, abstracting, transcribing, indexing, publishing, and records preservation, visit http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inlcigs/.

Museum summer intern Lisa Hensell wears a 1975 wedding gown donated by Catherine Malec. The gown is in the current display, “With This Ring … .”

Visitors to the LaPorte County Historical Society Museum for the month of June 2013 came from 20 counties, 23 states, Australia, Canada, England, and Norway. Tour groups included a child care group, the Mid-West Tool Collectors and the Swanson Activity Center.

Upcoming events at the museum include a Wedding Fashion and History Show on Saturday, July 6, at 1 p.m. that correlates with the current display, “With This Ring …”; the sixth annual Old Car Show on Saturday, July 27. New this year at the car show: The descendants of Preston Tucker will be on hand to greet the public next to Dr. Peter Kesling’s Tucker automobile that is on permanent display.

Events for June included the start of the current display “With This Ring …”, a look at mid-century wedding apparel. A small reception was held June 1 with cake and punch to open the display, which will run through the end of August. The fifth Annual Civil War Days re-enactment was held June 22-23 and included skirmishes, camp demonstrations, artillery drills, programs and a Grand Ball. It was very well attended.

June donations

– Man’s formal tuxedo, belonged to Dr. Slawson and then passed to the late former curator James Rodgers; man’s purple sweater that belonged to Rodgers, Margaret Bender

– Models of LaPorte Fire Station and City Hall, scrapbook made by LaPorte High School seniors, Michael Kravcar

– Copy of Civil War diary, translated by LaPorte resident Myrtle Swanstrom Beck, Anne Rose

– Framed 1982 photo of LaPorte County Courthouse taken at night, Jeffery Gropp

– Wedding gown and veil worn by donor in 1975, Catherine Krochta Malec

– Wanatah High School graduation announcement from 1928 for George Watt, leather railroad wallet that belonged to Watt, Sandra Trueblood

– Coffee mug labeled “LeMans Academy,” Karen Piper

– Framed New York Herald newspaper, April 15, 1865, announcing Lincoln assassination, Robert E. Taylor

– 1950 “coin” from Temple News; 1962 dog tag from LaPorte Animal Hospital; Christmas card from Gov. Handley; 1956 water ski badge; Boy Scout patches & neckerchief; Moore & Richter Lumber Co. plastic toothpick, pencils & apron; LaPorte Public Schools Kindergarten Handbook from 1940-50; Saint Mary’s High School newsletter from 1929; Michigan City NIPSCO progress photos from 1931; Florence Chroback political fan from 1960; various photos showing donor’s father at Republican events, etc., from 1950s & ’60s, William Angrick II

– Items for the sale table, Margie Bender, Don & Doris Major, Karen Piper

– Archival information, Don Pagos, Don & Doris Major, Carol Bozek

Anyone wishing to donate an item with LaPorte County significance may call 219.324.6767 and ask for Susie.

Submitted by Susie Richter, curator, LaPorte County Historical Society Museum

www.laportecountyhistory.org

Compiled by Mary Hedge, LaPorte County Public Library

July 1, 1913 – The bull moose party in Indiana is dying, say leaders of every other party.

July 1, 1963 – The Maple City’s 16th annual Fourth of July celebration will include a parade and evening fireworks.

July 1, 1988 – A jury convicts LaPorte teacher Peter Ulrich of two counts of rape.

July 1, 2003 – Regulations go into effect to limit the hours of doctors-in-training to 80 per week.

The fifth annual Autism Poker Run will take place Saturday, July 27, at LaPorte Moose Lodge, 925 Boyd Blvd.

Registration starts at 9 a.m. and the ride donation is $20 for bike and driver and $5 for passenger. The donation includes T-shirt (while supplies last), food and music. Bikes out at 11 a.m.; last bike in at 4:30 p.m. Stops on the run will be North Liberty VFW, Knox VFW, Kouts American Legion, and Wanatah American Legion.

A Cornhole Tournament will also be held at the Moose. Bring your own partner; donation is $5 per person. Registration begins at 3:30 p.m. and the tournament starts at 4:30 p.m.

All proceeds go to the autism summer camp for children sponsored by ASNCI. For more information, visit autismride.org.

Emergency workers move the patient to the Medflight helicopter.

Photos and info by Mike Kellems

(CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE)

A 20-year-old motorcyclist was injured when his bike left the road and hit some trees Sunday afternoon, June 30, 2013, northeast of Westville. His injuries were reportedly not life-threatening.

At about 2 p.m. the man, who lives in rural New Durham Township right near the crash site, lost control on County Road 900 West, north of County Road 250 South. His 1999 Buell bike left the road and struck several small trees. Parts of the motorcycle’s frame were found embedded in a tree.

A Medflight helicopter was summoned by the LaPorte County Emergency Medical Service and the man was flown to South Bend Memorial Hospital.

LaPorte County Sheriff’s Deputy Skyler Curtis examines the crash scene.

The victim is loaded into the helicopter.

Police are looking for Issac Thomas, who is wanted through LaPorte Circuit Court for revocation of a suspended sentence on an original charge of theft, a Class D felony.

Thomas, approximately 19, is 6 feet tall and weighs 165 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the LaPorte Police Department at 219-362-9446 or LaPorte County Metro Operations at 219-325-9022.

Gloria N. Graffis, 82, of LaPorte, died June 30, 2013, at IU Health LaPorte Hospital.

She was born in LaPorte on July 9, 1930, to Evald and Edith (Anderson) Lindgren.

Gloria worked at Kingsbury Ordnance Plant at the end of World War II. She also was an assistant to Dr. E. Mueller and had retired from Howmet after 15 years. Her best job was being a homemaker. Gloria was a member of Grace Baptist Church of LaPorte her whole life. She served the church as treasurer for many years.

On Dec. 20, 1952, in LaPorte, she married Wayne Graffis, who was a teacher at Union Mills and principal at Kingsbury School. He survives.

Also surviving are her son, Brian (Bonnie) Graffis of LaPorte; daughter, Michelle (Greg) Rhoades of South Whitley, IN; three grandchildren, Brianna Graffis and Nadia and Luke Rhoades; brother, Ralph (Judy) Lindgren of LaPorte; sisters, Annette Hundt and Dolores Buss, both of LaPorte; sister-in-law, Barbara Lindgren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Alan Lindgren.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 5, at Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center, LaPorte, with Dr. Wayne Moore officiating. Visitation will be Friday from 9:30 a.m. until the service. Burial will follow the service at Pine Lake Cemetery, LaPorte.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Grace Baptist Church, 2502 Monroe St., LaPorte, IN 46350.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.cutlerfuneralhome.com.

Mr. William B. Steele, 69, of South Bend, IN, died Saturday, June 29, 2013, at his residence after a brief illness.

He was born Aug. 28, 1943, in Hammond, IN, to William and Faye (Van Order) Steele and had lived in this area since 2007, coming from Evansville, IN.

Mr. Steele was a retired accountant for Guardian Automotive in Evansville. He was a member of Our Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church of South Bend. He was a 1990 graduate of Indiana University South Bend and a U.S. Navy veteran. He enjoyed reading fiction and the Bible, hiking and spending time with his family.

On Sept. 26, 1964, at St. John Lutheran Church in LaPorte, he married Katherine L. Haferkamp, who survives.

Also surviving are three daughters, Tammy (Jimmy) Barden of Goshen, IN, Wendy Steele of Phoenix, AZ, and Sherry (Allison Reed) Steele of Chicago; three grandchildren, Tabitha (Arthur) DeWitt of Elkhart, IN, Rebekah Tavernier of Goshen and Justine Stouder of Nappanee, IN; three great-grandchildren, Corey Tavernier of Elkhart and Nathan and Makenah Stouder, both of Nappanee; and one brother, Robert Steele of Gary, IN.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

A funeral service will be held Wednesday, July 3, at 1 p.m. CDT at Essling Funeral Home, LaPorte, with Pastor Daniel Streuffert officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday, July 2, from 4 to 7 p.m. and Wednesday from noon until the service. Burial will be in Pine Lake Cemetery, LaPorte, following the service, with a military service conducted at the cemetery by the LaPorte Honor Guard.

Memorial contributions may be made to Our Redeemer Evangelical Church, 805 S. 29th St., South Bend, IN 46615.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.esslingfuneralhome.com.

Compiled by Mary Hedge, LaPorte County Public Library

July 2, 1913 – Good fellows, the score and more of post office employees meet about the banquet board to say farewell to retiring postmaster Small and greet J.A. Terry, new incumbent.

July 2, 1963 – Lincoln, Wills and Pleasant townships vote 371-140 in favor of a tri-township school consolidation.

July 2, 1988 – The Soviet Communist Party decides to restrict party officials to 10-year terms and allow non-Communists to run for office.

July 2, 2003 – An epidemic of sexlessness is sweeping the country. One in five married couples make love fewer than 10 times per year.

Shari Turbyfill comforts her husband, David, as he grieves for his son, firefighter Travis Turbyfill, at Fire Station 7 on July 1 in Prescott, AZ. (Photo by David Wallace, The Arizona Republic)

By Mike Kellems (written July 1, 2013)

As I woke up this morning and turned on the news, I was shocked to learn that 19 firefighters were killed while battling a wildfire in Arizona. I immediately reflected back to Sept. 11, 2001, when hundreds of firefighters were killed in the terrorist attack in New York. I was filled with the same emotions: grief and sorrow. I can’t begin to imagine the profound sadness felt by the firefighters and emergency workers still fighting the Arizona fires, which have since quadrupled in size.

Kellems

As the day has moved on, I thought a lot about those 19 firefighters. What horror they must have felt as the fire closed in and they realized there was no escape. There is no doubt in my mind that they started out their day responding to the call, confident in their training and abilities, ready to serve their community while saving property and lives without hesitation.

The last part of that sentence is the hardest part for me, and I hope to emphasize it to our readers … “without hesitation.”

I thought a lot today about the fire service; in fact, I can’t seem to get it out of my mind. We are fortunate in LaPorte County to have so many firefighters willing to respond to anyone’s emergency at the drop of a hat.

There are two full-time “career” departments in LaPorte County: Michigan City and LaPorte. There are 14 volunteer fire departments that serve the tens of thousands of our citizens living in the county. Every volunteer department has anywhere from a dozen to two dozen or more members. They respond to our calls for help, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. They do so for free. They spend hours upon hours training; they do so for free. Many maintain and repair their equipment; they do that for free as well. They are called for car wrecks and house fires and every kind of medical emergency you can imagine. They respond to trees down on power lines, basements filled with water, and the occasional cat in the tree or deer stuck on the ice. Their calls for service vary, however I know a few that average 500 calls a year.

Did I mention they do all of this for free?

In nearly every call for help, our firefighters risk their lives without hesitation. They deserve our help in return. Most, if not all, of LaPorte County’s volunteer fire departments supplement their tax dollar operations with donations and fundraisers. I hope you’ll consider these options.

I’d like to suggest another means of support as well. This Thursday, July 4, as we celebrate our country’s freedom, we here in LaPorte will enjoy one of the greatest parades in the Midwest. Many of our fire departments participate in the parade every year. How about this year, as they roll along the parade route, we show them a little appreciation by standing up to clap and give a friendly smile and a wave or a tip of the hat? These everyday heroes deserve that, particularly in light of today’s horrible tragedy in Arizona.

MIKE KELLEMS is a sergeant with the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office.

So the Feds said no to the use of military aircraft for flyovers this year. That didn’t deter the LaPorte Jaycees.

Just two days before the parade, the Jaycees’ Joy Zigler announced Tuesday morning that a vintage beauty will launch Thursday’s parade fun — a privately owned 1942 Vultee Valiant BT-13A. There are only a handful of these beauties still flying in the U.S. today.

But don’t think this World War II worker doesn’t scoot — it reaches 180 mph.

This particular Vultee is even locally owned, by Stuart and Linda Glenn. And it’s serviced by LaPorte Aviation’s John Landwerlen.

The use of a vintage plane for the flyover is also perfect in keeping with the parade’s theme this year: “Blast from the Past: Honoring History in LaPorte.”

Here’s a little information on the plane provided by the Glenns and Landwerlen and sent along by Zigler:

Manufactured By Vultee Aircraft of Downey, CA, this particular Vultee’s original purchase price during the war was $18,052.It was delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps on July 22, 1942, and served as a basic trainer at Marana Air Base, Marana, AZ. It was deemed surplus in November 1944 and sold to the civilian market in 1946 for $250!

General information about the Vultee BT-13: It was originally designed to compete with North American Aviation for the role of an Advanced Trainer aircraft for the U.S. Army Air Corps and even though it competed well, Vultee lost the contract to a very formidable competitor, the now coveted North American AT6. Shortly after losing the contract to North American, and shortly before the United States’ entrance into World War II, Vultee was approached by the government to compete for an affordable intermediate (basic trainer) for airmen to make the transition from Primary Trainer to Advanced Trainer a little less daunting and to help airmen build more time and experience before entering combat. Vultee engineers went back to work on their earlier design, cutting costs and maintenance items by removing the Pratt and Whitney R1340 600hp radial engine and substituting the smaller Pratt and Whitney R985-AN1 450hp Wasp Junior Engine. They also replaced the retractable landing gear with simple, rugged and easy-to-maintain fixed landing gear. Flaps were controlled by a hand crank so no hydraulic system was needed.

The new configuration became known as the Vultee BT-13 Valiant. It was one of the highest produced training aircraft in all of the war with approximately 11,525 BT13’s and their variants being produced. Airmen started their training in Primary Trainers or (PT) aircraft like the PT17 Stearman Biplane, where they learned primary flying skills and aerodynamics; there were no electrical systems on the primary trainer, and no radios. The BT-13 was the first aircraft in which airmen would use radio communication, learn to navigate between points and start instrument training. Once finished with the BT-13 in basic training, airmen went on to fly either the single-engine North American AT6 with more horsepower and retractable gear as a direct route to fighter aircraft, or they would transition into multi-engine AT9 and AT10 aircraft, eventually flying Bombers, Cargo and Transport planes.

The BT-13 was given the nick name “Vultee Vibrator” by pilots, for the noises and vibrations created during high-power take offs and aerobatic maneuvers.

Toward the end of World War II, the BT-13’s were starting to be phased out of pilot training and moved to government surplus. They were then lined up full of fuel and oil to be sold off. The average price for a used BT-13 was around $200-$250. Some were sold to foreign governments, but most of these aircraft were purchased by farmers. They removed the Pratt and Whitney R985- AN1 for use mostly on Stearman Aircraft that presented a better platform to carry chemicals for spraying the fields but needed the extra power for the aggressive workloads of a crop duster.

Once the engine, oil and fuel were gone, The BT13’s were either scrapped or left behind rotting in fields. Some were put on display or used for marketing. Of approximately 11,525 produced, there are only an estimated 25 BT-13’s still flying in the United States today.

The two-man Vultee has a length of 28 feet, 10 inches, and a wingspan of 42 feet. It can reach an altitude of 10,000 feet in 9.2 minutes.

When the Vultee flies over your spot on the parade route Thursday, just imagine the stories this aircraft could tell!

Jonathan Alan Dittmar came into the world on May 19, 1951, and left on July 1, 2013, at the age of 62. He fought his three-year cancer battle valiantly and with grace. Even in the midst of the fight, he continued in his compassionate belief to assist those in need, including hurricane relief housing in Jamaica, food and water to the poor, local food banks, Children International, and a love for the St. Joseph Indian School, a school for at-risk Native American children.

Jonathan was most passionate about the environment and the preservation of the earth. He was a member of multiple conservation organizations, a man who “walked his talk.” His commitment to leave as small a footprint as possible was an inspiration to many and helped shape the focus in some of the younger generations following him. Jonathan was also deeply committed to the protection of endangered animals.

Jonathan was an outdoor enthusiast. Some of his finest experiences were in the great outdoors, surrounded by nature in all of its beauty. He had a beautiful appreciation for God’s creation and his understanding and love of nature in all of its forms has become a theme that runs deep in his family. He was also a talented musician, singing and playing instruments with his sister, Marcy, in his young adult years. Through his later years, he continued to embrace his love of bluegrass music.

Jonathan, known to many as “Alan,” was born in Lafayette, IN, and moved to the Fish Lake area of LaPorte County in 1951. Jonathan and his family moved to Galena Township in 1957, where he attended Galena School and Rolling Prairie High School and was in the first graduating class of New Prairie High School. He attended Purdue University, graduating in 1973 with a degree in Environmental Science. Jonathan returned to his early home in Fish Lake following his college education and spent much time rebuilding, remodeling and perfecting the family home of his childhood. Jonathan’s professional career concluded at Cardno JFNew, where he embraced his environmental passion.

Jonathan was a kind, caring and committed son, brother, husband, father and grandfather.

He is survived by his loving parents, Marshall and Margaret Dittmar of Galena Township; his adoring and devoted wife, Laurie Dittmar of Fish Lake; his surviving siblings, Marcy (Michael) Dailey of Rolling Prairie and Trudy (Bruce) Hardcastle of Stafford, VA; his children, Calleb (Stacey) Dittmar of New Carlisle, IN, Summer (Ryan) McDuffee of Bedford, IN, and Jasper and Wyatt Dittmar of Union Mills, IN, who will miss him dearly; two stepchildren, Nathan (Abbie) Velker of Kansas City and Betsy (Zachary) Roth of Grand Rapids, MI; and his grandchildren, Sophie and Garrett McDuffee, Noah Velker, and soon-to-arrive Piper Roth.

Visitation will be at Essling Funeral Home, LaPorte, on Friday, July 5, from 3 to 8 p.m. A service celebrating his life will be held at Lamb’s Chapel United Methodist Church, North Fail Road, LaPorte, on Saturday, July 6, at 1 p.m. with a graveside service to follow at Lamb’s Chapel Cemetery with Pastor Lynn Breeden officiating.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Food for the Poor, www.foodforthepoor.org or 6401 Lyons Rd., Coconut Creek, FL 333073; or St. Joseph’s Indian School, www.stjo.org or P.O. Box 300, Chamberlain, SD 57325.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.esslingfuneralhome.com.

Mary Kay Long, 48, of Mill Creek, IN, died Sunday, June 30, 2013, at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, IN.

She was born in Chicago on April 7, 1965.

Mary worked at Lewis Bakery. She was a member of the Polish Roman Catholic Union and enjoyed spending time with her family.

On July 24, 1999, she married Jerry Long, who survives.

Also surviving are her beloved children: daughter, Randa M. Elder of LaPorte and son, Randall Elder of Mill Creek; grandson, Stephen Elder; two mothers-in-law, Dorothy Long and Birdie Elder of LaPorte; brothers, Paul Murphy of LaPorte and Dennis Murphy and Stephen “Rick” (Eva) Murphy, both of Rolling Prairie, IN; sister, Laura Murphy of LaPorte; and several Murphy family members of LaPorte.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Martha Lee (Bennitt) Murphy; brother, Ronald Murphy; and sister, Karen Vance.

Visitation will be Friday, July 5, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center, LaPorte. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be Friday at 7 p.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Jeff Cox officiating.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Family of Mary Kay Long c/o Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 2900 Monroe St., LaPorte, IN 46350.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.cutlerfuneralhome.com.

Photo by David Malik

The LaPorte City Band will strike up plenty of patriotic tunes at its Arts in the Park concert Wednesday, July 3, at 7 p.m. in Fox Park, and its appearance Thursday, July 4, in the LaPorte Jaycees Fourth of July Parade.

The July 3 concert will also serve as the rescheduled celebration of Fox Park’s 100th anniversary, moved from Saturday, June 29, because of inclement weather. A special rededication will take place at 8 p.m. And the anniversary celebration means a double dose of fireworks in LaPorte this week, too: on Wednesday night fireworks will be set off over Clear Lake, and of course on the evening of July 4 a fireworks show will take place at the fairgrounds.

Wednesday’s concert will feature special appearances by the LaPorte High School Marching Band and Mayor Blair Milo, and the band will be under the direction of guest conductor Mickey Stisher, who has held the position of director of music at LaPorte High School since 1988.

Pre-concert activities include Patrick Watterson on the keyboard at 6:30 p.m. and poetry reading by Leigh Morris at 6:45 p.m., featuring the works of Yvonne Elshout, LaPorte County Poet Laureate 2007-2008.

Hoelocker Drive will be closed from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Additional parking will be available off Truesdell Avenue.

LaPorte City Band selections July 3 will be:

“National Emblem,” Edwin E. Bagley

“Irving Berlin: Sounds for America,” Arr. James Swearingen

“Amber Waves,” James Curnow

“JFK: In Memoriam,” James Curnow (Blair Milo, narrator)

Selections by the LaPorte High School Marching Band

“Armed Forces Salute,” Robert Lowden

“America, the Beautiful,” Arr. Carmen Dragon

“The Stars and Stripes Forever,” John Philip Sousa

Compiled by Mary Hedge, LaPorte County Public Library

July 3, 1913 – The body of a man found along railroad tracks will be sent to his home by the Decker undertaking establishment. The coroner believes the victim was a typical specimen of the genus hobo.

July 3, 1963 – American Home Products will construct a plant on the east side of LaPorte.

July 3, 1988 – An 830-page report apparently exonerates U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese of any criminal wrongdoing.

July 3, 2003 – LaPorte Hospital’s plans to create a continuous parking lot on a vacated portion of Chicago Street got a final OK from the LaPorte Board of Public Works & Safety.

Here are upcoming Red Cross blood drives in LaPorte County:

– Saturday, July 6, 8 a.m. to noon, Hanna United Methodist Church, 101 W. Hoppe St., Hanna. Get an American Red Cross baseball hat.

– Monday, July 8, noon to 6 p.m., First Church of God gymnasium, 2020 E. Lincolnway, LaPorte.

– Tuesday, July 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Purdue North Central Room 144, Westville.

– Tuesday, July 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thomas Rose Industrial Park – BOSS Air, 1761 Genesis Drive, LaPorte.

– Monday, July 15, 1 to 6 p.m., St. John Kanty Hall, 7012 N. 600 East, Rolling Prairie.

– Thursday, July 18, 6 to 10 a.m., Camp Summit Boot Camp, 2407 N. 500 West, LaPorte. Receive a T-shirt.

– Tuesday, July 23, 1 to 6 p.m., Bethany Lutheran Church Hall, 102 G St., LaPorte. Receive a coupon for one free taco courtesy of Taco Bell.

– Thursday, July 25, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Michiana Hematology Oncology, 1668 S. U.S. 421, Westville. Receive a coupon for one free taco courtesy of Taco Bell.

– Friday, July 26, 7 to 11:30 a.m., IU Health LaPorte Hospital Auditorium. Receive a $3 lunch coupon courtesy of IU Health LaPorte Hospital.

– Monday, July 29, 2:30 to 6:30 p.m., Queen of All Saints Cafeteria, 606 S. Woodland Ave., Michigan City.

For more information, visit http://www.redcross.org/in/michigan-city.

The Cemetery & Research Association of LaPorte County held its bi-monthly meeting recently at the home of President Deanna West. With the motto of “We remember, search and document, so they are not forgotten,” members research the numerous LaPorte County cemeteries, many dating to the beginning of the county, and attempt to document all county cemeteries, including abandoned and unmarked and the burials therein. This information — including family histories, when known — is then placed on the association website http//www.dunelady.com/laporte/cemeteries by webmaster West.

Joan Scroggins of the LaPorte Latter Day Saints Church attended the meeting and updated members on the progress of reading the tombstone inscriptions in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery that is being done by a group from her church. They expect the readings to be completed soon. Ruth Allison also attended and is seeking information on the Norton and Hand families of LaPorte County.

West reported that Cindy Hester is taking photos of tombstones in Oak Grove Cemetery, Wills Township; Salem Chapel Cemetery in Pleasant Township; and Greenwood Cemetery in Michigan City. Gloria Arndt is researching information on Rolling Prairie Cemetery for publication and Shirley Mounce is researching the obituaries for those interred in Kingsbury Cemetery.

The association continues to research abandoned cemeteries and asks that anyone who has information as to who might have been buried in Learn and Allen Toney cemeteries in Pleasant Township, contact Patricia Harris at 219-872-3273.

The association still has copies for sale of Union Mills Cemetery, compiled by Deanna Branson West and Robert Ponda Sr., photographer. The 208-page book can be purchased for $45 plus $5 shipping and handling from Deanna West, 8074 W. 200 North, Michigan City, IN 46360.

The next meeting of the Cemetery & Research Association of LaPorte County will be at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 12, 2013, at 8074 W. 200 North. Anyone interested in becoming a member of this research group is invited to contact us.

The Coolspring Project Extension Homemakers Club chose “Grandma’s Attic” as the theme for the 2013 Extension Homemakers Fair Booth at the LaPorte County Fair July 7-13.

Items that would be found in your grandma’s attic will be displayed at the booth, located in the air-conditioned Community Building.

The Homemakers will also conduct a silent auction, offering table runners, aprons, hot pads and other handmade items that will be on display at the booth. Bidding will end at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 13.

For more information, call the Extension Office at 219-324-9407.