Through the Years: 1972 - TheTivoli Theater was showing Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory starring Gene Wilder

January 1-8

5 years (2017)

Deaths: Shirley Wilcox, 73; Bernard Bucklew, 91; Robert “Bob” Gray, 93; Loretta “June” Wallace, 86.

Cooper Neese, Cloverdale, was named Most Outstanding Player at the First Financial Wabash Valley Classic.

Joe Pettijohn was rehired as Owen County Highway Superintendent. 

Oliver, a green-eyed, white cat, was missing from Main & Hillside, in Spencer, and was suspected of sneaking a ride with a neighbor to the Owen County Public Library. 

The Millgrove Diner was reestablished inside of the Millgrove Store.

Richard Tony “TR” Purcel was remembered on what would have been his 40th birthday.

10 years (2012)

Deaths: Maurine Asher, 87; Harriet “June” Wise, 85; Gary Hash, 65; Victor “Don” Wise, 85; Hazel Baker, 87; Teresa “Terri” Jeffries, 53; Imogene Day, 86.

Boston Scientific donated $10,000 to the Owen County YMCA.

Gwen Dieter retired as Coordinator for the Owen County Soil and Water Conservation District. 

Goldie “Dollie” Whitaker celebrated her 90th birthday. 

Jeremy Steirwalt was renting out his downtown Indianapolis condominium during the Super Bowl to raise funds for the American Alzheimer’s Association in memory of his grandmother, Marion Steirwalt, and his maternal grandparents, LaVerne Brown and the late Mearl Brown.

Jack, a Catahoula Leopard Hound/Shar Pei mix came to the Owen County Humane Shelter as a puppy and was now 1.5 years old and in need of a permanent home. 

The Byerly Road home of Mike Terrell was destroyed by fire.  

A wood furnace was blamed for a blaze that destroyed the Wells Road home of Jim Hendrickson. 

Richard Tony “TR” Purcel was remembered by family on what would have been his 35th birthday. 

25 years (1997)

Births: A son, Ethan Edward, born to James and Terri Webb; a son born to Richard and Kimberly Bowen.

Deaths: Pearl Collier, 95; Dennis Ruble, 82; Richard Melick, 91; Faye Deck, 92; John Beatty, 91; James Way, 67; Lela “Babe” Wilson, 83; Mabel Hahn, 86; Harold “Pete” Query; Floyd Marsh, 78; Eleanor Baughn, 77.

Carrie Ann Shipley, née Carl, 23, of Huntington, Indiana, died from complications following the birth of her second son, Tanner James Shipley. 

For the second time in two weeks, head librarian Lynn Jurewicz resigned her position at the Owen County Public Library.

Brian Coley completed basic training with the U.S. Army at Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma. 

Etta May Walden celebrated her 100th birthday.

Naomi’s Feathered Friends, owned by Naomi Lee, was operating at 536 Meadow Drive, in Spencer. 

Great Dane Trailers, Inc., of Brazil, was sold to CCI Industries of Chicago, Illinois.

Amy Goss painted a mural of the historic Gosport Monon Depot inside the Gosport Diner.

Sherry Raines, of Paragon, won the quilt raffled off by Tri Kappa. 

Lucky the black-and-tan Coonhound was missing. 

Sherry Calloway, of Spencer, won the Nintendo Virtual Game Boy™ and two games from the Woodchuck IGA’s Pepsi™ sponsored raffle. 

Two men armed with a knife and a shotgun robbed the Cloverdale IGA.

A house belonging to Wayne “Bruce” Whallon, Jr., located at 1503 E CR 1150 in Clay County, just west of Coal City, was destroyed by fire. 

A rash of arson fires at Lieber Lake Estates, north of Cunot, was leaving residents on edge. 

A proposed Garfield the Cat theme park in Hendricks County promised to generate 1,000 new jobs. 

50 years (1972)

Births: A daughter, Kathryn Lavonn, born to Dave and Linda Decker; a daughter, Melissa Lee, born to Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Ruble. 

Deaths: Ione Wampler, 71; Alice Whitaker, 87; Wyatt McDaniel, 80; William Secrest, 74; Robert Shouse, 56; Marguerite Bentley, 69.

Anniversary: Ronald and Florence (Wiemer) Livingston celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. 

After 15 years enforcing laws as Spencer’s Chief Marshal, Arthur Francis resigned with Gerry Sips promoted to take his place. 

Tomiko Olberholter’s painting, Fall, won the Fall Art Show sponsored by the J. R. Emerson Furniture Store. 

The new Tivoli Theater was showing Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory starring Gene Wilder and Jack Albertson.

Carmellena Miller refurbished over 100 dolls to hand out to needy children at Christmas. 

Donald Wall was awarded the Army Commendation medal for “meritorious service in the Republic of Vietnam.”

Patricksburg Elementary School was ransacked by burglars.

Nelly Gillespy injured her larynx during a fall at her Gosport home.

Three guns, a clock radio, walkie–talkies, and a World War II-era Japanese sword were stolen during a burglary at the Highway 67 home of Clifford Morley, north of Freedom.

Joseph Morgan completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. 

Gilbert “Gib” Miller was appointed bailiff for the Owen County Circuit Court.

Harry Beaman was remembered by family on the 7th anniversary of his death. 

75 years (1947)

Births: A son, Larry Earl, born to Mr. and Mrs. Harold Miles; a daughter, Sharon Jean, born to Mr. and Mrs. Richard Morley; a daughter born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilford Crafton.

Deaths: Leander Runyon, 80; Ruth McNutt, 81; John Baumgartner, 76. 

Two workers, Lee Gastineau, 50, of Bicknell, and Elza Hager, 50, of Freelandville, were killed when the Panhandle coal mine exploded one mile west of Bicknell.

In Madison, Indiana, practical nurse Lottie Lockman was found Not Guilty in the poisoning death of Minnie McConnell.  

The 1938 Chevrolet stolen from Robert Hood as he attended the Freedom High School basketball game was found wrecked and abandoned on Big Four Road. 

Princess Renee of Greece was seen wearing slacks at LaGuardia airport in New York City after arriving on board a chartered flight from Paris. 

Forrest Strouse, of Spencer, lost two Foxhounds and one Bluetick Hound. 

Della Fisher fell at her Cooper Street home and broke her arm.

Belle Eichenlaub lost a heart-shaped gold pin with an emerald setting while shopping at Parr’s Variety Store the Saturday before Christmas. 

Leon McCullough, who had escaped from the State Mental Hospital at Butlerville, was found and returned. 

Herman Stockwell was named County Highway Supervisor.

John Sheese was remembered by his daughter, Mildred, on the 1st anniversary of his death.