Jan. 13

1953 | An "inaugural special," an all-Pullman train, will carry area residents to Washington to witness the inauguration of President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower Jan. 20, providing at least 125 passengers from Northern Indiana sign up for the tour, Robert L. Bibler, county GOP chairman, announced.

1963 | A tentative program of work for 1963 was presented by President Pete Hudson at the Kouts Chamber of Commerce meeting. Main points considered are Girls State assistance, an athletic banquet, improved freight service for Kouts, erection of safety lights at school crossings and others.

1973 | People were lined up outside the jail most of the time Sunday afternoon when an open house was held at the county's new $2 million facility, which can house 168 prisoners.

1983 | Returning letter winners on the 1983 edition of the Valparaiso High School gymnastics team include Jane Kobak, Tracy Devine, Tami Vendl, Susan Peck, Jeanette Pekarak and Andi Ferngren.

Jan. 14

1953 | Virtually every mile of the Porter County highway system was considered unfit for modern travel, according to a survey released by the Indiana Highway Supervisors Association. Necessary improvements were estimated at $5 million.

1963 | Advancement of Fred J. DeBrucci to the position of manager of distribution sales was announced by Keith J. Brownell, vice president in charge of sales of the Bearing Division of McGill Manufacturing Co.

1973 | A transfer of $300,000 from the cumulative building fund to the construction fund for use in land purchase and building of a $1.2 million comprehensive mental health center, on the north side of Valparaiso, was approved by the Porter Memorial Board of Trustees.

1983 | Four bakery cases, custom-built in 1958, were donated to the Porter County Fairgrounds by Harvey Miller, owner of Miller's Department Store. The 18-foot long cases were removed from the store to make room for modern, high-volume cases.

Jan. 15

1953 | A local woman, Sally Cook, left to do missionary work in Japan for the Youth for Christ mission in Tokyo for two years.

1963 | According to Valparaiso school nurse Dorothy Smith, testing in the schools indicated that eye maturity is reached at an earlier time than before in children.

1973 | A Campbell Street walkway between Glendale and Valparaiso High School was set aside by the city to help alleviate pedestrian traffic safety problems caused by incompletion of the street reconstruction project.

1983 | Valparaiso resident Jack Meyer is the first Porter County person to receive a 15-gallon pin for donating blood. Sina Hickman, of the Porter County Red Cross, said the pin was awarded at the bloodmobile visit in Portage.

Jan. 16

1953 | Property damage from traffic accidents was reduced from 1952, from $68,954 to $68,712, according to the annual city police traffic report released by Chief Dale Gott.

1963 | Directors named to the Farmers State Bank at a stockholders meeting included: H.W. Cleveland, chairman, to serve with W. Paul Carmichael, Lynett Casbon, James Chester, Robert Coolman, Reg Hildreth and John Sievers.

1973 | Traffic accidents for the year totaled a record 890 in 1972, which was two more than the previous high figure set in 1969 and 58 more than in 1971, according to Police Chief Miller.

1983 | Norm Backus, of Valparaiso, has been appointed by Mayor Elden Kuehl to a four-year term on the Valparaiso Park Board. Backus succeeds Dick Bond.

Jan. 17

1953 | A breakdown of the 400 traffic accidents in Valparaiso for 1952 showed vehicles struck or collided with 436 other vehicles, 15 pedestrians, one train, 12 bicycles and 16 fixed objects.

1963 | Additional prospective investors were to be contacted at once to keep Valparaiso Land Trust No. 1 rolling, the Chamber of Commerce announced. Immediate need was for $2,450 to insure a $15,000 land payment.

1973 | The Valparaiso City Plan Commission elected Eugene Kopczak to serve another term as president and named a Democratic attorney, Dennis Hoover, as commission counsel, succeeding James Bozik.

1983 | John B. Morland will return to this area to be the first superintendent of Porter Township schools. Morland, superintendent of Eastern Green area schools, was selected Wednesday by the Porter Township School Board.

Jan. 18

1953 | Guard Jim McCullough, hitting well from both in and out, drove the Hammond High Wildcats to a narrow 43-39 victory over a determined band of Valparaiso Vikings in a basketball game played at the Hammond Civic Center.

1963 | Edward Buchanan, of 704 Lincolnway, former Porter County sheriff, was hired as meter enforcement officer in Valparaiso.

1973 | An insurance premium of $10,831 for coverage of the new Valparaiso High School was approved for payment by the Valparaiso Community Schools Corp.

1983 | Lori Burk of the Age-group Swimming Club in Valparaiso shows off one of the new timer pads purchased by the club for the Valparaiso High School pool. The club hosted invitational swim meets over the past two years to raise $5,000 of the $6,000 needed to buy six new pads and the console board that records times. The pads are used by VHS swim teams, the Age-group or AAU team and the masters team of adults ages 25 and older.

Jan. 19

1953 | Staging a blazing fourth-quarter comeback to wipe out a tremendous point deficit, the Boone Grove Wolves won their fifth consecutive basketball game as they slipped by the Washington Senators 63-57, in a thriller on the winner's court.

1963 | The Westchester Chamber of Commerce asked Chesterton property owners to cooperate in a program of tree planting and stump removal of trees invaded with the Dutch Elm disease.

1973 | Russell K. Miller learned parking a car in the garage does not ensure its safety from an automobile collision. Miller's car was struck, while in the garage, by an automobile that left Dombey Road, traveled 30 feet, hit a traffic sign, continued across a front yard, hit a maple tree, crashed into a fence and smashed into the side of his garage.

1983 | Valparaiso got a new clerk-treasurer and a new candidate Thursday with the election of Sharon Emerson to the post. Emerson was elected by a caucus of Republican committeeman to complete the term of Pearl Olson, whose resignation was effective Jan. 9. After her election, Emerson said she would be a candidate in the May primary for clerk-treasurer.