Leader Lookback: Police, county, Armstrong
This is what ran in The Evening Leader 50 years ago this week.
St. Marys Police Department Dominates Annual Prison Shoot
The annual St. Marys Police Pistol Shoot for the Mayor’s Traveling Trophy was held yesterday at the St. Marys Police Pistol Range, north of St. Marys on River Road. The teams from the St. Marys Police Station took first and third place with the Buckland police placing second.
Seven teams participated in the shoot, with teams from Coldwater, Buckland, two from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, two form the St. Marys Police, and one county prosecutor’s team.
The first place team that won the traveling trophy from St. Marys was made up of Tom Makely, Bill Grunden, Jack Kuenning, and George Henderson, all patrolmen for the St. Marys force. Their score was 1543 of a possible 2000.
The second place team was Buckland’s with 1253, and third was the second St. Marys Police team with a 1096.
In the individual shooting, the first and second Class “A” shooters were Patrolman Bill Grunden of the St. Marys PD, and Sgt. Charles Nishwitz, Ohio State Highway Patrol.
In the Class “B”, the first and second place shooters were Patrolman Jeff Hardeman and Lt. Dick McCort, both of the St. Marys Highway Patrol post.
In Class “C”, top shooters were Sgt. Cliff Wolfal and Patrolman Randy Myers, of the St. Marys PD.
The Mayor’s trophy is a traveling trophy that was donated for the annual meet last year by Mayor Norman Opperman. If any team wins the trophy for three years in a row, they get to keep it. St. Marys won last year also.
County Has Authority To Proceed With Metz Ditch Project
The Auglaize County Commissioners met Friday afternoon with County Prosecuting Attorney H. Michael Moser during which Mr. Moser informed them that the 3rd District Court of Appeals has reversed a decision of Auglaize County Common Pleas Court concerning the Metz Ditch.
According to Moser, the suit was filed last year against the County
Commissioners by a group of landowners in the area through which the ditch is located, including Wayne and several neighboring townships.
The landowners alleged the assessment levied for rejigging the ditch was illegal and asked the court for an injunction preventing the county from collecting the tax.
Judge Eugene McNeill of Van Wert, sitting for Common Pleas Court Judge Gerald rone, who disqualified himself, ruled in favor of the landowners and ordered the county to stop collecting the Metz Ditch assessment.
Moser told the commissioners the appeals court reversed McNeill’s decision on the grounds that the county “did have the authority” to proceed with the ditch project.
Four animal claims totaling $253.20 were received by the commissioners, but no report was received on the number of dogs picked up.
Mercer County Plowing Match Set For Aug. 7
The 1971 Mercer County plowing match has been scheduled for Saturday, August 7, on the St. Charles Seminary farm, Carthagena, according to J.E. Vogt, vocational agriculture instructor for Coldwater schools and publicity chairman for the county plowing match committee.
The contest, Vogt said, will be for both junior and senior plowmen, with the senior event to be divided into large and small plow divisions.
Deadline for contest entries is August 4, with entry blanks available at the Mercer County Soil Conservation office or from committee members or county vocational agriculture instructors.
In the event of rain, August 7, Vogt said, the match will be held Monday, August 9. He also noted that farm machinery dealers and exhibitors will be invited to present displays or demonstrations at the site during the match.
Wapakoneta Celebrates Neil Armstrong Day
The second anniversary of the day astronaut Neil Armstrong first set foot on the moon was celebrated quietly in Armstrong’s native hometown here today.
Armstrong made world history July 20, 1969, when he stepped out of the lunar lander, called the Eagle, and declared, “One small step for man; one giant leap for mankind.”
Accompanying Armstrong on the Apollo 11 flight were astronauts Edwin Aldrin and Michael Collins. Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Armstrong, the astronaut’s parents, presented hundreds of gifts they have received from all over the world to be displayed in the downtown stores.
The gifts are to be placed in the Armstrong museum which is currently under construction. It is scheduled for completion next year and will be dedicated on the third anniversary of the moon landing.
July 20 was declared “Neil Armstrong Day” two years ago by then Gov. James A. Rhodes who issued a proclamation in honor of the moon landing event.
Seventy-Three Entrants In Third Annual Water Skiing Tournament Sponsored By Grand Lake Ski Club
Seventy-three entrants glided across the water in the ski zone on the west end of Lake St. Marys in the 3rd annual water skiing tournament sponsored by the Grand Lake Ski Club this weekend.
Competition from five states began the strenuous events at 8:30 Saturday and again at the same time Sunday.
A number of trophies were presented by Greg Wilson, president of the club, for the trick, jump and slalom skiing in eight different divisions.
One member of the local club, Barbara Tesno of Club Island, Celina, was first in the Jr. Girls Trick division. The 11 year older is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Tesno of Dayton and ran a masters rating, the highest of six possible, in doing so.
Ratings are novice, third, second, first, experts and masters.
Bruce Swonger, son of Mr. and Mrs. B.J. Swonger of Northwood was first in the Junior Boys Trick skiing. Bruce also rated masters and is also a member of the Grand Lake Ski Club. He is 13 years old now but was in the Junior division since he was not 13 the first of the year.
Another member of the local club taking a trophy was Kurt Homan of Celina who placed third in boys’ tricks. He is 15.
Barb Resno, also of a Club Island, was second in the women’s division in slalom skiing and Marty Gaw, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Gaw was third in the women’s division.
Jim Hart, Celina, was third in the novice men’s division in trick skiing and also won the overall trophy by placing relatively high in men’s jump and slalom.
Greg Wilson, placed first in men’s tricks and the grand slam in the women’s division was won by Prissy Moore of Hamilton who is in her tenth year of formal competition. The men’s slalom overall winner was Jerry Hosner of Fenton, Michigan.
Denny Rising, also of Fenton, won the men’s jumping competition with a leap of 124 feet. The record jump of 140 feet was set last year by Billie Dalton.
Various divisions included: Jr. Boys and Jr. Girls (12 and under); Boys and Girls 13-16; Women’s 17 through 30; Men’s 17 through 35; Senior Women’s 30 and above; Senior Men’s 35 and above.