Time Machine Trip to August 1968

By Lyle Hansen

August 2, 1968

Ken Roloff, Kaukauna High School football coach announced that physical exams for boys who plan to participate during the 1968-69 school year will be given this Thursday in the athletic department of the high school.

The Rev. Donald Van Stralen and the Rev. David Van Stralen twin brothers from Kaukauna will begin work as missionaries this week. They will begin by attending five months of training at the Catholic University in Ponce, Puerto Rico. 

Rev. Monsignor Peter A. Salm pastor of St. Mary’s Church, Kaukauna, for more than 13 years is retiring August 31. He was ordained February 1, 1925.

August 7, 1968

The top stock car winner KK sports arena Kaukauna was Ron Ritter Milwaukee in a ’55 Mercury speed of 90 mph. Dave Krause piloted his ’57 Chevy to win in middle stock with a top speed of 97 mph. The junior and overall stock winner was Gary Miller of Madison with his ’66 Mustang with a top speed of 101 mph.

August 9, 1968

On Saturday evening the Green Bay Packers make their home debut at Lambeau Stadium against the New York Giants in the 8^th Annual Bishops Charity game. In New York last fall Jim Grabowski gained 123 yards as the Packer offense blasted for 249 yards for a 48-21 victory.

Junior and Senior High School girls will have an opportunity to take advantage of “Cheerleading at its best” at the Birch Knoll Cheerleading Camp being held August 35-30 at Eagle River, Wisconsin. The camp will have the Green Bay Packers Pom Pom Girls and a staff of National Cheerleaders of Dallas, Texas. 

A plaque and a badge were presented in ceremonies to Lieutenant Robert Main, left, on his retirement from the Kaukauna Police Force after 33 years of service. He is shown receiving congratulations from Melvin Nieuwenhus, president of the Kaukauna Public Policemen Association.

August 21, 1968

The dedication of the 1968 “Papyrus,” was made this year to instructor Dallas Werner by the editors of the annual and the student body. Mr. Werner’s activities and teaching have suited the theme of this year’s annual.

August 28, 1968

The mysterious bald eagle spotted just east of Kaukauna near the Doty Bayorgeon Area earlier last week has cropped up again in the area. According to a witness a large bird bearing a close resemblance to the one sighted earlier swooped down with the family’s dog as its prey. The bird has a whitish head and a long wingspan.

Men were back at their jobs at Thilmany today after an agreement was reached ending the strike which began on the morning of August 9. The entire community gave a sign of relief, as persons everywhere weighed the possible personal effects of an extended impasse.

The Kaukauna Athletic Club girls team won the 1968 Wisconsin Softball Championship. They are currently competing in regional completion in Pekin, Illinois. The winner of this tournament goes to the national tournament in Connecticut. Shown front row left to right are Jenny Gertz, Jan Kuchenberker, Sherry Ploor, Kris Ostrowski, Lindy Kemp, Lynn Sonsthagen and Karen McCleery. In the back row are Mary Bowe, Nancy Hustad, Judy Weigman, Donna Larson, Lola Schmelke and Peggy Ploor.

August 30, 1968

An award for dedicated service to the City of Kaukauna was presented to C. J. Hansen, publisher of the Times, by Mayor Gilbert Anderson and Eugene Franchette, director of the regional planning commission.

Carl J. Hansen was given a surprise award here Tuesday. Mayor Gilbert Anderson and the planning commission, with whom he served on from its beginning in 1938, presented him with a plaque and honored him at a dinner at Oakwood Hills country Golf Club.  The mayor stated, “Carl never wanted to take credit for the efforts he helped to promote”.