Time Machine Trip to April 1972

Kaukauna Times - April 1972

By Lyle Hansen

April 5, 1972

The pledge of $75 by the Little Chute Businessmen’s Association encourages the Kaukauna “Meals on Wheels” program expansion. Mrs. George Behnke organizer of the program indicated a need for volunteers from the area to deliver the meals.

April 7, 1972

Robert L. La Plante overturned Gilbert J. Anderson by a 2,500 to 2,223 margin to slip by the incumbent mayor for a narrow victory in the race for the mayor's chair in Tuesday's election.

April 12, 1972

Fire Chief Theodore Smits and Police Chief William Nagle have warned drivers about coming to near emergency vehicles. Nagle said that vehicles have been following emergency vehicles too closely.

April 14, 1972

Electric power distribution during the month of March has surpassed any other month in the history of the Kaukauna Electric and Water utility, according to Norbert Rhinerson.

A new look comes with the name change at the former Kaukauna Saving & Loan Association, now known as East Wisconsin Saving and Loan.   

April 19, 1972

Tony Zacharias, four-year-old, W. 6^th St., suffered a broken leg when he was hit by a car. Officers said that Tony rode his bicycle on to the road in front of his home. The driver of the car was not cited for the accident. 

State Rep. William Rogers of Kaukauna on the left chatted with Sen. Edmund Muskie, Democratic presidential nomination candidate from Maine during his bus tour through the Fox River Valley.

April 21, 1972

Kaukauna Taxpayers Alliance members have indicated their opposition “to the proposed 21.5% rate increase asked by the Kaukauna Electric Utility.

April 26, 1972

A one-year contract was ratified by the common council giving city employees a 5.5% pay increase across the board. No changes in benefits will be taken.

Funeral services for seven-year-old Craig F. Brem, son of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen G. Brem, were held Saturday at St. Mary’s Church in Kaukauna. Craig died as result of injuries he received when he ran into the side of an auto on French Road north of Appleton.

April 28, 1972

 

Jack Coffey a seventh grader at Holy Cross School is the winner of the CESA 8 Kaukauna Regional Spelling Contest. He will now compete in the 24^th Annual Spelling Be to be held in Madison May 6.

Miss Pat Peters is the first-place winner of the United States Constitution contest sponsored by the Kaukauna Elks Club. Miss Peters is a senior at Kaukauna High School.

Jerry and Dee Huss are celebrating - Jerry & Dee’s Bar, Third Street, Kaukauna, was recently recognized by a major Milwaukee brewery as one of the top ten taverns in the nation promoting national tavern month in May last year.

Six Kaukauna athletic “Giants” will be added to the ranks of the KHS Sports Hall of Fame at the 1972 All Sports Banquet held tomorrow. The names of Gerry Vils, Alvin McCormick, Art Koehne, Bill Alger, Carl Giordana and Guy Krumm will join 31 other famous Kaukauna stars. 

Mayor Gilbert J. Anderson received a standing ovation and then a round of handshaking as the final act as outgoing Mayor Gilbert J. Anderson stepped down from the Common Council dais for the last time.

Hitting the Books – Kaukauna’s new city assessor, Wayne L. Lennert, has been studying the manual and tax rolls.

Peter Biersteker, 16-year-old, from Combined Locks is the winner of the VFW Voice of Democracy contest for the state of Wisconsin. Peter is pictured at the nation’s capital with Congressman John Byrnes to his left along with Mr. and Mrs. Frank Brown of the National committee. Biersteker was sponsored by Kaukauna Electric City Post 3319. 

My Responsibility To Freedom – By Peter Biersteker

I’m an American who believes that my heritage is the greatest gift I have ever received.  An American who knows that this gift is a product of effort and, at times even death.  An American high schooler who is constantly discovering new advantages of being born free, and who, at the same time, is growing to realize that because I have been given freedom, I have also been given responsibility which goes hand-in-hand with freedom.  For instance:

I remember when I was six years old and sadly discovered that Santa Claus was, in reality my parents. Next year my “Want List” was smaller, because I knew my parents had to pay for the presents. Today I am free to ask my government for assistance, but I have a responsibility to ask only for necessities, because I know there is no Santa Claus, and the taxpayers will have to “foot the bill.”

All my life I have lived in a comfortable house, but I learned that every time I cut the grass or shoveled the snow, this house became more and more “my home.” I guess it’s because you only truly possess something after you have earned it.  Some day I hope to have a home of my own, and maybe, by respecting the property and personal rights of others now I can earn this right.

My home has been more than comfortable—it’s been democratic. I have always been able to “tell my side of the story.” This privilege has made me aware that, along with freedom of speech, comes a duty to listen to others and their opinions, to know what I’m talking about, and to study and examine issues carefully before expressing my opinions.

This past year I learned to drive a car and gained a greater knowledge of the unity of freedom and responsibility. I keep the car clean and replace the gas I’ve used, but this is only a minor part of the responsibility I owe my parents for the use of their car.  Because I have been given the right to drive, I have a duty to operate their car as they would – with care and concern for every other person on the road. This same principle can be applied to my use of American freedoms: because I have the right to worship as I please, it is my duty to respect the religious beliefs of others; because I have the right to trial by jury, I should remember that a person is innocent until proven guilty, and I should not pass judgement; and when I have the right to vote, it will be my responsibility to use my vote intelligently.

Yes, I’m an American teenager who realizes what he has been given – the right to eat, sleep, work, speak, pray, and live as I desire. My responsibility to these

freedoms are clear.  My role is to help preserve, protect, and defend these rights so that all future Americans can be born free, just as I was.