Time Machine: Time Machine Trip to January 1966

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen KAHS

January 5, 1966

During 1965 the figures indicate births in Wisconsin showed the greatest numerical drop in history. A drop of about 7.2%. The 1965 decline marks the fifth consecutive year that births have shown a decrease. Will the planners have to scrap the blueprints? Are we building schools for boys and girls who will never be born? Especially puzzling the number marriages increased each of the past three years.

January 7, 1966

Plans are being completed for the operation of the Chicago White Sox Boys Camp again this summer. This will mark the third season for the White Sox Boys Camp which is located on Lake Winnebago at Brothertown. The camp, which is for young men ages 10 to 16, will again consist of three sessions.

Valarie Ann Sanderfoot, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Sanderfoot Kaukauna, was the first baby born at Kaukauna Community Hospital.

An amendment to the social security laws will help many students earn university degrees according to the Madison office of the Wisconsin state University system. If one parent died, became disabled or retired a child previously was eligible for a benefit payment averaging about $45 a month until reaching the age of 18. In 1965 an amendment makes an unmarried child who is a full-time student eligible for payments until age 22.

S/A Kenneth F. Koester is home on leave. He is currently stationed at the naval air station in Pensacola, Florida.

Coach Ken Vander Velden will see his charges go into action tonight against the Shawano Indians. Presently the Ghosts share fourth place with Clintonville, New London and Two Rivers all with a 1-3 record. Pat Kavanaugh leads Kaukauna with 72 points. The second-highest scorer for the Ghosts is Quin Vander Velden who has netted 50 points.

All switching action on the Chicago and Northwestern railway will be moved out of Kaukauna on July 1, 1966, to an Appleton switch yard according to testimony here Thursday.

January 12, 1966

It should be a warm gathering around the hot stove when the Red Smith Sports Award Dinner is held on January 18^th in Appleton. It has been announced that another sports luminary, Frank Howard, towering slugger of the Washington Senators, will be a guest.

The Kaukauna high school junior varsity wrestlers won their 20th victory in a row over two seasons by defeating the Neenah JVs by a 41-11 margin. Since the sport was started in 1964 on a conference basis, the JV unit hasn't lost a match.

Damage caused by a Tuesday fire at the Earl Verbeten home on 9^th Street was estimated at $15,000. The home was a complete loss, the fire trucks arrived at 7 AM and didn't leave until 12 noon. The blaze was believed to be caused by a faulty furnace.

The Galloping Ghosts are starting to jell as a 62-56 win over Shawano Friday night moving Kaukauna into a three-way tie for second place in the Mid-Eastern conference standings. 11 straight points in the fourth quarter brought the Ghosts from behind.

January 14, 1966

Miss Suzanne Sielaff, Kaukauna, will be among the 50 members of the Valparaiso University Concert band this year.

Kaukauna had eight pins in the match and two decisions. The Ghosts won the first eight matches before Clintonville recorded a point, but the Ghosts were already assured. The win brought Kaw’s record to three wins, one loss and one tie in conference competition.

The Ghost JV wrestling team continued their undefeated way at Clintonville Wednesday beating the Truckers JV team by a 41-13 score. This is the ninth straight win this season and 21^st victory over two seasons.

Bethany Lutheran Church of Kaukauna will observe the 20th anniversary of its founding on Sunday, January 16.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Trettin were selected as co-editors for the 1966 edition of the Kaukauna high school Alumni News. The announcement was made at the Board of Directors business meeting Tuesday evening.

Ron Borree shelling a 204 singleton and Den Bloy with a 383 two game series led the bowlers at the Boys junior recreation league on Saturday.

January 19, 1966

Leo Spindler shelling a 258 singleton and Cletus Baumgart, with a 595 series led the Keglers of the Knights of Columbus league on Wednesday at the Bowling Bar.

Seaman apprentice George C. Peebles, USN is serving aboard the USS Point Defiance which will return to the United States in late November.

Private John Weigman reported to Fort Leonard Wood Missouri after spending the Christmas holidays at home with his parents on Second Street. At present he is enrolled for an eight-week course at combat engineering school.

Seaman apprentice Kenneth L. Beach, Kaukauna, has reported to the naval support activity, Da Nang, Vietnam for duty. Approximately 3500 naval personnel are being assigned.

One of the featured events of the winter season for youngsters of the community is the annual Ice Carnival of the Kaukauna Recreation Department which will be taking place this Sunday, weather permitting.

The Kaukauna Ghosts knocked Menasha out of a first-place tie with a 69-58 win Friday night. Kimberly and Neenah now share first place. Pat Kavanaugh scoring 30 points and Quinn Vanden Heuvel scored 14 points to carry the scoring burden for the Ghosts.

A new program, through which 20 paid volunteer firemen will be added to Kaukauna Fire Department was announced Tuesday by Clayton Keefe, chairman of the fire and police commission. Addition of the volunteers to the 13 full-time firemen will place Kaukauna in a lower fire insurance bracket and lower insurance rates for businesses in the city.

January 21, 1966

Pvt. Gerald T. Maki is spending the holidays with his parents. He will be entering school at Ft. Ord, California.

The Chicago White Sox announced Tuesday that Grover “Deacon” Jones has been named player-coach of the Fox Cities Foxes.

Army Pfc. John E. Lamers, Kimberly, is participating in a four-week final training exercise near Grafenwehr, Germany.

Miss Mary Ellen Haen, 12, won first place in a speaking contest for elementary school students in the Brown County conservation contest.

The “Greatest farm Manager in baseball” is how Red Smith, left described Glen Miller, right, former Kaukauna resident and presently working for the Chicago White Sox. Looking on are Eddie Stanky White Sox manager and Arthur Allyn owner of the Sox. Miller is honored as winning the first Smith award.

Over 100 people from Kaukauna attended the first annual midwinter banquet in honor of Glen Miller, former Kaukauna resident, and current White Sox farm director, was presented with the Red Smith award. Miller said, “I don't know why I got this award, but maybe it's because I've survived seven general managers and four owners in Chicago.”

George E. Greenwood, 35, was named Kaukauna's outstanding young man for 1965 by the Jaycees here for his work on the Kaukauna Chamber of Commerce Committee for Higher Education. The award was presented to Greenwood by Neil Steinberg, chairman of the event at a dinner at Oakwood Hills Country Club Tuesday.

January 26, 1966

Over 50 years ago the father of William Rath, W. 3rd St., came into possession of an 1851 gold coin which is now supposedly worth $2.50. Rath recently sent the coin to the Treasury Department to see if it had increased in value. The Treasury Department thought the coin was counterfeit and sent it to the Secret Service for verification. The Secret Service not only verified the coin as being counterfeit but confiscated it as well. They sent a letter requesting that Roth advise them as to the source of the coin. It is believed the coin was dropped in a gum machine in Antigo owned by his father more than 50 years ago.