Aug. 9
In 1967, it was reported that television thefts were up in central Indiana — particularly of sets with a color picture.
Aug. 10
In 2008, McCordsville 16-year-old Samantha Peszek competed in the uneven bars during the team gymnastics competition at the summer Olympics in Beijing. Suffering an injury during warmups, she was limited to that one event. She and her U.S. teammates received silver medals, second to host country China.
Aug. 11
In 1996, Greenfield Mayor Pat Elmore presented Greenfield native and Olympic gold medalist Jaycie Phelps with a key to the city during a community celebration for Phelps at Greenfield-Central High School.
Aug. 12
In 1921, Census Bureau data showed 1.4 percent of Hancock Countians could neither read nor write. That was a lower percentage than the state’s (2.2 percent).
Aug. 13
In 1956, Greenfield police released two runaway boys to Ohio authorities. The boys, ages 12 and 13, said they had been on their way to Texas. They admitted to a string of petty thefts in Cambridge City, Dublin and Lewisville. “They carried hand bags containing dozens of packages of cigarettes, candy, fountain pens, a sling-shot and a head of raw cabbage to bolster their candy diet,” according to the day’s Daily Reporter.
Aug. 14
In 2011, Chris “Lights Out” Lytle of New Palestine fought in his last Ultimate Fighting Championship bout before retiring.
Aug. 15
In 1919, a vocational agriculture department was introduced in Greenfield schools under the direction of Purdue University. At the time it was one of about 35 departments in Indiana. With it being the only such school department in the county, any Hancock County boy could enroll there and receive credit toward graduation.
In 1932, carpenter and former Hancock County recorder Thomas L. Huey was injured when a nail keg gave way and caused him to fall. His carpenter’s pencil was in his mouth at the time of the fall and penetrated his throat, breaking into three pieces. The Fortville physician who treated him said the injury, while very painful, was unlikely to prove serious.
