THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION MAY DIFFER SLIGHTLY FROM THE PRINTED VERSION.Taking noteDo you have a non-commercial news item you would like to run in the Taking Note column? Send your release, with date, time and all important information about your event to Rick A. Richards, assistant metropolitan editor, Post- Tribune, 2600 Roosevelt Road, Valparaiso, Ind. 46383, or call him at 465-0665 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The condition of Charles Widner, 44, of DeMotte, pilot of a light plane that crashed early Tuesday near Rensselaer, has been upgraded from critical to serious. Widner was one of three survivors of the crash. He was transferred from Jasper County Hospital in Rensselaer to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.
Widner had surgery Tuesday night for a broken pelvis, wrist and ankle. More surgery is planned for Friday, said hospital spokeswoman Marie Cloudis.
Jeff Wilson, 36, of Brook, died in the crash.
Passengers Robert Garland, 37, of Brook, and Marcus Rust, 35, of Remington, remained in good condition Wednesday at Jasper County Hospital.
CAR THEFT RUINS KOUTS' RECORD
Kouts almost made it through 1991 without a car theft - until Alice Gaul looked out the window of her Elizabeth Street home and noticed her 1985 Chevrolet IROC Camaro had disappeared.
Gaul's mother, Jo, reported hearing an engine start up, loudly, around 11 p.m. the previous evening - but didn't investigate, she said, 'because the dogs weren't barking, so I figured it was somebody we knew.'
The missing Camaro is white, with IROC written in gray on each side and a Winnie-the-Pooh doll in the rear window. The car bears Indiana license plate 64V 4977. It was valued at $5,000.
The heist ruined this year's perfect auto theft record. 'I thought we were going to make it this year,' said a disappointed Kouts Deputy Marshal Fred Untsch. Kouts had three car thefts in 1990.
HERNANDEZ REPORT REPEATED
Valparaiso Mayor David Butterfield has announced a Board of Works meeting for 2 p.m. Friday to present its findings on the disciplinary hearing of police officer Cosmo Hernandez.
Butterfield said he disagreed the board violated Indiana's Open Door law when it made its decision public last week. 'It certainly was not the intention of the board to violate the Open Door Law if, in fact, we did,' said Butterfield.
Butterfield said the board would present its report again so 'the matter can be concluded.'
CONSERVANCY DISTRICT MEETS
The regular monthly meeting of the White Oak Conservancy District is at 7 p.m. today at the Union Township Volunteer Fire Department on Indiana 130 near Wheeler.
Prior to the meeting at 6:30 p.m., the regular monthly meeting of the White Oak Conservancy Sub-District will be held.
OFF-SNOW TRAINING PLANNED
The Valparaiso Department of Parks and Recreation will hold a seminar on off-snow training techniques from 7 to 9 p.m. today.
The seminar will be at the Banta Senior Center, 605 Beech St.
'JUNGLE BOOK' SHOWN TONIGHT
The Walt Disney movie, 'The Jungle Book,' will be shown at the Portage Public Library, 2670 Lois St. at 6 p.m. today. The movie is free.
450N CLOSED UNTIL SATURDAY
Porter County Road 450N will be closed today and Friday for culvert work, the Porter County highway department has announced.
YUL CELEBRATION SATURDAY
The Sons of Norway Scandiana Lodge 600 will hold a Scandinavian (Yul) Christmas celebration at 6 p.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church, 434 S. Second St., Chesterton.
Preceeding the celebration is a social hour at 5 p.m. A Santa Lucia procession, potluck smorgasbord, Christmas tree decorations, Norwegian and Swedish songs and dances are part of the activities.
Those attending should bring a dish for the dinner and canned food and non-perishable goods as donations to the needy. The event is open to the public.
CARDS, COMICS, COINS FOR SALE
A sports card, comic, coin and collectibles show will be held at the Valparaiso National Guard Armory, 1502 Linwood Ave., south of U.S. 30, across from Valparaiso University.
Show hours are 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 21.
FREE PICTURES WITH SANTA
Children can receive a free picture with Santa at Canterbury Place, 251 E. Drive, Valparaiso, from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 22.
For more information, telephone Kelly Thompson at 462-6158.
'Y' PRE-SCHOOL CLASS FORMED
The Portage YMCA is now registering children who were 3 years old before June 1991 for an afternoon pre-school class that will meet from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
More information is available by calling the YMCA at 762-2012.
