Beech Grove Independent

12/24/2025

On this day, December 24, 1968, Apollo 8 became the first manned spacecraft to orbit the moon, commanded by Gary, Indiana native Frank Borman. The crew rocketed into orbit on December 21, and after circling the moon 10 times on Christmas Eve, it was time to come home.

On Christmas morning, mission control waited anxiously for word that Apollo 8’s engine burn to leave lunar orbit had worked. They soon got confirmation when Lovell radioed, “Roger, please be informed there is a Santa Claus.”

The crew splashed down in the Pacific on December 27. A lunar landing was still months away, but for the first time ever, humans from Earth had visited the moon and returned home safely.

Frank Borman served in the Air Force and "is well remembered as a part of this nation's history, a pioneer in the exploration of space" and for his work with "the Gemini 7, 1965 Space Orbital Rendezvous with Gemini 6."

His interview with David Kestenbaum in Act One of the episode titled "So Over the Moon" centered on his unconventional outlook towards space travel. His face was used on the cover of Led Zeppelin's second album released on 22 October 1969.

Frank Borman died from a stroke at the Billings Clinic on November 7, 2023, at the age of 95. He was interred at West Point Cemetery.

He was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 1993.

Photo attribution: NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Frank Borman at Find A Grave: findagrave.com/memorial/261369019/frank-borman
Learn more: nasa.gov/missions/apollo/apollo-8-christmas-at-the-moon/

12/24/2025

We thought everyone who lived this philosophy, except us, were long gone... We raise our glass to a kindred spirit...

12/22/2025

On this day, December 22, 2003, Trooper Scott A. Patrick was shot and killed while attempting to assist a stranded motorist in Lake County.

On this day, December 22, 2003, we lost Trooper Scott A. Patrick when he was shot and killed while attempting to assist a stranded motorist at the Grant Street exit off I-80/94 in Lake County. When Trooper Patrick approached the suspect in an effort to offer help, the suspect pulled a handgun and opened fire. Trooper Patrick was unaware the vehicle had been stolen the previous week. He was able to radio for assistance and return fire. The suspect was later apprehended and convicted of murder. Trooper Patrick had served with the Indiana State Police for nearly 3 1/2 years and was assigned to the Lowell Post.

12/21/2025

Aubree Jean Prather ~~ May 1, 2013 – December 15, 2025

Celebrate the life of Aubree Prather, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Little & Sons Funeral Home.

12/21/2025

Dated photograph of John E. Steeg's Pharmacy and the Standard Market Grocery Company that were located at the corner of 25th and Central Avenue in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Falstaff beer, Rice Krispies cereal, and iced coffee are advertised on billboards overhead. Next door is another food store owned by grocer Joseph Hyman. Circa @ 1942

Photo attribution: Indiana Historical Society

12/21/2025

Winter solstice occurs today, 12/21/25 at 10:03 a.m.

The winter solstice, which occurs on 12/21/25 at 10:03 a.m. (EST) this year, marks the shortest day of the year for us, the longest night of the year, and the official beginning to the winter season.

Solstice means "the sun stands still," but the earth's rotation continues to move us daily and seasonally around it. The winter solstice is a time for hope and celebration as it marks the beginning of longer days, caused by the tilt of Earth’s axis and by its orbital motion around the sun. Welcome winter--spring will be here before you know it!

You can learn more about the solstice at: https://ow.ly/EtPW50XIC83

📸 Prophetstown State Park

12/20/2025

When a law firm gets into the Christmas spirit..

12/20/2025

On this date, December 20, 1963 and just two weeks after the announcement was made that the plant would close, all production ceased at Studebaker’s South Bend plants in Indiana. The truck, GT Hawk and Avanti lines were closed and anything on them was left in place.

The last car off of the line was a Lark designated for Boyer Brothers Motors in Moselm Springs Pennsylvania but instead it ended in the Studebaker Museum in South Bend. This last Studebaker was a Daytona 2-door with an R-2 engine.

The shutdown of the plant, whose work force was nearly a quarter African-American, hit that community especially hard. The engine foundry remained open to supply the Canadian plant until the end of the 1964 model year, after which it was also shuttered.

The Avanti model name, tooling, and plant space were sold off to Leo Newman and Nate Altman, a longtime South Bend Studebaker-Packard dealership. They revived the car in 1965 under the brand name "Avanti II". They likewise purchased the rights and tooling for Studebaker's trucks, along with the company's vast stock of parts and accessories.

Trucks ceased to be built after Studebaker fulfilled its remaining orders in early 1964. There were some '1965' model Champ trucks built in South America using CKD parts ( completely knocked down ). These models used a different grille than all previous Champ models.

Photo attribution: Encyclopedia Britannia

12/14/2025

Aftermath of the December 11th fire in Lyons, Indiana..

Another aerial photo of the destruction in Lyons.

12/14/2025

12/12/2025

Salt truck on its side on the west side This is a crash between a red Toyota and this dump truck near Girls School Road and Green Springs Road. Live updates on FOX59