Thumbs, March 29
Thumbs up to the work of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency and all those involved in the work in positively identifying the remains of World War II veteran Cpl. Glenn H. Hodak of Cambridge Springs. Hodak, a gunner on a B-29 bomber was just 23 when he was shot down over Japan and captured on March 10,1945. Hodak later perished in a fire at the Tokyo prison on May 26, 1945. The remain were positively identified by DPAA scientists through dental and anthropological analysis and circumstantial evidence.
Thumbs down to the withdrawal of charges in a case against convicted killer Johnny Henry. Sentenced to just five to 10 years for the 2022 murder of Joseph DeTello of Meadville, Henry had also faced a first degree felony count of drug delivery resulting in death in the death of Terrance Walker of Meadville. That charge and four others were withdrawn last week in a move the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General said 'was based on witness availability.' While that's understandable, the AG's office declined to respond to questions about what this means for the future of the case and whether charges could be refiled at some point. The families of both DeTello and Walker, as well as the community as a whole, deserve a complete and transparent pursuit of justice.
Thumbs up to the Ainsworth Foundation and ApSeed, an early childhood education nonprofit working to provide 900 prekindergarten touchpads. The devices will be distributed in the coming weeks through nine Meadville-area nonprofit groups. The pads are filled with educational games focusing on four building blocks of reading — letters, numbers, shapes and colors. Hopefully the pilot program will be a success and continue for years to come.
An ongoing thumbs down to the PIAA officials responsible for disqualifying Meadville' boys basketball team from the playoffs after a brawl started by fans in the stands spread to the court earlier this month. Crawford Central officials submitted their required action plan last week as part of the required measures to make sure the team is eligible for next year's tournament. The steps outlined in the plan, most notably an increased police presence and designated seating areas for home and visiting fans, cheerleaders, seniors and others, all seem reasonable. What still seems unreasonable, in contrast, is punishing team members who did not participate in the fighting and simply moved away from where it was taking place. The PIAA's ruling sends a message, and it's one that has been heard many times before from the organization: Maximum accountability and transparency for member schools, but no accountability and transparency at all for PIAA.
Thumbs to those who paid tribute this week to Rod Wise of Meadville, a local law enforcement whose career spanned more than 50 years, stretching back to the 1970s. Wise was known for being a good officer who also was good with people. The large turnout this week for his funeral call hours and service is a lasting symbol of the respect he had earned from the community.
Thumbs down to the downward spiral on display at the Asbury Manor mobile home park in Meadville. On a tour there this week, residents told local officials of their repeated attempts to engage with the park's owners regarding what they described as an ongoing lack of general maintenance and the dangers posed by about 20 abandoned mobile homes. While company staff members occasionally contact residents regarding late rent, one resident said, they consistently ignore resident concerns about maintenance, safety and other issues.
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Today in Chicago History: Great apes enjoy new habitat — with no bars — at Lincoln Park Zoo
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Today in Chicago History: Great apes enjoy new habitat — with no bars — at Lincoln Park Zoo
Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on June 7, according to the Tribune's archives. Is an important event missing from this date? Email us. Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago) 1917: Lions International was founded at the LaSalle Hotel. Members of 42 business clubs assembled there at the invitation of Melvin Jones, a 38-year-old Chicago salesman. Jones sought to create an international association dedicated to service — beyond what the individual organizations were doing locally in their communities. The new group took the name of one of the invited groups, the Association of Lions Clubs. Jones approved of the name since it stood for 'fidelity through the ages; he has only one mate.' Within three years, Lions became an international organization. 1942: Stanley Johnston was an Australian American journalist who, as a correspondent during World War II, wrote a story for the Tribune that inadvertently revealed the extent of American code-breaking activities against the Imperial Japanese Navy, or IJN. The story resulted in efforts by the United States government to prosecute Johnston and other Tribune journalists, an effort what remains the only time the Espionage Act was used against journalists in the United States. 1976: Five people were injured — two seriously — after bombs planted by the FALN (a Spanish acronym for the Armed Forces of National Liberation) went off about 11 p.m. at Chicago police headquarters at 11th and State streets, the First National Bank at Dearborn and Madison streets, the John Hancock Center and a bank across from City Hall. The victims had just emerged from 'Sherlock Holmes' at the Shubert Theater. Further injuries were avoided during a shift change at the police station, the Tribune reported, through the actions of an officer who noticed a suspicious package after hearing reports of the other blasts and helped clear the area. A history of bomb attacksOver the next four years, the FALN carried out 16 more bombings, including at a Holiday Inn, the Merchandise Mart, two armed forces recruiting offices, the County Building and the Great Lakes Naval training base outside North Chicago. Nobody was injured in any of those overnight attacks. Also in 1976: The Great Ape House, which included six indoor habitats and a nursery plus an outdoor habitat, opened at Lincoln Park Zoo. The biggest improvement: no bars between animals and people. Just large, glass windows. And, it 'rained' at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. to replicate the apes' natural environment and keep foliage in the habitat watered. The moving of animals from the old Primate House to the new Great Ape House was recorded by filmmaker Dugan Rosalini, who compiled the footage into the one-hour documentary 'Otto: Zoo Gorilla'. This project and the zoo's hospital were part of the zoo's $20 million building project, which was completed in 1982. Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago's past.
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