Looking at the headlines ... of 50 years ago

Don't ask me why, but I happen to have a copy of my hometown paper from 50 years ago today.

I said, don't ask. It's just something I happen to have.

But I thought we'd look at the headlines in the Sunday Courier & Press of Feb. 19, 1967 in Evansville, Ind.

The lead story reports "More Arrests Promised in JFK Assassination." The story starts with a bold claim from District Attorney Jim Garrison, who told the Associated Press the assassination plan was developed in New Orleans: "There were other people besides Lee Harvey Oswald involved. New Orleans was a factor in the planning beyond a shadow of a doubt." The story also quotes a U.S. House representative from Michigan, who was on the Warren Commission. Fella by the name of Gerald R. Ford. Anybody know what happened to that guy? He cast doubt on Garrison's claim.

The front page also reports on a movement to dump President Johnson in favor of a Democratic ticket of Robert F. Kennedy and Sen. William Fulbright. 

A couple of other notable front page items, include an abbreviation for Russia you don't see much these days -- "Chinese Fear Russ Attack Along Border" -- and a two-paragraph item that in the pre-social media age enemies of Mao Tse-tung used "wall posters" to challenge the Chinese's leader's story of a 9-mile swim in the Yangtze River.

But the most compelling piece on the front page was about a 19-year-old named Stonie David Huber. It was by Bill Lyon, who worked for the Courier & Press for 3 1/2 years before a legendary career as a sports writer at the Philadelphia Inquirer. The story captured the upbeat manner in which Huber was dealing with the loss of most of his left leg, which was removed after Viet Cong sniper fire.

The Sports section also had a little something interesting. With the Evansville Sectional basketball tournament coming up, Larry Stephenson picked North High School to win.

By dinnertime, there'd be another prognosticator in the family, but we'll leave that for another day.