September: CashSaver to town
WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT
After months of not having a full service grocery store in the county, the CashSaver Cost Plus Outlet officially opened in the old IGA store location on East Main Street. Owner Eric Rabe gave the honor of cutting the ribbon for the new store to Claude and Pat Deaton, whose family ran the former Vevay IGA for many years before retiring.
The community had been without a full service grocery store for several months after the old Vevay SuperValu closed unexpectedly. Eric Rabe entered into negotiations to purchase the store, and after some back and forth, was able to purchase the property and begin the process of doing major renovations and clean up so that it could again open to the public.
The opening of the store was met with great enthusiasm by members of the community; who attended public meetings with Eric Rabe prior to the opening, and were on hand for the ribbon cutting.
SEPTEMBER SAYINGS
Here’s what else we were talking about in September:
– Candidates from Switzerland County High School for the Versailles Pumpkin Show were Clint Swanson and Lensi Parham; Jacob Jones and Paige Ridener were the school’s candidates for the Aurora Farmers Fair; and Zack Rodgers of Switzerland County High School was the King candidate for the Pumpkin Show from the Southeast Career Center.
– Switzerland County native Ted Sullivan, now of Madison, was elected as the Indiana District Governor of Kiwanis.
– The grave of John James Dufour, one of the founding fathers of Vevay and Switzerland County, was located by a group of dedicated volunteers.
– A large group of students and parents attended the Switzerland County School Board meeting to officially ask the school board to explore the possibility of beginning a tackle football program here.
– The “On The River” car show was held at the Paul Ogle Riverfront Park, and the event continues to grow, with more than 300 entries this year. Beautiful weather brought huge crowds to the riverfront for the event.
– The town of Patriot once again held its observance of the anniversary of the attacks on America that occurred on September 11th, 2001. Approximately 100 people gathered at the Patriot Memorial Park for the service.
– A seizure of more than 100 animals by state and county animal health authorities from a property on Cogley Cole Road near Vevay filled the Switzerland County Animal Shelter to capacity and caused the shelter to issue a call for donations of food and pet treats, as well as volunteers to spend time with the animals.
– Mackenzie Anderson of Markland was honored as the Junior Class Homecoming Princess at Lawrenceburg High School.
– Switzerland County Boy Scout Troop #700 held its first “Court of Honor” in Patriot.
– Heavy rains caused flooding and a sand slide from Vevay Hill and into the apartment complex at the top of Pearl Street in Vevay. The flooding and damage necessitated the evacuation and relocation of the residents of the nine apartments.
– An accident on State Road 250 near Allensville resulted in the death of 13-year old Brianna Hite. The accident happened during a huge downpour of rain, which limited visibility and contributed to the accident.
– Longtime Switzerland County resident Thelma Gray died in a car wreck in Tennessee.
– A trail ride was organized to benefit Morgan Cloutier and her family. Morgan is a resident of Ohio County, and was diagnosed in July with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
October: Tech Center opens
WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT
The brand new Switzerland County Technology and Education Center, which is located on Seminary Street next to the Switzerland County 4-H Fairgrounds, held its official dedication. The building houses the Purdue Extension Service; Switzerland County EMA; and Switzerland County Ec015; and has rooms for education and training; as well as meetings and receptions.
The building coming to Switzerland County was a collaborative effort between Mike Busch from Ec015; Pam Acton of the Community Foundation of Switzerland County; Jon Bond of the Switzerland County Economic Development Commission, and others.
It is hoped that the building will provide Switzerland County residents with an alternative to long drives in order to get additional job skills training; a college degree; or a GED.
OCTOBER OBSERVATIONS
Here’s what else we were talking about in the month of October:
– Myrtle Ritchie, a resident of Swiss Villa Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, celebrated her 103rd birthday.
– A large crowd attended the Rural Heritage Tour, which included stops at Musee de Venoge and also the Switzerland County Historical Society’s Farmstead, which was unveiled to the public.
– The annual “Sleepy Hollow Fall Festival” was held under beautiful autumn weather in downtown Vevay around the courthouse. The event featured an appearance by the “Headless Horseman”.
– Switzerland County Middle Schooler Whitley Schirmer was the overall individual winner in the ORVC Conference Meet.
– The Switzerland County High School varsity girls soccer team made history when it won two matches in Sectional play: defeating Rising Sun and Silver Creek.
– The 19th annual “Storyfest” event was held at three locations around Vevay: ‘Storytelling Drums’ performed at the YMCA; Jeanette and Christopher Canyon told about creating children’s books at the Hoosier Theater, and Hank Fincken portrayed Johnny Appleseed at the County Museum.
– Due to the Switzerland County School Corporation adopting the ‘balanced calendar’, school students here got a two-week fall break. Some students attended intercession and remediation classes during the first week.
– A “Cancer Glow” event was held at Switzerland County High School. Organized by the student council, the event was designed to raise awareness about the battle against cancer.
– The annual Halloween Parade sponsored by the Jeff-Craig VFD was again a big success.
– Switzerland County Farm Bureau, Inc., held a Candidates Forum for School Board candidates; while Froggy 95.9 Radio held a Candidates Forum for those seeking county and state offices.
– Former students of the Allensville School held their first reunion on the former school grounds; and plan to continue the tradition each year.