January: County loses only full service grocery store
WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT
In a sudden move that caught most people off guard, the Vevay SuperValu closed its doors with no warning to the community. Owners Mike Bedel and Dave Benz confirmed that the Vevay store would be closed until a buyer was found for it, but had few other comments. The partners also owned the grocery store in Versailles, and it also closed shortly after the Vevay store.
The store had long been associated with the Deaton family, with Claude and Pat Deaton moving here in 1969 to run the old Vevay IGA on Liberty Street. The Deatons built the new store on East Main Street in 1980, and operated the store for there for 20 years before selling it to Mike Bedel and Dave Benz in April of 2000.
JANUARY NOTES
What people were talking about during the month of January:
– Hayley South and Kevin Adams were crowned as the Queen and King of Homecoming at Switzerland County High School. First runners up were Allie Mathews and Alex Moussa; and second runners up were Kelly Kincaid and Keegan Kincaid.
– Vevay Newspapers mourned the sudden loss of Publisher Don R. Wallis, Jr., who passed away suddenly as his home in Yellow Springs, Ohio. He was remembered in the Vevay Newspapers by friends Teresa Lyons and Chris Sieglitz, and editor and general manager Pat Lanman.
– A big crowd again attended the Reds Winter Caravan when it made its stop again here in Switzerland County. Fans filled the Historic Hoosier Theater to hear Reds manager Dusty Baker talk about the upcoming season, along with players Todd Frazier, Nick Masset, and Billy Hamilton, one of the most exciting players in the Reds farm system.
– The Vevay Town Council held its reorganization for 2012, with Jamie Hayes being elected President of the board by fellow members Keith Smith and Josh South.
– Janie Judy was honored by the Farm Service Agency as she retired after 22 years of service.
– In celebration of the 100th day of school, 100-year old Mary Goode Wallis visited the first grade classroom of Jacquita Lanman at Jefferson-Craig Elementary School.
– History was made on a cold Wednesday night in January when Switzerland County High School hosted its first-ever home wrestling match in school history. This was the first year for wrestling at the high school level, and the first match included wrestlers from Milan, Southwestern, and Salem.
– In a reorganization of the Switzerland County Council, Mike Jones of Patriot was elected as the Council President, which is his 28th consecutive term. That makes him the longest serving County Council President in the State of Indiana.
– Steve Danglade, a man with many ties to the Switzerland County community, was hired as the new Executive Director of Switzerland County Tourism. Having previously worked as a manager at Belterra Casino Resort and Spa, Steve Danglade grew up with family here in the county, and fondly remembers visiting relatives and attending family reunions here. He began his duties on January 3rd.
– The Switzerland County High School varsity cheerleading squad won the championship of the Rivertown Classic, which was held at South Dearborn High School. This was the second year in a row that the cheerleading squad won the title.
February: memories of The Great Flood of 1937
WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT
On the 75th anniversary of The Great Flood of 1937, Patriot’s Janet Bond shared her memories of the flooding. She remembers the flood as a little girl living in Warsaw, Kentucky, and seeing all of the people that the flood impacted.
The 1937 Flood impacted most all of Switzerland County and the rest of the Ohio Valley region for decades to come. In part because of the flooding, the Army Corps of Engineers began looking at ways to control the water levels while also providing safe navigation for personal and commercial traffic.
The Switzerland County Museum had a special display of memorabilia from the flood and information about the people who lived through it.
FEBRUARY FINDINGS
Here’s what else people were talking about during the month of February:
– Paige Ridener was crowned as the 2010 “Queen of Hearts” at Switzerland County High School. The queen is crowned each year in a pageant coordinated by the Switzerland County FFA chapter, and the chapter takes on the platform of the winning candidate as a community service project in the coming year. Paige Ridener’s platform was the Switzerland County Child Abuse Prevention Council. Kelly Kincaid was the first runner up; Hayley South was the second runner up; and Olivia Hewitt was selected as “Miss Congeniality”.
– Roger Christman of Pleasant told about his experiences helping to build a school in Honduras as part of a mission trip. Once finished, the school was expected to house about 1,200 children, many of which didn’t have the opportunity to attend school before the new building was finished.
– Switzerland County High School had some “Polar Plungers” for the benefit of the Special Olympics. Students participating included: Emily Bush, Laura Braun, Nicole Leap, Adeli Kinne, Ashley Peelman, Erika Coy, and Tim Steinbis; along with high school faculty members Greg Curlin and Angie Grubbs.
– Mikhail Cole is quite the swimmer. In fact, he’s such a good swimmer that he holds Switzerland County High School boys swimming records – all of them. There are 11 possible event records for swimming; and as of February, he held them all. He is the son of Eric and Lora Cole of near Vevay.
– Switzerland County Business Professionals of America members Chloe Griffin and Logan Todd earned high ranking offices. Chloe Griffin was elected as the President of District 11/12 for the coming school year; and Logan Todd was elected as the State BPA Vice President at the state convention.
– The season of the Switzerland County Lady Pacer varsity basketball team came to an end in February with a loss in the IHSAA Sectional to Southwestern at South Ripley High School.
– The Switzerland County Emergency Management Agency received a new response vehicle that is designed to help not only residents of this county, but also other communities who may find themselves in need. Executive Director George Adams said that his office secured the utility truck from the City of Lawrenceburg, and that he and staff member Connie Wallace had been working to customize the vehicle to their needs.
– Mark DuPoy has been named as the new District Conservationist, and will be working with farmers and other landowners here in Switzerland County. He will also serve Ohio and Dearborn counties, and will be able to assist on issues such as no-till and forestry.
– Halbert and Alice Walston celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.