(1) Dru Morgan of Vevay was crowned as the 2005 “Queen of Hearts” at Switzerland County High School. The pageant is sponsored each year by the Switzerland County FFA. The first runner up in the pageant was Brianne Martin; the second runner up was Mattie Waddle; and Miss Congeniality was Samantha Smith.
(2) The Vevay Town Council was moving ahead with a $500,000 Indiana Department of Commerce grant. The grant will be used to improve the storm sewer system in the town.
(3) The Switzerland County Soil and Water Conservation District held its annual meeting and honored some local farmers. The Thieman family farm was honored with the Silver Star Award for a lifetime of service to the agriculture community; and it was accepted by Leonard Thieman and son Mike Thieman. Danny and Cathy Covington were honored as this year’s “Conservation Farmers of the Year” for their leadership and innovation in the development and marketing of specialty crops here in the county.
(4) The Switzerland County Commissioners discussed the rising controversy over its appointments to the County Tourism Board. The commissioners said that they took advantage of the opportunity to balance representation on the board in different townships, and there was no personal vendetta against any of the board members whose appointments were not renewed.
(5) Jon Bond came back home to Switzerland County when he was named as the new executive director of the Switzerland County Economic Development Corporation.
(6) Sue Bailey of Florence was killed while working at Arvin-Sango in Madison when she was caught in one of the large presses at the plant.
(7) Mattie Waddle and Amanda Watson were honored as this year’s winners of the Lilly Endowment Scholarships. Mattie is the daughter of Philip and Sandy Waddle of Bennington; and Amanda is the daughter of Gary and Ginna Watson of near Vevay.
(8) Ashley Chase, a standout member of this year’s Switzerland County Lady Pacer basketball team, was named as a member of the Indiana Junior All Star team. The team will play against the Indiana All Star team as it prepares for the annual series again the Kentucky All Stars. Former Switzerland County coach Steve Goddard, now at Bloomington North High School, will coach the Junior All Stars.
(9) Vevay Newspapers launched its new website in March. The website was designed and maintained by Jennifer Deaton, who works for the newspaper through a special school-to-work program at Switzerland County High School.
(10) County officials were demanding answers from the state after bills introduced into the Indiana Legislature would have take more riverboat revenues out of the county and kept them at the state level.