(1) Work continued on improvements to State Road 129 near Long Run as the Indiana Department of Transportation did excavation work in preparation for more extensive work this summer. The project involves the improvement of the road from State Road 250 at Pleasant south to State Road 56 near Vevay.
(2) Sydney Pike was crowned as the 2006 “Queen of Hearts” during ceremonies held at Switzerland County High School. Katie Wright was the first runner up; Morgan Nay was the second runner up; and Miss Congeniality was Jennifer Foutch.
Other contestants included: Brenna Green, Kara Hudson, Jenna South, Ashley Thornton, and Emilee Waldron.
(3) The Switzerland County Soil and Water Conservation District honored Julian “Nub” Hartman with its “Silver Star” award for a lifetime of dedication to agriculture and farming.
David Jones was honored by the SWCD as the “Conservation Farmer of the Year” for his work in agriculture and attention to conservation issues.
(4) The Switzerland County Pacer boys varsity basketball team captured the Southwestern Sectional title with a victory over Lawrenceburg in the final. Travis Webster was honored as the Sectional’s MVP; and the title extended the careers of seniors Ben Hickman, Tyler May, Zach Getz, Mat Deaton, B.J. Shelton, Josh Snow, Cody Peters, and Michael Otter.
(5) In what began as a week of celebration as the Switzerland County Pacer basketball team headed to the Regional tournament in Alexandria, Indiana, ended in tragedy and sorrow as the school lost two classmates in separate incidents.
Aaron Burnell was killed in an automobile accident on Bethel Ridge while riding in a vehicle with three friends; and Kenny Russell was killed in a fire at his home near Bennington.
(6) Vevay Newspapers editor and general manager Patrick Lanman attended the National Newspaper Association’s Government Conference in Washington, D.C. While at the conference he introduced Indiana Representative Mike Pence before the congressman gave his keynote address; and also met Senator John McCain, Senator Barack Obama; and President George Bush.
(7) Switzerland County fell to Heritage Christian in the semifinal game of the Alexandria Regional by a final score of 57-34. The Pacers were plagued by poor shooting and heavy hearts, but still represented the community well.
(8) Switzerland County High School junior Matt Johnson earned the rank of Eagle Scout through the Boy Scouts of America. He is the son of Steve and Mary Johnson of Vevay, and is a member of Boy Scout Troop #741 in Vevay.
(9) Natalie Daugherty and Melissa Kinne were named as the 2006 recipients of the Lilly Endowment Scholarship. Natalie Daugherty will attend Franklin College in the fall; while Melissa Kinne will attend DePauw University.
(10) Switzerland County lost two important coaches in March.
After leading his team to a Sectional title, boys varsity coach David Todd stepped down after six seasons to spend more time with his family. He will remain at the high school as a math teacher.
Steven Konkle, the holder of the highest winning percentage of any coach in school history, stepped down as the girls junior varsity basketball coach. In his 14 years of coaching, 12 of those teams had winning records.