Well, 2025 brought with it a big snowstorm, as I am writing this column it is Sunday evening, and the snow is still falling with more projected tonight and tomorrow. This is the most snow that we have had in a longtime. Kudos to the state and county highway crews who are out working hard to treat our roads and bridges.
Congratulations to Posey Township resident, Kim Hutcherson Jannsen who was officially sworn in as a member of the Switzerland County Council. Kim will have her first meeting on Wednesday evening. Aso congratulations to Posey Township resident Joe Bennett who begins his term as a County Commissioner. Joe previously served as the Posey Township representative on the Switzerland County School Board. We wish all of the newly sworn in elected officials in the county the very best in their new endeavors.
For the rest of us, I will quote former President, Jimmy Carter from his farewell address on January 14, 1981, “Good evening, in a few days, I will lay down my official responsibilities in this office-to take up once more the only title in our democracy superior to that of President, the title of citizen…” When I first heard those words, I did not fully grasp the meaning of them, however over time I have come to better understand their significance. As private citizens, we have tremendous power to speak out and support issues that we deem important. When we, of like minds, join together, we exercise even more power. I encourage all citizens to work together to make our communities better.
Leah Jones of Meades Ridge, enjoyed a phone call from Sherri Crawford of Vevay on Saturday. Sherri is the daughter of the late Leon and Pauline Johnson. My mother and Pauline spoke on the phone every day for several years.
Congratulations to Carly Hutcherson on being selected to the President’s List at Trine University after her first semester at the university. Students selected for the President’s List must have a grade point average of 3.75-4.0. Carly is the daughter of Joe and Jeanne Hutcherson and the granddaughter of Jill and the late Brucie Hutcherson. Her great-grandparents were the late Bruce Sr. and Lucille Hutcherson. Her sister, Mady is a student at Indiana University, and is currently studying in Spain through an Indiana University program.
America says goodbye to former President Jimmy Carter this week. Whether one agrees with his political positions or not, he was a good person and accomplished much in life, especially in his post presidency. He and his wife Rosalynn worked tirelessly on human rights across the world through their work with the Carter Center. No matter where he traveled in the world, or how much he accomplished, his life always centered around his hometown of Plains, Georgia. Marlene and I visited there in 2003 and spent time with the Carters and attended Jimmy’s Sunday School Class at the Maranatha Baptist Church
I have been intrigued recently by a couple tombstones in the old Patriot Town Cemetery, that of George and John Shillito, sons of Enis and Phoebe Shillito. I haven’t found a lot of information on the Shillito family of Patriot, but am still looking! I had never come across that family name before.
I received word today that my good friend Mona Crabtree passed away. She had been sick for about 15 months with brain cancer. She and Steve moved to Vanceburg, Kentucky after they both retired. Mona worked for the school corporation for many years, and was the school corporation administrative assistant while I was school superintendent. Mona was an excellent school employee as well as a wonderful person. She will be missed for sure. I was privileged and lucky to be her friend. Prayers for her mother and siblings as well as Steve and Eric and his family.
Mona’s father, Bill Schanding, was from Cynthiana, Kentucky. He graduated from high school with Joe B. Hall, the former coach of the University of Kentucky Basketball team. Steve took his father in law to a UK basketball game one year and they ran into Joe B. Hall at Rupp Arena. I have an interesting story related to Joe B. Hall. Several years ago, I took my youngest brother, Patrick, to the Joe B. Hall Basketball Camp down at UK. Floyd Rose rode down with us. When we arrived, Coach Hall was there and we spoke with him for several minutes. He asked where we were from, and we told him we were from Switzerland County. Coach Hall said, “is that Vevay?”I said yes, and he told us that when he graduated from college, he worked for Heinz Ketchup as a salesman, and one of his stops was Vevay High School. When he visited the school, he found out that they needed a referee for a ball game that night, he was a licensed referee in Kentucky, and stayed and refereed the game. I have tried to find out the specific game, but have not been able to find a record of it.
We are starting to dig out of the snowstorm in Patriot. We had anywhere from 8-10 inches of snow here in town. Jeff and Sue always do a great job cleaning the streets in town. The Patriot General Store was open on Monday for residents who needed food or other supplies. More snow coming on Friday!
It’s good to hear that former Patriot resident, Wanda Benzing is doing better. Wanda suffered a fall on Christmas Eve and spent some time in the hospital. She is home now and doing well. Wanda and her late husband, Jay, lived in Patriot for several years and were very active throughout the community. Wanda served for a while on the Patriot Town Board. She now lives in Florence, Kentucky.
Well, the NFL playoffs are set and neither the Bengals or the Colts are included. The Bengals definitely had a disappointing season. They ended the season with five consecutive wins, finishing with a win over the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Joe Burrow had a MVP season leading all Quarterbacks in the league in passing yards. Burrow was sacked way too many times and the Bengals definitely need help on the offensive line as well as much help in their defense. Ja’Marr Chase also had a great year, with 127 receptions. Hopefully, he, and other important team players will be re-signed for next year.
Congratulations to Jim Huff on his selection to be a member of the Switzerland County Athletic Hall of Fame. Jim is a 1966 graduate of Patriot High School. Jim played basketball, baseball, track and cross country for the Patriot Trojans. Jim joins two other Patriot Trojans in the Hall of Fame, Basil Armstrong Class of 1957, and Ronnie Mitchell, Class of 1966. The 1925-1926 Patriot Trojan Basketball Team was also selected. The “Wonder Five” as they were called, one the only sectional in Patriot High School history. They did not have a home gym to play in and won the sectional by defeating Hanover, Scottsburg and Deputy. Another athlete selected also has connections to Patriot High School. Eve Galbreath, standout athlete from Switzerland County High School and Hanover College is the daughter of Ralph (Sonny) Galbreath, graduate of Patriot High School. Inductions will be held in the Spring of 2025.
Well, we had more snow on Friday. This is the snowiest January that we have had in several years.
That’s all for now. Please send me news to post to 812-290-3088, or mike1405@earthlink.net. Until the next time, in the words of the Glen Campbell song, remember to “try a little kindness and shine your light for everyone you meet.”–
Michael L. Jones, Executive Director, Madison Area Special Services Unit
The world is full of good people, if you can’t find one, be one...
~Mother Teresa~