10 YEARS AGO
Deaths this week: Rebecca Leonard, Gerald Lawton, Hurley King.
Candidates for the 2012 Swiss Wine Festival Princess are: Jessie Ray, Chelsea Duvall, Ashely Green, Kim Cox, Emily Bush, Dorothy Lamson and Paige Ridener. The pageant will be held in the high school cafeteria on Saturday night.
Ashley Bovard, Ashley Works and Emma Johnson received nursing scholarships from Voiture 612 of the 40&8.
The annual Baby Contest was held last Wednesday night at the Switzerland County 4-H Fair. Winners of this years contest include: Ethan Spoores, Hayden McKenzie, Jalyn Huffner, Holden Mathews, Samantha Gullion and Masen Kilborn.
John Stafford was named Firefighter of the Year for District 9 and Roy Leap was named Law Officer of the year.
20 YEARS AGO
The Town of Vevay has installed a new flag pole in the Vevay Cemetery. The 40-foot pole was put in approximately a month ago, and has been welcoming visitors to the community with its 10-foot by 15-foot American flag.
When the Indiana General Assembly passed House Bill 1001 during its special session, a section of it as it is written will have a tremendous impact on Switzerland County fiscally in the future, and county and state officials are already moving to have it changed. As it currently stands, House Bill 1001 freezes revenues currently coming into counties from riverboats at the 2002 Fiscal Year level. That means that counties will be allowed a maximum revenue level equal to the amount of revenue that came into the county from July 1st, 2001 to June 30th, 2002. Any revenues generated by a riverboat casino over and above that set level will now go to the state, which will divide those funds and distribute them to Indiana counties that do not have a casino. This level goes up to $33 million — and any money over that goes directly to the state coffers to help reduce the state deficit.
Switzerland County residents listening to the professional baseball game featuring the Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday afternoon may have heard a familiar name during the broadcast. Trenton Ricketts of Vevay, the 10-year-old son of Randy and Pam Ricketts, was selected out of the crowd to be the guest public address announcer in the bottom of the third inning. His name and picture were shown on the large stadium scoreboard while he introduced the first batter for the Reds.
30 YEARS AGO
The Swiss Wine Festival will take place Thursday, August 13th, through Sunday, August 16th. The planning committee for the festival includes, chairman Randy Ricketts, Elaine Prosser, Rose Harbert, John Kniola and Mark McNair.
George, the well known, well loved, Vevay town dog, no longer makes his rounds about town — but must remain in the dog house at home. This follows his arrest by the dog catcher last week. Red White is the official owner of George — though really, he’s the kind of dog who owns himself — and when he heard George was in jail, Mr. White went down and bailed him out. He learned about George’s arrest from Jeff Sloan, who brought George to Vevay as a puppy, seven years ago (from Rising Sun, where George was born) and gave him to Mr. White.
40 YEARS AGO
The Swiss Alpine Festival is just about two weeks away and preparations are starting to go into the final phases, as everyone gets ready for the annual event. The Little Swiss Polka Dancers, 46 strong this year, have been practicing weekly under the leadership of Betty Swango who has been teaching routines to them since 1963.
The Switzerland County School Corporation and the system’s teachers are at impasse in contract negotiations. The two groups have met three times to discuss money matters in the contract. Teachers okayed a two year contract last year, but money matters such as salary, insurance and related items were open for discussion this year.
Norman D. Earls, son of Mr. and Mrs. Norman W. Earls, route 2, Vevay, has completed a four year course with the Joint Apprenticeship Committee and is now qualified to be a journey lineman.
50 YEARS AGO
Michael Robinson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dean Robinson of Fairview, earned a bachelor of science degree in education from Indiana University the past semester. Robinson has accepted a position with Madison Consolidated Schools this fall.
Monday morning Main Street people were alarmed to see a swarm of bees on the door of the Silgas store in downtown Vevay. The swarm of bees, about 2,000 of them, were soon rounded up and placed in a bucket by Walter James. James moved to Switzerland County this year and lives near Cross Plains. He and his wife Ruth operate a restaurant in downtown Vevay. The bees were first noticed in the steeple of the Switzerland Baptist Church and since the steeple of the church is being rebuilt the bees decided to move to the Silgas door.
60 YEARS AGO
Approximately 30 industrialists and businessmen from all over the nation will fly over Vevay at approximately 1:47 p.m. October 2nd. The purpose of the flight is to convince the guests of Indiana of the advantages to be gained from locating or expanding their facilities in Indiana. News of the flight was learned locally through a letter from Lieutenant Governor Richard O. Ristine to Joe Ricketts, President of the Vevay Civic Club, who wrote Ristine concerning the matter.
Karen Gullion, 17-year-old Vevay beauty, reigns as Queen of the Switzerland County 4-H Fair, opening today in Vevay. In addition to county royalty, Karen is now eligible to enter beauty competition in the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis August 24th-25th.
Switzerland County School Corporation’s interim board moved closer to solving its administrative problems Monday night by assigning duties to three superintendents of previous county units. No contracts were signed, however. The chief move was naming Edward G. Gray, former Patriot-Posey superintendent, assistant superintendent, working directly under Superintendent Verne Hooker. Harold C. Benedict, Vevay Town Schools superintendent, was assigned the prestigious title of associate superintendent and assigned to Vevay schools. Raymond A. Cole, former county superintendent, was appointed supervising principal at Jefferson-Craig Consolidated School and county director of transportation.
70 YEARS AGO
The “Dog House” restaurant on Seminary Street has recently been enlarged and attractively redecorated. Mrs. Marshall Burnett is owner and manager of the restaurant.
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Bray of Craig Township were notified last week of the death of their nephew, Sergeant Ralph Sooy, 22, of Madison, who was killed in action in Korea on July 10th.
Funeral services were held in San Antonio, Texas, on Monday for George L. Clendenning, a native of Vevay and formerly a bookkeeper at the Vevay Deposit Bank. A veteran of World War I and World War II, he also had served with the regular army during the Mexican border troubles in 1916.
Wayne, 11-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Ted Hughes, who reside on the Morris McKee farm on Pleasant View Ridge, near Fairview, sustained a shattered right elbow Saturday evening about 6 o’clock when he fell from a mule.
Sylvester James, a fine old gentleman of Florence, will quietly observe his 90th birthday on July 24th. Mr. James enjoys visits from all friends and relatives and has a keen mind despite his advanced age and the handicap of being blind.
80 YEARS AGO
Reverend Fred Griffith, Vevay minister, has been elected President of the Five County Council of the American Legion, being the first Vevay man to hold this office.
Miss Dorothy Hall, former health nurse of this county, now in the armed services, has safely arrived at her destination overseas.
County Defense Director, Chester Callis, has announced the appointment of K. L. Hastings, John Partain and Joe Danner as additional members of the County Ration Board. Other members of the group are Charles B. Noble, J. B. Tilley and Walter Trafelet.
90 YEARS AGO
Harry D. Stow, prominent banker of East Enterprise, died in Bethesda Hospital, Cincinnati, Monday evening.
Fire, which is believed to have been caused by spontaneous combustion in newly harvested hay, destroyed the barn, residence and a smokehouse on the farm of Joe Bliton in Pleasant Township near Caledonia Friday morning.
The Scott County State Bank of Scottsburg was robbed of $4,000 Friday afternoon, when three bandits held up the officers and employees of the bank and a customer and escaped with the above amount.
The deep well being drilled at the home of Captain Clarence Carter on Main Street in Vevay was abandoned last week after a depth of 949 feet had been reached. A small amount of gas was found in the well at different depths and lick water was found at 818 feet. This is indicative that the water contains valuable medicinal properties and hope is entertained that the flow may be used in building up a health resort.
100 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Margaret Mains and Edgar Detraz, prominent Craig Township couple, were married in Madison last Saturday afternoon by Reverend Marshall.
Landis Brown, young son of Rodolph Brown and wife, of Vevay, was found dead in a barn on the Brindley farm east of Vevay Sunday morning. A coroner’s inquest was held Tuesday but no official announcement as to the cause of death has been made.
Word has been received of the death of Mrs. Eugene Jaynes, native of Center Square, which occurred at her home in Hector, Minnesota, about two weeks ago.
Born, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. William Morrison of Mount Sterling.
Knicker suits are becoming very popular in Vevay.
110 YEARS AGO
The Hoosier Motor Club has begun the task of marking the motor roads of the state.
Bern Jones has purchased the Dyer Hotel fixtures and will open a hotel this week in the building on the corner of Main and Liberty streets where he was formerly located.
The First National Bank is erecting a new fence at the front of its grounds on Ferry Street.
Born July 20th, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Richard Carver of Florence.
Born Friday, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Harry Montayne of Mount Sterling.
140 YEARS AGO
W. P. Hall, aged 52 years, suffered a heart attack and died very suddenly Tuesday morning. Mr. Hall had gone to the Schenck farm to gather berries and on becoming ill, went to the home of Thomas Heady, nearby, where he expired.
For nine days the temperature in Vevay has been about 90 degrees. Sunday and Monday it registered 99.5 degrees.
Last Thursday Andrew Jones, fireman at the furniture factory, was badly burned about the hands and face when shavings caught fire suddenly and exploded.
150 YEARS AGO
A genuine bear’s tooth has been found in this county by Theodore Pickett and has been placed on exhibit in the Vevay Museum.
160 YEARS AGO
A letter to the editor from F. M. Tague, 3rd Indiana Cavalry, stationed at Fredericksburg, Virginia, informs us that Private Charles Butcher of Company C. drowned July 9th, when he fell from his horse while swimming it in the Rappahannock River. Over 100 persons dived and dragged for his body, but it had not yet been recovered. Captain Lemmoth will forward his effects to his family here.
For the past 10 days there has been considerable excitement in this county, as well as in the adjoining counties of Kentucky. Soon after Morgan’s arrival in Scott County, Kentucky, detachments of his gang came to Owen County and went to recruiting and stealing horses. This band of about 75 cavalry roamed through Owen County for several days and on Monday night the citizens of Warsaw anticipated an attack on that place, but none was made. Several families have moved to this county for security during the reign of terror, and some horses were also brought over for safety. Of the militia ordered from this county last week, Governor Morton sent all back but one company, wisely concluding that their services might be required at home more than at any other point.
Governor Morton has telegraphed to Washington for authority to raise a regiment of cavalry for service in the border counties of Kentucky and Indiana. It is thought that cavalry is the surest arm to put down raids of guerrilla.
The 2nd Indiana Cavalry regiment is at Reynold’s Station, 72 miles south of Nashville, Tennessee. Two companies from Switzerland County are in this regiment.
A letter from a “Vevay Private” at Camp Morton tells of the concentration of state militia there following Morgan’s raids. Most of the men were dispatched to Kentucky. The private wrote, “Switzerland County was well represented in this patriotic band, and the men were better drilled than any that belonged to the Legion from any other county. Captain Tinker’s company volunteered to go, but it being the color company the Colonel said we could not go until he went. The boys were very angry because they were not allowed to go to Kentucky. John Jackman has been promoted from orderly sergeant to captain of our regimental band. John Armstrong has been appointed orderly sergeant.”