News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
After a month of gathering public comments, the Switzerland County School Board Monday evening officially adopted a random drug testing policy for students at Switzerland County High School. The policy was presented last month by superintendent Tracy Caddell, but the school board opted to delay voting on the policy until members of the community had the chance to read the plan and give their opinions on it. The policy applies to all students who are involved in an extra curricular activity at the high school, and also those students who drive to and from school.
Kevin Gault and Dan McAlister are the designers of the corn maze that has been created in the field just west of the high school. The project is a joint effort of the FFA and the Switzerland County Welcome Center, and will be open every Friday and Saturday in October. There will also be special events each weekend.
James Richards and Jill Andrew have announced their marriage. The couple was wed on Saturday, July 27th, at the Aberdeen United Methodist Church. The bride is the daughter of John and Jeanette Andrew of Vevay. The groom is the son of James and Darlene Richards of Indianapolis.
Kelly Marie Works and Kyle Glenn Purvis have announced their engagement and approaching marriage. The bride-to-be is the daughter of Danny and Linda Works of Vevay. The prospective groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Purvis of Bear Branch and Jill Jones of Seymour. The wedding will take place Saturday, October 19th, at the Aberdeen United Methodist Church.
20 YEARS AGO
Marine Corporal Scott Sublett, son of Carol Ann Sublett of Vevay, is currently with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Prestine Chapman showed off the new Switzerland County Welcome Center on Friday to nearly 75 people who attended the grand opening ceremonies. Mrs. Chapman, executive director of the Welcome Center, called the grand opening a “huge success.” She said: “It showed to me that people in the community felt the Welcome Center was worth the effort that was put into it, and because of that it will be a success and will bring tourists into our area and expand our economy.”
Loren Hines, of Vevay – Switzerland County’s most senior of citizens – celebrated his 98th birthday last Friday, September 18th. Loren has lived all his life in Vevay, and he is glad he has. He was born in 1894 when America was a horse and wagon society.
30 YEARS AGO
Law enforcement officials have determined they confiscated and destroyed over 4,900 pounds of marijuana following a drug arrest last Sunday morning in the northern part of Switzerland County which netted the largest amount of marijuana plants ever recorded in the county’s history.
Leah Scudder was chosen as Switzerland County’s high school candidate for the Aurora Farmers Fair Queen Contest. Leah was selected by the senior class to represent their school. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hilbert Scudder of Vevay.
Game show fans in the Louisville area who have dreamed of winning color television, a car, stoves, refrigerators, and gifts galore may have their wish come true when Bob Barker, the emcee of television’s “The Price is Right” comes to Freedom Hall on Friday, October 29th, for an 8 p.m. show.
40 YEARS AGO
Miss Edna Ascherman, fifth grade teacher at Patriot Elementary School, has been selected as an outstanding elementary school teacher of America for 1972. The Patriot High School alumnus who has spent most of her career teaching at her home town school was recommended for the honor by Otis Noe, principal of the Patriot school.
Reverend Carroll Buchanan, 33, former pastor of Switzerland Baptist church, died Friday after being hospitalized five weeks at a Roanoke, Virginia, hospital for removal of a tumor which proved malignant. Reverend Buchanan who was pastor of the Vevay church from October, 1964, to August, 1968, was pastor of Fort Lewis Baptist Church in Salem, Virginia, at the time of his death.
Pouring of concrete began this week for a new federal boat launching ramp being constructed on the Ohio River east of Vevay’s ferry landing. Scheduled completion date for the construction is October 28th.
50 YEARS AGO
Switzerland County joined the nationwide campaign against polio as plans progressed smoothly this week toward October 7th – target date for the first dosage of the Sabine Oral polio vaccine. Dr. Noel S. Graves of Vevay, who heads the local program, met in his offices Thursday evening with local club representatives plus county nurses and other workers to get preliminary plans underway.
There are 1,579 pupils enrolled in the new Switzerland County School Corporation. This is a decrease of 11 pupils from last year’s opening school enrollment of 1,590 in 1961 prior to school reorganization with schools under separate governing bodies.
Roy Bosaw of near Vevay announces the approaching marriage of his granddaughter, Miss Harriet Surger, to Ollie Harlow, son of Mrs. Homer Reynolds of near Vevay.
Reverend C. R. Mithum has accepted the pastorate of the Church of the Nazarene at Vevay. He is the son-in-law of Gurnsey Craigmyle of route 5, Madison and the late Mrs. Hazel Craigmyle.
60 YEARS AGO
Miss Carol Gullion and Miss Lois Sunday to enter the freshman class at Indiana University. Other local students at I.U. include Tom Byram, Norris Krall, Jim Stringfield, Bernard Bray and Miss Betty Porter.
The Vevay Reveille-Enterprise has been chosen for the honor of representing the state of Indiana at the first annual “Country Editors Conference” to be held at Renfro Valley, Kentucky, October 3rd, 4th, 5th in tribute to the weekly newspaper editors during National Newspaper Week.
A new fire engine, augmented by the heroic efforts of willing workers, were the means of saving a large part of the Bunger John Deere Tractor Agency and shop in Patriot last Thursday, September 18th. The blaze was discovered about midnight following a vivid streak of lightning during a storm and thus it is assumed started the blaze that gutted the concrete work shop in back of the building but left the display rooms intact.
James Scudder of Vevay sustained a painful injury to his eye Saturday while hunting when a sliver of steel from the shell of the gun barrel lodged in the eyeball.
70 YEARS AGO
Walter Hall, 42, veteran of World War I and a native of Vevay, died Saturday at the home of a sister, Mrs. Laura E. Haak, in Fulton, Indiana.
Leland, one of the week old twin sons of Mr. and Mrs. Gabe Marsh of Craig Township, died at the parents’ home Wednesday morning. The brother, Larry, is given little chance to live.
William Christman, resident of the Pleasant community, died at his home there Monday evening after a six week’s illness.
Mrs. Marie Ford, wife of Elmer Ford, of East Enterprise, passed away at her home there September 10th, having been in ill health since February.
80 YEARS AGO
A Pythian Sisters Temple will be installed in Vevay tonight with 32 charter members.
Miss Alice Martin, who was seriously injured in an automobile accident near Worthville, Kentucky on September 3rd, has been removed from St. Mary and Elizabeth’s Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky to the home of her father, Mode Martin, of Tapps Ridge. Miss Martin’s condition remains serious.
Mrs. Frances Kirkpatrick, aged 68, wife of Frank Kirkpatrick, died Wednesday morning at her home near Jacksonville. She had been in poor health for several years and confined to her bed only a few days before her death.
John B. Andrew, prominent farmer of this community, died at his home near Vevay Wednesday evening following a long and painful illness.
90 YEARS AGO
William Bliss, aged 75 years, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Harriet Sedam, at East Enterprise September 16th.
The baby of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Niemier, nee Nettie Pelsor, formerly of Vevay, now of Rising Sun, died Thursday as the result of being fed strychnine tablets by an older sister who thought they were candy.
Word has been received here of the death of George D. Walden, aged 55 years, in Oakland, California, on September 6th.
John W. Golden, former resident of Switzerland County, died Saturday at his home in Wilcox, Missouri.
100 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Josephine Shadday opened a kindergarten last Monday with 15 pupils enrolled.
The City Council has ordered a renewal of the curfew law and each night at eight o’clock the whistle at the light and water plant will notify all youngsters to hike for home.
Will H. Stevens went to Louisville Saturday evening to arrange for an art exhibit he will have there in November.
Mrs. Frank Krutz died at her home in Florence Sunday morning,.
120 YEARS AGO
Died in Dayton, Kentucky, Friday, September 16th, Charles C., son of Reverend George M. and Afra Anderson, aged five and one-half months. The remains were brought here to the residence of the parents of Mrs. Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. George Haskell, where the funeral was held Sunday.
Died in Quercus Grove, Saturday, September 17th, Mrs. Fanny Harris Pocock, wife of Salem Pocock.
Born, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Osborn of Aaron.
Died, little daughter of George Hosclaw and wife, aged about one year.
Licensed to marry: Albert Brady and Lutitia Scudder; J. D. Rodgers and Mottie Russell; Eddie R. Jones and Rebecca Hunt; James Smith and Alice N. Rebelee.
140 YEARS AGO
September 19th, J. L. Thiebaud and Miss Mary J. Johnston, both of Switzerland County, were married at the residence of Oliver Cain, Esquire, in Craig Township.
Susie Carrie, infant daughter of Reverend and Mrs. T. W. Beagle, died September 14th.
The steamer Buell, on her way up from Louisville, landed at Vevay to put off a lot of heavy lumber. In unloading, a deck hand fell with a heavy piece of timber he was carrying and died almost instantly from injuries received from the log falling on him.
William L. Campbell has removed from Vevay to Oakland, California.
150 YEARS AGO
Civil War news:
There has been another battle at Mumfordsville with reinforcements from Bragg’s and Buell’s armies. Our forces appeared to have the advantage.
There have been hotly contested battles in Maryland during several days, and the Union troops achieved decided advantages.
Thirty-five men of Switzerland County have gone to Indianapolis the past several days, and the Union troops achieved decided advantages.
Thirty-five men of Switzerland County have gone to Indianapolis the past week on horseback to join a company of the 3rd Indiana Cavalry.
A fleet of 13 steamers passed Vevay this week en route to Cincinnati, having on board a portion of General Granger’s division from Columbus, Kentucky.
Governor Oliver P. Morton of Indiana has issued an executive military order regarding the defense of counties bordering on the Ohio River. It provides for the organization of military companies to begin drilling at once. All places of business except drug stores, telegraph offices and post offices must be closed in the towns affected at 3 o’clock p.m. each day and the members of the companies are required to meet at that hour and drill not less than two hours daily. Oliver Ormsby, Colonel commanding the 10th Regiment here, has issued orders closing all business houses in Switzerland County, except those named above, at 3 p.m. until further notice.
The Agriculture Society on Monday decided to hold no fair at East Enterprise this week.
Married September 11th in Vevay by J. H. Titus Esquire, William H. Boggs and Sarah Peters.