News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
There is no official word as to whether the storm that blew through Switzerland County early Saturday morning was a tornado, but for Gary Imel, who lives at the top of Smith’s Ridge on Hickman Road, there is little doubt about it. The devastation appears to have been from Dry Fork to the top of Smith’s Ridge, with the storm damaging property along the line before calming. Everyone in the Moorefield neighborhood seems to think it was a tornado because of the noise of it and the damage there.
Switzerland County citizens will be speaking at a hearing of the Indiana Gamin Commission in Corydon, probably on Wednesday, May 8th. Local residents are expected to speak both in support of and opposition to the commission’s granting of a riverboat gambling license here. The Indiana Gaming Commission has announced that it will hold three days of public hearings May 6th, 7th, and 8th for Switzerland, Harrison and Crawford county residents.
15 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Lotta Morton of Cross Plains recently celebrated her 92nd birthday with friends and relatives at The Sherman House in Batesville. As an additional surprise Mrs. Morton’s sister, Mrs. Mildred Juliano, of Winston, North Carolina, also arrived for the party.
The son of a Patriot man has been killed in a mysterious gun slaying in Dodge City, Kansas, that has baffled police and an eyewitness alike. Bruce Romans, 28, son of Howard Romans of route 1, Patriot, was killed when he and a friend, Carl Allen, were walking across a bridge spanning the Arkansas River in Dodge City. An unknown assailant fired a gun toward the bridge striking Romans and killing him within moments of the shooting.
Kimberly A. Lohide and Robert E. Bennis, both of Emden, Illinois, have announced their engagement. A June 8th wedding is planned in Lincoln, Illinois. Parents of the couple are Charles and Ruth Lohide of Indianapolis and East Enterprise and Charles W. Bennis and Doris E. Bennis, both of Lincoln. Kimberly is the granddaughter of Margaret Martin of Vevay and the late Minnie and Lawrence Lohide.
Carmon Rederick and Keith Smith plan to be wed May 18th at Fredonia Baptist Church on Tapps Ridge near Vevay. Carmon is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Rederick of Florence. Keith is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Smith of Vevay.
Ragina Leap of route 2, Vevay and Wesley Poling of route 2, Vevay, will be united in marriage Saturday, May 4th, at the Mount Sterling Baptist Church. The bride is the daughter of Marjorie Leap of route 2, Vevay and the groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Adkins of Vevay and Don Poling of Midwest City, Oklahoma.
20 YEARS AGO
Dr. Robert O. Zink is retiring after 40 years as a physician in the area. When he started his Vevay practice, Zink said office calls were $1 and he dispersed medicine from his office. Babies were delivered at the hospital and at home for $35.
Airman Paul B. Hayes, son of Paul V. and Loretta M. Hayes, Vevay, has graduated from Air Force basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.
The engagement and approaching marriage of Michelle A. Smith, route 6, daughter of Joyce Whittington, Jacksonville, Florida, and Alvin Burress, route 3, Lexington, to Duane P. “Pat” Sullivan, route 6, Madison, son of Jack and Jennie Sullivan, Vevay, and the late Wanda Sullivan, is being announced. The wedding will take place at the home of the bride’s father Saturday, May 3rd.
30 YEARS AGO
Teresa Furnish of Vevay has been awarded a master of arts degree in education at Eastern Kentucky State University, Richmond. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert furnish of Vevay, a graduate of local schools, and a former teacher of physical education at Switzerland County High School.
Switzerland Countian Kevin Scudder and his partner won the fourth annual Laughery Valley Rapid Run Rubber Raft Race Saturday. Scudder and Dave Laudenwitch of Cincinnati negotiated the rapids from Versailles to Friendship in three hours and 55 minutes, the best time of all the raft teams entered in the event. It was the first time either man had ever entered the Laughery Valley race, or any other raft race, for that matter. About 1,800 spectators were on hand to cheer the winners, who earned $400 and a set of gold medallions for their efforts.
Gary W. Smith, route 1, Cross Plains, received a minor gunshot wound in the back of the head from a gunman who robbed him of $10 at 1:30 a.m. Sunday as he stood outside his car on Indiana 62, one mile west of Friendship.
40 YEARS AGO
Nelson W. Haskell, Vevay funeral director and part owner of Haskell and Morrison Funeral Home, died suddenly Monday evening, suffering a heart attack. Services for the 61-year old resident of 107 East Main Street, Vevay will be held at 2 p.m. Friday. He died at the Vevay Clinic, being rushed there after suffering the initial attack.
Dr. Louis H. Rabold of Vevay will be honored this week as a state life member of Indiana State Dental Association with the group’s 108th annual convention being held May 14th-18th in Indianapolis.
Mrs. Anna Brindley of rural route 4, Vevay, celebrated her 93rd birthday May 3rd. Living with her daughter, Miss Hazel Brindley, she received many gifts and cards.
Miss Bonnie Jackson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Jackson of Aurora, and Pfc. E-3 Eddie Oatman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Oatman of Patriot, were united in marriage in a double-ring ceremony performed by Reverend William H. J. Dau Saturday evening at Lutheran parsonage in Aurora.
50 YEARS AGO
Ben Welch, who has served as mail carrier on route 4, Vevay, for the past 34 years has retired as of May 1st and Don Allen has been appointed as temporary carrier.
Harry Thompson, editor of the Versailles Republican, has received for his paper a “Century of Service” award from the Greater Weeklies Associates, Inc., of which the Republican is a member. The honor was given for 100 years of service to that community.
Miss Ruth Ann Hinman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Hinman of route 1, Vevay, will graduate from Vevay High School on May 18th with the signal honor of a perfect record of attendance for 12 years of school. From the time of her first entry into grade one, through her senior year at high school, Miss Hinman has never been absent or tardy.
Danny Kile, graduating senior at Hanover College, has signed as head basketball coach and athletic director at Vevay High School, it was announced today by the office of the superintendent.
60 YEARS AGO
Miss Edna Lorraine Jacobs and Cecil V. Dunn of Vevay were married Saturday, May 4th, by reverend Carl O. Potts.
Miss Bessie Dean Gregory of near Patriot and George Auxier of near Vevay were united in marriage by Reverend Frank Reed at his home Saturday, May 4th.
Gareth Pendry of Indianapolis, formerly of Vevay, has completed arrangements for the opening of a tool machine shop in Vevay in the near future.
Mrs. Jose Hughes Ackerman and five-month old daughter, Carol Ann, arrived last week from Hereford, England, to make their home in Switzerland County. The husband and father, Sergeant Edwin David Ackerman, is en route to this country after having served overseas for 27 months with the U.S. Army.
Born, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Purnell of Tapps Ridge on Sunday.
70 YEARS AGO
John W. Knox, who was born in Vevay 65 years ago, died suddenly some time early Saturday morning while making his rounds as guard at the Madison State Hospital. His body was found by other employees and the medical report stated that death had probably occurred about 11 o’clock the previous evening.
Leonard Gordon, who at one time operated a barber shop in Vevay, died in a Cleveland, Ohio hospital April 23rd, where he had been a patient following an automobile accident last April 6th.
Born Saturday, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Roger Satterfield.
Andrew Hotchkiss, a native of this county and for many years a well known fruit grower of Covina, California, died there April 19th from the effect of injuries received in an auto accident which occurred Easter Sunday.
80 YEARS AGO
At a meeting of the stockholders of the Farmers Mutual Telephone Company in Vevay, Saturday, Mrs. Birdie S. Curry was elected manager of the company.
The Kern Bakery in Vevay has been leased to Dunn and Gammon of Indianapolis who will take charge in a few days.
Miss Edna Roberts and William Borgman, were married Saturday night at the home of the bride’s parents in Vevay, Reverend A. K. Johnson, officiating.
90 YEARS AGO
Melvina LeClerc, five-week-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse LeClerc of near East Enterprise was found dead in bed last Friday morning.
The steamer “Island Queen” will pass down at noon today carrying an excursion to Louisville.
Born Thursday, a son to Robert Sturgeon and wife.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Guy Harris of Patriot, a son.
Mrs. Julia B. McKay, who has been conducting a millinery store in Vevay for a number of years is advertising a going out of business sale.
100 YEARS AGO
Miss Maude Hart and Frank Hall of near Pleasant were married Wednesday evening at the bride’s home by Reverend N.B. McClung.
Charles B. Gullion of Patriot is the new truant officer defeating five other candidates: Captain Bettens, the present officer, Jack Ricketts, William Rook, Lute Bowen and Aime Leap in an election which took place Monday.
Charles Scudder and Miss Emma Markland of Markland were married in Cincinnati on April 30th.
Bruce Marble and Omer Hunt of Sugar Branch have gone to Colorado to locate.
C. Demann and daughter Miss Jennie and Miss Hannah Waldenmaier left this week to spend the summer in Germany and other points in Europe.
110 YEARS AGO
The efficiency of the new water works for firefighting was tested Tuesday when the home of Mrs. Lamson on Market Street caught fire. The fire had made considerable progress when discovered but it was soon put under control by Fire Company No. 2.
J.P. Carter has purchased the shoe store of O. S. Clendenning, L. F. Works will remain as salesman.
Charles Johnson, superintendent of schools at Longton, Kansas, is visiting his father, John Johnson at Markland and his brother, O. S. Johnson here.
John Pattie, Colonel W. D. Ward, James M. Scott and W. R. Protsman are attending the Republican State Convention in Indianapolis.
Guy Ricketts and Bert Davis of Quercus Grove escaped injury when the horse which they were driving to school Monday ran away and demolished the buggy.
In another accident on Bethel Ridge Thursday night Bruce Miller’s horse became frightened and ran away throwing the occupants of the buggy out and demolishing the vehicle.