News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
A swim in the Ohio River to cool off from the hot mid-afternoon sun turned to tragedy last Thursday, July 6th, when a 14-year-old Switzerland County youth drowned. Joshua Rimola was swimming with three other boys along the boat launching ramp at the foot of Ferry Street around 2:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon when he was apparently pulled under by the current. Divers were summoned to the scene and recovered the body of Josh Rimola from about 25 feet of water.
According to John Keeton, Extension agent, the 1995 Switzerland County 4-H Fair was one of the better fairs that we have ever had here in Switzerland County even though we had a cloud of tragedy hanging over it with the death of Joshua Rimola.
The 1995 Switzerland County 4-H Fair livestock auction set a new record Saturday night with large numbers of buyers turning out to support the sale. The auction’s proceeds totaled $109,170, breaking last year’s record-setting total of $108,000.
Shane Hamblen, a native of Switzerland County, was ordained into the Catholic priesthood Saturday in ceremonies held at St. Louis Abbey in St. Louis, Missouri. He is the son of Linda Harrell of Madison and grandson of the late Charles and Genevieve (Bakes) Scott, Switzerland County residents. His father, Jerry Hamblen, lives in Florida. Shane attended grade school in Vevay.
20 YEARS AGO
The 1985 Switzerland County 4-H Fair Queen is Debbie Thomas, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Thomas. She will now represent Switzerland County in the Indiana State Fair Queen contest to be held later this summer.
When the Vevay newspapers reported last year on the presence of barn owls in Switzerland County, it was only the second confirmed sighting of the rare birds in the entire state. Now it appears as though Switzerland County is going to be known as the “Barn Owl” capital of the state, as Chuck Klein took a photo of the birds near Patriot that shows there are even more than we thought.
Jacqueline Suzanne Marie Hysell, two-year-old daughter of Cynthia and Morris Hysell of Lexington, Indiana, recently placed third in the first annual “Cute Kid” contest sponsored by a photography studio in Scottsburg. She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Carpenter of Vevay and Mr. and Mrs. Lyonal Hysell of Madison. Great-grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Earl Carpenter of Marysville, Tennessee, and Mr. and Mrs. Clovis Pickett of Vevay are Jacqueline’s great-great-grandparents.
30 YEARS AGO
Rick Cole, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Cole of near Bear Branch, is among five young Hoosiers selected to serve as summer interns with the Indiana State Board of Accounts.
Eddy Robinson of near Patriot was recently named to the All-Eastern Division all-star baseball team selected by the Tennessee Junior College Athletic Association. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Robinson of Patriot.
Cathy Gridley of near East Enterprise has been selected as a participant in the 16th annual Miss Indiana Teenager Pageant to be held August 17th at Gary, Indiana. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Gridley and will be a senior this fall at Switzerland County High School.
Kimlia Rayls and Steven Ray Turner were united in marriage Saturday, June 28th, at the Switzerland Baptist Church. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin C. Rayls of Pike Street, Vevay, and the groom’s parents are Mr. and Mrs. Alton Eugene Turner of route 3, Vevay.
Colonel James R. Landry, son of Mrs. Leona Sullivan of Vevay, has been named director of maintenance at Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Georgia.
Switzerland County High School student Danny Flood is considered a strong contender to win the mile run in the Indiana State Amateur Athletic Union track meet at Fort Wayne Saturday. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Flood of near East Enterprise.
Linda Nell Post, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Francis A. Post, Vevay, and the Reverend Dale L. Kraal, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leon A. Kraal, Holland, Michigan were married Saturday afternoon, June 28th.
40 YEARS AGO
Sharon Mayo, 17-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Burley of rural route 1, Patriot, and valedictorian of Patriot High School’s 1965 graduating class, is Queen of Switzerland County 4-H Fair.
After a two-year absence Harold C. (Red) Benedict returned to Switzerland County schools Monday as he became the third chief superintendent of the three-year-old county corporation.
50 YEARS AGO
Miss Grace Hardin of Ludlow, Kentucky, became the bride of Hobart E. Wiley, Jr., of near Vevay Saturday evening, July 2nd, at 6:30 o’clock in the presence of the immediate family at the residence of the bride’s parents. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Hardin of Ludlow, Kentucky, and the groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Hobart Wiley of near Vevay.
Mr. and Mrs. Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Lock (nee Hilda Jewell) are the proud parents of a son born Tuesday, July 5th, at King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison. The new arrival weighed in a 6 pounds, 11 ounces, and has been named Johnny Dale.
A 9 pound, 14 ounce son was born Tuesday afternoon in the Madison hospital to Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Scudder of Fairview. Mrs. Scudder was formerly Miss Wanda Ackerman of Vevay, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ackerman. Mr. and Mrs. Russell Scudder of Fairview are the paternal grandparents.
A goal of $500 has been set to raise funds for the erection of a suitable grave marker and memorial to Samuel Woodfill, outstanding hero of World War I who died at his home in Vevay on August 10th, 1951. The grave of Major Woodfill in Hebron Church Cemetery in Jefferson County in identified only by a small black metal nameplate which was erected by funeral directors, Haskell and Morrison at Vevay, who were in charge of funeral and burial services.
60 YEARS AGO
James M. Long, aged 25 years, and Charles L. Niccum, aged 16 years, both natives of Switzerland County, were fatally injured Friday night near Rising Sun when their automobile blew a tire and turned over several times.
Miss Harriet Furnish of Florence and Mr. Earl Buckler of Lawrenceburg were united in marriage Saturday evening, June 30th, by Reverend McConnell of the Christian Church.
Three young soldiers from Fort Knox, Kentucky, were killed and two others survived when their B-25 Mitchell bomber crashed in the Ohio River Sunday morning near the farm of Fred Riley on State Road 56.
Born, July 4th, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Ethol Clark.
Pfc. Harold R. Griffith of Vevay and Miss Rebecca Hardigree of Detroit, Michigan, were married in Vevay by the groom’s father, Reverend Fred Griffith.
Guy Ricketts, owner of the Ricketts Coal Company, has leased his business to Fred Adams of Vevay who assumed charge Monday.
Floyd Baker of near Dillsboro and Miss Maxine Bruce of Anderson, Indiana were married Saturday afternoon by Reverend Walter Peters at his home here.
70 YEARS AGO
Miss Dorothy Gridley of Vevay and William R. Farrar of Patriot were married Friday in Maysville, Kentucky.
Robert Curry, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bryant Curry, has been granted an amateur radio station license by the Department of Commerce.
Miss Mary Jo Krummel of Vevay and Reverend Robert Kelsey of Lewisville, Indiana, were married Wednesday night at the Vevay Presbyterian Church by the father of the groom, Reverend T. B. Kelsey of Dillsboro, Indiana.
Clyde Weales of Vevay and Miss Norma Brown of Patriot were united in marriage June 17th in Columbus, Indiana by the pastor of the First Baptist Church there.
Paul Cole, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Cole of near Mount Sterling, was struck by lightning during a severe electrical storm Wednesday afternoon of last week, the injuries resulting in his death Saturday morning.
Born, July 3rd, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Ed Graves of Posey Township.
Under an order received last week from the state E. R. A. headquarters the Switzerland County Nursing Service has been discontinued as of July 2nd.
Born, Tuesday, a son, Jimmy Lee to Mr. and Mrs. James W. Fothergill.
Born, a son, Donald Wayne, to Mr. and Mrs. Park Byram of East Enterprise.
Born, Monday, July 8th, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Chancy Given of Moorefield. She has been named Ramona Adaline.
80 YEARS AGO
The Baptist Workers Institute and the Southeastern Baptist Youth rally will be held at the Schenck Memorial home in Vevay July 19th to 22nd.
Leon Buschmann, Forrest Brown and George Heady, from headquarters battery and combat train 3rd battalion, 150th field artillery, Vevay, reached Vevay at noon Wednesday from Columbus, Ohio, driving overland a five-ton Holt tractor and an artillery reel cart, a part of the equipment of the Vevay armory.
A committee representing the four women’s clubs in Vevay petitioned the County Commissioners Monday to remove the old wooden memorial board in front of the Courthouse, promising that the Vevay clubs would get behind a movement to have the boards replaced by a bronze tablet.
Born, July 3rd, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Ed Rayles of Tapps Ridge.
90 YEARS AGO
A tornado which caused a loss estimated at $50,000 and resulted in one death visited Switzerland County last Wednesday night. Houses and barns were destroyed, roofs were torn off buildings and livestock was killed.
Miss Matilda Dobson, who resided at the home of Edwin Mead on Mead’s Ridge, was killed Wednesday night when she was buried beneath the debris of a huge stone chimney which collapsed during the tornado. Mr. Mead was also covered by stones and was rescued by his daughter Jessie Mead. Although badly injured, he is expected to recover.
Health officer Bear reports for the month of June, 15 marriages in Switzerland County, 11 births and 11 deaths.
Fire of unknown origin swept a portion of Moorefield early Sunday morning, destroying the store and wareroom belonging to E. E. Jones, a bran stable, corn crib and poultry house, causing a loss estimated at $5,000.
Owing to the rising of the Ohio River, work at Dam 39 has been almost suspended and last week more than 100 laborers were laid off.
110 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Julia E. LeClerc died at her home in Vevay July 6th at the age of 83 years. In young womanhood she and her husband operated the LeClerc House and following his death she managed the hotel herself until May 1st, 1894.
W. E. Pratt, a prominent coal dealer of Madison, has purchased the Vevay wharfboat from J. J. Cox. R. M. Campbell has charge of the business.
The Adams Express Company opened an office in Vevay yesterday with Mr. Will M. Shaw as agent.
Sheriff Dyer received a telegram form C. E. Peters, Milan, Indiana, July 5th, asking him to look out for a horse stolen there on the evening of July 4th.
Licensed to marry: William Butcher and Hattie Ogden; James F. Miller and Ruth Rodgers; Samuel A. Herren and Annie Pavy.
130 YEARS AGO
Francis A. Jackson is advertising as a notary at Aaron.
J. T. Boulton is advertising a big display of buggies, carriages and wagons at his store on Ferry Street.
The County Commissioners allowed W. B. Sink $1,990 for complete grading of the Shull Hill.
140 YEARS AGO
On last Friday afternoon the conspirators in the murder of President Lincoln: Harrold, Paine, Aterzeroth and Mrs. Surrat were hanged by the neck until dead. We have no desire to fill our columns with the sickening details. They are in the hands of their Creator — there let them rest.
Last Sunday afternoon lightning struck the barn of Mr. Samuel Protsman about a half mile from Vevay, the fire consuming it immediately.
151 YEARS AGO
Married here by Judge Robert Drummond, Miss Rachel Mead and H. M. Cory.
The Reveille says that the proposed railroad from Lawrenceburg to Jeffersonville, along the river, may never be built.
The U. P. Schenck Company here quotes onions at 25 cents a bushel, oats at 30 cents, bacon at 12 cents, new wheat at 70 cents. Chickens are selling at $1.25 per dozen and a bushel of salt costs 30 cents.