News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
Congressman Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island presented Mike Leep with the medals from the Korean War that should have been given to Mike’s father, Gary Leep. Hilda Leep, Gary’s widow, was present for the presentation. Due to a mix-up, Gary Leep was never correctly honored for his distinguished service to this country. Congressman Kennedy assisted the Leep family in correcting this longtime error. Gary Leep’s parents were the late Samuel and Sally Leep of Vevay. Reba Leap of Vevay and Emily Adams of Moorefield are Gary Leep’s aunts.
The Vevay Town Council continued its discussions concerning the proposed annexation of the Firth Addition just west of town during the Council’s meeting last Wednesday evening. Town Attorney Lisa Rosenberger stated that she is still looking into the procedures and requirements needed to annex property into the town limits.
Tom Demaree’s dream of opening a winery in Switzerland County has become a reality. Three varieties from The Ridge Winery is available around Vevay.
A Switzerland County man died Sunday when he was electrocuted at his trailer home in Markland. Officials said Marshall Lee Moore, 38, suffered a fatal electrical shock when he stepped out of his camper-sized trailer home and his bare feet came into contact with a wet metal step. The trailer’s electrical wiring apparently was improperly grounded, officials said.
15 YEARS AGO
Bethany Robinson, 9, of Patriot, will compete in the Miss Pre-Teen Pageant in Covington. Bethany is the daughter of Jeff and Donna Faber of route 1, Patriot, and Eddy Robinson, also of Patriot.
Tracy Miller of route 3, Vevay, is one of several students who have joined the Ball State University residence hall staff as residence assistants. She is majoring in elementary education.
Judge John Mitchell approached the county commissioners with a resolution declaring the state’s intent to support and create drug-free community funds for all Indiana counties. Adoption of the resolution will create a new clerical position within the local judicial system, that of probation clerk.
The U. S. Shoe Corporation and the Swiss Wine Festival are teaming up again this year for the Easy Spirit Walk-A-Thon. Proceeds from the even benefit the Switzerland County Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Walkers raised $2,800 last year for the EMS, and sponsors hope to make this successful fundraiser an annual event.
20 YEARS AGO
The 1985 Swiss Alpine Festival in Switzerland County was a big success again this year, with large crowds attending most of the events, as well as browsing through the flea markets and booths all during the four-day event. The festival got off to a big start on Thursday when Angela Carol Mishler, 15-year-old daughter of Basil and Carol Armstrong of route 1, Patriot, was crowned as the Edelweiss Princess.
John Sutton, chairman of the board of First National Bank of Vevay, has announced the retirement of Mary M. Wiley, vice president and trust officer of the bank. She began her service with the bank in October of 1952 as a teller. Since that time she has served as assistant cashier, cashier, trust officer, and vice president.
Bobbi Jo Rayles, daughter of Donald C. Rayles of Vevay, will be competing for the title of Miss Teen Indiana. Miss Teen of Indiana will win an all-expense trip to the Miss Teen of America Pageant, a $1,000 scholarship, and other awards.
30 YEARS AGO
The first union strike in Switzerland County history moved into its second week Thursday after seven days and seven nights of picket-line walking, no contract negotiations, a heated dispute over who is interfering with who – and with a courtroom confrontation looming Friday morning. The strike began last Thursday, July 31st, after members of the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers (IAM) local voted Wednesday to reject the company’s contract proposal and go out on strike.
Miss Mary Lou Hazeldean became the bride of Alton Eugene Turner, Jr., on July 4th at the Markland Baptist Church. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eldric Hazeldean of route 3, Vevay. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Alton E. Turner, Sr., of route 3, Vevay.
Jeanne Pommerehn of route 1, Vevay, will be awarded a bachelor of science degree in child development and family life August 15th in graduation ceremonies at Indiana State University in Terre Haute. Miss Pommerehn is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Pommerehn. She is a graduate of Switzerland County High School.
The Vevay-Switzerland County Chamber of Commerce voted Monday night to limit permits for selling produce or other goods at Farmers Market in Vevay to Switzerland County residents only – unless non-Switzerland Countians want to market goods not being sold at the same time by local people.
40 YEARS AGO
John G. Roeder, Switzerland County native and Rising Sun High School Principal for the past two years, has resigned to accept the position of superintendent of Sunman Consolidated Schools.
Timothy L. Swango, son of Mrs. Betty Swango of Vevay and Robert Swango of Anderson, has enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and will be trained in electronics. He is taking basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas.
Lloyd Brown, son of Mrs. Harold Brown of Vevay, and David Lee Earls, son of Mr. and Mrs. Norman W. Earls of route 2, Vevay, have enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and were flown Tuesday from Cincinnati, Ohio, to San Antonio, Texas, for six weeks basic training.
Vevay’s 13-year-old Johnny McKay outshot all competition, including adult men, to win Central Zone Shoot trap shooting championship in Evansville the past weekend, hitting a virtually unprecedented 250 straight birds. Johnny, the son of Dr. and Mrs. J. Robert McKay of Vevay, hit his last 150 birds in Saturday competition and hit 100 straight Sunday from a handicap yardage of 20 yards.
50 YEARS AGO
A baby son was born in the Madison hospital Tuesday morning to Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Osborne of Vevay. He weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces and has been named Robert Louis. Mr. Osborne is manager of the Deming Variety Store of Main Street.
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Protsman will quietly observe their 57th wedding anniversary on Sunday, August 14th, at their home in Vevay.
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Osborn, Sr., are moving this week into their beautiful new home on West Market Street which has just been completed.
60 YEARS AGO
Born, Tuesday morning, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Peters of Vevay.
The Mount Sterling Baptist Church was severely damaged early Tuesday morning when it was struck by lightning.
James K. Danglade, publisher of this newspaper, who has been serving as an assistant Red Cross field director, has been promoted to field director.
Born, Thursday, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Kendrick Archer of Moorefield.
Miss Dorothy Marie White and Lloyd Seaver Moreillon were united in marriage by Reverend Harold Mason, at the home of the groom’s grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Milton Moreillon of East Enterprise.
Born, Thursday morning, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Smither of Quercus Grove.
70 YEARS AGO
Henry Oakley, farmer of Jacksonville, died at his home there August 1st as a result of injuries sustained two days before. Mr. Oakley was injured when a single tree broke while attached to a harpoon fork, striking him in the stomach.
Chicken thieves visited the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Riley in Craig Township twice within the last two weeks. Some nights ago a number of frying size fowls were taken on Saturday night while the Rileys were in Vevay. This week the remainder of the flock disappeared.
Born, Saturday, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Danner, of near Lamb.
80 YEARS AGO
While passing through the Vevay channel last Thursday night the steamer Cincinnati ran into the U.S. dredge and was slightly damaged.
Clark and Burroughs have sold their garage to Ernest Courtney and have opened an Overland Willys-Knight salesroom in Carrollton, Kentucky.
Daniel McCreary of Vevay and Miss Ona Starkey of West Virginia were married in Cincinnati Thursday.
Schenck Ricketts ran over a 300 pound hog which Edgar Dibble of Quercus Grove was driving along the road near his home Friday. The hog was knocked a distance of some 18 feet and instantly killed and Ricketts’ car was badly damaged.
A horse belonging to Miss Dora Scudder of near Vevay stepped on a fallen live wire in Vevay Tuesday and the shock knocked the animal to the ground. The animal was burned in several places but was not killed.
90 YEARS AGO
Vevay’s first Chautauqua has been a tremendous success. Best with every obstacle and drawback under the sun, the program each day was delivered as though nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. Elbert Hubbard, who was to have opened the Chautauqua on Sunday afternoon, was one of those unfortunates who was drowned when the Louisiana was torpedoed by a German submarine. On Tuesday came a telegram announcing the sudden death of Cowboy Nat Brigham, who was to have closed the Chautauqua.
Pemberton D. Pleasants, aged 40 years, junior member of the clothing firm of J. K. Pleasants and Sons, died at his home in Vevay Saturday morning after an illness of one week.
Captain Jack Graham, ferryman, has many times been asked the width of the Ohio River. Recently to satisfy his own mind he had engineer Simpson measure it for him. With a very complete surveying outfit, Mr. Simpson found that the distance from the foot of the banks on each side of the river was 2250 feet, which is less than one half mile.
Reverend Joseph Lindsay, pastor of the Vevay Presbyterian Church, has gone to St. Cathames, Canada, where on August 18th, he will be united in marriage to Miss M. F. Thompson.
The Ohio River Telephone Company has completed its work of removing practically all the overhead wires in Vevay, the wires now being enclosed in cables.
Born, a son to Mr. and Mrs. George Ralston, of Posey Township.
100 YEARS AGO
William Higham purchased the Stevenson Brothers Grocery on Ferry Street here.
The sidewheel steamer Bonanza was built in 1885 and is in good and serviceable condition.
The new Florence rural mail route will start from the post office there and go down to Markland, then to the residence of Albert McCreary, thence to the Plaquemine school house, to Quercus Grove and to Davis Corner, to Delhi school and on Pleasant Ridge back to Florence.
Chester Kiesel, Clarence Otter and Frank Johnson, all of Vevay, played ball with the Warsaw, Kentucky, team against the Aurora Krebs, who lost.
110 YEARS AGO
Licensed to marry; Frederick Pavy and Nora Randall; Richard Brouro and Isabelle Miller; Martin Levi Moore and Rosa E. McCormick; Tyron Anderson and Rose Spencer; John E. Snyder and Amanda Birkemier; Joseph C. Reed and Annie Fisk.
The Switzerland County Horticultural Society will have a fruit and agricultural exhibit in Vevay in the Court House yard Saturday, September 14th.
Married by the Reverend E. G. Seymour at his residence near East Enterprise, Indiana, Thursday, August 8th, Mr. Eddie Truitt and Miss Mabel Steele, both of Switzerland County.
130 YEARS AGO
The citizens of Aurora are agitating for a new water works.
The Methodist of Indiana will hold an “Educational Reunion” at Asbury University in Greencastle, Indiana.
The river broke over the bank here, submerging two saw mills.
A hundred and four dollars were taken in at the Vevay gate of the Vevay, Mt. Sterling and Versailles Turnpike during July.
Married near Patriot, July 29th, Miss Susannah Hamilton and Joseph T. Harrell.
The Town Board of Patriot voted to open Plum Street there.
140 YEARS AGO
The Vevay whiskey sellers are still engaged in vending their poison to our citizens, in consequence of which for the past two weeks our town has been filled with rowdyism, fighting, quarreling, swearing, and all manners of vice and iniquity.
The town of Florence is in a very prosperous condition. It contains three dry goods stores, one grocery, one distillery and flour mill, one shoe shop, one bakery, one church, and one school.