News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
Liz Simon of Switzerland County has received the highest degree awarded by the National FFA organization, the American FFA degree. She is the daughter of Dale and Mary Ann Simon of near Bennington.
Switzerland County made the Indiana State Fair sit up and take notice recently when two local 4-H’ers came home with a Grand Champion’s ribbon. Katie and Kyle Riley, children of Kenny and Margaret Ann Riley of near Moorefield, earned Grand Champion honors in the state fair’s open class with their cow-calf pair of Simmentals, named “Ebony” and “Irish Ebony.”
Officials from the Randall Textron company’s home office in Troy, Michigan announced Wednesday that they are considering closing the Vevay manufacturing plant due to excess manufacturing capacity.
The Cinergy Corporation, recently formed by the merger of Cincinnati Gas &^ Electric and PSI Energy, plans to string about 20 miles and $20 million worth of high-voltage power lines across Switzerland County.
15 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry R. Raisor of East Enterprise have announced the engagement of their daughter, Michelle Marie, to Gregory L. Foley, son of Ron Robert Foley of Madison and Mrs. Linda Smith of Canaan. The ceremony will take place September 28th at the New Liberty Baptist Church.
Diana Carter, daughter of James and Gail Carter of Florence, graduated August 31st from U.S. Navy basic training in Orlando, Florida. She arrived home on September 20th.
The Switzerland County 4-H Fair Board has announced the Horse Pull that was rained out during the fair has been rescheduled for Saturday, September 29th. Over $2,000 will be given away in trophies and prizes.
20 YEARS AGO
The budget from the 1985 Swiss Alpine Festival has been completed and all of the income and expenses have now been totaled. Festival officials report that the group is already working on the 1986 Swiss Alpine Festival with a special emphasis on bringing in rides for next year. Total income for the festival officially stands at $17, 379.64. Expenses totaled $14, 664.77. Totaled up, this means that the 1985 Swiss Alpine Festival made a profit of $2,714.87.
James Edward Branham, 81, of Hanover passed away Sunday at his home.
Ray Carlton, 69, of Mt. Sterling, passed away Wednesday, September 4th, at his home following an extended illness.
A heat wave hit Switzerland County, with temperatures in the upper 90’s every day for nearly two weeks. Switzerland County school nurse Jane Alexander said that although the schools are pretty warm, she wasn’t seeing much heat-related illness among students.
Switzerland County sheriff J. D. Leap and Indiana State Police trooper John Johnson burned approximately $50,000 of confiscated marijuana on the Vevay riverbank. The plants were seized during two separate raids the previous weekend.
Junior Keith Minch and Sophomore Tina McClellan are the leading returnees to coach John Druba’s boys and girls cross country teams. Being counted on for the boys squad are junior Mark Scott, senior Lynn Works, sophomore Bobby Chatham, freshman Scott Sullivan, and junior Eric Cole. For the girls team, sophomore Heather Schmitt, junior Natalie Nixon, and junior Tina Richards are being counted on for a big season.
Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Purcell of Milan announced the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Trisha Kay, to Robert Riley. She is the Granddaughter of Ruby McMackin of Bennington.
Bruce Hutcherson, of Patriot took first and third place honors in the 9,000 and 12,000 pound unlimited divisions at the 19th annual National Tractor Pulling Championships held in Bowling Green, Ohio. He was among 400 pullers who competed for a piece of the $103,000 total purse.
30 YEARS AGO
The Vevay Kiwanis Club had a birthday party Wednesday night, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of its founding. Charter members of the club when it was formed 40 years ago this week were Bob Slawson, Chester Callis, Ed Furnish, and Red Benedict. These men were honored for their years of service to Kiwanis, and the party was attended by Kiwanis members past and present. Emmett Danner, 30-year member, was also honored by the club.
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lamson of Vevay enjoyed a unique celebration of their golden wedding anniversary. The Lamsons marked 50 years of marriage by attending the wedding of their grandson, Michael Lamson, in Indianapolis. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lamson, Michael married Miss Terry Galt in a double ring ceremony held at the East 49th Street Christian Church.
Ricky McClellan, 26 went squirrel hunting last Monday, Labor Day, and ran into another hunter and a load of buckshot, too. McClellan, of Tapps Ridge, ended up with three buckshot behind the right ear when he was fired upon by an unidentified Ohio youth using a 20-gauge shotgun.
Mr. and Mrs. Russell Wallick of route two Rising Sun were surprised Monday, September 1st, when a group of friends gathered to honor their 31st wedding anniversary.
Eva Covington of Aberdeen was honored Sunday with a family dinner at her home in celebration of her 79th birthday.
40 YEARS AGO
Ginny Martin, 19, has been the first applicant to enter the Kappa Kappa Kappa sorority’s county beauty contest in connection with Indiana’s 1966 sesquicentennial. She is the daughter of Margaret Martin of route one, Florence, and is a 1964 graduate of Vevay High School. {Editor’s Note: Ginny Martin is now Ginny Leap.}
Two Switzerland County burley producers won a total of 12 ribbons in tobacco exhibits at the Indiana State Fair. They were William R. Cole, and Henry G. Ford.
Fireman apprentice Robert W. Carver, U.S. Navy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Carver of route one, Patriot, is serving aboard the frigate USS Mitscher, currently operating with the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean.
Army Specialist 5 Carroll E. Furnish of route three, Vevay, has qualified as expert in firing the high-powered M-14 rifle near Zweibrucken, Germany.
Miss Wanda Cole, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Cole, will be installed as the Worthy Advisor at and open installation of Vevay Assembly Number 99, Order of Rainbow for Girls, on September 25th at the Vevay Masonic Hall.
50 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Gayle Wiley announce the engagement of their daughter, Betty Lou, to Mr. Don S. Grant, son of Reverend and Mrs. Edwin H. Grant of East St. Louis, Illinois. The wedding will take place December 15th in the Switzerland Baptist Church.
Miss Joann Brooks, route two, Vevay, has been elected to the McCall’s Patterns Teen Fashion Board.
Wayne Guthrie, 1955 Governor of the Indiana District of Kiwanis, will be the guest speaker at the 20th anniversary dinner of the Vevay Kiwanis Club, which will be held at the Jefferson-Craig school house on next Wednesday evening, September 21st.
60 YEARS AGO
Born Friday, September 7th, a daughter, Pamela Ann, to Mr. and Mrs. Harold Merrill.
Announcement has been made of the marriage of Army Private William Lewis Barnes, of near Bennington, to Miss Mary Lou Demaree, of Manville, which was solemnized Saturday, September 1st, at the First Methodist Church at Anniston, Alabama, Reverend Henry officiating.
A son was born Monday to Army Private and Mrs. Parker Smith of near East Enterprise.
The marriage of Miss Harriet Eleanor Herring and Thomas Lee Gammon was solemnized Saturday afternoon at the Baptist parsonage with Reverend R.C. Briggs officiating.
Born a daughter, Nancy Ann, to Mr. and Mrs. Clair Shaw, September 11th.
A son, Floyd Ray, was born to Sergeant and Mrs. Dalbert Whitham Friday, August 31st.
Born, Monday, September 3rd
70 YEARS AGO
Miss Mildred E. Coleman and Harry Long, both residing at Spencer, Indiana, were married Saturday evening, the ceremony being said by Reverend W. F. Badgett at the Baptist parsonage.
Miss Mary Ethel Owens resumed her duties last week as Switzerland County Health Nurse.
Announcement is being made of the marriage of Miss Mary Edith Campbell of Vevay and Robert Hess of Indianapolis, solemnized August 10th in that city by Reverend Carl A. Hildebrand.
The Edwin H. Mead Post of Veterans of Foreign Wars, which has been in the process of organization, will hold a meeting with installation of officers at the Courthouse, Sunday September 29th. Edwin J. Mead, in whose honor the local post was named, is the deceased husband of Mrs. Edna Mead of Vevay and was a Veteran of the Spanish American War.
The Fancher Variety Store is announcing a close out sale this week and will continue until the present stock of merchandise is sold.
Miss Marcia Flora and Samuel Hutchinson, both of Warsaw, Kentucky, were married here Monday evening at the Baptist parsonage by Reverend W. F. Badgett.
Born September 6th, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Tom Turner of Aaron.
Born, September 1st, a son, Harry, to Mr. and Mrs. Walker of Quercus Grove.
80 YEARS AGO
Vevay people were on the verge of and ice famine last week when the thermometer soared to around 100 degrees in the shade, but few people knew about it until the danger was passed. A break in the machinery Thursday caused the ice plant to be shut down while employees worked around the clock to repair it. Ice was limited to 10-cent amounts per customer and the supply was exhausted when the steam was turned back on Saturday morning.
The Shaw dairy has installed an automatic steam sterilized for cleaning milk bottles.
Miss Bessie Dora Gullion and Eddie Webster, both of this county, were married last Saturday in Carrollton Tuesday.
Miss Lelia M. Allen of near Fairview and Charles D. Pratt of Madison were united in marriage at the Vevay Christian Church, Sunday evening by Reverend J. Elmer Knotts.
The Ohio River Friday reached the lowest stage ever known here, according to rivermen. The showboat Princess which was grounded near the wharfboat five days previous was entirely on dry land. The steamer Cincinnati grounded on Craig’s Bar and was hung up for more than twelve hours. Every boat that passed Vevay grounded on either Craig’s Bar of Vevay Bar.
Vevay’s new automobile fire truck will be delivered in the next few days and the city council has decided to build a small concrete building on Market Square to house it.
90 YEARS AGO
The old Eggleston school house, one of Vevay’s historical landmarks, was partially destroyed by fire yesterday, which is believed to be the work of an incendiary.
Chester Cotton of Switzerland County and Miss Wilhemine Bernice Jackson of Lafayette, Indiana, were married last week at the home of the bride’s parents, by Reverend Albert Dudley of the Presbyterian church.
The dog murderer is at large again. Within 24 hours last week, dogs belonging to John Otter, Henry Dittgen and Charles L. Kincaid were poisoned.
The horse belonging to James Sharp, which was carried away in the wash-out on Indian Creek last week, was found dead Friday about a mile from the scene of the accident. Dr. Sharp has fully recovered from his experience.
Born, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Chester Kiesel, of Vevay.
100 YEARS AGO
Alex Brett of Craig Township was painfully injured when his horse bolted and threw him into a wire fence near Schenck’s Pond.
Earl Stewart, 18, of Canaan, lost an arm while hunting.
A million dollar mental hospital will be erected on the hill above Madison.
Three inches of rain fell in Patriot in 25 minutes, bringing several inches of water on Plum Street.
W. H. Lee of Sugar Branch has sold over 30,000 tobacco sticks and can’t fill his future orders.
The Carrollton, Kentucky, News says that teachers are underpaid.
The managers of the Moorefield Celebration banned cigars and other tobacco from the stands.
110 YEARS AGO
The entire Reveille force is taking in the G.A.R. festivities in Louisville this week. Mrs. W. J. Baird stands at the helm during their absence. The Vevay Brass Band of about 20 pieces will be organized tomorrow night, Professor Genter of Madison, instructor.
Licensed to marry: William Floyd and Joda Miller; Elmer Scudder and Ella Courtney.
The waterworks are completed. Steam was raised Saturday and Monday, the reservoir filled, and the fire plugs were tested Tuesday and everything found to be in working order.
Married at the residence of the bride’s parents, by Reverend U. G. Osborn, Aaron, Indiana, Elizah Brindley and Lulu Joyce.
Married, Dr. Clair M. Hulley, formerly of Vevay, now of Cincinnati, and Miss Martha McKee, of Caldwell, Ohio.
140 YEARS AGO
We are growing tired of Kentucky officers coming over here looking for criminals. Let them look to their own state.
The saw mill of John Manford in Vevay was damaged by fire.
The house of Hinse Avers on Gander Ridge in Jefferson County was destroyed by fire.
The home of James Speak and John Breeden on the river bank here was damaged by fire.