News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
Kent Works, a junior at DePauw University and a 1995 graduate of Switzerland County High School, competed this spring as a member of the DePauw Tiger baseball team. The team finished with a 14-22 overall record, going 4-8 in conference play. He is the son of Tommie and Rita Works of East Enterprise.
Switzerland County High School will graduate 128 seniors this Sunday during commencement ceremonies being held at the high school. This year’s class is one of the largest in recent years. Rose Calhoun has been named Valedictorian and Renee Hoskins is the Salutatorian.
Sixth grade students in Kim Temple’s social studies classes have been selling tee-shirts and backpacks to raise money to help save the world’s rain forests. Top tee-shirt sellers are Laura Hoskins, Amber Satterfield, Erin Walton, Corey Dunaway and Whitney Hollitt. The classes raised enough money to save 27.1 acres of Guatemalan rain forest.
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15 YEARS AGO
Switzerland County High School’s graduation will take place Sunday, May 30th, at 2:30 p.m. at the high school gymnasium. There are three valedictorians – Vincent Valenzuela, Stephanie Leap and Liz Simon – who all had 4.0 grade point averages. The salutatorian is Amanda Althoff.
Switzerland County High School senior Vincent Valenzuela has been selected a winner of a Merit Scholarship by the National Merit Scholarship Program. Vincent is the son of Dr. Diego and Dr. Fidelia Valenzuela of Vevay. He is only the second SCHS student to receive the honor. The other student was Kenny Roberts in 1984.
The Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine recently honored Joanne M. Laja of the Switzerland County 4-H Rockers Club for her achievements in the veterinary science project. Her leaders are John and Jeanette Andrew.
20 YEARS AGO
Switzerland County High School held commencement exercises for 93 graduating seniors on Sunday, May 22nd in the school gymnasium. Angela Heath, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Heath of Vevay, is valedictorian of the 1988 graduating class.
Steve and Mary Beth Auxier purchased the East Enterprise General Store and took over operations there on Monday. Former owners, Bob and Myrtle Butler operated the store for seven years. They will continue to operate the Fairview Market which they have owned for three years.
Switzerland County’s Jim South will be competing in the high jump competition at the regional track meet in Bloomington this Thursday. He won the right to compete in the event by placing fourth with a jump of 6’2″ last Thursday at the Jeffersonville sectional.
Melissa Jean Scudder has been named to the dean’s list at Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, Kentucky. She is majoring in x-ray technology. She is the daughter of Eugene and Jeanie Scudder of route one Florence.
40 YEARS AGO
Brushy Fork Baptist Church will celebrate its sesquicentennial with memorial services this Sunday. The rural church is located on state road 250 west of Pleasant near the Jefferson-Switzerland county line.
Vevay’s Clifford Curts has been named as an executive board member of the southern district of Hoosier Hills Council, Boy Scouts of America.
Judith Miller was valedictorian and Mary Jane Harlow salutatorian to lead Vevay High School graduating seniors in awards received Friday during senior recognition day at the school.
Vevay’s Rick Roland has been elected president of a three-county Methodist youth fellowship sub-district group from churches of Dearborn, Ohio, and Switzerland counties.
May 29th will mark the 67th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. William R. Smith of near Fairview. They reside with their son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Russell H. Smith of route 1, Bennington.
50 YEARS AGO
Funeral services were held Monday for the county’s oldest resident. Mrs. Flora McClintock, 103, the oldest Vevay High School alumna died Saturday, May 17th, at the Madison nursing home where she had been a patient for the past five years.
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hankins are the parents of a son born Thursday morning, May 16th, at King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison. The baby weighed 9 pounds, 8 ounces and has been given the name Anthony Gene.
Modern mail deposit slots have been installed in the newly remodeled Vevay Post Office. Work has been completed on the Post Office, and up-to-date fixtures installed include “limed oak” finished counters and desks, new lock boxes, and built-in equipment. The local mail center is now as beautiful and convenient as any of the newer post offices.
A/3c Norris Wayne Curry, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harland Curry of Bennington route one, is home on a 15-day leave from Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, after completing schooling in aircraft and engine mechanics.
60 YEARS AGO
Carlyle Cox, formerly of this county, was a member of the crew of the ill-fated steamer Omar, which sank at Cincinnati last Saturday. All crew members were saved. Mr. Cox formerly lived at Patriot but now resides in Rising Sun.
Vevay’s first television set was installed this week in White’s Restaurant by Elbert Gray, owner of the Gray Radio Shop here. Local patrons are much interested in witnessing the various sports events broadcast.
Residents of Switzerland County were shocked and saddened Friday evening when it became known that Edgar Allen (Joe) Archer, a prominent farmer of Pleasant Township, had succumbed at King’s Daughters’ Hospital, Madison, to injuries sustained earlier in the day in a tractor accident.
70 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Cal Curran have removed to Butlerville, Indiana, where they have employment at the State Farm Colony there.
Switzerland County shook and trembled under two severe storms last week, high winds and pelting rain doing much damage to crops and buildings.
A son was born May 21st to Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Furnish of Bennington, route one. He has been named Gareth Carl.
Mrs. K.N. Banker has removed from Vevay to Knightstown, Indiana where she will take up residence.
80 YEARS AGO
David Bliss, proprietor of the East End filling station sustained a broken thumb and a gash across the nose when a tire he was repairing blew up.
Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Beall will move soon to Ripley County when he has been employed as county agent.
Detraz Brothers of Vevay has been awarded a contract for more than $2,000 worth of changes and repairs on the Vevay school buildings.
Through the courtesy of Dick Beckmann of Cincinnati, a bronze tablet recently was placed on the Julia L. Dumont Chapel in the Vevay Cemetery.
While cranking an automobile Saturday the motor backfired and Mrs. Ella Phillips had her wrist broken.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Clyde McKay of Five Points a son, Arthur William.
90 YEARS AGO
Miss Gertrude Wahl has accepted a position as bookkeeper and cashier at the O’Neal and McKay garage.
A son was born May 16th to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Uhlmansiek of Patriot.
Harvey Ferguson of Bennington has enlisted in the Y.M.C.A. for overseas service.
Miss Fannie Shadday is organizing a kindergarten to be taught in her home beginning June 3rd.
Shrumpf Farrar, 17, of Florence severed four ligaments in his arm Sunday when he accidentally rammed it through a glass door on a dredge boat at Fernbank Dam.
Forrest Teats, who for the past 13 years has been the accommodating clerk in the E.P. Downey grocery, has resigned.
Mr. and Mrs. John Farrell have sold their farm near Moorefield and will probably locate in Hanover in order that their children may attend college.
Muriel Wiley, Kathleen Bersot and Geraldine Krom, members of the graduating class left Sunday to attend Hanover College this summer.
The following men left Thursday for Columbus, Ohio barracks for military training: James Carl Storie, Charles C. Shelton, Ray E. Scott, Wilbur M. Stow, Charles W. Brameier, Charles E. Clements, Robert Coy Jr., Herbert Sigmon, Merritt E. Stewart, Enoc M. Brindley. Alternates were Clyde C. Scott and Lawrence E. Kinman. Twenty more men will be sent to Camp Taylor on May 28th.
100 YEARS AGO
The body of Charles Peelman, who drowned from the wharfboat in this city on the night of March 3rd, was found floating near the shore opposite the home of William Clevenger, one and one half miles below Vevay on Tuesday morning.
The battle against the saloons in Jefferson Township which has taken the shape of a remonstrance began in earnest last night. State organizer, E.M. Barney of the Anti-Saloon League, arrived yesterday and held the first meeting in the Christian Church.
The road to Lamb is in a disgraceful condition. Travel thereon is almost impossible.
Born to James Davis and wife of Mount Sterling May 11th, a son.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Lee Gregory of Goose Creek May 16th a daughter.
110 YEARS AGO
Miss Jennie Thiebaud has returned home after having taught in the Elwood graded schools the past term.
A son was born last week to D. F. Jackson and wife of Avonburg.
120 YEARS AGO
About eight men are working on Delaney’s new building and about 25 are standing about to see that the work is well done.
Winnie Adkinson is not the largest 14-year-old boy in Vevay but has the most elastical legs, being the best jumper. He cleared 36 feet in a hop, step and jump. Now where is the old croaker who will again dare repeat the slander that the boys of this generation are degenerating physically?
Dr. R. G. Simoson and David Brownfield of Bennington started on a prospecting trip to Fresno, California last Friday.
Irvin Lock has bought a farm. Look out girls.
Captain John Chatline who has a planing mill at Emerson, Georgia is visiting his family here.
130 YEARS AGO
Last Tuesday evening Professors P. T. Hartford and James Hart started for Lebanon, Ohio, where they will attend a normal school.
Tom Land, the accommodating wharfmaster at Florence, will soon have an elegant new wharfboat for the Florence landing.
Miss Ann Knox who has been teaching music at Owensboro, Kentucky, has returned home for the summer.
140 YEARS AGO
E.H. Martin, James H. Davis, George Singer and Daniel Plew of this county have filed their petition in bankruptcy.
Printed posters on the streets notifying persons that hereafter the Marshall of Vevay will rigidly enforce the hog nuisance, street and other ordinances.
The steamer Buell excursion from Madison to Rising Sun last Saturday was a great success. The sum of $150 was realized to be used in rebuilding the Patriot Masonic and Odd Fellows Halls.
The weather has been favorable for corn planting and the farmers have been busily employed.