News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
In a meeting that Indiana Gaming Commission chairman Donald Vowels said was a “fish or cut bait” day, both Switzerland and Crawford counties were left with empty hooks as the commission on Monday voted to not award the fifth and final riverboat gambling license for the Ohio River. In the same auditorium in Indianapolis that Switzerland County supporters have sat in for nearly three years, the commission again opted to hold the final license, fearing that awarding it would hamper the casinos already in operation. Although they left the door slightly open to revisit the matter in April of next year, the commission essentially killed the notion of a fifth riverboat casino until early into the next century.
Air Force Airman Matthew A. Sketch has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He is the son of Monica Steinbis of near East Enterprise and Peter Sketch of Alexandria, Kentucky.
The Switzerland County Lions Club has donated $2,000 to the Switzerland County Emergency Unit to help with the cost of the organization’s paramedic training.
Tom Perotti of the Southeastern Indiana Solid Waste District told the Switzerland County Commissioners Tuesday that his office has received preliminary approval to locate a recycling center on the grounds of the State Highway garage at Aberdeen. The site would serve both Switzerland and Ohio counties.
The historic City Roller Mills building on Pike Street in Vevay now officially belongs to Switzerland County after the commissioners and officials from the Vevay-Switzerland County Foundation signed deeds Tuesday morning.
15 YEARS AGO
A power plant project being considered by the Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company for the Egypt Bottom area of Switzerland County has been indefinitely postponed. CG&E announced Monday it is merging with PSI Resources, the Indiana power utility. The combining of the two companies makes a new power plant unnecessary at this time, CG&E officials said.
A birthday celebration honoring Dallas Althoff took place Wednesday, December 9th, at the Red Brick Inn. Mr. Althoff celebrated his 91st birthday December 7th.
Vevay radio station WKID has been sold to the Raydell Media Group of Florence, Kentucky. Dan and Dell Hubbard, owners of the company, finalized the purchase November 25th.
20 YEARS AGO
Roger Garland, route 3, Vevay, has been named the Indiana Outstanding Young Tobacco Farmer for 1987. Roger received his award at the annual Philip Morris Outstanding Young Tobacco Farmer Awards and Recognition Program held in Richmond, Virginia, October 21st-23rd.
Randy Cole has been selected as the winner of the area Voice of Democracy Speech Contest, sponsored locally by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5396 and VFW Auxiliary. Randy, a senior at Switzerland County High School, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Emerson Cole, route 1, Vevay.
George Boulton of Green Valley brought a turnip in to the newspaper office that weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces. He estimated from the ones he had dug so far that he had about three tons of turnips in his one acre turnip field.
30 YEARS AGO
Some 500 acres of Switzerland County’s Mexico Bottom land were legally condemned for the construction of an electric generating station by Indianapolis Power and Light Company. The decision was handed down by Samuel Gwin, the Clark County judge who was appointed to hear the courtroom arguments of the plaintiff (IPALCO) and the defendants (Carroll Detmer and Charles Tillotson), both of Posey Township.
A groundbreaking ceremony last Friday, December 15th, marked the official beginning of construction of a 10,000 square foot addition to the Randall Corporation’s plant in Vevay. Jim Chastain of Hanover, manager of the Corporation’s Vevay plant, turned the first shovel of dirt to publicly announce the facility’s addition with actual construction scheduled to begin on January 3rd.
The 1978 graduating class of Switzerland County High School will have two members sharing valedictory honors this year along with a salutatorian. The seniors named co-valedictorians are Donna Jean Tinker and Diane Kay Heath. The class salutatorian is Donald Neal Heath.
Sandy South was named Homecoming Queen last Friday night of Switzerland County High School. The senior was crowned between the JV and varsity basketball bouts with Rising Sun.
Mrs. David Goodner, the former Billie Ann Scudder, graduated from Indiana University School of Nursing in Indianapolis on December 17th.
40 YEARS AGO
Toys and shoes for Christmas gifts for Switzerland County children were collected this week in the basement of Vevay Deposit Bank. The collection is jointly sponsored by Vevay Kiwanis Club, Vevay Athletic Club, Kappa Kappa Kappa Sorority, Vevay Methodist Church, and Edwin C. Danner Post of the American Legion. U.S. Shoe Corporation donated several hundred pairs of shoes for the gifts.
The Gross Brothers, youthful country music trio from near Allensville, have returned from Nashville, Tennessee, following a recording session. The record is to be released in January, 1968. The brothers are sons of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Gross of route 2, Rising Sun.
Vevay is the defending champion but Southwestern is favored to win the 1968 Jefferson County Invitational Tournament January 4th-5th-6th at Madison High School gymnasium with three new teams rounding out a field of eight.
Elizabeth “Itsy” Tharp, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Tharp of Vevay, has recently been activated into Sigma Kappa social sorority at Georgetown College.
60 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Belle Stepleton and son, Don, moved last week into their newly constructed home on Market Street on the lot bought from Mrs. Emma Turner.
A son was born Friday night, December 12th, at King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Vantyle of near Vevay.
A baby daughter was born Tuesday, December 9th, to Mr. and Mrs. Leonard May (nee Jane Trinkle) at King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison. She has been named Martha Ann.
Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Poston have bought the Dalbert Whitham home on Turnpike Street from Mr. and Mrs. George B. Banta, who have returned to Crawfordsville after selling their grocery here.
Mr. and Mrs. Claude Roland have purchased the grocery located at the northwest corner of Ferry and Pike streets here from Mr. and Mrs. George B. Banta.
100 YEARS AGO
The Plum Creek bridge was completed last Thursday evening after a couple months of hard work, the work being completed several days ahead of the contract.
Captain M. L. Hissem’s new steamer the Kentucky made her first trip up the river last Sunday. The boat is a beauty and is without question one of the finest packets that travels the Ohio.
Louie Cole fell at his home last Wednesday evening and broke a bone in his left arm.
The Lyric Theatre has changed owners, W. A. Williams now being the sole proprietor.
Joseph Krummel and wife are entertaining a little son who arrived last week.
Albert Morrison has returned from Illinois and has opened up a barber shop at Sugar Branch in the Masonic hall.
Ray Carnine of Pleasant was painfully injured last Monday when he was struck in the face by a baseball bat in the hands of a playmate.
120 YEARS AGO
Dr. R. G. Simpson and James Marsh have bought out Charles Padgett’s grocery at Bennington and started one at the doctor’s drug store.
Everett Kelso, young drug clerk at Florence, has resigned his position and took a job on the steamer “Golden Rule.”
130 YEARS AGO
One day last week Harry Coy, son of Richard Coy of York Township, was so severely injured that he died two days later. After being kicked by a horse, which knocked him down, the horses ran away and two of the wagon wheels ran over him.
140 YEARS AGO
Daird Armstrong had some tools stolen from him one night last week. The Vevay Furniture Company also reports a similar loss.
Dr. Danglade has completed his new office building on Ferry Street and moved to it last Monday.
150 YEARS AGO
Eli Rayl has sold his steam mill to David Shull.
John Henry, near Vevay, has taken out a patent for a new and improved hand printing press which will do work about a third faster and cost but little more than the common press.