News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers.
10 YEARS AGO
Chuck Overbey has served as the Executive Vice President of the Vevay-Switzerland County Foundation since 1990, but will end that tenure next Wednesday when he leaves the county and moves to San Diego, California. He has helped bring approximately $15 million in grants and other funds to the county during his time here.
Colleen O’Sullivan has joined the staff of Vevay Newspapers as a summer intern and reporter. She began her duties on Sunday, covering the grand opening of the Florence-York Township Volunteer Fire Department. She is a 2000 graduate of Switzerland County High School, and has completed her freshman year at Indiana University in Bloomington, where she is studying for a double major in telecommunications journalism and studio art. She resides near Cross Plains with Eric and Tammy Welch.
The Lord’s Cupboard in Vevay, which for more than 20 years has provided relief to those less fortunate in Switzerland County, has been temporarily closed while volunteers try and figure out what to do about the dumping of unwanted articles all over the lot when the building is closed. Board president Ron Sandidge says that volunteers are so frustrated by the continued misuse of the facility that it may close permanently.
Emerson and Marcella Cole of near Fairview will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on June 1st.
Kristi Harms is the new director of libraries for the Switzerland County Public Library. She assumed those duties officially on April 10th, and succeeds Susan Nimersheim, who left to pursue other library opportunities in Northern Kentucky. Kristi Harms has served as the library’s program coordinator for more than two years.
20 YEARS AGO
Carrie Van Norstran and Leah Thomas will give the featured addresses during Friday night’s graduation ceremonies at Switzerland County High School. Van Norstran is the senior class valedictorian. Thomas is the salutatorian.
Patriot Volunteer Fire Department Chief George Miller was notified last week that the department’s protection class has improved from a Class 10 to a Class 6. The new classification is expected to decrease the property insurance premium calculations for many of the properties in Patriot.
The Switzerland County Historical Society, at its meeting held Monday, May 6th, announced the Society is the recipient of the Indiana Heritage Research Grant to identify and conserve the records acquired from the county courthouse. The grant is for $2,500.
30 YEARS AGO
Miss Mary Nell Jaynes, 15, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Jaynes of Vevay, has been selected for competition in the State Finals of the 1981 Teenworld Pageant to be held at the Sheraton West Hotel in Indianapolis June 19th-21st.
The first item on the agenda was blank at the regular meeting of the Switzerland County School Board Monday, but when the time came to take up the matter, County Superintendent Harold DeNoon submitted a letter asking to be reassigned as a classroom teacher. There was no reason given in the letter for the request, and DeNoon said he would continue in the position as acting superintendent until a replacement was found.
40 YEARS AGO
By written invitation from Mrs. Edgar Whitcomb, acting for the Governor, Mrs. Leona Sullivan of Vevay was invited to attend a mental health tea at the Governor’s mansion Wednesday afternoon. Mrs. Sullivan is chairman of Switzerland County Mental Health Association and holds memberships in varying area mental health and community service committees and projects.
The 78th annual Patriot High School alumni banquet will be held at the Patriot gymnasium at 7 p.m. May 29th. Dinner will be followed by music provided by the Nelson Elliott Orchestra.
U.S. Marine Pfc. William E. Hazeldean, son of Mr. and Mrs. Eldric E. Hazeldean of route 3, Vevay, has graduated from recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. A 1968 graduate of Vevay High School, Pfc. Hazeldean also attended Vincennes University.
Leonard Lock of Vevay, a junior and son of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Lock of route 1, Vevay, is in charge of lighting and publicity in a fine arts production of Thomas Wolfe’s “Look Homeward, Angel” at Ottawa (Kansas) University May 5th-8th.
Tuning in four-year-olds to the world of music is the accomplishment of Yamaha music course at Louisville’s Bellarmine-Ursuline College, the country’s first college to offer this approach to provide a musical foundation for pre-school children. Mrs. Dillion Elston of Jeffersonville, better known to her young proteges as “Miss Dawn,” serves as director of the course.
50 YEARS AGO
Raymond A. Cole has been hired for his second four-year term as superintendent of Switzerland County Schools. The selection came at Saturday’s meeting of the County Board of Education, composed of the township trustees. The Board also selected Mrs. Jane T. Reed as county attendance officer, a position shed for three years.
Cornetist Jimmy Ashby of Vevay High School, instrumental category winner at the recent Vevay Kiwanis Club talent show, will appear on WCPO-TV Sunday. Ashby won the right to appear on School for Talent after an audition with Cincinnati’s Rosedale Dance Studios which conducts the Sunday morning program.
All faculty members of Vevay Town Schools have been reelected to continue at their present teaching positions for the 1961-62 school year, superintendent H. C. Benedict announced Tuesday. Two members, however, have as yet not accepted their new contracts, while contemplating other positions before making a decision. Reelected to his position as principal of the high school was Donald Small, Murray Vincent, now completing his first year as coach of the high school sports teams, will return as head mentor.
James Mathews, Donald Poling, Larry Wakefield, and Roy N. Brindley, all of Switzerland County, have completed their initial course of Air Force basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.
A foxhound dog owned by Fred Morris of route 1, Cross Plains, has been discovered to have rabies, according to an announcement today from William Sage, sanitarian for the Jefferson County Health Department.
60 YEARS AGO
Mrs. E. E. Hufford of Posey Township will always regard Friday, the 14th of April, 1951, as a double barreled lucky day for upon that date she became a great-grandmother – not once – but twice.
The many Switzerland County friends of Winfield English were shocked to hear of his death that occurred in a Wisconsin Veterans Hospital Sunday morning, following an illness of several weeks. He graduated from Vevay High School in 1917 and during this time was an outstanding basketball star.
New officers of Indiana University’s 2,300-man R.O.T.C. include Ralph W. Tilley, who is a cadet first lieutenant. Tilley is from 598 Main Street, Vevay, Indiana.
The Patriot High School Future Farmers of America under direction of Joe Meyers of the faculty there, won the 1950-51 Farm Safety Contest in the 12th district. This was a state wide contest sponsored by the Farmers Mutual Liability Insurance Company of Indianapolis in cooperation with Purdue University.
Oscar Marquis Lee, 58, veteran of World War I and a resident of this county for many years, passed away in the Veteran’s Hospital in Marion on April 25th, following an illness of more than two years.
70 YEARS AGO
Charles E. Pangburn has been given a position in the office of the state license bureau at Indianapolis.
Myers Burke has been appointed to a position in the office of auditor of state and assumed his duties last week.
The yearly siege of measles are in full swing in the local schools this week with 44 reported absent from the elementary grades Wednesday.
Mrs. Gretchen H. Cole, Vevay attorney, was elected trustee of the Indiana federation of women’s clubs at the state meeting in Indianapolis last week.
The clover leaf weevil is showing up in many clover and alfalfa fields of Switzerland County.
A picture in the last Sunday edition of the Cincinnati Enquirer showed S. E. Ford, postal clerk at Ludlow, Kentucky, as the co-catcher of a 450 pound shark in water near Daytona Beach, Florida. Mr. Ford is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Ford of Switzerland County and was born and reared at East Enterprise.
Edward T. Coleman, prominent banker, passed away at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati Friday evening after a prolonged illness.
80 YEARS AGO
Funeral services for John A. Danglade, Sr., prominent retired farmer and oldest member of a pioneer Vevay family, who passed away suddenly at the home here Sunday night, were conducted at the home by Reverend E. N. Rosier.
The oil boat, Pure Gyrol, piloted by Captain Claude Brown, arrived at Vevay last Thursday, and on Friday departed for Mobile. Mrs. Brown is accompanying her husband on the trip.
Mrs. Martha Graham, aged 84 years, died suddenly at her home in the famous old residence known as the ferry house. Mrs. Graham was a member of the Christian Church, the W.C.T.U. Rebekah Lodge and Bennington Chapter of Eastern Star.
A wooden Moldboard plow, once drawn by oxen, has been sent by Cecil Brown to A.W. Bittings administration building at Burnham Park, Chicago, where it will be displayed.
The closing of the schools at Florence was celebrated Saturday with a program and basket dinner. A large crowd was in attendance to enjoy the entertainment provided by the teachers, Miss Charlotte Benedict, Cimma Scudder, and Loomis Wilson. Guests of honor were Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Kolb, Mrs. Nancy Scott and Professor Ernest Danglade.
The local American Legion Post had a very successful meeting on Tuesday and several new members were added.
90 YEARS AGO
Mr. John F. Brown, Vevay, was painfully injured Saturday morning when his left foot became entangled in a gasoline engine. The foot was badly mashed and it was found necessary to amputate two toes.
Pansy, the five-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O. C. Wagoner, had a narrow escape from death Sunday afternoon when she was struck on the right cheek by a stray bullet which is thought to have been fired by a group of boys on the hill.
The city council of Vevay has received a notice from the office of the state attorney calling attention to the fact that the law regarding the election of a non-partisan school board has not been complied with here. At present three democrats, C. S. Tandy, W. E. Benedict, and E. T. Coleman, compose the board.
At a meeting held at East Enterprise Tuesday evening a Switzerland County Banker’s Association was organized.
The first band concert of the season will be given tonight. The new stand is practically completed and with its many lights and hanging baskets of ferns and vines makes a pretty addition to the Courthouse yard.
The “meet the boat trips” of the Cincinnati and Louisville Packet Company are now in full swing and promise to be a popular diversion during the summer months. The John Hubbard and the fine Queen City are used in the trade.
The contractors finished up the cement bridge between Center Square and Allensville Friday and the road will be open to travel Sunday.
100 YEARS AGO
The Red Men Lodge at Patriot has purchased a building from H.J. Harris and will convert it into a lodge room.
Justi Banta sustained a painful injury to his finger while working in the furniture factory.
William E. Ogle has taken a position with the Reveille.
William Glover of Moores Hill has purchased the Lawrenceburg Press.
The Ivory Wood junk boat is at the river landing.
James T. Milligan of Lamb suffered a stroke of paralysis.
Ben Welch and his sister Kathleen were thrown from a buggy when their horse ran away on the horseshoe bend.
A mass meeting of physicians and ministers was held at the Metropolitan Hall to wage a fight on tuberculosis.