News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers.
10 YEARS AGO
Christina Turner, a senior at Switzerland County High School, is an entrant in the Miss Indiana Teen USA pageant, which is an official preliminary to the Miss Teen USA pageant. She is the daughter of Lavonda (Scudder) Altom of near Rising Sun and Mark Turner of Vevay.
Kyle Riley of Switzerland County placed among the leaders at the recent American Junior Simmental Association’s National Classic XX. The event was held in Stillwater, Oklahoma. There were over 300 AJSA members from 29 states at the competition, and Kyle Riley exhibited the eighth place Simmental heifer. He is t he son of Kenneth and Margaret Ann Riley of near Moorefield.
The Switzerland County School Board officially approved the submission of the 2001 school budget at a special meeting last Thursday and heard reports that corporation “belt tightening” could potentially save the schools $400,000.
20 YEARS AGO
Diana Carter, daughter of James and Gail Carter of Florence has graduated August 31st from basic training in Orlando, Florida. She arrived home September 20th.
Bill and Mickie McCalip of Vevay celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary Sunday, September 2nd. The couple owns and operates Swiss Valley Lanes in Vevay.
30 YEARS AGO
Bill Roberts is the new Athletic Director at Switzerland County High School, but he’s not new to the senior high. He has taught in the county for the last 12 years and been principal of the school for five years. In addition he was head of the junior high for one year.
Larry Ray received a five-foot trophy for being MVP in the Florida State League. He played right field for the Daytona Beach Astros and hit .301 in the single A league. He is home for a few weeks and will be traveling to Arizona soon to prepare for winter ball in Columbia, South America. Larry said he will be playing AA baseball next year in Columbus, Georgia. He plays in the Houston Astros minor league system.
Five generations of family showed up to celebrate Celia Lozier’s 86th birthday. They are Mrs. Lozier; her daughter, Anna Jones; her granddaughter Hazel Turner; her great-granddaughter, Peggy Yount; and her great-great-granddaughter Haley Jean Yount.
40 YEARS AGO
Preliminary plans toward Switzerland County’s fourth annual Swiss Wine Festival will be initiated at a public meeting at 8 p.m. Monday at Switzerland County Public Library’s basement in Vevay. Principal topics of discussion will be a financial report on this year’s festival, and selection of a chairman or leadership group for the coming festival.
Kerry Peters was host to a farewell dinner Sunday at the home of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Van Tyle. Kerry left Tuesday, September 8th, for San Diego, California, where he will be serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Peters of Vevay.
Mrs. Millie L. Ogle, 92, of 302 West Seminary Street in Vevay, died Saturday at the home of her son, Paul, of route 3, Jeffersonville.
Walter D. “Buddy” Ricketts, 70, of Florence, died Saturday at King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison following a heart attack.
Owen D. Johnson, 61, of route 1, Vevay, near Mount Sterling, died Tuesday evening at his home. According to deputy coroner, Gerald Harlow, death was due to a heart attack.
50 YEARS AGO
“A new doctor is coming to town.” That is the latest official report as of this morning from the community of Vevay. “We’re putting on a new addition- remodeling the old part of our office, and making the entire building larger in preparation for another doctor,” Dr. Noel Graves, local physician, told Vevay Newspapers reporters in the county’s most-recently medical happenings.
The Switzerland County Council, which met September 6th and 7th, and the Switzerland County Tax Adjustment Board, which met Monday of this week made a substantial cut in the county tax rate after examining the proposed budgets of all county taxing units.
If you happened to be in the Vevay business area Sunday afternoon you would have heard, “Boy, I’d sure like to have that one,” – or perhaps you even said it yourself – when a group of automobiles from the Antique Automobile Club of America stopped here for nearly an hour to enjoy their Sunday dinner. Throughout the afternoon a total of 24 antique vehicles stopped or passed through Vevay while they were en route back to their home state of Ohio.
60 YEARS AGO
Miss Edna Pearl Clark, 12-year-old daughter of Mrs. Thelma Clark, will be a featured soloist at the Indiana Kiwanis District Convention next week in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Miss Clark, a member of the popular Hometowners Band directed by John A. Danglade, will be accompanied by Miss Evelyn Blizard of Anderson, Indiana.
The Bruner Grocery, located in the Metropolitan Hall building, Pike and Ferry streets here, will close out its business about the middle of October and remove to East Enterprise where the proprietor, Harry Bruner, has a building. Mr. Bruner has been in business in Vevay for more than 20 years and has many friends here who will regret to see his store vacated. He will, however, continue to operate his chick sales business here, it is reported. The room vacated by the grocery is expected to be occupied by the Vevay Auto Parts store, now located on South Ferry Street and managed by Sammy Lloyd who resides in Vevay.
Continued rainfall is causing heavy damage to the tobacco crop in Switzerland and Jefferson counties, the state’s two largest areas producing the weed, and the loss to growers will be severe if the present rate of rot continues. Both quality and quantity are affected.
70 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Perle Johnson, prominent lady of Posey Township, passed away at her home in Mexico Bottom Tuesday, having been in ill health the p three years.
Miss Shirley Briggs and Fay Hart, both of near Moorefield, were married Wednesday at the Long Run Baptist Church by Reverend Harold Fickett.
Mrs. Chester Lock who resided in Craig Township died in the Madison hospital Saturday after an illness of several weeks.
Mrs. Belle Littlefield, lifelong resident of the county, died at the county infirmary Friday evening at the age of 81 years.
Sam Stoops of near Vevay lost a valuable White Chester male hog Thursday when a rifle bullet presumably fired by a squirrel hunter on the hill back of his farm, struck the animal in the brain. A few weeks ago Mrs. Stoops narrowly escaped being struck by a bullet which was fired from the hill top.
80 YEARS AGO
In a business transaction completed Monday, Eugene T. Broadwell and W. T. Sullivan became owners of the Ferguson Drug Company.
John Belch, retired member of the Indianapolis police department and a former resident of Vevay, died in Indianapolis Monday at the age of 72 years. Funeral services and burial will be in Vevay Thursday.
Mrs. Guy Hulette died at the home of parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Wiley near Florence Thursday morning having been in ill health the past three years.
George B. Hall, Jr., and Miss Martha Whitten of Baylard, were married at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Benton Schaub of Wilmette, Illinois Sunday.
The 67th Moorefield Celebration was held Saturday with a large crowd in attendance.
A son, William Freeman, was born this week to Mr. and Mrs. Freeman “Dock” Cheetum.
90 YEARS AGO
Died in Posey Township September 9th, Mrs. A. Z. Stewart, 65. A brother survives.
The High School Association has decided to sponsor a Lyceum Course for the coming winter.
Died near Vevay September 15th, Miss Harriet Ann Clevenger, 67. Four brothers and two sisters survive.
100 YEARS AGO
A new song “Sally of the Valley,” written by Ralph T. Butler of Patriot and Sea Breeze, Florida, and referring to the Ohio Valley has recently been published.
Irvin Bromwell living near Florence had the misfortune to shoot himself in the foot so badly that it was necessary to take off two toes.
The Vevay schools are open with a total enrollment on opening day of 322. Six are enrolled in the colored school.
Saturday night the village of Lamb was visited by a fire that destroyed a store building, two houses, a blacksmith shop, a barn and several small buildings, and for a time threatened to wipe out the entire town.
120 YEARS AGO
At the Knox-Danglade colt show in Vevay last Saturday, R. E. Hall was awarded first premium of $10 and Benjamin Cole second of $5.
O. M. Pleasants and R. F. Grisard have been to Harriman, Tennessee, and have made arrangements to form a partnership and engage in the dry goods business in that town about September 20th.
140 YEARS AGO
Augustus Llevallen of near Bennington was fatally injured when a team of mules ran over him. When the mules hitched to a wagon became unruly he stepped in front of them and took hold of their bridles. They plunged, catching him on the wagon’s tongue and they dragged him some distance. Two young ladies seated in the wagon were thrown out, one spraining her ankle.
The Vevay Furniture Company has added several new machines to its factory.
Last Sunday stacks of oats, straw and wheat on the farm of John Konklin in Craig Township were destroyed by fire, supposed to be the work of an incendiary.
The trustees of the Vevay schools have secured the services of a professor from Cincinnati to teach German.
150 YEARS AGO
The citizens of Florence are preparing to incorporate that town under the general law of the state.
Died August 31st, Mrs. Lucretia Burns, wife of John Burns, aged 78 years.
Captain Jacob Strader died at his home in Cincinnati August 28th. He was one of the founders of the Cincinnati and Louisville Mail Line.
In 1850 the population of Switzerland County was 12,933. The new census gives the figures as new building which has been erected on the corner of Ferry and Market streets is a fine one and will be occupied by Messrs. Shaw, Harwood and Company. The members of the firm are Alfred Shaw, James Harwood, William Rous, John D. Harwood.
152 YEARS AGO
Last Wednesday morning Thomas Armstrong, living a mile below Florence, went to the river and saw that his skiff was stolen. Accompanied by another man he came to Vevay where he found both skiff and thief. The thief was tried and committed to jail but refused to give his name.
Last Sunday night the store of John McMillen was entered and robbed of goods to the amount of $20 or $30. On the same night the Odd Fellows lodge room was entered and two trunks broken open and a desk unlocked but nothing was carried away.
Married August 29th, by Wade H. Jock, Esquire, Mr. George W. Covert and Miss Perlina Ricketts, both of this county.