News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
It was the largest group of students to ever attend the annual “Storyfest” celebration in Vevay last Thursday and Friday, and by all indications this year’s event was one of the most successful. A total of 1,046 students from all over the area attended the event, which brought three different presenters in to talk with the children about different ways of relating stories and history.
Rose Calhoun, daughter of Wayne and Kim Calhoun of near Bennington, has been named a Commended Student in the 1998 National Merit Scholarship Program. Only about 35,000 students nationwide earn the distinction of being named a Commended Student, based on their outstanding record in academics. Commended Students placed in the top five percent of more than 1 million students who took the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) last year as juniors.
Jerri Lynn Peters and Nathan Jones were chosen by their classmates to represent SCHS in the upcoming Versailles Pumpkin Show King and Queen contest.
Josh Henry and Cassandra Chase will be representing Switzerland County High School at the Aurora Farmers Fair King and Queen contest.
David Gilbert will represent the Southeastern Career Center in the Aurora Farmers Fair King competition. He is a student at SCHS.
15 YEARS AGO
Vincent Valenzuela, a senior at Switzerland County High School, has been selected a semi-finalist in the 1993 National Merit Scholarship Program, the premier academic competition in the United States. The 15,000 National Merit semi-finalists selected nationwide scored among the top one-half of one percent of all students taking the SAT/National Merit Scholarship tests. He is the son of Drs. Diego and Fidelia Valenzuela of Vevay.
Ralph and Pauline Peebles of Patriot will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Saturday, September 26th.
David and Lura Smith of Liberty, Indiana will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house at the Liberty Church of Christ Fellowship Hall Sunday, September 27th. David and the former Lura Patterson are both Switzerland County natives.
The marriage of Edith Darlene Hornsby, daughter of Lomon and Christine Hornsby, East Enterprise, to Claude Alan Eads, son of Claude and Doris Eads, Mount Sterling, will take place Saturday, September 19th, at New Liberty Baptist Church in East Enterprise.
20 YEARS AGO
The Switzerland County Soil and Water Conservation District will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, October 7th, to release the long-awaited soil survey for the county. The meeting will begin at 8:45 a.m. at the Ogle Haus in Vevay. A continental breakfast will be served and representatives of the federal, state, and county government will speak briefly.
Shirley A. Burke, daughter of Ella M. Edwards of Vevay, has been promoted in the U.S. Army to the rank of sergeant. Burke is a military police specialist in South Korea with the 3rd Military Police Detachment.
Navy Lieutenant David A. Beckett, son of Dr. Donald L. Beckett of route 1, Rising Sun, was promoted to his present rank and has reported for duty with Strike Fighter Squadron-192, Yokosuka, Japan.
Glenn and Genevieve Sullivan, Center Square, will be honored with a reception in honor of their Golden Wedding anniversary Sunday, October 11th, at Center Square Baptist Church.
Announcement is made of the engagement of Dana Lynn Sullivan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Sullivan of Westport, formerly of Switzerland County, and Randy Lee Einhaus, son of Mr. and Mrs. Randolph Einhaus of Napoleon.
30 YEARS AGO
William Cole, recently retired from the Switzerland County Health Department, was singularly honored by the Indiana Association of Sanitarians at its annual conference in Nashville on September 28th. Bestowed upon Cole, 11-year employee with the county health department, was an honorary lifetime membership in the Indiana Association of Sanitarians.
Captain Michael L. Sheldon, son of Mr. and Mrs. Carroll Sheldon, of route 2, Rising Sun, has entered the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) to study for a degree in logistics management.
Gary and Fauna Ritch of Florence have been awarded the Home Advisor Award of the W.T. Rawleigh Company for outstanding sales developments. Gary and Fauna, as independent Rawleigh Distributors, are part of an international organization which has been serving family needs since 1889.
The graduating class of 1930 of Vevay High School held a reunion at the Swiss Inn on Sunday, September 25th. It was the first time many had seen members of the class since graduation. Two former teachers, Mrs. Ramona Pickett and H. C. Benedict, were special guests.
Vonda L. (Archibald) Downing, route 1, Vevay, completed work for a degree this summer at Ball State University. Mrs. Downing received a master of arts in education degree in elementary education.
40 YEARS AGO
Kinsey L. (Ken) Hastings, for 58 years a key figure in the management of The Ohio River Telephone Company, Inc., of Switzerland County, died Monday in Lawrenceburg. The 89-year-old retired telephone company manager had been in ill health the past month and died in Dearborn County Hospital. He served as manager of the Vevay exchange for 58 years before retiring July 1st, 1965. The United Telephone Company, Inc., has now acquired the local company.
Services were held in Vevay Wednesday for Miss Julia C. Tandy, 73, of 201 Union St., Vevay, who died Sunday at Dillsboro Manor in Dillsboro. She was a real estate manager and was a lifelong resident of Vevay.
It doesn’t take the most magnificent and expensive rod and reel with all the latest accessories and the fanciest baits and lures to catch a prize fish; all you really need is a cane pole and a cricket. Ask 12-year-old Laura Sieglitz who, with 8-year-old sister Paula, displayed the 4 1/2 pound, 18 1/2 inch whopper she caught Sunday from a farm pond with just such equipment. They are daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Vernon Sieglitz of Vevay.
Vevay’s Boy Scout Troop 14 has been honored by being selected by Hoosier Hills Council to host the council’s southern district court of honor October 9th. Over 100 merit badges and honors will be bestowed upon scouts from troops from Vevay, Dupont, Deputy, Hanover, and several troops from Madison.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bunger, Sr., celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary Sunday with a dinner for 21 people at Brown’s Restaurant in East Enterprise.
50 YEARS AGO
Ira and Nellie Spencer Reed of Pleasant were honored by the members of the Bennington Eastern Star Lodge at Masonic Hall there on the occasion of their Golden Wedding anniversary September 8th. Mr. and Mrs. Reed are charter members of the lodge and Mrs. Reed was its first worthy matron. Both have devoted much time and energy to its activities.
With the announcement Tuesday of the resignation of Larry Kinman as office manager of the Switzerland County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Committee, the resulting vacancy has been thrown open to application. Another resignation, that of County ASC Committee chairman Bob Brooks, was also made public Tuesday.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. William Bowling near Fairview was destroyed by fire last week when a defective flue ignited the roof. A fire had been built in a heating stove just a short time before and the flames gained such headway that nothing could be saved.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Preston Combs in the Braytown community was completely destroyed by fire Thursday evening. On Tuesday afternoon a woodshed and smokehouse at the Shirley Harsin home were consumed by fire also in the Braytown community.
William H. Red, Patriot, has been named a cadet second lieutenant in Indiana University’s Army Reserve Officers Training Corps for the present academic school year.
Aunt Jemima comes to Vevay Saturday, October 19th, for a Community Pancake Day, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club. At $1.00 for adults and 50 cents for children, a full breakfast menu will be served at Fred’s Cafe, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Proceeds from the project will be used for the benefit of underprivileged children and support of the Kiwanis-sponsored Little League. The Pancake Day will be under the direction of the famous Aunt Jemima.
60 YEARS AGO
Vevay relatives have been notified of the recent marriage of Miss Phyllis Clara Anderson to John J. Campbell Saturday, September 20th, at Central Baptist Church in Springfield, Illinois.
The Vevay Paint and Body Shop, owned and operated in partnership by Dwight McKenzie and Robert Smith, and located on the corner of Seminary and Ferry streets here, is now the property of the latter.
Raymond Moore of near Vevay assumed operation of the Package Store on Ferry Street which he recently purchased from Paul Lamkin.
S. L. Auxier of route 1, Bennington, received a cablegram Saturday morning that his son, Technician First Class, Edward W. Auxier has been married to Miss Marie Gottel, a German girl in the city of Munich.
A nine-pound son was born September 16th to Mr. and Mrs. Lee Riley near Braytown. He has been named Randall Raymond.
Albert Walters of near Vevay has brought to this office a small Irish potato which is shaped remarkably like a horse’s head. The potato contains ears and elongated nose and a neck.
90 YEARS AGO
It is estimated that about 75 percent of Switzerland County’s tobacco crop is now housed and many crops that promised little a month ago, proved to be very satisfactory. Offers of 22 cents per pound have been refused by several growers.
100 YEARS AGO
Garret, 11-year-old son of Charles Gregory of Patriot, was severely burned Saturday by turning a kettle of boiling water on himself. He is now recovering nicely.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Loren Dufour of Allensville, twin daughters September 23rd.
Charles Kittle and Miss Pearl Tinker were married iE., A. Findley, formerly of this city, has resigned his position with the Rushville Republican and is now employed by the Welsbrodt Company of Cincinnati.
120 YEARS AGO
Lewis F. Works, wife and child left Saturday for San Diego, California, where Mr. Works has the position of Deputy County Recorder.
Ferdinand Carver and Mrs. Indiana Fish were married in Vevay last Thursday.
Cards are out announcing the marriage of Zella Florence, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Thiebaud, to James Herbert Day, in the Baptist Church, West St. Paul, Minnesota, Wednesday evening, October 5th.
Miss Minnie Dixon has opened a school in one of Grisard’s buildings on Main Street in the interest of the National Garment Cutter. All those wishing to learn to cut and fit with accuracy all kinds of garments, should not fail to call and see her.
Adolph Lorch has returned from Canada with a bride. He has opened his tailor shop in Pleasant’s building.
130 YEARS AGO
Benjamine Cole and Miss Sarah A. Stewart were married September 26th.
Anna Dora Waldo, 18-year-old daughter of O. S. Waldo and wife, died October 1st in Vevay.
W. R. Taylor of Moorefield is attending college at Urbana, Ohio.
Richard Kelley, son of Henry Kelley of Posey Township, died September 17th.
140 YEARS AGO
Married September 22nd by John H. McHenry, at the residence of the bride’s parents, Samuel R. Johnson, to Miss Mollie M. Richards, both of this county.
Moorefield is 400 feet higher than Vevay; Indian Creek bridge is 36 feet lower than Vevay; the hill up Hall’s Branch is 387 feet high; the highest point surveyed was Ebenezer M. E. Church, which is 407 feet higher than Vevay.
J. F. Bellamy, Esquire, will fill the Republican appointments for speaking at Craig and Moorefield on October 3rd and 7th.
150 YEARS AGO
The Postmaster General has recently decided that if postmasters do not give publishers of newspapers notice when their papers remain in the post office without being taken out by subscribers within five weeks, that they are liable for the pay.