January 1, 2020
15 years ago
Dec. 29, 2004
Stranded motorists were a common site by noon last Wednesday as forecasters warned that snow accumulations could reach a foot in the Louisville metro area, but Mother Nature was just warming up, or cooling down. An ominous weather forecast said north of the Ohio River could expect an additional nine to 12 inches overnight, and some areas in Indiana could expect an additional 20 by daybreak Thursday. There was no precipitation for several hours Wednesday evening, but it was only a calm before the second snowstorm. Between Wednesday and Thursday mornings, Louisville got rain, freezing rain and snow. Areas farther north and west were pelted by consistent, heavy snowfall. After the storm system had passed, Louisville recorded nine inches, New Albany had 14 and Evansville 19 (almost five inches more than its annual total).
Business owners with existing signs have eight days left to apply for a permit — for free — that would allow them to be in compliance with the county’s new sign ordinance. The ordinance was adopted in July by the Harrison County Board of Commissioners on the recommendation of the county’s Advisory Plan Commission. When the grace period expires next week, violators could be subject to fines of up to $300 a day if the signs are not removed or modified to meet the new requirements.
An animal control officer isn’t on the payroll yet, but his salary for 2005 has already been increased. The Harrison County Council approved a $1,000 increase Monday night when it approved the 2005 salary ordinance. There were a few other “tweakings,” based on a request by the county commissioners to get them out of a bind. Commissioner James Goldman said he and the other two commissioners, J.R. Eckart and Jim Heitkemper, had all told their first pick for Harrison County’s first animal control officer that the starting salary was $25,000, but the budget the council had been working on only allocated $24,000 for the officer. Michael A. Gentry, who was offered the animal control position, said he now makes about $32,000, including bonuses. “The starting pay for this type of position is generally $30,000,” Gentry told the council, adding that he was not asking for either of those amounts.
The Grinch took a big bite out of the Crawford County girls’ basketball team’s Christmas vacation, as the Ladypack fell behind early at Forest Park and were never able to recover, losing 59-26.
Deaths: Lowell Archibald, 77; Jeanette E. Smith, 83; John J. Arnold III, 54; Gaye McGuffey, 45; Donald Vertrees, 81; Mattie M. Miller, 84; Billie J. Gardner, 69; Bertha C. Wright, 83; Herbert Babcock, 81; Clara Brandsasse, 82; Carl A. Link; Homer L. Byrn, 83; Elizabeth M. Best, 82; Oscar Corbett Jr., 62; Kenneth Forbes, 62; Lillian L. Emmerson, 69.
25 years ago
Jan. 4, 1995
Former Harrison County Police Chief Randy Orme found himself without a job when the new sheriff, Clyde Sailor, began his new one, a four-year term that started Sunday, Jan. 1. Sailor defeated Orme in the Democratic May primary, and he had said he would dismiss Orme so there would be a vacancy on the nine-member police force for Kenny Spencer, Sailor’s choice for chief. (Sailor defeated Republican candidate William Carver in the November election.) Sailor said he received counsel from county attorney David Layson and another attorney, whom he did not identify. Orme, a seven-year member of the Harrison County Sheriff’s Dept. was appointed chief in 1992 by Sheriff Edward L. Davis Jr. when Terry Allen resigned.
Knowing that scores of Harrison Countians do much of their Christmas shopping in Clarksville, it’s not surprising that a number of local residents were among the thousands who traveled to Clark County last Friday to line up for a hepatitis shot. Clark County health officials decided the shots were necessary after a fast-food restaurant employee there was diagnosed with hepatitis A, an infection of the liver. The man, who works at two Arby’s restaurants in Clarksville and one in Sellersburg, developed symptoms of the illness on Dec. 22. (He never worked at the Arby’s in Corydon.) When test results confirmed he had hepatitis A, health officials said there is a small chance he passed the virus to some of the estimated 8,000 persons who’d eaten at one or more of the restaurants.
Supporters of tougher sentencing for child molesters will rally tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. at the Harrison County Court House. “The purpose is to try to seek adequate prosecution for child molesters,” said one of the organizers, Bill Ward of New Middletown. “Myself and many others — and I’ll stress many others — in the county are dissatisfied and disappointed with the sentences handed down to child molesters.” Ward said the demonstration will be peaceful and it is expected to last a couple of hours.
Taking the advice of an advisory committee, the Harrison County Board of Commissioners has selected an Indianapolis firm to perform preliminary work to revise the county’s comprehensive plan. Snell Environmental Group, which also has offices in Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio, and Lansing, Mich., has performed similar work in several Indiana counties. The firm recently completed a comprehensive plan for Georgetown in Floyd County. After hearing eight proposals during November, a planning advisory group had narrowed its choices to two: SEG and Pflum, Klausmeier & Gehrum Consultants, also of Indianapolis. The commissioners needed to strike a deal by year’s end to capitalize on $10,000 set aside for planning in the county’s 1994 budget. They held a special meeting Thursday afternoon to select a consultant.
Loogootee forward Jeff Bledsoe scored 41 points in his team’s season opener, a 93-44 win over Vincennes Rivet. A few weeks later he poured in 39 in an overtime win against White River Valley. Is it any wonder then that when the lanky 6-4 senior enters a high school gymnasium these days, he does so as a marked man? Such was the case Friday night as Bledsoe led the 19th-ranked Loogootee Lions (9-0) to a 54-52 win over the Crawford County Wolfpack (4-4) in Marengo.
Deaths: Betty Tindall, 55; Joyce L. Blessinger, 68; Mary E. Eberly, 79; Ilah D. Yates, 82; Ola M. Nales, 77; V.B. Lemmel, 89; Ann Deeringer, 49; Willard Martin, 70; Bob L. Lloyd, 68; Rita McCauley, 60; Ethel West, 62; Mary C. Rush, 65; Raymond Andres, 90; Frank Truesdell, 95; Clayton J. Farris; Urban (Bud) Graeter Jr., 65; Wanda Gallagher, 56; Paul J. Knecht, 91; Ralph Clifton, 70; Stanley Milarski, 69.
50 years ago
Dec. 31, 1969
Five-year-old Mary Elizabeth Brown of Elizabeth is the poster girl for the Harrison County March of Dimes crusade which starts with the beginning of the new year. The local drive is underwritten by the Old Capital Citizens Band Club.
Mrs. Ronnie Schoen of Elizabeth and son Eric left Dec. 16 for Wemb, Germany, to visit her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henrich Verhoeven.
Dr. Herbert Stevens, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Stevens of Crandall, has opened a new dental office in Paoli. He is a graduate of North Central High School.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles (Pat) Stepro and sons of Reno, Nev., visited friends and relatives in Harrison County during the Christmas holidays. Mr. Stepro, a native of Central, owns and operates the Silver Spur Casino in Reno.
Births: Boys — Mrs. Laurice Brown, Stelia Ashabranner, Della Ballou, Lucy Brown, Sharon Roll, Naomi Oppel; girls — Mrs. Howard Singleton, Juanita McMonigle, Lillie North, Patricia Ferguson, Libby Burson.
Deaths: Guy Stover, 73; James Rosenbarger, 27; Mrs. Sarah Parker, 65; Edward A. (Bud) Flora Jr., 62; Edward (Curby) Ehalt, 71; Mrs. John Anderson, 94; Robert Henry Mowrer, 96.
65 years ago
Dec. 29, 1954
Office furniture, library and equipment of Corydon High School has been moved from the building on East Chestnut Street into the new Corydon Central High School building in the Ashton Addition. Pupils of the junior high school will report next Monday morning at the former high school building on East Chestnut Street.
The new garage and shop of the county highway department on Highway 135 north of Corydon is now in use for servicing and repair of the county’ vehicles and road maintenance equipment.
Robert L. Stepro has been appointed to serve on the Central School Corp. Board. He fills the unexpired term of Carlton Windell who resigned to become trustee of Harrison Township. Other members of the board are Guy Reas, William H. Keller, Henry C. Vogt and Charles Smith.
Orlin L. Didelot is the new Harrison County sheriff, succeeding Walter L. Baxley. Bernard Stilfer was elected commissioner (second district), succeeding Owen Busagbarger.
Births: Boys — Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Haas, Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Withers; girls — Mr. and Mrs. Carl Wiseman, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Berkenmeyer, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence East, Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Kennedy, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Frakes, Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Elam, Mr. and Mrs. Donald LaFollette.
Deaths: Addie Eskew, 84; Charles H. Shuck, 78; Fannie Bacon, 77; Annette Atz, 77; Emmett Allen, 73; George Heintz; Elizabeth Duly, 83; Marion Harvey, 76; Stella Krause, 51.
75 years ago
Jan. 3, 1945
Producing around 250 to 300 articles per week, Glass Handicrafters Inc., has been finding a ready market for its paper weights, door stops, ash trays, etc. The products have been shipped to St. Louis, Chicago and New York.
Miss Gail Davis, a student at Asbury College, Wilmore, Ky., has been spending her Christmas vacation with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dallam Davis of Ramsey.
Births: None.
Deaths: Cpt. Paul E. Hornickle; Adolph Schuppert Sr., 77; Mrs. Lola F. Hune, 34; Charles W. Combs, 63; Mrs. Margaret L. Brown, 69; E. Frank King, 83; Mrs. Mary C. Jackson, 89.
100 years ago
Jan. 7, 1920
Curtis Mourer of Washington Township has purchased a new Grafonola and it is said he now sings and dances in his slumbers.
The Ohio River is full of floating ice and it is impossible to cross at points in this county, which is a great inconvenience to people in the southern part of the county.
Births: Boys — none; girl — Mr. and Mrs. Leo Payne.
Deaths: Lawrence Elisworth Eurton, 42; Samuel Johnson, 45; William L. Tuell, 57; Mrs. Mary Ann Roberts, 78.
