January 22, 2020

15 years ago

Jan. 19, 2005

Harrison County Police Officer Marty McClanahan, Milltown Chief Marshal Ray Saylor and Corydon Chief Marshal Jim Kendall worked with federal agents to stop a human smuggling operation in Corydon, Milltown and elsewhere in Harrison County. Charges have been filed against certain Hispanic “coyotes,” or people who deal in human trafficking. Arrests have been made, and warrants are out for others. Speaking in general terms about the operation at last week’s meeting of Community Unity at the Gerdon Youth Center in Corydon, Saylor said this is the first case in Indiana where federal agents from U.S. Customs, the FBI and Immigration and Naturalization Services — all part of Homeland Security — have worked closely with local police to stop a human smuggling ring, file federal charges and make arrests. Saylor said it was important to get the word out about human smuggling so churches, civic groups, community services organizations and others who normally respond to pleas for help would be extra cautious when they are approached by strangers, who say, for example, that they need money, clothes and toiletries for migrant workers.

General Motors customers have slowed their spending pace in 2005, but potential buyers are still taking Corydon’s Oxford Automotive for a test drive. Oxford Automotive filed Dec. 7 for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and the Corydon plant is one of five U.S. plants to be sold as part of the company’s restructuring plan.

Dr. Mark Eastridge’s resignation as principal at Corydon Central Junior High School has triggered an administrative shuffle on the Corydon school campus. Eastridge is the new superintendent of Crawford County Community School Corp. His successor at CCJHS was announced at the Jan. 11 meeting of the South Harrison Community School Corp. School Board of Trustees. Principal Mark Black is to move from Corydon Intermediate School to CCJHS for the 2005-06 academic year. In the meantime, Corydon Central High School Assistant Principal Gary Pope will serve as interim principal at CCJHS. Randy Gianfagna will assume the role of interim assistant principal at Corydon Central High School for the remainder of the semester.

Corydon Central’s girls’ swim team made their first-ever home meet one to remember on Saturday night at the YMCA of Harrison County, scoring a 164-point victory over North Harrison, and also besting Southwestern, Silver Creek, Charlestown and Salem in front of a packed — and sauna-like — house. Corydon’s boys nearly pulled off the double, falling to Madison. North Harrison was third, just 38 points behind the Panthers.

Deaths: John W. Bussabarger, 75; Richard D. Watson Sr., 62; Joann Martin, 73; Ruby N. Hawkins, 84; Lynn Sappenfield, 91; Andrew S. Bruce, 70; Sovara L. Abbott, 83; Steven Thompson Sr., 45; Alfonso Cortez, 59; Virginia M. Kopp, 71; John E. Boone, 71; Patrick Sheridan, 76; Tammy L. Lawson, 43; Elaine T. Young; William Mullen, 73.

25 years ago

Jan. 25, 1995

For business owners, signs are an important element of doing business. For town officials, they’re a phenomenon that threatens to ramble out of control. This year, as the Town of Corydon rewrites zoning laws, the issue may come to a head. Corydon has no sign ordinance as such. Town zoning laws prohibit free-standing signs, as well as signs located off a business’s premises. Fred Cammack, president of the Corydon Town Council, admits the town has been slow to address the issue but said new regulations will include a comprehensive sign ordinance. Currently, business owners in Corydon and within its two-mile fringe who want a free-standing sign are supposed to get approval from the plan commission. They must submit a site plan and pay a one-time $10 fee. The commission may ask applicants to alter a sign but generally approves them. The plan commission frowns on off-premise signs.

Harrison County government’s year-end financial picture appears rosy, according to official calculations. The county general fund wound up in 1994 with a balance of more than $500,000, up about $200,000 over the 1993 year-end, said Earl Saulman, president of the Harrison County Council. Overall, the county ended the year with more than $8 million in cash and investments. That doesn’t mean the county can go on a spending spree, however. Most of the funds are earmarked for specific purposes in the budget.

With a bond issue likely in the next 90 days to finance a new jail in Harrison County, five underwriting firms offered proposals at Thursday night’s jail committee meeting. In general, the firms pledged to make the tax-free municipal bonds, which will be issued in $5,000 increments, available locally and to allow sales by other brokers. The committee took the proposals under advisement. In the meantime, the committee will present the project to the public and answer questions tonight at 7:30 at North Harrison High School. This will be the third presentation on the road, but all of the meetings are open to the public.

Indiana University Southeast chose Corydon as the site to celebrate Indiana University’s 175th birthday last Tuesday evening. The party, complete with a white birthday cake and refreshments, took place at the Chamber of Commerce of Harrison County’s “Business After Hours” gathering at Indian Creek Theatre. Jim Stammerman, director of community relations at IUS in New Albany said Corydon was selected because it was here that the state’s first legislature passed the bill that created the “state seminary of Indiana” in 1820. The bill was signed by Jonathon Jennings, Indiana’s first governor.

Jerry Reinhardt had seen enough. Trailing host North Harrison 12-5 a little less than six minutes into Friday night’s game, the Lanesville coach signaled for his second timeout of the contest after watching his Eagles make their fifth turnover. Having tapped the snooze bar during Reinhardt’s first timeout a couple of minutes earlier, the Eagles responded to the coach’s second wake-up call and proceeded to dismantle the Cougars from there, out-scoring them 60-35 in the last 26 minutes for the 65-47 win.

Deaths: Helen Fosskuhl, 78; Sue Cardwell, 69; Essie Shelton, 76; Lillian F. Shaffer; Amanda A. Strickland, 53; Violet Sturdevant, 73; Janet L. Brown, 30; Richard W. Himmelheber, 61; Dorothy S. Davis, 70; Paul R. Lynch, 66; William Askren, 68; Ruth Hemmelgarn, 79; Dorothy S. Brent, 74; Palmer Stranger, 68; Clyde Turner Klinstiver, 79; Violet M. Turner, 68; the Rev. Harlan F. Mayfield, 63; Novy C. Felker, 83; Cecilia Seipp, 87; Freddie L. Drake, 69; David J. Powers, 59; Ernest Williams, 69; Clarence M. Wiseman, 83; Elnora Kimmel, 49.

50 years ago

Jan. 21, 1970

A $100,000 Farmers Home Administration loan and a $26,000 FHA grant to finance the construction of a rural water system for the West Harrison Water Co. were closed last Friday. The corporation will construct a water distribution system of approximately 11 miles of pipeline serving an area west of Corydon along U.S. 460 and ending west of Gethsemane Church.

The old Mauckport-Cory-
don bus, formerly operated by Sidney Beanblossom from 1912 to 1921, has been bought by Herman Miller of South Bend, been refurbished and is running again for entertainment and display.

Births: Boys — Sharon Mullins, Emma Waynescott, Lillian Jacobi, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Housel; girl — Marjorie Dean.

Deaths: Gertrude Wolfe, 86; Mrs. Ora Evaline, 80; Lottie Lofton, 79; Cora Applegate, 71; Nettie Quebbeman, 85; Herman Eisenmener, 88; Carl R. Miller, 71; Albert Roggenkamp, 69; Leonard Gehlbach, 86; Flora Genewein.

65 years ago

Jan. 19, 1955

The large two-story home of Mr. and Mrs. Burrel F. Forbis of Laconia was destroyed by fire Thursday morning. The house, about 10 rooms, was one of the oldest in Laconia and was occupied by Mr. Forbis’ father, Dr. B.F. Forbis, who was a practicing physician for many years.

Voiture Locale No. 975 of the 40 and 8 was reactivated after a lapse of about 20 years Sunday at the Harrison Post, American Legion home, Elizabeth. The organization is made up of members from the Hornickel Post and Harrison Post, Corydon.

The Jack Ledgers have sold their store at Corydon Junction.

Fifty-year pins were given to the following members of the Knights of Pythias: William Crosby, William Hauswald, Sherman Glenn, John Bulleit, John J. Miller, Phillip A. Bruch and Dave Keller.

A mobile unit for chest X-rays will be set up at Lanesville, Laconia, Central Barren and Corydon. These visits for chest X-rays without charges are made possible through the annual Christmas Seal Sale.

Births: Boy — Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Patterson; girls — Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Hansel, Dr. and Mrs. Ernest McCullum, Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Harris.

Deaths: Walter H. Mosier, 54; Ben Cunningham, 77; Dessie B. King, 64; William D. Carr, 88; Helen Bye, 39.

75 years ago

Jan. 24, 1945

Lynn Boman, 39, was killed in action Dec. 21 in Germany. His mother, Mrs. Hettie Boman, lives at Elizabeth. John Edmund Day, son of John Day of Corydon, is reported missing in action in Luxembourg. Lt. Fred Bulleit is reported missing in action over Germany. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Will J. Bulleit.

Mr. and Mrs. Albert Engleman and three children moved last week from Indianapolis to their home in the Brown Addition to Corydon. They were away several years while Mr. Engleman had employment in Indianapolis.

Births: Boys — Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Hughes, Mr. and Mrs. A.B. Pearce; girl — Mr. and Mrs. Edward E. Overton.

Deaths: Sam K. Foley, 54; Arvil Kopp, 52; Green Craig, 87; John H. Crecelius, 83; Mrs. Robert Quinn, 85; Frank Suetholz; Albert Higginbotham, 71.

100 years ago

Jan. 28, 1920

Mrs. Thomas Lone has gone to Greensboro, N.C., to visit her husband who is employed by a telephone company and is in the South this winter. She expects to be away two months.

The Rev. M.A. Cossaboom, pastor of the Christian church at Corydon, is still confined to his room by illness and under the care of a nurse.

Births: None.

Deaths: Mrs. Mary M. Watson, 91; Mrs. Ella Brown, 61.