It Happened in January

The following article by Charles Hartley originally appeared in The Pioneer News on 27 Jan 2014. It is archived here for your reading enjoyment.

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In this column we will look back 15, 30, 60, and 90 years to capture glimpses of what was happening in Bullitt County in each of these years. Today we will focus on the month of January.

1999 - 15 Years Ago.

Magistrate Dewey McClearn served as judge for the Fox Chase House Decorating Contest. Here are the winners: the Mindel home was the most old fashioned; Bill and Linda Goins’ home was the most creative; and Ed and Marsha Kuffner’s home was most elegant.

The paper reported that Michael Firesheets was a member of the Vanderbilt University Marching Band. Michael graduated from Bullitt East. Also, Wendy Dugger of Shepherdsville is part of the Morehead State University’s Symphony Band where she plays the clarinet. They will be performing in China in May.

The North Bullitt Lady Eagles got off to a bad start against Spencer County, trailing 10-3 after a quarter, but rallied, out-scoring their opponent 39-14 over the next two quarters. Coach Mike Riffe complimented Brandi Evans, Nikki Cowan, and Melanie Keith for coming off the bench to help the team to victory.

The paper reported that Brandon Miller, a seventh grader at Bullitt Lick, won the track championship for his age group at Midstate Motocross Park. He competed on his 80cc Kawasaki motorcycle. The trophy he won was four inches taller than Brandon himself.

Although Ralph Lutes has stepped away from his role as Mt. Washington’s mayor, he will serve the next two years on the City Council. Ed Hilbert assumed the role of mayor. Lutes had been mayor for 13 years, and previous to that he had served on the City Council, and even earlier as the city judge.

Edward and Hazel Summers of Mt. Washington celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this month. She is the former Hazel Whitaker.

Bullitt Central’s Kyle Buege was pictured in the paper in a collision with an South Oldham player named Brad Green. The foul was called on Green, but it sure looks like he got the worst of it. BC lost that game by two points, but came back to defeat Eminence by 35.

Whitney and Hillary Burress were pictured with their mother Lauren and Principal Linda Belcher as they presented approximately a half million aluminum can pull tabs to the Mt. Washington McDonald’s to benefit the Ronald McDonald House. This was a part of a year-long school Beta Club project.

I wonder if Robbie Cope still has the $50 savings bond he received from Principal John Rowland at Hebron for achieving perfect attendance? All eligible students were included in a drawing, and Robbie’s name was drawn.

Despite North Bullitt’s twelve three-pointers, Bullitt Central managed to pull out a one point victory. Brian Mattingly accounted for five of the twelve, while Michael Steele made four.

Clifton and Boots Thrash of Lebanon Junction celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Mr. and Mrs. Leo Reid of LJ will celebrate theirs in February.

I wonder if Kayleigh Woloch remembers receiving the Character Education award in Mrs. Rhonda Underwood’s kindergarten class, and getting her picture in the paper?

1984 - 30 Years Ago.

Wanda Richardson retired as Senior Citizens Coordinator after eight years on the job. She declared, “I started this program from scratch. The reward you get is self-satisfaction with the personal contact with the people. I enjoyed being able to do something for someone else.”

Mr. and Mrs. James G. Vincent of Shepherdsville celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They have made their home in the Cedar Grove area for 48 years.

Daly and Dorothy Chapman of Mt. Washington celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. She is the former Dorothy Brownie Hayes.

Clara Simmons, out at Pleasant Grove, reported that Rick Fetty and his wife brought Christmas dinner to Virgie and Adrian Jones. And the Clifford Foster’s treated Alvine and Beulah Foster to breakfast at Bob Evans.

Meanwhile down at Lebanon Junction, Ruth Owens reported that Pee Wee Shelton and Linda Sullivan were married at the Calvary Baptist Church on Deatsville Road. Monty Shelton caught the garter.

Francis Riggs of Belmont reported that Randell Johnson had a party Saturday night attended by Ray Kliver, Gerald Johnson, Rhonda Travis, Marty Grey, Mackie French III, Andrea Jenkins, Allen Terrill, Mike Hart, and Brian Curry. Mitchy and Violet Etherton chaperoned the event.

Don’t you miss the days when such news was worth reporting in the paper?

Both coaches, Bill Bass of Bullitt East and Garry Jervis of North Bullitt, agreed that North Bullitt should have won their game, but poor shooting doomed the Eagles to a 59-54 loss. Statistically, North Bullitt had more shots, more free-throws, and more rebounds, but made only 17 shots to East’s 25. Greg Wilson came off the bench to score 10 important points for East. The County’s leading scorer, Mark Barnsfather totaled 14 points in the game.

Nichols Elementary treated their volunteers to a New Year’s party. Their volunteer coordinator, Delores Ashby led the effort to honor volunteers Sandra Holland, Jackie Allgeier, Tammy Dockery, Paula Layman, Linda Shepherd, Patsy Hedges, Carolyn Sadler, Donna Cornell, Oretha Ridgway, Evelyn Hale, Louise Johnson, Peggy Pace, and Dottie Abel.

The Christian group Emmaus Road appeared at the Davidson Memorial United Methodist Church. The group included Chris Hardy, Dale Taylor, Gina Armstrong, and Glenda Doan.

When Robbie Williams and Jeff Pickett played basketball for Coach Bob Carpenter at Shepherdsville, they probably didn’t expect to be on opposite sides of the court coaching freshmen at Bullitt East and North Bullitt not many years later. Mike Farner wrote an interesting article about them in the Pioneer News.

Maiko Chambers won the regional and state competitions for the VFW’s Voice of Democracy contest. She had to research, write and tape a speech on “My role in upholding our constitution.” Maiko was no stranger to speech competitions. She joined the Bullitt Central speech and debate team as a freshman.

1954 - 60 Years Ago.

Myrtle Jackson advertised for sale a seven-room house with electricity and city water in Shepherdsville; James S. Shepherd wanted to sell a five-room house along with ground for a garden, a cow, and chickens out on Raymond Road; and the Kate Greenwell property on Lee Street was for sale. It included a five-room house with electricity and a cistern, garden, and chicken lot. If interested, see Myrtle Barrall.

E. P. Nichols out on Beech Grove Road was willing to trade a pair of mares and some farming tools for a good coon hound.

Looking for a large apartment complete with hot and cold water and furnace heat? Apply at the Jones Gift and Variety Store or phone 133.

J. V. Larence posted no trespassing on his property outside the city limits on Highway 44. Wonder what became of all that land?

And at Bullitt Lick, their correspondent reported that Mr. and Mrs. Henry Troutman, Nina Troutman, Mr. C. L. Croan, and Miss Joan Robison visited Millard Sadler “who has been real sick.”

The Shepherdsville High School Rams defeated West Point 54-43 behind the 21 points scored by Parrish and Bridwell Darrell in the second half. Coach Moody said that the ball-hawking on defense by Tee Coy, Arthur Miller, and Bobby Milam in the third quarter really turned the tide for the Rams.

Carl Ray Sadler, who sparked the Rams’ JV team to a victory over Old Kentucky Home, turned up the next day with the mumps. He joined Jimmy Cruise with the mumps and Norman Troutman with a sprained ankle on Coach Moody’s hospital list.

Wilma Streble reported that the following students made the honor roll at the Belmont School: (1st grade) Charles Parris, Betty Hodge, Doris LaFollette, Doris Rice; (2nd grade) Susan Nalley, J. B. Skaggs; (3rd grade) Edna LaFollette, Barbara Waters; (4th grade) Raymond Streble, Martha Nalley, Barbara Hawkins, Judith Ann Walden, Ethel Mae Rhodes; (5th grade) Mary Elizabeth Rhodes, Frances Rhodes, Mildred Pearl Nalley, Margaret Goodrich; [same names listed for 6th grade], (7th grade) Frankie Raggs and Christine LaFollette.

Mrs. Ted Lesch was appointed to head the local 1954 Heart Fund Drive for the Kentucky Heart Association.

Need a well dug? Call Ray or Jack Bleemel in Mt. Washington. Their number is 2303.

And Elmer Cundiff will sand your new floor, or make the old one look like new. Call him at 9121.

1924 - 90 Years Ago.

The first jury of women used in Judge Shelton’s court was sworn in last week and was composed of the following well known ladies: Mrs. J. R. Buckman, Mrs. David Buckman, Mrs. Joe Chappell, Mrs. Leon Lloyd, Mrs. Will Joyce, Mrs. Robt. Foster. Two ladies were used here for jury service several months ago, Mrs. Hilary Hardy and Mrs. Nancy Strange.

Little Jerry Martin, while riding his tricycle on the front porch at his home Tuesday evening, fell from the porch and broke his right arm. Dr. Ridgway was called and set the broken bones and at last reports, Jerry was doing nicely.

The Shepherdsville High School girls’ basketball team defeated the Louisville Girls High School team recently, 18 to 9, the game being played on a large city floor. The following young ladies played on the local team: Misses Martha Hill, Johnnie Summers, Kathryn Nusz, Elizabeth Pittman, Bertha Feathers, Beulah Barrall and Iva Elliott.

Mr. C. P. J. Mooney, Managing Editor of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, was in Bullitt County last week, looking over his farm near Bardstown Junction, and shaking hands with his many friends. Mr. Mooney was born on the farm which he now owns and has many relatives in this county.

Tom Taylor of Lebanon Junction was tried for bootlegging before a panel of women jurors, and after considerable debate the ladies could not decide, being split 3-3. Tom was tried a second time, this time with a jury of men, who likely knew him better. This time he was given a $200 fine and sentenced to 50 days in jail. Reckon he will prefer a female jury next time.

And W. R. Starks, a L & N engineer, of Lebanon Junction, stopped his train at Pottinger Creek, near Gethsemane, and led a rescue party that saved the life of twelve-year-old Jesse Brown who fell through the ice while skating. E. L. Stamper, fireman and J. E. Scalf, brakeman, aided in the rescue. The trainmen continued their run of twenty miles to Lebanon Junction in their icy-wet clothes, after starting young Brown on his way home.

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Copyright 2014 by Charles Hartley, Shepherdsville KY. All rights are reserved. No part of the content of this page may be included in any format in any place without the written permission of the copyright holder.

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