It Happened in January

We will be looking back 25, 40, 70 and 100 years to see what was being printed in The Pioneer News in 1999, 1984, 1954 and 1924 in the month of January.

---

1999 - 25 Years Ago.

Magistrate Dewey McClearn served as judge for the Fox Chase House Decorating Contest. 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.

Fiscal Court began a new year under the leadership of Kenneth Rigdon and the four magistrates: Dewey McClearn, David Walker, Ed Bleemel, and Dennis Mitchell. Robert Flaherty became the new deputy judge-executive, and Patricia Hagan was an administrative assistant. The four magistrates were pictured as they were being sworn in by Bullitt Circuit Judge Thomas Waller.

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 would 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.

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

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 had stepped away from his role as Mt. Washington's mayor, he would 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 was the former Hazel Whitaker.

Marilyn Donlon-Higgins and her husband Pat Higgins brought their love of dog training with them when they moved to Bullitt County. Her golden retriever Strut had recently won the 1998 Dog Obedience Championship in Houston in the superdog division. (Does that mean he wears a cape?)

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.

Bullitt Central scored 51 points while North Bullitt tallied 49 in the second game between the Lady Cougars and Lady Eagles, but the big number was the 54 fouls called in the game. Despite that huge number, Coach Riffe of North Bullitt declared it a "well-officiated" game.

And 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 - 40 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 had made their home in the Cedar Grove area for 48 years.

Susie M. Noe was promoted to staff sergeant in the Air Force. She was serving in England with the 513 Transportation Squadron. Her husband, Rovie Noe, was the son of Marvin and Georgia Noe of Shepherdsville.

Daly and Dorothy Chapman of Mt. Washington celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. She was 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 Clifford and Helen Foster treated Alvine and Beulah Foster to breakfast at Bob Evans.

Meanwhile down at Lebanon Junction, Ruth Owens reported that Gene and Marcia Sinsko's van was extensively damaged in a fire; and that Pat Jackson had a wreck and suffered a concussion. She also 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 Saturday night party 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?

The paper reported that Scripps-Howard had bought The Pioneer News and Mt. Washington Star.

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.

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.

A number of local residents asked Representative Frank Smith to see about widening the underpass on Pioneer Boulevard off Highway 61 South. They were concerned because the tunnel was scheduled to be lengthened, but not widened. Among those concerned were Joyce Pruett, Michael Lanham, Violet Bickett, and Nellie Lashley.

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.

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.

Mike also wrote about Harry Feeback, the school system's director of transportation, and the role he played in determining when to cancel school due to bad weather. Winter months found Feeback up at 3:30, and if weather threatened, he was out driving the county's roads to determine if they were safe for buses.

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 - 70 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. Myrtle Barrall was who to contact if interested.

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.

If you were looking for a large apartment complete with hot and cold water and furnace heat, you could 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?

Out Nichols way, the correspondent expressed sympathy to Mrs. Mary Ellen Thornton in the death of her sister, Mrs. Edna Hall who attended Nichols school as a child.

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.

In the personals column, the paper reported that "Mr. and Mrs. J. V. Shaw and Tommy attended the UK-Tulane basketball game in Lexington Saturday night and spent the week-end as guests of Prof. C. H. Skelton of Asbury College."

County Agent H. E. Rothwell reminded farmers that soil to be tested had to be dry before it could be tested.

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. Robert Wooden, the Mt. Washington correspondent, reported that Mr. and Mrs. Marion Jasper were traveling to Tucson, Arizona where they were to spend several weeks for Mr. Jasper's health. She also reported that Bonnie Bleemel fell down the basement stairs but wasn't seriously hurt.

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

If you needed a well dug, you could call Ray or Jack Bleemel in Mt. Washington. Their number was 2303.

And Elmer Cundiff would sand your new floor, or make the old one look like new. You could call him at 9121.

1924 - 100 Years Ago.

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

Little Jerry Martin, while riding his tricycle on the front porch at his home on a Tuesday evening, fell from the porch and broke his right arm. Dr. Ridgway was called and set the broken bones and at last report, Little 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 the previous week, looking over his farm near Bardstown Junction, and shaking hands with his many friends. Mr. Mooney was born on the farm which he owned and had 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 would prefer a female jury next time.

W. R. Starks, Louisville and Nashville engineer, of Lebanon Junction, stopped his train at Postenger Creek, near Gethsemane, and led a rescue party that saved the life of Jesse Brown, 12 years old, whom he saw fall 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.

The Lebanon Junction High School Senior Class was composed of the following students: Pauline Harned, Lula Belle Monroe, Mona Johnson, Zella Carpenter and Edward R. Beeler.

Mrs. Albert Griffin gave a party in honor of her son, Earl. Those present were Misses Eunice Ridgway, Hazel Funk, Thelma Moore, Elizabeth Nichols, Bess and Evelyn Funk, Hazel and Nellie Merker, Jessie, Nellie and Oretha Hopewell, Mable Funk, Beatrice Ferguson and Dorris Griffin, Messrs Earl Griffin, James, Charles, and Harry Ridgway, Otto Moore, Robert Nichols, Walter Ridgway, Andrew Marcum, Orville Funk, Jack Applegate, Harold Atkisson, Rex Spencer, Roy Ferguson, Shack and Harley Ashby, and Robert and Orville Griffin. Cake, fruit and candy were served and everyone went away saying that this was one of the most delightful parties they had ever attended.

Misses Lena Patterson, Mary Stallings, Elizabeth Weller, Fay Magruder, Thelma Daugherty, Messrs John Glenn, Charles Lee Bradbury, Lynton Weller, Crumbacker Jenkins, Stanley Muir, Gabe Summers, Joe Blankenship, Thomas Trunnell and others who were attending school at different colleges spent the holidays with their relatives.

And Mrs. Christian Armstrong and Mrs. Stackhouse had closed their school at Nichols which had been a very successful one in every way. Their average daily attendance was 55 pupils which was about as large as 6 or 10 small one room schools combined scattered throughout the county.

---

Copyright 2024 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.

---