The Bullitt County History Museum

It Happened in November

We will be looking back 25, 40, 70 and 100 years to see what was being printed in The Pioneer News in 1998, 1983, 1953 and 1923 in the month of November.


1998 - 25 Years Ago.

With senior Jon Miller scoring a school record six touchdowns, Bullitt Central rolled past Moore High 53-0. Also scoring touchdowns were Chris Graves and Chad Chappell.

Jason Robertson, a senior lineman for Bullitt East, intercepted a Monroe County High pass and rambled into the end zone as a part of a 71-26 victory for the Chargers.

Bullitt Central FFA officers Kyle Bates, Chris Ashbaugh, Jessica Sohl, Betty Miller, David Barnes and Josh Riggle attended the University of Kentucky FFA Leadership Conference.

Bob and Vicki Tipton took part in groundbreaking ceremonies for a new fellowship hall at Belmont Baptist Church where Bob was pastor.

Brooks Elementary principal Carol Wright and assistant principal Brenda Pirtle were sporting purple after fulfilling a promise to the school's students after they reached their fund-raising goals. Wright's hair was dyed purple and Pirtle wore a purple mustache.

The November election brought numerous changes in local and state representation. Larry Belcher, in his first political race, defeated the incumbent Allen Maricle in the General Assembly race. Joe Sohm defeated two opponents to become Shepherdsville's mayor while Gary Hatcher earned a full four-year term as the mayor of Pioneer Village.

In other mayoral races, Herschel Ricketts of Hebron Estates and Garland Miller of Fox Chase were re-elected; and Leemon Powell won the Hillview race. Over in Mt. Washington, Ed Hilbert was unopposed, while down in Lebanon Junction Glenn Smith defeated Vanessa Nicklies.


Rebecca Ward


Hiromi Kushihashi

In the magistrate races Dennis Mitchell was unopposed in the first district; Ed Bleemel won the second district over Howard Knutson; Dewey McClearn took the third district race over Denver Matthews; and David Walker defeated Ben Curry in the fourth district.

In judicial races, Rebecca Ward defeated incumbent John Laun, while the other incumbent, Bailey Taylor was unopposed.

Lebanon Junction elementary school students were learning more about Japanese music under the direction of Hiromi Kushihashi, a native of Japan who taught at the school.

Principal Ron Weimer and PTA President Goldie Embry were both proud of the new school sign which was dedicated at Nichols' annual fall festival.


Tombstone in Tree

The Roby Raiders defeated Brooks 6-0 to claim the championship of the Pee Wee Division in a game played at Cardinal Stadium. The score came when Shaun Carney carried the ball 17 yards to the end zone following a 61 yard pass play from Jacob Osborne to Chris Pilkenton.

Brooks resident James Roe received his 50-year pin from the Masonic Lodge. Roe joined the New Washington (Indiana) Lodge in 1958, and remained a member of that lodge even though he had lived in Bullitt County for 38 years.

And students from Monty Edward's Bullitt Central history classes began a clean-up project at the old, over-grown cemetery located just off First Street in Shepherdsville. One find was a tombstone almost completely engulfed by a tree.

1983 - 40 Years Ago.


John Y. and Elizabeth

Frances Riggs, the Belmont correspondent shared that Mackie and Myrtle French and family visited the Smokey Mountains over the weekend and had a great time. She also congratulated the Vincents on the birth of their son Ricky Jr., and the Bonneys on the birth of their son William. She also mentioned that the Barnes Family would be singing at the Belmont Baptist Church.

John Y. and Elizabeth Brown of the Nichols Community celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with a reception at the Knob Creek Union Church.

Janice Daniel of Lebanon Junction, a sophomore at Campbellsville College, was named to "Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges." Janice was married to Donald Daniel.

The Bullitt County Fair Board was granted ownership of the old Houchens supermarket building on Preston Highway, and they set about moving it to the fairgrounds. Many people were involved in the project including Sam Hardy, Foster Sanders, John Cornett, Jack Plenge, Butch Sweat, Noah Whittle, Tom Napp, Wallace Armstrong, Bernie Bischoff, Dorman Hardy, W. A. Napier, Buck McGlasson, Adrain Larimore, Happy Cahoe, Al Morman, Carol Samuels, Dorothy Glanz, JoAnn Nunn, June Dawson, and many others.

Oretha Ridgway of the Nichols Community wrote an expression of sympathy to the Ash family in the loss of Sgt. Thomas Keown who lost his life at Marine Headquarters in Beirut. He was buried in the Ash family cemetery on Knob Creek.


Ruth Sohm


Athol Taylor

Clara Simmons of Pleasant Grove reported that the home of Mrs. Fern Lloyd was the scene of quite a gathering of folks including Mrs. James Bandy, Mrs. Lillian Stallings, Mrs. Geneva Gentry, Mrs. Margret Jones and son, Mrs. Evelyn Owen, Mrs. Sharon Jenkins, Mrs. Nancy Davis, Miss Jenny Davis, Mrs. Nancy Davis and son, and Mr. Fred Armstrong. I wonder what was the occasion?

I wonder if Stephanie Wilkins remembers her grandmother Juanita Wilkins helping her aim a pool stick during a game of "cool pool" at Nichols Elementary School's Fall Festival? Their picture made the paper.

The quilters at the McDowell United Methodist Church in Brooks were finishing their third quilt for the Methodist orphans home. This group included Esther Myers, Sarah Fay Myers, Ruailmer Meredith, Mary Evelyn Farmer, and Mrs. Leonard Williams. They gathered every Tuesday morning to work on their projects.

Diane Cruze-Mills snapped a picture of Ruth Sohm accepting her award as Bullitt County Citizen of the Year. The award was presented by Mark Edison and Barbara Cahoe.


Note Burning

In a speech competition in Harrison County, Kenny Higdon of Bullitt Central placed first in Student Congress, and Brian Waddle made the finals in Dramatic Interpretation. Also Derrick Wilson and Paula Strange won first place in Varsity Debate.

In a close race, decided by only 84 votes, Athol Lee Taylor defeated C. V. Sanders for the circuit judgeship in the November election.

And Linda Lyly photographed Mayor Sparrow and Councilman Harvey Johnson starting a fire in the Shepherdsville City Hall. Relax, they were just burning the hall's mortgage note.

1953 - 70 Years Ago.

The Mt. Washington 4-H club elected officers at their meeting. Danny Donahue was elected president; Jimmy Carey was vice-president, Thurman Raymond secretary, and Cathy Smith reporter.

Over at Cedar Grove, the 4-H club elected Orval Martz president, Ronnie Meredith vice-president, Virgil Jackson secretary-treasurer, Carolyn Vincent song leader, and Carol Berman reporter.

And at Nichols Mary Nell Heavrin was elected president of their 4-H club. Other officers included Alice Heavrin as vice-president, Glanda Darlene Muss as secretary, and Mary Rose Klapper as reporter.

Out Bullitt Lick way, Royce Wayne Mitchell was the recipient a fine birthday dinner and gifts provided by his grandmother, Mrs. Pearl Smith. After dinner they went hickory nut hunting. He was especially pleased with the gift of some things that belonged to his grandfather.

It is said that the following people left the local blood drive a pint low. They included Darnell Harris, Marvin Moore, J. W. Armstrong, Jimmy Ryan, Charles Lee, Clinton Richardson, Billy Stallings, Jene Trunnell, Mary Ellen Bivens, Minnie Croan, Selvie Hodge, Darrell Bridwell, Dorothy Nichols, Minnie Bailey, Mrs. Meacie Roy, Inez Shepherd, Robert Miliam, and Norman Troutman, Sara Price, Clifford Shepherd, Ralph Lutes, Cecil Smothers, Lee Miles, James Burden, Roslee Bridwell, Wanda Dean Myers, Burlyn Pike, Glendon Hall, Mrs. Melvin Porter, Mrs. Amos Brown, Laverne Demarsh, and Esther Williams.

The list continued with Mamie Blissitt, Mrs. Vernon Mothershead, Mrs. Lee McArthur, Mrs. Arson Moore, Mrs. Frances Stallings, Lillian Myers, Mrs. Romona Smith, Bernie Milam, Mrs. Lura Dennis, Corine Smith, Vernon Mothershead, Nellie Hubbard, Dorothy Stottman, Mrs. Richard Hedrick, Leo Bleemel, Rev. Addison Scheifelbein, Archie Whiteman, Raymond Terry, Mrs. Bertha Milam, Mrs. Virgie Jones, Mrs. Addison Schiefeibein, Melvin Shepherd, Mrs. Betty Kinder, J. V. Shaw, Ack Hill Harned Jr., John Morton, Marie Dever, Helen Hukle, Mrs. Dorothy Reader, Mrs. John Sloan, Ralph Philips, and Noah Whittle.

The classified ads provided some interesting reading. Noah Whittle was selling re-cleaned fescue seed; Emmett Miller had hay to sell for 65 cents a bale; Freddie Losch was trying to sell 200 bushels of corn; and Henry Brumett out on Bells Mill Road had 9 weanling pigs. Mrs. Alfred Maraman would sell turkeys and chickens, either dressed or on foot; and Mrs. Myrtle Barrall was selling 4 storm windows.


Betsy Stamper

Roland Guthrie, formerly of West Virginia, was appointed as Supervisor of Conservation for Bernheim Forest. He was making his home in Shepherdsville.

Mrs. Howard Tharpe took her Little Flock class of junior girls to her home for lunch, followed by a hike to a cave, and then to Okolona for ice cream.

Betsy Stamper of Brooks was chosen as the most popular girl on the campus of Campbellsville Junior College. She graduated from Shepherdsville High in 1952.

Sometimes we forget who served us in days gone by. In 1953, Nancy Strange was circuit clerk, G. H. Swearingen was the master commissioner, C. A. Dawson was county judge, C. V. Sanders was county attorney, Theodore Cook was county clerk, Charles Holsclaw was county surveyor, Tom Hibbs was jailor, and Allen Hawkins Jr. was sheriff. W. O. Anderson was school superintendent, and Luther Van Vactor was coroner. The magistrates were Emmett Nall (Shepherdsville), Arson Moore (Mt. Washington), A. P. Weller (Leaches), and John Samuels (Pine Tavern).

Bullitt County Agent, H. E. Rothwell, was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the National Association of County Agricultural Agents.

Aunt El Bridwell, who would soon be 96, was missing her little terrier dog by the name of Peggy Ann.

And Lee Jackson of Shepherdsville was looking for his red bull that was lost. It weighed about 400 pounds. Have you seen it?

1923 - 100 Years Ago.

Miss Mary Dawson, teacher at Brooks, was preparing a class of students for the diploma examination. They included Grace Flint, Katherine Quick, Beulah Elliott, Coleman Quick, Murrell Flint and Harry Farmer.

Oscar Prather has bought a new Ford Coupe.

The following men were re-elected on the County School Board Tuesday for term beginning in 1924: E. Z. Wiggington, Joe T. Harris, T. L. Mattingly, and H. M. Trunnell.

The Shepherdsville school honor roll included (First Grade) Virginia Lee Croan, Bernice Feather, Etta May Shepherd, Letta Ray Shepherd, and Joseph Songster; (Second Grade) Lydia Bowman, James Simmons Farris, Dorothy Hall, Norma Kerr, Ralph Ridgway, Alice Ray Sanders, Elizabeth Sanders, and Mary Carolyn Lee; (Third Grade) Edward Deacon, and Lydia Ray; (Fourth Grade) Sara Fay Lee, Geneva Lloyd, Beulah Richardson, Bertha Weller, Mary Elizabeth Harrison, C. V. Sanders, and J. C. Welch; (Grade Seven) Tommie Wilson, Ailene Maraman, Anna Lee Hill, and Christine Kerr; (Grade Eight) Wanda Adams, Adrian Crenshaw, J. W. Bradbury, Millard Deacon, and Julia Conniff.

Mr. and Mrs. Lem Swearingen entertained Friday night in their home in honor of their daughter, Miss Texia's 21st birthday. Present were Misses Blanche Weller, Eva Mae Jones, Violetta Thompson, Lovena Kulmer and Mary Elizabeth Jones, Messrs Calvin Boyd, Arthur Weller, Vern Jones and Mr. and Mrs. Alf Weller.

The Hebron School Honor Roll included (1st Grade) Florence Ball, Laura B. Ward, Irvin Robards, Willie Crenshaw, Samuel Rhea, and Lawrence Jackson; (2nd Grade) Sarah Whitman, Martha Wiggington, and Herman Williams; (4th Grade) Wanda Garr, Emma K. Harned, Georgia Jackson, Frank Whitman, and Burks Williams; (6th Grade) Katherine Williams, and Jack Gardner; (7th Grade) Elizabeth Whitman, and Ida Lee Ball; and (8th Grade) Margaret Baldwin, Elizabeth Wiggington, and Edward Rhea.

Bardstown Junction was well represented at the Shepherdsville High School. Their pupils included (Seniors) Miss Katherine Nusz, Messrs Pat Cruise, and Onie Magruder; (Juniors) Misses Flossie Lynch, Eula Shaw, and Mr. William Shaw; (Sophomores) Misses Edta Nusz, Mildred Bergen, Messrs Charles Shaw, Carl Shaw, and Thomas Ed Conniff; and (Freshmen) Misses Nellie and Katherine Triplett, Christine Stansbury, Mary Alice Shields, and Mr. George Francis Henderson.

At the Mt. Washington School a cake was sold for the prettiest girl which was easily won by Miss Hazel Hall. A box of cigars to the ugliest man went to "Grandad" Graham.

Near Hebron, Carolyn Hackney had an accident when her auto slipped off the road as she attempted to avoid a machine she was meeting. She stopped at once, but struck a telephone pole, demolishing her windshield and breaking the top off. She and her mother escaped injury. The Hebron correspondent voiced her opinion, "Our road is much too narrow!"

And when court was called by Judge Shelton, some 27 cases were on docket, all but 3 paid fines and their cases were continued. Most of the cases were for being drunk and disorderly. I wonder where the party was?


Copyright 2023 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.


The Bullitt County History Museum, a service of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is located in the county courthouse at 300 South Buckman Street (Highway 61) in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. The museum, along with its research room, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday appointments are available by calling 502-921-0161 during our regular weekday hours. Admission is free. The museum, as part of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization and is classified as a 509(a)2 public charity. Contributions and bequests are deductible under section 2055, 2106, or 2522 of the Internal Revenue Code. Page last modified: 13 Jan 2024 . Page URL: bullittcountyhistory.org/happened/november3.html