100 YEARS AGO — 1919

 

Local banks and several businesses will close next Saturday afternoon between 2 and 4 o’clock on account of the football game between Centre College and Kentucky State Wildcats.

 

Joe Hamilton was arrested by Sheriff Farris Jr. on a warrant sworn out by Ira Jones, who lives on Bluegrass Pike. Several days ago, Mr. Jones missed one of his horses and reported it to officers. They have been on the lookout for several days and finally located the horse near Junction City in a Gypsy Camp. The officers got a description of the man who sold them the horse and Hamilton was immediately arrested.

 

During a quarrel, a Lancaster woman, age 28, struck her husband, age 60, with a poker, fracturing his skull in two places. She then asked a neighbor to summon medical aid. The wounded man was rushed to Acton Hospital but never regained consciousness and died. The woman was arrested and released by County Judge Stapp on $1,000 bond.

 

In Harrodsburg, Wood Smith, 74, was run down by a runaway team of horses and may die as a result. The old man had a habit of always walking in the middle of the road and would never turn out for vehicles. It is believed he was approaching the runaway team of horses thinking that they would turn away from him, but he was run over.

 

75 YEARS AGO — 1944

 

Trinity Episcopal Church will be open all day Saturday in observance of Armistice Day for prayer and meditation. Everyone is welcome to come into the church.

 

Miss Amanda O. Rodes, daughter of the late Charles H. Rodes and Mrs. Rodes, died suddenly of a heart attack at the home of her mother. Born in Danville, Sept. 5, 1884, Miss Rodes was a lifelong member of the Second Presbyterian Church, treasurer of the Centre College Alumnae Association for 20 years, a member of the Board of Visitors for Centre College, chairman of the Book Club from its beginning and a member of the Kentucky Society of Colonial Dames.

 

Letter to the Editor: The 1944 presidential campaign and election, now history, make me think more and more of the truth in the immortal words of one of Kentucky’s and the nation’s greatest statesmen, Henry Clay, who once said, “I’d rather be right than to be president.” Sincerely, Robert Dohoney

 

The continued numerous violations of the Bellevue Cemetery has prompted the chairman of the cemetery committee to write, “After a long period of special efforts made by the officers to courteously inform the public of their conduct while visiting the cemetery, we have about exhausted our  patience. In spite of our courtesy and persuasive efforts there are a number of people who continue to violate the law. … Here are a few extracts of violations: Removing flowers and wreaths from graves not their own, in some cases actually taking flowers and placing them on other graves; breaking branches off flowering shrubs and trees; fast driving and knocking over tombstones and not even reporting the damage; parking off the road; children playing on the grounds and climbing gates and fences; dogs running loose and on leash; littering; children and adults using the cemetery as a pass-way from one place to another. Couples parking a car or otherwise using cemetery grounds for immoral purposes will be prosecuted to the limit of the law.

 

50 YEARS AGO — 1969

 

Parents are urged to sign and return to school the permission form for Rubella (German measles) immunization which has been sent home for every child enrolled in Head Start, kindergarten, daycare centers and first and second grades.

 

Danville Police conducted an investigation all day Saturday for a missing light airplane, reported by state police to have landed or crashed in Boyle or Mercer County. Farmers in Boyle were asked by radio broadcast to check their farmlands and report to the police if the plane was sighted.

 

The first major conservation project at the Central Kentucky Wildlife Refuge was on Saturday with 17 members of Girl Scout Troop 410 and their leaders planted five burlap bags of black walnuts, weighing about 300 pounds. It was the first time any of the group had done this sort of thing, and the girls came with screwdrivers, tack pullers, an ice pick, even a boring auger. One ordinary shovel and two army trench shovels saved the day and the walnuts got planted. If all goes well, the walnut trees should mature in about 10 years. The Girl Scouts said they might bring their children out to the sanctuary some day to see the trees they planted. Plantings took place mainly in the area of the new lake. The trees will enhance the edge of the woods beyond the large meadow.

 

25 YEARS AGO — 1994

 

The Danville City Commission will discuss acquiring the Federal Building at the corner of Fourth and Main Streets at its next meeting. Mayor John Bowling asked for the meeting because the General Services Administration of the federal government has announced the building will be declared surplus property. The city has 20 days to begin the application process.

 

The Danville City Commission wants to get some feedback before making a decision about proceeding with plans for a multi-purpose park. “I envisioned something being done over a period of years,” said Commissioner Nancy Caudill. Mayor pro tem Bunny Davis said “I want the whole ball of wax.” Council member George Cunningham said there also needs to be comments on how to pay for the park. Questions about a park were asked in 1992 as part of the city’s “Vision 2020” survey. The responses placed a swimming pool and youth facilities at the top of the list, receiving more than 1,200 votes each. Natural areas were second with 945 votes and playing fields received 769 votes. Support for a regional park was expressed as well as upkeep of existing parks. When it came time to pay for a multi-purpose park, most respondents wanted fees and admissions to cover the cost. Fewer than 500 checked off either increases in property or payroll taxes.