100 YEARS AGO — 1920

 

A burglar who entered the home of widow Bettie Henderson of Mercer County last night, was put to flight when the woman rushed him with a corn knife. Mrs. Henderson had sold several hogs that afternoon and it is presumed the would-be thief knew of the sale and was after the money.

 

Attention housekeepers. When spring cleaning your closets, kindly set aside old books and magazines for the Danville Library. If you can not deliver them, please notify the librarian at phone number 253.

 

Several of the town’s most prominent business men are organizing a golf and country club for Danville. Several sites for golf links have been offered and the proposition seems assured. Danville has long needed a club of this kind. A country club with golf links and other means of amusement, will add much to the city, as it will attract people to town and give our own people an opportunity to get away from their business life for a short time each day, thereby giving health and longer life to those engaging in the sport and recreation.

 

G.W. Jett and son, George Jr., the well known tobacco growers in Parksville, have taken stock in the Kentucky Soap Factory at Junction City, a corporation of 100 shares at $500 shares each. It is said this washing powder is a wonderful success, the only soap powder in the United States that has a patent.

 

A white boy, who is said to be half-witted, has been charged with striking with intent to kill, the little 7-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Trimbell, who was beaten nearly to death a few days ago only a few hundred yards from his home in Park Place. The negro man who was at first believed to have committed the crime, and who was taken to Lexington for safe keeping, was not indicted and he will probably be released from jail at once.

 

75 YEARS AGO — 1945

 

Ruth Worthington, eighth-grade student at Perryville and daughter of Robert Worthington, won first prize of $10 in the annual Courier-Journal sponsored spelling bee. It was held at East End School. Hattie Edwards of Forkland school was runner-up which included students in five county elementary schools.

 

Technician Fifth Grade George M. Ferguson, son of Mrs. Anna Ferguson of North Third Street in Danville, is one of the relatively few Americans to ever receive the Chinese Grand Star of Honor medal. He is on duty at a field installation of the Chinese Combat Command of the United States Army, under the command of Major General R.B. McClure. The mission of the CCC is to advise and assist Chinese forces in prosecuting aggressive warfare against the Japanese. Ferguson is a graduate of Junction City High School and was a student under the Civil Service when he entered the service in October, 1942.

 

The highlight of his fishing career “struck” Harold Hoskins, owner of Vogue Cleaners, yesterday, when he was hit in the face by a 3.25-pound black bass, as he was jigging in a boat along the banks of Herrington Lake. He and his wife were fishing in shallow waters at Cane Run in Mercer County near Clark’s camps. Both were not catching anything, when suddenly, out of the clear lake, the bass jumped and smacked Mr. Hoskins full in the face. Mrs. Hoskins screamed and grappled wildly to catch the slippery bass. Her excited cries and unusual behavior in landing a fish out of the air, attracted the attention of a number of fishermen and people on the banks, who enjoyed the scene.

 

50 YEARS AGO — 1970

 

The Wilderness Trail District of the Blue Grass Council of Boy Scouts of American held its annual spring Camporee last weekend, on a farm owned by Morris Martin, just below the Casey County line. The area was on top of a knob overlooking a beautiful view with many redbud and dogwood trees in bloom.

 

A 35-year-old Kentuckian who won the 1970 American Chemical Society Award in Pure Chemistry said, “the environmental and overpopulation problems are even more critical than emphasized these days through the news media. And to combat these terrific problems our nation must education a corps of scientific statesmen representing the fields of science and government.” Dr. Harry Gray was speaking to students and faculty at Centre College to celebrate the recent opening of a new $2 million science building on campus.

 

Danville’s Winn-Dixie Super Market in the Danville Shopping Plaza. The store will be open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. In order to offer the discount food prices, the store will not give away any kind of stamps with purchases.

 

25 YEARS AGO — 1995

 

When the Boyle county Fiscal Court started talking about a new jail on Tuesday, an ugly word — taxes — filtered into the discussion. Total cost for a new 125-bed jail is estimated at $4.2 million, including $3.8 million for the building. County Attorney George McClure raised some questions about the need to take a hard look at future finances. “I don’t know how you can do it without tax increases,” he told the magistrates.

 

Students of the medical assistance program at Kentucky College of Business will hold a bake sale and blood pressure screening on Friday to raise money for the victims of the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City.

 

The Junction City Council approved a rate increase to help pay for water and sewer improvements. Construction of a 100,000-gallon water tower on Airport Road and work on the city’s sewer stations is expected to improve water pressure and end overflows, said Mayor Dale Walls. The average in-town user’s bill will increase from $38.54 to $44.06.