Lew Brown sold the Harrodsburg Democrat to the Republicans of Mercer County, who are headed by state auditor Frank P. James. The name of the paper will be changed to the Harrodsburg Republican. This switch gives the 8th Congressional District three Republican newspapers. They are: The Torchlight of Danville, the Pantagraph of Richmond, and the Harrodsburg Republican. Charles T. White will remain as news editor.
75 YEARS AGO - 1934
The district 4-H Club Camp will be at Junction City High. Club members from Boyle, Garrard, Casey, Jessamine, Wayne, Clinton and Pulaski counties will attend. Girls receive instruction in their home practice while boys learn about farm practices. This year, boys also will be given instruction in land measurements. About 300 to 400 club members are expected. They will have games in the afternoon and sing songs and have stunts at night.
The Army came to Danville when 110 men comprising the machine gun detachment of the First Mechanized Cavalry from Fort Knox passed through. They will camp at Gwinn Island. The detachment made the journey to the lake resort in 20 vehicles said to be the latest in army transport equipment. They are called half-track personnel carriers. Lt. Hart, who is in charge, invited all Danvillians to visit the encampment and inspect the new carriers.
The vacant lot between Bonta's hardware store and J.L. Webb's grocery is undergoing a renovation. It has become a tennis court and is attracting a lot of the town's young people.
The Danville City Council voted to investigate the light and power rate of the Kentucky Utilities Co. The council wants to determine if the rates being offered the city under its franchise with the power company are fair. The city wants to decide if the price is fair before its present five-year contract expires.
50 YEARS AGO - 1959
The city of Danville's old Ahrens-Fox fire engine soon will be a collector's item or it will be traded for a new fire wagon. The pumper has been in Danville since 1921. The City Council voted to advertise for bids for a new pumper truck, which should aid in better insurance rates. The city also voted to buy a new payloader for $11,000 to use at the city dump. The loader is used to dig trenches and bury the garbage collected daily.
Reckless drivers with a flare for scratch-off apparently don't mind paying a $10 fine and court costs in Danville. They continues to "buzz," police chief Tom Clark said. Traffic arrests included: six for drunken driving; one for speeding; five for running red lights; three for driving without licenses; and three for loud and unusual noises. Another 501 people received parking tickets.
The Lincoln County Fiscal Court voted to build a new hospital in Stanford. The court plans to place a $350,000 bond issue on the November election ballot. The federal government would match the money. Preliminary plans call for a 40-bed hospital with operating rooms, a laboratory and X-ray room.
25 YEARS AGO - 1984
Plans have been completed for an addition to the Lincoln County Courthouse. It will include offices for the property valuation administrator and county attorney, and an outdoor recreation area for inmates. Judge-Executive Earl Butcher said plans were presented to the Lexington architectural firm of Chrisman, Miller and Woodford. The project will be financed through $25,000 in area development and local funds. The three-level stone and brick structure will match the present building and have 11,000 square feet of space. Fiscal court also is waiting release of a $396,000 state grant to upgrade the jail.
An archaeologist who found a prehistoric Indian relic in Boyle County calls the discovery an exciting find. The spearhead was discovered on property where the city wants to build a water storage tower. Charles Niquet said the site is the only known Paleo-Indian site in a 100-mile radius. Niquet is doing an archaeological survey that is required for the city to receive federal money for the water improvement project.
Farmers are seeking outlets for selling vegetable crops. The reason for the surge of interest in selling vegetables is that farmers can no longer count on a market for burley tobacco, once the unquestioned king of the state's money crop, according to University of Kentucky horticulturist, C.R. Roberts.
