Looking for movers and shakers

Tell City's Schweizer Fest isn't that far off and it's time for The News to begin working on the 2010 Schweizer Zeitung, the special section we publish in early August.

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The annual special section showcases the community's founding, history and citizens. Over the years, we have approached the project from just about about every historical angle imaginable. Stories have probed history by particular decades, such as the 1950s and 60s. The Great Depression was our topic one year, and past sections have had business, Main Street, church and civic-club themes. Another Zeitung examined Tell Citians in times of war. That summer, we invited veterans to share their own experiences of military service.

The 2007 Zeitung explored Schweizer Fests through the years and of course, the section in 2008 was centered around Tell City's sesquicentennial.

This year's fairly broad topic is Tell City's movers and shakers. The section's pages will look at the men, women and organizations that shaped Tell City over its 152 years.

We'll be sorting through archives for stories of past leaders in the fields of industry, banking, medicine, education, politics and others.

We'll also be looking to profile leaders still among us for feature stories. We welcome suggestions for living movers and shakers. We have a list already taking shape but want your ideas on people, past and present, whose efforts in any field of endeavor, have made Tell City what it is.

Your ideas can be phoned to me at 547-3424 or sent via e-mail to editor@perrycountynews. Suggestions can also be mailed to P.O. Box 309, Tell City, IN 47586 or placed in the drop box outside our front door.

The staff here will also be looking for relatives of some deceased community leaders to share their memories, as well as photographs.

We look forward to a great 2010 Zeitung and a fantastic Schweizer Fest.

Perry Central Speaker

Dennis Faulkenberg was the keynote speaker at Perry Central's academic awards ceremony last month and offered soon-to-be grads doses of history and good advice. A 1972 graduate of Perry Central, Faulkenberg wrapped up a distinguished career with the Indiana Department of Transportation as deputy commissioner and chief financial officer. He now works as a consultant and lobbyist on transportation projects.

Faulkenberg said he was one of the few Republicans in his senior class and remembers how he loved to debate and argue.

He encouraged the Class of 2010 to work hard and remember their home communities. Faulkenberg said he returned frequently to the St. Croix area while his children were growing up and taught them about the community. That's an example worth following.

Traffic on Downtown Hills

Work on Washington Street in Tell City has meant plenty of traffic on two of downtown Tell City's hills. The hills on Humboldt Street is moderately steep but Pestalozzi between Ninth and 10th streets reminds me of a bit of a roller coaster. I try to avoid the hills but even after weeks of detouring, can't seem to remember the closure. That's meant climbing the two hills.

I'm sure neighbors in the area don't care much for the extra traffic, just as merchants along Washington Street are hoping the work will wrap up soon.