Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021
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Flags are at half-mast until this evening in honor of Susan Bayh, the former Indiana first lady who recently passed away.
The Shelbyville Plan Commission will hold a public hearing on a proposal to construct market-rate apartment units at 1451 W. McKay Road, adjacent to Berwick, New Park Condos, and Canterbury/Indian Heights subdivisions. City Council yesterday approved on first reading the process to proceed after hearing from the project architect. Mayor Tom DeBaun noted that the council’s approval was required in order for the public hearing to occur. The parcel in question is landlocked behind existing apartments, which the developer, Christian Investments, also owns. The development would use the same access from McKay Road as the existing units. Christian Investments is also seeking variances to change the property’s zoning from two-family to multi-family. “That’s the way to get good quality housing stock without sacrificing in terms of costs, and making sure it stays on budget for Shelbyville residents,” Crystal Kent, with Prince Alexander Architecture, said. The Board of Zoning Appeals previously discussed the variances and now the plan commission will hear the matter on Tuesday, Feb. 23. There are additional steps involving the commission and council, as well, before the project could move forward.
The Shelbyville Common Council yesterday approved entering into a purchase agreement to build infrastructure for the development of approximately 30 residential lots in Clearview Section 8B, behind Clearwick Park. “Once they’ve completed the public infrastructure, by law we’ll do two appraisals of that infrastructure, and you’re agreeing to pay the lower amount between $170,000 or the two appraisals, which is what is allowed by law,” city attorney Jenny Meltzer told the council. The development area is comprised of approximately 11 acres and is a continuation of Clearview Section 8 started approximately 15 years ago, Dane Waltman, with Flagstone Properties, said. “We’re just purchasing out that remaining property and we’re going to develop that out,” Waltman said. The homes will be in the $350,000-range, councilman and Shelby County Development Corporation executive director Brian Asher told the council. Once the 30 homes are constructed, it will take two years of tax collection to recoup the investment, Mayor Tom DeBaun said in response to a question from councilwoman Joanne Bowen.
The Shelbyville Common Council approved a potential $30,000 match for the City to apply for a third round of funding to help small businesses during the pandemic. The total grant amount would equal $280,000, with the State kicking in the majority of the funds. The City was awarded funding in two previous Community Development Block Grant phases. “Last time, OCRA (Indiana Office of Community & Rural Affairs) fully funded every applicant,” plan director Adam Rude said.
City Council approved a standard ten-year fixed tax abatement on $2 million of new equipment to increase production capacity at Toray Resin, 821 W. Mausoleum Road, Shelbyville. The facility will add seven new jobs and approximately $300,000 in payroll, attorney Steve Schrumpf told the council. The new equipment will include optical scanners and extrusion machines.
The Shelbyville Central Schools board approved retirement for Rita Kemple, an SHS special education teacher, effective at the end of the academic year.
The Shelbyville Central Schools board approved donations, which over the past two months have included $400 and school supplies from the Aktion Club for SCS Special Education and Especially Kidz; health care products from Dr. Kate Garringer for the SMS Clinic; $2,500 from SCUFFY for various schools’ Project Clothes for Kids; $500 from Peter G. DePrez for Loper students identified in need; child coats from Linda West to Golden Bear Preschool, and $500 from Ray Schebler for field day items.
As of yesterday, the state reported 4,548 positive coronavirus cases in Shelby County, an increase of 6 from the previous day, out of 18,032 tests, an increase of 22 from the day before. The number of deaths for Shelby County remained the same, at 88.
HOOSIER NEWS: The Fishers City Council narrowly approved a zoning change that clears the way for a low-income housing complex to be built at 141 St. and Cumberland Road, near State Road 37. The Plan Commission had previously voted to reject the project. The plan will now go before various council committees for approval of the building plans. (The Indianapolis Star)
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THIS DAY IN SHELBY COUNTY HISTORY
News around Shelbyville and the surrounding area as reported on or about this date in history. Selections are curated from the Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department.
20 YEARS AGO: 2001
Indianapolis Downs filed an official application for Shelby County with the Indiana Horse Racing Commission. The document called for a one-mile track, seating for 3,000, and a total investment of $27 million. The site, on 150 acres north of I-74 and Fairland Road, had been considered in 1993 before the commission approved an Anderson location for Hoosier Park. The commission in August 2000 had rejected a bid by Indianapolis Downs to build a $30 million track on the east side of Indianapolis, within 25 miles of Hoosier Park.
30 YEARS AGO: 1991
Three Shelbyville men earned trophies in the Indy 500 World of Wheels auto show at the Indianapolis Convention Center. Max Pollitt took first place in the home-built sports car class with a self-built Shelby Cobra Ford; Norman Murnan placed third with his replica of a 1962 Austin Healey 3000; and Eddie Peck placed third in the customized pickup truck divisions with an S-10 Chevrolet.
Coulston’s Barber Styling Shop moved to 623 S. Harrison St., across from Hardees.
40 YEARS AGO: 1981
A public open house was held at the new Major Hospital. Thirty-minute tours were provided.
Shelbyville Police Officer Michael Crim, 28, was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and placed in charge of the city department’s police community services division. Officer Charles E. West, 25, received his permanent police appointment after completing his one-year probationary period. Chief Robert Nolley said both men had been doing an outstanding job. In other City news, veteran street department employee Bill Brashear retired after over 40 years of service.
50 YEARS AGO: 1971
City Judge Lee McNeely, acting under provisions of a ruling by the State Supreme Court, sustained a motion to quash a charge against a local attorney for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants. The attorney in question had been ticketed on I-74 near State Road 244. The case had been filed with Justice of Peace Wallace Cassidy before being transferred to Judge McNeely’s court. McNeely said he would meet with members of the local police department to explain the ruling and to give guidance on documenting future infractions while staying in compliance with the State Supreme Court’s ruling.
60 YEARS AGO: 1961
Seven SHS senior girls were chosen to serve on the 1961 Spring Festival Court. The girls were Faye Cole, Trudy Haley, Janice Metz, Marty Mitchell, Lucinda Mullen, Marilyn Nay, and Sherry Smith.
A teenager accused of throwing beer cans from his car along a county road just west of Wilson Corner was sentenced to clean up the right-of-way of the county road for one-half mile.
70 YEARS AGO: 1951
All employees of Porter Carpet Sweeper Co. received eye exams. Those needing new glasses received them free from the company. Dr. D.M. Jones, local optometrist, provided the equipment and examinations.
A crew of state highway department employees worked on the “chuck-hole menace on Harrison St.,” The Shelbyville News reported. “Armed with flame-throwers which they were using to dry out the bottoms of the chuckholes, the crewmen were patching at a fast pace today,” the paper said. The action followed complaints of a vehicle damaged after hitting a hole.
80 YEARS AGO: 1941
W.F Loper, Shelbyville school superintendent for the previous seven years, signed a new five-year contract. Loper was named high school principal in 1927 and then superintendent in 1934, succeeding William Vogel. In other school news, the installation of fluorescent lighting was completed in the library. An architect also presented to the board about “the proposed new colored recreational center to be built on the Washington school grounds.”
Bill Chesser, 18 months, was the youngest page to ever serve on the Senate of the Indiana General Assembly floor. He walked down the aisle of the Senate chamber to deliver a message to the Senate president and received a certificate for his service. Bill’s father was Warren Chesser. His mother, Evelyn, was serving as general clerk of the Senate.
90 YEARS AGO: 1931
Several residents of West Franklin St. approached city council about unsanitary sewer conditions along the street. “The sewer is stopped up in places, it was stated, and the basement of a home in the 100 block is flooded as a result,” Harry Aumann told the council, according to the Republican. “Once privately owned, the sewer is now an ‘orphan’, as the owners are dead or have moved away, and no one is attending now to the upkeep or repair of the line,” the paper said. The matter was referred to a committee comprised of Horace Wagner, Eden Thurston, and Herbert Gunning.
Esther Carmony, Morristown High School student, won the Constitutional oratorical contest held at the community hall in Waldron. Edith Jones, representing Waldron High School, and Anne Walker, Shelbyville High School, took second and third places, respectively. (Carmony had won second place the prior year.)
100 YEARS AGO: 1921
Bowen Brothers & Fraker, a new Ford car and tractor dealership on East Washington St., held its grand opening. “New Wrinkle, Lemonade, and Cigars” were given away, flyers said.
The city school board discussed purchasing a property in the rear of No. 4 school building on Colescott St., owned by the Sarah Romerill estate, to relieve crowded conditions at the school. Parent-Teachers’ Club representatives suggested the house be converted into a building for kindergarten and primary classes. There were two No. 1 grades and two No. 2 grades in the over-crowded school. One of the No. 1 grades held half-day sessions so that kindergarten could meet half-days.
OBITUARIES
Niola S. Small, 83, of Greenwood, formerly of Shelbyville passed away Monday, February 15, 2021 at Greenwood Village South in Greenwood. She was born December 5, 1937, in Geneva, Shelby County, Indiana, the daughter of Walter Edward Sr. and Mattie (Imlay) Siefert. On December 23, 1960, she married Dean Edward Small, and he preceded her in death on October 3, 2003. Niola is survived by her daughter, Jennifer A. (Small) Nevitt of Plymouth Meeting, PA; son, Douglas E. Small and wife, Sunny, of Haymarket, Virginia; sister, Joetta Lyons of Lompoc, California; four grandsons; and several loved nieces and nephews. In addition to Dean, Niola was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Walter E. Siefert Jr.; and sister, Peggy L. Wilson.
Niola graduated in 1955 from Shelbyville High School, and continued her education at Indianapolis Methodist Hospital by becoming a Registered Nurse, in 1958. She was formerly member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Shelbyville. After moving to Greenwood, she became a member of Our Lady of Greenwood. Niola was a nurse for 50 years, with 40 years of her service at Tipton County Memorial Hospital. She was also a member of Kappa Delta Phi.
Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday, February 22, 2020, at Our Lady of Greenwood, 335 S. Meridian St. in Greenwood. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the church. Family and friends are invited to view the service via livestreaming on our facebook page www.facebook.com/freemanffh. Interment will be at Lewis Creek Baptist Cemetery in Shelby County. Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Memorial contributions may be made to Hamilton Heights High School, Attn: Bonnie Knapp, PO Box 379, Arcadia, Indiana 46030 in the memo line note Dean Small Scholarship Fund. Online condolences may be shared with Niola’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Terri Ellen (Pope) Sellers, 71, of Avon, IN passed away February 13, 2021. She was born in Shelbyville, IN February 21, 1949. Terri was the Daughter of Elizabeth Blanche (Harding) Pope and Frederick Pope Jr. and graduated from Shelbyville High School class of 1967. She then attended Indiana State University and retired from UPS after 25 years of service. She was preceded in death by parents and husband, Steven Sellers and brother, Tim Pope. Surviving are son, Joshua (Michelle) Brandman; grandson, Justin (Sage) Brandman; sisters, Tina (Mike) Miller and Trudy (Jeff) Frost; numerous nieces and nephews; and her little dog, Pepe. Terri was an avid reader and gardener. She enjoyed traveling with her two sisters. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Conkle Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at www.conklefuneralhome.com.