Friday, August 2, 2024
A WARM WELCOME
Mrs. Marijo Snow chats with students at last night’s Shelbyville Middle School 6th grade orientation as they prepare to sign a Class of 2031 banner. | photo by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
State Chili Cook-off to be Hosted Tomorrow in Shelbyville
World-class chili chefs will be competing in Shelbyville tomorrow at the Indiana State Chili Cook-off for a chance to advance to the 2025 World Chili Cook-off. Among them will be locals Trent and Chrissy Atwood, who already qualified for the 2024 World event and must now compete in the new chili season.
The Indiana State Chili Championship, hosted at the Knights of Columbus, 413 E. South St., Saturday, 12 - 3 p.m., is open for public tasting. The $5 admission fee goes directly to the local Knights of Columbus. Over 30 chefs from 10-plus states will compete in four categories: Red (traditional, meat and sauce): Homestyle (must include beans, given that Bush’s Best is a major sponsor); Vegetarian (can, but does not have to, included plant- or soybean-based ingredients); and Verde (any meat or combination of meats cooked with green chili peppers).
“This isn’t crockpot chili,” Chrissy Atwood said, encouraging people to stop by. “Everybody has camping stoves, many with paintings and stickers on them, and the cooks really enjoy talking to the public.”
Trent Atwood was first of the pair to compete. When an extra cook was needed at an event, Chrissy joined the fun, and now both bring a toolbox of spices to each event, since everything must be cooked on-site.
“We compete, but we have totally separate recipes,” Chrissy Atwood said.
A win tomorrow for either or both of them guarantees a coveted repeat Worlds invitation. The Addison Times will follow-up on this story.
NOTEBOOK:
The following building permits were pulled in Shelbyville in July: bathroom remodel at First United Methodist Church; new bin enclosure and lean-to at 841 Elston Dr.; new homes on Oak Leaf Way, Bluebonnett Place, Breckinridge Way and Black Oak Drive; remodel tenant space for Nice Nails & Spa Salon at 2537 E. State Road 44; new pool at 2415 Overlook Dr.; new deck at 2319 Berwick Dr.; build a roof over patio at 418 Sunset Dr. and roof over existing patio at 1575 Edgehill Road.
A woman struck a concrete barrier near 1 Public Square, damaging her driver’s side front panel. The woman said she thought she could turn around “in the circle like it was in the past,” the police report said.
Blue River Community Foundation has Pride in Place, which involves public art installation. “Through our previous efforts, BRCF and our local partners realized that creative placemaking can provide positive economic changes within a community as well as positive physical changes,” a BRCF media release said. The initiative looks to continue to build community pride and enhance the quality of life for residents; ensure that visitors feel welcome and want to return, and further the mission of attracting new residents. To aid us in this pursuit, BRCF is asking residents to complete a survey (linked here) so that future installations best reflect the community.
HOOSIER NEWS: Indiana’s universities are raising the alarm of the state’s overhaul of high school diplomas, with some warning the current plan tips students toward the workforce instead of emphasizing academic rigor and preparing them for higher education or other post-graduate options. The state’s proposed plan would stop offering most existing diplomas — the Core 40, honors and technical — with the Class of 2028. The proposal creates two new diplomas with options for students to receive seals on their transcripts that emphasize their readiness for military enlistment, employment or college enrollment. So far other universities in the state have joined Purdue and Southern Indiana and gave feedback, including: Indiana University, Indiana State University, Ball State University and Vincennes University, many of which expressed concerns about the lack of rigor of the proposed diploma paths. (Indiana Public Media)
NATIONAL NEWS: Amtrak is on pace for an annual ridership record, with the national passenger railroad seeing 24.1 million riders since the start of its fiscal year in October, up 18 percent compared to the same period a year prior. The Northeast Corridor is responsible for a lot of that — 9.18 million, to be specific — but its regional routes are really seeing success as travelers hop trains rather than drive. The number of riders on the Cascades route in the Pacific Northwest hit 550,000, up 48 percent, and the Pacific Surfliner route in Southern California hit 1.22 million riders, up 34 percent. (Wall Street Journal/Numlock)
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580 West Taylor St.
Editor’s Note: The following is the second in a serialized version of “580 West Taylor Street,” by Joseph E. “Joed” Landwerlen. This chapter is entitled, “My Grandparents.”
by JOSEPH E. LANDWERLEN
My maternal grandparents were Edward and Lettie Bassett. My earliest memory of them would be of Grandpa Ed making and drinking his coffee. His ritual went something like this: he would put two large tablespoons of ground Maxwell House coffee into his tall metal pot. He would fill it with water, then put it on the stove to boil for several minutes. When he had deemed it boiled enough, he would pour his cup full of this vile, seething mixture. He then set his cup in a deep saucer. Tipping the cup ever so carefully, he allowed a bit of coffee to spill down the side of his cup, into the saucer. Allowing it to cool, he would hold the saucer with thumb and two fingers and slowly sip the cooled coffee from the saucer. He continued this till all the coffee was gone from his cup, then he would repeat the process and pour more coffee to enjoy.
Grandpa Ed was a master wood finisher, working for Admiral and Spiegel Furniture. The factories were located on State Road 44, just a short walk from 707 Colescott, where he and my grandmother lived out their lives. I recall what we called his chair. It sat in front of a tiny black and white TV.
No one, other than himself, had better sit in that seat. After he retired, he sat in his chair, smoking Camel cigarettes, and watching his programs.
My Grandmother Lettie, by necessity, was always on the go. She was the mother of 11 children, nine girls and two boys. The youngest, Aunt Mary, arrived just two months before I was born. With all the kids and grandchildren arriving, Grandma Lettie was constantly cooking and taking care of all the things that mothers and grandmothers just naturally knew how and had to take care of.
Somehow, in between having 11 children, she had a business of cleaning and hanging wallpapers for others. By the time I was born, Grandma Lettie had turned the wallpaper business over to my mom and dad. She was ready to be amongst all her babies. The Calvary Baptist Church, located directly across Colescott Street, was a huge part of her life. As her children and grandchildren were born, every name was added to the Church's Cradle Role. Every Sunday, she made sure that we all attended. I attended regularly until I reached 18 years of age. Both Grandpa Ed and Grandma Lettie Bassett had soft laps and a ready ear to hear our cries.
My paternal grandparents were Ephriam J. and Alta Mae Wiley. My biological grandfather, Otto Landwerlen, died at age 26 from tuberculosis, when my father, Joseph Landwerlen, was six months old.
After his death, Grandma Wiley, a widow with two small children, lived on Locust Street and worked at the Kennedy Car Liner. She would also take in other people’s laundry. Working all day, then washing and ironing people's clothes, she managed the household expenses. Sometime before 1924, she became acquainted with Ephraim J. Wiley, a WWI wounded soldier that had returned home and found employment at the Kennedy Car Liner (KCL). The two fell in love and married. As I stated previously, they had three girls, Carol, Phyllis, and Shirley. By the time I began to be aware of them, it was the 1940s and my grandparents were both approaching middle age. Grandpa Wiley taught George, Jim and I to play Gin Rummy and Canasta. He was semi-retired due to injuries suffered in the war and always available for a game of cards.
Grampa Wiley had a small garden located over in the Commons, which was located on KCL property. Amongst other things, he grew horseradish. George and I both knew to hide when the harvest time would come. You see, horseradish must be ground to be used. In the basement, on his workbench, was mounted a small hand grinder. The three of us would descend the stairs into the basement, and we would take turns feeding the roots of the horseradish into the grinder, while turning the handle till tears were flowing, the eyes burning, and we could take it no longer. It would then be the next person's time to go, until he wasn't able to go any more. George and I were always glad to see the last horseradish root disappear down that grinder. That is one of the "strongest" memories that I have of Grampa Wiley.
Grandma Wiley was a slightly built woman, but you would never know it. She was always on the go, cooking, cleaning, and raising her girls and several grandchildren. Thanksgiving and Christmas, we all gathered at Grandma Wiley's. There she would lay out a large, extravagant meal with pitchins from the married folk. There was always plenty to eat for everyone. She could make the most scrumptious pies, of any variety. Her rhubarb pie was made from her very own rhubarb that she grew in her yard, along the fence. I wish I had a piece today.
The Wileys had two porch swings on the front porch. One swing faced Montgomery and one faced the other swing. In the evening, it was just grand that all of us would end up on that porch. In the cool night air, we would sit on the porch, listen to stories and maybe some lies. Our house was only three houses from the Wiley home. We could walk down the alley and be at their back gate, knowing we would be welcomed with open arms and probably a big glass of iced tea.
My siblings and I were very fortunate in life, to have two full sets of grandparents. Grandparents that loved us, that we could look up to and learn from. I personally look back and cherish my time that I had with all of them.
SHS Courier Archive Highlights:
November 1993
The Academic Team was practicing in preparation for the Academic Superbowl in the spring. Team members included Roger Owens, Erik Miller, Chip Bennett, Chris Sparks, Dan King, Matt Wilson, Tony Scarzo, Daniel Moore, Stephanie Craig, Melanie Davidson, Sommer Ogle, Sara Peters, Jennifer Lisher and Wendy Gahimer.
The girls golf team had finished 8-3 and in 13th place in the State Finals. The team was losing graduating seniors Julie Meyerholtz, Kim Gardener and Deirdre Wildman. The boys tennis team finished 11-6 on the year. Kyle Linville went to regionals individually. He and Travis Sosbe would be graduating, as were Andy Michel, Spencer Davis, Eric Haehl and Kevin Lenser. Both the boys and girls cross country teams advanced to regionals. Top finishers for both teams were Matt Holbrook, Jason Brandt, Jennifer Kuhn and Jeri Meyerholtz.
World Championship Wrestling (WCW) had held an event at Garrett Gymnasium. Lord Steven Regal wrestled Davey Boy Smith (the British Bulldog). Flyin’ Brian Pillman was also on hand.
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.
2014: Mayor Tom DeBaun proclaimed Aug. 16 “Shelbyville High School Class of 1964 Day” in recognition of the class’s upcoming reunion. Shelby Circuit Court Judge Charles O’Connor accepted the proclamation on behalf of the class. “We have in excess of 120 classmates and their guests coming that weekend, and I can promise you, we are all too old to get into any serious trouble,” O’Connor said.
2004: Twenty-nine Boy Scouts and 16 Girl Scouts participated in the Morrisotnw Lions Club Derby Days main event. Cameron Crenshaw, 10, became only the second boy in Derby history to win three Derby Days titles. First-year racer McKenzie Short won the girls’ races.
1994: Donna Cox, of Shelbyville, was named Community Hospital East Nurse of the Year.Cox, a nurse for 26 years, had been caring for people with infectious diseases for six years.
A street light pole at Colescott and Harrison streets fell on a truck as its rusted base gave way.
1984: Andrea Terrell and Timmy Bratton performed in concert at Breck Auditorium as part of a fundraiser for the Second Baptist Church Scholarship Fund. Tickets could be obtained from Earleen Smith, Richard Byrd or Charles Reynolds.
1974: The Shelbyville law firm of Brunner, Brown & Brunner announced that Mark W. McNeely had become an associate of the company.
County fair officials said the fairgrounds would be fogged every morning during the fair to reduce the population of mosquitos and flies.
1964: The Cards won the league championship of the Rookie League at Morrison Park. Team members were Terry Pettit, Philip Carew, Carl Spaulding, Brad Dickmann, Randy Worland, Gary Runnebohm, Larry Runnebohm, Allen White, Gary Adams, Brent Ross and Chuck Chappelow. Mike Ross and Jerry Hickman were managers.
The skating rink at Kennedy Park was under new management. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Treon, 548 W. Mechanic St., and Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Adcock, 142 Walker St., had leased the rink from Ed Taylor, who operated it for many years. The rink, renamed the Shelby Skateland, would be open 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday nights for skating and for dancing on Saturdays, 8:40 p.m. to 12:15 a.m.
1954: The new J.E. Evans Concrete Products plant, located just off State Road 9 about a mile north of Shelbyville, shipped its first load of concrete pipes. The 12-inch pipes would be used on a sewer project in Indianapolis.
Les Spencer won the Morristown Derby Days coaster race in a heavy downpour. Malcolm Beckner finished second.
1944: Showing a green wool suit, Elizabeth Isley was named champion of the senior girls’ dress revue at the annual county 4-H Club dress revue, held in the basement at First Methodist Church. Vera Brooks was named reserve champion. Emily Sue Hey was named winner of the demonstration contest with her entry of the best prepared school lunch.
The upset of the evening at the Kennedy Park softball diamond was Eads’ Texaco team defeating Walkerville Garage, the defending champions, 7-5. Jim Long was the winning pitcher.
1934: After being struck by lightning, the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Lewis Creek burned to the ground. A downpour of rain that accompanied the storm was instrumental in preventing spread of the fire to other buildings. The church building, built about 45 years prior, was of frame construction and seated 400.
1924: Directors of the Chautauqua association received word that the large tent, 80’x120’, had been shipped from Illinois. The “rainproof” tent would be installed on Sunday. The event’s headline speaker was from lecturer Richard Hughes, who would speak on “The Quest of Happiness.”
1914: Ben Dake, of Moral Township, had a “very narrow escape from death” when the car he was driving was struck and hurled 50 feet along the car tracks by the interurban. Dake’s car had become stuck on the tracks and so he jumped from the machine just before impact.
OBITUARIES
None today.