Friday, December 26, 2025
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS
CHRISTMAS NIGHT LIGHTS
Holiday lights illuminate multiple homes in Riley Village and (lower right) Culbertson Road on Christmas night. | photos by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
SHS Swimming and Diving Building Midseason Momentum
Shelbyville High School swimmers Shia Veach, Everett Stegemiller and Brody Jeanette prepare for a recent relay swim. | photo by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
As the Shelbyville High School swimming and diving season moves into its second half, Coach Coen Weiler says the focus is less about records and more about progress and positioning the program for postseason performances.
“We’re really happy with where we are right now,” Weiler said. “When you compare where our kids are swimming now to this point last season, we’re already seeing a lot of quality swims.”
That progress shows up most clearly in individual time drops. At the Mooresville Invitational next Tuesday, Dec. 30, Shelbyville will enter with 64 total swims, and nearly a third of those represent personal bests. Another large portion are faster than swimmers’ conference times from a year ago, an important benchmark as the team looks ahead to conference and sectional competition.
Despite limited numbers on the girls side, Shelbyville has remained competitive by maximizing flexibility across events.
Senior Riley Everette anchors the group and enters the heart of the season with high expectations in the 100 butterfly and relay events. Fellow seniors Paige Bohman and Naomi Garringer have also delivered consistent performances, while Anne Marie Fansler and Meeghen Bushfield continue to contribute valuable points across the lineup.
Sophomore Ana Felipe has emerged as one of the team’s biggest success stories. Now in just her second year swimming, Felipe has made dramatic gains, including a significant drop in the 100 butterfly, while taking on challenging events where the team needs scoring help.
Sophomore Chloe Claxton adds depth, contributing significant points in diving while working to return to the swimming lineup when healthy. Weiler said injuries and numbers can affect lineup flexibility, but the group has embraced the challenge.
“When you only have so many girls available, every swim matters,” he said. “They’ve handled that really well.”
On the boys side, the season has been about growth, especially with a young roster that includes just one senior.
Junior Brody Jeanette has set the pace with strong swims across multiple events, while Everett Stegemiller, Shia Veach and Anderson Mollenkopf have taken noticeable steps forward in sprints and relays. Mollenkopf, Weiler noted, has been particularly important in the team’s short-distance events.
Freshmen Luca Kinker, Michael Dunham, Tanner Jones and Colton Maloney have added valuable depth, with Kinker making an impact despite battling an ankle injury. The roster also includes juniors Silviu Negoita and Kendryk Pike, along with sophomores Andrew Turner and Liam Mollenkopf, all of whom have contributed as the lineup continues to evolve.
Senior Tully Hardwick-McKee provides leadership for a group that Weiler believes is ahead of schedule.
“The boys have exceeded our expectations,” he said. “They’re figuring it out, and that’s been fun to watch.”
Swimming is a volume-driven sport, and Weiler emphasized that the payoff is often visible.
“You really do get out what you put in,” he said. “Time drops don’t lie.”
Many Shelbyville swimmers train nearly year-round through the high school season and club programs, with planned breaks built in to avoid burnout. Practices continue through much of winter break, leading into key meets such as the invitational and conference championships, before the team begins its taper toward sectionals.
That structure, Weiler said, helps athletes peak at the right time.
In addition to the athletes, Weiler also credits a dedicated parent group for keeping meets running smoothly. Several parents began volunteering when their children were still in middle school and have continued to support the program year after year. After the Shelby Relays earlier this season, parents even stayed late to help decorate the pool for the holidays.
“They just step up and do whatever needs done,” Weiler said.
As the season progresses, Shelbyville’s goals are clear: continue lowering times and place swimmers in scoring positions at conference, sectionals, and potentially state.
Weiler said the next few weeks are often the most demanding, but also the most rewarding.
“These kids are ready to race,” he said. “They’ve put in the work, and now we get to see what they can do.”
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NOTEBOOK:
Editor’s Note: The Addison Times this month has so far raised $67,132 toward our $100,000 campaign. Thank you so much to each donor who has generously contributed. The following are among our recent donors: Bill & Cathy Collins, Michael Bowman, Aaron Haehl, Char Moeller, Jenna Martin, Laura Eiler, RushShelby Energy, David & Sarah Hunton, and Amy Haacker. (Many of these are on behalf of families.) Reaching our fundraising goal for 2026 will allow us to expand high-quality coverage countywide. Donors of $100 or more receive a commemorative January print edition and donors of $500 or more will be recognized in that edition. Contributions can be made online through our donation form or by mailing a check to The Addison Times, 54 W. Broadway, Ste. 13, Shelbyville, IN, 46176. Again, thank you so much for your loyal support of this endeavor. - Kristiaan Rawlings, Ph.D.
HOOSIER NEWS: Two Indiana coal plants slated to retire will remain online for at least 90 more days after the U.S. Department of Energy issued emergency orders citing grid reliability concerns. Utilities NIPSCO and CenterPoint Energy must keep units operating at plants in Wheatfield and Warrick County through at least March 23, 2026, despite plans to decommission them. (IndyStar)
NATIONAL NEWS: U.S. mortgage rates edged slightly lower this week, with the average 30-year fixed rate dipping to 6.18%, continuing a narrow range that has held for about two months, according to Freddie Mac. Fifteen-year mortgage rates rose modestly to 5.50%, while borrowing costs overall remain below last year’s levels but still a hurdle for many buyers. Economists expect 30-year rates to hover just above 6% next year. (IBJ)
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This Week in Shelby County Archive
by GEORGE L. STUBBS
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: MAJOR HEALTH PARTNERS
This Day in Shelby County History
Local headlines reported on or around this date in Shelby County history. Selections are curated by The Addison Times from Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department materials.
2005: Construction crews were back to work, picking up the rubble of what was once Fire Station No. 1 and clearing the way for a new headquarters for the Shelbyville Fire Department on West Broadway Street.
1995: County Commissioners approved the county’s first mandatory recycling ordinance. After Jan. 1, 1996, every resident would be required to separate recyclables from wastes before taking out the trash. Commissioner Bruce Knecht said he thought people would cooperate, “once (they) realize we are trying to do something that will be good in the long run.”
1985: A late 1970s model Monte Carlo struck 34 mailboxes in Rolling Ridge, Hildebrand and Country Club Heights neighborhoods in an overnight incident. Witnesses saw the car, which also took down street signs and newspaper boxes, and deputies were on the lookout.
1975: Model homes were open in the new Melody Homes neighborhood located at McKay and Smithland roads. Homes were listed at $31,300 ($182,000 in today’s money) with an 8.25% conventional loan.
1965: Inlow Clinic employees gathered at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Paul Inlow for an annual Christmas luncheon and to celebrate Dr. Herbert Inlow’s birthday.
1955: City officials announced Jan. 6 as the community-wide tree-burning event, organized by the Chamber of Commerce. Chamber officials said the goal was to provide an old-fashioned informal community gathering and to dispose of hundreds of dried-out evergreens. The location had yet to be determined, but The Shelbyville News noted that hundreds of trees stacked in a huge pile and ignited would “provide a mountainous bonfire from which should be the delight of all youngsters - and their parents, too.”
1945: Joe Erni Tolen, one of two infant sons born to Mr. and Mrs. George Tolen II, died. The surviving infant was named George R. Tolen III. The Tolen family lived at 419 West Mechanic St.
1935: Plans were finalized for the annual Loafers Club of Shelbyville to meet at the Odd Fellows building on West Broadway at noon on New Year’s Day. The event was described in newspapers as “an informal and annual assembly of the ‘boys’ who like to while away their idle hours in Everett Ricketts’ battery shop, opposite the I.O.O.F. building. Several years ago, somebody got the notion of dubbing the gang of story-swappers the Loafers’ club and of holding a ‘round-up’ of the gang and any others who want to attend, on New Year’s Day of each year.” Beans and coffee, served by Charles Comstock, were on the menu. The 1934 event had drawn 110 men.
1925: Several claims of sheep having been killed by dogs were filed by farmers with the Shelby County Auditor. The claims would be considered by County Commissioners. George Mohr, of Moral Township, reported dogs had killed 11 of his 17 sheep.
1915: Prosecutor Claude Henry and Mayor Henry Schoelch had agreed to release two men arrested for intoxication just before Christmas so that they could spend the holiday with their families.
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OBITUARIES
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