Friday, February 17, 2023
A COFFEE PERSON
A worker puts finishing touches on the exterior of Seven Brew, an incoming drive-through coffee shop on East State Road 44. | photo by JACK BOYCE
Meet Cristi Brant, Democrat Candidate for Shelbyville Common Council
SUBMITTED
Cristi Brant was born and raised in Shelbyville and is likely better known to most by her maiden name of “Downing” or as “Randy’s daughter,” “Shaun’s sister,” or maybe “Earl’s wife” for the A View From My Schwinn readers.
“Thank you to all the contributors to this paper. It is through local news that I have been able to study up on the excitement and happenings in town. I can’t wait to hear what my neighbors have to say.” – Cristi Brant
Cristi attended St. Joe for both elementary and middle school. She graduated from Shelbyville High School in 2004. She’s a Marian College (now Marian University) alumni (2008), where she earned a B.A. in Sociology with minors in Business Administration, Peace and Justice, and Spanish.
While a student at Marian, she researched the impact of socioeconomics on academic achievement, pitched an idea to Toyota executives, was a mentor for at-risk youth, and worked in a variety of hospitality roles including group sales for Hard Rock Café Indianapolis.
After Marian, she moved to Las Vegas and gained experience in retail management at the Marshall Retail Group, where she facilitated 11 casino retail store openings, in addition to supporting the operations of more than 100 existing stores on and around the Las Vegas Strip and McCarran Airport. Harley Davidson Las Vegas and Welcome to Las Vegas are two visible brands that the retail group represents.
Cristi has led sales and event planning initiatives for Dave & Busters, Buca di Beppo, and Latitude 360. She also was part of the 2012 Super Bowl Planning Committee and was known for her “Hoosier hospitality.”
Her sales career was built on relationships fostered by way of chamber participation. She served on the Indy and Noblesville Chamber Ambassador Boards and was an active member of OneZone, the combined Carmel and Fishers Chambers of Commerce.
Cristi coordinated programming focused on business development, marketing strategies, and leadership for National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Indianapolis.
She applied a business development technique to promote the Department of Child Services implementation of Salesforce to all levels of the agency.
She served on the Marian University Alumni Association Board where challenges like alumni participation, partnership, and school pride were confronted head on.
Cristi is currently the Salesforce Administrator at Knauf Insulation.
In 2019 Cristi married local attorney, Tyler “Earl” Brant, of DePrez, Johnson, Brant, & Eads, P.A.
They live on Howard Street (the Grinch house) with their two children, Althea (4) and Tyrus (1).
When elected, Cristi’s efforts will be to represent the collective interests of everyone in the 4th Ward and to facilitate innovation and progress in Shelbyville.
Follow Cristi on her journey to being elected to Common Council using #cristiforcouncil on Facebook and Instagram.
NOTEBOOK:
The Blue River Career Programs board yesterday accepted the retirement notice of Chef Jodi Traub. In other BRCP news, two new members were added to the board: Blake Newkirk, representing Southwestern Consolidated Schools, and Karen Humphreys, representing Northwestern Consolidated Schools. Newkirk moved through the ranks quickly. She was appointed vice president in her first meeting. David Finkel serves as board president and Andrew Hawk as secretary.
HOOSIER NEWS: Hoosiers will soon have another source for news after a coalition of organizations and philanthropists raised more than $10 million to create nonprofit media outlets across Indiana. The initiative is organized by the American Journalism Project, a nonprofit organization that funds newsrooms and journalism projects nationwide. A yet-to-be-named Central Indiana newsroom to start later this year will produce “non-partisan journalism on a daily basis that is free to access, centers community voices and lets residents help set newsgathering priorities,” according to a news release from the Indiana Local News Initiative. (IndyStar)
NATIONAL NEWS: The train that derailed in Ohio — 32N — had 150 cars, 141 loaded and nine empty, was almost two miles long, and weighed 18,000 tons. The route had a reputation for being unpleasant for crews, and was nicknamed “32 Nasty.” According to the train’s load profile, 40 percent of the train’s weight was in the back third of the length, and the back half of the train was the heavier half, which is counter to the longstanding best practices that front-loads the heaviest cars. Longer trains can be harder to control, and while the load profile might not have contributed to the derailment, it may have made it worse. (Motherboard)
SHELBY COUNTY PEOPLE & PLACES: MANY ANTIQUES IN HOME
Editor’s note: In the mid- to late 1940s, The Shelbyville Republican published a series of articles by Ave Lewis and Hortense Montgomery covering community people and places. Below is one of those features.
Roy Nail, 64-year-old builder of barns, has plied the age-old trade of carpentry to the fullest, deriving not only a satisfactory livelihood but extensive personal enjoyment through hobbies in his trade's finer aspects. In the Nail home at 212 North Pike Street are several "zebra wood" chests and a beautiful cherry sideboard, fine examples of cabinet making which Mr. Nail built in spare hours as gifts for Mrs. Nail and his three daughters.
Their quaint old home, which Mr. Nail remodeled himself, reflects in its antique furnishings his respect for craftsmanship in old furniture and fine woods. Baseboards and window frames in their dining room are of cherry - more of Mr. Nail's handiwork - and the room is furnished in cherry pieces.
In cherished abstract of title, the history of the present Nail homesite unfolds like a story. John Love homesteaded the tract in 1820 when James Monroe was president, the first legal recording being made on October 9 of that year. A warranty deed dated December 27, 1852, refers to the Lawrenceburg and Upper Mississippi Railroad, purchasers of a corner of the tract for a right of way. In 1873, according to a resolution noted in the abstract, the railroad's name was changed to the Indianapolis and Cincinnati Railroad. When Elias Johnson bought the property in 1879, the railroad is mentioned as the Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Lafayette. Apparently a house had been built, because the price of the tract jumped from $400 to $1,000 between legal recordings. Mr. Nail bought the place from the late Christian Steinhauser, and after his one-man remodeling job of the original house, moved his family from 917 Morris Avenue to their new home.
Mr. Nail was 18 when he started building barns with his father, J.E. Nail, who died in 1940 at the age of 81.
"Together, my father and I worked the trade for over 100 years," Mr. Nail stated proudly.
They worked jointly on more than 50 barns, not only in Indiana but as far afield as Texas, with a few houses thrown in to vary the routine. Mr. Nail has an air of quiet dignity about him, attributable, possibly, to all the years of being his own boss. He has never worked for another carpenter for more than a few weeks. His youth was spent in Washington township, and it wasn't until Roy Nail was 16 that the family moved to Shelbyville. He waited until he was 36 years old before he married a neighbor, Junie Ellen Conger, who lived just down the road from his home. The Nails have three girls: Geraldine, a freshman in the local high school whose name appears consistently on the A honor roll; Jacquelyn, aged 13; and June, 11.
More than 20 years ago, Mr. Nail became interested in antiques. "I got the habit of going to sales and picking up old furniture with the idea of rebuilding it," Mr. Nail explained. His love for old things extended itself to old china and glass, of which he has fine collections. He confesses, with a twinkle, that he collects everything, and he's not far wrong. In the Nail living room is a glass-doored cabinet, which contains collections of old firearms, Indian relics and aged documents. In his basement workshop, his extensive collection of tools includes pieces well over 100 years old - "and I still use them," he asserts.
This Week in Shelby County" works by George L. Stubbs Sr. are owned by the Shelby County Historical Society (Grover Center) and used with permission.
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: 2003
Dick and Becky Bishopp celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.
30 YEARS AGO: 1993
Jackie Meloy, 70, retired from her position as director of SCUFFY, a position she had held since 1976. “I don’t know how we are going to replace her,” Richard Kiefer, a long-time SCUFFY supporter, said. Jackie had married William Meloy in 1947. She had been active with Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and the PTA before joining SCUFFY.
40 YEARS AGO: 1983
Tippecanoe Press started offering Pac-man themed scrapbooks, albums, diaries and party goods.
50 YEARS AGO: 1973
Martha Robins, manager of the Credit Bureau of Shelbyville, received a letter of commendation from Credit Bureau Reports acknowledging an outstanding record compiled by her credit reporting department.
60 YEARS AGO: 1963
The liquor license at Jack’s Tavern, 52 E. Washington St., was suspended by the state for five days for failure to clear bar service and after-hours consumption.
70 YEARS AGO: 1953
Local newspapers reported on a passed state House bill forcing teenagers caught with liquor in automobiles to tell police who sold it or gave it to them.
80 YEARS AGO: 1943
Garnet Krebs’ home, 534 West Franklin Street, caught on fire, destroying most of the roof. There was also considerable water damage from the fire department putting it out.
90 YEARS AGO: 1933
A fire caused significant damage to Eric Caldwell’s confectionery in St. Paul. The building was owned by the Union Building and Loan Association.
100 YEARS AGO: 1923
Margaret Dodd Memorial Hall in Morristown was dedicated. The ceremony was attended by 600 people who inspected the brick building with stone trimmings. The building was completely paid off. Vocal solos were given by R. Handy, Mrs. O.O. Frazier and Hugh Phillipi. The building was named in honor of long-time Morristown resident Margaret Dodd, who had directed $10,000 in her will for the building, which cost a total of $17,000, the remaining paid through donations of local residents. Those in charge of the building were C.H. Stirling, Dr. V.C. Patton, John Devening, J.B. Carney, J.A. Zike, John Harper, Sylvester Myers, J.F. Brown, Paul Williams, Belle Linville, Mrs. C.A. Rigdon, Mrs. William Sutherland and Mrs. Will Cole.
INCIDENTS
Residential entry was reported in the 800 block of S. Miller Ave., Shelbyville.
Theft was reported in the 1100 block of Fairfield Drive, Shelbyville.
JAIL BOOK-INS: Rodney L. Blakely, 43, public intoxication, probation hold.
OBITUARIES
Brandy Danielle Wilson, 46, of Shelbyville, passed away February 15, 2023 at her residence. Service will be announced by Glenn E. George & Son Funeral Home.
Nina Morgan Crane, 32, of Shelbyville, passed away Saturday, February 11, 2023, in Shelbyville. She was born July 9, 1990, in Shelbyville, the daughter of Arthur Dean and Nancy Jane (Hook) Wainscott. Nina is survived by her son, Sirius Joseph Crane of Shelbyville; sisters, Melinda Baker and husband, Nick, of Shelbyville, Crystal Watson and husband, Jimmie, of Moscow, Natasha Wainscott of Columbus, Heather Pfleidner and husband, Cody, of Fountaintown, Tiffanie Spurlin and fiance’, Jacob, and Kirsten Miller, both of Fairland; brothers, Jamie Wainscott of Shelbyville, Chris Wainscott and wife, Jennifer, of Manilla, Cory Wainscott and wife, Tasha, of Hartsville and William Wainscott of Shelbyville; and numerous nieces and nephews. Nina was preceded in death by her parents.
She was employed at Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Care, as a veterinarian technician. Nina’s childhood dream was to be a veterinarian technician, she loved her job and changed the lives of her clients and their families. She made friends with everyone that walked in the door of the clinic. Nina enjoyed reading science-fiction books, drawing and crocheting. She loved her family. Nina especially loved being a mother to her son, Sirius, whom she affectionally called “her human”, some of their favorite times were spent going on day trips. Nina also enjoyed being with her friends.
Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Online condolences may be shared with Nina’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Delores J. Schwier (née Kleiman), 91, of Fountaintown, died peacefully at home encircled by her family on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, while her Savior Jesus Christ embraced her in his gracious arms. She married Byron Schwier on December 3, 1949, with whom she celebrated 56 joyful years. Lifelong members of Zion Lutheran Church, their first date was a Walther League New Year's Eve party where we speculate they may have been euchre partners. The Lord smiled on them and blessed them with five children, 15 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. A fun-filled, loving, and generous wife, mother, and grandmother, she defined the true meaning of being a homemaker. She was a farmer's daughter who followed her heart to become a farmer's wife, and ultimately the business manager of Byron Schwier Farms, Inc. Delores was a 1949 graduate of New Palestine High School.
She is survived by her children: Ronnie Schwier (wife, Marti), Christy Schwan (husband, Paul), Cindy Stickford, Roger Schwier, Randy Schwier (wife, Beth). Also fourteen grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, her sister, Margie Bohlander and sister-in-law, Carol Hardin and a multitude of friends and family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Byron; her grandson, Drew Schwier; her daughters-in-law Cathy (Ebbinghaus) and Sheryl (Goff).
Visitation will be at Zion Lutheran Church, 6513 W. 300. S., New Palestine, Indiana 46163 on Sunday, February 19, 2023 from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Her funeral celebration service will be held on Monday, February 20, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. Burial will immediately follow at Zion Lutheran Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to Zion Lutheran School, where all of her children and several grandchildren attended. Delores now sings beside Byron with the heavenly angel choir, “And I shall see Him face to face and tell the story - saved by grace.” Arrangements are being handled by Erlewein Mortuary & Crematory in Greenfield. Family and friends may share a memory or condolence at erleweinmortuary.com.