Friday, February 2, 2024
HAVING A BALL
Although the Shelbyville High School girls basketball team (15-8) lost in sectional action Tuesday, there were plenty of reasons to celebrate this season. The varsity team reached 15 wins for the second consecutive year, and although five seniors depart, the junior varsity team finished 21-1, offering hope for next season. Individually, Ava Wilson closed out her career fourth on the school’s scoring list and Ella Johnson set multiple rebounding records. | photo by ISABELLA MATNEY
Serve Shelby Finds Ways to Spotlight Local Organizations
Non-profit organizations are accustomed to asking for support, but sometimes, all that’s needed is a hand.
“Not only do non-profits need financial support, they need volunteer help as well,” Laura Land, community engagement officer at Blue River Community Foundation, said. “My goal is to streamline that process.”
Land heads up BRCF’s Serve Shelby initiative, which already provides a local non-profit directory and resources such as a local food pantry directory and food pantry calendar. A monthly newsletter connects readers to current projects and events, for example, the upcoming Hygiene Drive, during which local social service agencies are collecting hygiene and personal items.
Serve Shelby is now gearing up to celebrate local Random Acts of Kindness Week (ROAK), Feb. 11-17. Kind comments about favorite Shelby County nonprofits and charitable organizations can be submitted through a nomination form or Serve Shelby social media by Feb. 6. Each mentioned organization receives an entry in a drawing to receive a free box of treats during RAOK week from a local bakery.
It’s the second consecutive RAOK celebration. Last year, Land asked for testimonials about local non-profit organizations. She then took each nomination and created a social media graphic.
“I felt a need to personalize non-profits for the public,” she said.
The initiative caught on, and Land was busy creating graphics for two months. It’s shaping up to be another hectic RAOK week. Within hours of Wednesday’s launch, 10 nominations had already been received.
“It’s fun to do these things where non-profits don’t have to work for something; people can instead honor them for the work that they’re doing,” Land said.
NOTEBOOK:
Theft was reported in the 100 block of Van Ave., Shelbyville.
HOOSIER NEWS: A Republican lawmaker overhauled her own proposal to tackle student truancy at a committee hearing Wednesday, after a flurry of behind the scenes conversations. The original bill would have cracked down on school truancy by increasing family involvement with courts. The revised version focuses instead on early intervention when elementary school students miss lots of school. It also urges the legislative council to assign an interim study committee to tackle the issue, which could be the catalyst for other bills in the future. The revised version of Senate Bill 282 passed out of the Senate Education and Career Development Committee unanimously. It now heads to the full Senate for a vote.(Indiana Public Radio)
NATIONAL NEWS: The magnetic poles of the sun are about to reverse, an event that takes place once every 11 years. This tends to mean an increase in sunspots on the star in the lead-up, followed by massive solar flares and a whole lot of ejected radiation from the star. The coronal mass ejections that come out have become a bit of an issue. They take about three days to arrive at Earth, and while most of them are deflected by the Earth’s own magnetic field and can lead to auroras, particularly strong ones can disrupt satellites and GPS instruments in space. (Vox/Numlock)
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This Day in Shelby County History
2014: The latest city financial report showed that casino tax revenue had fallen since reaching a high in 2009, with annual drops each year through 2013. Shelbyville Clerk-Treasurer Frank Zerr reported the city’s share of racino monies dropped accordingly, but the city had over $5 milllion racino funds in reserve.
2004: A valve on a heater broke at City Hall, flooding the Common Council meeting room and Planning office with an estimated 500 gallons of water. The Clerk-Treasurer’s office also sustained damage.
Chris Muegge, grandson of Paul and Wanda Caldwell of Morristown, won top honors at the Indiana Junior Rodeo Association’s year-end banquet in Danville. The 15-year-old champion was named Senior Year All-Around Cowboy. He received a saddle as a prize.
1994: A representative of the Indiana Film Commission toured the Shelby County Courthouse for consideration for film projects. The courthouse was built in the 1930s by the Works Progress Administration. The Commission had recently been responsible for landing Bush Stadium in Indianapolis for a movie set in Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, Pa.
At least one business would not deed a portion of his land to the city in a plan to reclaim land under an abandoned rail spur. Brent Ross, owner of Ross’ Wrecker Service, 1313 State St., said he had no objections to the city removing the track and ties, but would not deed the land back. The city wanted the land so it could be used to build a fitness trail. Officials at Indiana Cash Drawer Co., 1315 S. Miller St., also objected to the city’s attempts to remove the track and ties until the rightful owner could be determined.
1984: Congressman Phil Sharp hosted a fundraising dance at the FOP Lodge on Knightstown Road, sponsored by the Democrat Central Committee.
1974: Local police arrested 10 men in a gaming raid at the Griffith Pool Room, 54 E. Washington St. Police had been surveilling the pool room since several residents reported “losing their paychecks” there, Police Chief Bob Williams said.
A&W Root Beer re-opened for the year, offering two new treats: sirloin sandwiches and creme soda. “Look for the bright orange building,” a newspaper ad read.
1964: The Young Democrats Club of Shelby County honored its past presidents at a meeting at St. Joseph’s School. Outgoing club president Tom Gallagher offered his congratulations to new president Tom Boyle. Other former presidents in attendance were Harold Meloy, John Carson, Harold Soshnick, Joe Wasson and Phil Brown.
1954: Edward R. Adams, who had started duties as a page in the U.S. House of Representatives, began writing a weekly dispatch for The Shelbyville News on the current session of congress. Adams, 14, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Adams of North Riley Highway.
Mayor P.H. Banawitz purchased the first ham sold by the local Knights of St. John and the St. John Auxiliary to open the “Buy a Ham to Save a Heart” fundraiser.
1944: Shelby County officially emerged out of the “critical labor shortage” area list, a federal designation. Most counties in the Indianapolis area were recovering from the war faster than rural counties.
1934: A Mr. Smith took over the S.B. Morris Beauty Salon at 405 Methodist Building and renamed it Permanent Waving Establishment.
The Crazy Water Crystal Cowboys, a popular WFBM radio group, performed live at the Morrison & DePrez store. They were on radio every night, except Sunday, at 6:45 p.m.
Local banks were told by the government to document the names of all gold holders.
1924: A group of 28 prisoners, 16 of whom reportedly had life sentences, passed through Shelbyville on the Big Four train en route to federal prison in Kansas. The prisoners were accompanied by U.S. soldiers.
Several downtown stores, even those that did not close for Christmas or the Fourth of July, closed for the Shelbyville-Muncie basketball game, which Shelbyville won. “‘Don’t come in here after seven o’clock tonight,’ was the sign in large letters, which one drugstore owner had on the window of his store,” The Republican said. “The sign was not needed, for no one was downtown during the period of the game. They were all in the gym.” Over 1,700 Muncie fans gathered in the street in front of The Muncie Star office to receive the play-by-play action.
1914: A 13-year-old Michigan girl was being held at the Shelby County Sheriff’s house while awaiting her mom to arrive to take her home. The girl was brought here from Fort Wayne by a musician who had appeared at a local theater. The girl, though, was left here by the musician, and she secured a job until officers found out about her. Police were also searching for the whereabouts of the musician.
OBITUARIES
Dorothy May Miller, 91, of Shelbyville, passed away Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at the Willows Health Care. Born March 13, 1932 in El Paso, Texas, she was the daughter of Gerald Hasler and Dorothy Ellen (Jumper) Hasler. She married Roscoe C. "Pete" Miller in 1959, and he preceded her in 2006. Survivors include her sister, Geraldine Wells of Shelbyville; two nieces, Barbara Persinger (husband Rick) of Boggstown, and Stephanie Duerstock (husband Jim) of Shelbyville; and a nephew, Jeffrey Wells (wife Lisa) of Fishers. She was preceded in death by her parents, her spouse, an infant son John David Miller, a sister Virginia Williams, and two brothers-in-law, Richard "Buzz" Wells and Sherman Williams.
Mrs. Miller had lived in this area for 25 years after moving from Florida. She graduated from Fairland High School in 1950, and attended First Christian Church. She had worked as an accountant/bookkeeper for several years and was a volunteer driver for Shelby Senior Services for several years. She also played the piano at Benesse Cancer Center for 16 years.
May and Pete had lived all around the country, and made lots of friends wherever they lived. She never met a stranger.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. on Friday, February 2, 2024 at Glenn E. George & Son Funeral Home , 437 Amos Road, with Pastor Beth Crouch officiating. Burial will be in Indiana Veteran's Memorial Cemetery in Madison. Friends may call on Friday morning from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the service, at the funeral home. Memorial contributions can be made to the First Christian Church, in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgenadson.com.
Johnathon May, 23, of Flat Rock, passed away Monday January 29, 2024. He was born August 1, 2000 in Indianapolis, IN to Vicki L. (Ray) McQueary and John C. May Jr. and they survive.
Johnathon graduated from Southwestern High School with the Class of 2019.
His family was very special to him and they were all very close with each other. He had a tight bond with his nephew Danny Lee and they enjoyed many walks together. Johnathon had a love for the outdoors and enjoyed the times he was able to be on the water fishing. He also had a love for animals, especially his pitbull, Duke. In his down time, he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, as well as watching football.
Johnathon is also survived by his mother and father; Brent McQueary; his sisters, Katlyn May, Ashley May, Taylor Ann May and Samantha McQueary; his nephews, Danny Lee May, Jaxon Kyle and also expecting a niece or nephew in August; his maternal grandmother, Carol Ray; his grandmother, Barb McQueary; his grandfather, William Goode; his uncle Daniel Ray; his aunt, Carrie Ray; his great-uncle, David Ray; his cousins, Aby White and Braxton Ray; his fiancé, Lexi Eversole and his beloved dog, Duke. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Danny Ray.
Visitation will be Sunday, February 4, 2024 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Murphy-Parks Funeral Service, 703 S. Harrison Street, Shelbyville, IN 46176. Funeral services will follow at the funeral home at 2 p.m. Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks, Stuart Parks, and Darin Schutt are honored to serve Johnathon’s family. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.