Friday, February 21, 2025
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Fire on West McKay Road
All occupants made it safely out of 1311 West McKay Road in an early morning fire yesterday. Shelbyville Fire Department crews extinguished the fire. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. | photo by JACK BOYCE
SCS Board Discusses Budget, Pending Legislation
Shelbyville High School sophomore Jessica Price is recognized at Wednesday’s Shelbyville Central Schools board meeting for being the first SHS girl wrestler to make state finals since the sport became officially recognized by the IHSAA. SCS board president Michael Turner reads a list of Price’s athletic and academic accomplishments while Michelle Babcock, business manager, and Dr. James Rees, school board member, look on. “She did fall short in the first round but she cemented her name in the history books…,” Turner said. “This season, her hard work, dedication and perseverance, not only on the mat but also in the classroom, has propelled her not only to be a state qualifier, but she is also (ranked) number one in her class, and carries a 4.498 GPA.”
The following highlights are from the Shelbyville Central Schools’ board meeting on Wednesday:
The intersection at South Miller Street and West McKay Road will be closed May 28, after this school year, for the construction of a roundabout over the summer. The road is scheduled to reopen Aug. 2, in time for next school year. Pre-construction work will be on-going until the road closure.
Superintendent Matt Vance, Ph.D., and business manager Michelle Babcock shared concerns about the corporation’s future budgets. SCS has 3,575 students as of this month’s count, down from 3,917 in 2016-17. Add to that concerns regarding local, state and federal funding. “No matter what with our enrollment, we’re getting in a situation where steps have to be taken to be financially solvent,” Dr. Vance said. Although the latest talk at the statehouse is a possible overall 2 percent increase for education, this number now includes textbooks costs. A possible reduction in property taxes would affect local funding, and a possible reduction in federal funding would affect special education and Title 1 programs. There’s also continual increases in utility costs. Dr. Vance called the overall situation “very concerning.”
Scott Spahr, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Shelby County, spoke to the board about his organization, which receives 250 SCS kids on 11 buses after school each day. He detailed programming at the club, which includes, among other offerings, hot meals, arts and crafts, a workforce development room, a teen center and a virtual exercise room with stationary bikes connected to Xboxes. “You pedal to play. You stop pedaling, the game goes off,” Spahr said. The club is a certified ILEARN tutoring provider and offers four fully-chartered centers in the county, which also include Morristown, Waldron and a new center at Southwestern schools. Spahr said he expected some 30 kids to sign up there. “We have 119 members (at Southwestern). That just shows there’s a need.” The Shelbyville club, which has 741 total members, of which 45 percent are girls, offers a before-school program that is open even when school is on a two-hour delay. Although the club receives funding for meals in Shelbyville due to the district’s Free and Reduced Lunch population, the organization raises $60,000 each year to offer hot meals at all the centers. “Bottom line,” SCS Superintendent Dr. Matt Vance said, “the club is very important to Shelbyville Central Schools.”
The board approved opening up two classrooms for summer childcare for current Golden Bear Preschool families, as well as expanding the Employee Childcare classroom for one- and two-year-olds during the academic year. These initiatives are financially self-sustaining.
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NOTEBOOK:
Shelby Senior Services announced Liz Renton as the organization’s new Executive Director. Renton has been with the organization for the past eight years in multiple roles. “Liz has been a dedicated member of our team, consistently demonstrating a passion for our mission and the people we serve. Her experience and vision make her the perfect choice to lead us into the future,” Nick O’Connor, president of the Shelby Senior Services board of directors, said.
HOOSIER NEWS: A bipartisan pair of Indianapolis senators advocated for a downtown Indianapolis casino on the Senate floor Tuesday, despite years of pushback to the idea from some industry giants. Senate Bill 43, which the Senate passed by a 33-16 vote on Tuesday, simply requires the Indiana Gaming Commission to study where the top three regions in the state would be to place a casino, but some lawmakers’ public support of an Indianapolis-based facility could signal an Indy location is possible in the distant future. Lawmakers have to approve the relocation of gaming licenses and new casinos. Sen. Aaron Freeman, a Republican, told IndyStar it’s clear that downtown Indianapolis would be the best location for a casino that would boost the state’s gaming revenue. The potential dollars from a casino could solve budgetary issues in Marion County and should go toward Indianapolis roads, he said. Sen. Andy Zay, R-Huntington, said, “You’re going to have a lot of resistance with the other casino players and how we can balance all that.” He added, “How Sen. Freeman, potentially Sen. Taylor (a Democrat), can negotiate through that could be a tremendous challenge. But what would it add to downtown Indianapolis? Could be exciting.” Currently there are 13 casinos scattered across the state, with the closest casinos to Indianapolis located in Anderson and Shelbyville. Senate Bill 43 now goes to the House for consideration. If the bill passes, the study would have to be presented to lawmakers by October. (IndyStar)
NATIONAL NEWS: Tootsie Roll Industries saw sales drop 6.3 percent last year to $715.5 million, attributing it to higher prices for candies. Cocoa and chocolate costs have increased, which have caused margin issues for the company. (Believe it or not, Tootsie Rolls apparently contain flavors and substances originating from plants, including bonafide cocoa.) The pinch has the company looking to invest in its non-chocolate related businesses, which is one reason its subsidiary Charms is investing $97.7 million to build an expansion to the factory where Blow Pops are manufactured. (Food Drive/Numlock)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights
Feb. 14, 2003
Students shared their first date stories. One student talked about going to the high school auditorium in 2001 for a LaRue (Christian band) concert. They met up at Dairy Queen beforehand and were joined by siblings. Another student talked about going to the movies for a first date. Neither had looked at the times or movies in advance, so after getting to the theater and seeing nothing of interest, they decided to just sit in the car and talk. They later decided on a movie, but realized it would end after their curfews, so they ended the date. As of publication time, they had been dating nine months.
“15 Minutes of Fame” highlights: Lindsay Conner’s favorite song was “Work It” and favorite cartoon character was Beavis. Rebekah Risley’s favorite Valentine’s Day memory was getting an anonymous Valentine in middle school. Cameron Drake’s favorite food was “Duh…pizza.” His favorite cartoon character was Pikachu. Allen Meyer’s favorite band was Good Charlotte.
A “Senior Shine” article highlighted Tyler Brant and Kelly Brown. Tyler, whose birthday is Feb. 22, was involved in Spanish Club. He hadn’t landed on a career yet, but he wanted it to involve Spanish. Brown’s favorite teacher was Kris Schwickrath. She said her goal was to avoid senioritis.
SHS’s “Most Wanted” (most eligible bachelors and bachelorettes) were Ted Harper, Gwen Haehl, Tyler Orem, Elizabeth Tinsley, Michelle Blackburn, Andrew Newkirk, Meghan Williams and Jim Peck. One of the “cutest couples” in the school was Brett Claxton and Angela Metz, who had been a couple for three years.
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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 by The Addison Times from Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department materials.
2005: WTHR’s Chuck Lofton, who had assumed the unofficial mantle of Indiana’s best-loved weathercaster after Bob Gregory had retired from the same station, would be the featured speaker at the upcoming Shelby County Soil and Water Conservation District dinner, hosted at Shelbyville Middle School.
1995: A Dance for Heart fundraiser netted $4,900 to benefit the American Heart Association. The dance was sponsored by Major Hospital and the law offices of McNeely, Sanders, Stephenson & Thopy.
A Shelby County International Council reception was scheduled at the Holiday Inn. An official from Chicago representing Japan would attend. Becky Bishopp had organized the council, and 15 local people were involved.
1985: Pat Owens, park superintendent, and the parks board discussed installing submersible lights in Porter Pool. Owens also said he was investigating the possibility of installing water lines into Clearwick Park. He was hoping to have a water fountain installed and water access for planting trees and flowers.
The Shelbyville Golden Bears basketball team defeated Franklin Central, hitting 24-of-27 from the free throw line.
1975: Martha Hartke, wife of Democratic senator Vance Hartke, met with locals for breakfast at the Chicken & Steak Inn. Those in attendance included Democrat officials Jerry Lux, Harriet Strotman and Vivian Gregory.
1965: A newspaper photo showed a “supper club” of high school students at Frisch’s. Participants included Terry Poe, Libby Meal, Carol McDowell, Janet Theobald, Myra Overman and Ann Payne.
1955: Lowell Ash, 54, former local GOP Chairman and Ash Petroleum Co. head, died of a heart ailment. Ash had owned businesses on John St. and was owner of the Ash grain elevator (current site of Blue Agave/Colour Pallete) that burned in 1952.
1945: Addison Township School won the junior high basketball tourney in the Hope gymnasium. The players were Warren Browning, Raymond Ewick, Robert West, Carl Conway, Charles Kaster, Norman Corley, Lee Ayers, Norman Cockerham, Billy Jack Phares, Jack Hauk, Maurice Hasecuster and Robert Marshall. Addison beat St. Paul, Hope and East Columbus to claim the title.
Private First Class Marcus Eugene Perry, 403 Walker St., was killed in action in Belgium, bringing the list of World War II casualties from Shelby County to 53.
1935: The fire department responded to three roof fires, all caused by sparks from chimneys. The fires occurred on Indiana Ave., West South St. and Grissom Lane.
1925: Only 99 dog tags had been issued by the city. The Republican suspected there were many more domesticated dogs in town. Police had killed 259 dogs in 1923 and 159 in 1924.
1915: The entire Elks police force of 16 officers and Chief Haehl responded to a call regarding chickens said to be running wild on Mildred St. “The woman at the Mildred Street site, after recovering from the shock of seeing more policemen unload at her door than she thought existed in the wide, wide world, notified Chief Haehl that she was greatly bothered by the chickens of her neighbors running over her yard and scratching up her flower beds,” The Republican reported.
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OBITUARIES
None today.
Just what we need. A casino on the Senate floor. 🤣 "A bipartisan pair of Indianapolis senators advocated for a downtown Indianapolis casino on the Senate floor Tuesday, despite years of pushback to the idea from some industry giants."