Friday, January 2, 2026
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PIZZA KING PARTY
Cagney’s Pizza King employees pause their annual New Year’s Day party for a photo. In front is Emoni Pettis; second row from left, Hollie Sumpter, Laura Sosa and Amber Prichard; third row, Jason Cotta, Teyshaun Vest, Susan Smith, owner Scott Furgeson, Shania Timberlake, Vicki Opfer, Craig Prichard and Donnie Murrell. Amy Starkey, Joey Dixon and Carl Adkins arrived after this photo was taken. | photo by JACK BOYCE
Election-Year Shift Could Add Year to Mayor’s Term, Cut Costs
As the Indiana General Assembly reconvenes for the 2026 legislative session next week, a bill filed by Rep. Jennifer Meltzer (R-Shelbyville) could have implications for municipal elections in Shelbyville.
Meltzer has introduced House Bill 1055, which would allow Indiana cities and towns to move municipal elections to even-numbered years by local ordinance. Current law limits that option to smaller communities.
Supporters of the proposal have pointed to turnout data showing higher participation in even-year elections. In Shelby County, voter turnout reached 62.2% during the 2024 presidential election, compared with about 19% in the 2023 municipal election.
If the bill passes and Shelbyville adopts the change, it would shift city elections into the presidential cycle (2028), a move that could also affect the current mayoral term, giving Mayor Scott Furgeson an extra year on his term and eliminating the need for a standalone municipal election in 2027. In response to a question from The Addison Times, Furgeson estimated the cost savings of avoiding a separate election at about $50,000.
Furgeson noted that turnout challenges have long been an issue in municipal races, particularly when contests are uncontested or limited to a small number of offices. “It’s hard to get people to come out and vote for three people,” he said, noting that low participation has persisted despite campaign efforts.
Furgeson said that, as of now, he plans to seek another term as mayor. “As of today, I would say yes,” he said.
House Bill 1055 would apply statewide, leaving the final decision to local governments if it becomes law.
NIGHT COURT
The last snow flurries of 2025 fall late Thursday on the Shelbyville High School tennis courts. | photo by JACK BOYCE
Local Fans Celebrate in L.A.
From left, Tim Bowles, Wade Lewis, Gary Abner, Mike Barrett, Norm Browning and Michael Stuerzenberger prepare to attend Rose Bowl festivities in Pasadena this week. The Indiana University Hoosiers won the game against Alabama, 38-3, last night and advance to play the University of Oregon next Friday at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta. The Addison Times also followed up on that friendly bet between Frank and Bettina Puckett, referenced in Wednesday’s edition. It sounds like Mrs. Puckett will be wearing an IU shirt to church on Sunday. | submitted
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NOTEBOOK:
The Shelbyville Plan Commission on Wednesday, Jan. 7, will consider a recommendation to annex and rezone 429 acres located east of the State Road 44 and Interstate 74 interchange. The property parcels, which would be annexed into city limits, are currently zoned either Agricultural or Single Family Residential, and the proposed zoning is General Industrial. In the application letter, attorney Eric Glasco noted the property is in close proximity to two major roads and that annexation would allow access to municipal utilities and public infrastructure, “strengthen Shelbyville’s industrial corridor by promoting contiguous economic development and generate new employment opportunities and expand the community’s tax base.” At least one letter of opposition has been filed from a neighboring property owner, which cites concerns regarding moving the property away from agricultural uses. The meeting will be held at Shelbyville High School’s Breck Auditorium, Jan. 7, at 7 p.m. The map below, from the petition documents, shows the property under consideration in diagonal stripes.
Editor’s Note: Thank you so much to each donor who has generously contributed to our campaign to expand countywide reporting. The following are among campaign donors: Dave Childres State Farm Insurance, Bonita & Glen Hardesty, Anita & Edwin Boyle, Forrest Theobald, Jane Kuhn, Marvin Toll and John and Martha Wetnight. 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: The Golf Club of Indiana in Whitestown is building an 18-hole, 31,500-square-foot putting course called The Ridge, expected to open in summer 2026 and billed as the first of its kind at an Indiana golf course. The $275,000, one-acre attraction will open first to members and nearby residents before a planned public opening in 2027, with projected fees of $10–$15 and future amenities including a refreshment building, outdoor seating and fire pits. (IBJ)
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This Week in Shelby County Archive
by GEORGE L. STUBBS
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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.
2006: The Shelbyville High School boys basketball team won the Shelby Shootout with a 52-35 championship win over Rushville. Dominique Reid had 11 points to lead the Bears to an 11-0 start. Jim Peck and Chad Batton each scored nine, and Ivan Toliver added seven.
1996: Jared Wise was the first Shelby County baby of 1996. His parents, Stephanie and Michael Wise, were surprised because Stephanie hadn’t been due until Jan. 11.
1986: A new state law required motorboats be titled with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The law only applied to those purchasing or transferring a boat in 1986 and afterward, Shelby County Treasurer Frank Zerr noted.
1976: East Franklin Street resident Pat Smith, 17, set an apparent world record by talking on his CB radio for 100 continuous hours. Smith, who answered to the Citizen Band radio name Moondog, got around federal regulations limiting transmissions to five minutes by switching channels. The century mark was reached by using several automobile units and base stations, with much of the time logged at his sister’s base setup in a trailer court near Shelbyville. Smith said he was reluctant to give out the exact addresses of his whereabouts because of a rash of recent CB thefts.
1966: Postal employees Maurice Cooper and Charles Close, both employees since 1940, were assigned driving routes. Cooper had been a clerk and Close a foreman of mail.
1956: Patricia White was the first Shelby County baby of 1956. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. Donald White, 504 Frank St. Dr. W.R. Tindall was the attending physician.
Anthony Champa, an attorney from Boggstown, was appointed chair of the 1956 polio fund drive. He selected George Glass and Dr. Louis Disser to assist.
1946: Mrs. Fred Courtney, wife of the county sheriff, reported she had served 3,929 meals over the past year, totaling 1,144 more than the number served in 1944. Mrs. Courtney also answered the phone when the sheriff and his deputy were away.
1936: Gov. Paul McNutt discharged Shelbyville’s Pleas Greenlee from his role as patronage director and secretary due to Greenlee’s candidacy for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. The governor, however, later used the word “retirement” to describe the situation.
1926: There had been 101 fires in Shelbyville in 1925, the fire department reported. Firemen had only used water to extinguish the flames 12 times. The rest were handled with chemicals. Sparks from chimneys caused 28 fires, defective chimneys caused 18, and short circuits in electrical wiring caused 17.
1916: Ed Bailey, described in The Republican as “a product of Kentucky who has been in Shelbyville for several weeks,” was once again arrested on a charge of drunkenness. Bailey called Phil Runk to testify that Bailey was not actually drunk. “But Runk said he was, and the case was over,” the paper said.
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OBITUARIES
None today.
House Bill 1055 has some disadvantages. As an election official, it is difficult enough to explain to county residents outside the city limits why they cannot vote in municipal elections. This would make it worse. Secondly, voters tend to know local officials and vote for the person rather than party. A much longer and confusing ballot would make straight ticket voting even more likely, encouraging one-party control across the entire state.