Friday, January 9, 2026
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS
Shelby County citizens line up Wednesday to enter Shelbyville High School, where the Plan Commission meeting regarding a rezone request was heard. Below, Plan Commission members Gary Nolley and Winnie Soviar participate in the early going of the nearly five-hour meeting, which concluded with the commission giving an unfavorable recommendation. Look for additional coverage in an upcoming edition. | photos by JACK BOYCE
BOX OUT
Shelbyville High School senior Alivia Lee prepares to grab the rebound following a Southport free throw on Wednesday night. | photo by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: FULL CANOPY REAL ESTATE
NOTEBOOK:
MHP Major Hospital has been named one of only seven hospitals in Indiana to earn a 5-star rating in Forbes’ 2026 “Best Hospitals in America” list. The ranking, developed in partnership with healthcare data firm Inovalon, evaluates hospitals using data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Facilities are scored across four main areas: patient outcomes, hospital best practices, value of care and patient experience. While many hospitals across the state performed well, MHP Major Hospital stood out as part of an elite group that met high national standards across all categories.
With 2025 in the books, city data shows it was a banner year for building permits. There were 250 total building permits issued in Shelbyville last year, the highest number in at least the past eight years, and 171 of those were for single-family dwellings. In 2024, there only 103 single-family building permits issued in addition to 138 apartment units. There were no apartment unit permits in 2025. Over the past eight years, there have been 24 condo unit permits issued, the report notes, with 16 in 2021 and none last year.
Shelby County Recycling District board member David Lawson said he has noticed fewer tires in county ditches over the past couple of years. That could be attributed to the 3,254 tires SCRD collected at the 2025 county cleanup, board members noted at last night’s meeting. Lisa Carpenter, SCRD executive director, also noted that Shelbyville Auto Parts now accepts the used motor oil turned in at the facility at no cost. SCRD also began accepting printer toner and cartridges and butane lighters in 2025 and collected 226 flags for proper disposal, nearly 100,000 pounds of electronics, 8,482 pounds of Styrofoam and nearly 30,000 pounds of food waste. Educator Ann Warble Haehl delivered 460 classroom programs. In other business, the SCRD board reappointed Nora VanNatta as fiscal officer.
The Fairland Fire Protection Territory was fully staffed for the first time on Nov. 19, the Fairland Town Board noted this week. The territory has paid 12 different people to work shifts, with nine of the personnel already serving as volunteers and three hired in. The territory was fully staffed six days in December and the search and interview process is ongoing. In other business, the Fairland Town Board this week reappointed its officers: Jeremy Creech, president; Kyle Ratliff, vice president; and Rick Daley, secretary.
Shelbyville High School will host two upcoming Green Out basketball games to support mental health awareness through the Bring Change to Mind initiative. The boys Green Out game will take place Saturday, January 24, at 7:30 p.m., and the girls Green Out game is scheduled for Tuesday, January 27, at 7:30 p.m. Green Out games are designed to promote mental health awareness while bringing teams, students and the community together. Green shirts and bracelets will be available for purchase at both games as a way to show support and spread awareness. Fans are encouraged to wear green and help make a statement in support of mental health.
Judge Kent Apsley officially launched his reelection campaign for Judge of Shelby Superior Court 1 this week, filing his formal campaign organizational documents with the Shelby County Clerk’s Office. Apsley was first elected as judge in 2014 and was reelected in 2020. Prior to becoming a judge, Apsley served as Shelby County’s elected Prosecuting Attorney for 16 years. “It has been my greatest honor to serve the people of Shelby County as a judge,” he said in a statement. “I enjoy my work immensely. For each person who comes into my courtroom, this is the most important case in their life. My goal is to treat everyone before me with the patience, respect and fairness that they deserve.”
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: Runnebohm Construction, The Rotary Club of Shelbyville, Charlotte Cox, Deborah Tobian, Patricia Miller, and Juanita Wilcox. 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: Indianapolis’ first Ritz-Carlton hotel is moving forward, with developers breaking ground this week on a 15-story, 170-room luxury hotel at Georgia and Pennsylvania streets, replacing the long-vacant former CSX building. The project, led by Boxcar Development LLC and the Simon family in partnership with Live Nation and Marriott International, was originally planned as a Shinola hotel and will also include a new music venue and retail near Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Ritz-Carlton is slated to open in early 2028, with the adjacent 4,000-seat Live Nation venue expected to be completed in 2027. (IBJ)
The Addison Times is pleased to offer free milestone announcements. Forms are available here: Engagement Announcement, Wedding Announcement and Anniversary Announcement.
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.
2006: The new Aldi grocery store near Walmart would open Jan. 30, company officials said. Papa Murphy’s Pizza had opened at 1615 E. Michigan Road on Dec. 28.
The Golden Bears’ perfect season remained intact with a 53-33 win over Greensburg. Sean Drake led the team’s balanced attack with 9 points, followed by Dominique Reid (8), Cory Sitton (8), Jim Peck (8), Ivan Toliver (7) and James Douglas (7).
1996: With blizzard-like conditions continuing, Scott Lanning, 24, and his stepdad, Rick Young, 44, mounted horses and rode eight miles, which took two hours, to Big Foot Food Store.
Shelbyville firefighters Capt. Kurt Lockridge and Lt. Michael Thomas were promoted, with Lockridge becoming deputy chief and Thomas becoming captain.
1986: Carl and Beverly Mohr bought the 5,000-pound safe from Ivie’s Gentlemen’s Clothing during its liquidation sale. Dan Ivie said the safe had been in the building since the 1930s when the building was owned by Louis Todd. Tom Bowers helped Carl use a crane operated by Fred Bohman to move the safe.
1976: Tonya Badger was the first Shelby County baby of 1976.
1966: The Shelbyville Board of Works approved the purchase of two new city police cars from Nankivell Chevrolet.
1956: The Shelby County Farm Bureau Co-op began offering $100,000 in preferred stock for sale in an effort to finance a proposed new elevator and office building on eight acres of ground facing State Road 44.
Willard Smith, 24, St. Paul, enlisted in the U.S. Navy for four years. He had already served six years in the Army, including four in Germany and two in Korea.
1946: The American Legion membership roll reached 600. Delbert Kendall was named chairman of the social committee.
1936: Kenneth Gunning, a Shelbyville High School graduate, became the leading individual scorer on the Indiana University basketball team.
The old courthouse tower fire bell was removed before the building’s demolition. Commissioners directed staff to store the bell before deciding its future.
1926: Al Benson, a nationally known radio performer, appeared for a show at The Strand.
1916: Boy Scouts met at the fairgrounds. Each Scout was to run a mile in 12 minutes. “The boys were having a time accomplishing the task, but a number of them succeeded,” The Republican said.
Mr. A. Goodman, owner of the Goodman ready-to-wear store on South Harrison Street, rented a space in the south half of the building for a dry goods store. The businesses were connected by arches.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: Freeman Family Funeral Homes & Crematory
OBITUARIES
James Morris II, 73, of Edinburgh, passed away Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, at Columbus Regional Health. He was born Aug. 8, 1952, to James K. Morris and Judith Jones.
Morris graduated from Whiteland High School with the Class of 1970. He joined the U.S. Navy and honorably served his country. He went on to work for Rolls-Royce, where he was a controller. Morris retired with more than 47 years of dedicated service. He was an avid sports fan and, after retirement, enjoyed watching games with close friends at Buffalo Wild Wings in Columbus. Morris was a devoted father, husband and grandfather, and he cherished the time together and memories made through the years.
He married Janice Lynn (Boyle) Morris on July 18, 1996. She preceded him in death on Jan. 29, 2024. They shared 27 years of marriage.
Survivors include his daughters, Stephanie Faith and Logan Morris; sons, Eric Morris and Derek Morris; grandchildren, Ozzy Mutindi, Ella Morris, Daci Morris, Haven Canner, Derek Morris and Damon Morris; brothers, Ron Morris and Jeff Jones; sisters, Debbie Baker and Linda Mitchell; and several aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his wife and parents.
A celebration of life will be announced at a later date. Funeral directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks and Stuart Parks are honored to serve the Morris family. Online condolences may be shared at murphyparks.com.