Friday, July 11, 2025
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS
SUMMER WORK
Shelbyville High School volleyball players Sydney Haehl, Alivia Lee, Hayden Ricketts and Lyla Wilson pause for a photo during a recent summer practice session in Garrett Gymnasium. | photo by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
County BZA Denies Self-Storage Variance in Fountaintown, Approves Other Petitions
At its third hearing on the matter, the Shelby County Board of Zoning Appeals on Tuesday voted 3-2 to deny a use variance that would have allowed a portable self-storage facility at 449 E. Brookville Road in Fountaintown. Because the use variance failed, a related development standards variance, concerning gravel rather than paved driveways, was dismissed.
Petitioner Shawn Hart, who owns the property, had proposed installing up to 16 prefab storage buildings, each 12-by-40-foot, that could be added incrementally to support a small business venture of his sons. But nearby residents and BZA members raised numerous concerns, including arguing that portable storage units were not the best use of the commercial intersection and concerns about increased traffic and facility security. Hart responded to many of the concerns, citing current cleanup efforts at the property, 24/7 surveillance and lease restrictions against storing hazardous materials. He also noted the buildings’ portability as an advantage, allowing for removal if the business failed. Ultimately, however, the board voted 3-2 to deny the use variance, in effect halting the project. Because the use was not approved, a second vote on the gravel driveway variance was dismissed. Voting no on the use variance were Kevin Carson, Jim Douglas and Terry Knutson. Megan Hart and Dave Klene voted in favor.
In other action, the board approved the following:
A variance to allow for a 2,016 square foot barn that is 22 feet tall and exceeds half the size of the home’s footprint at 6086 W. Boggstown Road, Boggstown.
A variance to allow a commercial kennel less than 100 feet from the property lines at 5386 W 1100 N, Fountaintown. The kennel has been in business for seven years, but the owner is selling her home on the lot and splitting the property, creating the need for a variance.
A variance to waive the landscape buffer yard requirement along the side and rear property lines at 56 S 600 W, Shelbyville, for Shelby County Co-op, which uses the property for the sale and storage of agricultural fuels, chemicals and products. The Co-op has obtained site plan approval and permits for a new office and shop space at the southeast corner of the property.
A variance to allow a 5,000 square foot accessory structure resulting in three accessory structures on the property with the total area of all accessory structures exceeding two times the footprint of the home at 2596 W. Old Franklin Road, Shelbyville.
A request to allow for a 900 square foot pole barn at 8977 N 700 W, Fountaintown, was postponed due to the petitioner not appearing at the meeting.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: FULL CANOPY REAL ESTATE
NOTEBOOK:
The Hoosier Lottery announced yesterday the winning CA$H 5 ticket was sold at BP Docs Shops, 326 E. Broadway Street, Shelbyville. The ticket matched all five numbers from Wednesday night’s CA$H 5 drawing. Those winning numbers are: 6-8-9-19-24.
Indiana Republican Party Chairwoman Lana Keesling announced yesterday that Rep. Robb Greene will serve as the next executive director of the state party, effective later this month. Greene will replace Josh Waddell, who will be joining Gov. Mike Braun’s administration. Greene is a native of Shelby County, where he lives with his wife and three children. He has served House District 47, which includes portions of Johnson and Shelby counties, since 2022.
HOOSIER NEWS: Indiana’s annual report on who is using the state’s private school vouchers and how much money is being spent was released this month and shows a rise in participation, but its growth has slowed compared to recent years. The state spent around $497 million on the program for 2024-25, which is an increase of just over $58 million from the previous school year. The two private schools that receive the most voucher dollars in the state continue to be two religious Indianapolis schools. Heritage Christian School received the most for the 2024-25 school year at about $5.7 million and Roncalli High School came in second at $5.65 million. (IndyStar)
NATIONAL NEWS: If a restaurant wants to play music, it has to pay an annual fee to a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) to prevent being sued by the musicians. The National Restaurant Association says the average member pays $4,500 per year to license music. A large hotel that hosts occasional live music would probably pay $5,000 to $20,000 per year to a single PRO, and would spend to the order of $80,000 a year if the hotel is paying all of them. (Bloomberg/Numlock)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights
April 19, 1940
The annual Commencement Dance was set for May 31 at the local Armory, with music provided by Charles “Chuck” Smith and his band, featuring Charley Baker on the trumpet.
After four senior girls modeled various graduation gowns, the senior class decided to go with gray for commencement.
The prom theme was “Gone with the Wind.” The decorating committee was led by Mrs. Tindall and ‘Dad’ McKeand, and ‘Doc’ Barnett was organizing entertainment for those who didn’t want to dance.
Ray Munger was named the 21st recipient of the Paul Cross Award. Tony Hinkle, coach at Butler University, gave a speech at the awards dinner.
In response to Mr. Barnett asking, “Can you tell me what Brazil produces more of than any other country?”, a student named Bill responded, “Brazilians.”
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: MAJOR HEALTH PARTNERS
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: Radio Station WKWH, 60 E. Washington St., announced plans to move their studio to Rushville. The station would continue to serve Shelbyville, General Manager Scott Huber said.
1995: After Shelby County Farm Bureau Co-op officials promised to transport anhydrous ammonia on the truck route for State Road 9 rather than through Public Square, the Shelbyville Common Council dropped plans to prohibit vehicles with hazardous material in the Public Square area. The city had sought to prevent an accident downtown.
1985: It had been 50 years since the first parking meters were installed, The Shelbyville News reported.
1975: Phone calls poured into the Shelbyville police station when officials tested the new tornado siren at 3 p.m. Officers had been stationed throughout the city to report on its audibility range. Officers at Amos and E. McKay, at Belaire and at N. State Road 9 and I-74 reported they could not hear the new siren, installed on the top of City Hall.
1965: A 19-year-old was arrested for attempting to rob Turner’s Grocery. Lt. Ezra Dagley apprehended the young man at gunpoint near City Cemetery.
1955: Concrete was poured from the Amos pike for the new Wellington Heights neighborhood. City officials said there would be two road outlets for the addition.
1945: Robert Donald Peck, 16, Waldron died in a saddle horse accident on the road between Waldron and St. Paul. He had been riding on the black-top road when his horse either threw him off or stumbled and fell on him, county coroner Dr. C.J. Price reported.
1935: Street oiling began in the southern part of the city. City officials said they hoped technology would soon make paving more practical, eliminating the oiling process.
1925: A 73-year-old Noble Township resident died in his bed of heat exhaustion, county coroner Dr. George Inlow reported.
1915: Two women passing each other at Harrison and South streets got into a fight, which was watched by numerous onlookers. Police said they could not determine the cause of the fight, other than one woman had shouted at the other in passing, “I’m going to knock the h— out of you,” The Republican reported. The victorious woman later returned to the scene to retrieve a $10 comb that had been dropped in the melee.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: Freeman Family Funeral Homes & Crematory
OBITUARIES
Alyssia Page Wildman, 47, of Denver, Colorado, formerly of Shelbyville, lost her battle with breast cancer and passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at Rose Hospital in Denver, with her son by her side. She was born September 19, 1977, in Columbus, the daughter of Michael Lee and Elizabeth Gail (Page) Wildman. Alyssia is survived by her mother, of Gillette, Wyoming; son, Bear Yeatman of Denver; sister, Deirdre Wildman and husband, Rick Steiner, of Weston, Wyoming; nephew, Aidan Cooke of Miami, Florida; aunts and uncles, Mary and Tom Spears of Martinsville, and Ron and Nanci Wildman of Franklin; and numerous cousins. She was preceded in death by her father.
In her youth, Alyssia was a member of the First Christian Church in Shelbyville. In 1996, Alyssia graduated from Shelbyville High School, where she was on the swim and diving teams. She was also seen regularly at the KFC where she worked while in school. She continued her education at Murray State University in Kentucky, obtaining her bachelor’s in fine arts. Alyssia continued her artistic pursuits her whole life. She enjoyed watercolor and oil painting like her mother and maternal grandmother, but was also incredibly gifted at 3-dimensional art and sculpture. She loved gardening, playing with her cat, meow, and was a loyal friend. Her greatest joy and focus of pride was in her son, Bear, an exceptional student-athlete attending college in Denver. Alyssia was well-loved for her free spirit and infectious personality.
Visitation will be from 9 to 10 a.m., Saturday, July 19, 2025, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Funeral services will follow, with Rev. Bill Horner officiating. Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville. Memorial contributions may be made to Blue River Community Foundation, 54 W. Broadway St., Suite 1, Shelbyville, Ind., 46176. Online condolences may be shared with Alyssia’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.