Friday, June 6, 2025
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS
ART ON THE MOVE
The sculpture “Blue River - Wind, Rain, and Water”, created by artist Mike Helbing, is now visible from Interstate 74 after being relocated from N. Harrison St. to Blue River Memorial Park. | photo by JOHN WALKER
‘Meddleson’ Revives 1880s Shelbyville at Program
The Strand Theatre hosted Donna Dennison, head of genealogy and history at the Shelby County Public Library, on Wednesday, for the latest Community Treasure Series event. Dennison appeared as Gabby Meddleson, a fictional pioneer character who recounted notable local events from the summer of 1880.
Using Shelby County newspapers from the late 19th century, Dennison delivered a monologue packed with town gossip, court cases, political tidbits, gruesome accidents, and sharp-witted commentary on everything from soap prices to saloon pianos.
The paper—an 1880 edition of The Shelby Democrat—provided a time capsule into Shelbyville life. Gabby recounted tales of runaway goats, wagon accidents, mischievous Morristown men “yelling like Commanche Indians,” and a family Bible destroyed in a domestic dispute. In one especially biting quote from the era’s paper, a writer speculated that a baby born “out west” without a “backbone” might grow up to be a congressman.
The presentation included mention of historical ads, including flour for 55 cents a sack and soap by the bar—complete with glowing reviews for the newfangled ice boxes just hitting the market. Gabby also read aloud a letter from a local man who had moved to Kansas and said some claimed Prohibition to be quite the moral improvement: “Now those same men (who were previously out drinking) are home, working and taking care of their families.”
The program was humorous, but also revealing. “Can you imagine printing today that someone’s leaving town for a week?” Dennison asked the crowd after stepping out of character. Back then, many seemingly minor details made the paper—who was visiting, who left town and who owed cigars after a political bet.
The next Community Treasure Series is scheduled for Wednesday, July 9, and will highlight “The Famous, Infamous, and Unknown of Shelby County.”
SUMMER OF HOOPS
John Hartnett, father of Shelbyville High School boys varsity basketball coach John Hartnett, directs a camp game while Coach Hartnett and varsity players work other stations in the auxiliary gym. | photo by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS | article by JOHN HARTNETT
A cacophony of basketballs and enthusiastic young voices resounded throughout the Shelbyville High School auxiliary gymnasium this week as the Shelbyville boys basketball program hosted its annual three-day summer basketball camp. Two sessions were held each day with 88 young men in grades 1 through 8 participating in a variety of drills, competitions and full-court scrimmages under the supervision and guidance of the Shelbyville staff and players.
“We had 23 more players attend this year, and all the campers worked very hard,” said SHS head coach John Hartnett, who is entering his sixth full season at the helm of the Golden Bears. “Our high school players did an excellent job of working with the kids, and this provides a valuable opportunity for our high school guys to interact with the youngsters and gain important leadership experience as well. This is always a fun week that I look forward to each summer.”
All campers received a 2025 camp t-shirt. The Shelbyville boys program will offer additional basketball clinics at the high school from 12:30 - 2 p.m. on the following dates: Thursday, June 12; Tuesday, June 17; Tuesday, June 24; Tuesday, July 8; and Tuesday, July 15. There is no fee or pre-registration. Please contact John Hartnett at jah46176@yahoo.com for further information.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: FULL CANOPY REAL ESTATE
NOTEBOOK:
Note: Funeral service information for Scott Spahr has changed. Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m., Sunday, June 8, 2025, and from 9 to 10 a.m., Monday, June 9, 2025, at the Morristown High School gymnasium, 223 S. Patterson St. in Morristown. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Monday, June 9, 2025, at the gymnasium, with Pastor Aaron Marshall officiating. Interment will be at Arlington East Hill Cemetery, with military rites conducted by the local military committee. Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 124 E. North St., in Morristown.
Shelbyville High School’s Addison Stieneker was named one of five finalists for the 2025 Indiana Miss Softball award. Stieneker exploded offensively this season, setting career-highs in average (.582), runs (52), hits (57), RBIs (49), doubles (20), triples (3), home runs (14) and stolen bases (8), The Indianapolis Star reported. The Marshall commit finished her career with a .459 average, 174 hits, 121 runs, 154 RBIs , 49 doubles and 29 homers. She did not strike out more than nine times in any of her four varsity seasons, and established herself as a dependable fielder, posting a .929 career fielding percentage on 325 total chances. Stieneker took part in two sectional championship runs, with the Golden Bears reaching the semistate finals her freshman season. SHS alum Karissa Hamilton was named Miss Softball in 2022.
The annual Strawberry Festival, hosted by Shelby Senior Services and featuring strawberry shortcake and ice cream for $8, is today on Public Square and at the MHP parking lot (walk-up or drive-through) today, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The City of Shelbyville’s annual Government Day free lunch is during the same timeframe on East Washington St.
Jack Fischer, son of Brooke and Brad Fischer, is the recipient of a $1,500 scholarship from The Sacred Heart Council #822, Knights of Columbus and the Daughters of Isabella Chapter #79. Jack will attend the University of Northwestern Ohio to study diesel mechanics.
Golden Bear Preschool is now enrolling children ages 3 to 5 for the upcoming school year. With both indoor and outdoor playgrounds, a dedicated sensory gym, and curriculum aligned to Indiana Early Learning Standards, the program offers a safe, engaging and research-based environment for young learners. Families can choose from flexible scheduling options including full-day or half-day, two to five days per week. Golden Bear is a Paths to QUALITY Level 3 provider, with tuition ranging from $80 to $450 per month. For more information, visit the website, call 317-392-2449, or email Principal Lora Nigh, lanigh@shelbycs.org.
HOOSIER NEWS: A Fishers committee has unanimously rejected a proposal for a “car condominium,” where motor enthusiasts could store their collection in style and show them off over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Before casting the 5-0 vote on June 4, members of the Fishers Planned Unit Development Committee said the Torque Motors project did not fit architecturally or functionally with the surrounding area. The Torque development was planned for Sunlight Drive, south of 106th Street, between Kincaid Drive and Lantern Road. According to plans submitted to the city, the project would have 71 open-floor suites in 12 buildings. The suites would hold up to a half dozen cars, have bathrooms, bars and entertainment areas. Stairs leading to a second-floor mezzanine would offer a bird’s-eye view of the vehicles. (IndyStar)
NATIONAL NEWS: The average age of the Oklahoma City Thunder (weighted by playoff minutes) is 24.7 years old, and the Indiana Pacers are just 26.2 years old on minutes-weighted average. This means that regardless of the outcome, it will be one of the youngest championship teams in decades. The 1977 winner, the Portland Trail Blazers, were slightly younger at 24.5 years old on average, and only the 1980 Los Angeles Lakers would be younger than the Pacers as well. On a related note, each team is comparatively cheap: the total Pacers payroll this year was $169.1 million, 18th in the NBA, and the Thunder came in 25th place with $165.6 million. Each team is under the luxury tax threshold, making this the first finals in the past two decades where neither team paid the tax. (Sportico/Numlock)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights
Jan. 29, 2015
Superintendent Dr. David Adams announced a change to the delay schedule: if a two-hour delay occurred on a Wednesday (a shortened day due to teacher professional development), dismissal would be at regular time (2:45 p.m.) instead of 2 p.m. “I was really sad when I heard about it, but honestly, I should have seen it coming: 25-minute classes were too good to be true,” Emily Zheng said.
In light of the opening of a time capsule reportedly put together by Paul Revere and Samuel Adams in Boston, students were asked about the possibility of burying one locally. “I’d put my iPhone in so they can compare it to the iPhone 32,” Jacob Hamblen said, before adding, “Okay, no, I need that.”
Students said they intended to keep their New Year’s resolutions. Tyler Land said he had mostly stayed true to cutting down on carbs. Sarah Shearer hadn’t drank a soda in two years and planned to add another year to it. Lisa von Werder had made a resolution to draw every day. Carson Macklin said he just planned on staying swaggy in 2015. “Do you even know me? I’m always swaggy,” he told The Courier.
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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: A two-year renovation project began at Shelbyville High School with a groundbreaking ceremony outside the school’s front doors. Participating were superintendent Jim Peck, principal David Adams, assistant principals Kathleen Miltz and Tom Zobel, school board president Dr. James Rees, school board members Mike Vaught, Katrina Hall and Jeff Bate and student president Chelsea Baugher. Construction would include a new library, science labs, administrative offices and new art and industrial arts areas, as well as extending the cafeteria.
1995: More than 125 people gathered on a farm field just north of Morristown to mark the groundbreaking for Central Soya’s new $40 million soybean processing plant. It would be the first commercial soybean plant built in the U.S. in 15 years. The facility was expected to process up to 3,000 acres of soybeans a day and bring around 50 new jobs. The new plant replaced Central Soya’s former site in Indianapolis, which had been destroyed in a 1994 explosion and fire.
1985: Nearly 300 dancers, some as young as three, took the stage at Breck Auditorium for the fifth annual recital by LeAnn’s School of Dance. The show featured jazz, tap, ballet—even a number called “Christmas in June”—with proceeds supporting the SHS Drama Department.
1975: A local woman called to complain about a German shepherd that was in her flower bed. Police explained that the dog warden was out sick. Later, the woman marched into the police station and plopped the rope-secured dog right into Chief Robert Williams’ lap. Williams had the dog taken to the pound. “I also got dog hair all over my suit,” he told The Shelbyville News.
1965: Exterior work wrapped up on a new hen house at Kackleberry Farm southeast of Middletown. Owner Rowland Yeend expected 5,000 chickens to begin producing 4,000 eggs a day by mid-July.
1955: A cement truck hauling 14 tons of bagged cement flipped into the front yard of the George Kell residence, right next to Kell’s Service Station at Smithland Road and State Road 44.
1945: Following a railroad crossing accident, Shelbyville’s city council voted to require automatic flasher signals at most crossings in town. Watchmen would still be kept at Franklin and Washington streets.
1935: James Snyder received the Lorraine Goebel Scholarship at St. Joseph Catholic School’s commencement, honoring the highest four-year academic average. Hiram Giles earned a citizenship award from the Daughters of Isabelle, and eight students received diplomas that evening.
1925: Councilman George Small proposed creating a city park on Shelbyville’s east side, suggesting the Sindlinger property along the Blue River as a potential site. The matter was referred to committee, with hopes to secure civic support before the land filled with homes.
1915: “The first of the week will see the cherry crop about ready to pick and can,” The Republican said. “There will be work for the Boy Scouts and others who are good climbers. The robins have been doing their share of the picking already, but at that have done but little harm.”
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: Freeman Family Funeral Homes & Crematory
OBITUARIES
Mark Allen “Ace” Adams, 64, of St. Paul, passed away on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at his home. He was born August 27, 1960, in Shelbyville, the son of Herbert Allen and Betty Jean (Bottom) Adams. Mark is survived by his daughter, Sarah Adams and husband, Joey Tucker, of St. Paul; son, Dustin Adams and wife, Summer, of Waldron; sisters, Jacqualyn Lea “Jackie” Crosby and husband, Tom, of Greensburg, and Robin Elaine Bratton and husband, Marshall, of Nineveh; granddaughter, Cynthia Adams; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.
In 1978, Mark graduated from Waldron High School. He was a member of St. Paul Methodist Church. Mark formerly worked for many years at KCL and Blue River Fleet Service, retiring in 2020. He was also formerly a cook at the St. Paul Tavern. He was a very talented guitarist and enjoyed giving guitar lessons. Mark also enjoyed karaoke at St. Paul Tavern. Mark also leaves behind his dog, Annie Girl.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the funeral home, with Rev. Mark Dodd officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, PO Box 840692, Dallas, Texas 75284-0692 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 90, Memphis, Tenn., 38101-9929. Online condolences may be shared with Mark’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Lew E. Wilkinson, 83 passed on June 1, 2025, at his son’s residence in Proctor, Montana. He was born June 1941 to Lawrence and Mary Wilkinson in Shelbyville. He graduated from Shelbyville High School in 1959. He married Barbara Lancaster, September 1959. From that union they had three children, Janet (still born), Lisa and Lyle. The family moved to Montana in 1973. Lew was proceeded in death by his parents, infant daughter Janet, grandson Cody Wilkinson, several aunts, uncles, and cousins. Survivors include his brother Gary Wilkinson, daughter Lisa Roberts of Victor, Mt., son Lyle Wilkinson of Lake Mary Ronan, MT, grandchildren Levi and Tyler Wilkinson, and Corie King, and Great-grandchildren Landon and Paislee Wilkinson. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Joshua Owen Settles, 41, of Shelbyville, passed away on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at MHP Medical Center in Shelbyville, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born November 21, 1983, in Indianapolis, the son of William P. and Glenda K. (Majors) Settles. On February 10, 2024, he married Brandy Ann Waddell Settles, and she survives. In addition to Brandy, Joshua is survived by his mother of Shelbyville; step-children, Cameron Waddell and wife, Veronica, Cody Weaver and wife, Tessa, Caleb Weaver, and Hannah Lemen and fiancé, Xavier Steele, all of Connersville; sisters, Lisa Settles of Shelbyville, and Mindy Settles Edwards and husband, TJ, of Bloomfield; grandchildren, Elena, Ellie, Zayden and Xailen; niece, Kylee Edwards; nephew, Phillip Settles; father-in-law, Barton Waddell and wife, Sherry, of Connersville; mother-in-law, Cynthia Waddell of Connersville; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father.
Joshua owned and operated Hilltop Trading Post LLC, a liquidation pallet storefront. He was also a self-employed lawn mower serviceman and sold refurbished mowers. He enjoyed visiting with his customers. He loved the rodeo and was an IJRA All-Around Cowboy. He participated in Indiana Jr. Rodeo and the Indiana High School Rodeo Association, where he completed in steer wrestling and calf roping.
Joshua also enjoyed riding quads and spending time with his family.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Monday, June 9, 2025 at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Funeral services will follow at 7 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Freeman Family Funeral Homes, 819 S. Harrison St., Shelbyville, Ind., 46176 to help with the funeral expenses. Online condolences may be shared with Joshua’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.