Friday, May 16, 2025
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS
Shifting Currents: Helbing's Sculpture Re-routed to Blue River Memorial Park
Workers disassemble the “Blue River: Wind, Rain, and Water” sculpture created by Mike Helbing on N. Harrison Street. The crew said they would re-erect it next week in Blue River Memorial Park, across from the Lee Blvd. entrance where the sunflower fields are located. | above photo by JOHN WALKER; photo gallery below by JACK BOYCE
Diligent Diggers Continue Tradition of Beautifying Community
Tomorrow’s annual plant sale at Clearwick Park is a reminder of the perennial nature of the host, the Shelby County Diligent Diggers’ Garden Club. The club is the result of a 1992 merger between the Shelby County Garden Club, founded in 1935, and the Diligent Diggers, founded in 1950.
The long-standing groups used to meet in the afternoons donning white gloves and having formal tea. Clubs accepted or rejected members based on a group vote. Although the afternoon time tradition and regular lessons and food continue, the entrance requirements have changed.
“Nowadays, we welcome anyone who is ambitious enough to want to learn anything about gardening,” member Gayle Wiley said. “You don’t have to be a gardener. If you just want to learn about gardening, you’re welcome.”
The annual sale features plants grown in members’ own yards and raises funds to support the club’s major project: maintaining the beautiful flower beds in front of the Shelby County Public Library.
“We spend two or three meetings during the year cleaning those beds out; mulching, which is expensive; and adding plants,” Wiley said.
Tomorrow’s sale, 9 a.m. to noon, will feature a wide variety of plants, including perennials, irises, daisies and even some house plants.
“If you can think of it, we probably have it,” she said.
Blue River Career Programs Hosts Honors Program
The following Blue River Career Program students were recognized at this week’s Honors Program:
National Technical Honor Society students: Aurora Belton (SWHS), Bryce Bohlen (SHS), Victoria Burkhart (SWHS), Casey Carlin (TCHS), Colton Cavaletto (MHS), Mikayla Claiborne (SWHS), Yuriana Cruz-Hernandez (SHS), Brayden Elliott (SWHS), Emma Estes (SWHS), Nathaniel Evans (WHS), Alexandro Figueroa (SHS), Brianna Flores (MHS), Luke Guinn (TCHS), Sophie Hattabaugh (WHS), Juan Hernandez Martinez (SWHS), Wyatt Hodgen (MHS), Grace McLaughlin (MHS), Myka Morgan (TCHS), Krishna Patel (SHS), Abdiel Reyes-Lopez (SHS), Naomi Ricardo-Gonzales (SHS), Delicia Riddle (SWHS), Yuhan Ruan (SHS), Noah Schoolcraft (SWHS), Armaan Singh (MHS), Elijah Smith (EHS), Daisy Sosa (SHS), Madison Stewart (SHS), Addison Stieneker (SHS)
Outstanding Students: Brayden Rogers (SHS), Matthew Kenfield (SWHS), Levi Stagge (TCHS), Seth Jeffries (SHS), Brady Ellison (MHS), Zackary Petitt (SHS), Reginae Sanders (SHS), Kindall Dorsey (MHS), Jett Sadler (TCHS), Devi Miller (SHS), Shane Lawhon (MHS), Brayden Schultz (SHS), Chase Sells (SHS), Elija Smith (EHS), Andrew Lacy (WHS), Nina Ross (TCHS), Alana Paunetto (TCHS), Ahleaha Love (SHS), Maile Vitz (MHS), Addison Stieneker (SHS), Brianna Flores (MHS), Wyatt Fisher (TCHS), Mason Denton (SHS), Madison Barnes (SHS) and Grace McLaughlin (MHS)
TOP GUN Award: Nicholas Childers (SHS)
ACE Mechanic Award: Seth Jeffries (SHS)
Diesel Technician 1st Class Award: Brayden Schultz (SHS)
Rotary Scholarship: Myka Morgan (TCHS)
BRCP Scholarships: Wyatt Hodgen (MHS), Daisy Sosa (SHS) and Addison Stieneker (SHS)
Jakob McDaniel Memorial Scholarship: Kindall Dorsey (MHS) and Kilyn Gaines (MHS)
Growing Our Workforce Gift: Raydon Pierce (SHS)
Shelby County Republicans Scholarships: Nina Ross (TCHS) and Brayden Schultz (SHS)
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: FULL CANOPY REAL ESTATE
NOTEBOOK:
HOOSIER NEWS: Westfield is trying to draw residents and visitors back to its downtown — and officials approved a project Monday night that could look similar to Carmel’s Midtown Plaza. The $123 million downtown mixed-use development is a public-private partnership between the city and developer Old Town. It includes a public plaza and parking garage, apartments and retail and office space. The development will bring much needed parking to the city’s downtown and a gathering space for the community, said Mayor Scott Willis. He noted that Westfield is the only city in Hamilton County that has seen its downtown population decrease in the last decade. (IndyStar)
NATIONAL NEWS: In our society, it is often assumed that the mother is the default parent and the first contact for schools and other caregivers over children’s fathers. In one study, researchers posed as fictitious parents and emailed 80,000 school principals, saying that they were searching for a school for their kid. The principals were 40 percent more likely to call the mother than the father listed in the experiment. Even in experimental cases when the “father” was the one who sent the email and specifically indicated that he was more available than the wife, principals still called the mother 12 percent of the time. (The Atlantic/Numlock)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights
May 13, 1977, Part I
Nancy Cole and David Jones were named co-editors of the 1977-78 Courier. Miss Sue Butler was the advisor. “No one can ever take the place of Simpkoff (Simpson-Polakoff), however, I’m sure that Cole and Jones will be of great help…,” Butler said. Jim VanNatta would continue in his role as editor of The Squib.
Nearly 500 SHS students would be participating in summer school. Four subjects would be offered: American Problems, American Government, Health Education and Driver Education. Class times were 7 - 9 a.m., 9 - 11 a.m. and 10 a.m. - noon. Of the 478 summer school students, 327 would be taking Driver’s Ed.
Sharon Marshall had been named queen at prom, which had a “Lost Horizon” theme. Kelly McKenney crowned the queen. Other members of the court included Julie English, Belinda Wildmone, Jon Orem, Rich Hayes and John Alexander. Post-prom, which included access to the pool, lasted until 5:30 a.m.
Letters to the Editor included a complaint from “Steamed Seniors” that the senior graduation announcements looked cheap, “as if they were purchased from Ames or K-Mart!”
Another Letter complained about the lack of May Festival coverage in The Courier, with no pictures and “nothing but criticism.” The Editor’s note responded, “The staff of the Courier hardly believes that the May Festival is the ‘main event’ of the year….We feel that the May Festival has also outlived its purpose.”
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: Shelbyville Middle School had raised a district high $7,786.97 for SCUFFY. Faculty leads were Paul Ashbrook, Betsy Knutson and Barbara Weaver. Student leaders were Mandisa Drake, Aubree Spriggs, Ashley Sraayay, John Hartnett, Johnny Krise and Joe Toll.
1995: Robert Elamon opened R&S Ball Cards at 5 Public Square. The shop featured basketball and football cards, as well as pogs, comic books and supplies. Elamon had owned Lucky Strike Cards in Fairland for three years.
1985: Phyllis Haus was named supervisor at Hickory Furniture Works. She was the first woman superintendent the male-employee dominated firm had ever had. Haus began working for the firm building cabinets in 1978, when it was Welch’s Custom Kitchins. “I’m really not completely for women’s lib, but I think women are capable of handling superintendent jobs,” she told The Shelbyville News. She oversaw 20 employees.
Members of the Waldron High School prom court were Max Brokering, Nancey Rosenfeld, Kristie House, Rebecca Harker, Dee Long, Mike Benson and Jim Hungate.
1975: Brian Montgomery, Addison School, was named recipient of the Earl Trees Safety Patrol Award. Mike Gobel, representing the sponsoring Williams Industries firm, presented the award.
New signs welcoming visitors to “Shelbyville, City of Progress,” were on display at the north and side ends of Public Square. Jack Ivie had prepared the signs.
1965: The Shelbyville High School senior class went on a picnic at McCormick’s Creek State Park. Shelly Graham, Tony Krebs, Tom Thieman, Mark McNeely and Chris Rehme had served on the site selection committee.
Dora Swango, 99, 209 E. South St., was named oldest mother in Shelby County. Her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Andis, had recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.
1955: Mrs. Orville Alexander, Marion Township, was spearheading a committee exploring the possibility of setting up city-county classes for children with developmental disabilities. The committee was reviewing the possibility of obtaining state assistance in the endeavor.
1945: Hub Shoe Store announced they had a shipment of “Marine reject” boots for sale.
1935: Although there were 59 cars entered into the elimination trials of the 500-mile Decoration Day automobile race in Indianapolis, there were only 15 cars capable of qualifying, The Republican reported. Fuel consumption for the 25-mile qualification run had been limited to three gallons.
The Shelby County Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of 825 tons of coal for the courthouse, jail, infirmary and orphans’ home.
1925: Morristown officials announced plans to host a Chautauqua. The minimum of 250 tickets had been sold to locals.
Local Masons selected a contractor to build a new Masonic Temple on S. Harrison St. Costs were expected to exceed $100,000 ($1.8 million in today’s money).
1915: George Hendrickson, 60, was severely injured while driving across the bridge in Geneva during a lightning storm. Hendrickson’s horse had become confused and pulled the buggy over an embankment which was 35 feet high. The horse, buggy and men (he was accompanied by John Hill) tumbled down the bank of rock to the river. The buggy was a total loss, but the horse was fine.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: Freeman Family Funeral Homes & Crematory
OBITUARIES
Jeffrey A. “Jeff” Conger, 65, of Indianapolis, formerly of Shelbyville, passed away on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at Community Health East in Indianapolis. He was born July 17, 1959, in Shelbyville, the son of Richard Anthony “Tony” and Barbara (Timmons) Conger. Jeff is survived by his children, Nolan Conger of Shelbyville, Jesica Conger and Eryn Conger, both of Bloomington; grandson, River Conger; siblings, Brad Conger, Kristi Amstutz, Greg Conger, Rhonda Jorgensen, Teresa Norris-Elmore, Tonya Norris-Gibson and Tracy Norris; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and ex-wife, Natalie McNew.
Jeff graduated from Shelbyville High School in 1977. He enjoyed listening to music, hanging out with his friends and watching sports. Jeff was an avid listener of rock ‘n’ roll music. He loved to have a good time and listen to music with others. There wasn’t a rock ‘n’ roll show he hadn’t attended or a record he hadn’t spun. Music was his form of faith, and he often expressed his love through it. No matter where Jeff lived, his house was the heart of the party and countless fond memories live on in the hearts of so many. He never knew a stranger and could make a fast friend anywhere he was. Jeff could turn any day into a good time and was truly the life of the party. His enthusiasm for life, open-mindedness, and spirit of joy will always be remembered. Jeff’s soul lives on through any good rock ‘n’ roll song!
A Gathering of Friends and Family will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. A Celebration of Jeff’s Life will follow at 7 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Freeman Family Funeral Homes to help with the funeral expenses. Online condolences may be shared with Jeff’s family at www.freemanfamilyfunerralhomes.com.
Paul Dean Hallgarth, 58, of Shelbyville, passed away Thursday May 15, 2025, at his residence. He was born April 15, 1967, in Greenfield, Ind., to Delmar Hallgarth and Cheryl (McDaniels) Henry.
Paul attended Morristown Jr./Sr. High School. After school, he pursued a career in masonry. He took great pride in his skilled craft and enjoyed showing family and friends the big projects he was involved with. He spent over 25 years perfecting his craft. Paul had a love for nature and being outdoors. He enjoyed camping, hiking, fishing and riding his bike. He also enjoyed discussing politics. Paul attended Shelbyville Community Church and Celebrate Recovery. Earlier this year he was saved by grace through his faith. Family was always very important to him and he cherished the times spent together. He especially enjoyed the times spent with his children and grandchildren.
He is survived by his mother; his son, Ryan (wife, Sarah) Hallgarth; his daughter, Ashley (husband, Chris) Williams; his grandchildren, Veyda Hallgarth, Daniel Price, Brennan Haehl, McKenzie Haehl, Ashlynn Williams and Marvin Baxter; his brothers, Bob (wife, Janet) Hallgarth and Rudy (wife, Rita) Hallgarth; his sister, Rose Holzeard; his nieces and nephews, Jeff Hallgarth, Stephanie (husband, Jonathan) Stough, Kyle Hallgarth, Jenny White and Ila Holzeard. He was preceded in death by his father; his nephew, John Hallgarth and step-father, Jerry Henry.
Visitation will be Tuesday, May 20, 2025, from 11 a.m. to noon at Murphy-Parks Funeral Service, 703 S. Harrison Street, Shelbyville, Ind., 46176. Funeral services will follow at noon at the funeral home with Pastor Merry Poppelwell officiating. Burial will be in Arlington East Hill Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to The Bridge Ministries, 1504 S. Harrison St., Shelbyville, Ind., 46176, for Celebrate Recovery. Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks and Stuart Parks are honored to serve Paul’s family. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.