Friday, May 9, 2025
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS
ST. JOE SCENES
The St. Joe Festival tents were a haven for many, and fair food brats were popular during intermittent showers yesterday. The St. Joe Fair continutes today and tomorrow. | photos by JACK BOYCE
RAINBOW SHOT
This reader-submitted photo shows the scene just before last Saturday’s dedication of the Wortman Family Civic Theatre.
Coulston Teacher Selected for Korean Fellowship
Dr. Matt Vance, Jennifer Jones, Jonathan Baldwin and Andy Snow show off a check supporting Baldwin’s upcoming fellowship. | photo by ANNA TUNGATE
Coulston Elementary teacher Jonathan Baldwin is taking the “break” out of summer this year. The fourth-grade teacher recently received word he is one of 20 teachers worldwide - with only three hailing from the U.S. and two serving at the elementary level - to be selected for a highly competitive fellowship in South Korea.
“I saw the connection between my classroom, (students’) education and what I could bring back to Shelbyville, I got super excited and applied,” Baldwin said. “Honestly, I thought it was a moonshot.”
The experience includes an immersive 11-day research trip deepening educators’ understanding of Korean history, culture and development. The program includes four cycles: pre-trip online coursework, guided excursions to significant sites in South Korea, including the DMZ and Gyeongbokgung Palace, a post-trip presentation and membership in the Korean Fellows Alumni Association.
Trip funding is a joint venture between the Blue River Community Foundation and the Shelbyville Central Education Foundation. SCEF director Andy Snow presented a check to Baldwin yesterday at the administration offices. The BRCF portion of the grant comes from the Higgins Education Development Fund, established in 2010 by Ellen Higgins after her husband, Jerry Higgins, passed away. Mr. Higgins was a long-time teacher in the community and former mayor. The fund assists local teachers from the Shelbyville Central Schools’ elementary and middle schools who wish to continue developing their knowledge and skills in their field. Funding is available for financial assistance to attend professional workshops, conferences, seminars, training, etc. where such experience gained will be applied to help their classroom, students, and colleagues.
Baldwin said the trip fulfills a long-time interest in global affairs, and he expects to soak it all in despite being constantly on the move.
“It's like an academic marathon for about two weeks,” he said, noting the schedule runs 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
“(It will be) a whole lot of academic exploration and creating lesson plans collaboratively to bring back to Shelbyville,” he said.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: FULL CANOPY REAL ESTATE
NOTEBOOK:
HOOSIER NEWS: Organizers hope a new program will reimagine the historic Crump Theatre in Columbus. The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County is launching “Project Encore” to revamp the iconic downtown theater and develop more local programming. Mayor Mary Ferdon said the building has events in the works but needs a long-term plan. The 135-year-old venue is believed to be the oldest operating theater in the state. (Indiana Public Media)
NATIONAL NEWS: Mercury accumulates in the world’s lakes and oceans by way of methylmercury, which bioaccumulates in muscle tissue and becomes more and more concentrated as we move up the food chain. New research genetically modified fish and fly embryos with genes that convert methylmercury to elemental mercury, which dissipates as gas. The study, in “Nature Communications”, found that the genetically modified zebrafish had 64 percent less mercury, and the fruit flies had 83 percent less. (Scientific American/Numlock)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights
Oct. 19, 1955, Part II
New student Roy Webber was asked about the differences between his hometown of Schenectady, N.Y. and Shelbyville. “I don’t notice much difference except that around here everyone seems to have a car, and in Schenectady not many students do.”
The Courier said Barbara Spillman, 11A, had invented a new upside-down-muffin recipe. “Despite repeated warnings by Miss Bodem that oven racks should not be pulled out because they would not catch, Barbara, eager to see how her cherry muffins were doing, pulled out the rack, only to see two pans of cherry muffins drop out on the floor. Miss Bodem promised the class that any more dropped baked goods would be accompanied by a dropped grade.”
The Forum Halloween party was set for Oct. 26 at Larry Sandman’s barn near Geneve. “Since there is no electricity there, the proper air of mystery for Halloween should prevail. All members will attend in masks and costumes.” Organizers included Paul Meltzer, Bob Staats, Mary Jane Stubbs, Sharon Hotopp, John Wetnight, Rosamund Clark, Dave Trueb, Larry Sandman, Jim Spear, Jim McKeand, Tom Toll and Jerry Moore.
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: Jeff Sponsel, Eric Glasco, Brian Hutchison, Chris King, Linda Sanders and Vanessa Wright left for a Main Street Conference in Baltimore Md. on behalf of the local MainStreet Shelbyville group. MainStreet’s primary activities had been renovating The Strand Theatre, developing a walking tour brochure, and creating a “way finding” program that would use signage to show people the location of different points of interest in town.
1995: The Indiana Horse Racing Commission revoked Sagamore Park’s permit for a Shelby County race track. Sagamore Park had spent millions attempting to develop a second pari-mutuel track in Indiana. Hoosier Park in Anderson, owned by Churchill Downs, had opened in 1995. Discussion about a track in Shelbyville had started in 1989 when the County Council approved an ordinance allowing pari-mutuel betting, with plans for a track at I-74 and Fairland Road.
1985: A home was moved from East Jackson St. to McKinley St. to make room for expansion of a local industry.
1975: The new K-mart store opened on the east side of Shelbyville. Participants in a ribbon-cutting ceremony included Judy Day, Tom Day, Bernard Sleeth, Gary Coers, Bob Barger, Jack Green, former astronaut Alan Shepard and Mayor Jerry Higgins.
Shelbyville’s most-heavily-used alleys were blacktopped.
1965: Local auto dealers met to plan the fourth annual Farmers National Bank 500 Auto Show. Nearly 100 new cars would be displayed on the FNB parking lot and adjoining Sandman Bros. lot.
1955: Police had made seven arrests over the weekend, with three brothers arrested in separate public intoxication incidents.
State officials gave Shelbyville schools initial approval to build a new elementary school on property near Knightstown Road.
Virginia Scott was appointed to the school board. She was the first woman appointed to serve in over 25 years.
1945: Pfc. Delbert McGrew had been killed fighting in the Philippines, his mother, Nancy McGrew, was informed. It was Nancy’s second son killed in the war. Harvey McGrew had died in 1943 in a plane crash in Hawaii.
1935: Local officials issued a notice that they would enforce the Governor’s executive order that those receiving free food from community gardens must work in those gardens throughout the summer.
A local dental report noted that Shelby Township school had the highest percentage of students, 24%, who had visited the dentist within the past year.
1925: George Cuskaden, 14, of Noble Township, was judged Healthiest Boy in the state at a Purdue University health contest held in Lafayette. Mary Carney, 13, of Hanover Township, won second place in the girls’ division. Cuskaden won a trip to Chicago. Each contestant had been examined by two physicians and a dentist.
1915: Mrs. Joseph Nail was recovering from a dislocated ankle and a scratched arm sustained after leaping from a buggy. The horse pulling the buggy had become frightened by a pile of coal near the roadside and made several dashes. Mrs. Nail jumped from the buggy, causing the injury.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: Freeman Family Funeral Homes & Crematory
OBITUARIES
Anthony “Tony” Dean Theobald, 67, of Arlington, passed away Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at Our Hospice of South-Central Indiana in Columbus. Born on July 19, 1957, in Shelbyville, he was the son of William Floyd Theobald and Marilyn (Bogue) Lightner. Survivors include his significant other of 36 years, Michell Schuck; three children, Tara Philpot (Christopher) of Shelbyville; Brooke (Jonathan) Hudnall of Shelbyville; and Jayla Koehler of Arlington; seven siblings, Sharlene Mecum (Tim), Darlene Grinstead (Bob), Ginger Jarman (Bob), Cindy Hawkins (Jeff), Joy Prather (Kerry), Troy Hiatt (Stacy) and Melody Smith; and seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Glen Lightner and niece Ashley McRoberts.
Tony had lived in Arlington area most of his lifetime and was a self-employed master auto mechanic, retiring in 2023. He had also worked for Shadeland Auto Supply and Brown’s Garage. He served in the US Marine Corps, attaining the rank of Sergeant. Tony was always willing to help anyone with anything, especially mechanical issues. He had a great sense of humor and loved his dog Ozzy.
Funeral services will be at 4 p.m., Thursday, May 15, 2025, at Glenn E. George & Son Funeral Home, 437 Amos Road, with Pastor Doug Wall officiating. Family will receive friends from 2 p.m. until the time of the service, at the funeral home. Memorial contributions can be made to Wounded Warrior Project or Our Hospice of South-Central Indiana, in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.