Friday, October 18, 2024

Oct 18, 2024

Mayor Scott Furgeson and Jenna Martin, Director of Public Relations, commemorate the “last edition” of Shelbyville’s “Pride in Progress” motto on Tuesday. The new branding, revealed this week, is “Shelbyville. Next door. Next level.” | photo by JACK BOYCE

by ANNA TUNGATE & KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS

A new city logo and slogan (and video) arrived in Shelbyville this week, with “Next door. Next level.” replacing the long-standing “Pride in Progress.”

But it’s more than just marketing, Jenna Martin, Shelbyville Director of Public Relations, said before sharing information on a new website and Notify Me system that allows users to access public information documents and report issues, among a host of other features.

“We are wanting to be interactive and take our experience with our citizens to the next level, and that means being not one-way, but conversing,” she said.

Martin walked through “the psychology of colors” used (see logo below), with an emphasis on green, the accent color which references the county’s agricultural industries, its presence in Shelby County Development Corporation branding and, of course, the Parks Department.

“We heard (from community members) that the amenities of Parks and Recreation are really what drives the community and retention, especially for our young families,” she said.

Mayor Scott Furgeson noted that the rebranding was an intentional effort of his administration, and involved focus groups, listening sessions and reviewing over 1,000 survey responses to understand perceptions and strengths of the community, such as a friendly business environment, a strong Japanese Sister City connection, higher education partnerships and scholarships and outstanding health care. To him, the process was an effort to bridge the past to the present and future, complete with display photos at the unveiling meeting, at the Intelliplex Conference Room, from the Shelby County Historical Society and Grover Center.

“Shelbyville became home of the state's first railroad, connecting the city to Indianapolis, and it has had a reputation for literally and figuratively forging connections and creating accessibility. We also have deep foundations in agriculture and manufacturing, which continue to flourish,” Furgeson said. “We can't forget where we come from, and we continue to embrace our traditions and our past, while stepping boldly into the future.”

THIS PARTY IS DEAD

Many locals are contributing to the economy by getting into the Halloween spirit. | photo by JACK BOYCE

Foundation Awards 2024 City and County Progress Grants

In collaboration with the City of Shelbyville and the Shelby County Council, Blue River Community Foundation (BRCF) announced the recipients of the 2024 Progress Grants. Since 2010, these grants, funded by Racino income allocated annually to both the City of Shelbyville and Shelby County, have supported the ongoing efforts of local organizations to enhance the community’s quality of life. The grant program, managed by BRCF, has awarded nearly $1.9 million to 67 different organizations to date.

For the 2024 grant cycle, $205,237 will be distributed to 13 organizations serving Shelby County. Six organizations receiving funding are less than two years old and are receiving grant funding from BRCF for the first time. These recipients are engaged in projects and programs promoting arts and culture, community development, education, health, social services and youth initiatives.

Boys & Girls Club of Shelby County: $10,500 for FutureMakers 3D Printing Program, part of its broader STEAM initiative.
Central Indiana Land Trust: $8,650 to enhance infrastructure at Meltzer Woods, one of Indiana's few old-growth forests and a National Natural Landmark. Improvements include upgraded signage, trail cameras to capture wildlife for public engagement, a refreshed parking lot, and trail enhancements to improve accessibility.
Concord Cemetery Association: $3,256 to support the completion of an unmarked graves project at Concord Cemetery (Morristown). This initiative will enable the organization to install a permanent black granite monument honoring the memory of individuals buried in graves that are either unmarked or have lost their markers over time.
Fairland Historical Society: $7,000 for two projects to enhance the preservation of history in Northwestern Shelby County. The first project involves designing and installing a plaque at Fairland Community Park to commemorate the history of the Fairland Schools, which was once located on-site. The second project includes hosting six in-person presentations and workshops to engage the community with their local history.
Forest Hill Cemetery Association: $25,000 to enhance the safety and accessibility of the paved paths around the cemetery.
Harnessing Hope: $11,000 to enhance accessibility in their arena, pastures, and barn lot/parking area. This project will ensure that everyone, including those with mobility devices, can fully participate in their equine-assisted therapy programs.
Healthy Shelby County: $34,645 to support start-up costs, enabling them to serve the community in new and impactful ways. Their project aims to establish a non-profit center in Shelby County to consolidate resources for vulnerable individuals and create a shared workspace for social service nonprofits. The center will also centralize food pantry operations, increasing food storage capacity and enable distribution from Gleaners and other food banks for the first time in our county.
Hoosier Landmarks for Learning: $7,984 for two critical safety projects. A dying ash tree located just five feet from their historic schoolhouse will be removed as it threatens the building and the safety of visitors. Additionally, a fence will be built around the schoolhouse library near the busy intersection of Indiana State Road 244 and County Road 600 E to enhance visitor safety.
Morristown Community Development Partnership: $32,610 towards the installation of two pickleball courts in the town park, a highly requested item in the community survey they conducted in 2021.
Shelby County Pantry Pals: $2,883 to enhance its visibility and community presence. Promotional items and materials will be purchased for outreach events throughout the county to raise awareness about hunger and the needs of those facing food insecurity. Additionally, a refrigerator/freezer will be purchased for a local pantry in need.
Servants at Work, Inc.: $5,000 to meet the growing demand for accessible ramps for Shelby County residents in need. This funding will deliver at least three additional ramps to disabled, low-income residents in Shelby County.
Shares, Inc.: $21,709 to enhance its pre-vocational training program. They plan to implement enhanced production training using training screens to help participants develop quality control and productivity skills. Additionally, the organization intends to establish a virtual career exploration lab featuring virtual reality programming and a computer lab to help participants identify career options outside of production.
Shelter from the Storm, Inc.: $35,000 to assist women and their children in escaping abusive situations, prioritizing the vital first step of securing safe housing. More information about these grants and other funding opportunities through BRCF can be found online at blueriverfoundation.com/apply-for-grants.

NOTEBOOK:

Upon seeing “no truck” signs near the intersection of W. Mechanic St. and N. Harrison St., a semi-truck driver struck a fire hydrant while attempting to turn. The hydrant became airborne and struck a parked vehicle.
In response to reader’s question regarding Shelbyville High School’s conference change, listed here are the members of the new Hoosier Legends Conference: Triton Central, Indian Creek, Monrovia, Speedway, Tri-West, Beech Grove, and now to be joined by SHS and Greenwood, pending the conference change process. SHS is currently part of the Hoosier Heritage Conference, which also includes Delta, Greenfield-Central, Mt. Vernon (Fortville), New Castle, New Palestine, Pendleton Heights and Yorktown.
Serve Shelby, a committee formed through the Blue River Community Foundation, has organized a morning of local community service to commemorate National Philanthropy Day, Friday, November 15. If you would like to volunteer or send a team from your business or organization, click here for event and registration details.
NATIONAL NEWS: As of August, Walgreens said it was hosting 5,400 abandoned RedBox DVD kiosks in its stores, which cost $184,000 a month to remain powered up. (404 Media/Numlock)
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EDITORIAL: Vill(e)ian’s Level Up to Rural Revolution

submitted by Cristi Brant (IN Business Shelby County)

Shelbyville, Indiana: A New Era

Shelbyville, Ind., is shedding outdated narratives and embracing a new era. Known in the past for economic stagnation, opioid and other drug addictions, and a wave of graduates who sought opportunities elsewhere, the town is turning a corner. The rebrand - centered around the slogan, “Next Door, Next Level” - reflects a fundamental shift: the people are the brand, and every resident plays a part in building the future.

Two Perspectives on Progress

During the rebranding process, a striking divide emerged. Many long-time residents, particularly those who graduated in and around the 1990s and 2000s, still carry frustrations rooted in Shelbyville’s past. In contrast, those who moved here later see the town as a place of opportunity and innovation. This rebrand invites both groups to reimagine Shelbyville and see that the progress they seek isn’t somewhere else—it’s already happening here, with their participation.

Education, Opportunity, and Automation at Work

Shelbyville is backing its transformation with concrete initiatives. Ivy Tech’s Advantage Shelby County program offers free two-year degrees, while the Excel Center provides GEDs and career certifications at no cost, making education accessible to all. These initiatives prepare residents for the demands of the fourth Industrial Revolution, where hands-on experience - like fast food and factory work - is as valuable as formal education.

Fast food and the like, often viewed as a stepping stone, is now at the frontier of digital innovation. Shelbyville workers familiar with these jobs are adapting to automated kiosks and mobile order systems, experiences that equip them with problem-solving skills for the future. As thought leader Adam Grant observes, “The hallmark of expertise is no longer how much you know. It’s how well you synthesize.” Shelbyville’s workforce embodies this mindset, turning practical skills into tools for growth.

The Power of Personal Transformation

Shelbyville’s level-up isn’t just economic, it’s personal. Residents overcoming addiction, including those that support them, demonstrate the rigorous behavior change required for recovery, a parallel to the adaptability needed in today’s evolving workforce. The discipline, resilience, and self-awareness cultivated through recovery align with the same mindset shifts driving Shelbyville’s progress. These individuals exemplify the town’s message: success is built through persistence, learning, and the courage to change.

Owning the Future Through a Rural Revolution

“Next Level” is a call to action. Shelbyville’s future isn’t about leaving behind its small-town identity but redefining it. With affordable housing, access to education, and an economy rooted in advanced manufacturing and automation, the town is proving that success is local.

This rural revolution challenges residents to see themselves not as bystanders but as architects of their community. Whether lifelong Vill(e)ians or newcomers, each person plays a role in shaping what comes next. In Shelbyville, every experience counts -because progress isn’t just down the road; it’s right next door.

SHS Courier Archive Highlights:

Oct. 29, 1953, Part II

School officials implemented a plan to relieve crowding at school convocations, which essentially involved running convocations twice and splitting the grades. “The problem is far from solved,” The Courier said. “Only a high school auditorium can do that.”
“A bulletin came over the PA system Oct. 20 asking the Junior and Sophomore class officers to report to the west side of the building for Squib pictures. Every officer reported to the east side. The strange thing was that the photographers and Squib staff were set up on the east side.”
Robert Turner and Howard Ribble were local winners in the national Frankie Laine Album Cover contest sponsored locally by WSRK. They would receive subscriptions to Company, the Magazine for Young People.
Girls helping in the office included Phyllis Binford, Lynda Webb, Wilma Yoder, Janet Ash and Patty Mount.
Bob Mullen took first place at the SCC Cross Country meet, held in Columbus.
Three SHS football players had suffered broken bones so far in the season: Frank Mullen broke his wrist, Ronnie Kettler fractured his wrist and Jim McKeand broke his collar bone.
The Golden Bears beat Rushville in football, 19-0, highlighted by a 67-yard touchdown run by Bob Cramer.
Bill Mann and Ronnie Mitchell won first place in SCC tournament doubles action. Paul Means was runner-up for singles.
Phil Brown, business manager for the Squib, announced the staff: Colt Holbrook, Jim Law, Pat Lawrence, Sheila Siefert, Dick Weakley and John Mount.

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 from the Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department.

2014: Editor’s note: Due to a microfilm processing error, the 2014 section for the next couple of weeks will serve to memorialize a local individual who passed away that year.) Todd Kuhn, 74, passed away April 2. He was a 1957 graduate of Shelbyville High School and received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Purdue University. He served in the U.S. Army from 1963-1966. He had sung in the SHS Glee Club as a student.

2004: The Shelbyville Common Council passed on first reading an ordinance allowing for two-way traffic on a previously one-way section of Walker St. The change would begin at Walker Street’s intersection with Harrison St. and head east to Noble St. After a couple of council member’s expressed concern about the width of the street, Plan Director Tom DeBaun said he would re-measure the street and bring the results to the next council meeting.

1994: Pioneer Sports announced plans to add 12 to 15 jobs and move to new headquarters on E. Rampart St. The sweatshirt maker was taking over the site of the former concrete sewer-pipe maker Hydro Conduit.

1984: Workers began completing the dome on the city’s new Meredith Mann Fire Station-Water Tower Complex.

Indiana University announced that Shelbyville High School alumnus William Leon Garrett would be inducted posthumously into the IU Athletic Hall of Fame. Garrett, who died of a heart attack in 1974, had led SHS to the state title and broke the color barrier in major college basketball. Dan Thomasson, editor of Washington-based Scripps-Howard News Service and an SHS graduate, had written a nationally-published column chiding the Hall of Fame for previously omitting Garrett. State Rep. Stephen Moberly had similarly complained to IU President John Ryan about Garrett’s exclusion. Gary Long, an SHS and IU basketball standout, was one of the IU lettermen who nominated Garrett for the honor. Betty, Garrett’s widow, said, “He’s been duly rewarded now after being overlooked, but I’ve purged myself of any bad feelings.”

1974: With sugar prices skyrocketing, several local restaurant owners said their sugar packets on tables were disappearing. Winfred Simpson, of Winnie’s Restaurant, said he was “thinking of going to shakers.” Dick Stith, owner of the Spudnut, said he had reduced the amount of sugar placed on tables. E.E. Phillips, manager of Cambridge Inn, said sugar would continue to be served in bowls.

Lt. Gov. Robert Orr was the guest speaker at a Republican fundraising dinner in Morristown at the Bluebird Restaurant.

1964: A newspaper photo showed 30 cars and one taxi lined up for drop-off in front of Coulston Elementary, following a school bus that had been condemned as unsafe.

1954: Local officials announced free polio shots would be offered soon.

1944: Mr. and Mrs. Harry Fox, of Shelby St., received word that their son, Lt. Kenneth E. Fox, had been wounded in action in Germany. He was in a hospital in England. His wife was living in Palm Springs, Calif.

Shelby County’s latest group of men to be inducted into the U.S. Armed Forces left for duty. They were Louis Weakley, Harry Edwards, James Cox Jr., Loren Heuer, Guy Gahimer Jr., Jesse Cherry, Morris Hendrix, Owen Osborn, Jack Lawrence, Carl Jeffries, Lawrence Coulston, Ralph Cook, John Scott, Jack Towns, Edison Johnson, James Cox, Scott Hollandbeck, Donald Plew and Edward Six.

1934: Plans were announced for a 100th anniversary service at First Christian Church. Two former pastors, one representing the period in the old church building on Franklin and Pike streets, and the other in the new, were scheduled to speak.

1924: A valuable bird dog (worth $50, or $900 in today’s money) belonging to Dr. S.B. Coulson was killed on the concrete road near Waldron when it was struck by an automobile. “The driver of the machine is held blameless for the accident,” The Republican said.

1914: The Fashion Hat Shop, one door south of the traction station, announced the arrival of 300 untrimmed hats, $2 each.

OBITUARIES

Mr. Bernard Ray “Bernie” Gaudin, 75, of East Enterprise, Ind., entered this life on September 9, 1949, in Madison, Ind. He was raised in Vevay, Ind., and in Shelbyville, Ind., and was a 1967 graduate of Shelbyville High School. He was a former math teacher for the Switzerland County High School from 1972-1973, after earning his bachelor’s degree in math from Indiana State University in 1972. Bernie was united in marriage to Joanne Scudder on April 6, 1979, in Vevay, Ind. This happy union of over 45 years was blessed with a son, Jeff and a daughter, Jessica.

A dedicated and hardworking individual, Bernie was known for his strong work ethic and commitment to serving his community. He owned and operated East End Auto in Vevay from 1977 until his retirement in April 2022. Bernie was a member of the Most Sorrowful Mother of God Catholic Church and the Sons of the Vevay American Legion Post #185. He served on the Switzerland County Alcohol and Beverage board for 50 years and the Switzerland County Tourism board for 10 years. You could always count on Bernie, a man whose presence brought stability and reassurance to this community. Bernie passed away at 4:23 a.m., Thursday, October 17, 2024, at his residence in East Enterprise, Ind.

Bernie is survived by his wife, Joanne (Scudder) Gaudin of East Enterprise, Ind.; his son, Jeff Gaudin, of Homosassa, Fla.; his daughter, Jessica Sumblin and her husband, Kenya of Shepherdsville, Ky.; his granddaughter, Klarah Sumblin of Shepherdsville, Ky.; his brothers, Joe Gaudin, Sr. and his wife, Kathy, of Shelbyville, Ind., Rick Gaudin and his wife, Debbie of Shelbyville, Ind., and Jim Gaudin and his wife, Linda, of Shelbyville, Ind., and his several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Raymond Carlyle Gaudin, who died October 11, 2002; his mother, Mary Alice (Bumen) Gaudin, who died August 27, 2016, and his great-nephew, Alex Matthew Scudder, who died September 2, 2014.

Visitation will be held from 4 - 7 p.m., Monday, October 21, 2024, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home 208 Ferry Street Vevay, Ind., 47043. The Rosary will be prayed on Monday at 7 p.m. at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Ind., 47043. Funeral Rite outside of Mass will be conducted Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at 11 a.m., by Deacon Mike Boggs, at the Most Sorrowful Mother of God Catholic Church, 513 North Ferry Street, Vevay, Ind., 47043. Interment will follow in the Vevay Cemetery, Vevay, Ind. Memorial contributions may be made to Most Sorrowful Mother of God Catholic Church or Our Hospice of South Central Indiana. Cards are available at the funeral home or online at www.haskellandmorrison.com.

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