Friday, October 29, 2021
Discover more from The Addison Times
Friday, October 29, 2021
LEAVING A LEGACY
Shelbyville Middle School sixth-grader Grace Lasure received the inaugural Tony Samaras Mental Attitude award from Mr. Samaras’ widow, Cathy Samaras, and SMS Athletic Director and Dean of Students Rex Olds this week.
Mr. Samaras, who passed away in April, coached volleyball for eight years at SMS and regularly served as a substitute teacher, in addition to helping with other athletic functions. “Tony's positive attitude on even the toughest of days brightened the spirits of everyone around him,” Mr. Olds said in a statement describing the award’s namesake. “His attitude toward life epitomizes what we should all strive for each and every day.”
Mr. Samaras was no stranger to the Lasure family. He coached Grace’s older sister, Shelby, who is now on the Shelbyville High School volleyball team.
“I was so happy when I got the Tony Samaras award,” Grace Lasure said. “Even my mom was crazy about it. He helped my sister a lot, so this is very important to my family and me.”
The award will be given annually at the fall sports awards banquet.
TRUNK OR TREAT
A strong turnout participated in the Morristown Manor Trunk or Treat event, Wednesday, Oct. 27. | photos by ANNA TUNGATE
NOTEBOOK:
Plans for additional recreation options in Morristown are moving forward. The Town of Morristown recently received a $24,000 racino grant through the Blue River Community Foundation for downtown revitalization, Dede Allender reported this week. Retired local businessman Bob Wortman added an extra $1,000, and the town council in July agreed to cover the remaining amount. Funds will go toward installing two basketball courts in the current green space between the Gordon Ag Group and Long Branch Saloon buildings on E. Main Street. Allender is now seeking clarifications on quotes before proceeding.
Blue River Community Foundation’s (BRCF) student winter scholarship application cycle is now open, and details are available on the BRCF website. The deadline to apply is January 15, 2022. Since 1994, BRCF has invested over $6.7 million in students pursuing post-secondary education.
Yesterday, the state reported 10 new positive coronavirus cases and 20 new tests from the previous day in Shelby County. The number of deaths for Shelby County remained the same, at 119 (the number was readjusted to 119). The State lists the fully vaccinated number for Shelby County at 21,239.
HOOSIER NEWS: CenterPoint Energy has been given approval to acquire a 300-megawatt solar power development that will be built in Posey County. The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission also approved CenterPoint to purchase another 100-megawatts of power from a solar energy development planned in Warrick County, said Alyssia Oshodi, a CenterPoint spokeswoman. Arevon Energy Management and Tenaska are developing the 3,000-acre project in rural Marrs Township in southeast Posey County. It will be built by Arevon and owned by CenterPoint. The Posey County Solar project has drawn opposition from residents and farmers concerned about how it will affect property values, safety and quality of life. The project is slated to begin operating in 2023. (Evansville Courier & Press)
NATIONAL NEWS: Ohio, which has been locked in rhetorical combat with North Carolina over who truly is the first-in-flight, put the Wright Flyer on their new license plate pulling a banner behind it. The issue is, working from still photographs, the plane is actually flying backward on the license plate. The Ohio State Department of Public Safety said a design change would roll out to fix the plate’s plane, but they actually already made 35,000 of the erroneous plates. They’ll be recycled and new corrected plates will be released on December 29. (Associated Press and WBNS)
MORE NATIONAL NEWS: Cigarette sales rose last year for the first time in two decades, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Eight million more cigarettes were sold in 2020 compared to 2019, a 0.4% bump.
This Week in Shelby County" works by George L. Stubbs Sr. are owned by the Shelby County Historical Society (Grover Center) and used with permission.
FROM THE STUBBS FILE
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.
20 YEARS AGO: 2001
Shelbyville Fire Chief Kurt Lockridge met with members of the Shelbyville Police, Sheriff’s and Shelby County Health departments to discuss responsibilities in the event of a major disaster. The meeting was organized in light of the recent terrorist attacks. Lockridge said there had been only two anthrax calls locally in the past 20 years.
30 YEARS AGO: 1991
A clerk at Thieman Liquors, 104 S. Vine St., was hit on the head with a half-gallon bottle of whiskey during an attempted armed robbery. A 17-year-old suspect was arrested by Patrolman Charles West.
40 YEARS AGO: 1981
The latest radio ratings showed new Shelby County-based radio station WENS quickly taking over the Indianapolis-area market. WNAP had changed its programming to stop losing ground. The only stations ahead of WENS were long-time staples WIBC, WFBQ AND WTLC. WENS used to be Shelbyville’s WSVL until Emmis bought WSVL’s FM license. The programming was much different than WSVL. They had stopped most local Shelbyville news, swap shops and live broadcasts of local sports. Station officials said the goal was “Less chatter, more music.”
50 YEARS AGO: 1971
Sheriff’s deputies Richard Allender and William Brown stopped a taxi containing five men near CR 900 W and 1200N. The taxi driver jumped out and told officers that the men in the cab had threatened to overpower and rob him. The taxi meter had logged 61 miles. Law officers found women’s silk stockings in the pockets of three of the men and a revolver under one of the seats. The men were detained.
60 YEARS AGO: 1961
A car parked in the 200 block of W. Mechanic St. was spray-painted green in an apparent Halloween prank. In the 700 block of Center Street, someone entered the home and broke several pumpkins on the front room floor.
Bob and Jim West, owners and operators of West’s Men’s Wear, launched a boys’ clothing department. The company was in its seventh year of business.
70 YEARS AGO: 1951
Halloween vandals slashed the awning at Smith’s Department Store on the Public Square. The G.C. Murphy Store awning had been damaged earlier in the week.
Within an hour of The Shelbyville News posting notice that the local police department was looking for homes for seven dogs, every dog had been claimed. “Don’t underestimate the power of the press or the affection of a puppy, whichever the case may be,” the paper said.
80 YEARS AGO: 1941
The Shelbyville Republican announced a new columnist named El Hamid, who was a “mental impressionist and crystal seer.” Readers could send in their problems and El Hamid would “carefully analyze and classify (them) according to the astrological sign under which you were born,” the paper said. The Republican said all types of problems could be submitted, but “Please do not ask about lost, stolen or missing things or persons, as these questions cannot be answered by means of astrological science.”
90 YEARS AGO: 1931
E. Forrest Barnes won the county corn husking title. Cecil Tennell, the 1930 winner, placed third.
100 YEARS AGO: 1921
The Shelbyville Republican reported that a murder in Franklin had been the result of a feud between “Kentucky mountaineers” who had moved there.
INCIDENTS
Burglary was reported in the 2200 block of Cherrybark Court, Shelbyville.
OBITUARIES
Jerry Coffey, 75, of Shelbyville passed away Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at Franciscan Health Indianapolis.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at Murphy-Parks Funeral Service, 703 S. Harrison Street, Shelbyville, IN 46176. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Whispering Hope Memorial Gardens and Crematory. Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks, and Stuart Parks are honored to serve Jerry’s family. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.
Sudie Carroll Cox, 78, of Manilla, passed away Thursday, October 28, 2021, at her daughter’s home. She was born October 24, 1943, in Pikeview, Kentucky, the daughter of William Gordon and Flora Mae (Hitch) Caffee. On May 27, 1961, she married Billie M. Cox, and he preceded her in death on February 28, 2017. Sudie is survived by her son, Troy Cox and wife, Hope, of Indianapolis; daughters, Kelly Cox and Stephanie Paxton, both of Shelbyville; brother, Jodie Caffee and wife, Lynelle, of Gulf Shores, Alabama; grandchildren, Craig, Justin, Andrew, Samantha, Matthew, Weston, Jessica, Jerrica, Shawn, Casey and Tawnee; great-grandchildren, Karigan, Nora Jane, Miles, Elliott, Anastasia, Dakota, Jorja, Lucy, Ryan, Mason, Zayne, Wiley, Kinley and Everly; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to Billie, Sudie was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Stacy L. Cox; and brothers, Dale Caffee and Steve Caffee.
Sudie graduated in 1961 from Waldron High School, and received her degree in accounting from IUPUI. She was a member of Bible Mission Church. Sudie formerly worked for the US Postal Service for over 10 years; TRW Cinch for over 5 years; Overhead Door and CT Farm and Country. She was a wonderful seamstress and enjoyed making clothes for her children and grandchildren. Sudie also enjoyed crafting and gardening. She loved her family and especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. Sudie also leaves behind her dog, Bo.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, November 2, 2021, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Funeral services will be at noon Tuesday at the funeral home, with Pastor David Gooding officiating. Interment will be at Bennett Cemetery in Shelby County. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sudie C. Cox Memorial Fund, in care of Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Online condolences may be shared with Sudie’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Richard Wayne “Sonny” Theobald was carried into Heaven in the loving embrace of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 28, 2021. Born on December 9, 1937 in Shelbyville, IN he was the son of DeWard Edward and Doris Catherine Baker Theobald.
After graduating from Shelbyville High School (Indiana) in 1956, he went on to graduate from General Motors Engineering Institute (1961) and achieved a Masters in Science and Math from Indiana State College (1964). His first love was to teach at the college level and so he taught at Danville Area Community College (Danville, IL); Dutchess Community College (NY), and Orangeburg State College (SC-on loan from IBM). However, his main employment was with IBM as programmer from 1966 (Poughkeepsie, NY) until his retirement in 1996 (Lexington, KY).
He was married to Vivian Kay Sproul Theobald of Fairland, IN from 1960 until her death in 1994 (Lexington, KY). He then met and married Mary Stuart Johnston Theobald in 1995 and relocated from Lexington, KY to Pulaski, VA in 1996. While in Virginia, he was employed by Pulaski County from 1997 until 1999; by Carroll County Public Schools from 1999 until 2010, and then volunteered as a tax preparer for New River Community Action, Pulaski County from 2010 until 2018. He was an active member of Trinity Baptist Church, Pulaski, VA where he served as financial secretary and deacon for many years. He also taught Sunday school and participated in various holiday plays and performances.
He is survived by his current wife, Mary Stuart Johnston Theobald (Pulaski, VA); his daughters, Janelle (Charley) Gerber (Muncie, IN), Michelle (Todd) Derbin (Lexington, KY), Deanna Hall (Osgood, IN), Shari (Larry) Levy (Georgetown, KY). He is also survived by a brother, Forrest “Bud” (Ellen) Theobald of Riverside, California & children, Kathleen, Amy and Ben; and a sister, Darlene Theobald Miller of Edinburgh, Indiana & children, Kristine, Tony, Marty and Ricky (deceased). His is also survived by a brother/sister-in-law, TP (Mary) Johnston, Jr of Powder Springs, Georgia; Jennie (Ronnie) Tweed of Hillsville, Virginia; nieces Kelli (Casey) Adams, Jenna Bond, Ashley Johnston, Stacey Johnston, Grace Johnston, and Bethany Johnston. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Joshua (Andrea) Gerber & children, Jonah, Tabitha, Emma and Lydia; Caitlyn (David) Rickey, Laura and Sarah Levy. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Vivian Kay Sproul Theobald (Lexington, KY); a son, Daryl Wayne Theobald (Pulaski, VA); and his parents (Shelbyville, IN).
A celebration of life service will be held at Trinity Baptist Church, 4008 Robinson Tract Road, Pulaski, VA on Sunday, October 31, 2021 with viewing to be from 2 - 3:30 p.m. followed by a worship service at 3:30 PM. Burial will be at the Lexington Cemetery located in Lexington, KY. In lieu of flowers, donations can be given to Trinity Baptist Church at the same address listed above. Stevens Funeral Home, Pulaski, VA is serving the Theobald family. Online condolences may be made through www.stevensfuneralhomepulaski.com.
Roger D. Saylor Sr., 73, found his final resting place with his Savior, Jesus Christ on Oct. 26, 2021. He was the eldest child born to Claude H. and Alma Marie (Shrader) Saylor on Jan. 11, 1948, in Shelbyville, but resided in Anderson most of his life.
Roger worked for Emge Packing Co. for 25 years and then went on to be a driver for Marsh Supermarkets for another 20 years. However, being with his friends and family was his favorite way to spend his time. He enjoyed having coffee with friends and visiting with his brother-in-law, Danny and his buddy, Jack. His sons and their families were his top priority. Roger taught his family about respect, hard work, and love. He spent many days at Falls Park in Pendleton with his grandchildren wading in the water and feeding the ducks. Some would say his grandbabies were who he lived for. He was a proud Dad and Papaw.
Roger is survived by his two sons, Roger Saylor Jr. (Janice) and Matthew Saylor (Vonda); grandchildren, Shawnae Buck (Blake), Roger Saylor III (Tre), Braxton Saylor, Dalton Saylor, Elijah Bloyd, Garrett Saylor, Katie Mckeon(Tyler), Lindsay Haas (Ryan); great-grandchildren, Lucas Owens, Aubrey Vicors, Leo Buck, Noah Mckeon, Lenox Mckeon, Owen Haas; brothers, Steve H. Saylor, James L. Saylor, Michael E. Saylor, Terry R. Saylor, Jeffrey A. Saylor; sisters, Vicki L. (Saylor) Phillips, and Tammy M. (Saylor) Porter. He was the eldest of his siblings and was viewed by many as the "leader" of the family. Roger didn't take anything for granted and was patient. His most famous quote was, "It just don't get no better than this, folks!" He will forever be loved and missed by all who knew him. Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Alma Marie Saylor; sisters, Jane (Jeannie) (Saylor) Davis and Connie J. (Saylor) Eytchison; and great-grandson, Vincent B. Buck.