Friday, September 13, 2024
Eighth Grader Sets Second Running Record
Shelbyville Middle School eighth grader America Leon Torres stands next to the record board, on which she will soon be listed twice. | photo by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
America Leon Torres continues her run through the Shelbyville Middle School record book, breaking the girls’ cross country course mark by five seconds this week. Danielle Lubbe set the previous mark, in 2012 at 12 minutes and 17 seconds.
“I’ve been thinking about this record since last year when I broke (the 1600-meter track) record,” Leon Torres said.
Her first outings this year resulted in times of 12:38 and 12:55 on the 1.86-mile courses, but she was tipped off Tuesday in Morristown that the record was in reach.
“I don’t like looking at my watch because it slows me down, but my mom and Coach (Jeremy McIntire) said I was on a good pace,” Leon Torres said. “When my dad said, ‘You have to go!’ I started sprinting.”
She checked her watch a few seconds after crossing the finish line and knew it was mission accomplished: 12 minutes and 12 seconds.
“I just looked at my mom and started crying for joy,” America said.
She now can improve that mark during the remaining four cross country meets, including 8th Grade Night on the home Blue River Cross Country Course, Sept. 23, 5:30 p.m.
America also has another middle school track season left. Her friend Macey Robbins, now a ninth grader who set the school 800-meter record last spring, has both congratulated and teased America.
“She said, ‘I hope you don’t beat my record. You’re on (the record board) enough,’” Leon Torres said, laughing.
Golf Benefits Local Charity
Twenty teams prepare to tee off yesterday at noon in a golf benefit for Dinner Before Bedtime at Blue Bear Golf Course. | photos by JACK BOYCE
NOTEBOOK:
Adjusted Gross Revenue was down slightly last month at Horseshoe Indianapolis Casino in Shelbyville, at $22.1 million in August compared to $22.6 million the prior month. That number is also down a bit from the $23.7 million AGR reported August 2023.
NATIONAL NEWS: According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, as of October 2023 the average American wrote 1.23 checks in that month. The average amount of money that check was worth was $504, indicating that in general people were cutting checks for top-dollar purchases. By comparison, in 2000, the average American wrote 60 checks per year. In October 2023, that same month, among Americans who used cash, the average American used cash in 7.3 transactions, which averaged at $44.11 in amount. (Sherwood News/Numlock)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights:
May 29, 1996
1995-1996 Courier Staff
Student Council results were in for 1996-97. Jennifer Williams would be Student Council President; Carolynn Baker, vice president; and Theresa Anderson, treasurer. Class officers were Jason Miller, Teresa Harrold and Carrie Browning for seniors; Melanie Beglin, Quiana Jackson and Jessica Simmons for juniors; Mandy Pouder, Katie Thopy and Kelly Krise for sophomores; and Ashlee Branam, Carmela Clawson and Beth Browning for freshmen. Representatives were Deena Glasco, Jamie Haggard, Nikki Nicholson, Brooke Fair, Emily Young, Erin Turner, Erin Rees, Melissa Wiley, Chasity Goodwin and Allison Gaffney, seniors; Andrea Jones, Scott Headlee, Andrea Goldyn, Amber Ross, Rick Jester and Katie Davis, juniors; Brittany Fischer, Eric Glasco, Lindsay Hassebroek, Chris Kelley, Mike Livingston, Brent McNeely, Amanda Nixon, Anne Plymate, Courtney Powell and Mandy Zenor, sophomores; and Emily Crisp, Jill Foster, Rhianna Huber, Andrea Jackson, Dustin Manning, Amanda O’Connor, Jill Rush, Kate Vaught, Michelle Warble and Sarah Williams, freshmen.
The “Make the Grade” column gave Foreign Exchange Students an “A” (“Thanks for making us a little more culturally aware! Can we go home with you?”); “A” for Mr. Rice (“Oh, Spanish God, Please give us buenas notas!”); and an “A” for Bathroom Doors (“Now the ladies have some priacy. By the way, the Courier ran an article about the lack of doors. See, we do have an effect on decisions!”)
Several students had participated in Mentorship. Jennifer Peck went to Loper Elementary three days a week to work with Mrs. Dunaway. Andrea Durham worked with Mrs. Titser at SMS. Mindi Soviar went to Loper to work with Mrs. Jan Kehrt and Mrs. Sylvia Spurling. (Mindi’s most memorable moment was Valentine’s Day, when the kids made Valentine’s for her.) Aimee Lovell worked with counselors Jan Meyer and Cindy Conners at Hendricks and Pearson. And Leslie Randolph went to Pearson to work with Mrs. Sara Hunton.
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: The Major Hospital board voted 6-0 to move from West Washington St. to a new facility in the Intelliplex. MHP already had expanded several services to the Intelliplex. Plans called for a 300,000-square-foot facility, connecting to Benesse Oncology Center. The new facility would house 57 physicians and 934 employees.
2004: Ashford Place on N. Riley Hwy. prepared to open. Shelbyville residents Sam and Bonnie Amos, former Wellington Heights residents who had been married 54 years, would be the first residents.
Seniors Brittany Billingsley and Luis Chung were crowned Homecoming Queen and King at Triton Central High School’s Homecoming celebration.
1994: The Purdue Extension program sponsored Farm Fest 1994, featuring a driving tour of Blackford Dairy, Boring Farm, Brookwood Farm, Anderson Orchard and Everhart Beef/Adams Farm.
Bradley Fix was named SCUFFY drive chairman by Russell J. Sanders, president of the SCUFFY board of directors.
1984: Gov. Robert Orr met with 250 Shelby County Republicans in a reception at the Holiday Inn.
Mr. Video, in the Junction Shopping Center next to Kroger and People’s Drugs, held its grand opening. The company offered a “complete selection” of VHS and beta machine tapes.
1974: Compton’s Cow Palace opened on Public Square.
1964: Interstate Finance opened at 38 E. Washington St. It was managed by Thomas Steele.
1954: Marcella VanGorden, of Norristown, was crowned queen of the Pumpkin Festival in Flat Rock. Rev. Ralph Harvey presented the crown.
1944: Maurice Young, a Technician Fifth Grade in the Army, drowned in military action off Dutch New Guinea. He had lived with Mr. and Mrs. Frank Runnebohm for three years before deployment.
1934: Approximately 300 local men were employed in federal projects, which included constructing a storm sewer on Taylor St., removing abandoned railroad ties on S. Harrison St., cleaning the Little Blue River channel, cleaning the Thompson Ditch, and other projects.
1924: Charles Linville was appointed principal of the Green Schoolhouse in Shelby Township. Mrs. Willard Jones, of Waldron, was in charge of the primary grades there. Linville succeeded Rev. O.J. McMullen, who had been appointed principal of an Indianapolis area school.
1914: After 30 years in the northwest corner of Public Square, the Union Building and Loan Association moved to 23 W. Washington St.
OBITUARIES
William E. (Bill) Polakoff was born on February 11, 1955 in Shelbyville. He was the son of Richard and Skippy (Vinder) Polakoff. Bill spent his adult years surrounded by wonderful caregivers in Madison, North Vernon, and later in Austin, Indiana. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents Abraham S. and Ann Polakoff, and sister Karen (Polakoff) Alessi.
Bill spent the last 24 years in the loving care of Yvonne Meadows and her family.
He is survived by his cousins Don Polakoff, Greg Polakoff, Keith “Kipp” Polakoff, Lisa Polakov, cousins Susan Polakoff Shaw, Jennifer (Polakoff) McNally, Mike Schneider, Patti (Schneider) Moss, Ben Schneider, Bobby Schneider, Wayne Polakoff, David Polakoff, Cydney (Finkel) Fox, Ken Finkel, David Finkel, Roberta (Kite) Potsic, Francie (Kite) Georges, Steve Kite, Nancy Chertok, Tom Schneider, Bonnie Schneider, and Kathy Hirsh; he is also survived by his caregiver Yvonne Meadows and her children Tina Johnson, Greg Johnson, Tonya (Johnson) White, and Tim Johnson.
Billy passed away on September 6, 2024 in Scottburgh, Ind. Family burial services will be Sunday September 15, 2024 at 3 p.m. in Miller Cemetery with Rabbi Brett Krichiver officiating. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.