Monday, April 14, 2025
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS
EASTER SEASON
Sydney Haehl, left, was one of approximately 25 Shelbyville High School National Honor Society members who volunteered at Saturday’s Community Easter Egg Hunt. “They were phenomenal,” Tiffany Kredit, Shelbyville Parks Recreation Director, said. She also thanked the numerous other volunteers, which included the Aktion and Kiwanis Club members, who handled the egg banks where kids returned their eggs for prizes. Below: Amelia Harmon, 8, shows off her face painting at the event. | photos by JACK BOYCE
Highway Department Crew Rescues Stranded Motorists
by ANNA TUNGATE
Four county highway department workers saved two lives during recent flooding. The men don’t want to be publicly recognized, but the story - one of both caution and heroism - needs to be told.
Shortly after Sheriff’s deputies retrieved a stalled vehicle from the Buck Creek waters on CR West 700 North, located between W 875 N and London Road, near the Woodnotes housing addition, Thursday morning, April 3, highway personnel were dispatched to install full-size barricades to block vehicles from the area. During the installation, a small car drove around the men and attempted to traverse standing water on the road. The car stalled, and the water raised the vehicle up over the guardrail and into the creek.
The driver and a passenger quickly climbed out via a sunroof, county officials reported. The highway department employees tried to convince the pair to jump off the floating car and be rescued before the vehicle hit the swift-moving creek.
“The people were just so terrified,” Ben Taylor, highway department supervisor who was briefed on the matter, said. “Once that car hit the main current of Buck Creek, down the stream it went, and our guys leaped into action, running through backyards.”
The car went over 100 yards downstream and hit a tree, throwing a man into the water. He swam back to the car, but the car then became fully submerged. The pair found a limb near shore, and the highway personnel formed a human chain, hand-in-hand, to pull them out.
“It’s wild to think that had (the car) come through there two minutes sooner, before our guys arrived the second time to put up full-size barricades and block it off, they would never have seen them,” Taylor said. “It’s just a miracle, by heaven’s chance, that our guys were there.”
Taylor warned drivers to be cautious on submerged roads. “Water is deceiving, and once that car becomes buoyant, you’re at the mercy of the water,” he said. “You’re no longer in control.”
Fortunately, this incident had a happy ending based on the happenstance of unsung heroes.
“The sheriff’s department told those guys, between exhaustion and hypothermia, if they hadn’t been there…,” Taylor said, his voice trailing off.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: FULL CANOPY REAL ESTATE
NOTEBOOK:
Shelby County Auditor Amy Glackman posted yesterday that residents in Sugar Creek and Brandywine townships have a tax on their property tax bills this year that erroneously says “City” when it should instead be listed as “Special Assessment.” Glackman said the tax is correct, but the wording on the new tax is not. “For the residents that live in the Town of Fairland, your Fire Territory was added into your Town Tax and is listed under City on your tax bills,” the post explains. Glackman said the description will be corrected on next year’s bills.
HOOSIER NEWS: Two-way contract guard Quenton Jackson scored 21 points yesterday to help the Pacers rally from a 27-point deficit including a 24-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Cavaliers 126-118 in double overtime in the regular-season finale with both teams assured of their playoff positions and using the end of their respective benches. The Pacers finish the season 50-32, reaching the 50-win plateau for the first time since 2013-14. They will be the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and face the No. 5 seed Milwaukee Bucks. The Cavs finish the season 64-18 with the best record in the Eastern Conference. (IndyStar)
NATIONAL NEWS: For decades, Hostess clung to its wholesome, after-school-snack image. But the 106-year-old brand is changing it up. The treat-maker kicked off its latest marketing campaign this week: parking a food truck in front of dispensaries and handing out free goodies. The Wienermobile knockoff is called the Munchie Mobile, and it will be dispersing snack cakes and Twinkies at various stops along the East Coast through the infamous weed holiday 4/20. (Morning Brew)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights
May 17, 1940, Part I
The edition noted that Study Hall had first appeared at SHS as “Supervised Study” in the 1916-17 school year.
The May commencement would be the first time locally that graduates would be allowed to participate in their own graduation ceremony. Jack Klingeberger would lead the prayer, Martha Hilligoss would address the class and the student orchestra would play.
Seniors were deciding on where to hold the senior picnic. Ideas included Heflin’s Camp, Camp Joy and taking a boat ride on the Ohio River.
SHS National Honor Society members (below) were (first row, L to R) Bill Holtel, John Jewett, Norman Gray, Martin Wolf, Dick Hill, Oakley Gordon, Jack Klingeberger and Martin Cherry. (Second row) Paul Gutting, Jean McCartney, Martha Hilligoss, Margaret Meltzer, Esther Soshnick, Betty Miller, Jeanne Moore, Beulah Andrews, Betty Sherritt, Norma Neeb, Clara Metzler and Jane Linton.
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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: The 2005 Shelbyville High School Junior Prom Court included Momoko Sano, Krista Cole, Karly Huffman, Audrey Brown, Kylie Dickmann, Mindy Brouhard, Sam Booth, Devin Huesman, James Douglas, Sean Drake, Rory Bonte and Ben Wickizer.
1995: The Shelbyville-Shelby County Ambulance Board asked for proposals for backup service from private organizations. “We’re at our maximum. The county has more people who need to get to the hospital,” Steve Schoentrup, medic division chief for the Shelbyville Fire Department, said.
1985: A reporter with The Shelbyville News called teachers who had been part of a Reduction-In-Force, approved at the previous night’s meeting, for comment. The teachers were surprised to hear from the reporter. No one had yet notified them of the RIF.
Mahin’s Furniture, 8 Public Square, offered waterbeds on sale for $150.
1975: The public library observed National Library Week with free coffee and a performance by the woodwind ensemble of the Community Band. Mayor Jerry Higgins brought his children - Jay, 12, Dawn, 13, Beth, 11, Lynn, 10, Jon, 1, and Anne, 4, to the library on the occasion, where he read them a book.
1965: Frank Coffin was named a new director at KCL Corporation. Other directors were B.F. Swain Jr., D. Billings Swain, Harry O’Brien, Edward Raub Jr., Harry Hanson, W.N. Reimann, Hugh English, L. Paul Lockman and W.J. Hahl. The previous year had been one of the most successful in company history, with employment up 25 percent. KCL employed 560.
1955: Shelby County medical officials agreed to go along with the state’s plans to offer all children the polio vaccination. Officials said the most frequent question they received from parents was, “How soon can I get it for my children?” Shelby County had been one of three counties holding out on the state’s vaccination plan, with a leading local doctor calling it “basically a socialistic step.” The doctor later said there was a misunderstanding, and that he only meant that those who could afford to pay for their children’s vaccine should do so. States in the southern part of Indiana were prioritized for the vaccine since their “polio season” started earlier, state officials said.
1945: Dr. Ross, president of Butler University, spoke to the Shelbyville Rotary Club at the Strand Alcazar on the subject of trade in the “new world economy” after the conclusion of the war. He said that the U.S. must be prepared to not only be the largest producing nation in the world, but also the world’s largest importing nation if it would attain the world leadership to which its destiny seemed to point, he said.
Shelbyville stores closed at 3 p.m. in honor of the late President Roosevelt, whose funeral was held in the afternoon in the east room of the White House.
1935: Cass Petty and Claude Lovitt caught five-pound large-mouth bass fish in the Flat Rock River.
1925: Helped by good weather, local churches reported strong attendance at Easter services.
A car collided with a large maple tree in the yard of C.E. Karmire on West Mechanic St. A large piece of bark was torn from the tree and considerable damage was done to the lawn. No one was injured.
1915: “Shelbyville chickens will have to stay in their own pens, or else the keepers will be liable to a fine, if certain persons in the east part of the city have their way about the matter,” The Republican reported. Petitions were being circulated in the east end of town asking that city council pass an ordinance prohibiting residents of the city from allowing free-range chickens. “Ever since garden making time, certain of these fowls have taken great delight in scratching…usually hunting a nice, new onion bed or lettuce bed.” The paper noted that Shelbyville already had an ordinance “prohibiting cows from strolling along the streets. The same ordinance states that hogs shall not congregate in public places.”
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: Freeman Family Funeral Homes & Crematory
OBITUARIES
James “Jim” Robert Martin passed away in Los Altos, California, on December 29, 2024. Jim was born in Fountaintown, Ind., on March 31, 1943, to Helen and Walter Martin. His children survive him, Julia Martin Murphy and Justin James Martin; his grandsons, Burke Martin, Keane Martin, and Trevor Martin; Julia’s husband, Mark Cullen; his sister, Judith Myer; and nephew, Bruce Myer.
Jim grew up on the Martin Farm in Fountaintown, Ind., which his grandfather, Harvey Snider, developed and built. He worked on the farm, bailing hay and working in the fields, before attending high school at McCallie in Chattanooga, Tenn. There, he met interesting and exciting people and further developed his interests. Jim received his B.A. from DePauw University and an MBA from Indiana University.
Upon graduation, Jim jumped in his car and headed to California. He rented an apartment in Hermosa Beach. Jim worked in Los Angeles and married Judith Gardiner Martin. They lived in Palos Verdes, where his daughter Julia was born. Ten months after Julia’s birth, Jim’s employer provided the opportunity to turn around the sign-making company Plasti-Line in Knoxville, Tenn. Jim then acquired, took public, then private, the company that designed, manufactured, installed, and maintained onsite image solutions (signs) for large retailers, such as McDonald’s, General Motors, and Wells Fargo. It was the largest US company in its small industry. After his brother's passing, he also managed the family farm in Indiana. Jim’s son, Justin James Martin, was born in Knoxville during this time.
Jim loved all fine things; however, he was also active and connected with nature. Jim brought to Knoxville his love for experiences in life: travel, food and wine, entertaining, collecting art, museums, symphony, skiing, and hiking. He was a fantastic entertainer. The parties over Christmas, Easter, birthdays, and intimate dinners brought laughter and bonding among family and friends. Jim made people feel welcome. However, he always asked the tough questions, connecting people more deeply. He was loyal and dedicated to his family and friends.
Jim bought his home in Aspen, “Miners Cabin,” which he would eventually retire and use as a starting point to embark on many international trips. The fabulous dinner parties continued, and salad was always included after the main course and before the cheese. Jim loved to ski with his children throughout their lives, from the early days in Squaw Valley to Aspen. The sport allowed for amazing conversation on lifts, lunches, and enjoying the outdoors together.
Jim was an incredible father who did everything to provide Julia and Justin with education and experiences (in the US and worldwide), which shaped them into the people they are today. He was a mentor, advisor, sounding board, and, most of all, Dad. Julia and Justin were blessed and happy to spend the past six months with him at their homes in San Francisco and Los Altos, Calif. It was essential for him to spend the downtime with his family. He would rather stay in his grandson’s small bed than be in a hotel when he visited. He cherished spending everyday moments with his children and grandchildren, not just at special events. Whether it was yelling out the window in San Francisco to Julia to wait for him to walk the dog with her or going to Costco with Justin (we all know how much fun Costco is). He invited his grandchildren to come to Aspen for summer camps and took the oldest to New York to show him the sights.
Jim did kind and unexpected things for people that no one else knew about. These acts of kindness and love left a lasting impact on people. They made them happy or helped lessen their pain, showing that Jim cared deeply. Hearing these stories brought Julia and Justin tears of pride and happiness.
The Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and CEO Organization were a large part of Jim’s life. He attended 122 major CEO events. From 2007 to 2008, he was the International President, leading trips on all seven continents, including the Beijing Olympics and Antarctica. In 2024, he was the H. Jack Dow Inaugural Award Winner. Jack Dow started the CEO organization and founded Dow Chemical, making this a remarkable honor. Jim loved traveling the world with his partner, Denise Monteleone.
He was a member of the National Council of the Aspen Music Festival and School and Aspen Museum of Art member. Jim is a past campaign chairman of the United Way in Knoxville. He was President of the Board and performed the conductor search for the Knoxville Symphony. He was also on the board of the Knoxville Museum of Art and The American Symphony Orchestra League in New York.
As Julia and Justin say, “Dad is skiing in the clouds, watching down on us.” Many of his wonderful friends have also noted, “The wine and food menu in heaven has definitely improved with Jim’s presence.”
A gathering of family and friends will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 19, 2025 at the Fountaintown Methodist Church, 11715 N. Main St., Fountaintown, Indiana. A Memorial service will follow at 10:30 a.m. with Jan Bond officiating. Inurnment will follow at Fountaintown Cemetery, followed by a reception at the Kopper Kettle in Morristown. Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 124 E. North St. in Morristown. On August 2, 2025 at. Celebration of Life will be held in Aspen, Colorado, at the Christ Episcopal Church, with a reception following. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Aspen Music School (click on the link) or an organization of your choice. Jim loved the program, music, and the music professionals that perform every summer a few blocks from his home. Online condolences may be shared with Jim’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.