Monday, April 22, 2024
SOMETHING IN COMMON
Shelbyville High School students Kolbie Kehm-Welty, Isabella Cole, Olivia Bowman and Ellabelle Holmes pose for pictures at Blue River Memorial Park before Saturday’s prom. The group of friends are all in 4-H and FFA. | photo by JACK BOYCE
Ivy Tech Unveils Advanced Manufacturing Lab in Shelbyville
Ivy Tech Community College, elected officials and education professionals host a ribbon-cutting Thursday for the college’s new Advanced Manufacturing Simulation Lab in Shelbyville, located in the Intelliplex. | photo by ANNA TUNGATE
Students in Shelbyville’s new Ivy Tech Advanced Manufacturing Simulation Lab won’t be wondering, “Why am I learning this?” Steve Shaw, director of Blue River Career Programs (BRCP) said Thursday at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. “The beauty of this lab is that it’s hands-on learning.”
The facility, located at Ivy Tech in the Intelliplex, fills more than 4,000 square feet of previously unused space with advanced manufacturing equipment provided by BRCP, including FANUC robotic arms. It is the latest initiative of a long-standing collaboration between local government, industry and the college. The entities already combine to offer Advantage Shelby County (ASC), a scholarship program to qualified local students to cover remaining tuition costs after the contributions of other aid. That program can be used for an associate’s degree, which then can transfer to any accredited college in the state. The new lab will be used by ASC students studying advanced manufacturing, current high school students considering such careers and in certification programs for local manufacturing employers.
“Manufacturing is what we do here in Shelby County. It is who we are,” Shelbyville Mayor Scott Furgeson said.
The data backs him up. Manufacturing is the largest industry in the county, with 19 percent of the workforce in the field as of 2022. And more than 7,000 annual total production job openings are anticipated through 2031 in the region, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development reports.
“This is just the beginning,” Ivy Tech President Dr. Sue Ellspermann said at the event. “You’re going to see the true payoff when we get you graduates working in your companies and being able to upskill your employees to have what they need to succeed.”
The lab was previously located at BRCP for seven years. High school students at the new facility can earn dual credit, meaning their credits apply for both high school and college.
“It’s a good fit here,” Shaw said.
The event also included remarks from Ivy Tech Vice Chancellor Stephanie Amos, a Shelby County native; Northwest Consolidated Schools Superintendent Chris Hoke; Kent McNeely, a retired human resources professional; and Ethan McGivern, a Triton Central and ASC graduate who also participated in BRCP. The ribbon-cutting was followed by tours of the new facility.
McNeely referenced Bob Dylan’s “The times, they are a-changing,” song. “I can tell you, Shelby County is keeping up with these changes,” he said.
NOTEBOOK:
The inaugural Bourbon & Beast Feast, hosted by the Shelbyville Rotary Club, is coming up Saturday, May 11, 6 p.m., at Suite 415 Event Center, 415 East Hendricks St., Shelbyville. The event featuring bourbon tasting, an exotic menu showcasing wild game, live auctions, silent auctions and music by Jeremy O’Connor and Amanda Hasecuster will benefit Dinner Before Bedtime and several other charities supported by local Rotarians. The auction will feature premium bourbons, a Big Green Egg and other valuable items. Tickets for the fundraiser are $150 each, and only 160 tickets will be sold. Contact Bill Poland, bpolland@genesispd.net, for tickets.
NATIONAL NEWS: Bark Air, a new airline from the company behind BarkBox, is offering private jet flights from Los Angeles to New York and New York to London that cater to dogs, beginning on May 23. It costs $6,000 for the transcontinental flight and $8,000 to bring your pup across the Atlantic. While you’re being herded into a middle seat on your commercial flight, these dogs will be cruising in the lap of luxury. The canine-focused amenities include: a treat menu with “Doggie Champagne,” aka chicken broth; more room to roam the main cabin; only 10 human passengers can ride on a jet that holds as many as 14; a play area that resembles a dog park is also in the works. The biggest difference between dog and human flights is removable carpet tiles should a passenger (the dog, not the human) leave a mess on the floor mid-flight. (Morning Brew)
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This Day in Shelby County History
2014: The Shelbyville High School Alumni Hall of Fame Class of 2014 was announced, which included Harry Larrabee, a 1970 graduate. As a sophomore on the Golden Bears basketball team, Larrabee was part of the transition from Paul Cross Gymnasium to the new gym. He was a two-time Paul Cross Award winner and a 1970 Indiana All-Star in basketball. The “Little” Marion school alumnus played college at Texas. He then coached and served as an administrator in Alaska for nearly 20 years. He returned to Shelbyville in 2000 to coach the Golden Bears, leading the 2005-06 team to a 21-0 undefeated regular season.
2004: Waldron Elementary School fifth-grader Zachary Montgomery, the son of Linda and Wayne Montgomery, was chosen for the People to People International Student Ambassador Program. He was one of 30 students in Indiana to travel to San Francisco and northern California to learn about the region.
1994: Patty Spitler of WISH-TV was named guest speaker at the upcoming Morristown Chamber of Commerce annual banquet, to be held at the Blue Bird Restaurant. Spitler, the Indianapolis television station’s entertainment reporter, had been with WISH-TV since 1982. Phillip Nigh, out-going chamber president, would name the recipient of the Morristown Citizen of the Year at the banquet.
1984: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a letter saying they would fine the city of Shelbyville and 32 other Hoosier cities $10,000 a day if the cities did not take action to establish a pretreatment program for industrial wastes being dumped into the city’s sewer system.
1974: The former Monte Glove plant would be razed soon, Paul Graham, president of Shelbyville Motors Inc., which had purchased the property, announced. The building was located in the first block of E. Jackson St., facing Jackson St., and just across an alley from a downtown complex of buildings recently purchased to be razed by First Federal Savings and Loan. Monte Glove had closed its glove-making operation in 1973. The building had been constructed in 1883, and the land would mostly be used as a parking lot.
1964: An American Flag which was one of three flying over the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. at the same time President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Tex. would be placed in a bank vault in Morristown for safe-keeping, Morristown Principal Robert Kelso said. The flag had been presented to the school by the senior government class, and at that time the trustee indicated it would be encased and hung above the Freedom shrine in the school. However, Kelso later said, “This is the first time I have ever had anything of real value and frankly I don’t know what to do.”
1954: The mysterious objects putting automobile window glass all over the country apparently reached Shelbyville. A resident in the 200 block of W. Hendricks St. reported his parked car had developed the strange pitted spots for no apparent reason. Other reports followed. When such reports started out west, it was believed to be boys with air rifles who were responsible. Later, as reports of scarred windshields spread eastward, it was theorized that some kind of atomic fall-out from the hydrogen bomb explosions might be responsible. Local police said most of the pits were likely caused by “normal highway conditions.”
1944: Official fire protection returned to the county after a deal was struck with the City of Shelbyville. The service had previously been halted over disagreements. The new contract was similar to the old, but a change required the payment of $1,000 annually from each township to the city. The county was also responsible for maintenance of the equipment.
1934: A plot on the Flat Rock River was leased by the Forty and Eight and a clubhouse was being built. “Any member of the Forty and Eight of the local American Legion who does not have employment is asked to see Graham Lemmon immediately,” The Republican said.
1924: Work was started on arranging a new hill section at Forest Hill cemetery. The new plat was located just northwest of the new brick mausoleum.
Five hundred small goldfish, of numerous colors and blends of colors, were placed in the Joseph Memorial Fountain, located in the center of Public Square. “City officials have requested that persons place no other fish in the fountain,” The Republican said. “It was stated that other varieties of fish would make their meals off of the small goldfish.” In 1923, bass, catfish and carp were placed in the fountain, but the decision was made to use only goldfish in 1924.
1914: Twenty-seven girls and nine boys were on the city departmental school’s honor roll, indicating they had earned at least an 80 percent in all nine subjects. “The boys at this building are hopelessly behind the girls in the matter of studentship,” The Republican opined.
OBITUARIES
None today.