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Monday, February 6, 2023

The Addison Times

Feb 6, 2023

Members of the Shelbyville High School track team participate in an evening summer training session last year. | photo by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS

NOTEBOOK:

The Shelbyville High School girls basketball team (15-9) lost to Franklin Community in the sectional championship on Saturday, concluding the season. It was the first winning season for the program since 2016 and included the first post-season win since 2011.
Shelbyville Middle School Athletes of the Week are Sophia Cunningham (7th girls basketball); Yelena Rolon (8th grade girls basketball); and Aeriana Comstock (7th grade cheer).
Editor’s note: Yesterday’s recognition of author James Alexander Thom’s death reminded an Addison Times reader that Thom had spoken at Shelbyville Middle School in the mid-1990s, along with his Native American wife Dark Rain, at the request of organizer and SMS teacher LaRea Slater.
Another editor’s note: As a reminder, please disregard any notices regarding expiring subscriptions. Unfortunately, I cannot turn those notices off. Don’t worry, you’ll continue to receive The Addison Times through March 1 without additional payment.
HOOSIER NEWS: Indiana again led the nation in steel production last year, single-handedly accounting for nearly a fourth of the nation’s output. The Hoosier State maintained its spot as the top steel producer nationally. It has made more steel than any other state for more than four decades, said Lisa Harrison, senior vice president of communications for the American Iron and Steel Institute. “Over the past 12 months ending in November 2022, Indiana produced about 21.5 million tons of steel,” she said. “That’s about 12% less than the previous year.” Indiana made 24.3 million tons of steel in 2021 and 21.6 million tons in 2020. Last year, the Hoosier State made more than twice as much steel as the second-place state, Ohio. (Munster Times of Northwest Indiana)

Pouder to Run for City Council Seat

Editor’s note: The following press release was submitted on behalf of Democrat Shelbyville Common Council 1st Ward candidate Susan (Susie) Pouder. Joanne Bowen, a Democrat, currently holds the 1st Ward seat, but is running for an at-large position. Kassy Wilson will run on the Republican ticket in the 1st Ward.

PRESS RELEASE:

Susan (Susie) Pouder has filed her paperwork with the Shelby County Board of Elections and announced her campaign for Shelbyville City Council in Ward 1.

I have always been involved in our community, but I wanted to take this step to help make a difference in our local government to keep Shelbyville moving forward,” Pouder said.

“I have a lot of experience that I can bring to City Council. I support working for responsible growth, fiscal conservatism, transparency in government and developing affordable housing for our residents,” Pouder said. “So many people have encouraged me to do this, so I’m looking forward to this opportunity to serve.”

Pouder holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Dayton and has completed many continuing education courses at Indiana Wesleyan. She has a background that includes being an educator at several schools in the region, a small business owner, and a health and wellness consultant.

Pouder is a long-time resident of Shelby County, where she lives with her husband John Pouder and they raised their two daughters, Molly and Mandy.

In addition to her vast work experience, she has been involved in many charitable and civic organizations in Shelbyville and the surrounding area. She is a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, where she has participated in a variety of activities, as well as the Chapter AL PEO (Philanthropic Educational Organization), Trotters Chase Homeowner’s Association, MHP Women’s Alliance and Unique Club. In the past, she has devoted her time and attention working with the Coulston PTO, the American Cancer Society, Girls, Inc. and Shelby Senior Services.

Last year, she and her husband starred in a performance put on by the Shelby County Players where her husband serves as a board member.

The seat Pouder is seeking is currently held by Joanne Bowen who will be leaving her seat to run for an at-large position on City Council.

For more information regarding the campaign, you may contact Susie Pouder at 317-395-6602 or email susanpouder@gmail.com.

SHELBY COUNTY PEOPLE & PLACES: ONA ENGLE

Editor’s note: In the mid- to late 1940s, The Shelbyville Republican published a series of articles by Ave Lewis and Hortense Montgomery covering community people and places. Below is one of those features.

Ona Engle, chief operator in charge of traffic at the local Bell Telephone office, would much rather talk about the “grand bunch of girls” working under her direction than herself. In discussing her work her conversation invariably veers back with words of praise for the 70 who sing out the familiar “Number, please” at the switchboards each day and the seven service assistants, the clerk and the night operator, Ellen Hungate.

Miss Engle has been chief operator at the local plant since 1935, and her smiling face and natural “voice with a smile” that does credit to the company's slogan may have much to do with the department’s spirit and co-operation and congeniality of which she is so proud. Wearing a 30-year pin, she tells you that her telephone career began as a switchboard operator in Greensburg back in 1917. This was only a part-time day job, however, and at that time she had no idea that she would “grow up” with the business. Her main love then was music, and after working at the switch board during the day she spent her evenings playing the piano at a motion picture theater. About that time too, she was playing the accordion-piano with a six- piece orchestra that filled many engagements at various spots over the state. She recalls that they played numerous times at the Golden Glow, then a favorite recreation and meeting place for organizations on West Hendricks Street.

After coming here she found there were too many things to do in connection with her work, so she sold her musical equipment. Now her main recreational interests are sports - with baseball and basketball high on the list. She's such an avid follower of the latter sport that she was without her voice for two days following the state tournament!

Not too long after she began working as a switchboard operator in Greensburg, she was made clerk and this was followed with a promotion to chief operator in 1927. She continued in that position at Greensburg until coming to this city in 1935. Although she doesn't work on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, the first five days of the week find her on duty from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and she is on call 24 hours a day.

Looking out for general working welfare of the traffic department is her main concern. And in this respect she has accomplished a lot. The department has as many homey touches as possible. There is a large airy lounge where the workers go for their off-duty rest periods and there is a clean and neat snack bar, complete with refrigerator and electric hot plate where sandwiches, pie, etc. are served by Mrs. Elmer Worland, who serves as matron. The room where the “hello girls” are stationed and where Miss Engle's desk is located is a pleasant room where an atmosphere of quiet prevails despite clicking of the keyboards and the continual drone of questioning operators is heard.

Asked about specific incidents in her career, Miss Engle again talks about the work done by the operators. She maintains that although she is in charge, it's really the girls who are to be commended in cases of emergencies. She spoke of such instances as the flood of 1937, the 1941 tornado, former National Guard emergency calls and the storm of last weekend as the times when “things are really a madhouse around here.” It is then that the countenance of Miss Engle takes on a harried look as she goes about the rushing business of keeping things running smoothly so that innumerable questions of the general public be answered as quickly and as efficiently as possible.

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.

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: 2003
Shelbyville Middle School nurse Billie Stieneker and Northwestern Consolidated nurse Sheri Strangeway said absent rates were nearing 25 percent due to illness. Southwestern nurse Bonnie Rice reported a 20 percent absent rate.

30 YEARS AGO: 1993
The introduction of BORIS, the Board of Realty Information System, had been online in Shelby County for a few months. Sharon Siebert, owner of the Shelbyville Century 21 office, said the updates allowed agents to display color photographs of homes on their computer screens. It also included filters for bedrooms and bathrooms.

Hair Productions, in the Rivergate Shopping Center on East State Road 44, closed. Ed Willard, operator of the business, said he closed because of overhead costs. However, he would still be cutting hair at Hair Flair by Margie, 14 W. South Street.

40 YEARS AGO: 1983
Lydia Hittle, 2, daughter of Henry and Susie Hittle, Poncianni Ave., was named 1983 Shelby County Easter Seal Child by the Crossroads Rehabilitation Center.

Cynthia Hybarger, wife of Randall Hybarger, gave birth to Shelby County’s first set of triplets in several years. The triplets were the first births in the family, “and the last,” Randall said. The Hybargers were residents of Fairland.

50 YEARS AGO: 1973
Winners of the Pass, Shoot and Dribble competition sponsored by the Optimist Club were Doug Brown, Stephen Westbrook, Mark Craft, Greg Moheban, Larry Hamner and Jeff Lewis.

Congressman William Hudnut III would be the speaker at the annual Lincoln Day Dinner. Mr. and Mrs. Nick Miller were organizing the event. Marilyn Hendrick was decorations chair and Frances Pruitt was ticket chair.

60 YEARS AGO: 1963
A newspaper photo showed Gray Lady Red Cross Volunteers Mrs. Millard Purcell of Rolling Ridge and Mrs. Fred Jones of S. Riley Highway at the visitor’s desk in the W.S. Major Hospital. Gray Ladies were assigned each day to issue visitor passes.

Arthur (Doc) Barnett, Biology teacher at Shelbyville High School, was guest speaker at the Lions Club meeting. Barnett said the first biology classes here were started in 1923 at SHS. Class selections had expanded to include microbiology, genetics and radiation.

70 YEARS AGO: 1953
The Western Union Telegraph Co. sought a reduction in the hours of service offered at its Shelbyville office, 105 N. Harrison Street.

Membors of the board of public works, acting by proxy through Boy Scouts assigned to their jobs during the annual Boy Scout Government Day, voted to warn all property owners to remove signs on sidewalks, including a church sign at Miller and Colescott Streets, and split on a vote refusing to renew a taxicab driver’s license to a man convicted of reckless driving. Also, the mayor threatened to block off the railroad crossing to trains in Shelbyville unless they were repaired by the railroad companies by May.

80 YEARS AGO: 1943
Archie Vaughn Jr., 64, “one of Shelbyville’s most widely known colored residents,” according to The Republican, died at his home, 1312 South Noble St. Vaughn had been in the cement contracting business for 28 years. He was married to Fannie (Smith). Vaughn was a member of Golden Crown Lodge, the Sons of Veterans of the Civil War and was a deacon at Second Baptist Church. He was survived by his wife and seven children.

90 YEARS AGO: 1933
Mayor L.E. Webb and W.F. Loper, principal of SHS, broadcast the Anderson-Shelby game. The Republican said the game could be found “at about 121 on your dial.”

“No city ever had a greater opportunity for becoming outstanding for picturesqueness,” The Shelbyville Republican said. “Even the entrance from the north just naturally lends itself to beautification. Why not a continuing park following the outline of the river, to be further beautified in post-depression days with an ornamental bridge over Blue River on North Harrison?”

100 YEARS AGO: 1923
A father was shot and killed by his son at Lewis Creek in a garage owned by the son. An autopsy revealed the father had been shot three times. The shooting had reportedly followed a quarrel between the two. At the county jail, Chief of Police John Thompson said that “mule” had been the cause of the trouble.

OBITUARIES

Carolyn Sue Scott, 83, of Shelbyville, passed away, Saturday, February 4, 2023, at her home. She was born July 1, 1939, in Vevay, the daughter of Ivan and Doris (Turner) Allen. On February 21, 1960, she married Larry Dwain Scott, and he preceded her in death on November 17, 2010. Carolyn is survived by her sons, Mark A. Scott and wife, Laura, of Shelbyville, and Jonathan “J.D.” Scott and wife, Alecia, of Indianapolis; daughter, Gina Kuhn and husband, Eric, of Milroy; sister, Vickie Coy of Shelbyville; grandchildren, Lindsey and husband, Zach, Kelly, Katie, Blayre, Collin, Devon and wife, Kortnie, Kylee and Ryan; great-grandchildren, Carter, William, Vera, Henry and Ruby; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of very dear friends. In addition to Larry, Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, David Allen and Jack Stonebraker; and sister, Tammy Moore.

Carolyn graduated in 1957 from Shelbyville High School and attended Butler University. She was a member of the First Christian Church of Shelbyville, where she was a prayer warrior on the prayer chain. Carolyn was a homemaker and was known by her children as “the best mother in the world.” She had a great love for her family, and cherished the time she spent with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was also a member of The Fun Bunch, Saint Joe’s Social Club and the Lucky 13 Home Economics Club. Carolyn enjoyed reading, working crossword puzzles and watching Hallmark movies. She was an avid fan of the Indiana Pacers, Indiana University basketball and the Cincinnati Reds.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, February 9, 2023, at the funeral home. Carolyn’s niece, Rev. Kristi Jones will officiate, she will be assisted by Rev. Beth Crouch. Interment will be at Second Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Johnson County. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church, 118 W. Washington St., Shelbyville, Indiana 46161. Online condolences may be shared with Carolyn’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.