Saturday, April 12, 2025
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Road construction is underway on North Riley Highway. The Shelbyville Police Department issued a statement asking drivers to slow down and use extra caution in the area due to the presence of construction workers. Police have deployed radar trailers, and officers will be actively enforcing speed limits. | photo by JACK BOYCE
Leadership Shelby County, Jr. Program Graduates Recognized
Leadership Shelby County (LSC) celebrated 23 graduates and 27 Jr. LSC graduates on Tuesday with remarks from program and community leaders and updates on group projects. LSC Alumnus Mike Haehl encouraged the graduates to continue their quest.
“I believe leadership is more than a title. It's about showing up with intention, humility and heart, and that's what you did,” he said.
The graduates nominated classmate Jacob Williams, with Beaty Construction, to give a speech. He recalled the impact of the opening retreat, held at Flat Rock River YMCA Camp.
“Leadership Shelby County is a great opportunity to break out of your shell and become the person you want to be,” Williams said. He quoted the maxim, “The best way to predict the future is to create it,” and added, “Together, we are creating the future of Shelby County.”
The third Jr. LSC cohort, a program designed to engage leaders from all five county high schools, was also celebrated. Shelbyville High School senior Kincade Dorsey learned about executive leadership even before the eight-month program began.
“My mom came home with an application one day, and she said, ‘Here, I think you should do it,’” Dorsey told The Addison Times. She was glad she did.
“I really enjoyed it. It was eye-opening to see all the different perspectives and see how much is going on in the community I feel a lot of people don’t know about,” she said, adding that she enjoyed getting to meet her counterparts from across the county.
Blake Hughes, SHS senior, said he appreciated connecting with the adult program participants, and referenced an inspiring story from one adult about overcoming failure.
Fellow senior Mia Rolon agreed. “I didn’t know there was an adult (LSC) program. After hearing the (group project presentation on) Buddies Helping Buddies, I talked to a leader in the group, and now I’m going to get involved.”
LSC graduates were: Amy Bishopp (Bishopp Appliances), James Caputo (Horseshoe Indianapolis Racing & Casino), Brandy Graves (Shelby County Public Library), Lacey Griggs (NineStar Connect), Will Hall (Knauf), Dominique Huber (City of Shelbyville), Sam Huelskamp (NSG Group), Raul Islas (Ryobi), Aaron Jenkins (Cranewerks), Laura Land (Blue River Community Foundation), Gena Linville (MHP), Ricca Macklin (Girls Inc.), Tabitha Malson (Walker Place), Stacie Marlow (HIS Constructors/Blue River Environmental and Restoration), Thomas Miller (Cranewerks), Jessica Montgomery (WorkOne), Lora Nigh (Shelbyville Central Schools), Regan Noah (MHP), Emily Redelman (Kuhn’s Shelbyville Paint, Flooring and More), Brandon Smith (Horseshoe Indianapolis Racing & Casino), Nathan Stickford (Shelby County Co-op), Jacob Wiliams (Beaty Construction/C-Tech) and Reynaldo Zayas (Ryobi).
JR. LSC graduates were: Gianina Arrieta, Jennifer Bahena, Paisley Bays, Leiny Castanon, Michael Creech, Kincade Dorsey, Aiden Helfer-Vazquez, Blake Hughes, Sebastian Monzon-Navarro, Logan Page, Krishna Patel, Naomi Ricardo-Gonzalez, Mia Rolon, Daisy Sosa, Addison Stieneker, Keagan Turner and Isaac Zermeno (Shelbyville); Isaac Bunch, Victoria Burkhart and Caleb McCracken (Southwestern); Nathaniel Evans (Waldron); Clara Hale, Jacob Hauk, Wyatt Hodgen, Allison Marshall and Annika Roots (Morristown); and Maggie Martin (Triton Central).
Tomorrow’s edition will include details on each LSC project.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: FULL CANOPY REAL ESTATE
NOTEBOOK:
The Shelbyville Redevelopment Commission Thursday approved a purchase agreement with a data center LLC to buy 138 acres near Tindall Drive, off East State Road 44, for $7.9 million, pending due diligence. “They’re very eager to move forward with the due diligence period,” Brian Asher, Executive Director of Shelby County Development Corporation, said of the Fortune 500 company. The company will now consider a variety of factors, such as the availability of electricity and water.
The annual Community Easter Egg Hunt is today at Kennedy Park. The Easter Bunny is set to arrive on a fire truck at noon.
The following Shelbyville High School art students placed in the Indiana Junior Duck Stamp Contest, which promotes learning about waterfowl and conservation by creating art: Jasmine Philpot, 2nd place, and Aniya Cook, 3rd place. Angelica Negrete-Maldonado, Leiny Castanon and Naomi Garringer received Honorable Mentions.
From The Strand Theatre newsletter: The City of Shelbyville held a pre-bid meeting to allow contractors to visit the site and ask questions about the demolition of the unit block of Harrison Street. One of the buildings is the Adam's Glass Building (the old livery stable). This whole process concerns the Strand. The Adam’s Glass Building IS the Strand, same building, same structure. We allowed the City and bidders to have access to our courtyard and the interior of our building. They soon realized the structure is the same, and the wall installed in 1954 was only a barrier, not a structural item. Most all the bidders commented the demolition will be difficult. Supporting our section of the building will be critical. This is a bad deal for everyone involved. We appreciate city engineer Kyle Comstock being communicative and respectful of our property. We are curious to see the bids. We put a copy of the bid package in our archives. Years from now it will be an interesting piece of history.
The Strand Theatre is hosting Doug Allan Nash, a Johnny Cash and Neil Diamond tribute performer, tonight, 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available online and at the door.
HOOSIER NEWS: Madison, LaPorte and Vevay were among the 10 Best Small Towns in the Midwest, voted on by USA TODAY readers. Madison took the top spot on the list for the second year in a row.
NATIONAL NEWS: Ring Pops were first introduced in 1979 by an engineer who wanted his kid to stop sucking her thumb, and quickly became a novelty hit. Now, along with Baby Bottle Pop and Bazooka gum, Ring Pop is owned by the private-equity backed Bazooka Brands, which is projected to pull in $100 million in sales in 2025. Given the volatility in the price of cocoa, confectioners that don’t make chocolate candies are in an increasingly valuable position, and Ring Pops just opened a new manufacturing plant in Pennsylvania. The plant is four times larger than its previous facility and is designed to produce 1.5 million candies every day. (Food Drive/Numlock)
Thank you to every donor for your continued support of The Addison Times. Donors of $75 or more receive the three remaining quarterly print publications this year in the mail. Please consider a one-time or monthly donation to The Addison Times, either online or via a check to The Addison Times, 54 W. Broadway, #13, Shelbyville, Ind., 46176. Thank you for your continued support of daily local news and history. I appreciate each of you. - Kristiaan Rawlings, Editor
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights
January 14, 1940, Part I
The basketball cheer section had been given the name “Bear-backers,” a name submitted by Bob Miller.
Julie Newcomb had been spending much of the winter with her mother in Los Angeles, Calif., and had been chosen to be an usher at the premiere showing of “Gone With the Wind”. Julie had been one of 10 girls chosen from hundreds of applicants. Her usherette outfit was a southern belle gown in pastel shades.
The second annual Hilltop reunion was held at Severin Hotel. Shelbyville was well represented with eight veteran alumni: Mr. and Mrs. J.M. McKeand, Arthur Barnett, Warren Loper, Ethel Miley, Charlotte Meloy, Gloria Deupree and Jean McCartney. The event included the engagement announcement of Doc Barnett, senior counselor at the Brown County Boys’ Camp, and Hanna Kay Beck, dancing instructor at the Hilltop Girls’ Camp. “Again, the tradition that a Hilltop romance is lasting was fulfilled.”
The high school interior lights had been rewired and new fixtures installed over winter break. Larger light bulbs and better globes were part of the upgrade.
Despite frigid temperatures, students were getting outside. “To skate, to walk, to snow ball, or to tip-toe your way home upon the slick sidewalks….” The paper added, “Mom and Dad (or Grandma and Grandpa) will tell you of the days of real winter. Sleds piled high with hay to keep you warm, pulled by horses gay with jingling bells, spelled one grand evening out under the star-lit skies. Then if you got too cold, just go down to old Blue River to warm up at the blazing bon-fire, sit on the bank and watch the skaters go by. Well - those days are gone, but we get along with skating in the park and riding in heated automobiles to the sound of the radio.”
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: MAJOR HEALTH PARTNERS
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: MainStreet Shelbyville sponsored the filming of a TV commercial with the theme, “Downtown Shelbyville is blooming just for you.” The filming featured Three Sisters Books and Gifts, Bishopp Appliances, Bradley Hall Furniture, Nolley Insurance Services, Country Charm Bar and Grill, Among Friends, Liberty Tax Service and Sponsel Photography. The commercial would appear on various cable programs.
1995: A ground-breaking ceremony was held for the new Girls Inc. building and Boys Club expansion. SCUFFY President Russell Sanders, Commissioner Bruce Knecht, and Mayor Bob Williams spoke at the event. Robert Stolmeier, president of the Girls Inc. board, was unable to attend, but his prepared remarks were read by Lee Marks, Girls Inc. vice president. Ed “Jiggs” Cord, Barbara Anderson and John Hartnett Jr. turned shovels of dirt symbolizing the beginning of construction.
1985: Although four- and five-year car loans were becoming more popular, several local bankers told The Shelbyville News they still thought 36-month loans, more common in the 1970s, were preferable.
1975: Pearson Elementary principal Elwood Thomas closed school for a day after over 80 students reported being sick with the flu.
1965: Shelbyville Motors celebrated its 32nd anniversary. An ad noted that when they opened, whiskey could only be bought from the pharmacy with a prescription, The Alhambra was starring “My Pal the King”, and boys’ Easter oxfords were $2.85.
1955: The Shelby County Council agreed to pay 50 percent of the cost of the city ambulance through a new tax. A five-man board would be established to oversee the service. “Observers quickly pointed out today, however, that the so-called 50-50 sharing of costs by the county and city would amount to double taxation for city residents,” The Shelbyville News reported.
1945: Stephan Brothers began selling Huaraches, “the sandals that made Mexico famous.” An ad read, “Worth your ration stamp.”
Eight U.S. Army trucks, driven by Army personnel, would assist Shelbyville Boy Scouts in a city-wide collection of waste paper, Scout executive Roy Singer announced. City residents were asked to place all waste paper in front of their homes on April 21 for collection.
1935: A new state law would allow churches to obtain a temporary alcohol license for 15 days. The leaders of Protestant churches in Lake County had asked for the provision to allow for beer sales at Sunday picnics. The Federation of Church Women issued a statement in disagreement. “When they say they are pleading for churches for permits to sell beer on Sunday, let them specify what churches. We have been and will continue to work in the interest of temperance.”
1925: The age-old task of counting all male voters was underway in several townships. “It has been stated that since the state has a registration of voters, the enumeration of male voters is no longer a necessary thing, but must be done as long as the law provides for it,” The Republican reported.
1915: The 32 blacksmiths in Shelby County met at the Odd Fellows Hall and formed a county branch of the National Horseshoers’ Protective Association. Officers were Gus Hirschauer, Henry Burkher, S.K. Walker, J. Miller, William Bassett and Esta Phares.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: Freeman Family Funeral Homes & Crematory
OBITUARIES
Shirley Mae (Mohr) Verbeck, 89, of Shelbyville, entered into rest with loved ones by her side on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. She was born August 5, 1935, in Shelbyville Indiana to Noah and Florence (Simms) Mohr. Shirley was baptized at St. Joseph Catholic Church, raised in Catholicism, and remained devout throughout her life. She attended St. Joseph Catholic School and graduated from Shelbyville High School with the class of 1953. Shirley was blessed with two loves throughout her life. She married Robert “Bob” Eugene Dove, and enjoyed eight years of marriage before he preceded her in death on March 31, 1967. She then married Richard “Jerry” Verbeck, and enjoyed 48 years of marriage before he preceded her in death on April 17, 2017.
Shirley worked several administrative assistant positions in Shelbyville and Indianapolis in addition to assisting Jerry with the family music business. Her gentle and easy-going personality allowed her to enjoy life and all its adventures to the fullest. She enjoyed her years living in Florida with Jerry, and their many fishing and travel excursions. Spending time with her family and friends was her greatest joy. Shirley was an avid Colts and Pacers fan. She dearly loved her cat, Nelson.
Shirley is survived by her daughter, Shannon Dove-Edson (Mark Edson); her stepchildren, Shari (Mark) Hardebeck, Barbara (Danny) Wolford, Vicky Brown, Bonnie Rolfingsmeyer, Tim Verbeck, Joni (Butch) Sweet and their numerous children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters Dorothy Fields, Rosie (Joe) Monroe and Nancy Hutchinson and many nieces and nephews in which she held close to her heart. In addition to her beloved parents and husbands Bob and Jerry, she was preceded in death by brother Louis Mohr, and sisters Joann Bottorff and Mary Michaels.
Visitation will be Monday, April 14, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Murphy-Parks Funeral Service, 703 S Harrison Street, Shelbyville, Ind., 46176. A Catholic Funeral Service will follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with Father Mike Keucher officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. The family wishes to extend thanks to St. Croix Hospice, Krista Moore, RN, Melissa Macy, and many friends and family who provided care and comfort. A special thanks to her dear grand and great granddaughters that traveled from Illinois to be near her. Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks and Stuart Parks are honored to serve Shirley’s family. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.
Judy Ann Nigh, 81, of Brownsburg, passed away on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at Indiana University Hospital West in Avon. She was born November 9, 1943, in Madison, the daughter of Jack P. and Mary Louise (Storie) Weber. On June 29, 1962, she married Michael William Nigh, and he preceded her in death on March 19, 2024. Judy is survived by her sons, Douglas William Nigh of Pittsboro, and Matthew Wayne Nigh of Jamestown; brothers, Ronald Weber and wife, Marilyn, and Karl Weber and wife, Linda, both of Texas; sister, Robin Weber and significant other, Steve King of Whitestown; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to Michael, Judy was preceded in death by her parents; brother, William “Bill” Weber; and sisters, Barbara Kingery and Kathleen Garner.
In 1961, Judy graduated from Morristown High School. She was a member of the Brownsburg United Methodist Church. Judy had formerly worked as a receptionist at Brownsburg Health Care, Dr. Murer Dental Office and Allstate Insurance. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, crocheting and making craft items. Judy also leaves behind her beloved dogs, Charlie and Teddy.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, April 19, 2025, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 124 E. North St. in Morristown. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Interment will be at Asbury Cemetery in Morristown.
Memorial contributions may be made to Misty Eyes Animal Center, 616 South County Road 800 East, Avon, Indiana, 46123. Online condolences may be shared with Judy’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.