Saturday, August 10, 2024
ON THE BALL
Lucille Haacker prepares to kick during girls’ soccer tryouts at Shelbyville High School this week. | photo by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
A PICTURE OF HEALTH
Mrs. Temperance Quack (Donna Dennison, Shelby County Public Library Head of Genealogy and History) presents an “Old-Time Medicine” program Wednesday, part of the free Community Treasure Series, hosted at The Strand Theatre. | photo by ANNA TUNGATE
Fairland Boards Give Gas Station Proposal Green Light
A 24-hour gas station and convenience store proposed for Fairland took two steps forward on Tuesday following action of the Fairland Board of Zoning Appeals and Plan Commission. The BZA approved a special exception for the development, and the Plan Commission gave a favorable rezone recommendation to the Town Council, which will consider the matter at their next monthly meeting.
The gas station would be located on 1.8 acres just west of Fairland on E 400 N, immediately west of South Jefferson Street. The developer hopes to use the southeast corner of 11 acres for the gas station and store. The remainder of the acreage would be divided into four parcels, and their uses have not yet been determined.
“(Land owner) Mike (Bowman) is in the process of talking to people in the town and community members about what sort of things people would want to see there,” attorney Ray Basile said.
The station will not offer diesel fuel and will help increase property tax revenue and provide jobs, Basile told the commissions. “You want to have smart development, not no development,” he said.
One resident asked that the proposed concrete barrier separating the development from residential homes be extended to all parcels, and the approved rezoning includes prohibitions against certain types of businesses, such as some automotive-oriented uses.
If the Town Council approves the petitions, it will take at least six or eight months to get through the design phase before moving forward, Bowman said.
NOTEBOOK:
The Fairland Historical Society has been approached about placing a plaque in the Fairland Community Park commemorating the school that was once on the property, the Fairland Town Council was informed this week.
The Fairland Town Council on Tuesday approved donating $4,000 to the Fairland Senior Center, an extension of Shelby Senior Services’ Horizon Center, toward their free 10th anniversary fundraising celebration, to be held Sept. 22. Terry Lee Ridley, a “Honky Tonk” piano player, will perform, and there will be “1950s-kind-of-food,” Kathy Miller, director of the center, said. The senior center has fed 51 people each Thursday the past two weeks for programming. “(The senior center is) doing a lot of good. It’s doing exactly what the hope was when it started, and even more,” Miller said.
NATIONAL NEWS: The fatality rate when flying is down to 1 per every 13.7 million passenger boardings from 2018 to 2022, which is a considerable improvement from the 1 per 7.9 million passenger boardings from 2008 to 2017. Aviation safety has been improving massively over the past several decades: From 1968 to 1977, that figure was 1 per every 350,000 boardings, from 1978 to 1987 it was 1 per 750,000 boardings, from 1988 to 1997 it was 1 per 1.3 million, and from 1998 to 2007 it was 1 per 2.7 million. (Agence France-Presse/Numlock)
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580 West Taylor St.
Editor’s Note: The following is the next installment in a serialized version of “580 West Taylor Street,” by Joseph E. “Joed” Landwerlen.
by JOSEPH E. LANDWERLEN
Guys Before Dolls
There were 2,575 days between when I was born and the birthday of my youngest brother, Delbert. In between were George and Jim. I had just turned seven and started in the second grade when we became “the brothers four.” Four boys spanned by seven years but joined by parentage, affection, and love for one another. And we fought like brothers. We had some really good fights, building character and love for one another. Four boys in one bedroom, two regular size beds, lots of blankets and quilts, one dresser and one small closet. At night, when the weather was bad, we were confined in that small room to play and spend the evenings with one another, which provided an atmosphere for a lot of disagreements.
Dad would often intercede in these arguments and fights. The most severe melees were broken up by Dad and the threat of, but rarely the use of, his belt. When Dad would have to interfere and come into the bedroom to break up a fight; if he used the belt, usually only on us two older boys, it was used with only the force as to say that this is a warning that if this doesn't stop it is a sample of what’s to come. The problem was that the two younger boys, no names mentioned, discovered that they could slap their own bare thigh and holler, “Dad!! Joed" or “George" hit me!" and here would come Dad with the threat of the belt and me, the innocent one, “this time” would get a verbal thrashing, and that would settle things down for a while.
When we weren't fighting, we were playing age appropriate games, like Old Maid - I got sick of that - Authors, Monopoly, Candyland, Checkers, etc. As we got old enough, our Grandfather Wiley would teach us Rum, Solitaire, and Canasta. We also made forts and played basketball with our clothes hamper in the corner as our goal.
Football was hardly mentioned at that time, and I do not remember ever having a football to play with. Again, as we got older, baseball became a big part of our life in the summertime. We would leave the house in the morning and maybe come home for lunch, or maybe not. We would spend the day playing baseball over in the “commons.” We spent a lot of time antagonizing the guards over at KCL. We would climb all over the stacks of wood and in and on the train cars that were on the siding there. We spent time on the KCL dump that was behind the plant, about where the animal shelter is now. We would take our BB guns over there and shoot at the rats that were there. We generally ran around the neighborhood getting into trouble and causing mischief.
Dad taught us at an early age how to sharpen a knife. His saying was, “more people get cut with a dull knife than with a sharp one.” Dad had a sharpening and honing stone for us boys to use to keep our knives in good shape and he made sure that we knew how to use it. Almost every boy carried a knife in his pocket when he was 8 or 9 years old. If you had a Barlow or a Case, you were king of the block. We carried them to school and we whittled on the playground. We wasted a lot of time whittling on a piece of wood with no particular thought about what we were going to end up with.
Just the act of holding that knife in your hand and slicing off a piece of wood was in and of itself, peaceful. The knives were also the basis of a game that we played called “mumblelypeg.” Catalpa stumps were great places to play this game on. We would sit in a circle on the perimeter of that stump and someone would start by placing the open knife’s point on some part of his body, "end of finger, forehead, nose or elbow" or anyplace that he wanted to try, there were no limits. He would then flip his knife so that their knife made one complete turn and then it had to stick in the stump. Next guy had to duplicate that feat or he was eliminated from the round. The boy that began would start a new round by picking another part of the body to place the point of the knife, and this would be repeated until all have been eliminated. Mumblelypeg was also a game that was very popular with the soldiers and sailors during World War II. It was played in between battles by the foot soldiers and by the sailors on the carriers as they had wooden flight decks.
We still did not have a TV at this time and needed to go to the Dow’s or the Knarr’s to watch our favorite programs. At that time, it was only black and white, and everyone would sit in a room with all of the lights turned off and stare at that small bright screen until your eyes got blurry. We watched The Web, Dragnet, Milton Berle, etc. The thing we most enjoyed was the Thursday Night wrestling matches. Now, everyone knew that they were fake, but it was still entertaining. It was fun and entertaining at the time to see grown men in little shorts throw each other around knowing that it was all staged. The feature bouts for the night always had midgets in a tag team format, and it was, to say the least, very entertaining.
There were three channels on the air, and you actually had to walk up to the television to change channels or turn the sound up or down, or to adjust the rabbit ear antennas that had aluminum foil wound around them and sat on top of the TV. The TV stations all signed off at 11:30 p.m. with the National Anthem and displayed a test pattern until they went back on the air at 6:30 the next morning.
SHS Courier Archive Highlights:
April 25, 1962 (Part III)
Mark Comstock, SHS junior, represented the local Hi-Y Club at a state convention held at Indiana University.
“Mystery of the Month” was the headline, followed by, “Who is the boy in Mr. Abrell’s history class who thought that Mexico was one of the 13 original American colonies?” No further information was provided. In another “Mystery of the Month” post, the article asked, “Who is the Lil’ Abner of SHS? Who walks through the halls minus shoes? When Bill Vassar went into Mr. Kuhn’s room hunting his shoes during convocation, a sympathetic Mr. Kuhn offered aid, stating, “I just happen to have an extra pair.”
The 1962 Prom committee was named: Peggy Vaught, Jay Clapp, David Lawrence, Robert Longstreet, Jean Gehr, Gerlad Mohr, Pauline Hall, Mary Jane Dennis, Linda Trueb, Ann Crafton, Becky Whitcomb, Ann Taylor, Jenny Jones, Gail Sleeth, Lynn Delap, Betty Wilson, Nancy Scott, Gretchen Westerfield, Mike Brunner, Larry Cochran, Daryl Tippen, Phil Smith, Dave Moore, Mike Shadley, Don Harris, John Bobeck, Ronnie Role, Larry McLane, Larry Snapp, Ross Rowland, Dan Barnett, Bob Bremmer, Margaret Gushwa, Jackie Ivie, Lana Livinston, Shirley McNew, Lynn Solomon, George Broughtplenty, Roger Conover, Phil Kuhn, Mike McCalip, Pete McNamara, Don Sexton, Don Turner, Mike Thomasson and Ann Schoelch.
Four SHS junior boys would be delegates at Boys’ State at Indiana University. They were Phil Smith, Mike Brunner, Don Sexton and Ross Rowland. Sponsoring the boys were The Shelby National Bank, Farmers National Bank, Indiana Gas and Water Company and Union Building and Loan Company. SHS delegates to Hoosier Girls’ State were Mary Beth Abel, Pauline Hall, Ann Schoelch, Nancy Scott and Gail Sleeth.
Mike Shadley, Scott Griffey and Joe Reimenschneider won singles matches in the first tennis match of the season, a win over Columbus.
Dave Spannbauer, SHS pitcher, held Martinsville to only one hit and no runs for four innings in a 5-1 win. Ron Cole hit a double and scored on an error.
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: Daredevil Brewing, located in Shelby County, announced plans to open a new location in Speedway. Twin brothers Shane and Michael Pearson along with friend Bill Ballinger had opened the business in 2012.
2004: The Shelby County All-Stars rallied to score four times in the seventh winning to earn a 5-4 win over one of the region’s top baseball programs. Three of the four runs had been unearned.
1994: Charles Leffler, 55, 110 Murdock St., was arrested for discharging a firearm within city limits. Leffler was found sitting in a lawn chair by his storage shed, holding a .22-caliber rifle and shooting at groundhogs.
1984: The Shelbyville News reported on increased pollution in Little Blue River. Bill Hewitt, who had grown up and still lived west of the fairgrounds, said he had eaten fish and turtles from the river almost daily as a kid. “Now, I won’t eat anything out of that river. No way,” Hewitt, 56, said. Trash dumped at the fairgrounds, including paper cups, plates, napkins and red cups, made matters worse.
1974: An apricot pie baked by Mrs. Wallace Cassady received first place honors of the “Make it with lard” pie contest at the fairgrounds. Mrs. Eugene Boring placed second and Mrs. John Carson, third. Thirty-nine pies had been entered in the contest.
Omer Gross of St. Paul won his fourth consecutive Shelby County Fair Class A horseshoe tournament pitching championship.
1964: Some 15,000 Christmas trees owned by William English and A. Hardin were destroyed by fire on their farm in Franklin County. The two had been in the Christmas tree selling business here for 10 years and had been growing their own trees since 1958. They also grew tobacco and soybeans on their southeastern Indiana farm.
1954: John Wisker, 103 E. Hendricks St., life-long Shelby County resident and retired farmer, celebrated his 90th birthday with a dinner held at the St. Paul Catholic Church. Three of his five children were present, as was his sister, Mary Runnebohom. The children present were Edward Wisker, Mrs. Clarence Weintraut and Arthur Wisker.
Hardin Oil won the district softball tournament, held at Kennedy Park. Members of the team were Earl LeClere, Mike Hanahan, Marilyn Sills, Dwain Laird, Norman Mullen, Jim Beyer, Dave Strietelmeier, Bill Laird, John Bush, Bob Laird and Bob Wells. Harold Mullen was the batboy.
1944: A tin can collection for salvage was made throughout the county. Vincent Evans was chairman of the salvage efforts. Residents placed cans in cartons and boxes and left them on street corners for pick-up.
1934: The Big Four Route offered $4.50 round trip to the World’s Fair in Chicago. The train left Shelbyville at 11:09 p.m. and returned Sunday.
Work to widen and resurface U.S. 31 between Greenwood and Franklin was delayed because Gov. Paul McNutt insisted on using Indiana brick for the road, while contractors and the Highway Commission wanted to use concrete, The Republican reported.
1924: An animal reported by farmers to be a lion had been spotted by the Winchester Methodist Episcopal church and again near Fenn’s Station before crossing into Decatur County. Decatur County farmers also spotted the large animal, but reported positively that it was a dog, but “one of the largest and apparently one of the most powerful they had ever seen,” The Republican reported.
1914: The Shelbyville Canning Company began its annual corn pack. Two of the lines of corn were started, which made the plant operate at about half capacity.
OBITUARIES
James William Schulthies, 73, of Shelbyville, passed away surrounded by the ones he loved on, Saturday, August 3, 2024, at his home. He was born February 11, 1951, in Indianapolis, the son of Bill and Bev (Baer) Schulthies. On September 14, 1974, he married his wife of 49 years, Judith Hester, and she survives. In addition to Judith, Jim is survived by his daughter, Sasha Dawn Stevens and husband, William “Billy”, of Shelbyville; grandchildren, Taylor Marie, Riley William, Madison Grace and Jessy Dawn; great-grandson, Brantley Nicholas; and several nieces and nephews. Jim was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Debbie Stoops; and brother, Robert Allen Schulthies.
He was a US Navy veteran, serving during the Vietnam War, in the Philippines. While serving his country he completed his high school education. Jim retired in 2018, from Indiana Underground, where he helped install underground utilities. He enjoyed hanging with his friends and grandchildren and riding motorcycles. One of his favorite pastimes, was sitting in his garage tinkering.
A Gathering of Friends and Family will be from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. The Celebration of Jim’s Life will follow at 3:30 pm, Tuesday, at the funeral home, with Dan Gabbard officiating. Online condolences may be shared with Jim’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Robert M. Moore, 91, of Shelbyville, passed away Wednesday, August 7, 2024, at MHP Medical Center in Shelbyville. He was born December 10, 1932, in Rush County, the son of Merle and Myrtle (Thralls) Moore. On June 23, 1957, he married his wife of 67 years, Marcia S. Fields, and she survives. In addition to Marcia, Bob is survived by his children, Robert “Rick” Moore of Fowler, Beth Moore of Shelbyville, Lori Garlitch of Surprise, Arizona, James Moore and wife, Denise, of Pleasanton, Texas, and Rodney Moore and wife, Amy, of Windsor, Colorado; grandchildren, Jimmy Moore and wife, Rachel, Josh Moore, Erin Smith, Taylor Staten, Brittany Compton and husband, Blue, Kelsey Sage and husband, Zachary, Amber Brandon and Stephanie Rollins; great-grandchildren, Jillian Garlitch, Michael Dugan, Lilly Smith, Kinsley Smith, Peyton Moore, Pyper Moore, Ivan Moore, Nicholas Moore and Emily Hannum; great-great-grandchildren, Julie, Rylinn and Julie Welty; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Ty Garlitch; and sisters, Eloise “Lois” Staker and Jeanetta Lou Moore.
In 1951, Bob graduated from Manilla High School. He was a US Army veteran serving for three years during the Korean War. Bob was a member of Trinity Methodist Church. He was formerly a truck driver for Pepsi Cola for 17 years, and worked for the Department of Agriculture for 15 years, retiring in 1996. Bob was also a member of the Eagles Aerie Lodge No. 766, Moose Lodge No. 2118 serving as a past governor; American Legion Post No. 70, and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2695.
Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m., Sunday, August 11, 2024, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Monday, August 12, 2024, at the funeral home, with Rev. Mark Dodd officiating. Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project, PO Box 75856, Topeka, KS 66675-8516. Online condolences may be shared with Bob’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Rex A. Walker, 76, of Shelbyville, passed away Thursday, August 8, 2024 at his residence. Born April 24, 1948, in Henry County, Indiana, he was the son of Jesse Walker and Crystal (Hargrove) Walker. He married Sue (Wilson) Walker on August 23, 1997, and she survives. Other survivors include three children, David Walker of Shelbyville, Diane Fussner (John) of Milroy, Rex Walker (Nickii) of Milroy; step-daughter Julie Peck (Ty) of Shelbyville; three siblings, Marvin Walker (Peggy) of Greenfield, Mary Jones of Greenfield, Jane Carter of New Castle; five grandchildren, Justin Borneman, Taylor Walker, Derek Walker, Destiny Walker, and Lily Peck; and four great-grandchildren, Addy & Hudson Walker, Colton Seman, and KJ Walker. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Nancy Walker; brothers- in-law, Delmore Jones and Don Carter.
Mr. Walker had lived in this area for most of his lifetime, attended Knightstown High School, and Beacon Baptist Church. He had been employed in construction/excavating with K & W Fueling of Rush County retiring in 2005 after 15 years of service. He had previously been employed with Truster Buildings for 30 years.
Rex enjoyed boating, fishing, and spending time on the Ohio River with his family. He loved listening to gospel music and was a huge Elvis fan. He loved taking his grandchildren for a day in the park, enjoyed feeding birds, and had a fascination with eagles.
Funeral services will be at noon on Wednesday, August 14, 2024 at Glenn E. George & Son Funeral Home, 437 Amos Road, with Pastor Dwayne Russell officiating. Burial will be in Bennett Cemetery. Friends may call on Wednesday morning from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home. Memorial contributions can be made to the Shelby County Cancer Association, in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.