Saturday, January 21, 2023
Four Inducted into Morristown High School Athletic Hall of Fame
ABOVE: Bob and Karen Adkins celebrate their son Brady Adkins’ induction into the Morristown High School Athletic Hall of Fame last night. | photos by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
The scorers of 7,767 points were inducted into the Morristown High School Athletic Hall of Fame last night following a process that Collin McCartt, the school’s athletic director, called “a really easy decision.” The four Class of 2023 inductees included Brady Adkins, Michaela (Kikendall) Borders, Dylan Langkabel and Hayden Langkabel.
“Not only do we have our all-time leading Morristown boys’ program scorer, we have our all-time leading girls’ scorer in the program,” McCartt said. “And you have Number 19 all-time in Indiana high school scoring history, and we have Number 29 and we have Number 51.” He also pointed out Morristown is the only high school in the state to have three 2,000-plus career scorers.
The inductees were honored in the school cafeteria, where the red carpet was literally rolled out for family members. Each new Hall of Fame member offered brief remarks and dinner was provided by the Kopper Kettle. The induction ceremony was then held prior to the varsity boys basketball game in the gymnasium.
Below is information on each honoree’s career.
BRADY ADKINS
Data. From high school to college, Brady Adkins still appears on statistical leaderboards. Thirty years after his final game as a Yellow Jacket, he holds Morristown’s single-game scoring record at 56 points, set against Waldron in 1991, and subsequent action on the IUPUI team resulted in top placements in the assists and steals records categories. Adkins graduated from Morristown in 1992 as the career scoring leader with 2,112 points within his three years at the school. He led the state in scoring in 1991 with a 36.8 per game average and repeated the feat in 1992 at 33.5 points per game. At IUPUI, he played with Waldron graduate Jared Lux, which culminated in the Metros going undefeated at home for the first time during the Shelby County natives’ senior year.
MICHAELA (KIKENDALL) BORDERS
The all-time leading girls scorer at Morristown High School with 1,397 points, Michaela (Kikendall) Borders also places second in the program’s books for career rebounds and assists and third in steals. Kikendall led her team to a sectional title in 2015 before playing college ball at Purdue University-Northwest.
DYLAN LANGKABEL
Two decades following Adkins’ career, Dylan Langkabel concluded a stellar Yellow Jacket career as the program’s second-leading scorer, with 2,072 points. The 2012 graduate was named Most Valuable Player of the Shelby County Tournament consecutive years and Shelby County Player of the Year three times in a row. Langkabel also played at Northwood University in Michigan, where he continued his shooting prowess, narrowly missing Northwood’s record for three throw percentage in a season, finishing at 90.2 percent, just four-tenths of a point behind first.
HAYDEN LANGKABEL
Hayden followed his brother to continue the Langkabel tradition of excellence at Morristown. The 2018 graduate set a new career school scoring record - 2,186 points - and became the school’s career free-throw percentage, assist and steals leader. But the highlight of Hayden’s career was leading the 2018 1A state championship Yellow Jacket team. Langkabel now plays basketball at Marian University in Indianapolis, where he recently eclipsed the 1,000 career point mark.
ABOVE: Hayden Langkabel accepts his Hall of Fame plaque from Principal Jeremy Powers and Athletic Director Collin McCartt before last night’s varsity basketball game while Michaela (Kikendall) Borders and Dylan Langkabel look on.
BELOW: Fred Miller - deemed last night both “a legend” by Principal Jeremy Powers and Morristown High School’s “unofficial historian” by Athletic Director Collin McCartt - recalls Dylan Langkabel scoring 40 points in a come-back win over Edinburgh.
Finkel Enters Republican Mayoral Race
Republican mayoral candidate David Finkel, center, pauses for a family photo yesterday - with daughter Elizabeth and wife Sarah - following the announcement of his candidacy on the steps of City Hall. | photo by JOHN WALKER
David M. Finkel announced his candidacy yesterday on the steps of City Hall for Mayor of Shelbyville. Finkel is a lifelong resident, current school board member and serves on the city’s Board of Public Works. He joins Scott Furgeson and Brad Ridgeway as candidates in the Republican primary.
“The mayor of Shelbyville sets the tone and expectations for a healthy local government serving the people,” Finkel said in a statement.
The following is a press release from Finkel, in which he offered a “road map for Shelbyville’s success.”
PRESS RELEASE
Leadership in Government: The tone of an administration is set by the chief executive. As mayor, I intend to lead by example, relying on my years of experience bringing pride to my family and my community in both the public and private sectors. At the public hearings I have chaired over the years, I have developed the skills to listen, understand and implement changes suggested by the public. Together we can implement effective change and leadership where it is needed. Being a mayor is a 24/7 commitment and I am dedicated to carry out the mayor’s responsibilities full-time in an inclusive and professional manner.
Focus on City Services: The City of Shelbyville provides key services to our citizens. Providing those services is our first priority. I have a lifetime of experience managing and guiding employees, processes and functions of a business as well as in the non-profit sector. I will trust our employees and provide the support needed to accomplish their respective tasks. I do not micromanage. The most important person in any organization is the individual interacting with the end users at any time, and that rarely includes the mayor. I understand my place in organizational leadership and will focus on continuing, expanding or improving the services provided to our citizens.
Fiscal Constraint: I have been personally responsible for my employees, the success of my businesses and a popular non-profit. I serve with many organizations. In these roles, I learned the lessons of wise and effective spending. I intend to use these lessons in dealing with our community’s budget and spending. I understand taxation and public finance. The mayor provides leadership in public spending, and I intend to maximize the return on spending for all citizens.
Making Changes that Make Sense: While the vast majority of what our local government does works, there are things that need to be changed. This includes expansion of trash collection services, successful employee strategies, expansion of public safety, and economic opportunity for all including our existing business community. I have learned great ideas come from others, and I look forward to listening and guiding our growth.
Quality of Life and Community Self Esteem: Shelbyville is a great place to live and work. I will be a cheerleader for Shelbyville. I will promote a positive and professional attitude at all times. I will represent our city with dignity and respect while taking on the challenges the city faces head on. We live in a great place, and that excitement starts with me.
NOTEBOOK:
The Boggs Society in Boggstown will host its free quarterly meeting Sunday, Feb. 5, 2 p.m. Following a short business meeting, a program will be held about actor Steve McQueen, who was born in Beech Grove.
HOOSIER NEWS: The Indianapolis mayoral candidates have filed their campaign finances reports for 2022, providing an inside look at the major donors shaping this year's mayoral race. The enormous disparity between incumbent Mayor Joe Hogsett's campaign coffers and those of his opponents is self-evident, indicating just how much of an uphill battle it will be for any of the five mayoral challengers to unseat him. Hogsett collected $1.4 million in donations in 2022, ending the year with $3.6 million in cash on hand. Democratic state. Rep Robin Shackleford received about $59,000 in donations in 2022, ending the year with about $40,000 in cash on hand. The remaining two Democratic candidates Clif Marsiglio and Gregory Meriweather reported no donations in 2022 and no cash on hand. Republican candidate John Couch did not submit a campaign finance report by the deadline of Jan. 18. The other Republican candidate pastor James Jackson reported about $3,700 in donations in 2022 and ended the year with about $1,900 in cash on hand. (IndyStar)
NATIONAL NEWS: A consumer advocacy group has asked the Federal Trade Commissions to investigate the egg industry following a spike in the cost of eggs that they argue is not as related to the ongoing bird flu as producers claim. Farm Action said that while the average size of the egg-laying flock in any given month of 2022 was never any lower than 6 percent down year over year, the wholesale price of shell eggs rose considerably out of pace with supply owing to the price-setting powers of the massive firms that define the egg industry. The wholesale price of shell eggs rose from 173.5 cents per dozen in February of 2022 to 298 cents per dozen by the first week of April. Those price hikes led industry bellwether Cal-Maine Foods to post gross profits of $535.34 million in the 26 weeks ending November 26, which was over 10 times the profits they logged in the same period of 2021. (Farm Action/Numlock)
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
Lester Fleener, who had served the town of St. Paul as town marshal since September 1, 1991, died. Fleener, 52, had also been the manager of the water and sewer department for several years, and worked on the St. Paul Fire Department as an emergency medical technician. Deputy Marshall Gary Mozingo was temporarily filling Fleenor’s spot as town marshal.
30 YEARS AGO: 1993
City parks staff, led by superintendent Bill Coffey, were spending at least three hours every week removing garbage that had been illegally dumped in local parks. Coffey and parks director Linda Sanders said they were planning to get tougher on illegal dumping. Often, the refuse illegally dumped in the city’s parks were large items, such as refrigerators.
40 YEARS AGO: 1983
Farmers National Bank offered auto loans at 11.9% interest.
50 YEARS AGO: 1973
Funeral services were held for Michael W. Snyder, 21, a Shelbyville freshman student at Indiana University who had drowned in a quarry near Bloomington. The funeral was held at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Snyder, a 1969 graduate of Shelbyville High School, had reportedly been scuba diving with friends when the accident occurred. He was the son of Wayne and Eula Mae (Parker) Snyder.
60 YEARS AGO: 1963
Judge Robert Ellison requested the County Council appropriate funds for a proposed county probation department.
70 YEARS AGO: 1953
Seven street intersections near three Shelbyville grade schools had the protection of school safety patrol boys equipped with red flags attached to long poles used in the control of pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic. Lt. Earl Trees reported that the red flag equipment had been found to be successful as an additional safety measure.
Two local officers, Bob Heistand and Norman Mellis, apprehended a “sleeping” gunman in a stolen car south of Shelbyville. Heistand had received a call from a farmer reporting a car had been parked just off the highway on a gravel road for several hours. Realizing the car was stolen, the officers approached with drawn revolvers to find the man sleeping on the front seat. He was ordered out of the car and handcuffed. Officers found a loaded sawed-off .410-gauge shotgun and a box of shells in the vehicle. The man later remarked that if the officers hadn’t “slipped up” on him, he “wouldn’t be here now (because) I wouldn’t let anybody take me.”
80 YEARS AGO: 1943
Of the 1,500 county men who had joined the service, fewer than 500 of their ration books had been turned in to local officials. The local War Price and Rationing Board demanded the rest be turned in immediately. “There is a conviction in some quarters that those ration books, which actually are no longer legal, are being used by relatives who are at home. This, of course, is in outright violation of all rationing regulations and cannot be tolerated,” J.B. Carney, board secretary, said.
90 YEARS AGO: 1933
Shelbyville High School, already crowded, would become more so when the second semester started Jan. 30, when 55 students from the junior high school would be admitted compared to only four mid-year graduations. Forty-four students would be admitted to junior high - consisting of seventh and eighth grades - from the three grade school buildings: Major, Colescott and Hendricks.
100 YEARS AGO: 1923
Street car and interurban owners were feeling the competition of taxi cabs, the Republican reported. Interurbans were faced with greater regulation, higher taxes and the necessity of purchasing coal, which was at a premium, for power.
INCIDENTS
Thefts were reported in the first block of W. Rampart St. and 1300 block of W. Walser Road, Shelbyville, and the 7900 block of N 400 W, Fairland.
A three-vehicle accident occurred on North Michigan Road at the intersection of West Mausoleum Road. A vehicle rear-ended another vehicle at the stoplight, causing it to collide with a third vehicle. The driver of the first vehicle said he had been looking down when the collision occurred.
A driver struck a parked, unoccupied vehicle on West Franklin St. at the intersection of North Miller St. The driver said visibility was poor, and he was not wearing his glasses.
Burglaries were reported in the first block of 4th St., Shelbyville, and 200 block of East Washington St., Fairland.
JAIL BOOK-INS: Ludwin E. Acuna-Mendoza, 38, OVWI; Michelle L. Cantrell, 42, failure to appear; Keith Crawford, 56, possession of paraphernalia, meth; Jhomari C. Drain, 22, hold for another jurisdiction; Sara M. Hayes, 50, possession of paraphernalia and meth; Karen G. Kaiser, 45, unknown hearing, hold for another jurisdiction; Chadrick D. Karnes, 43, failure to appear; Tejon J. Randall, 34, failure to appear; and Kesley M. Rigney, 28, OVWI-endangerment.
OBITUARIES
O. Jean Drake, 92, of Shelbyville, passed away on Thursday, January 19, 2023, at Heritage House of Shelbyville. She was born August 25, 1930 in Burkesville, Kentucky, the daughter of Samuel Otis and Bertha (Copus) Shaw. On August 25, 1962, she married Larry H. Drake, and he preceded her in death on February 9, 2011. Jean is survived by her sons, Brent Drake and wife, Deena, and David Drake and wife, Charlotte, both of Shelbyville; brother, Doug Shaw of Trafalgar; six grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to Larry, Jean was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Charles Shaw, Kenneth Shaw and Wayne Shaw; and sisters, Edith Adkins and Linda Lou Estep.
Jean formerly worked at Lord’s Dress Shop, Monte Glove Company, 4-D Electrical Supply and Drake Electric. She enjoyed collecting antique glass.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m., Tuesday at the funeral home.
Interment will be at Patterson Cemetery in Shelby County. Memorial contributions may be made to the Blue River Community Foundation, 54 W. Broadway St., Suite 1, Shelbyville, Indiana 46176. Online condolences may be shared with Jean’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Robert L. Bowman, 80, former St. Paul resident, passed away January 19, 2023 at Waldron Heath Care. Graveside services will be 11 a.m. on Monday, January 23, 2023 at Donaldson Cemetery in Elizabethtown, where military rites will be conducted by the American Legion.
Gary Selmon Jr., 28, of Shelbyville, passed away Thursday, January 19, 2023 at MPH Medical Center. He was born September 15, 1994 in Reno, Nevada. Gary was raised by Rodney and Pam Claiborne. Gary graduated from Whiteland High School. He loved to dance, listen to music, and loved his siblings.
Gary is survived by his siblings, Rusty King, Devon Matthews, Alayna Robison, Mark Claiborne, Serena Murphy, Jazmin Claiborne, Dakota Claiborne, Mikayla Claiborne, Chris Claiborne, Taylor Claiborne, Miguel Claiborne, Bruce Heady and Breanna Heady.
A Celebration of Life will be at a later date. Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks, Stuart Parks, and Darin Schutt are honored to serve Gary’s family. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.