Saturday, June 15, 2024
175th County Fair to Conclude
Today marks the final day of the Shelby County Fair. A list of events is here. | photo by JACK BOYCE
IT’S A WRAP
Local businessman James Maulden applies a special-made plastic, funded by Blue River Community Foundation, to a large metal box on Public Square, which holds a variety of equipment for events. | photo by JACK BOYCE
NOTEBOOK:
The Shelbyville Board of Zoning Appeals this week approved a request for the former Frito-Lay warehouse building to become an indoor athletic training facility, primarily for youth batting and pitching training. The property, 1934 N. Michigan Road, is owned by Shelbyville Properties, LLC, and Terry Kitchin spoke on behalf of his mother, Sue Kitchin-Reed, regarding the petition. The site was used by Frito-Lay for a warehouse from 1998 until last year. Mr. Kitchin said the incoming potential tenant appeared knowledgeable with the industry and connected to similar endeavors in surrounding counties. He said the tenant believes local youth are currently going out of town to access similar facilities. The approval with conditions was unanimous with board members Nicole Terrell, Chris Clark, Vince Bradburn and James Garrett III voting in favor, and Doug Cassidy recusing himself from considering the petition.
The city BZA was supposed to also consider a variance request regarding the driveway width of an incoming convenience store and fueling station at the corner of Marketplace Blvd. and Progress Parkway, which will share a drive with the property to the south, an incoming hotel and commercial multi-tenant building. However, no one appeared on behalf of the petitioner, so the board took no action. The petition is a “fairly straight forward request” regarding driveway width with a curve in the road and alignment, City Planning Director Adam Rude said. The petitioner plans to file for site development plan approval in the coming months, the staff report noted.
NATIONAL NEWS: A research laboratory wanted to find out how to cut down on stings from rays, and found that the stingray’s decision on whether or not to sting an errant foot came down to where exactly the foot was stepping. Step on a stingray’s side? They’ll swim away. Step on their snout? Not a problem. Step on their body, where the organs are? That’s a stinging, 85 percent of the time. Stingray stings are a real pain, but don’t get the press that bites from sharks do, despite there being tens of thousands of stingray stings in the world and just 57 shark attacks in 2022. (Hakai Magazine/Numlock)
The Addison Times publishes essential news and historical content to build our Shelby County community, and is free thanks to the generosity of supporters. Those who donate a minimum of $5 a month (or $45 one-time) receive the three remaining quarterly Addison Times magazines for 2024 as an appreciation gift.
Want the daily edition read to you? Struggling with your email provider filtering out your local news? The Addison Times Substack app will solve those challenges!
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: The Morristown Town Council awarded a contract to build a new fire station behind the existing Town Hall on property donated by Hanover Towonship.
2004: The Shelbyville Central Schools announced preliminary plans for a major renovation at Shelbyville High School, which was built in 1958. With a new building estimated to cost $90 million, the board and Superintendent James Peck said the original building could be kept and renovated at a much lower cost.
1994: Nearly 150 videos, mostly adult videos, were stolen in an overnight break-in at K&P Video, 22 Howard St. The thieves had broken through an exterior cinderblock wall into the office at Mickey’s T-Mart and then tore through an interior wall into the video store.
Misty Smith, a standout on the Shelbyville High School women’s basketball team, was recognized as a 1994 Indiana High School Basketball All-Star. She and the 11 other players were honored at a luncheon in Indianapolis, attended by Mayor Bob Williams and Common Council member Nancy McNeely.
1984: While county offices struggled to find funding for computers, the Shelby County Food Stamp Office was receiving computer terminals courtesy of the state. The funding was due to the new statewide food stamp automation program.
1974: Shelbyville dentist Dr. Willis Fairchild was issued a patent for a tobacco substitute, a natural growing plant known as gnaphalium to make “harmless cigarettes.” The plant grew around fields in Kentucky, where Dr. Fairchild was raised. A study on white mice had shown that gnaphalium was less harmful than tobacco, and “human guinea pigs” in a study had agreed that the no-tobacco cigarrettes were pleasant to smoke.
1964: Thirteen pastors of Methodist churches in the area district went on record as supporting the Civil Rights Bill still being debated by the U.S. Senate. The group was headed by Rev. Douglas Leffler, pastor of the Carrollton Church. Others supporting the measure were Revs. James Timms of Marietta; Harold Ping, Trinity of Shelbyville; John Hoadley, Waldron; Jerome Hyde, West Street; and Lewis Wilson, First Methodist.
1954: Locals involved in a mental health campaign purchased a 21-inch television set for the Madison State Hospital, presented by Shelbyville businessman Ed Benchik.
1944: Lt. Paul Dickmann, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Dickmann, arrived home on a 10-day leave after completing an 18-week course on bombing and navigation. He would be sent back to Texas to await further instructions.
1934: Local parks improvements, funded by the federal government, were underway at Laura Morrison Park. The work included rebuilding the tennis courts, including drainage; installing shuffleboard equipment; replacing playground swings and swing boards; landscaping; and completion of a shelter house.
Local barbers met at William Coers’ shop on Harrison Street to discuss standard pricing. Some of the barbers charged 25 cents and others 35 cents for a haircut, with differences in the price of shaves.
1924: Walkerville residents complained about the recent street oiling on Morris Ave. and Fair Ave. The residents asked that only one side of the street be oiled at a time in the future for the purpose of safety.
R.S. Lesher, of Indianapolis, tuned the pipe organ at The Strand Theatre. Several people slipped into the theatre, unbeknownst to Lesher, to hear him play hymns as he tuned the instrument.
1914: Two Milford area residents caught hogs robbing graves in the old Alley Mausoleum on the banks of Clifty. The residents saw one of the hogs sitting on the stone wall with a bone in its mouth. Doddridge Alley, the man who built the mausoleum, was a relative of Prof. Willard Alley, of Shelbyville. Prof. Alley said he would make a trip to investigate the situation.
OBITUARIES
Francis H. “Frank” Crafton, 76, of Fairland, passed away Thursday, June 13, 2024, at his home. He was born August 16, 1947, in Indianapolis, the son of Howard K. and Esther M. (Ehrlich) Crafton. On October 22, 1982, he married his wife of 41 years, Lana “Darlene” Curry, and she survives. In addition to Darlene, Frank is survived by his sons, Jason Crafton of Monrovia, Paul Eric Guhl and wife, Eileen, of McCordsville, Todd Everett Guhl and wife, Nikki, of Indianapolis, and Charles Elliott Guhl and wife, Kim, of New Palestine; brother, Stephen A. Crafton and wife, Oneada, of Indianapolis; grandsons, Ryan and wife, Natalie, Nick and wife, Destiney, Andy, Matt, Christopher, David and Alex; and several nieces and nephews. Frank was preceded in death by his parents; and grandson, Zachary.
In 1965, Frank graduated from Scecina Memorial High School. He was a member of Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ Catholic Church in Wanamaker. Frank was a U.S. Army veteran, serving in Vietnam. He retired in 2009, from Batts Construction, as a project manager. Frank was also a member of the American Legion Post No. 70, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2695. He served on the Military Honor Committee.
A gathering of friends and family will be from 10 a.m. to Noon, Friday, June 21, 2024 at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. The Celebration of Frank’s life will follow at Noon, Friday at the funeral home. Inurnment will follow at Washington Park East Cemetery in Indianapolis, with military rites conducted by the local military committee. Memorial contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans, DAV National Headquarters, 860 Dolwick Drive, Erlanger, Kentucky 41018. Online condolences may be shared with Frank’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Randy S. Guirguis, 28, of Noblesville, passed away Wednesday, June 12, 2024 at Community North Hospital. Born May 4, 1996 in Luxor, Egypt, he was the son of Samir Milad Guirguis and Mona Saad Guirguis. He married Brittney (Haviland) Guirguis on November 16, 2019, and she survives. Other survivors include his parents of Carmel; his spouse of Noblesville; a son, Damian Guirguis of Noblesville, a baby daughter coming within the next month; and a sister Sandra Lowe (Raymond) of Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, uncles Nabil Milad & Ezzat Labib, and aunt Seham Wanes.
Mr. Guirguis had lived in this area for 27 years, after moving from Egypt. He was a project manager for Mosaic Consulting Group, LLC. for one year. He graduated from Carmel High School in 2014, graduated from Butler University in 2019 with a Bachelor's Degree, and was a member of Calvary Apostolic Church in Noblesville.
Randy was a loving husband, father, son and brother. He loved his family and enjoyed spending time with his wife Brittney and son Damien. He was a helper, he loved helping his church and was CAC's project manager. Randy enjoyed getting together with new people and old friends by hosting them to his house for game nights.
He loved being with his family for the holidays and enjoyed spending time with his extended family overseas in Egypt. During his free time, Randy loved playing basketball with his friends. He recently received the honor of being awarded his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blue belt, which he was very proud of. He was a loyal servant to all that he encountered. He was a true definition of a Christian.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at Calvary Apostolic Church, 16400 Cumberland Road, Noblesville, with Pastor Bryan Tanton officiating. Burial will be in Hamilton Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call on Tuesday morning from 10 a.m. until the time of the service, at the church. Memorial contributions for Brittney and their children can be made to: https://gofund.me/36606ede. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.
Sarah E. Robinson, 54, of Shelbyville, passed away Thursday June 13, 2024, at her residence. She was born December 11, 1969, in Shelbyville, IN to Phillip Stieneker and Billie (Hulsman) Stieneker, and they survive.
Sarah graduated from Shelbyville High School with the class of 1988. She then went on to earn a degree from Ball State University in 1990. While she attended Ball State, she was a member of the Ball State Dance Team. After college, she worked as a paralegal for many years before becoming the office professional for Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 440, where she worked since 2005.
Sarah was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church and enjoyed attending the Bible studies. She was very involved in the Breast Cancer Awareness community and found great joy in helping others with their journeys. She was a mentor to many others that were battling cancer, especially those afflicted with breast cancer.
She attended two Casting for Recovery events by special invitation, where she learned to fly-fish. Sarah was a member of the State Champion 9–12-year-olds softball team, Speedy’s. She went on to become an avid softball player well into her 30s. She competed in many Breast Cancer Awareness tournaments, as well as all the Breast Cancer Awareness events at Triton Central Schools. She was also involved in the leadership and planning for our local Relay for Life events. Sarah had a great love for animals.
She married Jeffrey M. Robinson on August 9, 1997, and he survives. Sarah is also survived by her son, Nicholas Robinson; her brothers, Matthew (wife, Angela) Stieneker and Robert (Lori) Stieneker; her nieces and nephews, Morgan Stieneker, Addison Stieneker, Lucas Stieneker, Layton Stieneker, Levi Stieneker and Layne Stieneker; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her special God Parents, John and Karen Stieneker; her uncle, Joe Stieneker and cousin, Nathan Gibson.
A Rosary will be recited Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. at Murphy-Parks Funeral Service, 703 S. Harrison Street, Shelbyville, IN. Visitation will follow from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, June 20, 2024 at 10 a.m. at Joseph Catholic Church, 125 E. Broadway St., Shelbyville, IN, with Father Mike Keucher officiating. Burial will be in St. Vincent Catholic Cemetery. Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks, Stuart Parks, and Darin Schutt are honored to serve Sarah’s family. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.