Saturday, June 28, 2025
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS
DOWNTOWN DEMO
Demolition work continues in the first block of W. Broadway, with workers slowing to protect the exterior of the Strand Annex building to the north. | photo by JOHN WALKER
Local Students Experience Life in Japan Through Sister City Program
Nine Shelby County students recently returned from an unforgettable journey to Shizuoka, Japan as part of the long-running Sister City exchange program. The trip, led by Rob Nolley and Robin Childres and supported by the Shelby County International Relations Council, offered students a chance to immerse themselves in Japanese culture, language and family life.
“This was one of the best groups of students I’ve ever taken,” said Nolley, who has been involved with the program for many years. “They were confident, respectful and genuinely curious about the culture. I was proud to watch them represent not just Shelbyville, but the United States.”
The program, paused only briefly during the pandemic, has sent students abroad nearly every summer for more than 30 years. Participants are selected through an application and recommendation process, with an emphasis on maturity and cultural readiness. After several days exploring Tokyo - including visits to anime shops, temples and other landmarks - the group took the Shinkansen bullet train to Shizuoka, where they stayed with host families for four nights.
For recent Shelbyville High School graduate Lilly Conners, the homestay was the most powerful part of the experience. “I was nervous and honestly really dreading being away from the rest of the Shelbyville group,” she admitted. “But I now believe it was fate that I was paired up with the host family that I was paired with… just over a week ago we were strangers, and now I see them as my family across the world.”
That sentiment was echoed by SHS student Kayla Barron, who signed up for the trip with encouragement from her Japanese teacher, Mr. Steve von Werder, and a friend who had previously gone. “Despite the language barrier, I found it very easy to get along with my host family in Shizuoka,” she said. A favorite memory of her first day with the host family was playing tag along the beach at Miho no Matsubara.
Rising SHS senior Megan Childres returned for her second year on the trip, this time bringing her mother along. “Staying with the same host family as last year was incredible,” she said. “We got to grow closer, and I didn’t have to worry about any awkwardness. I even got to show my mom the craziness of Tokyo and the peacefulness of our Sister City.”
While in Shizuoka, the group visited an elementary school - soon to be replaced by a new, modern facility - where students led English-language activities and learned about school life in Japan, including how children clean their own classrooms and serve lunch to their classmates.
“It’s always eye-opening,” Nolley said. “Our students come back seeing the world differently. You can see it in their posture, their questions, the way they talk. The experience transforms them.”
The visit included a formal reception with Shizuoka’s deputy mayor, as well as a cultural welcome party hosted by Ryobi. “The kids were dressed in traditional kimonos, introduced themselves in Japanese, and shared reflections about their visit,” Nolley said.
He noted that the $3,000 cost of the trip is far lower than what a similar trip would cost independently, thanks to homestays and group rates. He also praised the relationships that have made the Shelbyville–Shizuoka partnership one of the most respected sister city programs in Japan. “They’ve told us, this is the model they want others to follow,” Nolley said.
As for future participants, Barron had simple advice: “If any students are wondering whether to sign up next summer, take the opportunity if you can!”
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: FULL CANOPY REAL ESTATE
NOTEBOOK:
HOOSIER NEWS: Indiana’s private school voucher program grew to more than 76,000 students this school year, with the state spending nearly half a billion to subsidize tuition at private, parochial and nonreligious schools. The Indiana Department of Education’s annual scholarship report shows the program’s growth has slowed to 8.5%, compared to a surge in recent years after eligibility was broadly expanded. The state paid $497.1 million in tuition grants — a 13.2% increase over the previous year. (Indiana Public Media)
NATIONAL NEWS: The U.S. standard of living has risen about five-fold since the end of World War II. In 1950, it took the median worker about 10 minutes to earn enough money to buy a gallon of gasoline, while it takes the median worker under 5 minutes of work today. Buying a single square foot of housing in 1950 cost the median worker about 5 hours, 20 minutes. Today, that same square footage costs the median worker 5 hours, 16 minutes. As another example, the price tag on newer cars might be eye-popping, but in 1950 more than 70 people died for every billion miles driven, while today that number is 13.4. That said, the biggest issue in the middle class involves changes to consumption, not earnings. In 1950, $6 of every $10 in family spending went to manufactured goods. About 48% of spending was on non-durable goods, mostly clothing and food, and more than 15% went to durable goods like housing, automobiles and home appliances. By the late 1960s, the average family saw their spending on manufactured goods decline to about half their annual income. Services, such as health care, recreation, food service and accommodations accounted for half of household spending. Today, services are 70% of spending. In 2025, middle-class Americans might consider themselves financially stressed, but they are allocating much more of their spending to experiences rather than tangible goods, and buying a lot more health, safety and comfort than anyone before them. (Dr. Michael Hicks/IndyStar)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights
May 21, 1952, Part II
Following a dinner at First Evangelical Church, 15 seniors were inducted into the National Honor Society. Donald Jones, alumni member, gave the invocation. Harold Pickett spoke about the history of the local chapter, founded in 1926. Maxine Huffman, Richard Schneider, Joanne Jester and Lois Carew explained the four keystones of the society. New members were Marilyn Cole, Phyllis Crafton, Linda Fish, Jim Hardin, Maurice Hart, Shirley Hey, Donna Krebs, Jim Lawrence, Delphia Meadows, Mark Miles, Gayle Mitchell, Dianne Perkins, Janet Wells, Phyllis Wiley and June Zell.
“When young Johnny Franklin, crown bearer for the May Queen, put the cushion on which he had carried the crown on his chair and sat on it, expressions of envy spread throughout the audience. Why doesn’t the management supply cushions for us all? After sitting on those bleachers for an hour before the start of the program, we have no doubt they are made of hardwood - very hard wood.
At the May Festival, Jerry Plymate, Tom Taylor and Larry Porter had “huffed and puffed around, moving first the piano, and then the risers for the singing groups. How about a hand for those hard-working muscle boys?”
A picnic for Hi-Y members was held at Willow Park. Ham sandwiches and cake were on the menu. “Volleyball and baseball occupied the attention of the more athletically inclined, and for those who preferred a less strenuous activity there was dancing.”
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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: Equipment was temporarily moved to the new Fire Station No. 1, 400 Industrial Park Drive. It was the first time since 1917 the city had a new Fire Station No. 1. The building had formerly been Tasco Inc. and would serve while a new station was built on West Broadway.
1995: Detroit Steel in Morristown took steps to offset worker layoffs and the loss of $10 million in annual sales. General Motors had told Detroit Steel it would buy its springs from a Mexican company. The loss of sales represented up to a quarter of Detroit Steel’s business. GM had also indicated a desire to move the plant operations to Mexico in the wake of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
1985: J.M. Trotter, a retired shop teacher from Waldron, was named grand marshal of the upcoming Fourth of July parade. Betty Williams was helping organize the event.
1975: County Commissioners approved a rezoning that would allow Mickey’s Auto Parts, 805 N. Michigan Road, to expand into a field just north of the property. A fence would block the view from the road, company officials said. The County Plan Commission had recommended rejection, but Commissioners unanimously approved the request. (Unanimous approval was necessary when the commissioners did not go along with a plan commission recommendation.)
1965: Paul Kaster and Frank Cortelyou announced the formation of Kasco Manufacturing Co., which would produce plow harrows that could be attached to any standard plow and harrow the ground as the farmer plowed. The company started with nine employees and was located in a building at the Cortelyou home on CR 600 S just east of Southwestern High School.
1955: The ambulance went out of service due to lack of funds. The unit had been supported by voluntary contributions. Some had suggested making the ambulance a SCUFFY-supported endeavor.
1945: The Little Blue River swimming pool at Kennedy Park would open as soon as it received state board of health approval. Malcolm Clay, city recreation director, was in the charge. Samples of the water had been submitted to the state for testing. Also, the Boys Club had organized park activities for boys up to 15 years of age at Kennedy Park each day in the summer.
1935: The bricks used in the construction of the Morrison Park bandstand had been taken from between the rails of the old Indianapolis & Southeastern traction line in 1934 as the tracks were removed from Harrison St. prior to resurfacing. The finished bandstand would soon by dedicated by Mayor L.E. Webb and the park board, Mrs. Torrance, Mrs. L.E. Webb and Laura Kent.
1925: William Fleming sold his South Harrison Street business building to Ernest and Clyde Kennedy, who were brothers. The location had previously been the Schroeder Pharmacy. The Kennedy Brothers, who operated a men’s furnishing store on S. Harrison St., planned to move their business.
1915: Chambers Manufacturing purchased the Citizens Industrial Club automobile plant on the Columbus Pike outside of Shelbyville. John Morner had first purchased the property for a bent wood factory, but decided to sell rather than launch the business. Chambers had been manufacturing stoves in the Hamilton building on East Jackson St.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: Freeman Family Funeral Homes & Crematory
OBITUARIES
Charline J. Peck Brown, 95, of Shelbyville, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at Walker Place. Born November 14, 1929, in Norwalk, Connecticut, she was the daughter of Henry Heller and Catherine (Blok) Heller. She married Robert E. Peck on April 4, 1948, and he preceded her on August 10, 1988. She later married Ray Brown in 2003, and he passed away on May 14, 2021.
Charline was a wonderful mother to her and Robert’s three children, Debbie Lucas of Indianapolis, Edward Peck of Shelbyville, and Ty Peck (Julie) of Shelbyville. She has three grandchildren, Jacob Peck, Michelle Peck, Lily Peck; and one great-granddaughter Lainey Collier. She was preceded in death by her mother, two spouses, and a sister, Jeanette Linke.
Mrs. Peck had lived in this area for 70 years, after moving from Boston, Mass., She graduated from Jamaica Plain High School in Massachusetts in 1947, and attended the First Presbyterian Church of Shelbyville. She had been a self-employed antique dealer for many years. She was a member of St. Joe Social Club, had been president of Frank Sinatra Fan Club in earlier years, was a Major Hospital and Grover Museum volunteer, and also volunteered at the Benesse Cancer Center in Shelbyville. Charline loved antiques and attending flea markets, garage sales and yard sales, and antique shops. She enjoyed interior decorating, her home was always beautifully decorated, especially for the holidays
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at Glenn E. George & Son Funeral Home, 437 Amos Road, with Pastor Gretchen Schneider officiating. Burial will be in Blue Ridge Cemetery. Friends may call on Tuesday morning from noon until the time of the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Shelbyville/Shelby Co. Animal Shelter, in care of the funeral home. Charline's wish was “for everyone to celebrate my life, love one another, hug or hold one another, and be happy for me.” Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.
Patricia Cole, age 80, of Shelbyville, passed away on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at her home. No services are planned at this time. Online condolences may be sent to glennegeorgeandson.com