Saturday, June 29, 2024
High-Flying Flags
Downtown Shelbyville. | photo by JACK BOYCE
County Emergency Management Settles Into New Base
Shelby County Emergency Management Agency, the final tenant in the new Shelby County Complex facility on N. Michigan Road, has moved in. With moving, planning for the solar eclipse, completing the federally-required Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan and standard weather-related planning, it’s been a busy year for county EMA Director Denis Ratekin.
“I was told one time we are the best-kept secret in Shelby County because, while nobody knows what we do on a daily basis, they do know that during tornadoes or disasters, or the bitter cold in the winter, people know what we do then,” he said.
The department was originally known as Civil Defense. Early directors included Martin Luther and Paul Swafford. Jack Boyce became director in 1993 and stayed 14 years, through the name change to Shelby County Emergency Management. The office changed, too, from the basement of city hall to the basement of the county courthouse.
EMA’s recent relocation from the old Shelbyville Fire Station No. 2 building on East Broadway to the former county highway department building wasn’t part of the original plan.
“I understand they were going to tear (the old highway department building) down, but the commissioners came in and saw that it was structurally sound,” Ratekin said. “It just needed new siding, a new roof and a little bit of work on the outside. It’s been a garage since it was built in 1961, so there’s plenty of space.”
The storage has come in handy for the department, which services both the city and county and has substantial equipment, such as a fleet of eight drones, large message boards, generators, lights and personal protective equipment supplies on hand.
“In our profession, you have a plan and a backup plan to that plan, and then a third plan to the backup,” Ratekin said.
While most people think of EMA only during emergencies, the department does receive a fair amount of misdirected phone calls. People Googling for the county’s non-emergency phone line to report cars broken down on the side of the interstate or requesting title checks often erroneously find EMA.
Those calls should go to the county’s non-emergency line, 317-398-6661.
“I don’t want people to think I’m being rude when I say we can’t help you,” Ratekin said. “We are emergency management.”
NOTEBOOK:
A truck struck a utility pole in the first block of East Franklin St. A Shelbyville Police Officer on bicycle patrol heard the crash and responded to make the report.
NATIONAL NEWS: Washington state is weighing a fee on doorstep deliveries, as the long-term future of the gas tax in a state with somewhat rapid electric vehicle adoption becomes an open question. By 2035, Washington will require all new vehicles to be zero-emission, and gas tax revenues are projected to decline by $300 million to less than $1 billion per year. To make up that shortfall, they’re looking to states that have rolled out delivery taxes, such as Colorado, where a 27-cent fee per order raised $78 million in its first year, or Minnesota, where a 50-cent fee per delivery goes into effect this year. A 30-cent fee under consideration would generate between $45 million and $112 million in 2026. (E&E News/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: An Indianapolis man was sentenced for burglarizing Morristown’s Integrity Metals in January. Henry Albrecht, Morristown Police Chief, had located the man’s truck and chased him and two accomplices into a ditch with flowing water in freezing conditions. Albrecht, with assistance from the Sheriff’s office and a K-9 unit, apprehended the men.
2004: GasAmerica - Shelbyville’s newest convenience store and gas station, opened at 6 a.m., with unleaded gas selling for $1.65 a gallon. The store was located on S. Harrison, on property that once featured a Compton’s store. Nearby business owners Debbie Boyd, who owned EYES, and Barbara Smith, owner of Granny’s Attic, were delighted to have more customers in the area, Steve Talbert reported for The Shelbyville News.
1994: Shelby County Commissioners set rates for medical co-payments by jail inmates, which were capped at $10 by the state. “Where can you go for a $7 doctor’s visit?” The Shelbyville News asked. “Directly to jail.”
1984: Criminal filings in Shelby Superior Court during the first six months of 1984 had nearly equaled the number filed during all of 1983. While thefts and burglaries remained flat, the number of child molestation and forgery cases were up substantially. Police Det. Capt. Robert Williams attributed the increase in child molesting reports to society becoming more aware of the laws concerning molestation. And the still-recovering economy meant forgeries were still a major issue, Williams said.
1974: Knothole officials determined players could not play in both the Knothole A-League and youth Knothole program because they were on the Shelbyville High School team. The ruling made WSVL Knothole A-League team members Scott Gahimer, Bob Boedeker and Glen Baker and Thomas Market player Brian Jones ineligible to play in the A-League. Jeff Martin had also been playing for IPC and on the Willie Farkle slow-pitch softball league. Shelbyville coach Tom Hession had encouraged his players to play in both leagues before the ruling.
1964: For the third consecutive year, the Shelbyville Eagles Lodge won first in the state for ritual work. Members of the local ritual team were Virgil Harrell, Lawrence Collins, Earl Neu, Haehl Kuhn, Urban Roell, Eddie Crane, Paul “Pat” Smith, Jeremy Simmons and Eddie Crane.
A garage being moved became stuck between the railings on the Amos Road viaduct. Movers had to break a section of the garage in order to wedge it through the bridge.
1954: Painting and repair work on the neon sign in front of the Kopper Kettle Restaurant was postponed when workers noticed a dove’s nest with eggs in the sign.
John Buchert, 26, E. Pennsylvania St., caught a 12-pound carp and a 24-pound snapping turtle on the same day, two hours apart, in Big Blue River.
1944: Warren Carmony, son of D.E. Carmony, of Manilla, received the silver “wings” of a pilot and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army Fair Force in Alabama. He was allowed to spend a few days with his father before reporting to duty.
1934: Two hundred girls took advantage of a free swim day at Porter Pool. Those passing their swimming tests were Gloria Davis, Jeannette Banschbach, Peggy Cox, Doris Smith, Maxine Fischer, Patricia Sullivan and Katherine Myers.
1924: The new hospital was already caring for 10 patients. Local electricians and factory representatives were busy installing an X-ray machine, which cost $4,000 ($72,600 in today’s money). Conduit lines were laid to the hospital from West St. to carry current for the machine.
1914: Two local teens, Jimmy Myers and Walter Felt, were arrested and jailed overnight for smoking cigarettes. They telegraphed their parents to ask for money to pay the associated fines.
Robert Voll, of Shelbyville, had been unsuccessful at a family reunion in saving a “defenseless chicken” floundering in the Flat Rock River, The Republican reported. Voll, along with Marie Hogue and Sarah Hawkins, had gotten into a boat to save the chicken, but as they neared, a large bass jumped into the boat. “Robert was so occupied in capturing (the bass) that the poor chicken had long passed from this life before he could again turn his attention to saving the drowning fowl,” the paper said.
OBITUARIES
James Leonard Prather, 52, of Carmel, passed away Thursday, June 27, 2024.
He was born July 1, 1971, in Shelbyville, the son of Clifton and Ellen (Featherstone) Prather. James is survived by his sons, Jesse Prather and Jamie Prather, both of Shelbyville, Morrison Prather of Carmel; daughter, Chevelle Prather of Shelbyville; step-children, Calob Mourey of Shelbyville and Shelby Mourey of Lawrence; brothers, Clifton Prather Jr. of Shelbyville, Brian Prather and wife, Carrie, of Flat Rock, and Scott Prather and wife, Frances, of Shelbyville; sister, April Prather of Shelbyville; grandchildren, Nolan and Ayla; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and sisters, Tonja Pacini and Crystal Wood.
James was a brick mason, owning and operating Blue River Masonry for over 30 years.
He enjoyed fishing for carp, collecting antiques and going to car shows. James loved his hot rods. His favorite car was the “71 Chevelle.”
A Gathering of Friends and Family will be from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Friday, July 5, 2024, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. The Celebration of James’ Life will follow at 11:30 a.m., Friday, at the funeral home. Online condolences may be shared with James’ family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.