Saturday, June 7, 2025
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THIS WEEK IN SHELBY COUNTY GALLERY
(Top row, left and center) CSX put finishing touches on the N. Harrison St. railroad crossing Thursday afternoon, and work neared completion on the adjacent bridge, with traffic moving on both sides. North Riley Highway will reopen to traffic by noon today. Lane restrictions will remain in place during construction of the Michigan Road/N. Riley Hwy. roundabout, but through-traffic will be allowed. Knauf’s main entrance remains closed. Staff should continue using the internal detour and new North Riley access drive (photos by John Walker). | Community members and volunteers participate in yesterday’s Strawberry Festival on Public Square (photos by Jack Boyce). | Members of the Shelby County Republican Club, led by President Brad Landwerlen, gather for a picnic at Blue River Memorial Park on Wednesday (photo by Anna Tungate). | First Christian Church Shelbyville’s Youth Group spent the week in Black Mountain, N.C., at Christmount, helping with Hurricane Helene recovery (submitted). | Donna Dennison, as Gabby Meddleson, presents on local life in the late 1800s on Wednesday at The Strand Theatre (photo by Anna Tungate).
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NOTEBOOK:
Home sales in Shelby County were up last month compared to April, with 42 closed sales in May 2025 compared to 30 in April. In previous months of May, there were 33 sales in 2024, 55 in 2023, and 63 in 2022. There were 69 local new listings last month, the highest since June 2022.
A bicycle struck a moving vehicle on W. Franklin St. near S. Harrison St. The 17-year-old bicycle rider said his hood had fallen over his eyes. As he tried to push the hood up, he ran into a 2025 Camry. The bicycle rider was taken to the hospital regarding a possible head injury.
A vehicle struck a deer on Progress Road, 500 feet north of E. Michigan Road, damaging the vehicle.
The Shelby County Fair Parade is today, 2 p.m. A link to the parade route - and other fair events today - is here.
The Joseph Boggs Society Museum in Boggstown will be open tomorrow, Sunday, June 8, 1 to 4 p.m.
HOOSIER NEWS: The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) released its first draft of its new grading model for schools that, for the first time in the state’s history, takes into account not just test scores, but also a student’s unique educational experience. The department was tasked with creating a new A-F school grading model after lawmakers passed House Bill 1498 this legislative session. Now, the state must create a new methodology for grading how schools perform and hand out letter grades for each campus by the end of 2026. (IndyStar)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Vietnam is in an ideal demographic moment where its working-age population significantly outnumbers dependents. From an economic perspective, it’s a phenomenal place for rapidly developing countries to capitalize and grow swiftly. The median age is 33.4 years old and 70 percent are aged 15 to 64. The bad news is, this demographic pattern is set to end in less than 15 years, in no small part thanks to the country’s two-child policy. The policy has ensured Vietnam’s national fertility rate is down to 1.91 per woman in 2024, which is considered below replacement level. In an attempt to extend that window of superb working-age to dependent ratio, Vietnamese lawmakers have passed amendments ending the two-child policy. (NPR/Numlock)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights
April 17, 1931
The Courier suggested holding a horseshoe tournament at lunch. “How can the boys amuse themselves at noon? Play ball? All can’t play ball. Walk around the square with their girls? Surely this is all right for Marshall Armstrong and Morris DePrez, but suppose one hasn’t a girl? Horseshoes! That’s it!”
Seven charter members were initiated into Shelbyville High School’s first Varsity “S” Club by 10 members of the faculty. Garrel Richey, Nelson Hodges, Donald Phipps, Lorenzo Linville, John Leap, Charles Campbell and Walter Haltom were the initial seven. The following week, more were added: Kenneth Junken, Paul Maxwell, Theodore Wheaton, Bruce Wright, Charles Riemann, James Lee, Raymond Lackey, Wendall Carr, Earl Isgrigg, Kenneth Gunning, Harold Schmidt, George Coffin, Dale Mitchell, Glenn Skinner and Thomas Robins.
Kenneth Gunning hit a three-run homer to give Shelbyville a 3-2 win over Knightstown.
A girls baseball league had been organized, with games at 12:20 p.m. daily. Team captains were Bernitta Amos, Cleophus Mahaffey, Mary Anne Reimann and Theda Ash. Miss Barnes was the umpire.
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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: Plans for Phase 3 of the Fairland Road Project were submitted to INDOT for approval, marking the next step in a long-term effort to widen and repave County Road 400 North from I-74 west to the county line. The project, jointly funded by Shelby County, the state, and federal transportation authorities, aimed to improve safety and prepare for future connections to I-65 in Johnson County.
1995: GenCorp Inc. announced it was relocating the headquarters of its reinforced-plastics division from Carmel to Shelbyville. The move aimed to reduce overhead and improve efficiency by consolidating operations at the company’s local factory on W. Northridge Drive.
1985: Local historian John Wetnight was honored by the Shelbyville Rotary Club with its Arts and Humanities Award. A longtime civic leader and former owner of Shelbyville Paint & Wallpaper Co., Wetnight was recognized for his deep contributions to local history. He had chaired the Shelby County Civil War Centennial Committee, authored “Shelby County in the Civil War”, and compiled “Shelby County, Riled Up”, a collection of stories from old local newspapers. Over his 49 years in Shelbyville, Wetnight had also served with the Chamber of Commerce, Library Board, and Red Cross, among others. He and his wife Mary raised five children here.
1975: Three boys from West Jackson Street took it upon themselves to freshen up the park across from Major Hospital. Mike Merriman, 10, his brother Steve, and friend Eric Smith, 11, painted teeter-totters and swing seats using supplies provided by the city. Kent McNeely, a Park and Recreation Department field work student, also helped.
1965: The Shelbyville Jaycees launched a campaign to raise $650 for a new 50-foot aluminum flagpole to be installed on the Public Square. Carlos Alexander, project chair, said the flagpole had already been ordered and noted strong support from local businesses. The American Legion post pledged to provide the flag, and plans were in motion for a public flag-raising ceremony. This would mark the third flagpole on the square since the 1800s.
1955: Charles Edward “Chuck” Shearer and his wife, Nicki, were honored as “Mr. and Mrs. Jaycee of Indiana” during a banquet at the Elks Club following Chuck’s election to state Jaycee president. The event, attended by more than 125 guests, celebrated Shearer’s rapid rise since joining the local chapter just the year before. A former IU law student and father of two, Shearer was praised for his leadership and energy.
1945: After 15 months as a Nazi prisoner of war, Sgt. Clifford E. Henderson returned home to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Grover Henderson, 408 West Mechanic Street. Sgt. Henderson had served as a tail gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress before being captured when his plane was shot down over France. Now back on U.S. soil, he was on a 60-day furlough before reporting to a Florida rehabilitation station.
1935: Mobilization orders were issued for Shelbyville’s National Guard units as 11 officers and 150 enlisted men prepared to head to Fort Knox for a 15-day training camp. It marked the first time Indiana Guard troops—excluding the engineers—would make the trip entirely by truck. Beginning August 3, convoys of 20 trucks per day were expected to haul soldiers, equipment, and even a 75mm field cannon with a 7,000-yard range. The motorized method was expected to save the government over $36,000 in transportation costs. Among the local units participating were Company A of the 151st Infantry and the 151st Infantry band under Warrant Officer Martin Schulz.
1925: A day of leisure turned tragic when Mrs. Gail Tripp of Indianapolis died while swimming in the Flat Rock River near Cave Mill, south of Shelbyville. Mrs. Tripp, a 39-year-old assistant music supervisor in the Indianapolis public schools, was enjoying the afternoon with her 14-year-old son and several colleagues when she became frightened mid-stream and called for help. Though an onlooker pulled her from the water within minutes, she could not be revived. Doctors later confirmed she suffered a fatal heart attack, likely brought on by fear of drowning. Her body was taken to her mother's home in North Vernon for services.
1915: A strawberry heist took place southwest of Shelbyville when a gang of at least six people raided Commodore P. Alley’s berry patch late. Using flashlights, they picked roughly 20 crates of strawberries—worth around $50—over the course of three hours. By morning, the patch was nearly stripped clean. Mr. Alley, who had previously warned off suspicious visitors, discovered the theft too late to stop it. Officers were investigating, but the culprits remained at large.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: Freeman Family Funeral Homes & Crematory
OBITUARIES
Philip Joseph Siefert, 83, of Shelbyville, passed away on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at his home. He was born May 3, 1942, in Gulf Port, Miss., the son of Albert and Dolores (Lambert) Siefert. Philip is survived by his sons, Brett Siefert of Missouri, Brandon Siefert of Columbus, Jamie Noah of Shelbyville, and Erik Siefert and wife, Alyssa, of Carmel; sister, Norita Mohr of Fairland; grandchildren, Victoria Siefert, David Siefert, Isaiah Siefert, Sage Noah, Emma Siefert and Graham Siefert; great-grandchildren, Ellis Siefert, Luna Siefert and Maya Siefert; brother-in-law, Roy Wasson; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, William Siefert and wife, Joyce, and James “Jimmy” Siefert; sister, Patricia Wasson; brother-in-law, Henry Mohr; and great-granddaughter, Regina June Siefert. Philip was also preceded in death by his beloved dog, Tucker.
In 1960, Philip graduated from Hope High School. He received his bachelor’s degree from Cincinnati Bible Seminary. He preached at Hartsville Church of Christ from 1972 to 1980 and Greensburg Church of Christ from 1980 to 1985. He was a member of Remnant Church of Shelbyville and Campus Life, where he enjoyed working with the youth program. Philip retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 2009, with 32 years of service. He enjoyed going for bike rides, philosophy and early education.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Funeral services will follow at noon, at the funeral home, with Pastor Ian Farnsley officiating. Interment will be at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Shelbyville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Remnant Church. Online condolences may be shared with Philip’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.