Saturday, May 31, 2025

May 31, 2025

GALLERY: Work Progresses at North Harrison Railroad Crossing

above photos by JACK BOYCE

Crews are making seemingly significant progress at the North Harrison Street railroad crossing, including installation of a new track panel that spans the four-lane crossing. Aerial and ground-level photos show the panel fully connected to the existing track, with ballast in place and leveled. The track is now capable of supporting train traffic.

Additional work includes shaping and clearing excess ballast, as shown in photos of the specialized machinery on site. Remaining tasks include installation of concrete pads between the rails, restoration of pavement on either side of the crossing, and rewiring of signal circuits. Preliminary work has also begun at the nearby Old Michigan Road and North Harrison Street roundabout. (Residents and truckers have been following official - and unofficial - detours.)

information above and photos below by JOHN WALKER

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Foundation Awards $141,626 to Local Organizations

Blue River Community Foundation (BRCF) recently awarded $141,626 in grant funding to 10 local organizations. These grants will support a wide range of initiatives focused on education, public safety, youth development, mental health, and community enrichment, furthering the Foundation’s mission to strengthen Shelby County for current and future generations.

Funding for these grants is made possible through BRCF’s Community and Field of Interest Funds, established by donors who are committed to creating a lasting impact in Shelby County.

The following organizations and projects will receive funding:

Blue River Career Programs: Welding Technology Lab Expansion
Award: $25,000 - With student enrollment on the rise, this funding will support the addition of new welding booths, allowing for the continued growth of the program and the hiring of an additional instructor.
Flat Rock Volunteer Fire Department: Air Pack Upgrade
Award: $25,000 - This grant will help replace aging Self-Contained Breathing Apparatuses to ensure the safety and effectiveness of firefighters serving Washington and Jackson Townships and neighboring areas.
Girl Scouts of Central Indiana: Shelby County Cooking Club
Award: $9,685 - A collaborative summer program with Girls Inc. that will teach girls essential cooking and nutrition skills while fostering confidence and healthy habits.
Girls Inc. of Shelbyville/Shelby County: She Takes the Lead
Award: $14,000 - Launching a new Women in Leadership program, this initiative will feature interactive learning stations and networking mixers to connect girls with inspiring female leaders.
Harnessing Hope: Equine Therapy Equipment Needs
Award: $10,000 - Funding will support essential equipment upgrades—including an arena groomer, adaptive saddle, and accessible restroom—to improve safety, accessibility, and efficiency for participants and volunteers in therapeutic equine programs.
Joshua Center: Family Grief and Bereavement Retreats
Award: $18,750 - Funding will launch quarterly retreats providing grief support to children and families in rural communities through storytelling, memorial activities, and counseling.
Love INC of Shelby County: Launching Love INC
Award: $5,941 - As a new nonprofit, Love INC will use this grant to fund startup needs such as communication systems, donor management software, and outreach materials to support its mission of connecting churches to community social service needs.
Rotary Club of Shelbyville: Park Kaleidoscope
Award: $3,250 - This creative project will bring a giant interactive kaleidoscope to Blue River Memorial Park, providing a memorable attraction and enriching the public space.
Shelby County Youth Assistance Program: Youth Mentoring Program Support
Award: $5,000 - Supporting the expansion of mentoring and tutoring services to reach more youth across the county, this grant will strengthen the program's positive impact on academic and social outcomes.
Shelby Eastern Schools: Ag Lab Expansion Project
Award: $25,000 - Equipping new agriculture labs at Morristown and Waldron Jr.-Sr. High Schools, this grant will support tools and materials for expanded hands-on learning and future FFA programming.

“These grants are making meaningful investments in the organizations that are driving progress and well-being across Shelby County,” Jordan England, Grants & Nonprofit Relations Director at BRCF, said. “We’re proud to stand alongside these organizations as they create opportunities, improve quality of life, and strengthen our community.”

NOTEBOOK:

HOOSIER NEWS: The Allen County measles outbreak is over. Allen County Department of Health spokesperson Matthew LeBlanc says two full incubation periods have passed without any new cases reported since April 21. A total of eight cases were reported in Allen County in April, involving three adults and five children. In an effort to combat the spread of the disease, the health department partnered with SuperShot for a free measles vaccine clinic. Throughout North America, the number of measles cases reported has increased slightly, which is an indicator that the outbreaks are slowing overall. Other measles outbreaks are occurring in Texas and elsewhere in the southwest, as well as Michigan, Ohio, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. Federal officials declared Indiana’s measles outbreak over this week. The best way to avoid measles is to get the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old. (Indiana Public Media)
NATIONAL NEWS: A rare T206 Honus Wagner — a piece of memorabilia that held the distinction of most valuable baseball card until 2022 when a 1952 Mickey Mantle card sold for $12.6 million — is up for auction. The last time a T206 Mantle was sold, it moved for $7.25 million, and this new card (on the block at Goldin Auctions) instantly rocketed up to $3.17 million upon opening. The organizers will be keeping the auction open until June 21. The rarity of this card and of this player in particular is fascinating. There are only 54 copies known to exist, of which 28 are in poor to fair condition. Wagner himself — the “Flying Dutchman” — is in the Hall of Fame, and popular lore speculates that Wagner did not want to lend his image to a card that sold tobacco products. He was only mistakenly included in the run, and his card was yanked from production after the mistake was found. (Sportico/Numlock)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights

Nov. 4, 1966, Part I

Recent alumnus John Robert Hayes was elected president of the 6,000-member freshman class at Indiana University. At SHS, John had been junior class president.
Phillip Haehl, of Woodridge, was awarded Eagle Rank during a Boy Scouts ceremony. Ray Sears was the scoutmaster.
Barbara Scott, escorted by Neil Comstock, had been named Homecoming Queen during half-time of the football game against Rushville. Members of the court were Pam Beck, Christi Eads, Bill Haehl, Rod Dickman, Judy Christian, Louise Brandenburger, Gary Andrews, John Kramer, Cindy Oldham, Kenny Kuhn, Betsy Warrick, Rich Burwell, Georgia Golden and Mike Pyle.
Dan Kocher, former SHS teacher, had been named Professor of Speech at Franklin College. From 1939 to 1957, Kocher was a professor at Franklin. He stepped down to start teaching high school in 1957. He taught at SHS for six years and then one year at Southwestern.
Bill Haehl was president of Student Council. Newly elected Executive Committee members were Phil Haehl, Jerrel Dewitt and Melissa Miller.

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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: A Memorial Day program was held in Morristown’s Asbury Cemetery. Julie Young, an Indianapolis Star contributor, was the keynote speaker. The American Legion Color Guard, comprised of Robert Smith, James Toon, R.J. Clark and Carl Nickol, and firing squad - James Miller, John Toon, Max Wean, Jeff Jarman, Rick Shelton and Dennis Buckley - were all on hand. Shelbyville’s Memorial Day service featured a new cross, to honor Army St. Jeremy Wright, who had been killed Jan. 3, 2005, while serving in Afghanistan.

1995: Sheriff Mike Herndon signed a county contract with a dentist who would treat inmates at the jail. Herndon noted this would eliminate concerns about inmates escaping while being transported in public.

O’Neal Steel announced plans to build a 10,000-square-foot storage building at its Shelbyville plant.

1985: The Shelby County Fair announced plans to hold an antique tractor auction during fair week. Over 50 antique tractors and old-time gasoline engines would be auctioned off, including a 1935 John Deere, a 1936 Case and several Farmalls.

The old Cob’s Place on East Broadway was demolished. The bar had been gutted by fire a few weeks before. The lot had been purchased by the adjacent VFW Post 2695 and would be used for parking.

1975: About 25 local young people participated in the Hoosier Century 4-H Bike Ride, which would include a 50-mile trip from Lebanon to Lafayette and back. A newspaper photo showed Steve Carpenter, David Waggoneer, Janice Bird, Denise Miller and David Carew loading their gear to be transported by the National Guard to Lebanon.

1965: Grading was completed and the foundation laid for the Fairland National Branch Bank located beside I-74 just northwest of Pleasant View.

1955: More than 350 people attended Memorial Day ceremonies and the dedication of the newly-erected open-air shrine at Asbury Cemetery. Edward Corbin was in charge of the color guard and firing squad. Paul Wolf, who had overseen the cemetery beautification committee, thanked community members for their support.

1945: A local drive netted 14,060 pounds of used clothes, equal to one and one-half large semi-trailer truckloads, for the United National Clothing Collection for European Relief. Ed Kracht was the chairman.

Colescott school held graduation exercises for the 6-A class in the school auditorium. Wray Orem was principal.

1935: Shelbyville native Wilbur Shaw finished second in the Indianapolis 500. Shaw’s first race had been in a goat race at the Shelby County Fairgrounds when he was 10 years old. He drove the goat hitched to a miniature Studebaker wagon, which was named the “Fred K” by Wilbur in honor of Fred Krebs of Shelbyville. Krebs recalled that Wilbur’s goat had an excellent lead entering the home stretch, but had spied some grass within easy reach. Forgetting about the race, the goat stopped to eat the grass and was passed by another goat. Shaw’s uncle, Harry Shaw, was a member of the Shelbyville Fire Department. Wilbur’s father had been the ticket agent for the old I&C Traction Company. Wilbur had been born at 827 S. Tompkins St.

1925: Seventy-three Shelbyville High School students collected diplomas in a ceremony at the City Opera House. The speaker, from Wabash College, said progress in the 20th century made young people “apt to make two great mistakes,” which included overestimating the nation’s superiority and searching for “a way to get education without work.”

1915: Consistent rain for two weeks had delayed a planned Boy Scout hike to Brown County. Local Scouts instead picked weeds around town, waiting for the mud to dry.

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