Saturday, September 13, 2025
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Dooley’s Last Bug Rodeo Crawls Into Fairgrounds Today
Mike Dooley, center, who is holding his final Bug Rodeo today, hands out scholarships to Sofia Sipes and Norby Carpio at last year’s event. | photos by JACK BOYCE
For more than two decades, families have swarmed to the Shelby County Fairgrounds each September to experience Mike Dooley’s Bug Rodeo. Today marks the final event under Dooley’s leadership, as the longtime pest control professional steps into retirement.
Dooley, 70, started the rodeo more than 20 years ago in city parks before moving it indoors to the fairgrounds’ Women’s Building.
“I just wanted kids and parents to learn about bugs: what to be afraid of, what not to be afraid of and to have a little fun along the way,” Dooley said.
The event, which runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., includes bug displays, cockroach races, and even the chance to sample edible insects: live, cooked or in gummy form.
“The kids are like little sponges when they come in here,” Dooley said. “They see all the displays, they learn and then they dare mom or dad to eat a bug, too.”
Silly Safari will headline with a wildlife show from 1 to 2 p.m., and two $500 scholarships will be presented at the end of the program. Children will also receive giveaways such as butterfly nets, books and trinkets.
Dooley sold his business to Pest Assassin two and a half years ago but continued working with the company while hosting the rodeo.
“They’ve been great to me, but it’s time to take a breath,” he said. “I’ve done pest control for about 45 years. Now I want to spend more time with my family and maybe do some other things.”
Whether Pest Assassin continues the rodeo in future years remains uncertain.
“This is the last one I’m having,” Dooley said. “If they take it over, that’s fine, but for me it’s time to say a kind of goodbye. Not a permanent goodbye, just stepping out of the picture for a little while.”
The Bug Rodeo is free and open to the public.
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NOTEBOOK:
A 4-year-old child was struck by a vehicle Thursday evening on Morningside Court. Police said the child ran into the roadway about 7:50 p.m. and was hit by a southbound vehicle. The driver took the child to a nearby apartment and notified the mother before leaving. Witnesses told police the driver did make contact with the parents and did not leave the scene. Investigators said the child had not been supervised. A criminal case report was completed, and the Indiana Department of Child Services was contacted.
The Shelbyville High School football team (3-1) defeated New Castle last night, 35-21. Quarterback Layden Fitzgerald accounted for four scores, throwing three touchdown passes and running one in himself. His brother, Grantland Fitzgerald, added two touchdowns. Freshman Cam Thoman caught his first varsity touchdown, and senior Donavon Martin also found the end zone to round out the Golden Bears’ five-touchdown night.
Four Indiana National Guard soldiers based in Shelbyville have received the Indiana Distinguished Service Cross, the Guard’s highest medal, for their lifesaving efforts during Kentucky floods in February. Chief Warrant Officer 4 Brett Milton, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Craig Adams, Sgt. 1st Class Adam Kabella and Sgt. Dalton McCollum of the 38th Combat Aviation Brigade helped rescue 24 civilians and six dogs using hoist support during the disaster.
CORRECTION: The Fairland Cemetery History Walking Tour, which is hosted by the Fairland Historical Society, will be Tuesday, Sept. 16, 6:30 p.m. “Meet” Fairland residents of long ago as Donna Dennison, Genealogy Department Head at the Shelby County Public Library, leads participants on a walking tour of the Fairland Cemetery. Visit some of the graves of the many interesting people buried here. Please dress for the weather and walking terrain. This event is free & open to the public; donations accepted.
HOOSIER NEWS: As Wawa tries to build a store on Indianapolis’ east side with a dozen gas pumps and more than 60 parking spaces, the beloved East Coast chain has become snagged in a web of zoning laws meant to encourage pedestrian-friendly places. Pennsylvania-based Wawa has been wrangling with the city’s Department of Metropolitan Development for months to continue its recent expansion into Indiana with a new store on East Washington Street near Shadeland Avenue. In the latest sign that the city and Wawa remain at odds over their vision for the lot, the Metropolitan Development Commission hearing examiner granted Wawa another extension Sept. 11, pushing back a key zoning hearing to Oct. 23. The company introduced its current proposal to build a gas station and convenience store at 7140 and 7142 E. Washington St. to the hearing examiner, who rules on zoning issues, in June. (IndyStar)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: For the first time, children with obesity outnumber those who are underweight across the globe, according to a new report on child nutrition from UNICEF, a United Nations agency. Since 2000, the share of underweight children has dropped to 9.2 percent from 13 percent, while global childhood obesity rates have climbed. One in 10 children now has obesity, and one in five is overweight. Part of the problem is a longstanding and false assumption that poor countries struggle only with hunger, while rich countries face obesity alone. But since 2000, the number of overweight children has more than doubled in low- and middle-income countries, compared with a 20 percent increase in high-income countries. In 2022, low- and middle-income countries accounted for 81 percent of overweight children, according to the report. In high-income countries, children from poorer households, the report says, are more likely to live in food deserts (areas without much healthy food) or food swamps (areas saturated with unhealthy food). In low-income countries, obesity tends to be more common in wealthier households. (New York Times)
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COURIER ARCHIVES
May 16, 1962, Part II
The class of 1962, which had entered the newly opened SHS in the fall of 1959 with 215 members, had 171 remaining class members at graduation. Eleven boys had gone into armed services after dropping out of high school, and 14 girls had left early to get married. Others who had left were working in the community or were unemployed, The Courier said.
Crown and train bearers were named for May Festival. Johnny Cord, six-year-old brother of court member Sue Cord, and Lesa Adkins, three-year-old sister of escort Steve Adkins, were appointed to the positions.
Five SHS teachers would be leaving at the end of the year: Georgia Moore and Blanche Ashby were retiring, and Ronald Abrell, Lucille Jay and Jerry Need were moving on to other positions. Junior high teachers Betty Ramey and Clarine Webster would transfer over to SHS, and Lawrence Thompson, who had been on a leave of absence while studying in Iowa, was returning.
Randy Long broke the SHS 880-yard run record, beating the previous record set by Bob Gallagher in 1955.
Seniors Janet Kaster and Mark Mount received scholarships from the Elks Club.
Boys chosen as escorts for the 1962 prom were Bill Williams, Don Sexton and Mike Staats.
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This Day in Shelby County History
Local headlines reported on or around this date in Shelby County history. Selections are curated by The Addison Times from Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department materials.
2005: Department members who had hosted the Manilla Volunteer Fire Department open house were Fire Chief Dean Miller, Clyde Winton, Gary Baker, Neal Kuhn, Bob Hill, Bryan Waltz, Miller Winton, Darwin Brewer and Danny Kuhn. Winton, a charter member of the department, was presented with a lifetime department membership.
1995: Don Rose & The Classics performed at Breck Auditorium in a benefit for Family Services & Prevention Programs.
1985: Jack R. Hewitt, of Waldron, participated in a 25-mile hike during the International Nijmegen March in the Netherlands.
There had been 30 more births at Major Hospital through August 1985 than there had been in 1984.
1975: The will of Marian McFadden, who had recently died, was opened in Circuit Court. Major Hospital, the Shelby County Public Library and the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library were benefactors. The will bequeathed a 180-acre farm in Noble Township to Major Hospital for the purpose of a serving as a charitable trust.
1965: In a discussion regarding the Shelbyville Central Schools budget, a board member suggested putting parking meters in at the high school. “Some 200 student cars which go to the building daily create a sizable budget item in that they require the construction and maintenance of parking space at the school,” The Shelbyville News said.
1955: The Shelbyville school board re-emphasized that, despite complaints, they intended to build a new high school in Morrison Park. A hearing was set for Sept. 28 to discuss the issue.
1945: Morristown’s Willard E. Hensley American Legion Post completed plans for a “welcome home” project for returning veterans of World War II. L.V. Hauk, post commander for 15 years, announced the organization had purchased and secured the deed to the old National Guard building at Morristown. The structure had been home to the post for years, but the Guard had put the building up for sale, and the local organization secured it.
1935: Two local men got in a fight at a “liquor-licensed restaurant” on South Harrison Street, The Republican reported. The fight had started with the waiter over changing a nickel into five pennies. A man had placed the nickel on the counter and asked for change. The waiter said he was busy at the moment. An argument ensued, and this turned into the men throwing ketchup and mustard bottles and “other paraphernalia serving as missiles.” Finally, the waiter grabbed a butcher knife and cut the man’s nose, which had to be repaired via surgery. Neither of the men were arrested.
1925: Dr. R.F. Barnard won the golf championship at the Blue River Country Club. He had won the tournament several years in a row.
1915: The condition of the horse rack at the courthouse was a topic of conversation. One man said women couldn’t hitch their horses there without polluting their shoes. There were also several craters there where horses had pawed out holes. The mud was about 10 inches deep. “For a distance of not less than 100 feet, the water is as green as any grass can possibly be,” The Republican said. “Flies are there by the thousands.” The paper continued, “There is not a farmer in Shelby County who would permit his dirtiest hog to wallow in this cesspool.”
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