West Side Trail Review
by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
Significant progress has been made of late on the pedestrian Southwest Connector Trail, which extended the West Side Connector trail. I took a bike ride yesterday to document the progress, shown below in the photo gallery. (Click on the photos to see them enlarged, and for scrolling capability.) Although the trail will, by next year, include part of Meridian St. and W. McKay Road, it currently stops at Shelbyville High School, where I started (Photo #1). The smooth surface turns away from Miller St. at the student parking lot entrance, and then veers to the right, traversing the middle school and high school fields (Photo #2) while passing the ecology pond. Work remains where the trail reaches Miller Ave. (Photo #3), so I cut through the grass and parking lot to reach the crosswalk at Miller Ave. and Hale Road, also still under construction. From there, the path follows Hale Road past Westar and the Animal Shelter (Photo #4), where it then heads downhill toward the Street Department (Photo #5) and re-crosses Hale Road (Photo #6) to enter a scenic wooded area (Photo #7) to reach West Washington St. The trail then briefly heads west to reach Habig St. Heading north (Photo #8), pedestrians can see the 500-pound fiberglass gorilla statute. (Long-time readers may remember our 2016 interview with Randy Robinson, who detailed how he took the statue from someone who owed him money. It stood along Miller Ave. for over a decade before moving to Habig St., where it has now stood nearly a decade.) The trail then turns right on River Road, which has been completed for some time (Photo #9).
SHS Students of the Month Recognized
Shelbyville High School Students of the Month for August, selected for the character trait Attitude, were recognized this week. Front (L to R) Emma Claxton, Piper Brown, Serenity Gross, Sarai Rawlings and Malia Hinojosa; Back: Dakota Woodruff, Jackson Heller, Caleb Wilhere, Mia Meyer, Jacob Slusser, Kenji Diaz Garza and Aiden Alton. | submitted
‘THANK YOU’ CHECK
Members of the Crafty Creators Home Extension Club present Rupert’s Kids with a check for $500 this week in appreciation for their help with the Club’s annual Cars, Crafts and Cruisers event over the summer. (L to R) Lois Farley, Pat Stone, Rupert’s Kids representative Brandy Cameruca, Pam Lochard and Margaret Cole participate in the presentation. | photo by Kileen Winkler
Shelby Sunset
Friday, September 13, 2024. | photo by JACK BOYCE
NOTEBOOK:
New Castle defeated Shelbyville (1-2) in last night’s Homecoming football game, 28-7. Earlier in the day, the sophomore girls won the Powder Puff championship, with track stand-out Sonora O’Connor lending her skills in the world of flag football to carry the team to victory.
Arts in the Park is today, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., at Blue River Memorial Park. A complete schedule is here.
Shelby County Master Gardeners are hosting a free Fall Festival, today, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Shelby County fairgrounds. The event features special speakers on gourds, composting, gladiolus and invasive plants, live music from the Highwater Troubadours, a cruise-in car show, kids’ activities, craft and garden vendors, raffle prizes, and the Master Gardener “Blooming Bargains” plant and book sale. There will also be a food truck serving breakfast and lunch.
NATIONAL NEWS: The Transportation Security Administration has conceded it will try to push back the deadline for full enforcement of Real ID requirements for the use of drivers licenses to board an aircraft. After years of getting punted, May 2025 was the final deadline for needing a special Real ID in order to get on a plane, but the TSA published a proposed federal rule that would again push that back to May 2027. The original 2005 law mandating Real ID to get on planes will turn 20 years old next year with no sign of actually getting implemented any time soon. The complication is that Real IDs have not caught on: Only 56 percent of IDs in circulation are Real ID compliant as of January, and in 22 states that’s less than 40 percent compliance. (Thrifty Traveler/Numlock)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights:
Spring 1986, Part I
The Courier reported on a recent survey about the class of 1986. Jay Cherry and Bret Engle shared the honor of “Best Looking Senior Guy.” Cathy Hansen was “Best Looking Girl in the Senior Class.” Dan Hardesty and Michelle Coots were Best Dressed. Joe Justice and Michelle Coots were voted to have the Prettiest Eyes. Dee Dee Powers and Andy Orem won Best Smiles. Best Athletes were Shelly Caplinger and Julius Denton. Most Likely to Succeed went to Melinda Vogler and Lord Mayor Steven Gross. “Everyone has probably realized there are quite a few mouths in the senior class, but Dan Morgan received one more vote than Chuck Prather,” the paper said. Crystal Stafford was the top vote-getter in the female “Mouthiest” category. Best Partier was a three-way tie of Chuck Prather, Jeff Britton and Bret Engle for boys and Cathy Hansen for girls. Darin Shadley had the Best-Looking Car and Lonnie Newkirk won for Worst-Looking Car. (“By the way, Lonnie, Pettit’s wants to talk to you,” the paper said.) Favorite hang-outs were Kroger’s, Brunner’s Cabin and Peachie and Ernie’s House. AC/DC was the class’s favorite rock group. Also, Best Body went to Tony Hawkins and Cathy Hansen.
The Show Choir presented Spectacular at Breck Auditorium. Some of the solos were from Gina Ellen, Troy King and Debbie Reece. Allen and Michelle Miller sang a duet to “New York, New York.” Lorie Hirschauer and Jack Ivie sang “Love is a Rose.” Jack also played the banjo for the song. Andy Erickson, Ivie and Jim Pence performed “Mountain Music.” Hirschauer, Kevin Nolley, Mike Sheehan and Eric Thoman did a number from “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”
The new members of the Show Group for 1987 were Shari Palmer, Libby Reece, Heather Fox, Miki Brewer, Julie Burns, Deann Ellis, Chris Anspaugh, Kevin Jones, Janie Eubanks, Randy Isley and Derik Norris.
Several seniors were asked what they would remember most. Some recalled pranks in the courtyard. The frequent use of the word “party” and the Great Shufflin’ Crew were also mentioned. Some senior guys recalled being told every day at lunch not to throw ice in the hallways. Rob Ruitta recalled playing at post prom with his band Silent Approach. Phil Devoe rememebered “The VW and the Outhouse.” Brian Harrell recalled being in the Final Four. Jeff Kirschbaum remembered Tupperware parties at Larry Swango’s house. Bret Engle recalled “playing laundry man on West Mechanic St.”
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: The Shelbyville Board of Works approved a bid for two new city fire trucks. The trucks to be retired were 18 and 23 years old. Racino funds were used for the purchases. In other action, the board approved returning a dog to its owner with the stipulation the dog would be kept out of city limits.
2004: A four-vehicle crash occurred during a 9/11 police and fire appreciation motorcycle ride to honor the military. Two people were critically injured.
Some residents felt a jolt from a small earthquake. The 3.6 magnitude earthquake was centered seven miles north of Shelbyville. The tremors were felt acutely in the jail, dispatchers reported.
1994: William Longstreet, Morristown High School, was named the only Shelby County student in the running for the National Merit Scholarship. Longstreet was a member of choir, marching band, Spanish Club, National Honor Society and Student Council.
1984: Pizza Hut was under construction at the Junction 44 Shopping Center. Also under construction was a two-story, eight-unit apartment building on the northeast corner of McKay Road and W. State Road 44. An additional eight apartments were expected to later be added. The city Plan Commission had refused a zoning change for a convenience store at the location earlier in the year.
1974: Work continued on rebuilding the Fountaintown fire station, much of which was leveled in an April tornado. A federal grant helped rebuild the facility.
1964: Shelbyville High School defeated conference foe Connersville, 37-14. Bob Zimny was coach and Art Morgan was assistant coach. Denny Fox was quarterback.
Five volunteers who had assisted in mental health institutions were honored at the county’s Mental Health Association meeting. They were Lucille Townlee, Lucille Murray, Thelma Aldredge and Mrs. Robert Douglas.
1954: Blue River Builders, which was occupying the old Porter Carpet Sweeper factory at the west end of Elizabeth St., held an open house to demonstrate the steps of the pre-sectioning” method featured in the September issue of Better Homes and Gardens. They were using the technique to build a home on lot 33 in Riley Village. Pre-sectioning was not prefabrication, company officials said. Rather, the framework of the house was pre-cut and sectioned at the factory but otherwise the home was built using conventional methods. Officers of the corporation were Clarence Crisp and William Pendleton.
1944: Capt. Carl Bohman was listed as missing in action following a flight over New Guinea, a buddy on leave informed his father during a visit here. The government later confirmed the classification. Bohman, 24, had been leading a formation of fighter planes at the time.
1934: Bishop A.W. Lewis, presiding Bishop of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, was in the midst of a one-week revival at the Pentecostal church on South Pike St., where S.L. Sipes was pastor.
1924: Enrollment at city school continued to rise, reaching 2,004 for the fall. Shelbyville High School enrollment was 500, the most on record.
1914: Local contractor Ed Mings said he was tired of local young people removing his red lanterns as practical jokes. The lanterns were placed around construction zones to help protect the public from injury.
A large group of friends of Mr. and Mrs. Julius Hasecuster gave them a charivari party. A dray from the Pennsylvania Railroad was secured. The newlyweds rode in it all the way to Public Square while members of the party, “equipped with lusty voices and some with horns,” made noise. After the charivari, cigars and candy were distributed.
OBITUARIES
John Earl Cooper, 81, of Greensburg, passed away Friday, September 13, 2024 at his residence. Born June 15, 1943 in Shelbyville, he was the son of Joseph Cooper and Goldie May (Longnecker) Cooper. He married JoAnn Marie Cooper on May 26, 1962, and she survives. Other survivors include a son John Earl Cooper Jr. (Amy) of Greensburg, a daughter Pam Coffey (Donnie) of Flat Rock; two sisters, Pat Taylor of Shelbyville, and Mary Moore of Mitchell; grandson Brady Clapp of Arlington; three granddaughters, Brittny Miller (Cody) of Rushville, Stephanie Loudenback of Milroy, and Kristi Cooper of Rushville; and great-grandchildren Kaiden, Maddie, Brayden, Xavier, Kali, Isabelle, Hayden, Kyah, Bennett, Willow, Lyla, Cash, and Russell. He was preceded in death by his parents, and longtime friend, Bob Arnold.
John had lived in Greensburg for 11 years, after moving from Manilla (23 years), and Shelbyville for 47 years. He had been employed with Allison Transmission as Quality/Production Manager for 32 years, retiring in 1997. He was a member of Milroy Christian Church, and a lifetime member of the NRA. He was a US Army veteran.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at Milroy Christian Church, 201 E. Main St., Milroy, 46156, with Pastor Ron Simbro officiating. Burial will be in Lewis Creek Baptist Cemetery in Shelby Co. Friends may call on Tuesday morning, at the church, from 11 a.m. until the time of the service. Graveside military rites will be conducted by the American Legion Honor Guard. Memorial contributions can be made to OUR Hospice of South Central Indiana, in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.