Sunday, April 24, 2022
Construction Begins on Shelby County Complex
Shelby County, City of Shelbyville and Runnebohm Construction officials break ground on the new Shelby County Complex on Friday. | photo by ANNA TUNGATE
Local government and business officials on Friday celebrated Earth Day and the 31st anniversary of the formation of the Shelby County Solid Waste District by breaking ground on the new Shelby County Complex, which will house the highway department and county recycling district facilities.
Shelby County Recycling District Executive Director Lisa Carpenter said the N. Michigan Road location is best for the future.
“Studies have shown that the current site is the perfect location for a new highway garage, transfer station, recycling building and fuel station,” she said. The current highway garage will be used to house Shelby County Emergency Management.
The new facilities will include expanded offerings and classroom space.
“The first-ever recycling building will be able to provide services such as collection of household hazardous waste. Currently, we only do that on Saturdays. We will be able to do that all during the week,” Carpenter said.
Runnebohm Construction was selected to oversee the project. Chris King, executive vice president at Runnebohm, listed some of the subcontractors involved in the project, including Mathies Landscape, Shelby Mechanical, M and C Excavating, Crim and Sons Asphalt Paving, Builders Lumber & Hardware and Shelby Materials.
“This is going to be a very local project,” King said.
Demolition work will begin on the property next week, with construction expected to be completed in about a year.
Ice Cream Sodas: Gone but not Forgotten
Dear readers,
It is amazing how much things can change in a week. Just last week, I thought that I was born in the best of times. I took you all on a little journey down memory lane with me. I thought I had it great as a boy because Cokes only cost a dime.
Several old-timers set me straight. Now I realize that I missed the good times by a few years. Loyal reader Jeff Linder called to tell me that Cokes were only a nickel at Endicott’s Grocery in Flat Rock when he was a boy. Jeff also would sometimes shop for bargains at Bob Cochran’s Grocery located about a mile west of Lewis Creek.
Carolyn Moheban told me that when she was a youngster, her parents owned a grocery store in New Castle, Indiana. It was Turner’s Grocery, and bread was only 12 cents a loaf.
I had almost started believing that I was born too late when I spotted a sign that brought me back to reality. It wasn’t actually a sign. It was something I spotted on a gravestone while taking a walk in Forest Hill Cemetery.
It was the gravestone of George R. Nicholson. Carved into the granite was the image of a “Mister Softee” ice cream cone.
“Mister Softee” is the brand name of a company that sells ice cream from trucks. Mr. Softee wasn’t just a truck with a freezer full of premade ice cream bars and popsicles. Mr. Softee featured “made to order” cones, shakes, sodas and banana splits. It was a full-service ice cream parlor on wheels.
The only difference between Mr. Softee and deluxe ice cream parlors of the day was the lack of entertainment. Farrell’s at Castleton Square Mall in Indianapolis featured a piano player and singing waiters. I preferred Mr. Softee. I always thought the piano music, singing waiters, and siren going off every few minutes to announce another birthday was annoying. The few times I was at Farrell’s, I wasn’t sure if I got a headache from eating my ice cream too fast or from the atmosphere.
After my walk in the cemetery, I stopped by Team Schwinn headquarters, The Bookmark Café. I was rambling on and on about fond memories from my youth of the Mr. Softee truck. I was interrupted by the lady on stool number 2 at the lunch counter. “Whatever happened to ice cream sodas?” she said. “Ice cream sodas were featured at soda fountains, and now they aren’t even on the menu.”
Wow, I had almost forgotten about ice cream sodas. Dick Bishopp once told me the best chocolate ice cream sodas were served at Fleming’s Drug Store on North Harrison St.
The fellow playing bongos at the café told me that I should write a poem lamenting the demise of the ice cream soda. He said there are no ice cream sodas for the same reason most cafés don’t have poets or bongo players: lack of skill. An element of skill was involved concocting an ice cream soda. Anyone can grind up candy bars and stir them in ice cream. Turning the cup upside down to prove the ice cream is thick is merely a charade.
I believe the bongo player is right. I thought back, way back, to my last chocolate ice cream soda. It was sometime in the 1980s. It was at the Tastee Freeze on Vine Street. It was delicious. I remember being impressed by the care and effort the big guy waiting on me put into making that soda: layering the flavors, mixing in the soda water, and topping it with whipped cream and a cherry. I think the name of the artist who made me that chocolate ice cream soda was George R. Nicholson.
NOTEBOOK:
Shelbyville High School freshman Gavyn Fisher threw a no-hitter yesterday to lead the Golden Bears to a 20-0 win over Southwestern in baseball action. Fisher struck out four and didn’t walk any. The Bears put up nine runs in the fourth inning. Among those gettings hits for SHS included Asher Balting, Caden Tackett, Dalton Jones, Luke Jackson, Kade McNicholas and Fisher.
CORRECTION: Information on the Legacy Tree and Trail Walks published Friday had been revised. The walks at Meltzer Woods advertised for April 29 and 30 will not be held. However, there is a 1 p.m. Legacy Tree and Trail Walk today, led by Kris Schwickrath, starting at the tree in front of the Shelby County Public Library.
HOOSIER NEWS: Ball State University’s president says the school will spend $10 million on incentives for faculty taking advantage of a voluntary early retirement program next month. Announced to faculty in December, the program is only offered this academic year. Full-time professors that meet a metric – age plus number of years of service – could apply to retire early. Those that do will receive a one-time payment of 125 percent of their annual salary. Ball State University’s administration says the coronavirus pandemic required a quick move to online and other ways of teaching. It’s a technological shift that President Geoffrey Mearns says will only increase going forward, and the school needs a faculty who can meet the challenge. For example, Mearns says a survey shows 80 percent of students prefer summer classes be offered online, not in-person. The president also says the program’s purpose isn’t to replace full-time faculty with adjunct or part-time instructors. In December, the university said nearly 300 faculty members were eligible for the program. Now, 92 of those are set to retire on May 14. (Indiana Public Radio)
IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK: Daily subscribers enjoyed articles on local public health and trails, the Republicans’ rollicking Lincoln Day dinner, local history - “Tossed Salad”-style from David Craig, a “Judge Softly” art display at City Hall and much more!
This Week in Shelby County" works by George L. Stubbs Sr. are owned by the Shelby County Historical Society (Grover Center) and used with permission.
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.
20 YEARS AGO: 2002
Southwestern High School’s baseball team broke a 34-game losing streak with an 8-7 win at Triton Central, the first high school victory for new head coach Brian Dougherty.
30 YEARS AGO: 1992
Cagney’s and Blue River Inn were fined by the Indiana Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Cagney’s was fined for failure to maintain a separate family room and an employee working without a permit. The business had to spend $2,000 to build a new room-separation wall and the employee obtained a bartender’s permit. Blue River Inn, 23 W. Jackson St., was fined for consumption after legal hours.
40 YEARS AGO: 1982
An anonymous person who had attended both the G.O.P. Lincoln Day dinner and the Democrat’s Jefferson-Jackson Day event told The Shelbyville News that the Republicans had a more dynamic speaker (Indianapolis’ Mayor Bill Hudnut), but the Democrats had better food and actually started on time.
50 YEARS AGO: 1972
An all-you-can-eat pizza and salad offering was started at Pizza Hut, 541 Hendricks St., for $1.29 (approximately $8.87 in today’s money).
60 YEARS AGO: 1962
Shelbyville native Kate Scott Brooks, considered the “oldest newspaperwoman in the world,” died in Washington D.C. at the age of 99. Brooks was born during the Civil War. She had been related to Norman Strong, who was the father of Frank Strong, who had been in the hardware business on Shelbyville’s Public Square for many years. Brooks was a former Indianapolis News staff member and later a columnist with The Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, The Detroit Free Press, The Cincinnati Enquirer, The Chicago Tribune and the Boston Herald during her long career. Brooks was a niece of President Benjamin Harrison’s wife, and she had met every First Lady since Mrs. Rutherford B. Hayes - 16 in all. The “oldest newspaperwoman” claim was made during a meeting with Mrs. Eisenhower. Brooks went to Washington in the 1880s. She was survived by a daughter, Katherine Brooks.
70 YEARS AGO: 1952
A fire caused extensive damage to the Stevens Apartments (former Hord Sanitorium), 716 W. Franklin St. The storeroom, which was gutted due to fire and smoke damage, was beside an unoccupied but furnished apartment on the third floor.
Sheriff Robert Meltzer arrested a Kentucky man for attempting to sell lumber here without a license. Meltzer said the Indiana Lumber and Builder’s Supply Association and law enforcement officials were cracking down on “lumber peddlers.”
80 YEARS AGO: 1942
Harry McClain, veteran of World War I and member of Victory Post of the American Legion here, was named speaker of the annual Memorial Day observance at the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. McClain had served as insurance commissioner under Gov. Paul McNutt.
Newspapers reported on famous author Gregor Ziemer’s speech to more than 1,200 people assembled at Paul Cross gymnasium. Ziemer said that German schools taught “that the United States is a third-rate nation, that it is inconsequential and is without unity.” Ziemer showed off a blackout mask for an automobile headlight and a German gas mask he smuggled out of the country. “If our enemies win, the world will neither be able to see nor to breathe,” he said.
90 YEARS AGO: 1932
The two-story, nine-room home of Mr. and Mrs. John Gates and their son, Glenn, southeast of Shelbyville on Thompson Road, burned down. The home had been built by Charles Ensminger, who lived there several years. Members of the fire department and neighbors helped carry out furniture and contents of all but two rooms of the house.
100 YEARS AGO: 1922
The Republican reported that Mayor Lee Hoop’s first - and second - pitches to start the baseball season hadn’t gone well, flying well over catcher Luther Hord’s head. “The third was a perfect strike and the mayor called it a day,” the paper said.
Tom Campbell, “popular director of athletics at the high school,” turned the “first spade full of earth” for the to-be-built Paul Cross gymnasium, The Republican reported.
OBITUARIES
Barbara Alice Langeslag, 81, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on April 16, 2022, at St. Patrick’s Hospital surrounded by her family. She was born January 6, 1941, in Shelbyville, Ind., to Chester and Wrethal Lancaster. She graduated from Shelbyville High School in 1959.
She married Lew Wilkinson on September 4, 1959. From that union they had three children Lisa, Janet (stillborn) and Lyle. The family moved to Montana in February 1973. Several years later she and Lew divorced. Barbara had a lifelong career in banking. She retired three different times from Farmers State Bank after 20-plus years. She loved working there so much – she kept coming back! Everyone teased her that she just liked the retirement parties! On January 17, 1991, Barbara married an awesome and loving helpmate, Thomas Langeslag. The epitaph they have picked for their headstone at Victor Cemetery sums up their 30-plus years together: We Laughed, We Loved, We Lived, Because of Jesus – We still Live.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, her brother and sister-in-law, Earl and Marilyn Lancaster, daughter Janet (stillborn), grandson Cody Wilkinson, several aunts, uncles and cousins. Survivors include her husband Thomas of Victor, MT, daughter Lisa (Charlie) Roberts of Victor, MT, son Lyle (Annetta) Wilkinson of Lake Mary Ronan, MT, stepdaughter Terri Senske and stepson Scott (Ann) Lang of Chanhassen, MN, grandchildren Levi (Lisa) Wilkinson, Corie (KT) King, Tyler Wilkinson, Leland and Jennifer Fisher, Gabrielle (Dakota) Milligan, Madison and Trevor Lang and Jack Senske. She was also blessed with two great-grandchildren, Landon and Paislee Wilkinson.
Barbara enjoyed being a wife and mother but her greatest joy was becoming a grandmother – so much so that to many of you she was known as “Grandma Barb.” Mom shared with us that her greatest joys were the following in the order stated: Faith, Family, Friends, Adventures and her Life overall. This is evident to everyone who knew her and can be seen and felt throughout their home. Mom loved and knew how to have fun! She was active and dedicated to her Lord and church family throughout her life. She was a blessing and encouragement to so many. We have witnessed this from so many of you who have reached out to us during this difficult time. Thank you and God bless you.
Services will be held on Monday April 25, 2022 at 3 p.m. at Community Baptist Church in Stevensville, MT with a reception following in the Fellowship Hall. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.whitesittfuneralhome.com.