Sunday, December 5, 2021
Santa Protectors
Twenty-eight Shelby County children have breakfast at Shelbyville Fire Station headquarters yesterday before local emergency responders took them Christmas shopping. | photo by JACK BOYCE
Chenoweth Remembered as Visionary, Caring Leader
by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
Shortly into Jason Chenoweth’s 18 years as Shelbyville Community Church youth pastor, he asked Pastor Brad Davis if he remembered “The Whip” from childhood days at the skating rink.
“‘The Whip’ is when you hold hands together and you put somebody in a line. You line up and you go through the corner of the rink, and the momentum and the force shoots the person on the end of the line way out, and they’re skating farther and faster than everybody else in the rink,” Davis explained yesterday at a memorial service for Chenoweth, who passed away on Thanksgiving Day after battling cancer for over a year.
“Jason said to me, ‘I want to do that spiritually for the young men and young women who come into our church,’” Davis recalled. “‘I want them to be able to go farther and higher and faster because of our momentum.’”
Those young men and women turned out en masse to pay homage to Chenoweth, some from out of state who looked to him as a mentor and friend.
Brooke Johnson, of Shelbyville, described herself in an online tribute as a “very, very broken 23 year old” when she first met Chenoweth. Over the next few years, she spent countless hours on the “crying couch” in his office. “He never made me feel silly or dramatic. He just responded with love and unbelievable wisdom,” Johnson said. Yesterday’s funeral was a surreal experience for her. “I realized sitting in this room filled to the brim that I was just a drop in a very vast ocean of people Jason had a life-altering impact on,” she wrote.
Those who knew him best will miss him most.
Mel Weddle recalled years ago praying, along with his wife, Betty, for their daughter, Jill, to find the right husband. While Jill was at Liberty University, she brought Jason home to meet her parents.
“They drove about 600 miles from Lynchburg, Virginia in a Mustang with a battery that was not charging right,” Mr. Weddle said. He looked at the alternator and told the young man, “‘You are not taking our daughter back in that.’ We spent the next two to three hours fixing the problem. You know, he was really good with bikes, but this was a little different,” Weddle said to laughs.
But the pair bonded while repairing the engine. “And, I decided this guy was fine for our daughter,” Mr. Weddle said. “His parents had raised him right.”
Jason and Jill Chenoweth married shortly after he graduated from Liberty and she had one year remaining. He served in youth pastor positions in North Carolina and Illinois before the young family moved to Shelbyville. Chenoweth spent the last two years as CEO of Outreach, a ministry for homeless youth in Indianapolis.
The Chenoweths had two daughters, Alivia and Annie, and Mr. Weddle sees now how the pieces all fit together.
“We're very proud of him filling the purpose God wanted,” Weddle said. “He’s in his heavenly home now and leaves an empty spot in our hearts. Looking back, he has been the answer to our prayers so many years ago. Our family has been so blessed and honored to love and have him in our life.”
By his own admission, Chenoweth always struggled to slow down from an active lifestyle. “When you’re busy and when you’re taking care of things, it proves you have value,” he said in a December 2018 sermon. He wasn’t particularly thrilled with God’s urging for him to “sit down and let God talk…,” he said. “It was something, honestly, I avoided at all costs.”
Now, those at the tail of “The Whip” who counted on him to forever fearlessly lead are struggling with his loss, evidenced by social media tributes to a man who understood people, a man who cared. Tears were shed by speakers, singers and the crowd, particularly during renditions of “How Great Is Our God” and “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever.”
Several said they took comfort in the hope of seeing him in heaven. But that doesn’t erase the present pain.
“When our children were growing up, one of the things that we talked to them over and over about was the importance of being willing to do hard things,” Davis said. “Things like this. Things like today.”
Tax Abatement Approved for Possible Bunge Expansion
The Morristown Town Council on Wednesday approved a 10-year real and personal property tax abatement for Bunge to potentially expand. The abatement would decline 10 percent each year. Equipment purchases are underway and Morristown is under consideration for the $345 million, 50 employee expansion that would pay the employees approximately $30 per hour, but a final decision on location has not yet been made, Brad Sommer, facility manager at Bunge, said.
The end product is vegetable protein, which could be used to make “meatless” burgers, for instance. Company officials said Bunge is “very committed” to the product line, and that area farmers would benefit.
“The company is considering several locations. Our plant is one of them,” Sommer said. “The design is a modular design, so it could go anyplace.” If Morristown is selected, the expansion will go to the south of the current facility. “The company wants to start construction next year and have it fully operational, wherever it may be, in 2023,” he said.
WAITING ON SANTA
Crowds line the westside of the newly redeveloped Public Square during the Shelbyville Holiday Parade on Friday. | photo by JACK BOYCE
Readers Complain
by KRIS MELTZER
Dear readers,
I received more mail than usual this week. Most were complaints. So, let’s just go straight to the mailbag.
Dear Kris,
I enjoyed the special print edition of The Addison Times. It was free and it might come in handy if I get a parakeet for Christmas or this new omicron variant of the virus causes another toilet paper shortage. However, I was a little disappointed.
In your column, you said, and I quote: “Lean your head back and place the paper over your face and take a deep breath. The sensation of pine, holly, candy cane, mistletoe, and fruitcake, with a top note of your grandpa’s aftershave you perceive is from the subliminal scented Christmas memory ink used to print this special collector edition of the paper.”
I followed your directions and guess what? Nothing! So, like Ricky Ricardo, Arnold Jackson, Eddie Haskell, Dobie Gillis, or some other ancient TV show character you often quote would say, “Kris, you got some splainin to do!
Sincerely,
Longtime reader but somewhat disappointed
Dear Disappointed,
I received the same complaint from several loyal readers. I chose your letter because you used two exclamation points and demonstrated your working knowledge of beloved TV characters from the past.
You are right. Your paper was missing the promised Christmas memory smell. Since we rarely put out a print edition, several copies of the first printing were delivered before the error was discovered.
I was present during the entire operation, and I think I know what happened. The printing press had been stored in Skeeter’s garage. We pulled the tarp off, put on a roll of paper, poured in the special ink, and were ready to go. Skeeter pulled the giant lever and after several minutes of banging, squeaking, and clanging noises, the holiday print edition was ready to be delivered.
We began delivering the paper to our loyal subscribers and before long we received complaints. I initially thought maybe those readers complaining had caught a case of the dreaded covid and their smellers were on the fritz. Then I grabbed one of the papers and took a big whiff. Nothing!
Quoting Robin from season 2 episode 5 of the TV show “Batman”, I shouted, “Holy public relations problem, Skeeter, what will we do?”
Voiceover from TV announcer:
The Addison Times newsstand float is scheduled to roll in the Shelbyville Christmas parade in mere hours. Skeeter and Kris plan to hand out thousands of copies of the holiday print edition. Is there enough time to reprint the paper? Is the antique printing press up to the task? What will our heroes do? Tune in next week: same bat time, same bat channel!
BELOW: Addison Times staff members Naomi Garringer, Jack Boyce, Anna Tungate, Emma Claxton, LuAnn Mason, Selina Rawlings, Sarai Rawlings, Kris Meltzer, Kristiaan Rawlings and Myron Rawlings prepare to take the “newsstand” float, built by Luke Lockridge, through the Holiday Parade route.
NOTEBOOK:
Letters Home, by Professor Todd Jay Leonard, is now available on our website. This week’s article is on “Japanese Kanreki (60th Birthday)”.
The local Master Gardeners column will now be published here weekly. This week’s column considers Christmas trees: “Real vs. Live, What Will It Be This Year?”
HOOSIER NEWS: Efforts to advance state legislation that would restrict employer COVID-19 vaccine mandates took another unusual turn Friday as Republican leaders scheduled a House committee hearing on the bill for later this month, more than two weeks before the formal legislative session kicks off.
House Bill 1001, which was filed on Monday, is scheduled for a 9 a.m. public hearing on Dec. 16 in the House chamber before the House Employment, Labor and Pensions Committee. The timing of the hearing is unusual because it will occur before the legislative session officially begins on Jan. 4. The December hearing will be the second attempt by Republican leadership to expedite the legislation. The controversial bill would force employers that require COVID-19 vaccinations for employees to allow medical or religious exemptions without question. It also would put in place administrative actions to maintain certain federal emergency funding, giving Gov. Eric Holcomb the leeway he says he needs to meet GOP lawmakers’ desire to end the public health emergency that has been in effect since March 2020. The committee will meet Dec. 16 just to hear public comments. No votes or action will be taken before the session officially begins Jan. 4, a committee member said. (Indianapolis Business Journal)
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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: 2001
In a move that surprised several city officials, Walmart withdrew its request to rezone land across from its then-current site on E. State Road 44. City officials said they presumed Walmart would return with a different proposal.
The free medical clinic located in the Salvation Army Corps closed because the doctor who founded it, Dr. Jesus Aguilar, was moved by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to join the Navy Reserve.
30 YEARS AGO: 1991
A county woman pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a stun gun in an incident that involved her ex-husband and his new girlfriend. The three had tussled on the floor and the weapon did not hurt anyone. A Shelby County law enforcement official called it “another little love triangle in London.”
40 YEARS AGO: 1981
Sen. Richard Lugar had lunch with Shelbyville City Council President Marilyn Hendrick and other city officials at the Holiday Inn while in town for a Republican fund-raising breakfast.
With interest rates around 17 percent, the local housing market remained stagnant. Kathy Self, local Century 21 agent, said most transactions were utilizing creative financing, where the deal was negotiated between buyer and seller without the involvement of financial institutions. Bruce Everhart, Shelby National Bank vice president, had been working on a program for first-time homebuyers that would provide 12 percent conventional mortgages. The program would be started in a few weeks.
50 YEARS AGO: 1971
A Shelby County man was awarded $8,000 by a local jury as payment for childhood chores he performed for his Fairland area foster parents, beginning in 1935 and ending in 1949.
60 YEARS AGO: 1961
Shelbyville Desk Company officials, 403 S. Noble St., received a letter from President Kennedy saying locally-made walnut furniture had been installed in the Kennedy Palm Beach home.
70 YEARS AGO: 1951
The annual concert of “sacred music” was presented by the Shelbyville High School music department under the direction of Martin Schultz at local churches, SHS journalism student Jim Skinner reported. The concert featured the junior and senior high school choirs and the Singing Stars. Announcers for the selections were Dannie Bea Wheeler and Janet Wells. Student officers of the senior robed choir were June Zell, Janice Bogeman and Marty Miller. Assistant from the junior high school choir were Suellen Kaufman and Suzanne Coers. Pianists were Carol Schoolfield, Larry Eckstein, Ann Breck and Clara Jarrell. Mrs. Carl McNeely was guest organist.
City Judge Bob Good refused a 65-year-old man’s appeal to be out of jail for Christmas. The man had a record of more than 60 arrests on charges of intoxication.
80 YEARS AGO: 1941
Grand opening was held by Orr’s Roofing and Supply Co, at the new store, 111 East Jackson Street.
The Psi Iota Xi sorority presented an insuflator to W.S. Major Hospital. The newly-improved device would allow patients to receive oxygen without being placed inside an oxygen tent.
90 YEARS AGO: 1931
Two Shelbyville women settled a case in circuit court regarding payment for breast milk. After a woman had been unable to nurse her own child, she made a deal with a woman who had also just given birth to provide the needed nourishment. No remuneration for the services was stipulated at the time, but the giver presumed a “reasonable” sum would be paid. An amicable settlement was reached that was much less than the requested amount.
100 YEARS AGO: 1921
Every Boy Scout was required to go to Sunday School as part of “Boy Scouts Go to Sunday School Day.” Local membership in Boy Scouts was over 400.
OBITUARIES
Rebecca (Hoban) Sangwin, 40, of Aurelia, Iowa, formerly of Waldron, passed away Wednesday, December 1, 2021, in Rochester, Minnesota. She was born April 21, 1981, in Shelbyville, the only daughter of Jeffery Wayne and Leesa Marie (Posz) Hoban. Rebecca is survived by her mother of Aurelia. She was a devoted mother to her sons, Dalton Sangwin and Brian Embacher; and daughter, Josephine Embacher. Rebecca will be missed by her aunts, Charlene Ann Merrill of Waldron and Cathy Cook of Columbus; uncle, Mark Hoban of Blue Ridge; and cousins, Chelsea Preston, Jennifer Vaughn and Jason Hoban. She was preceded in death by her father on July 2, 2021; paternal grandparents, Jerry Wayne and Opal Louise Hoban; and maternal grandparents, Norman William and Nola Ann Posz.
Rebecca graduated in 2000 from Waldron High School, and received her License Practical Nursing degree from Iowa Central Community College. She was a member of Zion Evangelical Church in Shelby County. Rebecca enjoyed decorating cakes and like to collect cow memorabilia.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, December 8, 2021, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, December 9, 2021, at the funeral home. Interment will be at Zion Cemetery in Shelby County. Memorial contributions may be made to Disabled American Veterans, 575 N. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis, Indiana 46204. Online condolences may be shared with Rebecca’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.