Sunday, December 7, 2025
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS
The Mayor & Claus: Holiday Collab
Mayor Scott Furgeson joins Santa at the Christmas tree on Public Square following Friday’s parade. Below, a villain in the ‘ville. See 80 more parade photos on our Facebook post. | photos by JACK BOYCE
CORNERED CARGO
A semi-truck became stuck while turning at Shelby and Hendricks streets yesterday evening, breaking a tree limb on West Hendricks Street and blocking traffic until police arrived. | photo by JOHN WALKER
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NOTEBOOK:
Rep. Jennifer Meltzer of Shelbyville was one of only 12 Republicans, and the only lawmaker representing Shelby County, to vote against the Indiana House’s redistricting bill, which passed 57–41 and now heads to a skeptical Senate. Meltzer joined a small bloc of GOP members who pushed back against federal party pressure for midcycle redrawn maps designed to create a 9–0 Republican congressional delegation.
Horseshoe Indianapolis recorded its fifth straight year of record wagering, with total handle surpassing $287 million during the 123-day 2025 meet despite running fewer races and facing significant weather-related turf cancellations. Track officials credited strong partnerships with horsemen and a highly regarded turf course for sustaining interest and boosting per-race handle by more than 6 percent. The season also produced several single-day records, including more than $9.1 million wagered on Indiana Derby day.
The Shelbyville High School girls’ basketball team lost to Batesville on the road yesterday, 53-48. Jayla Ash scored 18 for the Bears, with Hannah Baker adding 14. The boys’ basketball team defeated Connersville on the road, 61-38.
Editor’s Note: Thank you so much to each donor who has generously contributed to our $100,000 campaign. The following are among our recent donors: Joan Knight, Stephen Foster, Andrew Newkirk, Thomas & Earlene Rosenfeld, Lawrence Lemen, Chris Sandefur, April Edwards and Pamela Harrell. (Many of these are on behalf of families.) Reaching our fundraising goal for 2026 will allow us to expand high-quality coverage county-wide. Donors of $100 or more receive a commemorative January print edition and donors of $500 or more will be recognized in that edition. Contributions can be made online through our donation form or by mailing a check to The Addison Times, 54 W. Broadway, Ste. 13, Shelbyville, IN, 46176. Again, thank you so much for your loyal support of this endeavor. - Kristiaan Rawlings
HOOSIER NEWS: Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark earned $16.1 million in 2025, ranking her as the sixth-highest-paid female athlete in the world, according to Sportico. Nearly all her income came from endorsements, with major sponsors such as Gatorade, State Farm and Wilson, while her on-court salary totaled just $114,000. She remains the WNBA’s highest-paid player overall, trailing only a handful of global tennis stars in total earnings.
NATIONAL NEWS: U.S. consumer sentiment ticked up slightly in December, rising to 53.3 from 51 in November, though it remains below levels seen at the start of the year and close to historic lows. The University of Michigan survey shows Americans remain burdened by high prices, a fragile labor market and slowing wage gains, especially among lower-income households. Inflation expectations, however, eased for the fourth straight month. (Wall Street Journal)
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From the Grover Collection
Wall hanging made in shape of Indiana; upper left corner is semicircle of blue for Lake Michigan; heavy green chain stitching represents interstate system, lighter green stitching for trees and hills; “Indianapolis” embroidered in black thread with red circle and “X”; Daleville, Cumberland and Fountaintown also marked; lower right corner taken up by embroidered quilt block showing red barns and white silos, a crop field, house on a country road, Balser and the Bears statue, a sulky racer by a Shelby County fair sign, a corn stalk, a factory and a wheat head; black lettering near top “In Memory of Oakley E. Lewis/Oma Lou Blackford L./William Stuart Bowman/Margaret Ann Barr B.”
This Week in Shelby County Archive
by GEORGE L. STUBBS
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: MAJOR HEALTH PARTNERS
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: Sen. Richard Lugar hosted a “Symposium for Tomorrow’s Leaders” at the University of Indianapolis, where principals selected two students from each Shelby County high school to attend. Local representatives included Kristen Rager and Jennifer Hidy of Shelbyville, Clancy Soehren and Anna Puttkammer of Southwestern, Kayla VanDuyn and Sarah Harding of Waldron, Jessica Hinds and David Carnagua of Triton Central, and Casey Gumberts and Stacey Havlin of Morristown. Students ate breakfast with peers from across the state before hearing Lugar speak on national and world affairs.
1995: Hardee’s on East State Road 44 closed after nearly 15 years when its 20-year lease expired, and franchise owner Norris Food Services chose not to renew. President Jim Wilder said the site was no longer suitable for the company, which had converted the former Burger Chef into a Hardee’s in 1982. Although the company said they were exploring other possible east side locations, employees were shifted to the Harrison Street Hardee’s.
1985: The Gallahue Mental Health Center in Shelbyville moved from its West Washington Street location into new offices at 7 E. Hendricks St. and held an open house to mark the transition. The center had served 600 county residents the previous year and provided about 70 hospital and jail consultations.
1975: Dr. William R. Tindall played his traditional role as Santa Claus during the Unique Club’s annual Christmas dinner hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Bueford C. Robbins. He and Mrs. Donald L. Brunner, appearing as “Mrs. Santa Claus,” were pictured in the paper handing out gifts to Robert A. Bennett, Mrs. George J. Lorenz and Mrs. Robbins. The evening also included a gift exchange and members watching the Indiana–Kentucky basketball game together.
1965: Plymate, Inc. announced a grand opening for its remodeled headquarters at 24 E. Hendricks St., inviting the public to tour the updated facility. The building received a new front and fresh color scheme designed by the firm’s architect.
1955: Justice of the Peace Clifford Newton, long known as Shelbyville’s “marryin’ squire,” reached a milestone when he officiated his 1,200th wedding after 28 years of performing ceremonies. The latest couple was John C. Hughes of West Washington Street and Mary Lou Boyd of the Kennedy Hotel. Newton averaged roughly 43 weddings a year, conducting many of them at his home.
1945: Shelbyville’s Christmas lighting system was turned on for the first time since 1941 after workers finished installing new wiring and multicolored lights throughout the business district. The display restored the festive downtown look the city had been known for before the war.
John R. Wetnight was elected president of the Shelbyville Chamber of Commerce for 1946, with Dawson King chosen as vice president. New directors included George M. Parker, Don Wickizer, Frank Gibson and Russell Roth, joining carry-over members such as Charles M. Ewing, Chester Sandman, Leo Gutting and Glenn Plymate. Retiring president Marion T. Ayers also remained on the board, and Secretary-Manager Claude Barnes noted the unusually high number of ballots cast in the election.
1935: Shelby County prepared to vacate its old courthouse as demolition plans moved forward, with officials arranging to relocate furniture, files and equipment to First National Bank. The move was set to begin the week of Dec. 30, ahead of razing the aging structure and constructing a new courthouse. Commissioners issued bid notices for the relocation work, much of which would be covered by a PWA allotment.
1925: Evangelistic meetings at City Hall drew attention after several attendees reported sudden healings during Sunday services. A.W. Dennis of Montgomery Street said he regained full sight in an eye that had been nearly blind since childhood, and Virgil Fallis said his hearing returned in an ear damaged for 20 years.
1915: A 40-foot tree donated by Dr. C.H. Perry of Lewis Creek was selected for Shelbyville’s municipal Christmas display after a lengthy search. Fire Chief James Briggs oversaw the choice and planned to bring the tree into town midweek for decorating with garland and dozens of colored electric lights. The Interstate Public Service Company agreed to donate the bulbs and have its linemen wire the tree for the season.
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OBITUARIES
Phillip E. Harker, 81, of Flat Rock, died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, at his home. Born July 5, 1944, in Columbus, he was the son of John E. and Ruth E. Worrell Harker. He married Sharron Mays.
Mr. Harker worked as a farmer and was a member of Hope Moravian Church. He dedicated much of his time to serving others through missionary work in several countries and was always willing to help his neighbors. He enjoyed spending time with his family.
Survivors include his wife, Sharron; children, Rebecca (Robin) Cason of St. Louis, Mo., Anthony (Michelle) Harker of Waldron, Rachael (Doug) Taylor of Seymour, Andrew (Ellen) Harker of St. Paul and Rosemary (Andy) Long of Shelbyville; 14 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; siblings, Harry (Darlene) Harker, John David (Barbara) Harker, Joe (Debbie) Harker, Linda (Ted) Finke and Brenda (Sam Gifford) Embry; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Dennis Harker.
A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, at Hope Moravian Church. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday and one hour prior to the service Tuesday at the church. Burial will be in Hope Moravian Cemetery.