Sunday, February 2, 2025
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS
Into the Woods
Abad Garcia-Moreno gestures toward a shelter he and teammates Kirsten Byrne (left) and Elliot Wung (right) created in the Smoky Mountains this weekend. (Also pictured are two teachers with the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont.) BELOW: Abby Gwinnup, Braelyn Grant, McKenzie Haehl, Rayna Pilk, Layla Kincaid, America Leon, Amayah Horner and Stella Cunningham wait on a session to start before returning to activities in the rain. The experiential education trip is organized annually by Shelbyville Middle School biology teacher Scott Hughes. | photo by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
Wortman Family Foundation Fund for Shelby and Hancock Counties Awards Over $443,000 to Kick Off 2025
MEDIA RELEASE
In January, the advisory board of the Wortman Family Foundation Fund for Shelby and Hancock Counties convened to review grant proposals for the fund’s latest cycle, administered by Blue River Community Foundation. Nonprofit organizations serving these counties submitted proposals focused on health, education, and initiatives that enhance the quality of life in both communities. The review process included community members from Shelby and Hancock Counties, as well as staff from the Community Foundation of Hancock County.
Blue River Community Foundation is excited to announce this year’s grant recipients on behalf of Mr. Wortman and the advisory committee of the Wortman Family Foundation Fund. A total of $443,257 has been awarded to seventeen nonprofit agencies through a competitive review process, with funding directed toward various impactful projects and programs for 2025. The following projects will benefit Shelby County recipients.
Boys & Girls Club of Southwestern: Funding will support the newly opened club’s nutrition program, which provides healthy meals and snacks to combat food insecurity and promote wellness. Aligned with the club's mission, the program creates a safe space for youth to thrive academically, socially, and physically.
Love INC of Shelby County: Funding will support the March 2025 launch of this new nonprofit by providing essential office equipment, outreach materials, and software for operations. Key goals include raising funds for financial stability, launching a communication strategy, integrating a client referral system, opening a Connection Center, and recruiting volunteers. Funding will help establish a strong foundation for sustainable growth and community impact.
Morristown Community Development Partnership (MCDP): This organization works to improve the quality of life in Morristown through community-driven projects. MCDP plans to install two pickleball courts in the town park; a project residents have strongly supported. This initiative aligns with MCDP’s mission to inspire growth and bring the community together.
Shelby County Historical Society (SCHS): SCHS oversees the Grover Center Museum, a center dedicated to preserving and sharing local and national history. The museum serves as a research hub, educational resource, and interactive space for families and schools. Funding will support the "Protecting our Largest Artifact" project, which aims to preserve the Grover Center building's exterior as it turns 75. The project includes replacing windows, tuckpointing, and sealing the original limestone and brick to safeguard the building and museum collections. This preservation effort ensures the building’s lasting legacy for future generations.
Shelby Eastern Education Foundation: This funding will help establish the new Shelby Eastern School District Education Foundation, providing vital resources for teachers and students in both Waldron and Morristown schools. It will support classroom initiatives, professional development, and lifelong learning opportunities while fostering community engagement and enhancing educational resources across the district.
Shelby Eastern Schools: This funding will support the Ag Lab expansion as part of the Envision 2025 facilities upgrades at both Waldron and Morristown schools. Increased enrollment in Ag classes and FFA participation has made current classrooms inadequate for the growing student body. The expansion will create modern, functional spaces to enhance course offerings and uphold high standards of Ag education. Serving over 1,300 students in Shelby County’s eastern townships, construction will begin in early 2025, with occupancy expected by August 2025.
Shelby Senior Services, Inc.: Funding will support Shelby Senior Services' programs, which provide meals and social opportunities for seniors aged 60+ in Fairland, Morristown, Waldron, and Shelbyville. These daytime programs foster social connections, promote better nutrition, improve mood, and enhance cognitive function. By encouraging seniors to eat together, the programs help combat isolation and create a supportive environment for better overall well-being.
Society of St. Andrew (SoSA): SoSA rescues surplus produce from farmers and packing houses, providing fresh food to hunger relief agencies across Indiana. In Shelby and Hancock counties, funding will support the gleaning and distribution of fresh produce, improving food access and reducing waste. Volunteers help gather and distribute food, positively impacting the environment and the local community.
Southwestern Consolidated Schools: Funding will support the purchase of an agricultural drone to enhance hands-on learning in the agriscience program at Southwestern Jr./Sr. High School. The drone, equipped with cameras and atomizing sprayers, will provide students with practical experience in cutting-edge agricultural technology. It will offer valuable training for high school students and career exploration opportunities for elementary students. The drone will also serve multiple disciplines within the school, helping prepare students for careers in this rapidly growing field.
Shelby County Players: This multi-year funding will support the new Wortman Family Civic Theater, expanding the Shelby County Players' ability to engage the community. This new space will provide more opportunities for local performances, rehearsals, and events, enhancing the organization’s capacity to foster the arts and offer cultural enrichment to the community.
For more information about the Wortman Family Foundation for Shelby and Hancock Counties, please visit https://www.blueriverfoundation.com/wortman-family-foundation.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: FULL CANOPY REAL ESTATE
NOTEBOOK:
Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith is hosting a Shelby County Town Hall, Monday, Feb. 10, 6 p.m., at Blessings Opera House, 18 Public Square, second floor, Shelbyville. The Town Hall is billed as “an opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue about the future of our state and share your thoughts on key issues.” State Reps. Jennifer Meltzer, Robb Greene and Cory Criswell will also be in attendance.
HOOSIER NEWS: The Monroe County Council has drafted a resolution in opposition to Senate Bill 1, also known as the property tax bill. The bill aims to reduce property tax revenue by $1.1 billion in 2026, which is expected to have a significant impact on local county governments. Monroe County could potentially lose around $25 million in revenue. The county council is scheduled to vote on the resolution at its next regular meeting this month. (Indiana Public Media)
NATIONAL NEWS: According to OverDrive, digital borrowing of e-books and audiobooks from libraries was way up in 2024, with 739 million checkouts at libraries and schools that use OverDrive’s Libby and Sora apps, including 366.2 million e-books (up 7 percent), 278.3 million audiobook checkouts (up a whipping 19 percent), and 44.8 million checkouts of comics (up 20 percent). Growth was fastest at public libraries, which accounted for 706.3 million checkouts, and 192 library systems reached north of a million digital checkouts. (Publishers Weekly/Numlock)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights
November 14, 1929, Part I
Some new high school basketball rules were announced for the upcoming season: those jumping in a jump ball situation would not be allowed to touch the ball after it was tapped until the ball touched the floor or one of the other eight players, and jumpers would no longer be given a technical foul for tapping the ball on the way up, but would instead get a “violation”. “Even if you know all of the rules, remember that the officials are in charge of the game,” The Courier said.
SHS would host Noblesville in the first game of the season. Ticket sales were already higher than the previous record crowd.
“A complete sell-out of adult season tickets on the east side of the gymnasium was realized before the close of the first day of sale.” A few student tickets remained. If they remained after two days, they would be sold to adults. The Lions Club had bought 64 season tickets.
Nine ushers had been chosen for the basketball season by Mr. Otto Harris, who was head usher: Gilbert Hey, Paul Hawn, Clarence Jacklin, Floyd Lancaster, Ralph Robertson, William Spiegel, Arthur Thurston, Ivan Warble and Lawson Stine.
Miss Lela Rimstidt, physical education teacher, organized intramural games for girls basketball.
The SHS band, whose 30 members had new uniforms, would provide music for home basketball games. The band was directed by Martin Schultz.
“Can you imagine what school would be like if, say, one-tenth of the enthusiasm shown for basketball were directed towards every day class work?”
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 by The Addison Times from Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department materials.
2005: Loper Orange won the boys’ fifth-grade basketball tournament, going 10-0 on the season. Members of the team were William Aranda, Kayleb Gobel, Donald Coburn, Michael Wiseman, Corbin Lee, Andrew Tillison and Dylan Alvis. Andrew Fansler was the coach.
1995: Republican Pete Sexton became the fifth candidate to enter the Shelbyville mayoral primary race. Sexton worked at Williams Industries. His major campaign issues were resolving the S.S. Thompson Ditch project, getting lottery funds for Shelbyville and diversifying the city’s business base. He also wanted to reorganize the Bears of Blue River Festival, which he said should either be shortened or moved to the county fairgrounds.
1985: Some employees in the county clerk’s office complained that an unknown odor was so bad it was making some physically ill. A county health official was even called in to see if the origin of the foul odor could be found. Eventually, officials concluded it had to be the new finish on Clerk Michael Hauk’s desk, which had been refinished two weeks prior.
1975: A group met to discuss an emblem contest to recognize the country’s bicentennial celebration in 1976. Attendees included Oscar Howard, Carolyn Craig, Bernard Sleeth, David White, Allen Elder, Marilyn Hendrick, Jack Warble and Mrs. John Graham Lemmon.
1965: Kim Thurston, fourth-grader at Addison, had created the SCUFFY theme for the year, and David Agler, fifth grader at Loper Elementary, was selected as the Voice of SCUFFY.
1955: Total attendance at the Booker T. Washington Recreational Center in 1954 had been 7,956, Mrs. Earlene Smith reported. The center hosted a variety of activities, including a local boxing team coached by David Howard.
The Hawkins Restaurant, 158 E. Washington St., also known at the T-P Drive-in, was sold by Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Hawkins to Mrs. Donald Fancher and Mrs. Lloyd Mellis. Clarence Bayless was named manager.
1945: The junior high school basketball tournament scheduled at the Hope gymnasium was canceled due to a shortage of coal. Two Shelby County teams, Addison and Noble townships, had planned to participate.
The U.S. House passed a “Work-or-Else” bill stating that men ages 18 to 45 in essential industry or agriculture work could only leave their jobs with draft board approval. Those in non-essential jobs could be directed to take war jobs. Veterans would have preferred status.
1935: The second annual Presidential Ball held at the Elk’s raised $75 for infantile paralysis, of which $50 remained local.
1925: Harold Mann, age 5, was severely injured when he fell from the Joseph Fountain in the center of Public Square.
1915: A Citizen’s Gas main broke after rain and melting snow caused a rise in the river, and the influx of water loosened the ice on the Nading gravel pond above the Big Four tracks. As the ice started, it caught against the main pipeline of the Citizen’s Natural Gas Co, pulling the line in two.
The groundhog saw his shadow. “Prepare for more winter,” The Republican said.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: Freeman Family Funeral Homes & Crematory
OBITUARIES
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