Sunday, January 26, 2025
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS
Theatre Construction Enters Final Stage
The new Wortman Family Civic Theatre on Miller Avenue features 125 permanent seats, in addition to a row for accessible seating. | photos by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
Leticia Clemons hasn’t forgotten costume changes for actors at the old Shelby County Players theatre facility on South Tompkins Street.
“I literally had to go out one door, run around the outside of the back and into another door that led to the basement, change my outfit and makeup, then run back and around - in the rain on a couple of occasions,” she said. “So, this is pampering for me.”
Clemons yesterday pointed out several highlights of the new dressing room facilities at the Wortman Family Civic Theatre under construction on Miller Ave. “I am really, really excited about this.”
Tours through the facility, which is nearing completion of the first phase, were led by volunteers and SCP board members. My tour of the still-active construction site was directed by Beth Browning and Martha Showers.
Many of the spaces can serve multiple purposes. The lobby could accommodate an art gallery or even a recital. A boardroom with interior glass windows could also be used for community meetings. Murals are about to be installed in the bathrooms.
“If you ever go to a place and you’re like, ‘You have to go to the bathroom in that place….’” Browning said to laughs. The goal is to have numerous extra touches to make the facility stand out.
Costume liaison Laura Stieneker Taylor showed off the costume storage area. Currently, SCP is using 2,000 square feet in the old Mayflower building to store costumes, but those and six sewing machines will eventually make the move to Miller Ave.
An open area on the back of the building will hold props. The organization has two large semi-trailers with props, which will be stored on shelving obtained from a grocery store.
The scene shop is adjacent to the stage and fly system, a network of pulleys that allow crews to move set pieces on and off the stage. A backstage bathroom has a sliding door to help prevent noise during productions. A future construction phase, to be completed when funding is obtained, will include building an upstairs orchestra room where live bands can play, with the music piped into the theatre.
The aforementioned dressing room is on the other side of the stage. A bathroom for cast members is sound proof.
The theatre has 125 permanent seats within five rows, with a wide area for accessible seating in the front and a pit area, which could be used for youth seating during certain shows, or the stage could be extended.
A few rooms overlook the theatre, and upstairs rooms to the side provide potential rehearsal space. Members of the Blue River Youth Choir were hanging out yesterday.
The first production at the theatre will be Woody Allen’s “Don’t Drink the Water” on May 2. “Pirates of the Amazon: The Treasure of the Mystery Island”, originally scheduled to be the inaugural show, has been postponed to the fall.
NOTEBOOK:
The Shelbyville High School girls basketball team (12-9) defeated Delta (14-5) yesterday, 55-54, with Hannah Baker scoring a career-high 27 points, including the game-winning free throws. Savannah Collins added 10, and Jayla Ash scored 8. The Bears play at Pendleton Heights (15-6) on Tuesday.
The Shelbyville High School boys basketball team (13-4) lost to No. 3-ranked Greenfield Central (13-2), 82-60. Mar Nicholson scored 18 for the Bears, Damon Badgley added 14, Caden Claxton had 9 and Gavin Reed scored 8. The Bears host Speedway (2-8) next Friday.
The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce’s February Lunch & Learn will feature David Finkel presenting on “Understanding Your Local Property Taxes.” The $20 registration fee for Tuesday, Feb. 4, 11:30 a.m., includes lunch. RSVP here.
HOOSIER NEWS: A bill concerning non-accredited, non-public high school diplomas received robust debate in the House Education Committee this week.
HB 1348 says employers and higher education institutions cannot impose additional skill tests on prospective students and employees who were homeschooled or received another form of schooling that resulted in them earning a non-accredited high school diploma. Rep. Tim Wesco (R- Osceola) is the bill’s author. He said the measure is necessary because some state employers require prospective employees without accredited diplomas to take skill tests —something their peers who have diplomas from accredited schools don’t have to do. Wesco said that is discriminatory. Democrats opposed the bill. Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) said homeschool students aren’t required to meet the same standards as students in public schools, so additional skill tests aren’t unreasonable. “You’re a high school graduate because somebody says you are. That’s really the end of the requirements here. That’s really what we’re down to,” he said. “I would think the homeschools would want to have their students take some kind of a test or some qualification so these doubts go away.” The bill passed committee along party lines with Republicans in support and Democrats opposing it. (Indiana Public Media)
NATIONAL NEWS: New research published by New York City’s Department of Transportation found that speeding is down by 94 percent in areas where speed cameras were installed compared to levels of speeding at the start of the program in 2014. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s data on traffic camera installations in Maryland, Arizona and D.C., the proportion of drivers who exceeded speed limits by more than 10 miles per hour declined by 70 percent, 88 percent and 82 percent, respectively. (AMNY/Numlock)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights
May 11, 1966, Part II
Jean Metz had been crowned May Queen. The dance began at 9 p.m. and ended at midnight, with the Original Kustoms providing the music.
Retiring teachers Lorena Williams (SHS), Mrs. Maurice Compton (Hendricks) and Mr. J.W.O. Breck (administration) were recognized at the Shelbyville Classroom Teachers Association banquet, held at the Evangelical United Church of Christ with the faculty of Lora B. Pearson School as hosts. Approximately 250 attended the event. Mr. Herbert Day served as master of ceremonies.
“Next year, SHS would undergo many changes if senior class candidates were able to carry out their campaign promises.” (These “promises” appear to have been made in jest during campaign speeches.) Dave Carmony had reportedly said that, if elected, his classmates would have desks, lockers and parking spaces built for two. Bill Haehl had offered three freshmen assistants for each senior, to carry books, open lockers and alter report cards. Bill had also promised “installation of automatic trap doors giving way to bottomless acid pits for long-winded teachers who talked more than seven seconds after the dismissal bell.” Margaret Haehl said she would provide air-fresheners to combat Mr. McKinley’s foul chemistry lab. Jeff Walker added demands for a Senior Lounge “staffed with freshmen bus boys and Playboy bunnies.” Nancy Dellekamp said she supported unionization for custodians Barry and Harry.
Alumni News: Don Shadley (’64) was a seaman apprentice in the U.S. Navy and was stationed at Treasure Island, California; Mike Fowler (’64) was enrolled in a summer field course at the IU Geologic Field Station in Montana. Mike Mount (’64) was selected as a counselor for the men’s dormitories at the College of Wooster.
The cafeteria sold between 180 and 240 packages of potato chips daily.
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: President Bush declared Shelby and 61 other Indiana counties a disaster area, making local residents and government eligible for FEMA aid. The disaster assistance was in regard to recent flooding.
1995: Operation Life Ambulance of Columbus opened out of 22 S. Vine St., making two private ambulance services in Shelbyville. The new company would compete with Trans Med, 21 E. Broadway, which had backed up the city-county ambulance service for 25 years. While Trans Med did not have licensed paramedics, Operation Life officials said their service would offer paramedic services.
1985: After reading a report that some 12-year-old American students failed a geography test in which many could not even find their own country, Morristown Elementary principal Terry Barker decided to test his students. They were asked to label the seven continents, two oceans, and the U.S. and U.S.S. R. on a world map in addition to labeling several states in the Midwest, including Indiana. Altogether, 79 percent of the students passed with a 70 percent or better, and 19 percent earned perfect scores.
1975: The Shelbyville High School boys team defeated Madison, winning for the first time of the season and snapping a 13-game losing streak.
1965: A new six-lane bowling alley, The Morristown Lanes, located on the north side of U.S. 52 in Morristown directly across the street from the Union State Bank, opened. Edwin Yarling was the owner-operator. The bowling alley was in the former Newhouse Hardware Store building, previously owned by Harold McWilliams.
1955: Building dedication plans were announced for the new Shelbyville Boys Club, 16 W. Broadway. Don Schlundt, Indiana University’s All-American center who held numerous records, and Carl Erskine, pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers, were scheduled to attend. Erskine had struck out 15 Yankees, a record, in the 1953 World Series. The clubhouse had a basketball goal, games, a hand tool room, a photographic darkroom and a library.
1945: A graduation program was held at the junior high for the 46 graduates leaving 8th grade and entering the senior high school. F.J. Shull was in charge of the program.
1935: The city school board provided free books to local needy families, who came to the administration building to pick them up. The building was full of families and children collecting books, The Republican reported.
1925: Numerous members of adult Sunday school classes throughout the city signed a pledge of support to encourage local law enforcement to enforce liquor laws. The action was “not construed as criticism of officials, but to support their efforts,” The Republican said.
1915: Editor’s note: There are no archives for either local Republican or Democrat newspapers for this week. Once the archive returns, reporting for this year will resume.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: Freeman Family Funeral Homes & Crematory
OBITUARIES
Connor J. West, 15, a loving and vibrant young soul, left us on January 21, 2025. Born on December 7, 2009 in Greenwood, Indiana, Connor grew into a lively and enthusiastic young man. He was a freshman at Shelbyville High School, where he was known for his friendly demeanor and his propensity for making friends with everyone he met. His hobbies included gaming, soccer, fishing, and a keen interest in learning the Japanese language. Connor's zest for life and his warmth were infectious, making him a beloved person in his community.
He is survived by his father, Brian West, his mother, Lona West, and his sister, Jessica West. He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Nancy Shelton, and his uncle, Brian Shelton.
Visitation for Connor will be held on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., at the Glenn E. George and Son Funeral Home, located at 437 Amos Road, Shelbyville, Indiana. The funeral service will follow at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
We invite those who knew Connor to leave memories and upload photos on his memorial page at glennegeorgeandson.com as a tribute to his vibrant life and the joy he brought to those around him. In lieu of flowers, Connor’s family would enjoy memorial keepsakes or memorial contributions that can be made to the Connor West Memorial Fund in care of the funeral home.