Sunday, July 11, 2021
Sunday, July 11, 2021
NOTEBOOK
Traffic and parking restrictions will be in place downtown Shelbyville for asphalt and milling work from July 19th to 23rd. In another section of the project, northbound Harrison Street will be closed through downtown from Jackson St. to Franklin St., and E. Washington St. at the Public Square, from Aug. 2 to 23. Also, a portion of East Washington St. through downtown will be closed Aug. 2 - Nov. 30 for work on the east side of Public Square.
There were 44 homes sold in Shelby County last month, on par with the 46 sold in May but lower than the 51 sold in June 2020. Inventory was up, to 41, from 30 in May. Inventory had hit a low of 20 in March. Days on the market rose to 20 from the previous month of 14. The median home price for units sold in Shelby County was $185,000, up from $166,500 the previous month, according to the latest MIBOR data.
Local radio company 3 Towers Broadcasting, LLC is expanding its range. GIANT fm has purchased WREB FM in Greencastle, pending FCC approval. “We’re very excited for this opportunity to be a part of Greencastle, Putnam County and the surrounding communities through WREB Radio,” said Johnny McCrory, co-owner and vice president, in a media release. The company, which also operates online news sources such as Shelby County Post, owns and operates WSVX (AM 1520 and 96.5 FM) in Shelbyville, WGRN (106.3 FM) in Greenfield and WROI (92.1 FM) in Rochester. WSVX, originally branded WSVL, traces its roots to 1961. 3 Towers Broadcasting, created by Scott Huber, Johnny McCrory, Douglas Raab and Todd Glidden, took over operations in 2007. Raab and Glidden have since passed away.
The Shelby County Public Library received $3,220 as a result of a fundraising mailer sent in May, library officials said at last week’s board meeting. The funds supported various library entities, including the general fund, the foundation fund and the Friends of the Library organization.
Artist Lyssa Lovejoy will host free workshops for youth at the Shelby County Public Library on July 15. A “Dance Paint Dance” program for 7- to 9-year-olds will be at 9:30 a.m. “Reflections,” for 10- to 14-year-olds, will be at noon. Registration can be completed here.
The Boggs Society’s free museum will open to the public, Sunday, July 25, 1 to 4 p.m. Displays include items from Boggstown High School and class photos, the Red Mill, “Ma Kettle” actress Marjorie Main, Boggstown Cabaret, Civil War Union General Ambrose Burnside and the local railroad he owned, Boggstown resolutions to secede from the Union, the 1887 Seventh Day Adventist Church building that now houses the museum, and more. The museum is located at 2616 N. Sand Creek Road, Boggstown.
First United Methodist Church, 34 W. Washington St., Shelbyville, will host Vacation Bible School this week. The free events, sponsored by four churches, will be held 6 to 8 p.m., Monday - Thursday, July 12 - 15, for ages 3 through fifth-graders. Participating churches are First Christian, First Presbyterian, West Street UMC and First UMC.
CLARIFICATION: Our Thursday article on the community’s contributions to World War II said local women “gave up nylon pantyhose for parachute production.” An attentive reader noted that "pantyhose" were not available until the 1960s. During World War II, ladies could not find "stockings" to buy due to nylon shortages for non-military uses. Great catch! - KR
HOOSIER NEWS: As of late June, 79% of nursing home residents are vaccinated, but only 49% of nursing home staff are vaccinated, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. In vaccinations of residents, Indiana ranks 27th out of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. In terms of vaccinated staffers, Indiana ranks 43rd. (CNHI Statehouse Reporter)
Coffee Klatch
Among the customers at the lunch counter yesterday were (left to right) Daniela Daza, Bailee Zobel, Althea Brant and Tyler Brant.
Dear readers,
Saturday morning, I took my usual place at the counter of Three Sisters Coffee Shop. Barb was taking food orders as Marie, Team Schwinn’s official barista, made café lattes. Instead of me doing any further reporting, let’s just listen in to the conversation. Enjoy.
Customer 1: It looks like the space race is heating up.
Customer 2: Didn’t we already win the space race in 1969 with the moon landing?
Customer 1: That was the old space race, when only the United States and the USSR had enough money to race to space. Now, instead of countries, it’s rich guys in a space race. Billionaire Jeff Bezos announced last week that his “Blue Origin” spaceship was almost ready, and he would be blasting off within a couple of weeks. Then in a surprise move, billionaire Richard Branson announced that his spaceship “Virgin Galactic” was ready to go, and he would be blasting off tomorrow.
Customer 3: I read that Bezos didn’t take the news well. He started trash talking. Bezos said that his ship had softer seats and bigger windows to better view the black void of space. Bezos claims that his guests will have a much better outer space experience flying Blue Origin.
Customer 4: I saw where Richard Branson admitted that the windows on Bezos’s ship are a little bigger. Branson said that his guests aren’t likely to notice the smaller windows because his stewardesses on Virgin Galactic are way hotter and will be serving gourmet snacks on all his space flights.
Customer 2: I’ll bet that Elon Musk has already been to outer space. One of the newspapers I read while waiting in the checkout line at the grocery store had a picture of Elon’s private living quarters in the space station.
Customer 1: When I was waiting in line, I saw a picture of the tiniest cow in the world. The tiny cow lives in Bangladesh. The story claimed it was causing “udder” madness in the village as millions of people who came to see the cow.
Customer 4: Barb, you should see about getting one of those cows for the counter. Then we could get cream for our coffee straight from the source.
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.
MYSTERY PHOTO
This week’s mystery photo has no writing on the back. If you recognize anyone, please email Donna Dennison, ddennison@sscpl.lib.in.us, head of genealogy and history at the Shelby County Public Library.
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
Local real estate developer ROI Land Management, which had purchased a number of buildings on the Public Square, declared bankruptcy.
The old Morristown High School building was demolished. Five MHS students came to the demolition with a cooler and chairs to watch the show. Shelby Eastern Schools board members made arrangements for bricks from the building to be put outside the fence each day for anyone wanting a keepsake from the old school.
30 YEARS AGO: 1991
Shelby County resident Robert Holland, a St. Paul High School graduate, was promoted to captain with the Indiana State Police.
Mark DeHart was named boys varsity basketball coach at Southwestern High School. DeHart had guided the school’s freshman and JV teams in recent years. DeHart succeeded Doug Curtis, who had accepted a head coaching job in northeastern Indiana.
40 YEARS AGO: 1981
Shelbyville’s racquetball club was on the financial ropes, the company’s president told the 450 members. The president said the clubhouse had struggled since opening in late 1979 at the I-74 and SR-9 junction. If funds could not be secured, possibilities for the building included anything from a movie theater to apartment buildings, the company said.
The majority of homeowners in Longacre Addition agreed to have the county install drain tile.
50 YEARS AGO: 1971
The Shannon Corporation opened a new warehouse and offices at 441 E. South St. The beer distributor had previously been located at 217 N. Hamilton St. A major expansion was also in the works at the adjacent Big Blue Store.
60 YEARS AGO: 1961
County Commissioners took bids under advisement to build a new storage building and office for the highway department. The new facility was to be erected on a nine-acre tract purchased a few months before on the east side of old U.S. Highway 421. The highway garage had been located in overcrowded quarters at 325 E. Jackson St., Shelbyville.
Shelbyville police and firemen were called to gather several bundles of laundry spilled on E. SR 44 after a Plymate Cleaners van overturned. A fire truck washed the spilled gasoline from the road.
70 YEARS AGO: 1951
A county square dance was advertised to be held at Taylor Rollerdome near Kennedy Park. The winners would advance to the state fair.
The U.S. Senate disclosed plans to investigate complaints of gambling and prostitution at Camp Atterbury, Ind. Sen. Lyndon Johnson, Texas, was chairman of the investigating committee. Johnson said he would also speed up reports on rent gouging for servicemen living in adjacent areas to camps.
80 YEARS AGO: 1941
The new model of Chrysler, which had a “fluid drive,” arrived at Jess Smith Auto Sales, 226 S. Harrison St. “Drive on, Fair Lady of Shelbyville…without shifting gears!” an advertisement read.
The American Legion Auxiliary and the Legion continued to promote an aluminum drive for the war effort. Materials could be dropped off in the triangular plot of grass west of the Big Four depot, on E. Washington St. Fencing for the area had been donated by the J.G. DePrez Co. and signs created by Query & Jones Sign Company. Aluminum was needed for planes and other vital items for national defense.
90 YEARS AGO: 1931
Two Greensburg men were held up while driving over the Big Four viaduct, east of Shelbyville. The armed robber had been in a Model A Ford.
The Wesleyan Methodist Church, 910 S. Tompkins St., announced its first homecoming service, held in honor of the building’s recent redecorating and refurnishing project. There would be morning, afternoon and evening services. Charter members of the congregation would be presented by Rev. E.A. Crim. Mr. E.B. Banker would pay tribute to members who had passed away.
100 YEARS AGO: 1921
The new street signs left off the “‘p” in Tompkins Street, listing it as “Tomkins.” The Republican newspaper expressed little concern about the matter. “Not many persons noticed the difference in spelling. However, those who are in search of the street will be able to find it.”
OBITUARIES
James "Shorty" Franklin Gray, 77, of Edinburgh, IN passed away at 1:27 p.m. Monday, June 28, 2021, at his home with his family by his side. He was born August 23, 1943, in Sullivan, IN to Pauline (Blakeman) Gray and George William Gray. He married his high school sweetheart Margie Rose (Case) Gray on July 29, 1961. They moved to Columbus, Indiana where he began his work at Cummins Engine Co. for over two decades and retired from Amtrak as a machinist.
He was a member of Masonic Lodge #150, Moose Lodge #398, and St. George Lutheran Church. His favorite hobbies were woodworking, camping, fishing, spending time with his friends and family, and lounging around with his grand-dog, Buddy.
He is survived by his loving wife, Margie Rose (Case) Gray; brothers, Daniel William Patton and Robert Joseph Gray; sister, Tina Marie (Gray) Smithhart; daughters, Amanda (Gray) Robertson and Dianna (Christopher Green) Gray; grandchildren, Katelynn (Victor) Sandefur, Michael Gray, Xavier Gray, Joseph Mckinnon, Anthony Childs, Kizzy Childs, Hadley Jenkins, Secenia Jenkins; nephews, who were like sons to him, Richard L. Heath and Billy Joe Gray; and niece, who is like a daughter to him, F. Melissa Bowen. He was preceded in death by one son, James "Jamie" Franklin Gray Jr; sister, Freda Rose Bowen; nephews, Timothy Shane Bowen and Zane Edwards; and his parents/step-parents; John Junior Patton and Marjorie Gray.
He was a husband, father, grandfather, and friend to many. He will enter into the gates of Heaven to all of those who missed him saying, "Job well done, Jim Gray, job well done!"