Sunday, July 27, 2025
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PITCH PERFECT
Shelby Community Band members prepare to play a patriotic-themed concert last night at Blue River Memorial Park. | photo by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
County Plan Commission Approves Waldron Area Petitions
The Shelby County Plan Commission voted Tuesday to approve a rezoning and simple subdivision request for a three-acre parcel west of 7619 E. 300 S. in Waldron, clearing the way for a new residential building lot.
The commission voted 7-1 in favor of the rezoning request, with Kevin Carson casting the lone vote in opposition. A related request to approve the subdivision passed 6-2, with Carson and Tony Sipes voting no.
The petitioner, the Stephen Dagley Family Trust, sought to rezone the parcel from A1 (Conservation Agricultural) to RE (Residential Estate) to accommodate the sale of the land for a single-family home. Approximately 60 percent of the parcel is not classified as prime farmland, and the rezoning would not exceed the county’s recommended density for rural residential development. Staff recommended approval of both requests.
Melissa Freeman, whose family owns adjacent acreage, raised concerns about drainage and erosion from the parcel, citing past conversations with the Soil and Water Conservation District and issues with runoff onto her land during heavy rains. Freeman urged the plan commission to ensure that the new lot complies with stormwater regulations and does not exacerbate existing erosion problems.
Planning Director Desiree Calderella noted that the subdivision includes a 20-foot drainage easement along an existing ditch, which would restrict any future development in that area and allow for access and maintenance. County Surveyor Jeff Powell also advised that any future development of the remaining parcels would require a new rezoning and subdivision process.
The discussion also touched on discrepancies in past surveys and the responsibility for maintaining proper drainage. Plan Commission members emphasized that any drainage problems on the newly created lot would fall to the landowner. The approval means the buyer can proceed with securing permits, but the site plan must still undergo technical review before construction can begin.
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NOTEBOOK:
HOOSIER NEWS: Less than 52 percent of Indiana high school graduates enrolled in college in 2023 — the lowest rate on record, according to new state data. The drop continues a yearslong trend that could have long-term consequences for the state’s workforce and economy. In Indiana, the rate fell about 1 percentage point in 2023. It’s the lowest it’s been since at least 2008, which is the earliest year published on the Indiana Commission for Higher Education dashboard. College enrollment has inched lower for every cohort since the high school class of 2016. (Indiana Public Radio)
NATIONAL NEWS: The Green Bay Packers publish their annual financial statements, owing to their idiosyncratic ownership structure; the team is owned by 539,000 fan shareholders. This means that the Packers present a look into how an NFL team — and the league as a whole — is doing. In total, national revenue from the media rights, league sponsorships and more hit $432.6 million, up 7.5 percent year over year. What’s interesting about this report is that local revenue increased 13.7 percent to $286.4 million, which is attributed to the first season when the Packers had nine regular-season home games rather than eight. (Sportico/Numlock)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights
Sept. 27, 1961, Part III
Mrs. Avonell Branson, SHS dietician, announced the cafeteria staff for the year. Mrs. Celia Wendling was the only new cook. Linda Sheperd and Barbara Randolph were the student servers. Returning cooks were Mrs. Hesper Mohr, Mrs. Frieda Ray, Mrs. Lucille Hedman, Mrs. Ruth Dake and Mrs. Virginia Pherigo. Servers were Mrs. Helen Morris, Mrs. Artie Patterson and Mrs. Bernice Coffey. Mrs. Barbara Ingle and Mrs. Virginia Wicker were cashiers. Paul Daniel and John Fisher assisted the staff during the lunch hour.
Recent and current SHS golfers had outshot the older generation in the Blue River Country Club championship. North Thurston, class of 1961, edged Dave Spannbauer for the title. John Alexander, class of 1960, came in third, followed by Steve Lackey (’63) and Jerry Alexander (’64).
Jack Krebs (’57) and sophomore Jean Ann Dellekamp were honored at the third annual Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce All-Sports Awards banquet. Jack, a senior at Butler, won the top award in track. Jean Ann was runner-up in the women’s swimming division.
The robed choir would be led by siblings Ann and Mike Staats, serving as president and vice president, respectively. Other officers were Beverly Morrison and Penny Jones.
Style trends to start the year included small hair bows and circle pins for girls.
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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: The Shelbyville Fire Department’s new 2005 Enforcer firetruck went into service. Jarod Parker and Ryan Slevin hooked up the machine to a fire hydrant for a test. Lt. Doug Lutes told The Shelbyville News that 85 percent of the department’s runs were EMS-related.
1995: Representatives from five architectural companies presented to a 13-member county committee regarding renovating the courthouse vs. building an annex. Tim Barrick, with Ratio Architects, noted that his company had worked on about 30 federal and county courthouses.
1985: The Shelby County Beef Cattle Association held its annual Buy-a-Calf and Show-a-Calf show at the fairgrounds. Gregg Larrison, Maurice Leap, Steve Duke, Betty Vanderpleeg and Casey Kidwell had organized the event.
1975: A carnival worker at the Shelby County Fair turned over a skunk to conservation officer Dennis Eggers. The worker had the skunk as a pet, but was about to travel to a state where regulations would prevent him from taking it, so he turned it over.
1965: Attendance at the city pool was down for the year, but thanks to an admissions price jump from 10 to 15 cents, overall revenue was up.
1955: Ten teenage girls were striving to be the Flat Rock Centennial Queen. The candidates were Sharon Calhoun, Mary Conover, Donna Daniels, Penny McCarty, Patty Harrod, Betty Hill, Becky Davis, Marcella VanGorden, Annette Courtney and Margaret Rumple. Former Pumpkin Patch Festival Queens were also on hand: Carolyn Bishop, Marilyn Davis, Betty (Conover) Lee, Kay (Conover) Chabre and Janell Drake.
1945: Seventeen teams featuring some 200 players began a softball tournament here. The first game was the Crystal Flashes vs. Eads Texaco.
1935: Sixteen sheep were stranded on a knoll on Walter Thompson’s farm for several hours following excessive rains. Water on the farm, located on S. State Road 9, eventually subsided, and the sheep were led back to the farm.
1925: State officials were cracking down on gambling at state fairs, and had already said the 56-year-old tradition of “baby doll racks” at the Shelby County Fair would come to an end. “These are the concession where any one with the desire may pay a nickel or dime and take three throws at a row of ‘babies’ on a rack,” The Republican explained.
1915: The Postmaster General issued an order that stated rural carriers must start using vehicles with “more than two wheels.” Rollyn Barnes, Shelbyville, delivered mail on a motorcycle year round. Some others used bicycles. The Postmaster’s goal was to increase rural routes from 25 miles to 50 miles.
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OBITUARIES
Marlin G. “Scouty” Everhart, 86, of Shelbyville, passed away Friday, July 25, 2025, at his home. He was born March 1, 1939, in Morristown, the son of Floyd Freeman and Hazel (Peacock) Everhart. Marlin is survived by his son, Keith Everhart and wife, Nancy, of Shelbyville; daughters, Marlene Gerline and husband, Greg, of Shelbyville, Carrie Jones of Fairland, Julie Lay and husband, Bryan, and Mary Kay Balish and significant other, Rob Wilson, both of Indianapolis; sister, Linda Conner of Greenfield; sisters-in-law, Linda Everhart of Greensburg and Joyce Everhart of Shelbyville; grandchildren, Victor, Nicholas, Sarah, Melissa, Geoff, Craig, Richard, Jordan, Natalie, Betsy and Jackson; eight great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Dean Everhart and William “Wig” Everhart; brother-in-law, John Conner; and grandsons, Bryce and Curtis.
In 1957, Marlin graduated from Morristown High School. He retired in 2014 after 75 years of farming. Marlin was a member of Shelby Masonic Lodge No. 28 F&AM. He was also a member of the Shelbyville Knights of Columbus, where he enjoyed being part of the card group. He served his community as a former Shelby County commissioner, Marion Township trustee and member of the Shelby County Fair Board. Marlin enjoyed drinking coffee with his friends at the “Cracker Barrel Coffee Club.”
Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at Asbury Cemetery in Morristown. Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 124 E. North St. in Morristown. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pantry Pals, in care of the Blue River Community Foundation, 54 W. Broadway, Suite 1, Shelbyville, Ind., 46176. Online condolences may be shared with Marlin’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Anita Kathleen Ebert, of Avilla, Indiana, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Friday, July 18, 2025. She was born April 16, 1950, at Major Hospital in Shelbyville, Indiana, the daughter of the late Francis Eugene and Loretta (Tribbey) Guffin.
Anita graduated from Morristown High School in 1968 as class valedictorian and Student Council president. She received numerous academic awards in Latin, chemistry, physics and advanced math, and was a lead majorette for the Morristown Yellow Jackets band. During high school, she met the love of her life, George G. Ebert III. After attending Purdue University and Indiana University for three years, she and George were married in November 1971 in Indianapolis.
They later moved to Fort Wayne and purchased Fluid Dynamics Inc. in 1974, where Anita served as chief financial officer. With her advice, business instincts and keen intellect, she helped George build a successful engineering firm.
Anita was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne since 1978 and sang in the church choir for 45 years. She had eclectic tastes and enjoyed watching the New York Yankees and Purdue basketball, traveling to warm climates, flower gardening and entertaining — especially during the holidays. Most of all, she loved being with family and enjoyed hosting family reunions and church choir cookouts.
Survivors include her husband, George G. Ebert III; sons, George Jacob (Valaurie) Ebert and Douglas Eugene (Amanda) Ebert, both of Fort Wayne; grandchildren, Aiden George, Emma Marie, Luke James and Levi Kenneth Ebert; sister, Janet Arlene (James) Foglesong of LaPorte, Indiana; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brother, Larry Gene Guffin.
A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Messiah Lutheran Church, 7211 Stellhorn Road, Fort Wayne, with calling one hour prior. Friends and family will also be received from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 31, 2025, at D.O. McComb & Sons Funeral Homes – Maplewood Park, 4017 Maplecrest Road, Fort Wayne. Memorial contributions may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014, or to Messiah Lutheran Church, 7211 Stellhorn Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46815. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mccombcares.com for the Ebert family.