Sunday, June 8, 2025
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CLASS OF ‘75 UNITES
Members of the Shelbyville High School Class of 1975 gather at Friday’s Taste of Shelby County event on Public Square. The formal reunion was last night at Blessing’s Opera House. Pictured above (the rows are a bit amorphous, but generally, left to right with the back row first): Greg Armstrong, Jimmy Anderson, David Cord, Lee Boger, Brenda Baughman, Michelle Calkins, Laurie Cadieux, Cindy Warnecke, Cyndi Bramwell, Connie Willard Turner, Linda Conway Bowers, Melissa Meyerholtz, Melinda Price Fox, Mary Jane Allen and Larry Lux. | photo by JACK BOYCE
OPEN-AIR ART
Dan Robbins, president of the Shelby Art Gallery, shows his current work at Friday’s Taste of Shelby County event. | photo by JACK BOYCE
4-H FOOD FUN
Shelby County Fair Queen Ellie Gosser and her court take over the 4-H food auction yesterday while the auctioneer takes a break. Below, Abby Gwinnup and Yelena Rolon help showcase baked goods while the caller gathers bids. | photos by ANNA TUNGATE
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NOTEBOOK:
Sophia Meriwether and Aria Weaver were Grand Champion trainers of “Maddie” and “Riggs” in the Obedience and Agility categories, respectively, at yesterday’s Shelby County 4-H Dog Show. Jessica Nieman, showing “Toby”, claimed Reserve Grand Champion for both. The event was moved to the Merchants building at the fairgrounds this year due to remodeling in the barn. The expert training by local 4-H members remained the same. The following dog owners received ribbons in the Obedience competitions: Ezri Thomas (1st) and Aria Weaver (2nd), Class 1A; Paige Yeley (1st), Class 1B; Katelyn Morrow (1st), Class 2A; Sophia Meriwether (1st) and Jessica Nieman (2nd), Class 2B. The following won in the Agility contest: Aria Weaver (1st) and Paige Yeley (2nd), Beginning A; Katelyn Morrow (1st), Beginning B; and Jessica Nieman (1st) and Sophia Meriwether (2nd), Intermediate A. (photos below by Anna Tungate)
The Shelby County Fair Baby Contest is tonight, 5 p.m., at the grandstand.
HOOSIER NEWS: Fishers will host parties for the remaining NBA Championship games at the Nickel Plate Amphitheater. The outdoor bash is free. Additionally, you can bring food, although food trucks and beverage vendors will be on site. City spokesperson Ashley Elrod said spectators are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and blankets. A giant screen TV will be set up near the stage. (IndyStar)
NATIONAL NEWS: Shoppers wanting to join "Club Publix" will soon have the chance as the Florida-headquartered grocery chain intends to add stores across nine more states. Publix currently has locations in Alabama (94 stores), Florida (878 stores), Georgia (220 stores), Kentucky (4 stores), North Carolina (58 stores), South Carolina (70 stores), Tennessee (59 stores) and Virginia (24 stores). (IndyStar)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights
May 17, 1968, Part I
Kent Lockman set a new school track record in the 220 with a time of :22.7; Kim Wolsiefer set a new record in the two-mile run with a 10:28.6; and Bob Zerr set a freshman record in the 220 with a time of :24.2.
The SHS Radio Club toured the WSVL studio. John Hartnett showed club members how commercials were made on tape cartridges. The group also viewed a live broadcast. “Chris Williams now has 12 witnesses that his show is live.” The group then went to Mr. Eavey’s house in Mt. Auburn for a picnic.
The Vocational Auto Mechanics Class built a car. It was composed of parts of two Fords, 1952 and 1961, and a 1959 Chevrolet.
Mr. Willard Day was retiring. “Mr. Willard Day is a graduate of Boggstown High School, where he was active in basketball, baseball, and track. After graduation, he studied at Indiana University, Franklin College, and Butler University. Mr. Day taught five years in the Hendricks Township School. He was principal of Major School for 13 years. Mr. Day has been associated with the Shelbyville Jr. High since 1943. He was Jr. High principal and assistant-principal to Mr. Bass in 1953. For the past 12 years, Mr. Day has had a pet project. It is the Indiana History Tour, which approximately 600 students have been fortunate enough to take part. Mr. Day has been the president of the Shelby Classroom Teachers and was the former editor of Indiana State Classroom Teachers Magazine. He is the author of a book of poetry which is now out of print. Mr. Day is a past-president of Kiwanis Club. He is a member of the First Christian Church, where he has taught the Willard Day Class for 35 years. He is also an active member of the Shelby Co. Historical Society.”
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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: A plaque with Christopher Newell’s name was installed at Shelbyville High School’s Senior Night, recognizing perfect attendance from fifth grade through graduation. What made it remarkable was what Newell battled behind the scenes: a severe sleep disorder known as Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS), which sometimes left him barely able to walk. He once attended school with a 104-degree fever, drinking ice water to avoid being sent home. He looked forward to the next level. “Now that it’s college, I can ease up a little bit.”
1995: In Indianapolis, excitement was building as developers announced that 92 percent of retail space in the new Circle Centre Mall had already been leased, months ahead of its September 8 opening. With over 200 retailers expected, half of them new to Indiana, stores like Nordstrom, Ann Taylor, The Disney Store, and Victoria’s Secret were among the biggest draws.
1985: A year after human remains were unearthed by heavy equipment near the Big Blue River just north of Shelbyville, scientists were still piecing together their story. Believed to be 300 to 400 years old, the bones—belonging to 10 individuals, including a child—were found in a circular pit and may have been linked to ancient Hopewell or Mississippian cultures. Evidence suggested ritual burial, perhaps part of a floodplain ceremony. While carbon dating continued, researchers speculated the people may have descended from early Mongoloid migrants who crossed the Bering Strait thousands of years earlier.
1975: After nearly 20 years of services and community gatherings, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church—located just north of Shelbyville—was set to be officially consecrated. Built in 1956 but not yet dedicated due to remaining debt, the church had finally paid off its obligations. The congregation of about 60 planned a special service at 9:30 a.m. Episcopal services in Shelbyville were first held in the early 1870s, meeting in the courthouse and members’ homes. They were later housed on the southeast corner of Tompkins and Hendricks streets, but the church was abandoned in 1916. After World War II, newcomers to the area helped organize St. Luke’s, with services first held in city council chambers and the Women’s Building at the Fairgrounds.
1965: Final preparations were underway for the ninth annual Shelby County Fishing Rodeo, set for Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. along the Little Blue River at Kennedy Park. County conservation officer Joe Planck announced rule changes—including a lowered age limit from 14 to 12—and confirmed that no regular fishing hooks would be allowed. More than 2,000 children were expected, with prizes awarded on the spot as fish were caught. Sponsored by law enforcement and civic groups, the event aimed to encourage outdoor fun and help deter juvenile delinquency.
1955: A proposed consolidation of two Shelby County and two Bartholomew County townships into a new school system—with plans for a $650,000 high school—was soundly defeated at the polls. Nearly 1,700 residents voted, with a margin of 318 votes against the plan. Though many saw benefits to improved facilities, voters in Shelby County’s Washington and Jackson townships were reluctant to commit to a four-township merger. Instead, some hoped for a smaller partnership involving just Washington, Hendricks, and nearby areas. The vote ended one of the most talked-about education proposals in years.
1945: Major William Garlow, whose family lived on S. Riley Hwy., was liberated from a Nazi prison camp. He had been captured in the Belgium bulge in December.
1935: Locally, there were 1,902 people working in factories.
Shelbyville was buzzing with preparation for a big event set for June 17: the arrival of more than 50 planes as part of the statewide Indiana Air Tour. FERA workers were dispatched to ready the municipal airport northeast of town, while downtown festivities were set to include a parade of decorated bicycles, model plane contests, and a band concert on the Public Square. Children six and under could enjoy a roped-off wading area, and the Shelbyville High School band was slated to perform. Meanwhile, finishing touches were being made to the Laura Morrison Park bandstand.
1925: After a late frost killed many local tomato plants, the I & C Traction Co. arranged for through-shipment of tomato plants from southern Indiana to Shelbyville.
1915: The Shelbyville City School Board requested a one-year extension from the Indiana State Board of Health before vacating Building No. 2, the city’s school for Black children, located on South Harrison Street. The building had been condemned a year earlier after a state inspection, but the city cited financial strain and overcrowding as reasons for delaying construction of a new facility. Officials pledged to erect a modern building for higher grades—focused on manual training and domestic science—as soon as funding allowed. In the meantime, the board asked to continue using the existing structure, despite its deteriorated condition.
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OBITUARIES
None today.
Thanks for the note! I don't know that we've done an extensive story, but we have had some references to that moniker and how it came about. Here are some excerpts! If I find more information, we'll follow up! - Kristiaan
The SHS Camels defeated the Greenburg Strohlers, 33-29, in the season opener. “The fightin’ five of Greensburg H.S. came to Cameltown, Friday night, tree and all, and left minus a few branches.”
from 2004: Current students are unaware of the many changes their school has gone through. For example, most students don't know that we started out as the Shelbyville Camels. Sophomore Jake Miller has heard of this little-known fact though. "My grandmother dated the guy who wore the Camel suit at the games," Jake said. It's hard to imagine a camel walking up and down the bleachers entertaining the crowd of today's games.
The Courier noted that the team moniker “Camels” in the 1920s had been a nod to Coach Campbell.
There was continual confusion regarding Shelbyville’s team moniker. The Rushville High School newspaper, The Rushlite, called the Shelbyville team “The Mackmen” early an article and later said they nearly defeated “the Camels.”
Have you done a story on the Shelbyville High School mascot, the camel? Just thinking it would be fun to read.