Sunday, May 16, 2021
Spring Sunset
The silhouettes of W. Broadway buildings stand out against the sunset this week. | photo by Jack Boyce
‘Service Above Self’
Shelbyville Rotarians (L to R) John Huber, Greg Gerline, Becky Benesh, Earlene (Wheeler) Rosenfeld, Tom Rosenfeld, Larry Sandman, Linda Sanders, Les Benesh, Bob Thopy, Ray Wetnight, Tim Barrick, Martin Zinser and Rick Robinson plant flowers on the N. Harrison Street bridge yesterday. The local Rotary Club has beautified the bridge for nearly 30 years, president Martin Zinser said. The City of Shelbyville provides a staff member to water the flowers. The group, whose motto is “Service Above Self,” meets Thursday evenings at The Fiddlers Three.
Dear readers,
Today we will learn if I can write an awesome column about nothing. I will try my best. I once had a teacher who told me that is all that can be expected.
This week I heard from a long-time reader who just discovered that I was now in The Addison Times. The reader was happy to have found me because as the reader put it, “I always enjoy reading your awesome column.”
Not wanting to disappoint a loyal reader, I was feeling pressure to write an awesome column. I sharpened a new No. 2 Ticonderoga pencil. I was planning on interviewing cousin Tom’s wife, the Baroness von Krueger, as I had promised but I ran out of time.
Porch furniture ordered months ago was finally delivered and some assembly was required. The same day the furniture was delivered I had to call the TV repairman. Not having a working TV is an emergency. It wouldn’t be a problem for myself or my wife, Sandy, but the grandkids must know what Ryder and the pups are up to in “Adventure Bay.”
We were all excited to see the TV repairman’s van pull up to the curb. When we went out to greet him, I noticed that someone had failed to pick up after their dog. As the fellow headed toward the door, I yelled, “Watch where you step, there’s a big pile of ..” Oh yeah, at that moment he stepped in it. And yes, we laughed. I’m not sure why it was funny, but it was. The kids were still laughing a half-hour later. I’ll have to find one of those old silent movies for them to watch where people are slipping on banana peels.
Enough sophomoric humor, it is time to comment on this week’s news.
Russian criminal hackers who call themselves “Dark Side” collected $5 million ransom from Colonial Pipeline. Some American politicians opined that Russia should do more to catch the criminal hackers in their country.
I always joke about Rachel from Card Services calling me weekly, but Americans are scammed out of billions every year by robocalls. If it’s not Rachel, it is Social Security calling to tell you your check is being canceled or the IRS with a warrant for your arrest. Call blocking doesn’t seem to work. Maybe our government should get serious about stopping the scammers here in America.
Speaking of scammers, “Tiger King” star Carole Baskin is launching her own cryptocurrency. I read where people are investing in cryptocurrency because ever since President Nixon took America off the gold standard U.S. money isn’t backed by anything. It seems to me that cryptocurrency is backed by even less.
Last but not least, congratulations from all of us here at Team Schwinn to John Hartnett for being awarded a Sagamore of the Wabash.
NOTEBOOK
Although small in population, with only 277 residents ages 16 and older, the tiny zip code area of Needham leads Shelby County in vaccination percentage. Sixty-five percent of 46162 residents are fully vaccinated, according to the Indiana Department of Health. The lowest for Shelby County? Next door Boggstown, at 30.5%. Waldron, with 1,314 residents, claims the next-best rate for the county, at 46.3 percent fully vaccinated. Shelbyville records 39.2 percent.
Give the gift of music! The Shelbyville Central Schools Education Foundation is seeking band instruments to help provide musical opportunities to SCS students unable to purchase their own personal instrument. Details and donation form are here.
As of yesterday, the state reported 4,938 positive coronavirus cases in Shelby County, an increase of 3 from the previous day, out of 19,767 tests, an increase of 14 from the day before. The number of deaths for Shelby County remained the same, at 96. The State lists 16,150 fully vaccinated people for Shelby County as of yesterday.
HOOSIER NEWS: The Monroe County Health Officer will end the county's current health order on masks and social distancing starting Monday at 8 a.m. The decision comes after the Centers For Disease Control announced Thursday that fully vaccinated people do not need to wear a mask or socially distance, except where required by federal, state, and local regulation. This action means the county’s gathering size limits will also be lifted. Monroe County Health administrator Penny Caudill said unvaccinated people should continue to mask and socially distance to protect their health and the health of others. Caudill says many people still have not been vaccinated or are unable to do so. (Indiana Public Media)
“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.
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
A state-of-the-art addition to the Center for Women’s Health was set to open on the third floor of Major Hospital.Emily Beal, wife of the late Indiana State Police Trooper Jason Eric Beal, and her son Cody; and Cindy Winzenread, wife of the late Indiana State Police Trooper Andrew Patrick Winzenread, and her daughter, attended the 13th annual Candlelight Vigil held at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C.
30 YEARS AGO: 1991
City officials announced plans to move the Girls Club of Shelbyville to the former Shelbyville Junior High School building. The Girls Club offices were then in the basement of the civic center. Attendance at the Girls Club was up 62 percent over the previous year. Amy Good was the club’s board of directors. Tom Miller was also recognized as Volunteer of the Year and Kretia Weddle, daughter of Paul and Sarah Weddle, was named Outstanding Girl of the Year and Shelbyville Optimist Club Golden Girl at a recent banquet.
40 YEARS AGO: 1981
The Shelbyville Central Teachers Association honored retiring educators at a banquet held in the SHS cafeteria. Retirees included Mignon Dismore, who started as an eighth grade math teacher and was “promoted” to the third grade at Hendricks, Principal James Farnsley said. She was then moved to second grade and finally to the first grade. “Each promotion, because of the way our building is laid out, got her closer to her home across Shelby Street,” Farnsley quipped. Loper third grade teacher Helen Kuhn also retired. She had started 43 years prior in North Dakota and later taught at the old Shelby Township School and former Colescott School before moving to Loper when it opened. Carolyn McKee retired after 10-and-one-half years at Major and Pearson Schools. Her career was cut short by a disabling disease, Pearson Principal Denny Ramsey said. Norman Holland, eighth grade science teacher at the junior high, retired. Principal Gene Sexton recalled that Holland had rotated a couple of times between the junior high and the St. Paul school. Eighth grade food instructor Doris Patterson retired after 22 years at the junior high. She previously taught at Manilla, Morristown and Fairland. Seventh grade geography teacher Robert Rukes retired after 34 years. He taught at Bedford and locally at Major School and the junior high. Rukes also served two stints during World War II. Loper principal Thelma Spannbauer also retired. She had moved to Shelbyville from New York in 1956. Attendance officer Betty Drake was retiring after 17 years. The SCTA annual scholarship went to SHS senior Renee Winzenread. A certificate of appreciation was given to State Rep. Steve Moberly for “voting and speaking to support education.”
50 YEARS AGO: 1971
Candee Roberts was crowned queen of the Triton Central High School prom.
60 YEARS AGO: 1961
Fourteen sheep and lambs and two calves were killed by a pack of stray dogs in VanBuren township.70 YEARS AGO: 1951
Kenneth “Bucket” Gunning, a Shelbyville High School star athlete in the 1930s, was named athletic director and basketball, football and track coach at Connersville High School. Gunning had lettered in four sports at SHS and was an All-American basketball player at Indiana University. He had previously coached at the University of Wichita.80 YEARS AGO: 1941
The Allen Dry Cleaning Company, owned by Leslie Allen, at 20 W. Broadway, was purchased by Hubert and Clement Dellekamp, both of whom had been in the same line of business for over a decade.
90 YEARS AGO: 1931
A young lady was stranded in Shelbyville after being deserted by her five co-workers who were all selling magazine subscriptions. “The magazine crew invaded the city in the absence of Chief Thompson and Assistant Chief Charles Goebel yesterday morning, before their return from the state police chief’s convention at Huntington,” The Republican said. Chief Thompson gave the girl money for breakfast and transportation to Indianapolis. She said she would contact her mother in Kansas City for help to get home.100 YEARS AGO: 1921
Fire destroyed the farm home of Mr. and Mrs. Cass Glackman, two miles northwest of Geneva, in Noble township. The cause was believed to be a defective chimney flue.Dr. W.F. Latshaw, veterinary surgeon of E. Washington St., escaped serious injury when the vehicle he was driving crashed into the stone bridge about six miles east of Shelbyville on the Michigan Road. Latshaw said he was coasting down the small hill which led to the bridge over Conn’s Creek when his car ran into the bridge. He was badly bruised but not seriously injured. The car was totaled.
OBITUARIES
Linda Lou Swanson, 71, of Shelbyville passed away Friday, May 14, 2021, at MHP Medical Center in Shelbyville. Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Online condolences may be shared with Linda’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Richard Eugene (Gene) Petty, 77, of Lake Placid, Florida went home to be with his Lord on Thursday morning December 3, 2020, at the Good Shepherd Hospice House in Sebring. Richard was born on August 16, 1943, in Bellefontaine, Ohio. He was the son of Letha (Varner) and Perry Petty.
Richard served his country with honors in the US Air Force. He was a retired dental technician in the dental industry. Richard was a winter resident of Lake Placid, Florida for several years and then become a permanent resident in 2014, moving there from Shelbyville, Indiana. Richard was of the Methodist faith. Richard enjoyed scouting with his sons, fishing the local lakes and enjoyed a good game of golf. He loved to be with his family and friends anytime they could get together, especially time with his grandchildren.
Richard is preceded in death by his loving wife Susan (Stine) and daughter Martha Jane Petty. He is survived by his loving children, Richard “Rich”, Ashley C., Timothy Joseph “TJ”; six grandchildren; and two sisters; Mary Ann Larson and Marian King.
Private graveside services will be conducted at Forest Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville. Services to celebrate Richard’s life will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 22, 2021 at Blue Bear Golf Club, 2660 N. Riley Highway in Shelbyville, Indiana. Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Words of comfort to the family can be made by visiting www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
