Bell Ringers Reappear

Major Connie Shaw reveals to local Salvation Army board of directors chairman Jack Boyce that the Shelbyville corp is in its one-hundredth year. Bell ringing has begun, and Shaw and Army worker Ronnie Crawford greeted Rural King customers on Friday. Volunteers who wish to ring bells can sign up online or at the local headquarters, E. Washington St., Shelbyville.

County Communities’ Vaccination Rates Compared

Waldron leads the local charge in vaccination percentage, with nearly 60% of those 5 and older fully vaccinated and almost 10% with a booster shot, both tops for Shelby County. The county numbers are comparable to surrounding areas. There are few “red” areas in the state, defined as having less than 25% fully vaccinated. Rush County’s Homer is one of them, though, as are Franklin County’s Laurel and Metamora communities.

About 9,000 kids ages 5 to 11 in Indiana have already received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine — just eight days after pediatric appointments opened, as of Friday, Indiana Public Media reported. There are 608,000 5-to-11 year-olds in Indiana and about 1 percent have already received at least one dose. This despite a technical error on the state’s online scheduling platform that caused pediatric COVID-19 appointments to be canceled this week. The pediatric dose is one-third the size of the dose for Hoosiers 12 and older. Hoosiers ages 5 to 17 can only receive the Pfizer vaccine. Parents or guardians can register their children 5 or older at OurShot.IN.gov. If you’re in need of assistance, you can call 211.

Major Health Partners staff encourage parents to vaccinate their children, citing a 90.7% effectiveness in preventing a serious covid-19 infection. The vaccine is a two-dose series given three weeks apart.

“Having this vaccine available is really good news for our children,” Dr. Paula Gustafson, Chief Medical Officer and pediatrician at MHP, said. “While children are generally at low risk for getting seriously ill from Covid, we have had a few patients admitted to Riley’s ICU and we have had one pediatric death in the county. Not only do we want to protect our children, but we also want to keep our children from spreading the virus to other family members who would be at higher risk.”

MHP administrators cited colder temperatures and the upcoming holidays as reasons to receive the vaccine. Health officials are concerned this season could share more than just seasonal joy and are cautioning healthcare providers to prepare for a possible “twin-demic”: covid and influenza.

How to Obtain a Vaccination Locally

MHP Pediatrics Pediatric Covid Vaccine Clinic (Children must be an established patient at either MHP Family & Internal Medicine or MHP Pediatrics). Call 317-398-7337 to schedule an appointment.

Vaccine Clinic Days (by appointment only):

Saturday, November 20, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Saturday, December 11, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Children ages 5-17 are required to have a parent/guardian present to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Please bring your insurance card with you.

MHP MedWorks Pharmacy Pediatric Covid Vaccine Clinic

MedWorks now offers the Pediatric COVID Pfizer vaccine. Call 317-421-2020 to schedule an appointment.

Vaccine Clinic Days (by appointment only):

Wednesdays, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Fridays, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Children ages 5-17 are required to have a parent/guardian present to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at MHP MedWorks Pharmacy. Please bring your insurance card with you.

MedWorks Pharmacy COVID Vaccine/Booster

Offering the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine/Booster and the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine/Booster. Please bring your insurance card and ID. Walk-ins are welcome, or you can make an appointment by calling 317-421-2020.

Vaccine/Booster Clinic Days:

Tuesdays, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Wednesdays, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Thursdays, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Fridays, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

The Most Wonderful Time…

Wreaths are installed on Shelbyville’s Lee Blvd. by city crews on Friday. | photo by ANNA TUNGATE

NOTEBOOK:

Lyda Bullard, 32, St. Paul, was convicted at a Shelby County jury trial this week on charges of sexual misconduct with a minor and invasion of privacy. Bullard had engaged in repeated acts of sexual abuse between April and June 2020 and violated a protective order in July 2020. “The mother of the victim had confronted Bullard about the inappropriate activities, and Bullard admitted to her that she had engaged in a sexual relationship with the victim,” Shelby County Prosecutor Brad Landwerlen said in a statement. “This conversation was recorded by the mother. Officers investigated the matter and located digital communications between the victim and Bullard. Bullard listed the victim under the name ‘Pet’, and the conversations confirmed the allegations.” Bullard faces up to 12 years in prison when she is sentenced on Dec. 1.
Morristown defeated Shelbyville in girls basketball action last night, 47-38. Southwestern girls defeated Oldenburg, 40-20.
HOOSIER NEWS: Gov. Eric Holcomb said discussions are well underway to potentially cut taxes in the upcoming legislative session. Holcomb also suggested those tax cuts might wait until 2023, when lawmakers write a new state budget. Indiana has enjoyed record revenues and surpluses in recent years. And those higher-than-usual revenues have prompted lawmakers to debate cutting taxes. Holcomb noted that outsized budget reserves mean Hoosiers are getting a taxpayer refund, in the form of a credit, when they file next year. “And we just, by the way, cut corporate income tax on July 1 down to 4.9 [percent],” Holcomb said. (Indiana Public Radio)
SUBSCRIBE here to get The Addison Times every day! Thank you for supporting local journalism.

Subscribe now

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The drive-through live nativity story is returning to New Life United Methodist Church, 6145 N 400 W, Fairland, Dec. 10 and 11, 6 to 8 p.m.

A VIEW FROM MY SCHWINN: The Virginian

by KRIS MELTZER

Dear readers,

I apologize for not writing a column of substance this week. I have been too busy to write anything at all. I have been stranded at the Shiloh Ranch.

The ranch is in Wyoming Territory and owned by Judge Garth. I’m not actually at the ranch. I’m sitting in my recliner watching TV. Judge Garth, the ranch and all the cowboys are in a TV show called “The Virginian.” The show ran from 1962 to 1971 and is in color. I recently discovered that all of the episodes are now available.

In keeping with the Meltzer family tradition of waiting to make sure a new invention isn’t just a fad, we didn’t get a color TV until sometime after the show ended its run. So, the first time around, I missed seeing the show in color. Sometimes following that Meltzer tradition is a mistake. However, it did save me from buying an 8-track tape player or a leisure suit.

The Virginian stars Lee J. Cobb as Judge Garth, Doug McClure as cowboy Trampas and James Drury as a cowboy known only as “The Virginian.” Each episode is an hour and a half long, so watching all nine seasons is going to take me a while.

The TV show is based on a book by the same name written in 1902 by Owen Wister. Gary Cooper and Walter Huston starred in a movie version made in 1929. In 1946 another movie version of the book starred Joel McCrea and Brian Denlevy. Finally, in 2014, Trace Adkins and Ron Perlman starred in the most recent movie version of the book.

The action, like most westerns, all takes place late in the 19th century after the Civil War. I was surprised to learn that cowboys of that time enjoyed the same Underwood Deviled Ham that is sold in stores today. The famous devil logo on the can is the oldest food trademark still in use from the 19th century. However, the cartoon devil on modern cans is a little less scary looking.

I have time to answer one letter this week before getting back to watching “The Virginian” and snacking on Underwood Deviled Ham.

Dear Kris,

I hope you can help settle a family argument. My wife has gone through my closet and insists on throwing out a couple of my polyester leisure suits from the 1970s. I say, waste not, want not. I will wear them when the style returns. What say you?

Sincerely,

Beau Brummell of Berwick

Dear Swank Reader,

I agree with your wife on this one. I don’t think the style is coming back. However, instead of throwing out two perfectly good leisure suits, why not donate them to the Grover Museum? Maybe Alex could put them on a couple of mannequins and install a reasonable facsimile of “The Blue River Inn” on the streets of old Shelby.

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
The private not-for-profit group in charge of annual downtown festivities announced the holiday tradition would likely move to Rivergate Shopping Center. The group had built the structures that created the holiday atmosphere on Public Square, including Santa’s house, a gingerbread house, a workshop for Santa and his elves and lights and pole decorations. The decision to move came after a problem arose over placement of the buildings. New trees planted downtown had created the issue. Mayor Frank Zerr called a meeting among interested parties to find a solution. The Shelbyville News lauded Zerr for his efforts in an editorial. “Mayor Zerr was not critical of those who moved the traditional set up to Wal-Mart. He commended their past service in keeping Christmas activities on the Public Square. Sometimes, he said, people and groups which do the same thing for many years simply get burned out or need to be revitalized,” the editorial said. The group agreed to work together on creating a future downtown event. MainStreet’s Jeff Sponsel dubbed it the “Mayor’s Task Force on Christmas Future.”

30 YEARS AGO: 1991
Morristown senior Brady Adkins, the state’s leading scorer the prior season, was one of two featured players drawn by acclaimed Indiana sports artist C.W. Mundy for the cover of Hoosier Basketball Magazine. Waldron’s Jared Lux, a third-team all-state pick, also appeared on a full-page ad with the Mohawks’ boys and girls teams in the publication. Shelbyville’s Brian Asher and Josh Cord had been honorable mention picks.

Mayor-elect Bob Williams named his first appointee, Mark McNeely, to serve as city attorney, succeeding Jeff Linder.

40 YEARS AGO: 1981
A Shelby County grand jury found the county jail to be an “adequate and proper institution for the housing of our local prisoners.” The grand jury toured the jail and Shelby Manor and found them both to be “very clean, well kept…very secure facilities,” according to their written report. Jail matron Lois Westlake’s meals were found to be “not only filling, but nutritious.” The 107-year-old jail was the target of two suits filed by former prisoners who alleged conditions violated their constitutional rights. Grand jurors were Mary Harkins, Richard Summer, Mildred Beeson, Jerry Kirby, Beth Livingston and Mary Thurston.

A Shelbyville News reporter misinterpreted Shelby County Commissioner Kenneth Nigh’s comments, quoting him saying the county jail roof should be mopped annually because pigeon droppings were eating through the roof and causing leaks. Nigh clarified at the next meeting that he meant mopping the roof with tar to seal it, not bucket-and-water mopping. Nigh said some of his friends had poked fun at him for supposedly suggesting the jail roof should be mopped.

50 YEARS AGO: 1971
The Purdue Glee Club performed at Breck Auditorium. Kay Woollen had led a sponsoring committee to bring the group here.

Steve Miller and Mark Bennett found a puffball mushroom measuring nearly a foot in area at the base and nine inches high in a Hendricks Township field.

60 YEARS AGO: 1961
Frank Green, manager of the local Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company plant, was named to succeed Jack McMillan on the SCUFFY board. Meetings attendees included Robert Bennett, Robert Kise, Glenn Plymate, Ed Cord, John Grigsby, Dr. John Davis, Paul Lockman, Nate Kaufman, John C. DePrez, Henry Handly, William Reimann, Carl McNeely and Mickey Wagner.

70 YEARS AGO: 1951
The Exchange Club of Shelbyville was organized. Philip Tilford was selected as preliminary president and William Rowland and Warren Carmony would serve as secretary and treasurer, respectively. The purpose of the Club was to “exemplify the real meaning of ‘exchange’ in everyday business and professional life.”

80 YEARS AGO: 1941
Private Harold Meloy, a Shelbyville attorney serving as an Army cavalry unit at Fort Riley, Kan., was injured at camp. Meloy said he had been “in an argument with a rather wild horse - which I lost.”

Shelbyville would celebrate Thanksgiving on the “early date”, Thursday, Nov. 20. The entire nation would return to the usual last-Thursday-in-November date in 1942. City schools would be dismissed Wednesday afternoon the day before.

90 YEARS AGO: 1931
Loren Philips, 26, and Clarence Crane, 25, were manufacturing toy furniture suites and other toys in a workshop behind a home at 734 Fourth Street. The partners had taken orders from Hook Drug Company and the Morrison & DePrez Drug Company. The men specialized in dollhouses and accessories.

100 YEARS AGO: 1921
L.E. Webb moved his job print office from N. Harrison Street to his own building on W. Jackson St. The building had been remodeled with large windows and skylights. He leased the back part of the building to a battery service station.

OBITUARIES

Wanita M. Ayres, 80, of Fairland, died Wednesday, Nov. 10. No funeral services are planned at this time.

The Addison Times

Sunday, November 14, 2021