Sunday, November 30, 2025
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS
MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR
A Christmas light display on Swinford Street illuminates last night’s light snow. | photo by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
Tree Lot Kicks Off Christmas Season with Fresh Shipment
Many families purchase live Christmas trees during Thanksgiving weekend, and Occasions Premium Christmas Trees on East Hendricks Street has been busy preparing for the season. Last weekend, Rick and Lisa Robinson joined Tami and Martin Zinzer in unloading freshly cut trees from northern Michigan for the lot’s opening. The stand, now in its sixth year at the location, offers Fraser fir, Scotch pine, white pine and Douglas fir varieties from three to 10 feet, as well as handmade wreaths, porch pots, gnomes, grave blankets and holiday garland. The lot is open daily, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays until the inventory is sold out. Below, the Robinsons (left) and Zinsers pause briefly during unloading. | photos by ANNA TUNGATE
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: FULL CANOPY REAL ESTATE
NOTEBOOK:
The Waldron boys basketball team (1-0) defeated Knightstown, 71-51, yesterday. Eli Stewart scored 23 points, Ethan Moody and Luke Myers added 14, and Matthew Campbell scored nine.
The Shelbyville High School boys basketball team (2-0) held off Triton Central (1-1), 52-39, last night.
HOOSIER NEWS: AAA expected 1.94 million Hoosiers to travel for Thanksgiving, with most Indiana travelers driving as gas prices remain slightly lower than last year. Flight concerns and recent delays have pushed more people toward road travel, though air travel is still up 4.5 percent in Indiana. Roads were expected to be busiest Wednesday and Sunday, and AAA urged drivers to check batteries and tires before heading out, especially in light of inclement weather. (Indiana Public Media)
NATIONAL NEWS: Sears, once a retail giant with more than 3,500 stores, is now down to five remaining locations, raising doubts about whether the chain can survive into 2026. Several of the remaining stores are already being considered for redevelopment. Remaining stores are located in Braintree, Massachusetts; Concord, California; El Paso, Texas; and Orlando and Coral Gables, Florida.
The Addison Times is pleased to offer free milestone announcements. Forms are available here: Engagement Announcement, Wedding Announcement and Anniversary Announcement.
Want the daily edition read to you? Struggling with your email provider filtering out your local news? The Addison Times Substack app will solve those challenges!
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: MAJOR HEALTH PARTNERS
This Week in Shelby County Archive
by GEORGE L. STUBBS
This Day in Shelby County History
Local headlines reported on or around this date in Shelby County history. Selections are curated by The Addison Times from Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department materials.
2005: Corlis L. Dees Sr., a Louisiana native and longtime Pentecostal minister, died after a 65-year ministry that included pastoring in North Texas and helping found Texas Bible College in Houston. Through his leadership, the first United Pentecostal Church African American, Latino and Asian congregations were established, and he and his wife ministered across several continents. His local visitation was held at Trinity United Methodist Church on Fair Avenue in Shelbyville.
1995: Shelby Circuit Court Judge Charles D. O’Connor appointed Phillip W. Brown, George L. Stubbs Jr., and voting-machine mechanic Bradley E. Fix to conduct a recount in Shelbyville’s 5th Ward after Republican Larry Parker requested a review of his one-vote loss to incumbent Democrat Ernest W. Conrad Jr. All three precincts were set to be recounted by hand, with Fix inspecting the machines during the process. The outcome would determine the partisan makeup of the Shelbyville Common Council, then composed of five Republicans and two Democrats.
1985: Kmart on East State Road 44 moved to curb after-hours cruising by installing gates at all four parking lot entrances, a step taken on the advice of state and local police, fire officials and the sheriff’s department. Manager Al Kresge said the gates were intended both for traffic control and to make the lot safer and more convenient for shoppers during store hours. Foremost, Kresge said, he wanted to get the word out about the installation. “I’d hate for someone to make a left turn into a gate,” he said.
1975: Shelbyville mayor-elect Ezra R. Dagley and his wife, June, were preparing for new careers as he prepared to leave the police department after 20 years of service, where he had risen to captain. Dagley, a Navy veteran and longtime member of several civic organizations, said he looked forward to serving the city in a different role while June continued her own work in criminal justice and administration. The couple lived in Rolling Ridge.
1965: Shelbyville’s Chambers Division of Altamil Corporation received its largest order to date when the U.S. Navy approved a multimillion-dollar contract for Talos missile airframes. General Manager Ralph Shaffer said the project would add roughly 50 jobs and push the plant’s workforce past 230 as production moved toward full delivery schedules the following year.
1955: Ross and Mayme Hatch purchased Allen’s 421 Supermarket on East U.S. 421 and reopened it under new ownership with a three-day grand opening that included prize giveaways and grocery specials. The store, formerly owned by Bessie Allen of West Washington Street, featured a full line of groceries, produce, meats and frozen foods, along with a self-service meat department. Hatch, a longtime Shelbyville resident and World War II veteran, had managed the store for several months and previously operated several groceries in the city.
1945: A carload of winter potatoes was unloaded on East Broadway near the Pennsylvania Depot, advertised as clean, white and guaranteed not to “cook dark.” Sold straight from the railcar, the shipment promised better quality than potatoes that had been chilled in transit. A 100-pound bag cost $2.75 and would remain available until the load sold out.
1935: Shelbyville fire crews narrowly avoided disaster when a freight train missed striking the first responding truck by less than 40 feet at the East Broadway crossing as they raced to a house fire on Walker Avenue. Chief William Briggs and firefighter “Cincy” Embolt were in the lead truck, which cleared the tracks just seconds before the long freight passed, forcing the other engines to stop and wait. Briggs later said a watchman had tried to flag down the train, but it was moving too quickly.
1925: Shelbyville High School’s senior class launched a campaign to sell 500 copies of the Squib yearbook, which would be issued in May. Students had already sold about half of the books as the effort began.
1915: Shelbyville barbers Silas Pitman and Thralls & Martz, along with fruit vendor Sam Kaufman, were abruptly ordered to vacate their longtime storefronts by February 1 to make way for a new trust company backed by leading stockholders of Shelby National Bank. Once the tenants moved out, the three storefronts would be combined and fully refinished for the financial institution, which was expected to organize soon and apply for a charter. Attorneys Meiks & Hack notified the tenants on behalf of building owner Emma Hamilton, while bank president S. I. McCrea dismissed rumors of a separate purchase involving the Alhambra building.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: Freeman Family Funeral Homes & Crematory
OBITUARIES
Jerry Owen Wilhelm, 73, of Morristown, passed away surrounded by his loving family Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, at Springhurst Health Campus in Greenfield. He was born May 27, 1952, in Greenfield, the son of Cessil Wilhelm and Leora (McCombs) Wilhelm-Smith. He married his wife of 54 years, Elaine Ann Bateman, on July 9, 1971, and she survives. In addition to Elaine, Jerry is survived by his son, Michael Wilhelm of Daleville; daughter, Amy Stansberry and husband, Kyle, of Noblesville; sisters, Yvonne Roberts of North Little Rock, Arkansas, Peggy Trittipo of Morristown, and Lori Wilhelm of Rushville; grandchildren, Jacob Wilhelm and fiancée, Caitlyn Gunn, Conner Wilhelm, Madison Stansberry and Bryce Stansberry; great-grandson, Colton Wilhelm; sister-in-law, Donna Reed of Arlington; brother-in-law, James Bateman and wife, Renata, of Schaumburg, Illinois; and several nieces and nephews. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law and mother-in-law, James and Jeannine Bateman; and brothers-in-law, Randy Reed and John Roberts.
In 1970, Jerry graduated from Morristown High School. He was a member of Morristown Christian Church and also attended the Fountain Church. Jerry retired from Fountaintown Gas Company in 2013, with 18 years of service. He was a member of the Morristown Volunteer Fire Department from 1979 to 1996. In 2003, he was elected to the Hanover Township Trustee Advisory Board. He was a member of the Morristown Band Boosters from 1994 to 1998 and served as president for two years. Jerry was awarded the Morristown Citizen of the Year Award in 1995. He was also very active in the Boy Scouts of America beginning in 1983. From 1991, he was heavily involved in the Voyageur Program. Jerry won numerous awards including the Silver Beaver Award on Jan. 31, 2004.
A celebration of Jerry’s life will be held in late spring 2026. Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes, 124 E. North St. in Morristown. Memorial contributions may be made to Morristown Fire Department, 418 W. Main St., Morristown, IN 46161, or the Fountain Church, 797 W. Brookville Road, Fountaintown, IN 46130. Online condolences may be shared with Jerry’s family at freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Vernon R. Venable Thompson, 83, of Shelbyville, passed away Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, at MHP Medical Center. He was born Nov. 17, 1942, in Flora, Illinois, to Edward Venable Sr. and Louise (Cox) Venable.
Vernon graduated from Mattoon High School in Mattoon, Illinois, with the class of 1960. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army and served his country with honor. He was a longtime member of American Legion Post 70 and a member of First Baptist Church. Vernon continued to serve his country and community by being an active member of the American Legion Honor Guard until his passing. He also served in the bus ministry at the church, taught Sunday school and sang in the choir.
Vernon always had many dogs, and he loved them all dearly, but his favorite would always be Angel. When he was younger, he enjoyed collecting guns and being outdoors.
Vernon married Marcia Thompson in 1996, and she survives. He is also survived by his stepsons, Ed Francis of Navarre, Florida, Ron Gibson of Honolulu, Hawaii, and Rick Gibson of Channahon, Illinois; his sisters, Judi Branstettr of Ventura, California, Tina Sanneman of Moro, Illinois, Sheila Conner of Lakeland, Florida, and Jo Anne Bumen of Indianapolis; his brother, Jake Venable of El Paso, Texas; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his stepsons, James Francis and Gary Gibson; and his brothers, Edward Venable Jr., Gary Venable and Kent Venable.
Visitation will be Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Murphy-Parks Funeral Service, 703 S. Harrison St., Shelbyville, IN. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. at the funeral home with Chaplain Bryan Hartung officiating. Burial will be in Lewis Creek Baptist Cemetery, with military rites conducted by the VFW and American Legion Honor Guard. Funeral directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks and Stuart Parks are honored to serve Vernon’s family. Memorial contributions may be given to the Shelbyville/Shelby County Animal Shelter, 705 Hale Road, Shelbyville, IN. Online condolences may be shared at murphyparks.com.
I was teaching Government in 1995 at Shelbyville and when Conrad did indeed win that election by one vote, one of my students said she had voted for him. A perfect example of the importance of voting!