Sunday, September 12, 2021
Boys of Summer
Approximately 1,300 attended last night’s Henry Lee Summer concert at Blue River Memorial Park, hosted by the Shelbyville Parks Department. | photo by ANNA TUNGATE
A VIEW FROM MY SCHWINN: Band Day 2021
The Shelbyville High School marching band played at halftime of the Indiana University football game last night.
by KRIS MELTZER
Dear readers,
Today is Band Day at I.U. Keeping with tradition, Skeeter sent me to Bloomington to cover the event. A special thanks to new readers: Your subscriptions made it possible for Skeeter to provide gas money for me to drive this year. The last time I covered Band Day, Skeeter just dropped off a piece of cardboard with the word “Bloomington” printed on it in black marker.
Last week the Hoosiers suffered a 34-6 beating by the Iowa Hawkeyes. I don’t know if my presence along with the Shelbyville High School Marching Band will make a difference this week, but I know it can’t hurt. For good measure, I brought my giant foam finger along as a prop to enhance my cheering.
I.U.’s opponent today is the University of Idaho Vandals. What? You haven’t heard of them? Neither had I. Suspecting it might be one of those teams that schools like I.U. pay to come to town for an easy win, I did a little research. Nope, it doesn’t look like it. The Vandals take football seriously. They have won the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl three times: 1998, 2009, and 2016.
I thought I might get some breaking rock and roll news from someone in the SHS band. No such luck. None of the band members I talked to have any information for me on their famous alumnus, Dustin Koester. Dustin for several years has been the drummer for Eric Burden and the Animals. With the recent passing of Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, there had been some speculation that Dustin might be Watts’ replacement.
Arriving at the stadium, I decided to mingle with some of the Idaho fans. It didn’t seem like many had made the trip to Bloomington. Then again when I learned that the school only has about 7,500 undergraduates, I decided they had a good showing.
Idaho’s mascot is Joe Vandal. He looks like a Viking. I don’t know if a cool mascot gives a team an advantage but if it does, I.U. is in trouble. I.U. doesn’t have a mascot. The last I.U. mascot I remember was “Mr. Hoosier Pride.” He just looked silly. I’m glad he’s gone. It would have been embarrassing for Mr. Hoosier Pride to have been on the same field as Joe Vandal.
It was a great evening for a football game. I.U. got the win. Next week will be the big test when the Cincinnati Bearcats come to Bloomington. The game is sold out. I’m guessing a great number of those tickets were purchased by Bearcat fans.
NOTEBOOK
HOOSIER NEWS: Many people have deferred or fallen behind on routine preventative visits, and for children, that means falling behind on the set schedule of immunizations they’re supposed to follow. A recent report from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families found children have missed some 11 million routine vaccinations over the course of the pandemic. While different states use different age brackets when reporting vaccination demographics, the youngest people are the least vaccinated, according to national data. In Missouri, less than a third of children between the ages of 12 and 17 have been fully vaccinated. In Indiana, for example, kids between the ages of 12 and 15 account for just 3 percent of fully vaccinated individuals, a slightly smaller portion than in Iowa, where they make up 3.5 percent.
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
Blue Ridge Orchard residents voted to not make improvements to their drainage system. They had previously balked at the $45,000 price tag, and residents said the situation hadn’t been that bad of late.
30 YEARS AGO: 1991
Larry Pringle, Triton Central director of guidance, assistant principal and girls basketball coach, was chosen as one of only four Indiana high school coaches to be named to the Gatorade Coaches Care Honor Roll, a program to honor coaches who went beyond the call of duty to help student-athletes. Pringle had been nominated by Kelly Vermillion, a former player.
The Giants were the 1991 Babe Ruth Rookie league runner-ups and Rookie tourney champions. Members of the team were Cody Montgomery, Justin Fox, Chris Kuhn, Jeremy Willis, Kenny Slaughter, Josh Orem, Ryan Scott, Scott Harding, Dustin Norvell, Nolan Kuhn, Josh Buchanan, Tony Ricketts, Shawn Goode and Chris Neu. Coaches were Chris Meyer and Christy Meyer.
40 YEARS AGO: 1981
The Shelbyville V.F.W. Post 2695 was renamed the Clinkenbeard-Kettler Post in memory of the late David Clinkenbeard, World War I veteran, and Ralph Kettler, World War II veteran. Both had served as officers of the post.
Paul Graham of Shelbyville Motors announced he had sold the building located at 55 E. Washington St. to Arnold Ricklefs, who would use it for a piano storage and display business. The building had been used to sell Ford Motor Co. products since 1915. The Shelbyville Motors service operation had been moved to 47 E. Washington St. while new and used cars were sold at the firm’s lot on East Michigan Road.
50 YEARS AGO: 1971
The B & E Roll-A-Rink, 940 W. Washington St., held its first “Special Sunday” event of the season. Admission was 75 cents from 2 to 5 p.m.
Concrete block walls were erected for the sanctuary of the Beacon Baptist Church on E. McKay Road. The congregation had been meeting in a building at the rear of the church, which would be converted to an educational wing.
60 YEARS AGO: 1961
Gerald W. Clevenger was hired as band and chorus instructor for Triton High School.
70 YEARS AGO: 1951
Plans for a dedication service for the Flat Rock Christian Church were announced. Special music would be presented by a trio composed of Janet Blades, Carolyn Weinantz and Wanetta Buchanan. Richard Ropp would sing a solo. The church was first built and dedicated in 1889. Among the pioneer members were Joshua Spurlin, Mary Spurlin, Molly White, L.E. Crim, Betta Gentle, John Armstrong, Morgan Barcus, Sara Barcus, Zora McKnight, Samuel Hilt and Mary Burch. Florence Treon and Adda Pherigo were the oldest members of the church in 1951. Paul Thurston was church chairman and Harold Wertz was chairman of the board of elders and deacons. Members of the building committee were Ralph Weinantz, Thomas Swinford and Robert Fisher.
Dottie St. John successfully defended her women’s golf title at the Elks Club. Mrs. Sandman finished second.
80 YEARS AGO: 1941
The National Youth Administration announced a partnership with Shelbyville High School. Forty-five young adults, ages 17 to 24, would spend 100 hours each month in work experience and 60 hours per month in related vocational training. The wage would be $25 per month. Participants would then be placed in private industry. A large NYA building was under construction on W. Jackson St.
90 YEARS AGO: 1931
Members of Shelbyville’s Parent-Teacher Club canned fruits and vegetables to be used in school lunches for the needy. Local farmers brought surplus items to the Club for canning. The previous year, approximately 200 kids in need were provided with hot lunches due to the organization’s efforts.
100 YEARS AGO: 1921
Four 17-year-old Moral Township boys went missing. Friends said the boys had mentioned plans to move to California to spend the winter working. Cards bearing the descriptions of the boys were mailed to officials in several cities.
Nat Phares and J.M. Baker, Union Township, claimed almost all of the state fair prizes in the potato exhibit category.
OBITUARIES
Kathleen B. Inabnitt, 75, of Morristown passed away Sunday, September 5, 2021, at Spring Mill Meadows in Indianapolis.
A gathering of friends will be from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, September 18, 2021, at the Morristown United Methodist Church, 221 S. Washington St. in Morristown. The memorial services will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the church, with Pastor Jeri Barrett Thomas officiating. Inurnment will be at Asbury Cemetery. Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Frazier Chapel, 124 E. North St., in Morristown. Online condolences may be shared with Kathleen’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Linda Stafford, 60, of Shelbyville passed away Thursday, September 9, 2021 at IU Methodist Hospital. She was born September 11, 1960 in Shelbyville to Carley Johnson and Emma (Brown) Johnson.
Linda worked in custodial services for many years. She loved to volunteer at the Salvation Army. She enjoyed spending time with her family. Her favorite times were spent with her grandkids.
Linda is survived by her son, Adam Stafford (Amber); her daughter, Michelle Johnson (Brandon); her grandchildren, Anthony Stafford, Arianna Stafford, Jaylin Butler, Derrick Burton, Aireus Butler, Jasmine Johnson, Brandia Johnson, and Brandon Johnson, Jr.; her great grandkids, DeShawn Burton, and Tobias Johnson; her sisters, Wanda Shephard, Janice Burgmeier, Betty Koenigkramer, and Wanda Loraine Johnson; her brothers, Gene Johnson, and William Johnson. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters, Wilma Johnson and Forrestine Wickliff, and her brother, Wendel Johnson.
Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday, September 14, 2021 at Murphy-Parks Funeral Service, 703 S. Harrison Street, Shelbyville, IN 46176. Funeral services will follow at 6 p.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Nick Coulston officiating. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery at noon on Friday, September 17, 2021. Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks, and Stuart Parks are honored to serve Linda's family. Memorial contributions may be given to the Linda Stafford Funeral Fund in care of the funeral home or by clicking on the donation tab above. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.
Glen Sizemore, 89, of Shelbyville, formerly of Wrights Corner, passed away Wednesday, September 8, 2021, at Ashford Place Health Campus in Shelbyville, Indiana. Glen was born on Saturday, September 12, 1931, in Bull Skin, Kentucky the son of Hamblin and Mae (Couch) Sizemore. Glen proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War Conflict. He spent most of his life living in Batesville, Indiana where he was employed at the Batesville Casket Company for 39 years. Glen was a quiet man and led a quiet life. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, going to flea markets, listening to country music, dancing, and he loved motorcycles.
Glen will be missed by his surviving family including his daughter Judy Smith of Arizona; brother Floyd (Faye) Sizemore of Alabama; grandsons Mathew (Dara) Koenig and Anthony Gillian; great-grandchildren Jillian, Liam, Jordyn, Keyleigh, and Jacob; great-great-grandson Oliver; many nieces and nephews; sister-in-law Violet Sizemore and a long-time friend Opal LaFollette of Lawrenceburg. Glen’s family would like to thank the staff at Ashford Health and Danny Bledsoe for their help in caring for Glen. Glen was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Clay and Edward, sister Kathleen Shinnick, and infant sister Alma.
Family and friends may gather in remembrance of Glen from 10 – 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 15, 2021, at Laws-Carr-Moore Funeral Home in Milan. A service will immediately follow at 11 a.m. with Pastor Steve O’Brien officiating. Burial will follow at Old Craven Cemetery with full military rites provided by the Milan American Legion Post #235. Memorials may be given in honor of Glen to the American Diabetes Association. Laws-Carr-Moore Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements, 707 S Main Street, Box 243, Milan, IN 47031, (812)654-2141. Please reach out through our website at www.lawscarrmoore.com to share your condolences and memories of Glen.