Thursday, April 17, 2025
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Early Learning Center Celebrates with Ribbon-Cutting
Stakeholders gathered Tuesday to celebrate a ribbon-cutting at the Julia & Nicholas Runnebohm Early Learning Center in the Intelliplex. (Front, L to R) Mike Runnebohm, Marcy Patrick, Nick Runnebohm, Dr. Allison Coburn, Bill Matthias, Kristal Heffley, Jan Sandman and Ryan Claxton. (Back, L to R) Beth Steward, Lucinda Franklin, Courtney Hott, Angela Gill, Cindy Leahy, Courtney Chapella, Buffy Powers, Jami Behrens, Jack Horner, Julie Hancock and Dr. Todd Hitchcock. | photo by ANNA TUNGATE
With the Julia & Nicholas Runnebohm Early Learning Center open four months, officials gathered Tuesday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and to reflect on its early success.
“This is not babysitting. This is education. This is caregiving, with people who genuinely love the children of this county,” Allison Coburn, Ph.D., Executive Director of Early Learning Shelby County, said.
Jami Behrens, Vice President with Bright Horizons, which operates the facility that serves ages six weeks to six years old, called it “a space where children can go and explore, and everything is at their level.” She added, “This place is what children deserve.”
It was also an opportunity to express gratitude for who made the 26,000 square foot facility a reality.
“(The Runnebohms) are very important to Shelby County, from the time, talent and treasure they have provided us,” Dr. Coburn said.
LaTisha Idlewine, Executive Director of the MHP Foundation, also thanked corporate and family donors. “When I look at the relationships we’ve built and the generosity you have given to the community, and how much this means to see this beautiful facility, we can’t thank you enough.”
Attendees were encouraged to take provided river rock and channel their “inner Bob Ross” by painting a favorite river animal to be placed on the “Blue River”, a blue light bar made from Knauf recycled glass that “flows” across the bottom of the entry desk.
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NOTEBOOK:
A Shelbyville developer is weighing plans for a data center campus in rural Hancock County that could occupy as much as 776 acres east of the Indianapolis Regional Airport, The Indianapolis Business Journal reported. The Hancock County Plan Commission next week will consider a request from Shelbyville-based Surge Development LLC, which is asking for a zoning change and variances to advance its proposal for a planned-use development that would mostly center on data center uses. The rezone request is not user-specific, but is instead a proactive measure to allow a would-be user to move quickly on development, Chris King, principal of Surge Development, said. “While there has been interest from multiple users, the intent is to enable the site to support manufacturing, data center, and AI uses that align with Hancock County’s long-term planning goals and to position the area for future investment by one or more potential users,” King said. The property is a portion of land that has previously been referred to as part of the Indianapolis Megasite, and developers see the rezone request as consistent with planning efforts in the area and aligned with Hancock County’s adopted Future Land Use Plan. “(The property) also offers infrastructure opportunity, proximity to major transportation assets, and adjacency to land owned by the Indianapolis Regional Airport. The site is uniquely positioned to support next-generation technology development while bringing significant investment and job opportunities to the community,” King said.
The Velma Wortman Morristown branch of Shelby County Public Library is hosting a literacy council open house on Monday, April 21. The event is from 6:30 – 8 p.m., with a quarterly literacy council meeting beginning at 7 p.m. Supporting the library takes many different forms and includes volunteering time and donating materials. The community is invited to come and discover all the ways to get involved. All ages are welcome. The branch, located at 127 E. Main St., Morristown, offers services and programs to all ages in the community. For further information, contact the Morristown branch, 765-818-1718.
HOOSIER NEWS: Under a recently approved agreement, SkyWest Airlines will maintain at least one daily nonstop United Express round-trip flight between West Lafayette’s Purdue University Airport (LAF) and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD). The flights will be onboard CRJ200 twin-engine jets, with capacity for 50 passengers per flight. Travelers will have the ability to book flights directly via the United Airlines website. (Purdue University)
NATIONAL NEWS: While the city of New York remains a major draw for transplants, immigrants and people who want to move there, Manhattan real estate is increasingly becoming something you inherit, not come by on your own. Last year, 28 percent of Manhattan home sales involved a trust, significantly higher than the 17 percent just three years ago, and brokers and advisers say that it’s typically parents using trusts to buy homes for children. All-cash sales made up 60 percent of purchases in 2024, and the median sales price on the island came to $1.1 million. (Bloomberg/Numlock)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights
May 7, 1958
Carol Ann Ballard was Queen of the May. Carrying the long white train of Carol’s dress was little Kristine Beth McNew, sister of Sandy McNew. Gary Weber was the crown-bearer. George Stubbs was Lord Mayor. Liz Mullen and Judy Wagner held the arches for the newly named royalty. Nancy Bishop, Jim Sleeth, John Dow, Dee Bonner and Mike and Mark Mount enacted a French pantomime entitled “Passing By.”
Several former May Queens had attended May Fest, including Mary Louise Rahe, Annette Dellekamp and Patt Mardis.
Newly-elected class presidents for the next school year were Harold Hickman (senior), Bob Adams (junior) and Edgar Clements (sophomore). Other officers were Mike Brogan, Sue Runnebohm, Doug Lackey, Rita Sandman, Ginny Dirks and Faye Cole.
“A number of unmarried boys will graduate from colleges and universities this year,” The Courier reported. They included Rich Applas, Dick Bishopp and Sandy Sirkus (IU); Jim Law and John Kehoe (Notre Dame); Hal O’Dell (Franklin); Michael Hinshaw (Wabash); Bill Latshaw (Ohio State); Coit Holbrook and Jon Webster (Purdue) and Dick Trueb (Rose Poly).
Norman Poe, co-winner of the Paul Cross Award in 1953, was substitute teaching at SHS while Mr. Thompson was out with the flu.
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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: Major Hospital sponsored an Autism Spectrum Disorders seminar. Officials with Blue River Special Education Cooperative said they worked with 63 kids diagnosed with autism. Among the speakers were Carla Byers, Jane Fouts, Michelle Neff, Kay Rodewald, Ellen Mahan and Denise Holland.
1995: Ryobi Die Casting brought back Morris Rowlett, a former employee, to be president of the Shelbyville plant. He had previously been vice president of sales and marketing.
1985: Shelbyville’s Klubhous, built for the once-growing sport of racquetball, was getting out of the racquet business for the more lucrative venture of trimming and tanning female physiques, company officials said. “Racquetball seems to have gone the way of bowling and drive-ins. The interest just isn’t there anymore,” Miles Shipp, the club’s general manager, said. The club’s snack bar was also being removed, because it wasn’t really conducive “to what we’re trying to do here” with the figure salon, Shipp said.
1975: Officers of the State Bank of Waldron, founded in 1904, opened the doors of their new bank building for the first time. The colonial-style structure had cost $300,000. Lloyd Mohr, Earl Peek, Robert Laird, Kenneth Wheeler, Bertha Fisher, Ron Lanter, Bonnie Denny, John Haymond, Vivian “Tiny” Haymond and Ed Haymond were all present for the opening event.
1965: Local post office officials announced plans to install self-service vending machine units that dispensed stamps, cards and envelopes.
Knights of Columbus members Joe Haas, Howard Berger and Don Hall gave some local children a sneak preview of the goodies in store for them at the annual K of C Easter Egg Hunt, to be held at Morrison Park. The children were Tim Berger, Kenny Berger, Wendy Lux, John Hall, Janie Lux, Annette Elliott and Ricky and Victor Huesman.
1955: After Paul Dunagan sustained a knee injury, neighbors gathered to help him plant his fields, which he rented from Fred Tucker north of the Ray church. A total of 16 tractors were put into service to complete the job.
1945: Local families of Elmer “Doc” Fogle and Cpl. William Barton were notified that the two men were prisoners of war in Germany. Barton wrote his wife that he was “OK” and “not to worry.”
1935: Steve Gutting received the Paul Cross Award, presented by Rev. S.J. Cross. The Purdue University basketball coach, Ward “Piggy” Lambert, spoke at the banquet. Major letters went to Ed Page, Francis Ray, Earl Snyder, Kenneth Ray, William Bird and George Meiks.
1925: For the “steenth” time, the traffic post just off Public Square on East Washington St. was “knocked from its perch again,” The Republican reported. Harry McKay, of Waldron, had collided with the post when he was crowded against it by another car, whose driver failed to stop after the accident.
1915: A shipping error led to 550 rose bushes to be dropped off in Shelbyville. The owner of the company in Ohio instructed local railroad officials to donate the bushes to Shelbyville schools. Teachers pitched in to plant the bushes at all local schools, which each received about 60 bushes. “The janitors of the buildings will probably be the only fellows who will not care greatly for the bushes,” The Republican said.
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OBITUARIES
Maynard L. Jones, 85, of Shelbyville, passed away Tuesday April 15, 2025 at his daughter’s residence. He was born January 10, 1939 in Tennessee to Earl Jones and Mary (Green) Jones.
Maynard had a love for the outdoors. He spent a lot of time hunting and fishing. He enjoyed buying and selling many different things from antiques to cars. That passion led him to collecting many antiques through the years.
He married Rosemary (Worley) Jones, and they spent 59 loving years together before she preceded him in death on November 25, 2021. He is survived by his son, Larry (Edna) Jones; his daughter, Shelia Richards; his sons, Jackie Jones and Roland Jones; his daughter, Crystale (Bryan) Bell; 18 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren; and his two sisters and two brothers. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Rosemary; his daughter, Lisa Havens; his grandson, Christopher Tart; and his brothers, Johnny Jones, Bob Jones and Britton Jones.
Visitation will be Monday, April 21, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.at Murphy-Parks Funeral Service, 703 S. Harrison Street, Shelbyville, IN 46176. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Greg Albert officiating. Burial will be in Whispering Hope Memorial Gardens. Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks and Stuart Parks are honored to serve Maynard’s family. Memorial contributions may be given to Shelby Co. Cancer Association, 31 Public Square, Shelbyville, IN 46176. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.