Thursday, April 25, 2024
Local Students Sweep Patriots Pen Essay Contest
Chloe Caldwell accepts an award last night from Commander Edie Seiler for placing first in the Shelby County VFW Patriots Pen essay contest. Caldwell read her essay, “How America Inspires Me.” Also recognized were fellow Shelbyville Middle School seventh graders Stormie Bolden for placing second and Henry Rife, third. Caldwell is the daughter of Jordan and Brooke Caldwell; Bolden, the daughter of William and Eileen Bolden; and Rife, the son of Brady and April Rife. Chloe Caldwell was also recognized later in the evening for her third-place poem in the Poetry Contest, hosted by Three Sisters Books & Gifts at The Strand Theatre. | photo by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
BELOW: Anna Tungate leaves the podium after reading “Woodstock,” written by her late brother, R.D. Tungate, at last night’s Poetry Night event at The Strand Theatre.
Leadership Programs Highlight Successes
When someone recommended Steve Shaw participate in Leadership Shelby County several years ago, he was relieved to find out the monthly meetings conflicted with the board meeting at Blue River Career Programs, where he serves as director.
“One less thing I have to do, right?” Shaw recalled thinking.
But when his board moved their date, Shaw decided to try the local leadership skills program.
“And in all my time at Blue River, honestly, it’s one of the best things I’ve done,” he told attendees at the LSC graduation ceremony earlier this month. “By the time you get through the program, you gel (with the LSC cohort), and you really hate to see it end.”
This year’s graduation, held at Horseshoe Indianapolis, honored the most recent of nearly 600 alumni to participate in the program, as well as the first two Junior LSC classes. The Junior program, made up of students from all five county high schools, was created by a former LSC project group. Sara Lewis, one of the original organizers, was on hand this month to help distribute certificates.
In addition to speeches from Chamber of Commerce officials, Jake Salmond was chosen by the LSC cohort to deliver a brief address.
This year’s class was divided into three groups, and each created a project, detailed below.
Hoop It Up
This 3-on-3 basketball tournament held last month raised nearly $11,000 to help furnish the Boys and Girls Club’s new Teen Center. Thirteen co-ed teams paid the $100 entry fee, six referees volunteered to officiate and sponsors helped make the event a success. The $1,000 seed money from the LSC program was used as prizes for the top three teams.
Backpack Buddies
This initiative, set to launch at the start of the Fall 2024 school year, helped raise $5,200 in start-up funds to send backpacks with food home with children in need at Shelbyville Middle School. A similar program was discontinued several years ago, but the new version will be helped with a $3,000 annual donation from Horseshoe Indianapolis for the next few years. The group partnered with SMS school counselor Katie Beyer and also secured donations from the Chamber of Commerce and Knauf Insulation.
Buddy Benches
This group worked to secure Buddy Benches at five elementary schools. The benches, which can be used by children feeling lonely and in need of a friend, signal to peers that they would like someone to talk with, and encourages classmates to reach out, the group said. Buddy Benches will be installed at Coulston Elementary, Waldron Elementary, Loper Elementary, Southwestern Elementary and St. Joseph Catholic School. The group will also provide curriculum to school counselors regarding empathy and kindness.
The following professionals were part of this year’s LSC cohort: Dusty Adams (Ryobi), Randa Boyd (Yushiro), Nan Case (Horseshoe Indianapolis), Skylar Cline (NSG), Hollie Cook (Shelby County Co-op), Trista Evans (HIS Constructors), Mike Haehl (A.M. Home Team of Keller Williams), Adam Harpring (Shelbyville Central Schools), Vicky Harris (ER Counseling), LaDonna Hester (Yushiro), Shane Hugus (Knauf), Drew Neeb (Horseshoe Indianapolis), Brian Pullin (Shelby Eastern Schools), Tami Reardon (MHP), Hannah Rieser (coreVISION Financial), Marcos Rodriguez (Ryobi), Kim Russell (Firefly Children and Family Alliance), Jacob Salmond (MHP), Scarlett Tinsley-Price (Shelby County Youth Assistance) and Lacey Weaver-Plank (Beaty).
The following students were members of the inaugural Junior LSC classes: Ruby Baatz, Ian Bunch, Ethan Cales, Reece Carlton, Haley Casey, Brayden Elliott, Joshua Hadler, Rylan James, Kennedy Kissick, Kyle Lacy, Shane Lanhon, Kendyl Nolley, Landyn Rader, Brandy Ramsey, Emily Sant, Keith Settles, Armaan Singh, Levi Stieneker, Levi Stoddard, Elijah Stone, Haidyn Thompson, Olivia Truth, Kaden Barlow, Lindsey Blanford, Casey Carlin, Alexandro Figueroa, Jaden Freese, Sydney Griffin, Mahlaya Lindsey, Quentin Livezey, Breyton Loutt, Cade Moahin, Jadon McCracken, Grace McLaughlin, Evan Monroe, Angel Ramos, Abdiel Reyes, Noah Schoolcraft, Nativa Tarter, Delaney Trimmer and Libby Weinantz.
NOTEBOOK:
PopUps at the Pavilion begin today with Julia Powell, two-time Shelby Idol winner, performing from 6 - 8 p.m. at the North Pavilion on Public Square. The 2024 PopUps at the Pavilion will feature local musicians every Tuesday and Thursday from 6 - 8 p.m. through September, weather permitting. This free outdoor event, organized by Shelby County Players, is held at one of the two pavilions in downtown Shelbyville. The public is encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy Shelby County's diverse local talent.
First United Methodist Church will hold a rummage sale next weekend, Friday, May 3, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday, May 4, 8 a.m. to noon.
NATIONAL NEWS: Chicken Soup for the Soul lost $636.6 million last year. The brand, which expanded beyond the initial short story collections and has become a streaming player in its own right, saw revenues of $294.4 million last year. The company owns Redbox, the kiosk-based DVD distributor with some 40,000 locations, which is doing very well with $112.7 million in revenue, up from $67.7 million in 2022. But, CSSE said it does not currently have “adequate sources of liquidity” to meet its anticipated requirements for working capital, capital expenditures and other debt obligations. (Media Play News)
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This Day in Shelby County History
2014: Congressman Luke Messer spoke at the annual GOP Lincoln Day Dinner. He expressed concern about the federal budget and the Affordable Care Act, noting that Medicaid would be bankrupt in 10 years. He urged taking the party away from “the big business, golf club image of the party,” The Shelbyville News reported.
2004: Lt. Gov. Katherine Davis came to Shelbyville to honor seven long-time businesses: Shelbyville Paint and Wallpaper Co., Bradley Hall Furniture, Duffy Warble Insurance, Bishopp Appliances, Bluebird Restaurant, CGS Services and Kopper Kettle Inn. The Century and Half Century Business Awards recognized businesses in operation for 50 to 100 or more years.
1994: Shelbyville resident Mickey Rodriguez won a seat on the Hoosier Millionaire game show, which aired on Channel 4, WTTV. Rodriguez bought her ticket at the Village Pantry on East State Road 44. She said she only spent a few dollars each week. “We can’t afford to play a lot,” she said. The show would air in May.
1984: Harry Callahan was named Citizen of the Year in Morristown. The long-time barber was presented with a plaque at the 10th annual Morristown Chamber of Commerce dinner at the Bluebird Restaurant. Callahan had lived in Morristown for 45 years and cut hair there all that time except for his service in the U.S. Navy. He served on the Morristown Volunteer Fire Department for 35 years, and he was active in scouting for 10 years. He was on the town board for eight years and was serving his 11th year as the town’s clerk. The previous year’s winner was Dr. Thomas Jean. John Hartnett, general manager of WSVL, was master of ceremonies and John Thomas presented the Citizen of the Year Award.
1974: Mark W. McNeely and Daniel Karnowsky, two Shelbyville natives, passed the Indiana State Bar examination.
Members of the Waldron junior class elected the prom court. The girls on the court were Karen Davis, Charlotte Fischer and Cathy Hurst. The escorts were Mike Jester, Brian Haehl and Kevin Nigh. The king and queen would be announced at prom.
1964: The Tastee-freez on Vine Street celebrated its 9th anniversary week with a buy-a-malt, get one for five-cents. There were 17 toppings to choose from.
Editor’s Note: On Tuesday, we ran a 1964 segment about a sock hop organized at the Rec to raise money for the support of a Korean orphan. “The dance was planned by Miss Williams’ home room 174. Members of 174 paid dues each month and sent Christmas and Easter gifts and clothing to their adopted daughter,” we reported. Gary Wilkinson, one of Miss Williams’ students and a member of the Rec dance committee, sent the following picture of the child, who is holding the rabbit and doll sent to her by the students at Christmas. He was unsure if any classmates had stayed in touch with the child after 1964.
1954: An Indianapolis newspaper delivery truck was destroyed by flames on North U.S. Highway 421 after it crashed into a culvert. The truck had struck the culvert, tearing loose the front wheels and axle. The truck then skidded through the bridge, turned sideways in the middle of the highway and began burning fiercely. The driver sustained first and second degree burns in the accident.
1944: Seven Shelbyville High School girls were selected to be on the May Festival court. Janice Jester, Carol Beaven, Ruth Chambers, Gloria Deupree, Betty McCracken, Lucinda Smith and Jackie Soller. Escorts were Frank Hammond, Wilbur Disser, Robert Thoms, John Vandiver, Gene Sexton and Hugh Colvin.
1934: SHS girls selected to be on the May Court were Martha A. Fleming, Harriett Schoelch, Esther Harsh, Martha Tuerff, Karthryn Cuzzort, Mary J. Sanders and Martha J. Sorden.
Sidden Auto Parts held its formal grand opening at 12 East Broadway.
1924: Fred Newhouse caught a 22-pound catfish in Big Sugar Creek.
Jefferson Kendall, who was plowing a garden on Fourth Street, uncovered a box buried in the earth. The box was found to contain a skeleton. Kendall said it was of a small child, but police discovered it was actually a dog.
1914: The bridge over Blue River on the Franklin-Shelbyville pike, west of Shelbyville, was completed and opened to the public. The old bridge had washed away during the March 1913 flood. A temporary structure had been built, but it too had washed away.
OBITUARIES
Anthony Brewer, 56, passed away April 23, 2024, at Waldron Health Care. Known to many as Tony, he was born on August 18, 1967, in Shelbyville, and resided in Shelby County for most of his life. Tony was a man who lived life to the fullest, embracing each moment with an adventurous spirit that was contagious. His sense of humor was unmatched, often brightening the room with his funny anecdotes and witty one-liners. He was self-employed in the construction and landscaping business until his retirement in 2014. His love for the outdoors was evident in his hobbies, which included fishing, hunting, and following NASCAR.
Family mattered most to Anthony. He is survived by his sisters, Erin Staten (husband Mark) of Shelbyville, Angela Fix of Slidell, La., Miki Moss of St. Paul, and his daughter, Amber Lovitt of Shelbyville. He was preceded in death by his father, Stephen Brewer, his mother, Betty Brewer, and his brothers-in-law, Gary Bright and Sully Fix.
Visitation for Anthony will be held on Sunday, April 28, 2024 at 4 p.m. at Glenn E. George and Son Funeral Home, 437 Amos Road, Shelbyville. The service will follow at 6 p.m. In honoring Tony's life, we encourage you to share your cherished memories and upload photos to the memorial page and glennegeorgeandson.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Anthony Brewer Memorial Fund in care of the funeral home.