Thursday, December 18, 2025
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS
‘Cradle Chase’ Highlights St. Joe Christmas Program
St. Joseph Catholic School pastor Fr. Mike Keucher presents roses to Mrs. Carolyn Disser, accompanist for the annual Christmas play, “Cradle Chase,” which was performed by fifth-grade students this week. Mrs. Disser organizes the production each year; the play was written and directed by Fr. Mike and followed students on a globe-spanning quest to find the cradle of Jesus, with stops including Egypt, Whoville and Bethlehem. The play emphasizes the message that Christmas is not about finding an object but about becoming living cradles for Christ. | photos by JACK BOYCE
Hartnett’s Philosophy on Display in Win Over Greenwood
Shelbyville High School senior Brody Runnebohm, with Mar Nicholson behind him, prepare for a half-court offensive possession against Greenwood on Tuesday. | photo by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
Shelbyville earned a significant early-season win Tuesday night with a victory over ranked Greenwood at Garrett Gymnasium, improving to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in Hoosier Heritage Conference play. The Golden Bears will face two more tests this week with road games Friday at Mt. Vernon and Saturday at Yorktown.
Shelbyville, unbeaten and recently elevated to No. 6 in the USA Today Network Indiana Class 3A poll, looked composed from the opening tip. Behind a senior-heavy lineup that has grown up together in the same system, the Golden Bears controlled long stretches of the game, building early momentum and responding with poise each time the Woodmen closed the gap.
“We knew coming into this game this would be one of our real first tests,” senior Mar Nicholson said. “It showed where we’re at right now, and what we still need to work on.”
Shelbyville jumped out to a 10–2 lead behind early ball movement, defensive pressure and a student section featuring an elf and an impressive Christmas tree costume. Nicholson scored eight in the quarter, Brody Runnebohm hit two three-pointers, Caden Claxton also hit a three and Cole Schene had key plays at both ends of the floor. But Greenwood answered with athleticism of its own. The Woodmen closed the first quarter behind repeated attacks by Braden Reynolds and Parker Doolin, who finished multiple plays at the rim, trimming Shelbyville’s advantage to 19–17 on a Doolin dunk at the buzzer.
Rather than panic, Shelbyville leaned into its experience.
Claxton hit an early three, Nicholson continued to score through contact inside and the threat of Runnebohm’s perimeter shooting stretched Greenwood’s defense. The Golden Bears extended the lead to 36–29 at halftime, a margin built on key defensive plays, including Camden Thoman breaking up what could have been an easy Greenwood lay-in near the buzzer.
“We knew we had to up our intensity and physicalness,” Claxton said. “I thought we did a great job of that.”
Greenwood made its strongest push in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to one possession and forcing Shelbyville to execute in the half-court. Claxton responded with a particularly determined sequence, missing twice inside before grabbing his own rebound again and converting an and-one. Runnebohm knocked down a key three late in the period to maintain a 49-44 lead heading into the fourth.
The decisive moment came then.
After Doolin converted his fourth dunk of the night to pull Greenwood within striking distance, the Woodmen pushed again in transition, looking for another highlight finish. This time, Claxton tracked the play from behind, met Doolin at the rim, and stripped the ball clean, a defensive stand that immediately flipped momentum.
“I wasn’t letting that one go,” Claxton said.
Shelbyville followed with timely free throws, strong rebounding from Reed and Schene and clock management that left Greenwood chasing. The Woodmen, down nine, called a timeout in the final seconds. A nearby fan joked that the coach was “drawing up his nine-point play.”
Whatever the reason for the break, the Bears held on to claim a 67-58 win. Runnebohm finished with 21 points, Claxton with 19, Nicholson with 18, Schene with 5 and Thoman and Reed each scored 2.
For head coach John Hartnett, now in his fifth season, the night reflected more than a single result. All five starters are seniors, most of whom have played together since middle school, a continuity that allows the team to operate with shared trust.
“You don’t want to overcoach them,” Hartnett said. “Sometimes they see things out there that I don’t, and they’re not afraid to talk about it.”
That approach extends to Hartnett’s staff, which includes longtime assistants Brady Claxton, John Hartnett Sr., Zach Phelps, Bryan Fischer and AJ Hounshell.
“I couldn’t do what we’ve done the last few years without those guys,” Hartnett said. “They’re loyal and they care about this program.”
The night also included a moment of pageantry before tipoff, when Isa Figueroa performed a trumpet solo of the national anthem, accompanied by Megan Childres holding the music.
It was all part of the show that the Bears have so far continued as they rise in the rankings. But Hartnett said the team’s focus remains internal.
“Rankings are fun,” he said. “But they can change quickly. We’re worried about getting better and being ready at the end.”
After the final horn, a Golden Bears fan leaned toward the bench and summed it up: “Good test tonight.”
Shelbyville passed it, and now heads on the road to see what comes next.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: FULL CANOPY REAL ESTATE
NOTEBOOK:
It may feel like a long way from summer, but plans are already in the works for the next Taste of Shelby County event. The date will be June 5, 2026.
Shelbyville and Shelby County public safety agencies will host a Crisis Intervention Team training Feb. 9-13 at the Intelliplex Conference Center. The training will offer both a free five-day C.I.T. certification course for law enforcement and corrections and a new free three-day foundational option open to the public. The foundational course will run Monday through Wednesday alongside the full certification course, with topics focused on understanding crisis situations and supporting individuals experiencing mental health challenges. Space is limited, and registration details are available here.
Shelbyville native Ali (Spurling) Sabino has released Faith in Wild Places (linked here to Amazon, and also available at bookbaby.com), a memoir chronicling her response to a colon cancer diagnosis and the faith-centered path she chose during her illness. The book recounts Sabina’s journey alongside her husband, Keith, and combines spiritual reflection and travel during their time living full-time in an RV.
Editor’s Note: Thank you so much to each donor who has generously contributed to our $100,000 campaign. The following are among our recent donors: Linda Sanders, Rev. Bill & Vickie Horner, Wade Lewis, Steve Runnebohm, Terry James, Matthew House, Robert & Susan Claxton, Teresa Woods, and Jessica Larrison. (Many of these are on behalf of families.) Reaching our fundraising goal for 2026 will allow us to expand high-quality coverage countywide. Donors of $100 or more receive a commemorative January print edition and donors of $500 or more will be recognized in that edition. Contributions can be made online through our donation form or by mailing a check to The Addison Times, 54 W. Broadway, Ste. 13, Shelbyville, IN, 46176. Again, thank you so much for your loyal support of this endeavor. - Kristiaan Rawlings
HOOSIER NEWS: The Herb Simon family has acquired two additional properties along South Meridian Street’s downtown bar district, purchasing buildings at 225 and 239 S. Meridian St. for a combined $5 million, according to state records. The acquisitions are near the family’s planned hotel and music venue project at the former CSX site and bring the family’s total spending on the east side of the 200 block of South Meridian Street to $9.5 million this year. Future plans for the properties have not been disclosed. (IndyStar)
NATIONAL NEWS: Data centers are common across the United States, but fully deploying artificial intelligence infrastructure often requires new facilities rather than retrofitting existing ones. AI server racks are significantly heavier due to increased chip density and added cooling systems, with weights rising from 400–600 pounds three decades ago to as much as 5,000 pounds for projected AI racks. The added load from water-cooling and copper busways places substantial structural demands on data center floors. (The Verge)
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This Week in Shelby County Archive
by GEORGE L. STUBBS
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: MAJOR HEALTH PARTNERS
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: Danyelle McAllister, a Triton Central High School senior, was selected to perform in London’s New Year’s Day parade after earning a spot through auditions at a cheerleading camp in Bloomington. She was one of about 450 cheerleaders from across the United States chosen to participate.
1995: An Indiana Department of Transportation salt truck overturned on State Road 9 north of County Road 350N after two rear tires blew, causing the load of salt and sand to shift. The crash blocked the roadway for nearly two hours, but the driver was not injured.
1985: Jeffrey Linder, a former Shelby County prosecutor, was selected by Mayor Dan Theobald for the role of city attorney. Charles Bate was stepping down from the position to focus on his private practice.
1975: The Harrison Street Cafeteria, a half-block north of Public Square, held a “smorgasbord” featuring home-cooked food. Admission was $2.89 for adults and $1.69 for children under 12.
1965: The Shelbyville High School Golden Bears defeated Richmond at home, handing the Red Devils their first loss of the season and ending their seven-game winning streak. Pat McKenney, Gerry Elkins and Tim Ash contributed key baskets as the Bears pulled away with strong second-half defense. The win came against a Richmond team ranked seventh in the state.
1955: A fire in a third-floor lacquer booth at the Admiral Cabinet Division plant caused heavy water damage and forced a shutdown that affected about 300 employees. Two workers were temporarily trapped but escaped safely after a sprinkler system extinguished the flames, which were visible outside the building. Plant officials estimated the loss at up to $50,000 and said operations could be halted for about a week.
1945: The Shelbyville post office experienced its heaviest pre-holiday mailing volume on record, according to Postmaster Gordon Thurston. Clerks processed 48,030 pieces of letter mail in a single day, surpassing the previous record of 41,948 pieces set in 1941, along with thousands of parcel post packages. The surge resulted in crowded conditions and long waits throughout the day despite all stamp windows being staffed.
1935: The first significant snowstorm of the season struck central Indiana, coating roads with ice and snow and causing multiple accidents. Three vehicles slid into a ditch between Shelbyville and Indianapolis due to icy conditions, with one car sustaining heavy damage. No serious injuries were reported.
1925: Plans were finalized for the municipal Christmas celebration at the city building, where boys and girls would gather Christmas morning for a short program and a visit from Santa Claus. Children would receive candy and fruit following Christmas readings and a Nativity scene performed by members of the Calvary Baptist Mission. Music would be provided by George Small and local musicians.
1915: Plans moved forward for a large combined exhibition at the West Broadway tabernacle, bringing together automobile dealers and farmers. Organizers discussed coordinating dates with the Shelby County Corn Growers Association and consolidating several smaller shows into one larger event. Merchants supported the plan, noting the success of a previous automobile exhibit despite poor weather conditions.
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OBITUARIES
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