Thursday, February 20, 2025
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS
FOR A GOOD CAUSE
Loper Elementary teacher Dana Montgomery, Shelby County Animal Shelter Director Billy Leffler, Loper principal Adam Harpring, Gary Sample, and Loper teacher Jennifer Clark check out donations from the recent Loper Paws to Paws initiative. | photo by ANNA TUNGATE
Loper Elementary representatives delivered $1,005 and three vehicles’ full of donations to the Shelby County Animal Shelter this week, part of the 20th annual Paws for Paws drive, which was started by Mrs. Jan Asher in 2005 and continued by Mrs. Elizabeth Sample. Both have since passed away, but the staff, accompanied Tuesday by Elizabeth’s husband Gary Sample, were pleased to continue the initiative. “This is what keeps us running. This is how we feed our animals without (food) donations,” Billy Leffler, Shelby County Animal Shelter Director, said, adding that the event is one of the shelter’s biggest regular fundraisers. The Shelter has received nearly $2,000 in memorials since Sample’s death last month. Loper principal Adam Harpring said the event is “one of my favorite things to do every single year.” Students who bring in items put their names on flowers that are taped to the school cafeteria windows. “There are so many, you almost can’t see out,” Mrs. Jennifer Clark, teacher, said.
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NOTEBOOK:
The Shelbyville Central Schools board last night approved the upcoming retirements of Marcy Rees (effective Aug. 1), Marlene Hague (Aug. 18), Dawn Adams (June 1), Cathy Brown (June 1) and Tammy Orem (May 27).
The Shelby County Youth Assistance Program continues to see success among participants. Over 1,000 referrals to the program have come in since its inception in 2016, and there are currently 166 active clients, Melissa O’Connor, Director, told the Shelby County Council on Tuesday. One in five of those who were referred but declined services end up in the juvenile court system, while one in 60 of those who participate in the program end up in juvenile court. “Prevention works, and being able to connect them to relationships in the community,” O’Connor said. Offerings include tutoring at the public library and Triton Central Middle School, and group mentoring developed in partnership with Shelbyville Central Schools, members of the faith-based community and the YMCA. Students stay at the Y for programming with the YMCA staff after group mentoring. Last year, YAP sponsored over 40 local youth in various club memberships, camps, athletics and extracurricular activities. The families of students also receive financial literacy and other resources.
The Shelby County Council on Tuesday hired Jody Butts, with the Stephenson Rife firm, to represent the council.
Shelby County’s Bird Town Committee is preparing for the submission of the county as a Bird Town with the Indiana Audubon/Bird City National Network. Seven other municipalities in the state hold the Bird Town designation. The Bird Town Committee is made up of Rachael Ackley, Shelby County Tourism and Visitors Bureau; Patrick Addis, Friends of the Blue River; Ann Warble Haehl, Educator, Shelby County Recycling District; Jennifer Jones, Blue River Community Foundation; Kris Schwickwrath, B.R.A.N.C.H. of Shelby County; and Jack Shoaf, Ecology Teacher at Shelbyville High School. “Birds are natural indicators of ecological health,” Kris Schwickwrath, Community Natural Resources advocate and BRANCH committee member, said. “Small steps in a backyard can increase the diversity of birds and at the same time create a healthier living environment for people and pets.”
A group organized by Lou Posz is forming the Knauf Retirees Breakfast Club, open to retirees and spouses. The group meets the second Wednesday of each month at Denny’s, 9 a.m.
HOOSIER NEWS: The Madison County commissioners have voted in favor of extending the county’s needle exchange program for another two years. But the program may be cut before 2027, if state lawmakers vote to end it early. In addition to county approval, the needle exchange programs that began in the wake of the 2015 Scott County HIV epidemic need approval from the state as well. If the state doesn’t do that, programs will end July 1, 2026. Madison County is one of eight approved counties. It began an exchange in 2015 as the second county after Scott County, then shut down once in 2017 over resident fears. Scott County closed its needle exchange program in 2022. According to data from the Indiana Department of Health, more than 22,000 people across the state have participated in an exchange program since 2015. (Indiana Public Radio)
NATIONAL NEWS: Astronomers revised the probability that an asteroid named 2024 YR4 will collide with Earth on December 22, 2032, increasing it to 3.1 percent. The “good” news is that it’s 130 to 300 feet long, which is large enough to cause some serious problems for a city but not large enough to cause a hemispheric extinction. Given how full Earth is with oceans, the odds remain in our favor. (The New York Times/Numlock)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights
Fall 1983
Faculty and students were asked about their dream car. Mr. Orem said a 1928 Model “A” roadster (like the one he had when he was in high school), Mr. Ress said a 1962 Volkswagen, Mr. Markland went with a 1955 T-bird., and Mrs. Privett said “anything without any dents.” Eric Gordon went with a convertible Mercedes Benz as seen in the movie “American Gigolo.” Custodian Dede Slusser went with a Ford station wagon.
The janitorial staff (recently changed to maintenance engineer) included Dorothy Kinney, Rick Woolard, Vernon Ross, Charlotte Williams, Sylvia Miles, Barbara Hamilton, Wayne Hamilton, Sonny Leffler, Glennadine Slusser, Brett Sullivan, Frank Robinson, John Krouse and Don Baumgartner. Sullivan said he enjoyed the students, although he thought the teachers were a bit “bizarre.”
Mrs. Judy Wydeau had moved from the classroom to the guidance office.
Patty Holdren had joined the cross country team, making her the only girl on the squad. Since the IHSAA had not sanctioned girls’ cross country as a sport, the girls were allowed to run with the boys.
New teachers at SHS were Bart Austin, business; Mike Meunier, history; Larry Parmer, math; Angie Parmer, art; and Carol Dowden, music.
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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: The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce announced Ray Compton, sports marketing executive for the Indiana Pacers, the Indianapolis Ice and the Indianapolis Colts, would speak at the upcoming awards banquet.
1995: WISH-TV installed a rooftop meteorology station on the top of Waldron Elementary after fifth-grade teacher Linda Johnson contacted the TV station about a possible collaboration. It would be the first Shelby County station to tie directly into the national network, although stations located at Cunningham Gardens and the sewage treatment plants in Morristown and Shelbyville reported data to the National Weather Service in Indianapolis. A station on the roof of The Shelbyville News recorded wind speed and direction, temperature, barometric pressure, rainfall and humidity. Those measurements were then published daily.
1985: A truck with hundreds of Girl Scouts cookie boxes arrived at the Belaire Shopping Center. Carl Clark, Alan Beyers, Gary Beyers, Mary Rose Clark and Paula Hauke helped unload.
1975: The Shelby Echoes, a singing group from the Booker T. Washington Center performed at the Salvation Army Citadel. The five soloists in the 15-member group were Tina Denton, Sheila Denton, Yolanda Jones, Lisa Pettis and Linda Palmer. The Booker T. Washington Center was a SCUFFY-supported agency.
1965: The City of Shelbyville had ordered 3,000 bicycle plates following a new rule requiring the registration of bikes, but only 325 had been sold. Sgt. Lewis Myers threatened to take a truck around town and pick up bicycles without license plates.
Betty Mayo won the Shelbyville Junior High School spelling bee. Nancy Russell was the alternate.
1955: Frank Schoelch and his son John Schoelch, who owned the Hub Shoe Store, purchased Stephan Shoe Store from Mrs. Stephan, guardian of the business.
Republican Mayor Phillip Banawitz announced he was running for re-election.
1945: Donald Hilligoss became president of the Hilligoss and Son Coal Company, following the recent death of his father, Russell Hilligoss. Four generations of the Hilligoss family had operated the business after it was formed in 1893 by George Hilligoss and his son, Lauren Hilligoss. Lauren took over the business in 1913. Russell took over in 1920.
A national curfew was imposed, closing bars and entertainment venues at midnight. A Washington official said the curfew was “primarily a fuel-saving action, but it also will help conserve transportation and manpower,” The Republican said. “(The official) probably has in mind, too, though he doesn’t say so, that it will reduce the hangovers of war-workers who indulge too freely, stay up too late, and then don’t show up for work the next day.” Affected businesses were dance halls, bars, theatres and sports arenas. Restaurants engaged exclusively in serving food were exempted.
1935: Pleas Greenlee told City Council that there were surplus squirrels around the Sailors’ Orphans Home near Knightstown and asked if some could be relocated to Shelbyville. “It was recalled that there used to be some squirrels around (Major Hospital) and that they disappeared when the depression set in and people became hungry,” The Republican said. The council decided to accept a limited number of squirrels to be placed in Morrison Park, “as long as they’re well-behaved squirrels and don’t go around biting people’s ears,” the paper said.
1925: A man had recently died in a Kentucky cavern despite rescue attempts. The footage of the rescue, including his parents on the scene, had been captured on video and would be shown at the Alhambra Theatre. “There is no doubt but that the theatre will be jammed to see the picture proceedings of that tragedy,” The Republican said.
The Big Four offered discount tickets to Washington D.C. for those who wished to attend President Coolidge’s inauguration on March 4. The fare was $34.70 (approximately $640 in today’s money).
1915: After being accused by an anonymous caller of not reporting the facts, The Republican confirmed that, as had been reported, the clerk’s office did purchase an adding machine. The clerk, who had been deputy clerk until Jan. 1, said he and the staff were unaware the machine was in the office. “There are some things that it is best not to try to explain,” the paper concluded.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: Freeman Family Funeral Homes & Crematory
OBITUARIES
Lloyd Hunter Freeman, 92, of Milan, rejoined his fishing buddies, Hank Voss, Fred Tucker, Dink Roedl and Ikie Huntington, on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at Timber Creek Village Assisted Living of Shelbyville. He was born December 30, 1932, in Pierceville, the son of Edwin Bradford and Geneva Barbara (Nead) Freeman.
Lloyd is survived by his daughter, Michelle Butler and husband, Scott, of Charles City, Virginia; son, Michel “Mike” Freeman and wife, Lana, of Morristown; grandsons, Edward Freeman and wife, Erica, and Michel “Mikey” Freeman II; several great and great-great grandchildren; niece, Roberta Sailing; cousins, Ronnie Nead and wife, Joanne and Linda (Nead) Cash. He is also survived by his Michigan family and fishing buddies, Bob Waldron and Dale Waldron. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Elizabeth Sailing; and longtime companion, Winifred LeVernier.
In 1951, he graduated from Milan High School. He was an avid sports fan. He grew up with, and was good friends with the fellas on the 54 team, especially the boys from Pierceville, aka “The Alley Cats”. The irony was, he was serving in the army during the championship years. His mom was vigilant about clipping all the newspaper articles about the games - regular season and through the tournaments - to mail to him. When he came home, Lloyd had a very complete archive of the two seasons. He eventually mounted the clippings into a series of posters and donated the collection to The 54 Museum. Any Saturday you might find him watching Notre Dame football, or on Sunday, The Colts. But his first love was baseball. He earned his Milan Letterman's jacket playing baseball and was on the championship summer league team, The Braves. His exploits on the field lead him as far as a try-out to be a pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds (he loved to tell that story!).
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in France. He was a mechanic for the motor pool, at the end of the Korean Conflict.
Lloyd formerly worked at White’s Feed and Chick Store from 1956 to 1971, he then owned and operated Freeman Automotive Repair from 1960 to 1980. He retired on May 30, 2003, with 33 ½ years of service, as a school bus driver for Milan. He was a Milan sports fan throughout his life. He was always ready to drive a fan bus and drove many teams to games and tournaments.
Lloyd was a passionate fisherman. He was most known for crappie and blue gill fishing at Versailles State Park, Brush Creek and Butlerville. Lloyd loved to fish for salmon and lake trout in Lakes Michigan and Huron. Enjoyed fishing the inland lakes of Northern Michigan, especially his favorite “Burt Lake”.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, February 21, 2025, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. A Remembrance Service will follow at 7 p.m. Interment will be at Mud Pike Cemetery in Ripley County on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 10:30 a.m., with Rev. Harris Long officiating, friends may gather at the cemetery one-half hour prior. Military graveside rites will be conducted by the local military committee. Lloyd’s family would like to express a special Thank you to his close friends and neighbors, Steve and Debbie Roberts of Burt Lake, Michigan. And a “Thanks a Million” to the dedicated staff of Timber Creek Village Assisted Living in Shelbyville for the love, care and companionship for the past two years. Memorial contributions may be made to the Milan ’54 Museum, 201 W. Carr St., PO Box 54, Milan, IN, 47031. Online condolences may be shared with Lloyd’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Your paper is 1st I look at every day! Didn't get one today! Thank you, but with my hubby and cancer, and us having a head on crash with semi. We get out very little!
The bird article reminded of the times that the leaders of Shelbyville would close off the business part of downtown and have men strategically placed on rooftops to shoot birds. They were trying to eliminate pigeons, doves, and sparrows, I guess. The top of the Alhambra building looked like a fort with soldiers shooting. Didn't last too long since the birds took off with the first blast of the shotguns. So much for diversity of the birds.