Thursday, February 29, 2024
LUCK OF THE DRAW
Madeline Gaddie, daughter of Brinson and Kayla Gaddie, draws gift card prizes following “Celebrating Our Stories” program at The Strand Theatre. The winners had to correctly answer local Black history questions to receive a gift card. Also on stage are Sarah Richard, executive director of the Grover Center, and James Garrett Jr. | photo by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
Community Discusses Morrison Park
Mayor Scott Furgeson greets Ball State University students and community members meeting on Monday at Girls Inc. to discuss Morrison Park. | photo by ANNA TUNGATE
Several community members met with Ball State University students in the Master of Urban Design program on Monday to discuss Morrison Park. The 26 students, guided by two instructors, are in an immersive learning project in which they meet with local stakeholders to discuss ideas for improving the park and will present proposals at the end of the semester.
“I know this is an educational opportunity for all of you, but what you’re doing for us is worth thousands of dollars,” Mayor Scott Furgeson said.
Laura Morrison persuaded the city to purchase 12 acres for the park in 1909, before the surrounding homes existed, and the park was expanded in 1955. The park now includes play spaces, pavilions, memorials to Morrison and another to the 42 local soldiers lost in World War I, a Zen garden, a fenced basketball court, an old tennis court, parking lot and maintenance/restroom building.
The Addison Times joined a discussion table that included community members, students, parks director Trisha Tackett and city council member Betsy Means Davis. Some of the considerations mentioned were the number of children in the area looking for a neighborhood space to play soccer, the park as a thoroughfare for students who choose to walk to and from school and finding some sort of landmark that is different from the former park bandshell.
One question discussed was whether Morrison Park should be a neighborhood or a community park.
“Ideally, we want it to be both,” Tackett said.
NOTEBOOK:
Hoop It Up, a three-on-three basketball tournament and Leadership Shelby County project to benefit the J. Kenneth Self Boys and Girls Club, will be this Saturday March 2 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Club, 710 S. Miller Street. Seating will be available for spectators for family, friends, or anyone would like to come support and cheer the teams on. A concession stand will be open with drinks and snack foods/candy for purchase. Three food trucks will be out front of the main doors for most of the day: Weenies on Wheels, Burger Poet, & El Taco Azteca.
NATIONAL NEWS: Last year, millions of Americans tried pickleball, putting the new sport just north of downhill skiing when it comes to participants. All told, 13.6 million people played a bit of pickleball, a bit less than the 14.1 million who played soccer and a bit more than the 13.1 million who did some downhill skiing. From 2022 to 2023, pickleball was indeed the fastest-growing sport — up 52 percent year over year — but was followed by off-course golf (up 19 percent), snowshoeing (up 17 percent) and team swimming (up 15 percent). (Sportico/Numlock)
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Blue River Career Programs’ Welding Offering Highlighted
Shelbyville High School student Wyatt Baker welds an aluminum drop down trailer gate at Blue River Career Programs. | submitted
Editor’s note: In recognition of National Career Technical Education Month, The Addison Times is publishing a series of informational articles on programs at Blue River Career Programs in Shelbyville, which serves all public county high schools. The articles were provided by BRCP staff.
Blue River Career Programs offers a hands-on learning experience in the Welding Technology program. Students engage in activities and instructional exercises in the classroom and laboratory. Students have the opportunity to earn 15 college credentials with Ivy Tech Community College as well as earn the AWS Entry Welder Level 1 certification upon completion of the program. Students learn to weld five joint types, as well as groove welds, in four basic positions: flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead.
The exercises that students engage in teach them the basic principles of welding and include more advanced applications as well. Welding Technology is a two-year program, with the first year being a strong emphasis on things like SMAW (stick welding) and GMAW (MIG welding). The second year of the program emphasizes more advanced processes and applications such as GTAW (TIG welding) and fabrication. This year we have updated some of our welding machines to include three all new multi-process welders. Also new this year is project-based learning, in which students design a project using CAD software, cut the project out with our CNC plasma cutting table, assemble the project and weld it to completion. These projects will be sold to the general public and an announcement will be made when these projects go live for sale.
This BRCP program is open to sophomores, juniors and seniors. If the program is completed in full by the student’s junior year, they have the opportunity to apply for Work-Based Learning their senior year, where they will be able to work on a jobsite that is relevant to the welding industry. Second-year students also have the opportunity to participate in SkillsUSA, which is a yearly competition where some of the best welders from the regional, state, and national level compete to earn scholarships and other opportunities. We are proud to be state winners in the 2020-2021 competition, and are looking forward to continuing our success here at Blue River.
Welders are in high demand and it is our mission here in this program to fulfill the needs of the industry and provide employers with the best possible candidates for any open welding or industry related positions. Employers are encouraged to reach out to Mr. Bousum if you are looking for part-time help, graduating seniors or seniors looking to CO-OP their senior year.
If you have questions regarding our program, please call Dalton Bousum at 317-392-4191, x1120 or email dbousum@brcp.k12.in.us.
This Day in Shelby County History
Editor’s note: Happy Leap Day! Leap years are marked below with an asterisk. Items for non-leap years were pulled from the end of February or beginning of March.
2014: A “Help Save the Skyline” warehouse sale was held inside the Blue River Printing building. Movies, music-related items, computers, 34 mm projection items and collectibles were on sale to help fund the digital projection project.
2004*: Two employees on their way from a local nursing home were arrested for smoking marijuana in their vehicle. They had been stopped after police saw them throw cigarettes out their windows.
1994: Major Hospital subsidiary Major Affiliates Inc. purchased 30 Rampart St. so that Major Hospital could own rather than lease the property. Major Hospital President Tony Lennen said the purchase was also due to Major’s desire to control the building in light of an Indianapolis hospital’s interest in purchasing Shelby County Family Medicine.
1984*: The opening games of the Shelbyville boys basketball sectional tournament were postponed because of hazardous weather conditions. More than 10 inches of snow had fallen on Shelby County in recent days, and snow drifts were as deep as five feet. More than 40 vehicles had become stranded in the snow over the previous 24 hours.
1974: Loper Elementary won the fifth-grade Shelbyville elementary basketball league, posting a 13-1 record and 9-1 in league play, winning the tournament. Team members were John Laughlin, Troy Cord, Craig Murphy, Brian Pitcock, Rick Gill, Chris McNew, Scott Babb, Randy Moorehead, Wes Dennis, Keith Waterbury, Scott Jones, Kris Leming and John Steward. David Wimmer was coach. Cheerleaders were Kim Hildebrand, Veronica Craft, Michelle Mays and Cindy Carmichael.
1964*: No. 1-ranked Columbus defeated Shelbyville in front of 7,200 in the Columbus gym, 84-40. Shelbyville’s team, young and riddled with injuries, finished 7-14 on the year. Senior forward Rich Adams scored 11, the only Golden Bear in double figures. Steve LaBarbera scored eight before leaving the game with an injury.
1954: Shelbyville Newcomers, a new local welcoming service, went into action for the first time, welcoming Mr. and Mrs. Jack Miller, 630 S. Harrison St., who had moved here from Indianapolis.
1944*: Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence McNew, 745, received a Purple Heart awarded their son, Pfc. Arthur McNew, after he had been wounded in Italy. McNew had spent weeks in the hospital in Italy, then was transferred to North Africa for two operations, where he remained.
Capt. Kimble Midkiff, son of Ethel Midkifff, 518 S. Miller St., was killed in action, according to a telegram received at night from the War Department to his mother. Midkiff, marked as the county’s 18th casuality, was a member of the Shelbyville High School class of 1938. He had been in the service five years.
1934: Worland’s Pharmacy closed at 6 p.m. and moved over to the northeast corner of Broadway and Harrison, to a building formerly occupied by the Federal Bakery. On the south side of the building, an 18-foot long window had been built and there was a new side door to accommodate curb service, which Ralph Worland had started in Shelbyville seven years prior.
1924*: The Fairland High School building was overflowing in a meeting to discuss building a new school versus repairing the old. The state board of education had notified Brandywine Township officials that repairs had to be made on the school building in Fairland or the high school would lose its commission. City of Shelbyville officials attended and advocated for a combined high school and grade school building. The debate “grew acrimonious” as the night went on, The Republican said. The majority in attendance were opposed to spending a large sum of money for a new building.
1914: Thirteen hens were stolen from the pens at Gordon Orphans’ Home. A matron saw a man leave the property with the bag and head down Vine Street around 4 a.m. A couple of hens were later found standing in the sun on the east side of the house. “The matron then declared that the experience had been enough for her and the order was issued for the remaining chickens to be killed and prepared for the Sunday dinner,” The Republican said.
Fred Hatmaker, 19, was arrested and jailed for underage smoking. He was released after Mayor Schoelch lectured him, warning him not to be caught again. The boy’s mother had interceded to the mayor on her son’s behalf.
OBITUARIES
Jeremy W. Miller, 47, of Fairland, passed away surrounded by his family Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at Community Hospital South in Indianapolis after a courageous 12 ½ year battle with colorectal cancer. He was born February 19, 1977, in Indianapolis, the son of Steven Charles “Chuck” and Kathleen “Kathy” (Smith) Miller. On June 8, 2002, he married Angela Creech, and she survives.
In addition to Angela, Jeremy is survived by his mother of Shelbyville; children, Jacen Lands and fiancé, Molly Seed, Jaxson W. Miller and fiancé, Maia Harris, and Gracie Mae Miller, all of Fairland; sister, Tiffany Wilson and husband, Ed, of Fairland; grandchildren, Tycen Lands and one on the way, Tanner; nephew, Steven Wilson; niece, Lorelei Wilson; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Jerry and Karla Creech of Greensburg; several uncles and aunts, including Bob and Peggy Miller; and a large extended loving family. He was preceded in death by his father.
In 1995, Jeremy graduated from Triton Central High School where he was a member of the football team, marching band, jazz band, and FFA.
Jeremy was a lifelong farmer and loved working alongside his Dad and Jaxson in the fields where he grew up. He was also the operations manager at Dubois Chemicals for the last seven years. He had a strong passion to better his community and worked tirelessly over the years by serving first on the Triton Central School board, then on the Fairland Town Council for eight years each. He was currently serving as the President of the Northwest Consolidated Sewer Board diligently working to bring municipal services to the area he loved.
Jeremy loved his family and cherished the time they spent together. He treasured cheering on his children at every sporting event they participated in and was exceedingly proud of every accomplishment they achieved. He also leaves behind his vigilant canine companion Myles. Jeremy was a member of Crossroad Community Church and was a firm believer in God and His Word.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Crossroad Community Church, 475 Progress Parkway, Shelbyville, Indiana. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m., Saturday, at the church, with Pastor Andy Lee officiating. Interment will be at London Cemetery in Shelby County. Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Chuck and Jeremy Miller Scholarship Fund, in care of the Blue River Community Foundation, 54 W. Broadway St., Suite 1, Shelbyville, Indiana 46176. Online condolences may be shared with Jeremy’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Donald E. Passwater was one heck of a man, the epitome of kindness, patience and love; he passed on to his Heavenly Father on February 27, 2024.
Born in Huntington, Indiana, on January 23, 1939, he was the youngest child of George W. Passwater and Edith (Jordan) Passwater. As the youngest, his siblings would tell you he was the most spoiled of the Passwater kids, a claim he discounted but secretly agreed with.
Growing up in Huntington, Don was renowned for his fun spirit, hard work and even a bit of orneriness. In high school, he and his friends would pile into a car and yell “the world is on fire” while cruising down the brick laden streets of his hometown. His parents were wise to his shenanigans and placed a governor on their car to ensure there would be no speeding by any of the Passwater boys. Don met the love of his life, Judith Burman, when he was 15 and she was 14. He was the football player and she the cheerleader. They enjoyed many dances at Huntington High School and The Swing Inn and would go to Big Boy for special occasions. It was during this time Judie learned Don was the purveyor of quality ketchup and a good tenderloin sandwich. He worked at Nick’s Kitchen in Huntington for many years and was taught the art of proper tenderloin preparation. Upon graduation from high school in 1957, Don joined the Indiana National Guard. Don and Judie married on January 24, 1958, and lived their early years in Huntington. They welcomed two children during this time, Lori and Chris.
In the early 60s, the family moved to Columbus, Indiana. They welcomed a son, Dave, into the family. Judie was certain their family was complete. However, a move to Kentucky brought about big family changes, and their daughter, Rachael, was born. While in Kentucky, Don was named a Kentucky Colonel.
Through all their life changes, one thing never wavered: Don’s faith in Jesus and the Lord above. He was truly a student of the Bible and wanted to help others understand its value and importance. As Don and Judie moved to Fort Wayne in 1968, then put down roots in Shelbyville in 1974, they both would seek churches to call home in each town. Lewis Creek Baptist Church would be his church home for the next 49 years. Here, he would be deacon, moderator, trustee, Sunday school teacher and the best giver of hugs anyone could ask for. He and Judie cherished the many friends that soon became more like family. Don was also a Gideon, preaching the word of God to many churches throughout Indiana, and was on the Shelby County Youth Shelter board for many years. He retired from G.E./Wellman after 23 years of service. He then embarked on a journey working with Glenn George Funeral Homes, helping many families navigate through their toughest times.
A fervent Indiana University fan, Don enjoyed I.U. basketball and wouldn’t miss a game. He also rooted for the Cincinnati Reds, Shelbyville Golden Bears - and became a huge fan and supporter of the Triton Central Marching Tigers and Winter Guard. Jaunting around the state for the Marching Tiger performances brought opportunities of finding a good piece of pie.
Don is survived by his wife of 66 years, Judie. He is also survived by son, David Passwater; daughter Rachael Ackley and husband Travis; grandson Uriah Meredith and his wife Shannon; grandson Taylor Smith and his wife Courtney; granddaughter Audrey Schlatter and husband Kaleb; grandson Alex Passwater; granddaughter Samantha Ackley; great-grandchildren Nathan Smith, Hayden Meredith, Kynzie, Chandler and Jenna Smith, Lily Passwater and Holli Schlatter; brother Ernie Passwater, along with many nieces and nephews and an extended loving family. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Lori Webb; son, Chris Passwater; grandson Christopher Smith; parents; brothers Bill Passwater and Jim Passwater; and sisters Lurabelle Rowell and Mary Bryant.
He was the best son, father, grandfather, uncle anyone could ask for, and he always found the best in every situation and loved unconditionally. He would want everyone to know Jesus - and find peace and comfort in the promise of renewed life once we leave our earthly home.
One of his favorite sayings was, “Into each life must come a little sunshine - this is your ray for the day.” Find those people who bring a ray of sunshine into your life and cherish them.
Visitation will be held at the Glenn E. George and Son Funeral Home, 437 Amos Road, Shelbyville, IN, on Saturday, March 2, 2024, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. at the Funeral Home, with burial in Lewis Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. Our family asks in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Shelbyville/Shelby County Animal Shelter at 705 Hale Road, Shelbyville or Lewis Creek Baptist Church at 1400 E County Road 600 South, Waldron.
Annette Burnett, 63, of Fairland, passed away Wednesday February 28, 2024 at Franciscan Health in Indianapolis, IN. She was born March 28, 1960 in Shelbyville, IN. to Richard DeHo and Wanda R. (Smith) DeHo.
Annette was raised in the Catholic faith and attended St. Joseph Catholic School. She later graduated from Shelbyville High School. Annette worked for Knauf Insulation and retired in 2014 after 31 years of service. She had a love for flowers and always enjoyed gardening. Annette also loved to cook. She was an avid I.U. and Indianapolis Colts fan and enjoyed attending the games for over 30 years.
She married Charles “Chuck” Burnett on April 25, 1990 and he survives. Annette is also survived by her son Brent (wife, Kelly) Burnett; her daughter, Jami (husband, Danny) Rieman; her grandchildren, Michael, Sabryna, Raea, Evan, Alyssa, Kayla and Jenna; her brother, Dick (wife, Jan) DeHo; her sisters, Deb Seaborn, Michele Noel, Chris Mohney and Kim (husband, Rick) Bernard; several nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Angie Green and great-nephew, Zion Seaborn.
Visitation will be Sunday, March 3, 2024 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Murphy-Parks Funeral Service, 703 S. Harrison Street, Shelbyville, IN 46176. Funeral services will be Monday, March 4, 2024 at 11 a.m. with Pastor Jose Rivera officiating. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery. Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks, Stuart Parks, and Darin Schutt are honored to serve Annette’s family. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.
Clifford F. Gaines, 94, of Shelbyville, passed away, Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at his home. He was born January 10, 1930, in Shelbyville, the son of Herbert and Hazel (Coppel) Gaines. On January 12, 1959, he married Ruth Marie Purtlebaugh, and she preceded him in death on January 1, 2021.
Clifford is survived by his children, Lisa Matney and husband, Roger, Bret Gaines, and Sabrena Gaines, all of Shelbyville; sisters, Virginia Ray and husband, Richard, of Indianapolis, Paula Cochran and husband, Mike, of Shelbyville, and Carol Wagner and husband, Steve, of Shelbyville; grandchildren, Halee Mathies and husband, Mitchell, Clifford Floyd, and Courtney Floyd; great-grandchildren, Callen Floyd, Alice Floyd and Maverick Mathies; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to Ruth, Clifford was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, Mickey Gaines and Pete Jarvis.
Clifford was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving in Korea. He was a pipefitter for over 50 years, retiring in 1995, from Baker McHenry Local No. 440. Clifford was formerly a member of the Masonic Lodge.
He loved to spend time with his grandchildren. Clifford also loved sweets, especially cookies. Clifford enjoyed sitting outside feeding the squirrels and birds.
Graveside services will be at 1 p.m., Monday, March 4, 2024, at Flat Rock Cemetery in Flat Rock, Indiana, with military graveside rites conducted by the local military committee. Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Indiana Chapter, 50 E. 91st St., Suite 100, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240 or the American Heart Association, PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692. Online condolences may be shared with Clifford’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.