Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023
SCHOOL BOARD: Students Recognized, Board Member Approved to Become Board Attorney
The Shelbyville Central Schools board recognized top performing students and approved potential changes to the board at last night’s meeting.
Above, members of Shelbyville High School’s FFA Entomology team - Grace Stevens, Dayanara Agurrie, Kolbie Welty and Ava Fralich - were recognized by the SCS board for top 20 placement in state competition. The group previously finished sixth in the district. The study of pesticides, insecticides, herbicides and natural remedies is critical to FFA, given that a significant percentage of crop damage is due to insects, advisor and SHS teacher Kay Huntsman said.
The SCS board also applauded the SHS Spell Bowl team for earning a top 15 finish in state competition, although only the top three placements are officially recognized, Doug Uehling, co-sponsor and SHS teacher, said. The team previously placed second in the conference. Isabella Bradburn, Wyatt Haacker and Isabella Matney advanced to compete in individual state competition.
“The team worked very hard and demonstrated fortitude, class and integrity in representing Shelbyville High School during the season as well as at the state finals,” Board President Curt Johnson said. He also recognized team sponsors Uehling and Steve von Werder.
Team members are Bradburn, Daisy Barrett, Karina Calderon, Danae Cazares, Miguel Cazares, Morgan Cazares, Ella Connolly, Haacker, Lilly Johnson, Cooper Lay, Matney, Rachael Martins-Thomas, Ava Mummert and Delaney Watson. Mr. Uehling said it was the first appearance at state competition for most of the members. “It’s a big show, so there was a lot of pressure, and they excelled in that moment,” he said. “I couldn’t be prouder.”
In other action, the board approved a series of items that included hiring long-time board member John C. DePrez IV as board attorney, pending he resigns from the board. Contention regarding the matter was raised following a motion to re-appoint Curt Johnson as president, Troy Merrick as vice-president and Mike Turner as secretary.
“In light of the fact that we're getting ready later in the time to have your law associate as the school board attorney, I’m a little uncomfortable with that,” board member David Finkel said. “Even though it is above board, having the president of the board and the school attorney in the same firm makes me uncomfortable.”
The election of officers, though, was passed on a 4-3 vote, with Finkel, Turner and Dr. James Rees opposing. Merrick, DePrez, Amanda Bunton and Johnson voted in favor.
The board then approved appointing DePrez, who has served on the board for 26 years, as school board attorney.
Over 30 local attorneys were contacted regarding the attorney position, from which Dennis “Denny” Harrold recently stepped down after 44 years of service. In a process headed by Finkel, multiple rounds of interviews were held.
“We did have several candidates interview, and the crux of the matter was (DePrez) was the most qualified individual for the position itself,” Finkel said.
Johnson explained that while he and DePrez are part of the same law firm, it is a professional association. “So, what that means is we do not share revenues. We share expenses,” Johnson said. He added that he had not been involved in the board attorney selection process.
DePrez’s departure from the board would open a seat in District 1.
In other business, the board:
Approved a resolution to explore the possibility of purchasing two acres at 1105 St. Joseph Street from Force Holdings, LLC. The property is located between the Hendricks Elementary drive entrance and the corporation bus garage. The resolution allows for two appraisals to be completed to determine market value.
Approved Kathy Zerr to serve as a long-term substitute teacher at Loper Elementary through the end of the academic year, replacing Bonnie Bate.
Approved the resignation of Garrett Belden as Shelbyville High School varsity girls soccer coach.
Approved a transfer of $775,000 from Operations Fund to the Rainy Day fund.
NOTEBOOK:
The following couples applied for marriage licenses last week at the Shelby County Courthouse: Justin O. Lee, 42, and Brandi N. Burton, 49; Lillianna R. Canaday, 21, and Jonathan N. Scott, 20.
HOOSIER NEWS: Lilly Endowment announced Tuesday $80 million in grants toward improvements across the Indy Parks system, which will benefit 42 parks in all nine townships with an array of enhancements such as playground upgrades, pickleball courts, splash pads and an expanded skate park. The grant − almost 14 times the 2023 capital improvements budget for Indy Parks − is the largest philanthropic donation ever made to Indy Parks, according to Mayor Joe Hogsett. (IndyStar)
NATIONAL NEWS: American roads were less safe from May to December of 2020 compared to expectations, and a new analysis from AAA reveals the unique reasons why. Traffic deaths were 6.3 percent lower than anticipated during the typical morning rush, but from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. deaths were up 22 percent compared to expected. The key takeaway is that fatal crashes were often because people took way more risks on the road during the pandemic; besides night driving, there were 84.3 percent more drivers with expired licenses involved in fatal crashes, hit-and-runs were up 31.2 percent compared to forecast, and motorists with blood alcohol levels above the legal limits were up 21.8 percent compared to expected. (Streetsblog/Numlock)
Harrold Seeks At-Large City Council Seat
(Press Release) Dennis E. (“Denny”) Harrold has announced his intention to seek election to the Shelbyville City Council At-Large Seat. Harrold is running in order to use his experience in representing governmental entities and individuals dealing with governmental entities such as public schools to aid in Shelbyville’s controlled progress and growth. His work with government bond issues provides insight that he believes will facilitate continued City advancement while protecting homeowners’ and businesses’ assets. Having enjoyed raising his family here, he wants Shelbyville to be a place where our children and grandchildren want to return to in order to work and raise their families.
Harrold graduated from Indiana University with a B.A. degree in Business Administration and obtained a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from Indiana University Law School. That same year, he married his wife, Mary Ann (Padgett) Harrold, and they have two children, Teresa Michaud and Derek Harrold, who both graduated from Shelbyville High School. The Harrolds are members of St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Immediately upon being admitted to the Indiana bar, Harrold entered the US Army JAGC as a Captain, and served over four years on active military service, including a 2-year stint in South Korea, with the United Nations Command. After his military service, he moved to Shelbyville in October 1976, and has lived here ever since.
He has practiced law with the Shelbyville law firms of Adams and Cramer; Bate Harrold and Meltzer; McNeely Stephenson Thopy & Harrold; and most recently, Stephenson Rife, LLP. During that time Mr. Harrold represented each of the Boards of Southwestern Consolidated School District of Shelby County and Blue River Career Programs for over 20 years and represented Shelbyville Central Schools for over 44 years.
Mr. Harrold is a member of the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, The National Trial Lawyers Association, the Indiana Council of School Attorneys, and the National Council of School Board Attorneys. He has lectured extensively on school law. Besides being admitted to the Indiana Supreme Court, Harrold is admitted before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court of Southern Indiana, and the U.S. Court of Military Appeals. He has also served as President of the Shelby County Bar Association and President of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Harrold has served on the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army, as well as co-chair of the Major Hospital Foundation Royal Oak Society Committee; and currently, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Indianapolis 500 Old Timers Club.
He has been named as an Indiana Super Lawyer, an American Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers, a Top Lawyer by the Global Directory of Who’s Who, a member of Marquis Who’s Who in American Law and Who’s Who of Emerging Leaders. Mr. Harrold is also a recipient of the Albert Nelson Marquis Who’s Who Lifetime Achievement Award and the recipient of the Indiana State Bar Association Civility Award. He has been named one of the Top 10 attorneys by America’s Personal Injury Attorneys, as well as a member of the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys Top 1%. He is also a member of the National Association of Distinguished Counsel and a Fellow of the Indiana Bar Foundation. Recently, Mr. Harrold was recognized for 50 years of service to the legal community by the Indiana State Bar Association. He looks forward to serving the needs of the citizens of Shelbyville as their Councilman At-Large.
This Week in Shelby County" works by George L. Stubbs Sr. are owned by the Shelby County Historical Society (Grover Center) and used with permission.
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 from the Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department.
20 YEARS AGO: 2003
Mark and Beth Bellamy placed a mark on the “goal thermometer” signifying they had met the Salvation Army’s goal of $75,000 during the bell-ringing campaign.
Linne’s Pastry Shop reopened following remodeling. New flooring had been installed, as well as fixtures updated.
30 YEARS AGO: 1993
More than 50 residents packed a Shelby County Courthouse meeting room to hear experts and county officials speak at a meeting convened by Commissioner David Mohr, chairman of the county’s Drainage Board. Residents were told that Shelby County lacked the government structure and regulations needed to prevent flooding and water pollution. Tackling the problem would entail developing a comprehensive land use plan, revising zoning ordinances and establishing new courthouse procedures so houses could not be built on land that would not support septic systems, officials said. About 10 percent of homes along the Flat Rock River and other county rivers still had outhouses instead of indoor toilets and were channeling their sewage directly into the river, Shelby County Sanitarian Robert Lewis said.
40 YEARS AGO: 1983
Scott Earl, 10, was named top money collector during a recent math-a-thon at Triton Central Elementary School, sponsored for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Each child collecting more than $25 received a t-shirt and those collecting more than $100 got gym bags. Earl was given one of the 15 calculators St. Jude awarded to the school for its excellent support.
50 YEARS AGO: 1973
The odor of beer was quite strong in the neighborhood of S. Noble and McKenzie St. after a station wagon and a beer truck collided. Workmen cleaned up the mess created by broken beer bottles. The truck, owned by Shannon Corp., was driven by Richard Pease. The station wagon was driven by Lynn Conway.
60 YEARS AGO: 1963
The St. Paul Blasters defeated Burney, 48-47, in a storybook finish. It took an underneath shot by 6-5 center Dave Bowman, his only field goal of the game, in the last seven seconds to give St. Paul its only lead in the game. St. Paul had been down by 12 in the fourth quarter when Paul Bostic led a frantic comeback. Bostic finished with 15, Elsey Hiser contributed 11 and Kerry Weintraut scored 10. Norman Holland was coach.
70 YEARS AGO: 1953
Glenn Myer, Union Township, trapped 23 foxes. Myer said foxes visited his wooded farm near Rays Crossing all the time, and he set the traps either in snow or on bare ground. Myer had lost a litter of pigs to the marauders earlier in the season.
Several Shelby County men left for induction into the armed forces. The men were Ronald E. Poe, Floyd D. Brattain, William E. Moore, Martin C. Newman, Lawrence L. Brown and Joseph C. Stewart. The latest induction made a total of 251 young men who had been drafted from Shelby County since the fall of 1950.
80 YEARS AGO: 1943
Fairland won their second straight Shelby County rural basketball tournament, defeating Mt. Auburn, 28-25, at Paul Cross Gym. Coach Dick Willsey’s Hornets were 14-0 on the year.
Fifteen Shelby County men left for military induction at Fort Benjamin Harrison. The men were William Sanders, Paul Ash, William DeBusk, William Butler, Robert E. Williams, Donald Carvin, Orville Taylor, Robert Hirschauer, Jack Snyder, Ray Murray, Franklin Thurston, Lester Miller, James Harrell, Clifford Lewis and Loren Phillips.
90 YEARS AGO: 1933
Willard Kuhn, Shelby County farmer, was presented with gold and silver medals for entries in the hog division of the exhibit of the Indiana Livestock Breeders’ Association held at Purdue University.
100 YEARS AGO: 1923
The Republican reported on foot doctors diagnosing “auto-foot,” a type of foot trouble caused by “stepping on the gas.” The condition typically affected the right leg. “The constant pressure of the ball of the foot on the accelerator causes pain in that part of the foot, followed by numbness of the entire foot and leg,” the paper said. Exercises of the foot and toes were recommended.
INCIDENTS
Theft was reported in the 400 block of Van Ave., Shelbyville.
Burglary was reported in the 5300 block of N 50 E, Shelbyville.
JAIL BOOK-INS: David E. Burton, 40, failure to appear; Tony L. Eldridge, 60, escape from lawful detention.
OBITUARIES
None today