Thursday, July 10, 2025
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CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
Traffic moved to the west side of North Harrison St./North Riley Highway this week at the roundabout under construction. | photos by JOHN WALKER
WORK REUNION
Long-time friends and retired school instructional assistants Jean Boyce, Shelbyville, Truce Moss, Florida, and Bonnie Oswald, Shelby County, visit at the YMCA yesterday. The three have been friends for over 30 years, with Boyce and Moss previously working in the same elementary school. Moss and Oswald are sisters-in-law. | photo by JACK BOYCE
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NOTEBOOK:
The Shelbyville Board of Zoning Appeals on Tuesday approved variances allowing a new accessory building to replace two fire-damaged structures at 1931 South Riley Highway, despite concerns from nearby residents about drainage and neighborhood aesthetics. The property owner and contractor had requested variances for the location, height and setbacks of a metal pole barn, which will be used for personal vehicle storage. A few neighbors from Riley Place and Culbertson Road objected to the building’s proximity to the narrow side street, which functions more like an alley. They also questioned the need for a metal structure in an established residential neighborhood, although the material is in compliance with city standards.
The BZA also took the following action:
Approved a request to allow a trailer sales and service business, Custom Manufacturing Enterprises, at 1110 Hale Road. The company manufactures customer trailers typically used on farms. Custom’s attorney, Eric Glasco, said there would be no outside storage of equipment. The BZA approval included a stipulation that if there is outside storage, it must be screened.
Approved variances regarding driveway standards and structure height at 1100 Mausoleum Road for a trucking facility. The 57-acre property has historically been used for agricultural production, but has long been designated by the City as an extension of the Northridge Industrial Park. The project is proposed for Mausoleum Road, just east of the third phase of Tom Hession Drive.
Approved variances regarding a campus expansion project at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 125 E. Broadway St.
Approved a variance to allow for a pool at 1930 Culbertson Road.
Blue River Community Foundation (BRCF) is collecting donations to support flood relief efforts in Kerr County, Texas. Donations will be directed to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, which serves the affected areas. Donations will be used to support nonprofit organizations, first responders agencies, and local governments actively involved in response, relief, and recovery efforts, according to the Community Foundation of Texas Hill Country's website.
BRCF will collect donations to the Shelby County Disaster Relief Fund through July 31 and then forward all funds to the Community Foundation of Texas Hill Country to aid in recovery efforts. To donate online through BRCF, click the following link: https://form.jotform.com/233178345673160 . Checks can be mailed to 54 W. Broadway St., Suite 2, Shelbyville, Ind. Donations can also be dropped off at our office at the same location.
HOOSIER NEWS: Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations will lay off an eight-person statewide reporting team at the end of the year as part of a reorganization due to a sizable cut in state money for public media. In late April, the legislature approved a state budget that included a last-minute measure to strip $7.4 million from Indiana Public Broadcasting. Federal cuts could be looming as well. Nearly a third of Indiana Public Broadcasting's total budget — about $13 million — comes from state and federal government support, according to a WFYI analysis. (IndyStar)
NATIONAL NEWS: This week saw the permanent closure of Tom Sawyer Island in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, an iconic attraction that has existed since the park opened and is slated for demolition. Rivers of America opened in 1971 with the rest of the park, while Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island opened two years later in May 1973. The last raft of guests departed for the island at around 7 p.m. on Sunday and returned at 7:42 p.m., followed by a raft of park employees. The Rivers of America will be demolished in favor of two attractions related to “Cars.” (WDW News Today/Numlock)
The Addison Times is pleased to offer free milestone announcements. Forms are available here: Engagement Announcement, Wedding Announcement and Anniversary Announcement.
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ANNIVERSARY ANNOUNCEMENT
Gerald and Patricia (Harrod) Crafton, Shelbyville, Ind., celebrate 65 years of marriage today. They were married July 10, 1960, at Flat Rock United Methodist Church. They have five children, David, Daniel, Donna, Diane and Deidra; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Mrs. Crafton taught home economics for 30 years, including stints at Arlington High School (Indianapolis), Triton Central, Manilla and Shelbyville High School. Mr. Crafton worked 33 years at Western Electric and ATT Indianapolis. Happy Anniversary!
SHS Courier Archive Highlights
April 14, 1967
David Dean, a junior, won the local Rotary Club speech contest. Other top contestants were Myra Overman and Tom Marshall. Judges were Elwood Thomas, George Stubbs Jr., and J.W. Jenkins. Vaughn Drake was the program chairman.
Owens’ team won the eighth grade girls intramural basketball championship, defeating Fox’s team. In seventh grade, Richmond’s team beat Wertz’s for the title.
The History Mobile, an exhibit which covered prehistoric times to the present, visited JHS.
Roger McGriff was once again back as junior high track coach. Tom Gould would be his assistant.
Paul Carter set a new school two-mile track record. Terry James had previously held the record. Jerry Sosbe set a new pole vault record, previously held by Richard Moorhead.
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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: Shelbyville Mayor Scott Furgeson threw out the first pitch of the Indianapolis Indians game as part of the City of Shelbyville night. The mayor then presented the ball to Hyatt Thurston, who had attended the game with his dad Brad Thurston, of Shelbyville.
1995: A police search to find a 15-year-old runaway ended with officers finding the girl on a narrow ledge of the Gray’s Certified Seeds building in Fairland. The girl agreed to come inside, and she was taken to the juvenile detention center in Dearborn County.
1985: John Haehl was elected president of the Shelbyville Central Schools board. Dale Herthel was elected vice president and George Lambert as secretary. Haehl’s father, the late John D. Haehl Sr., had served two terms on the school board. In other news, the board hired Dr. Michael Lindley to serve as principal at Pearson.
1975: The Shelbyville News ran a photo of Shirley Stiers, Manilla, who had made a bet with her husband Kenneth and neighbor Mrs. Wagoner. After being urged to eat dessert, she had told her husband and their neighbors she didn’t want it, and would sit there all night rather than eat. A bet developed that Shirley couldn’t sit tied loosely to her chair for 24 hours without food, water or relief, which she did. Her husband and Mrs. Wagoner both paid her $20, The News reported.
1965: A knife-wielding bandit attempted to rob Helen Turner’s Grocery Store, corner of Franklin and St. Mary, at 9:30 a.m. Miss Turner told the bandit that all the money she had in the store was small change. After looking at the money, the bandit fled without taking anything.
1955: Philip Batton, 4, caught a three and one-half pound catfish in Lake Shafer. His fishing pole was only a stick cut nearby.
1945: Loren Murphy, local funeral director, began offering a “no delay” ambulance service 24 hours a day. The ambulance was advertised as air conditioned and had trained attendants.
A 27-year-old local woman with four children whose husband was serving overseas was fined $50 and given a six-month suspended sentence on charges of “cohabiting in a state of adultery.” The man with whom she lived ended up pleading guilty to a similar charge, and he was given the same sentence.
1935: Canning classes for the public were held at the Booker T. Washington school. The classes were sponsored by the state in an effort to encourage home gardening.
1925: Ford Motor Company officials denied rumors they were considering moving the Ford plant away from Indianapolis. Upon hearing the news, the Shelbyville Better Business Club sent a letter to Ford stating that Shelbyville would be a great place for a plant, “provided it was decided to leave Indianapolis.”
1915: Police said they would start cracking down on “can shooting” in public places. Soon after, they arrested William Eads, described in the paper as “a character of this city,” for shooting cans on East Jackson St. He was given 15 days in jail.
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OBITUARIES
Betty Ann Marion, 72, of Shelbyville, Ind., passed away peacefully on July 2, 2025, at Major Hospital. She was born on October 23, 1952, in Oneida, Ky., to the late Bige Eversole and Lucy (Smith) Eversole. She was one of many loved children.
Betty married the love of her life and moved to Ohio where she raised her daughters. She worked at Hueston Woods State Park Resort for a number of years, and then relocated to London, Ky., where she did factory work. She retired and became a homemaker and moved to Shelbyville, Ind. She spent the rest of her time enjoying her family and friends. Ms. Betty had a beautiful heart of gold, was a lover of animals, and never knew a stranger. She enjoyed Sci-Fi and Westerns, and playing puzzle games. One thing for sure, Betty was proud of her children and grandchildren, including the ones she took in as her own.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Virgil Marion; her two cats, Tater and Taz; two brothers, Beverly Paul Eversole and Melvin Eversole; and three sisters, Bonnielou Smith, Geraldine Henson and Earsley Eversole. Betty is survived by three brothers, Rob Eversole of Garrard, Ky., and Jeff Eversole (Alberta) and Johnny Eversole (Doris), both of Manchester, Ky.; and two sisters, Phyllis Campbell of Garrard, Ky., and Margaret Napier of Hamilton, Ohio. She leaves behind a legacy of three daughters: Ruth Marion-Miller (Rob) of Fairland; Lucy Marion; and adopted daughter Christina (James) Miller, both of Shelbyville. She also leaves six grandchildren: Lauren (Collin) White of Killeen, Texas; Brody Anderson of Fairland; Jarrett (Briana) Miller, Harmony Anderson and Wyatt Anderson, all of Shelbyville; and Serinity Anderson of Indianapolis. She also leaves behind several grand- and great-grand-furball babies, nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.
A celebration of life will be planned and announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, help Ms. Betty Marion help others by making a donation to: The American Kidney Fund, www.give.kidneyfund.org. Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks and Stuart Parks are honored to serve Betty’s family. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.