Thursday, June 13, 2024
FEATHER OF KNOWLEDGE
4-H Poultry exhibitors on Tuesday not only had their birds judged by Judge Doug Akers, but he also shared tips on what to look for when selecting Poultry for show based on the American Poultry Association's American Standard of Perfection. Mr. Akers not only evaluated each bird to select class winners, Best of Breed, and Overall Best of Show, but left each 4-H exhibitor with knowledge to help them continue to succeed with their Poultry projects. Birds are evaluated on body type, color and condition.
Out of all the champions named in the show, Best of Show was awarded to Jeremiah Dewhurst (see below) with his Rhode Island Red. Gabriel Dewhurst was Reserve Best of Show with his Black Wyandotte.
Shelbyville High School salutatorian Jacob Harker is recognized at the recent Top 10 banquet. | photo by CAMILLE THOPY
Valedictorian Matney a Leader On- and Off-Campus and in Community
ABOVE: Shelbyville High School valedictorian Isabella Matney and her parents, Dr. Stephen and Angela Matney, pause for a photo after the Top 10 banquet. | photo by JACK BOYCE
In-line with the famous Scouts motto, Shelbyville High School valedictorian Isabella Matney is leaving the school and her home city better than she found it. Consider her painted planter project.
When Matney started taking classes at SHS as part of an advanced eighth grade group, she noticed the dreary and empty courtyards.
“I have always wanted to do something to brighten up the space,” she said.
After initially considering a mural, she landed on wooden planters. “It was perfect because if I had some of my friends paint the murals on the planters themselves, then in the winter when the plants didn’t look so good, the murals on the planters would still lighten up the space.”
She recruited fellow SHS student artists Karina Calderon, Wyatt Haacker and Daniel Vazquez and her uncle, Kim Knight, who secured donated materials. After four years of planning, design and labor, the planters will be installed this summer, leaving a lasting legacy as Matney heads to Indiana University to study biology.
Serving as co-editor of Squib, the school yearbook, along with Ella Johnson, is another example of Matney’s insistence on improvement.
“I had always wanted to get into photography, digital design and journalism, so it was the perfect mix of all of them,” Matney said.
The co-editors led a class of 18 students and guided the first-year advisor while producing a superior quality book. The result? A genuine leadership experience and revitalization of the program. Over 50 students applied to be part of next year’s Squib, a roster narrowed to a maximum 32 spots for 2024-25.
“I think yearbook is mostly overlooked by the people who aren’t in it, but it’s such an important part of every school year,” Matney said. “So much effort and collaboration goes into the finished product, and that’s what makes it beautiful.”
Matney also made her mark in the community, writing articles for The Addison Times and tutoring a nine-year-old. She is in her fourth summer working at the Meridian Park Family Aquatic Center. After serving as a lifeguard, she was promoted this year to management as a Crew Leader.
“I have really enjoyed being outside all summer and making some really great friends.”
And she has saved at least nine people during her tenure and taught life-saving skills while teaching swimming lessons.
“Guarding people’s lives comes with a lot of responsibility, and I definitely don’t take it lightly. I am grateful to have had this opportunity, and I have loved every year,” she said.
While her academic acumen speaks for itself, Matney was also involved on campus. She was student body president last year and served on Student Council throughout middle school and high school, as well as on the school’s Student Leadership Council to the principal. She also was in Spanish Club and participated on competitive academic teams.
“Surprisingly, I think one of the teams I will miss the most is Spell Bowl,” she said. “It’s such a unique experience, and it hit me after our last competition that I won’t be able to do something like it ever again.”
Matney said she loved learning new words, and the team advanced to state finals twice, even though – or maybe because - the team was “filled with people who didn’t take missing words to heart, and we were all able to joke around and have fun.”
As her senior year wound down, Matney found time to help organize a successful Riley Hospital fundraiser involving “pieing” teachers in the face. She also spear-headed a new winter dance, Snowcoming.
The planning was, again, a leadership experience of learning to motivate others to a cause.
“It ended up being very successful for the underclassmen since they didn’t have prom,” Matney said. “It was awesome seeing everyone have a great time and dancing, and I felt very accomplished.”
BELOW: Daniel Vazquez (first photo) and Wyatt Haacker (lower photo) paint planters for the Shelbyville High School courtyard, a project spearheaded by Isabella Matney.
NOTEBOOK:
The Cancer Association of Shelby County will be “Rocking for Dollars” next Friday, June 21, 5 to 9 p.m., in the southwest corner of Public Square. Funds raised will benefit those in the community battling cancer. “Stop by to rock, donate or shop at the Second Chance Store,” volunteer Theresa Adams said in an email.
NATIONAL NEWS: The latest data surrounding implicit sky law is in, and all sorts of things are apparently cool now, like asking to switch seats with another passenger (51 percent acceptable, 26 percent unacceptable), chatting with a stranger next to you for the entire flight (46 percent acceptable, 29 percent unacceptable), and putting your purse or jacket in an overhead compartment on a full flight (52 percent acceptable, 29 percent unacceptable). Reclining seats remains broadly popular (55 percent consider acceptable, 26 percent unacceptable), while making a phone call somehow has been edging toward acceptability (37 percent ok, 43 percent bad). Other situations in which a few bad actors ruin the whole experience include those who think it’s acceptable to remove their shoes (30 percent acceptable, 55 percent unacceptable), standing up immediately when the plane lands (29 percent acceptable, 50 percent unacceptable), and watching a movie that contains nudity (25 percent acceptable, 51 percent unacceptable). (YouGov/Numlock)
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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 from the Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department.
2014: U.S. Postal Service officials sent letters to St. Paul residents saying they were considering a reduction in hours for the St. Paul Post Office, 109 E. Washington St. The letter included a survey to determine the feasibility of reducing office hours or even closing the office and letting a local business contract the service.
2004: Whitney Robinson, 17, was crowned the 2004 Shelby County Fair Queen. Robinson was a rising senior at Waldron Junior-Senior High School. Sarah Coffey was Miss Congeniality; Alyse Deutsch, first runner-up; and Natasha Wells, second runner-up.
1994: City officials continued to search for ways to inform motorists that a right turn against the red light was permitted onto Harrison Street from the bridge onto North State Road 9. Even though the turn was legal, the Indiana Department of Transportation would not give the city permission to erect a sign notifying drivers.
Jeannie C. Riley, a country and western artist well-known for her hit “Harper Valley PTA” was contracted to return for the 15th Bears of Blue River Festival. With the anniversary, some favorite performers from past festivals were invited to return, such as Britt Small and Festival (Britt Small was originally from the Waldron area), Jeannie C. Riley, and The Marlins, a southern Indiana family who performed a variety show. Locals would once again do warm-up acts, including Jody Bogemann, Mark Gravely, Harvey and The New Blue Tones and Jes and Vicky Richmond.
1984: Federal Judge Sarah Evans Barker in Indianapolis was tasked with considering a restraining order against the Shelby County Jail concerning the treatment of inmates in the 110-year-old facility. Six former inmates had filed a lawsuit asking the county to replace, remodel or close the aging jail. Another issue was suspension of privileges. After a woman was caught trying to pass marijuana to an inmate through a telephone cable hole, inmates refused to give the sheriff any information. The privileges of those inmates, including reading, special visitations and commissary, were suspended for a time due to the incident. Another inmate complained that it was so hot in the un-air-conditioned jail that inmates “had to run around in nothing but our underwear.” Inmates had also gotten in trouble for using a bag of fruit to make “jail liquor,” Sheriff Rick Isrigg said.
1974: Plans were announced to dedicate Shelbyville’s new Salvation Army Corps Community Center. Edghill Moore was chairman of the local Salvation Army advisory board. Mayor Jerry Higgins was slated to give remarks.
1964: Downtown Merchants held a “Cold Turkey Sale” in which they sold “shop-worn, out-of-date, out-of-style, obsolete, reduced, sale-priced or what-have-you,” according to a flyer. A portion of the proceeds would benefit the Optimist Club.
1954: Wilbur Elliott, former local resident and one-time part-owner of the Alhambra Cigar Store, died in Puerto Rico, where he had been affiliated with a wholesale grocery business. He and his family had once lived at 624 S. Harrison St. He was survived by a daughter, Sherry Ellen Elliott, who lived in Indianapolis.
1944: The OPA placed price ceilings on all used passenger vehicles. Government officials said the regulation was necessary to curb the soaring prices of used cars, which had been rising as rapidly as $5 a month. Some auto dealers said the regulations only encouraged a wide-spread black market.
1934: With Boy Scouts down to one local troop, efforts were underway for reorganization. A meeting was set for “the old Scout Hall” on West Franklin Street.
Major Jester, manager of Goodman’s Department Store, announced he would open “The Cotton Shop,” featuring “cotton dresses, voiles, piques, seersuckers and prints,” on the second floor of the store.
1924: Friday the 13th was causing some consternation throughout town. “Some automobile owners, after looking over the combination of Friday and 13, are reported to have left their automobiles in their garages during the day,” The Republican said.
1914: Thomas Dorsey, 416 West Hendricks Street, suffered burns when a table lamp near his bed overturned and fell on his cot, igniting it and burning the clothes he was wearing. He was able to extinguish the flames by standing beneath a water faucet.
OBITUARIES
None today.