Thursday, May 8, 2025
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City Officials Discuss Morrison Park Proposal
Following a conversation at Monday’s Common Council meeting about the potential of the Boys and Girls Club using part of Morrison Park for programming, The Addison Times followed up for more details. Parks Board President Gary Nolley and City Councilman Chuck Reed reiterated that Club leadership had approached the city with the idea, which has been discussed in a couple of executive sessions, but a formal proposal has yet to be made.
“(The Boys and Girls Club and the Parks Department) are both positive entities in our community,” Reed said at the meeting. “This is not something where (the park) is going to be locked off and the community’s never allowed to be there. It’s a partnership.”
In an interview, Nolley agreed that a common mission exists between the organizations. “We’re not giving the land away. We’re not selling the land. (The Parks Department) is going to retain it, if we do anything at all.”
Nolley admitted to having concerns about any encroachment on park land, but also sees value to a potential partnership that involves the Club providing supervision and safety measures.
“I'm not hung up on, ‘It's our park and it's our responsibility,’ because there are a lot of things we can't do as a government. We can't do everything. Whether it’s state, federal or local government, sometimes you have to partner with somebody to get something done.”
They did want to clarify that the park will not be taken out of service. The shelters and traction rails will remain.
“We don't want to get rid of anything historical,” Nolley said. “We want to protect the things that are there.”
On Monday, Reed said the initial conversation had included talk of the Club cleaning the existing World War I war monuments and potentially expanding them to include other wars.
Nolley added that the Parks board was in no hurry to do a deal, and looked forward to expanding the circle of people providing feedback. “You have to start somewhere. You don't start with a public meeting.”
After determining the legal decision rests with the Parks board, the city is now awaiting a more formal presentation.
“If you had to summarize it at this point: a proposal was brought to us, and we listened to it,” Nolley said.
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NOTEBOOK:
MHP yesterday recognized Monna Linne Nurses of the Year recipients Morgan Murray, Rebecca Arkenberg, Lindsey Holmes, Amy Sullivan, Debbie Hotopp and Erika Lee. The award is named in honor of Monna Linne, who served her entire 43-year nursing career at MHP. This is the organization’s 28th year presenting the awards.
A two-vehicle accident occurred in the parking lot of 1601 E. Michigan Road, Shelbyville. One of the drivers said she was distracted by her passenger, who she believed was recording her, so she started “freaking out.” The driver began to speed through the lot and struck another vehicle. The passenger said he was Facetiming when the driver started yelling and screaming and then took off at a high rate of speed. A passenger in the impacted vehicle had to be extracted by the Shelbyville Fire Department and was treated on scene by EMS, who believe she hit her head against the airbag when it deployed. She was taken to the hospital. The driver of the first vehicle admitted she did not have car insurance. She was cited accordingly.
The Shelbyville Central Education Foundation is hosting a $40 “Guided Painting” event at Echo Effect to benefit the Foundation on Thursday, May 22, 5:30 p.m. Sign up is here…
HOOSIER NEWS: Indiana’s skies are a nighttime highway in the early weeks of May as millions of birds make the migratory passage north for their summer homes. Herons, sparrows and buntings of all varieties fly in huge numbers over the state — as many as 10 million or more some nights. Some of them will find a summer nesting site here, but most will pause to rest on the southern shores of Lake Michigan before travelling even farther north. The first few days in May had an average of about 4.5 million birds migrating over Indiana at night, and experts predict an average of about 6 million birds passing each night through the end of May. (IndyStar)
NATIONAL NEWS: A new scam takes people looking to obtain cheap health insurance and makes up fake employment for them at companies exempt from the stricter requirements of other firms. The marks are enrolled in a health plan offered by a company with a fake job that pays nothing, a hack that many opponents to the Affordable Care Act think is legal. Under the Act, insurance plans sold on the market must offer 10 essential health benefits, but those offered by large corporate employers don’t need to. So, by signing up the marks to “work” for a company that meets the bill — an MLM here, a data entry corporation there — you’re talking real money. In the last quarter of 2023, 88,100 jobs were in a scheme of this nature. (Bloomberg/Numlock)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights
Oct. 19, 1955, Part I
Mary Jane Stubbs, SHS senior and Squib editor, was selected as the DAR Good Citizen. She had been nominated by students along with Carolyn Ricke and Suzanne Stine, and was then chosen by the faculty.
Miss Williams, SHS art teacher, and some friends had driven all the way to Nova Scotia for a summer vacation. They went to Cape Breton Islands and took the new Cabot Trail through fishing villages and farmland.
Journalism students visited The Shelbyville News plant. The News had 8,364 subscribers and reached 85% of homes in Shelby County and 90% of homes in Shelbyville.
Larry Sandman was elected president of “S” Club, with Larry Phares, vice president, and John Nauert, secretary.
Mr. Norman Willey had been appointed as speech and hearing therapist for Shelbyville Schools. He succeeded Dohn Sipe, who had taken a position with Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company. Willey was a 1947 SHS graduate, a graduate of Hanover, and had completed graduate work at Indiana University. He had served two years in the Army.
Over 130 students were being served daily in the SHS cafeteria, which only had 80 seats. Inith Moore and Edna Baker were the cooks.
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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: David Finkel, president of Shelbyville’s Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals for the previous six years, received the Distinguished Leadership Citizen Planner award from the Indiana Planning Association. Amy Butcher had nominated Finkel for the award.
1995: The Honor Park at the Shelby County jail was formally dedicated. Members of the Civil Air Patrol raised the U.S. flag at the occasion. The park honored Shelby County’s war veterans.
1985: Mayor Dan Theobald’s threat to brick and cement the planters installed along downtown sidewalks brought two groups together to act as weed-eaters: The Shelbyville Junior High School band and people ordered to perform community service by Judge Jack Tandy. “They (city officials) say they have a lack of manpower,” Tandy said. “Well, we have plenty of it.” Theobald said he appreciated the offers, but he still believed merchants should take more responsibility for keeping the downtown area clean.
1975: The Northwestern Consolidated School Board voted unanimously following a four-hour meeting to proceed with a one-year voluntary pilot program for year-round school at Triton Elementary.
1965: Dorothy McNeely was named Shelby County Mother of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce. McNeely, mother of four, was one of 13 nominees. There were four runners-up: Pauline Smith, Waldron; Evelyn Schofner, Tucker Road; Mrs. Howard Neal, N. Vine St.; and Pat Wettrick, Columbus Road.
Gordon Pope, 26, was named head basketball coach at Triton Central High School.
1955: Ten Jaycees cleaned the “Hollywood” area near Big Blue River. They were Dale Osborn, Milan Lummis, Don Lutes, William Nentrup, Dave Gallagher, Jerry Vawter, Robert Thomas and Walt Alexander.
1945: George Apple was listed as missing in action over Germany. His wife, Rosella, of Waldron, was notified by the War Department via telegram. Second Lt. Apple had been the pilot of a P-51 Mustang fighter plane.
The local Victory Day Committee offered recommendations for businesses when war victory was announced: close business within 15 minutes for the remainder of the day, and if the announcement came at night, close all the next day. To prevent loss “by over-enthusiasm,” merchants should move merchandise and supplies inside, turn off all lights and “then join in the wholesome fun and celebration yourself, keeping in mind we still have another war to win.”
1935: The Shelbyville City Council adopted a resolution demanding Shelby County pay the city $832.16., half of the fee for electric current used in ornamental lights in front of the courthouse for the previous five years. The issue had previously been raised to county officials, who approved sending the city only a few dollars.
1925: “Japanese girls, Robin Hood and his band, toy soldiers, butterflies and clowns all danced for Miss Helen Williams, May Queen of 1925, and about 1,200 other guests who attended the annual May Festival” at Paul Cross Gym, The Republican said. Leonard Hotopp was Lord Mayor. Little girls from School No. 1 dressed in Japanese kimonos and sang spiritual songs, such as “Old Time Religion” and “Swing Low Sweet Chariot.”
1915: Despite unseaonably cold temperatures, 26 were baptized in Lewis Creek by the Lewis Creek Baptist church pastor.
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OBITUARIES
James Chaney, 53, passed away Monday May 5, 2025 at MHP Medical Center. He was born January 5, 1972 in Chicago, IL to Carl E. Chaney and Mary Lou (Tidmore) Chaney.
James enjoyed going to casinos, shooting pool and going fishing. He was a jack of all trades and had previously worked in construction. He specialized in building houses and fixing heavy equipment. More recently, James traveled with Huesman Amusement Company and worked at local fairs and carnivals.
He is survived by his father; his sister, Mary Christine Harris; his brothers, Douglas Chaney and Clayton (wife, Susan) Chaney; his sisters, Sue Ann (husband, Jay) Tinsman and Kathy (husband, Bryce) Bost and his fiancé, Donna Durham. He was preceded in death by his mother and his brother, Carl Newman Chaney.
Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks and Stuart Parks are honored to serve James’s family. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.