Thursday, October 10, 2024
HALLOWEEN SCENE
The moon shines over Ruby Drive condos, decorated for the season, Tuesday night. | photo by JACK BOYCE
SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS
With Shelbyville Central Schools on Fall Break, we’re looking back at highlights from the first quarter. Here, freshman Reagan Dillon gets some help from her dad, firefighter Heath Dillon, and his co-workers at an FFA fundraiser event at Dairy Queen. | photo by SYDNEY BROWN
NOTEBOOK:
The Shelbyville Board of Zoning Appeals approved four petitions at Tuesday’s meeting. The board approved sidewalk exemptions with stipulations for three properties: 300 and 403 Foxridge Court and 996 James St. The Foxridge Court properties are owned by Gabriel Sundvall and Thomas Sundvall, respectively. Gabriel Sundvall said he intends to live in the house he builds; Thomas Sundvall said he will likely sell his. The board also approved with stipulations a request to rezone land approximately 585 feet west of the intersection of County Road 400 N (Fairland Road) and Tom Hession Drive to allow for the seasonal outdoor storage of boats, campers and RVs and the use of gravel instead of concrete or asphalt at the storage area. Concrete drives will be installed to prevent gravel from reaching the road. The petitioner was represented by Eric Glasco, attorney with Stephenson Rife.
A bicycle struck a vehicle at the intersection of E. Broadway and S. Harrison. The bicyclist reportedly told the driver he was fine.
Shelby County residents wishing to make a monetary donation to help with hurricane relief and recovery efforts in North Carolina can make a donation to the Shelby County Disaster Recovery Fund at BRCF until October 31, 2024. BRCF will send all donations to the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina that serves Asheville and surrounding communities. A community foundation often knows first-hand the legitimate organizations and efforts that need immediate support and can quickly distribute funding. To learn more about where donations will be going and how they will be used, click here: https://cfwnc.org/.../hurricane-helene-relief-and-recovery Donations will not be endowed or charged a fee; funding will immediately be distributed to nonprofits and other charitable organizations as determined by the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. Direct link to donate through BRCF: https://form.jotform.com/233178345673160
Volunteers are needed to help remove invasive plants along the trail at Blue River Memorial Park during a Weed Wrangle event on Sat., October 12, 1 to 3 p.m. This is a family-friendly event. Volunteers are asked to bring gloves and wear long-sleeves, jeans, and closed-toe shoes. Tools will be provided. (Volunteers can also bring their own tools if they would like.) Volunteers should meet at the Green Bridge near the Cross Country Course at Blue River Memorial Park. Please call Steve Weber with any questions, 317-729-5008.
The 52nd Annual Shelbyville Gift & Hobby Show will be held Saturday, Nov. 2, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the Shelbyville Middle School, 1200 W. McKay Road. There is no admission charged at this event, which is hosted by Delta Theta Tau Sorority, Zeta Lambda Chapter, and will feature more than 100 vendors selling handmade holiday items, personal care items, jewelry, art work, items made of wood, glass, yarn, fabric and more. Lunch and refreshments will be available for purchase. For vendor information, visit https://www.facebook.com/ZetaLambda.org and send a private message with your name, product name and your email to our page administrators.
NATIONAL NEWS: For the past 50 years, the Van Gogh Museum has stepped away from discussions about forgeries of Van Gogh, a practice that ended in a shocker of a research piece published in The Burlington Magazine identifying three purported Van Gogh works that the leading research center on the artist has concluded are fakes. One is Interior of a Restaurant, which surfaced in the 1950s and was regarded as a second version of Interior of the Grand Bouillon-Restaurant le Chalet, Paris, which Van Gogh painted in November or December of 1887. The giveaway that Interior of a Restaurant is faked is twofold: First and foremost, one of the colors is Manganese blue, a synthetic pigment only patented in 1935, and second, the flowers include sunflowers, which wouldn’t have made it to November on tabletops and likely were an interpretation of the forger working from a black-and-white photo. Another potential fake — Head of a Woman, sold for $993,250 in 2011 — is now thought to be a copy made between 1902 and 1909 and squirreled away for a century. (The Art Newspaper/Numlock)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights:
May 15, 1981, Part I
Some of the favorite senior phrases had been “Fire ’em up!”, “How does?” and “Go for it!” The senior class’ favorite song was “Keep on Loving You” by REO Speedwagon. Their favorite TV show was “General Hospital,” and “Friday the 13th” was the best movie. “Since there doesn’t seem to be too many hangouts around Shelbyville, there was no real favorite. Some of the most popular places were Pizza King, Pizza Pro, Bear’s Den and McDonald’s.”
Drew Soshnick and Sherri Soller were voted Most Outstanding Seniors with other top vote-getters including David Zak, Lynn James and Scott Richardson, Todd Beaumont reported. The most popular girl was Pam Peters, and most popular boy was David Willis, who said, “After four years of running (unsuccessfully) for Student Council and saying it wasn’t a popularity contest, I finally win a popularity contest.” Doug Strobel was most athletic. “Unlike David, I made Student Council both years I ran,” he added. Brenda Kelsay was most athletic girl. Scott Law and Kim Skinner were voted as best dressed seniors. “Rumor has it that once a month the two fly to New York to buy their clothes for the next month,” the article said. Others nominated were Warren Burris, Kim Haulk, Sherry Denton and Jeff Owens. “Jeff Johnson, with a little help from a suntan he got in Florida, won best-looking guy. The best-looking girl was voted Cindy Everhart.” Drew Soshnick and Nancy Marshall were most likely to succeed. “Nancy was so speechless that John Laughlin had to speak for her. He said, ‘It’s all due to Mr. Blanck’s American Problems class.’” Steve Antle was class clown. Jeff “Elroy” was class drunk. “Due to one very eventful night last fall that most seniors won’t forget for a long time, the person voted with the best parties was DeeDee Inlow. Other people who also have good parties are Tino Mills, Brad Carr, Jean Brunner and Danny Brinson.” Stephanie Schaf was voted class mouth. “No comment,” she said. Susan Woollen added, “For once, she’s keeping her mouth shut.”
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: Editor’s note: Due to a microfilm processing error, the 2014 section for the next couple of weeks will serve to memorialize a local individual who passed away that year.) Martha Jane Oldham, 87, passed away Jan. 15, 2014. Oldham graduated from Manilla High School in 1944. She had retired from the State of Indiana Child Support Division in 1994, after 35 years of service. After retirement, she worked at Shelby County Mental Health and volunteered at Major Hospital, where she knitted hats for infants.
2004: Merritt Borden, 81, who had been a bus driver for 47 years for Northwestern Consolidated Schools, died. Triton students and bus drivers showed their respect the following day by spending the morning in the bus garage decorating bus No. 20. They then drove it to Carmony-Ewing Broadway St. Funeral Home in the afternoon for the funeral services.
1994: The Shelbyville Board of Aviation Commissioners hired a contractor to redirect County Road 400 N, part of the airport expansion project. The project called for 400 N to be redirected about one mile to CR 500 N. The board was changing the direction of the runway, and part of 400 N would have been in one of its clear zones.
1984: The county courthouse was busy on the last day to register to vote, with approximately 175 registering in one day, County Clerk Mike Hauk reported. The registration process was moved from the clerk’s office into the upstairs lobby.
1974: Cow Palace on the Square congratulated Mrs. Richard Pursley, Jennifer DeVoe, Sylvia Higginbotham, Jo Ellen Bader and Connie Tucker, who were “100 Dip” winners.
1964: Faye Reed, assistant Waldron postmaster, retired. She was recognized for her 29 years of service with a plaque and gift at a dinner at the fire station. Postmaster Arno Kuhn Jr., former postmaster Thomas Cartmel and substitute Teresa Cox presented Reed gifts.
Hundreds of locals went to hear President Johnson speak downtown Indianapolis. “Disregarding elaborate security measures set up for him, Johnson turned on his Texas charm for the enthusiastic Hoosier crowd,” The Shelbyville News reported. “Many wouldn’t be denied a chance to shake his hand or just to touch him, and Johnson did everything possible to accommodate them in actions, which kept a swarm of bodyguards in a frenzy.”
1954: The northwest corner of the Colescott-Harrison St. intersection, site of a filling station for most of the past 25 years, was slated to return to the gasoline business. Clyde Campbell announced plans for a Socony-Vacuum station on the ground, which once housed a Pure Oil Co. station.
1944: The National War Fund drive opened locally. The overall county quota was $18,000, with Shelbyville asked to raise $6,200 of that amount by Armistice Day. The local effort was overseen by Tri-Kappa.
1934: A total of 173 surplus hogs were taken to Bernard Douglas’ farm, one mile southeast of Shelbyville. The hogs would be butchered on occasion and the pork issued to needy families in the city and county.
1924: A local straw poll showed Shelby County was strongly in favor of re-electing President Coolidge.
Postmaster George E. Young appointed Louie New as substitute city mail carrier.
All banks would be closed Monday, Oct. 13, in celebration of Discovery Day, officials announced.
1914: Members of the First M.E. Church enjoyed a Halloween social. “Those present were masked in sheets, pillow cases and other things white, to resemble the mythical Halloween ghost,” The Republican said. As members entered, numbers were pinned on them. Later, a contest was held with members attempting to guess who the others were.
OBITUARIES
Charles Petrey Jr., 58, of Indianapolis, passed away Monday, October 7, 2024. He was born January 15, 1966 in Rushville, Ind., to Charles G. Petrey and Clara F. (Forman) Melvin.
Charles worked at Crouch Industries and specialized in fabrication for many years. He had a love for working on cars. His favorite times were spent with his friends and family.
He is survived by his daughter, Amanda Morris of Shelbyville; his sister, Grace Dye of Rushville; his brothers, Shannon Petrey and Scotty Petrey of Kentucky; and his uncles, Fred Forman and Ray Forman of Rushville. He was preceded in death by his parents and cousin, Christopher Forman.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks and Stuart Parks are honored to serve Charles’s family.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Charles Petrey Memorial Fund in care of Murphy-Parks Funeral Services, 703 S. Harrison St., Shelbyville, IN 46176. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.
Mary Christine “Chris” (Adkins) Self Branson, 93, of Shelbyville, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, October 8, 2024. She was born June 7, 1931, in Greenup County, Kentucky. Chris was the daughter of Marion and Martha (Ash) Adkins. She married John Kenneth “Kenny” Self, and he preceded her in death on January 17, 1983.
Chris is survived by her son, Kim B. “Skip” Self and wife, Tracy, of Shelbyville; grandsons, Ryan Timmons and wife, Michele, Justin Self and wife, Krystal, and Kyler Self; and great-grandchildren, Hayden, Rylyn, Ella Grace, Kaitlyn, Jorden, Braydon, Elijah and Naomi. In addition to Kenny, Chris was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Talmage, Virgil, Oscar, Rosco, Herbert and Junior; and sisters, Gladys Smith and Eveline Ray.
In December of 1984, Chris married Bob Branson, and he preceded her in death in July of 2022. Also surviving are his children, Kathy, Keith and Kevin and their families.
Chris graduated from Arlington High School in 1949. She was a formerly a member of West Street United Methodist Church and attended Ray’s Crossing Christian Union Church. Chris formerly worked at the Kopper Kettle, Westinghouse and retired from K.C.L. Corporation. After marrying Kenny and becoming a mother and homemaker, she volunteered for numerous projects for many years. She spent countless hours over the next 20 years, at Kenny’s side, at the Boys Club. She was a second “Mom” to many Shelbyville boys and received the “Woman of the Year Award” in 1971. Chris loved to travel, read, cook, play cards, paint, garden and cherished spending time with her grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 10 to noon, Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Funeral services will follow at noon, at the funeral home, with Dion Reed officiating. Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville. Memorial contributions may be made to the J. Kenneth Self, John Hartnett Jr. Boys Club, 710 S. Miller St., Shelbyville, Indiana 46176. Online condolences may be shared with Chris’ family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
John Tommas Fleenor, 36, of Shelbyville, passed away Monday, October 7, 2024. He was born March 20, 1988 in Greensburg, Ind., to Tommas Fleenor and Donna (Koors) Fleenor.
John attended Shelbyville High School. He enjoyed being outdoors and going on adventures. Whether it be exploring state parks, roller coasters at amusement parks or any other random trip, John enjoyed living life. He had a love for working out and improving his physical health in the gym. John was a past resident and leader of the Progress House in Indianapolis. Ultimately becoming a Peer Recovery Coach. He was also a Certified Recovery Specialist at Holon Health. He helped numerous people better their lives through the various organizations he was involved with in recovery through the years. He also became certified with the National Personal Training Institute of Indiana. John enjoyed attending the Vineyard Church in Greenwood. Through all of the people he helped and received help from, the family would like his work and dedication to the recovery community to be his legacy.
John is survived by his mother; his sisters, Samantha Fleenor, Abby Fleenor, Amy Fleenor and Tersea Fleenor; his bothers, Ike Fleenor (Bridget Bryan) and Marshal Fleenor; his niece, Mckayla Stone; his nephew, Noah McDonald and several other nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father; his maternal grandparents, Martha and Tom Weintraut; his paternal grandparents, Ruby and John Davis and his nephew, Paul Bradley Fleenor.
A Gathering of Friends will be Tuesday, October 15, 2024 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Murphy-Parks Funeral Service, 703 S. Harrison Street, Shelbyville, IN 46176. A Celebration of Life will be at 6 p.m. at funeral home with his sister, Abby Fleenor officiating. Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks and Stuart Parks are honored to serve John’s family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the John Fleenor Memorial Fund in care of Murphy-Parks Funeral Services, 703 S. Harrison St., Shelbyville, IN 46176. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.