Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Chief Photographer
Mayor Scott Furgeson gets behind the camera yesterday to help visitors capture memories downtown Shelbyville. Public Square was busy with both visitors and locals coming out for the once-in-a-lifetime eclipse event. | photo by JACK BOYCE
Solar Eclipse from Shelby County
A compositive of the different eclipse phases and (below) a photo of totality, with sun flares visible at the edge of the moon, are featured in these JOHN WALKER photos.
Students Reflect on Eclipse Experience
It was, as Braelyn Grant observed, “the shortest four minutes ever.” Nevertheless, yesterday’s total solar eclipse at 3:06 p.m. left a lasting impression on local students, who seemingly stopped in unison while enjoying an e-learning day from school to don viewing glasses.
“It looked so, so cool,” Grant, a seventh grade student at Shelbyville Middle School, said after seeing the eclipse at her grandparents’ home in Pleasant View. “I was on black top, and it went from scorching hot to freezing cold in a matter of minutes.”
Chloe Caldwell called it “a truly surreal, eerie experience,” and Wyatt Sharp said it was “crazy how fast the sun disappeared.”
Another student, Kat Ahmad, who watched from the county, noticed nearby crickets chirping. “My favorite part was looking at the slight ring of light behind the moon,” she said.
Even with the media coverage beforehand, Halle Parker was still in awe.
“I didn’t really realize before it happened how cool it would actually be,” she said.
Parker and her family, who live outside of Waldron, spent the weekend cleaning up yard debris from last week’s storm. They took their glasses outside with them and started checking when the time neared.
“My family and I were very shook at how it looked,” she said, noting the feeling of sunset accompanied by fog.
As they gathered with family and friends, students across the county savored the moment.
“I felt grateful to have observed it, and thought only of the history being witnessed by millions,” Caldwell said.
Shelby Huffman, who was quite young during the 2017 partial eclipse, called yesterday’s total eclipse “one of the most beautiful, yet terrifying things I’ve ever seen.” Still, she enjoyed watching it with fellow church members at Crossroad Community Church. “I just can’t believe we have to wait another 20 years,” she said.
NOTEBOOK:
NATIONAL NEWS: America's insatiable desire for nutritional supplements has made a surprise hit out of fiber, long held to be the most boring of all nutrients. Metamucil, the Procter & Gamble staple for 90 years, has seen sales double in the past five years. Other innovators see the obvious, that all you need is a marketing budget and an understanding of the millennial mind to make any routine macronutrient blend into a gold mine. From 2019 to 2023, the number of fiber-centric supplements launched is up 14 percent, according to the Global New Products Database. (Wall Street Journal/Numlock)
The Addison Times publishes essential news and historical content to build our Shelby County community, and is free thanks to the generosity of supporters. Those who donate a minimum of $5 a month (or $60 one-time) receive an exclusive quarterly Addison Times magazine as an appreciation gift.
Want the daily edition read to you? Struggling with your email provider filtering out your local news? The Addison Times Substack app will solve those challenges!
This Day in Shelby County History
2014: Several teenagers were arrested after breaking into a home and throwing a party. The homeowner was vacationing in Florida. A pizza delivery driver arrived at the house at the same time as police. Papa John’s was asked to keep the pizza for evidence photos.
2004: Local law enforcement continued to respond to reports of people stealing anhydrous ammonia to be used in making meth. Prosecutor Brad Landwerlen said farmers’ planting season was a busy time for those involved in such thefts. Several arrested in the act had been from out of state.
Local car dealers reported sales of hybrid-powered vehicles were up. “I’m tired of these $1.70 gasoline prices,” one resident who drove a Toyota Prius said in The Shelbyville News.
1994: A Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy was found guilty by the Merit Board of using unnecessary force when making an arrest. The officer was suspended for 15 days without pay. The deputy had found a suspect trying to hide on Jefferson Ave., and had kicked the suspect in the head, struck him with his flashlight and stepped on his head.
1984: Several Shelbyville cable customers were frustrated that the new Channel 59, WPDS, was not yet available in the local market, causing them to miss the classic movie “War and Peace.” James Munchel, new cable manager here, said the local SBC Cable Co. already had all 12 of its channels filled, but hoped to expand by the end of the year.
1974: William Lightner’s home on Knightstown Road was burglarized. About $3 in pennies were taken from a jar. “Deputies said the culprit pried open a storm window to enter, and had cooked and eaten something on the kitchen stove before leaving,” The Shelbyville News said. In other law enforcement news, the Morristown town marshal arrested a 26-year-old man for being AWOL from the U.S. Army. The man was turned over to military police at Ft. Benjamin Harrison.
1964: A 12-year-old boy caught breaking windows at the Masonic Temple on South Harrison St. was sentenced to Boys’ School for an indeterminate stay by Judge Robert Ellison.
1954: A fund campaign was underway to obtain a two-way radio for Shelby County’s conservation officer, Basil Retherford. The state had declined to provide the radio, leading half of Indiana counties to obtain radios to connect their conservation officers to law enforcement. Shelby County law enforcement had been forced to drive around to find the conservation officer in the field when necessary.
1944: Federal officials announced the removal of expiration dates from food rations. Officials said the expiration dates had caused food hoarding. They also announced there would be less meat available the next quarter, but more cheese and butter stamps would be issued.
1934: Gross receipts of Shelby County retailers for the first quarter of the year outperformed Rush, Decatur and Johnson by some 40 percent. “The figures go to show that business establishments…are enjoying loyal patronage of county residents and many of whom live in neighboring counties,” The Republican said.
1924: A.J. Thurston, Elmer Billman, Otto Billman and Al Pence took the train to Cincinnati to purchase canning factory equipment for their new Shelbyville manufacturing facility.
1914: A dark room to develop film was installed at the Hoop Pharmacy on South Harrison Street. A new line of cameras and photo supplies were stocked. Film would be developed free of charge.
OBITUARIES
Thelma M. VanSickle, 103, of Shelbyville, passed away Sunday, April 7, 2024, at Timber Creek Village in Shelbyville. She was born June 29, 1920, in Boggstown, the daughter of Artie and Mary (Creek) Tennell. In September of 1940, she married Earl M. VanSickle, and he preceded her in death on February 3, 1994. Thelma is survived by her daughter, Barbara Craig and husband, George Rodney Craig, of Shelbyville; son, Larry E. VanSickle and wife, Gayle, of Estes Park, Colorado; granddaughter, Stephanie Schaefer and husband, Scott, of Fort Wayne; great-grandsons, Ethan M. Schaefer and Corbin J. Schaefer; and niece, Madaline Listenberger. In addition to Earl, Thelma was preceded in death by her infant brother, Earl Tennell; sister, Rosemond Giltner; and niece. Debbie Morningstar.
Thelma graduated from Boggstown High School in 1938. She was a member of West Street United Methodist Church. Thelma formerly worked at KCL for 25 years. She enjoyed volunteering at the Major Hospital Gift Shop for over 30 years. Thelma was also a member of Saint Joe Social Club. She also enjoyed square dancing.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to Noon, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Funeral services will follow at Noon, Wednesday, at the funeral home, with Pastor Steve Brackney officiating. Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville. Memorial contributions may be made to the West Street United Methodist Church, 629 S. West St., Shelbyville, Indiana 46176. Online condolences may be shared with Thelma’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Robert ‘Bob’ D. Harris, 59, of Shelbyville passed away Thursday, April 4, 2024 at his residence. He was born February 6, 1965 in London, OH to Richard V. Harris and Carolyn (Kelly) Harris.
He was employed in maintenance at PMC. People knew him as “Bob the builder.” He loved to fix things and was always working on small projects. Family was very important to him, and he always put his family first, but would help anyone else along the way.
Bob is survived by his sister, Richelle (husband, John) Ketchum; brothers, Richard Harris, Jr. (Tonya Lee), Randy Harris (Tammy Farris), and Roger Harris (Peter Neche); several nieces and nephews, and his ex-wife, Hope Shafer. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks, Stuart Parks, and Darin Schutt are honored to serve Bob’s family. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.