Tuesday, December 31, 2024
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS
TRAIL PROGRESS
Progress continues on Shelbyville’s Southwest Connector Trail, an extension of the 3.5-mile Blue River Tail. The trail extends from the city’s west side to cross State Road 44, passes through the middle and high school properties and continues east along W. McKay Road, then turns north and, with the lake on the east and Meridian Street homes to the west, connects to the Meridian Park Aquatic Center. The trail does not yet cross the Van Pelt Ditch. The project is scheduled for completion next year. | photos by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
NOTEBOOK:
Shelby County Commissioners yesterday approved the first comprehensive revisions to the county employee handbook since 2000. Donna Cook, Director of Human Resources, spearheaded the project. It was the final commissioners meeting of the year, and last for Kevin Nigh and Don Parker, who did not seek re-election. They will be succeeded by David Lawson and Nathan Runnebohm. Several county employees offered well wishes to Nigh and Parker. As a parting gift, county sanitarian Robert Lewis didn’t bring any new business for consideration. “I will spare you headaches and pass them on to the new commissioners,” he said.
Both Kroger and Walmart will be open regular hours on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Kroger will be open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. both days, and Walmart will be open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. both days.
Editor’s note: The Addison Times is pleased to offer free milestone announcements. We will include links each day to the following announcement submission forms: Engagement Announcement, Wedding Announcement and Anniversary Announcement.
The Shelby County Reads final season event on the book “Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan’s Plot to Take Over America” will feature Dr. Michael Hicks presenting on the lasting effects of the KKK on Indiana’s economy. The presentation will be Sunday, Jan. 26, 2 p.m., at the Intelliplex Conference Center. Dr. Hicks is a professor at Ball State University.
Thank you to Jeff and Leslie Bate for your generous $500+ donation, and thank you to every donor for your continued support of The Addison Times. Donors of $100 or more receive a quarterly print publication in the mail. Please consider a one-time or monthly donation to The Addison Times, either online or via a check to The Addison Times, 54 W. Broadway, #13, Shelbyville, Ind., 46176. Thank you for your continued support of daily local news and history. I appreciate each of you. - Kristiaan Rawlings, Editor
HOOSIER NEWS: Colleges are accepting a higher proportion of students in recent years. The median admissions rate at four-year colleges and universities increased by more than 7 percentage points between 2012 and 2022. One reason why colleges are accepting more students is because fewer high school graduates are going to college. In Indiana, the college-going rate was about 53 percent for the class of 2022 — a 13 percentage point decline from a decade earlier. Nearby Franklin College, which admitted 65 percent of students in 2012, admitted 93 percent in 2012. Ball State’s increase was less dramatic, admitting 61 percent in 2012 and 69 percent in 2022. And there are exceptions. Purdue University (West Lafayette), Notre Dame and Wabash are among those that admitted fewer students in 2022 than they did 10 years prior. (American Enterprise Institute/Indiana Public Media)
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Courier Archive Photo Page: 1969
SHS Courier Archive Highlights:
Dec. 1, 1955, Part I
The Show Group had performed earlier in the month at the DePrez Hardware, Lions Club and Elks Club holiday parties.
Donald L. Brunner, local attorney, had spoken at the Veterans Day program. Brunner graduated from SHS in 1938 and went to Hanover College, but his schooling was interrupted during World War II, when he served as an aerial navigator. He resumed his education at Indiana University.
Susan Scott (7th grade) and Langdon Scott (9th) had transferred to SJHS and SHS, respectively, from New York. Their father had transferred here to the local General Electric plant.
The hallway water fountain had become the scene of daily excitement, as students rushed to be the first to get a drink from it during passing periods. Sharyn Hotopp decided to “help Mike (Silbert) obtain the honor by directing the water in his direction.” Silbert, with water dripping off his face, attempted to throw handfuls of water at Sharyn in revenge.
Mr. Kuhn and Mr. Carmony started a Future Teachers of America chapter at SHS. “Don’t go into teaching unless you like people,” Kuhn suggested.
SHS alumni Bill Brown had been killed in November when his 1955 Plymouth was struck by a New York Central freight train at the East Broadway crossing. His brothers were David Eads, in the Navy, and 11th-grader Jon Eads.
Dan Thomasson, class of 1952, had been named editor-in-chief of the Indiana Daily Student at Indiana University. His sister was SHS junior Peggy Thomasson.
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.
2004: Michael Bowlby announced his intention to run for sheriff on the Republican ticket. Bowlby joined the department as a reserve deputy in 1983 and was hired as a merit deputy in 1986. He had been appointed by Sheriff Tom Debaun in 1999 as chief deputy. Bowlby, the son of Charles and Dorothy Bowlby and grandson of former Sheriff Fred Gravely, was married to Krista Bowlby, and they had three children.
Elks Club members held a reorganization meeting in the community room of Girls Inc. They were looking for a place to lease after recently selling their headquarters property to pay off debt.
Dr. Carlos Vieira had been hired to replace Dr. Eliseo Banguis as the new general surgeon at Major Hospital.
1994: Police received a call from a woman who reported a blue car was following her on I-74. The woman, who managed an Indianapolis club, said she and her passenger, an employee at the club, recognized the driver of the blue car as a customer who had just been at the club. Sheriff Deputy Jim Cowan investigated and stopped the car near Fairland Road. The man said the employee had told him that after she got off work, they could “participate in some extra-curricular activities,” according to the police report. Cowan followed up with the driver, who said her employee had failed to mention that detail to her.
1984: A local man who was sleeping in his 1963 Ford automobile on the city parking lot at River Road and N. Tompkins St. was beaten by three Shelbyville teenagers who were attempting to steal gasoline from his car. The man lived a block away and had accidentally fallen asleep in his car. Police arrested the teens.
1974: Bud and Shirley Mendenhall hosted their annual dinner for Triton Central football team members. Dinner was followed by numerous games.
Shelby National Bank installed a “Day-Night Teller” machine, activated by a Master Charge Card through the bank.
1964: David Thayer was named principal of Charles Major School for the remainder of the year, succeeding the late Lester Mullins. J.M. McKeand was finishing the year as principal at SHS, where James Sharp had resigned mid-year. McKeand, 60, of Brent Woods addition, had been a member of the Shelbyville school system for 37 years, including four years in military service.
Thomas’ Superette basketball team rang up a season point high for the City Basketball League when they beat WSVL, 169-101, at the armory. Lou Williams scored 52, and Jerry Binder added 31 for Thomas.
1954: Mr. and Mrs. Forrest Sipes, former Shelbyville residents living out west, saw a car with Shelby County license plates in Tucson. Upon inquiring, they found out the car belonged to Mr. and Mrs. James Pierce, who were wintering there. Sipes also recognized the car because he had serviced it while he was employed at Sandman Brothers.
The Fluff-N-Fold Automatic Laundry, owned by Thomas Wamsley, opened at 229 S. Harrison St.
1944: Mr. and Mrs. Grover Henderson, who had been in the midst of hosting a Christmas dinner at their home, 408 West Mechanic St., received a letter from their son, Sgt. Clifford Henderson, a prisoner of war in Germany. Henderson had been taken prisoner in January in France after he was forced to parachute out of the plane on which he served as gunner.
1934: “The boys (including some over 70 years of age) who have helped to keep the benches warm in Everett Rickett’s battery shop during the past year will get together at noon tomorrow, in the dining hall of the local Odd Fellows’ lodge, for the annual bean banquet of the Loafers’ Club,” The Republican announced. “Being seen with the crowd assembled at any time in (Ricketts’) hang-out on West Broadway automatically qualifies a man for membership in the club.” Willard Day, principal of Major School, and Dr. A.E. Cowley, pastor at First Baptist Church, would be the speakers. Charlie Comstock would be the chief cook for the 86 attendees.
1924: Justice of the Peace Harry Ray said 1924 had been a record year for marriages in his court. He had performed marriages for 52 couples, up from 34 in 1923.
Frank Fleming sold his oyster and game store on West Broadway to Elmer Stainbrook, of Fountaintown.
1914: The “water wagon” would once again make its rounds throughout Shelbyville at midnight. Some said it would be the last trip. “The old truck was taken out this morning, scrubbed, brushed and greased,” The Republican said. “The old wagon is a pretty rough cart to ride in. It seems to hit all of the bumps and jolty places in the road just for the sheer pleasure of the motion.” The paper said most people would ask to get off after only a short New Year’s ride.
A court session regarding a county property featured people on both sides of the issue speaking Hebrew. “The court room of the Shelby County courthouse today sounded like a chorus in a Jewish synagogue,” The Republican reported. Judge Blair brought in Mr. A. Goodman and Russell Adler, the son of Wolf Adler, to translate.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: Freeman Family Funeral Homes & Crematory
OBITUARIES
Patricia Jo McPherson, 89, of Shelbyville, passed away Sunday, December 29, 2024, at Franciscan Health in Indianapolis. She was born August 5, 1935, in Shelbyville, the daughter of Murvel and Ina (Weaver) Holliday. Patricia is survived by her daughters, Marcy Lee (Jenkins) Smock and husband, Dale, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Melanie Lynn (Jenkins) Thompson and husband, Steve, of Shelbyville; son, Walter Ray McPherson and wife, Amber, of Shelbyville; grandchildren, Daniel Smock, Samuel Smock, Kari Clarke, Kristi Borchardt and husband, Eric, and Nicholas Thompson; and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; and brother, Allan Craig Holliday.
In 1953, Patricia graduated from Broad Ripple High School. She retired from the Department of Defense finance center at Fort Benjamin Harrison in 2000, with 35 years of service. Patricia enjoyed watching NASCAR, listening to music and watching television.
Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Memorial contributions may be made at the Shelbyville-Shelby County Animal Shelter, 705 Hale Road, Shelbyville, Indiana, 46176. Online condolences may be shared with Patricia’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Betty Marie Roegner, 100, of Shelbyville, passed away Friday, December 27, 2024 at her residence. Born on February 12, 1924, in Piqua, Ohio, she was the daughter of Clifford Crotinger and Bertha (Finkbone) Crotinger. She married Donald Lee Roegner in 1942, and he preceded her in death in 1978. Survivors include six children, Donald Lee Roegner Jr., (Marlys) of Kokomo; Richard Roegner of Lakeview, OH; Sheryl Glover of Troy, OH; Douglas Roegner (Betty) of Shelbyville; Judith Gambill of Huber Heights, OH; and Bruce Roegner (Brenda) of Troy, OH; two sisters, Florence Booher of Piqua, OH, and Mary of Ohio; 23 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, spouse Donald and four brothers and sisters.
Betty had lived in this area for two years after moving from Troy, Ohio. She was a homemaker and graduated from Piqua High School. Betty attended West Charleston Church of the Brethren in West Charleston, Ohio. She enjoyed spending time at the senior center.
A Memorial Service will be held at a later date with burial in Covington, Ohio. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.
Roxanne L. (Weakley) Schutt, 70, of Manilla, passed away Monday, December 30, 2024, at Morristown Manor from a lengthy illness. She was born November 22, 1954, in Shelbyville, the daughter of Louis E. and Martha E. (Winkles) Weakley, whom preceded her in death. Also preceding Roxanne was her twin brother, Robert B. Weakley; brother, Paul D. Jones; and infant great-grandson, Brayden P. Schermerhorn. Survivors include her husband, Charles “Butch” Schutt of Manilla; son, Joshua A. Meredith and wife, Christina, of St. Paul; brother, Dr. Ronald G. Weakley of Modesto, California; step-sons, Chris Schutt and wife, Erica, of Needham, and Cody Schutt of Manilla; step-daughter, Kristina Barrera and husband, Jose’, of Indianapolis; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Roxanne was a 1973 graduate of Shelbyville High School. She worked at Williams Industries for nearly 30 years. Roxanne was a long-time member of Delta Theta Tau Sorority. She was a past member of Eastern Star and Bartholomew County Casa Volunteers. Roxanne dearly loved her family, friends and her loving dogs, Jackson and Susu.
A gathering of friends and family will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Friday, January 10, 2025, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. The celebration of Roxanne’s life will follow. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Indiana Chapter, 50 E. 91st St., Suite 100, Indianapolis, Indiana 46278 or Shriners Children’s Lexington Hospital, 110 Conn Terrace, Lexington, Kentucky 40508. Online condolences may be shared with Roxanne’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
James Pierce, of course, played Tarzan in the silent version of the story. However, after he graduated from Indiana University, he coached high school football around the Tucson area before moving to the Hollywood area. They were probably wintering in Tucson so that's probably why his car was spotted by the Sipes. He also coached high school football in Glendale, AZ where John Wayne was one of his players. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.