Tuesday, February 4, 2025
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS
NATURE’S CLASSROOM, PART III
ABOVE: Shelbyville Middle School students review headstones in a settlers’ cemetery in the Smoky Mountains over the weekend.
photos by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
BELOW: Conner Clagg and Austin Addis reflect during journaling time on the annual student trip to the Smokies, organized by SMS teacher Scott Hughes.
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NOTEBOOK:
Shelby County Commissioners yesterday tabled action on ordering a free energy audit until Veregy provides additional information on the process. The company first assesses county facilities for potential utility savings opportunities and makes suggestions for improvements. The county could then use Veregy to act as general contractor for energy efficiency upgrades in a “guaranteed energy savings” deal that would assure the county the savings would offset facility upgrades. The city of Shelbyville used Veregy, then known as Johnson-Melloh Solutions, for a similar project several years ago and saved nearly a half million dollars more than forecast, Veregy’s Rick Anderson said. These projects have in recent years also resulted in federal tax credits, but the future of that aspect of the program is up in the air. “Trump's basically come in and said he’s going to lob it off,” Anderson said, adding that he thought the program would continue in some fashion, although moving forward this year might offer the best odds. Anderson cited continual large increases in utility rates from Duke Energy as a reason to consider the program. “The utility situation in Indiana is kind of crummy right now,” he said. The audit would take some six weeks. Commissioners plan to revisit the issue next week, and will in the meantime check details of a similar lighting program the county utilized a few years ago.
Shelbyville Central Schools board member David Finkel spoke yesterday in opposition to Senate Bill 287, which would require school board candidates to declare a political party and run in primary elections. School boards are currently non-partisan. Finkel said he’s “never had partisan issues” come up during his 15 years serving, adding, “Let’s keep that rhetoric out of our school boards and let us focus on education.” SB 287 would also raise board member pay from the current $2,000 maximum by tying compensation to 10% of starting teacher salaries. The state has a $40,000 minimum — which would double school board pay — but new Gov. Mike Braun wants to land at $45,000. Finkel opposed the hike, saying, “We serve for the good of it, not for the pay.” A vote on the proposal is expected next week. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
A vehicle struck a cement barrier pole on Public Square, knocking it out of socket. The driver, from Anderson, Ind., said she thought the circle was “a roundabout” as she saw it years ago. She also said her windshield was not fully defrosted. The vehicle sustained major front end damage with liquid leaking from it, and the grill, bumper and windshield were heavily damaged. The vehicle was towed from the scene.
The owner of a vehicle parked at the casino came outside to see damage to the front quarter panel of his car. Security footage showed another vehicle striking the car and then leaving the scene. Decatur County law enforcement contacted the owner of the vehicle, who admitted to making contact with the vehicle, but said he did not know there was damage.
The first Shelby County Democrat meeting of the year will be Tuesday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m., in the public library annex. Meetings last one hour. Participants are asked to bring canned foods to be donated to local food pantries.
HOOSIER NEWS: Among Indianapolis area restaurants that closed in January were Jim Dandy, opened in 1964, Noblesville; Gallery Pastry Shop, opened in 2016, Indianapolis; Joella’s Broad Ripple; and Porter Books and Bread, Indianapolis. (IndyStar)
NATIONAL NEWS: Jimmy Carter posthumously won his fourth Grammy award for an audiobook he narrated called “Last Sundays in Plains: A Centennial Celebration”. The award follows wins for “Faith- A Journey For All” in 2018, “A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety” in 2015 and “Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis” in 2005, as well as nine other Grammy nominations in his lifetime. This breaks the three-win tie that Carter had long held with Maya Angelou for most wins in the audiobook category. Carter beat out Barbra Streisand, Dolly Parton and George Clinton in the category, commemorating those with incredible accomplishments in name recognition. (The Hollywood Reporter/Numlock)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights
September 18, 2009, Part II
Eleven foreign exchange students were enrolled at SHS, including Denis Maag, Germany, staying with Lisa and Terry Kuhn; Arthur Elean, Brazil, staying with Lee and Lori Riley; Francisco Javier Rivera Escobar, Mexico, staying with the Baileys; Yuka Takewaki, Japan, staying with Lee and Lori Riley; Lennart Olma, Germany, staying with Nalia Ulloa and Roger Armstrong; Daniel Olineira de Andrade, Brazil, staying with the Colliers; Paula Rosello, Spain, staying with the Blackburns; Arisa Tamamoto, Japan, staying with Rob and Jill Nolley; Emil Bjodstrup, Denmark, staying with Sirina and Doug Cassidy; and Alvaro Tenarro, Spain, staying with the Poes.
Another new driving law involved teens keeping a log for five months before a full license was issued. Sophomore Ben Nuthak called it “overkill and unnecessary” as well as “nearly impossible to legally prove.”
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: The Indiana Department of Education held a public hearing to discuss a proposed pavement rehabilitation of an 11.3-mile stretch of State Road 44 that ran from I-65 to McKay Road. Nine houses would be demolished to expand the road for additional shoulders.
1995: Identical twins, Thomas Tucker of Fairland and Wayne Tucker of Franklin, 27, met their younger sister, Jill Wren, 26, for the first time since infancy on the “Sally Jessy Raphael” show. The family became separated when the boys were barely a year old. The had hunted for her since they were 10. The show had paid to fly them all to New York for a surprise reunion.
1985: The Shelbyville Common Council voted to recommend a straight County Option Income Tax to be implemented for local city government. Mayor Dan Theobald said the tax was needed to replace dilapidated equipment in many city departments.
1975: A new supermarket was under construction in Morristown across from the new elementary school, with plans to open in early March. The store was one of the Ernie’s Supermarket chain which also had stores in Greenfield, Knightstown and Lebanon.
The Board of Works voted to establish a three-way stop at W. McKay Road and S. West St. until June, when the effectiveness of the sign would be reevaluated.
1965: Shelbyville High School seniors elected for May Court were Nancy Coers, Janet Grigsby, Shelby McRoberts, Judy Haas, Michele Dellekamp, Sally Vaught and Manarda Payne. The Lord Mayor had not yet been announced.
1955: Don Nading opened a photography studio at 603 S. Harrison St., where he and his family lived.
Construction of a wide screen at the Skyline Drive-in Theater, at the east edge of the city, began. The new screen would be 100 x 60 feet, larger than the previous 60 x 40-foot screen. The new screen would allow for Cinemascope motion picture showings.
1945: An upcoming basketball event, featuring Shelbyville Junior High School vs. Addison Township and another Addison team vs. Marion, would be a benefit for the Infantile Paralysis Fund.
1935: A thief stole a tire off a truck belonging to Morris “Tack” Thurston, who was incarcerated for 30 days on a charge of public intoxication.
1925: Paul Wells and Lawrence Brown ran away from the Gordon Children’s Home. They were later found out in the county. The boys returned “tired, cold and hungry. They were fed, warmed and put to bed, and it is not likely they will again attempt to travel, at least until the temperature climbs a bit,” The Republican said.
1915: Officials with the New York Central Lines said a new depot would be built in Shelbyville in 1915. Furniture factories had been loading their trap cars from the platforms at the factories, costing the companies more labor than usual. (A trap car was one in which a number of shipments were loaded, destined for multiple towns.)
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OBITUARIES
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