Tuesday, January 24, 2023
24 Hours in Addison Township: 4:12 a.m.
Justen Lock does his back workout at West Shelby Barbell on South Miller Ave. in a photo taken last fall. Lock grew up in Shelbyville and served in the Air Force six years. He wrestled in school and has done occasional bodybuilding. “I try to be competitive with myself and beat what I did last week,” he said of his workout. Lock goes home to shower after working out in the mornings and then heads to work at the VA Optical Lab in Indianapolis. | by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
END OF AN ERA
This 35mm photo shot by JACK BOYCE in 1973 shows the demolition of Jester’s Department Store.
City’s 2022 Planning and Building Report Released
Rendering of The Plant Apartments, which will involve the restoration of the former Coca-Cola Bottling plant and redevelop the former Porter Pool Center and Helipad to provide 168 apartment units. (Source: Birge & Held, from the Building and Planning Report)
The City of Shelbyville’s annual Planning and Building report has been published, department director Adam Rude announced in a media release yesterday. Below are Rude’s highlights of 2022.
New single-family home permits continued to rise, ending at 103 compared to 84 in 2021.
The total number of housing units permitted had a huge increase due primarily to The Plant Apartments (168 units) which was approved in late 2022, resulting in the overall number of new housing units totaling 296.
Construction costs also saw a significant increase, from $52.6 million in 2021 to $108.9 million in 2022.
Two significant updates to the Unified Development Ordinance, which will result in more developer-friendly procedures and higher-quality development standards.
A healthy rate of growth in the department's revenue, topping $320,000, compared to $266,000 in 2021.
NOTEBOOK:
Shelby County Commissioners yesterday approved implementing facility updates to comply with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)/Title VI requirements. The continual updates are necessary in order to obtain certain state and federal funding, attorney Jody Butts said. Jose Gonzales, facilities director, said he has already been working on the updates to the courthouse, the annex buildings, community corrections office and the jail. “I’ve been focusing a lot on the things I can do,” Gonzales said. There are other items, such as installing automatic doors at Annex I and window installations that he’ll need to contract out, he said. Some of the sidewalk ramps may need to be redone due to their pitch over the next few years, he added. County Auditor Amy Glackman said bond money, which has to be spent by this summer, has been used for the updates.
County Commissioners also approved holding over four incumbent Township Trustees, two Democrats and two Republicans, until replacements can be found. The current trustees - in Brandywine, Marion, Noble and Union townships - did not file for re-election, but no one offered to run for those posts. County Election Clerk Jeff Sponsel said he has been in touch with both party chairs and is awaiting written resignations from the affected trustees before the parties can caucus in new officeholders. “We can’t fill a vacancy until we have a vacancy,” he said.
The following students were named Shelbyville Middle School Athletes of the Week: Nevaeh Cole (7th grade girls basketball); Kiah Pandoli (8th girls basketball); Jasper Hahn (7th boys basketball); Tyler Gwinnup (8th boys basketball); Stormie Bolden (6th cheer); and Ella Breedlove (7th cheer).
HOOSIER NEWS: Indiana lawmakers have proposed several bills tied to marijuana use and regulation this legislative session, from decriminalizing marijuana and allowing medicinal marijuana to establishing different regulatory processes to support the state should marijuana use become legal. A majority of the bills filed for the 2023 session have been authored by Republicans and some appear to have bipartisan support. The main question, though, is whether lawmakers really have the appetitive to move forward in a significant way. Historically, Gov. Eric Holcomb has not supported marijuana legalization in Indiana because it is federally illegal. He largely echoed that stance when speaking with reporters earlier this month, but left open the door a little more by saying he would be “happy to discuss” decriminalization of simple possession of the drug. “I do not believe that simple possession at certain limits should derail someone’s life,” Holcomb told reporters at the annual Statehouse prayer service Jan. 9. “That doesn’t mean you ignore the law, but it does mean, as you I think allude to that if you don’t agree with something, you can change it. And I think in Indiana we’ve proven we can. On the federal front, I’m not so sure.” In a sign of possible momentum on legislation, a legislative committee in late 2022 studied health benefits and potential decriminalization of THC products. (IndyStar)
SHELBY COUNTY PEOPLE: Daniel W. Avery
Editor’s note: In the mid- to late 1940s, The Shelbyville Republican published a series of articles by Ave Lewis and Hortense Montgomery covering community people and places. Below is one of those 35 features.
With 54 years of printing behind him, the career of Daniel W. (Prize) Avery reads like a history of the Shelby County newspaper business itself, and at a youthful 69, he still sets a wicked galley of type as composing room foreman at The Democrat.
Oldest employee of The Democrat both in service and summers, he was first "bitten by type-lice" in 1893 when he went to work for W. Scott Ray, owner of The Shelbyville Democrat, great-grandparents of the current Shelbyville newspapers. He was a youth of 17 then and served his apprenticeship setting type by hand after being stepped up from a paper route to a composing room job.
Not until October 1902 did the International Typographical Union establish its local here, so an apprenticeship in those days served under the eagle eye of a composing room foreman. Offices of The Democrat were located then in the upstairs rooms at the northwest corner of Harrison and Franklin streets.
Prior to his initial taste of printer's ink, Avery ventured into the business world as a boy at Spiegel's furniture factory. His father, Herman Avery, was a carpenter from St. Paul, but brought his family to Shelbyville in 1890. From Spiegel's, D.W. worked for a short time as messenger boy for the local Western Union office and then began carrying papers. After Scott Ray's death, the task of operating The Democrat fell to his four sisters, the Misses Hattie, Fannie and Mary Ray and Mrs. Sadie Kamp. They hired a manager from Michigan, a move which met with open disfavor by their employees who quit their jobs in protest.
"The very day I walked out," Avery recalled, "I met John J. Wingate and his son who owned The Republican paper at that time, and they ‘signed me up.’" Later, when George M. Ray, Scott's brother, replaced the out-of-town manager on The Democrat, Avery returned to the fold. George Ray, incidentally, founded in later years what Avery called a "spite sheet" known as "The Liberal," but which survived only a few years. Avery, himself, was affiliated with the paper for a short time and selected composing room materials for the ill-fated venture.
After his short hitch with George Ray, he returned to The Republican, lured, he said, by a new linotype machine - Shelbyville's first. Harry E. Riggelsberger, regular man then at the Republican, taught him the intricacies of the linotype. Later, he and Avery both went to Charleston, West Virginia, to the Mose Donley Publishing Company. He worked there on state printing composition for about a year, returning to Shelbyville in August 1905.
In the meantime, John Day DePrez and a few others had bought The Democrat, which Avery described as having "gone to pot." At that time, The Democrat was getting all its type composition from "The Morning News," but finding that arrangement highly unsatisfactory, bought their own linotype which Avery took over when he returned from Charleston. Incidentally, they bought that old-time linotype for around $4,000; present day linotypes sell for around $8,000.
By that time the Shelbyville Typographical Union No. 532 was in existence, affecting salary and hour improvements for composing room men. Avery was the local's first secretary and served almost continuously in that position until about five years ago. A stockholder in The Democrat Publishing Company, he holds the presidency of the company, which was formed around 1907.
In June 1920, The Democrat was transplanted from its North Harrison location to its present site - without missing an issue.
"I had been down here getting the composing room set up," Avery said. "We moved on a Saturday after we got the paper out and were ready to roll again Monday." The present plant formerly was occupied by Oscar Hand & Son, undertakers and furniture dealers. Mr. Avery joined forced with another linotype operator on June 25, 1932 - matrimonial forces, that is. His bride was Miss Emma M. Cook, who ran a linotype on the Batesville Herald. Their first home was at 628 Elm Street; the Avery's live now at 1639 Meridian. They share a joint hobby in automobile vacation trips, which have been many and distant. But why Prize is called "Prize" remains unanswered. He won't tell, and he claims Mrs. Avery has never been able to find out either.
This Week in Shelby County" works by George L. Stubbs Sr. are owned by the Shelby County Historical Society (Grover Center) and used with permission.
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.
20 YEARS AGO: 2003
The law offices of Lux & Barrett announced the addition of J.D. Lux to the general practice of law and renamed the firm, 101 S. Harrison St., Suite B, to Lux Barrett & Lux.
30 YEARS AGO: 1993
The flu was hitting local schools. Waldron had 90 elementary students out and Southwestern reported nearly 100 out.
40 YEARS AGO: 1983
The Coca-Cola Bottling Co. on N. Harrison St. was undergoing a few changes brought about by the conversion of the local facility from an actual bottling plant to a distribution-only facility. But Richard Rehme, general manager of the plant here, quelled reports that the facility was to be closed by its new Chicago-based owners. The plant employed 18 full-time staff members.
50 YEARS AGO: 1973
Kennedy Car Liner & Bag Co. marked 50 years since a fire had demolished the local plant. Fred Thoms and James Wharton, night watchmen, had been eating their lunches in the main office in the wee hours of the morning when they heard a sound as if hail were falling against the window panes. This was followed by a whirring noise and a distinct explosion. Thomas entered the factory as the entire back section burst into flames. “Many neighbors and nearby residents claimed to be able to read newspapers by the light of the fire many blocks away from the scene,” KCL past president Harry Hanson wrote in the Bag Piper, the KCL employee publication. The day after the fire, Fred Kennedy, company president, set up shop in the building later occupied by the Monte Glove Co. A few days later, the Kennedy Company and its 230 employees were relocated to an old foundry just east of the Parrish Lumber Co. Production was limited to producing paper mothproof bags. Hanson said he and Hugh English rounded up the male employees to clean up the fire ruins. They worked many days with the temperature below zero. Within 60 working days, a new plant was built.
60 YEARS AGO: 1963
Michael Corley, 11, was revived after becoming unconscious due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Meredith Mann, emergency ambulance attendant, administered oxygen to Corley for about 15 minutes, and he was revived. The boy had been riding home in the back seat and there was a hole in the muffler beneath the car which fed the deadly fumes into the car, Mann said.
70 YEARS AGO: 1953
A newspaper feature covered Eva Randolph, executive secretary of the Shelby County Red Cross chapter. She was on-call 24 hours a day. With the beginning of the Korean conflict two and a half years earlier and the re-activation of Camp Atterbury, Randolph’s job had become more time consuming. Services provided for servicemen included the scheduling of the 18 gray ladies in Shelby County who worked at Camp Atterbury. She also oversaw the blood donor program and helped veterans find housing.
Dr. and Mrs. Paul Tindall were hosts for a dinner meeting of the Wi-Hub Circle at the Elks Club. The program was a “bird circus” presented by a bird trainer from Indianapolis. Guests for the meeting were Mr. and Mrs. Garnett Fleming, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Joseph, Jacqueline and Mary Joseph, Mrs. Karl DePrez, Mrs. Harry Karmire, Mrs. Earl Karmire, Frances Phares and William Kirk.
80 YEARS AGO: 1943
Thirty-five boys and 16 girls of the 8A class of the junior high school graduated and entered high school. A commencement ceremony was held, with Rev. J.C. Klingeberger speaking on the subject, “The Need for Boys and Girls in the Present Emergency.” Earl Gifford and F.J. Shull were sponsors of the class.
90 YEARS AGO: 1933
Local chiropractor Dr. H. Eugene Milleson reported spotting a robin near his home on Shelby Street. “The weather man, however, warns that these early robins will most likely experience some cold toes before the sun shines warm,” The Republican said.
100 YEARS AGO: 1923
Charles Curson, manager of the Alhambra Theater, announced Charles Major’s “When Knighthood Was in Flower” would return here for a three-day run.
Three members of the Ku Klux Klan entered the St. Paul Methodist Church, interrupted service and attempted to hand a gift to the pastor, Rev. Frank Hoon. The minister refused to accept the gift. “Apparently somewhat abashed, the hooded members retraced their steps to the door and disappeared,” The Republican said. “The pastor resumed his sermon and did not make any comment or explanation regarding the Ku Klux Klan.”
INCIDENTS
Thefts were reported in the 2000 block of S 550 W, the 500 block of S. Miller St. and 100 block of Van Ave., Shelbyville; and the 10600 block of N 700 W, Fountaintown.
A drunk driver was stopped at Walker and North Harrison Streets, Shelbyville.
Battery was reported in the first block of E. Locust St., Shelbyville.
JAIL BOOK-INS: Jonathan Batana, probation violation; Carl W. Lowe, attempted arson, arson, auto theft; Alvan V. McQueen III, criminal mischief, resisting law enforcement; Eric S. Nigh, failure to appear; Wilma D. Pinkard, unknown hearing; Justin E. Smith, failure to register; Gary A. Brown III, possession of controlled substance, operating a vehicle without receiving a license; Alma Gonzalez-Ruano, operating a vehicle without receiving a license, hold for another jurisdiction; Ashlee E. Fish, theft (3 counts); Brittani L. Hutchinson, theft (3 counts); Candace L. Hill, public intoxication, driving while suspended-prior; Kathleen S. Moreillon, OVWI; Amanda S. Morris, battery, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, invasion of privacy; Seth M. Quick, failure to appear; Karen L. Simmons, battery, resisting law enforcement; Justin R. Thomas, domestic battery, disorderly conduct.
OBITUARIES
Matthew Edward “Matt” Robertson, 49, of Shelbyville, passed away Saturday, January 21, 2023, at MHP Medical Center in Shelbyville. He was born July 4, 1973, in Shelbyville, the son of Larry Robertson and Lisa (Bastin) Lay. On July 23, 2016, he married “Cassy” Cassandra (Tucker) Robertson, and she survives. In addition to Cassy, Matt is survived by his father of Shelbyville; mother and step-father, Allen Lay, of Shelbyville; son, Samuel Robertson of Shelbyville; daughter, Tatum Robertson of Shelbyville; step-children, Joshua Shepherd, Timothy Shepherd and Samantha McQueary, all of Shelbyville; sister, Holly Robertson (Wendell Stewart) of Shelbyville; mother of his children, Erin Harmon of Shelbyville; mother-in-law, Jane Boucher of Waldron; step-grandchildren, Layken and Jaxon; nephews, Brayden, Ethan, Joel and Camdyn; and niece, Leila. He was preceded in death by his sister, Shelley Robertson; paternal grandparents, Paul and Myrtie Robertson; and maternal grandparents, Robert and Jean Bastin.
Matt graduated in 1991 from Shelbyville High School. He was a mechanic at Hubler Ford in Shelbyville. Matt enjoyed working on cars, listening to music, going fishing and camping, and watching movies. He also enjoyed watching the Indianapolis Colts, Texas Longhorns, Indiana University basketball and the Indianapolis Pacers.
Matt was preceded in death by his chinchilla, Rodney, and is survived by his cats, Bonnie and Clyde.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, January 28, 2023, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. Saturday, at the funeral home, with Pastor Andy Lee officiating. Inurnment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery at a later date. Online condolences may be shared with Matt’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Betty J. Poe, 98, of Cambridge City and formerly of Shelbyville, passed away on Sunday January 22, 2023 at Ambassador Healthcare in Centerville, Indiana. She was born on August 6, 1924 in Shelbyville to Albert and Neva (Henry) Fehrman. Betty graduated in 1942 from Fairland High School.
She married Floyd Poe on April 25, 1943. They were members of 1st Baptist Church of Shelbyville and then attended 1st Baptist of Cambridge City and Hillcrest Baptist of Richmond. Betty was employed for over 30 years at General Electric in Shelbyville. She and Floyd enjoyed traveling, camping, attending car races and IU Basketball.
She is survived by her daughter, Lynette (Steve) Waltz; grandchildren, Brandon (Crystal) Waltz and Kim (Dean) Bryant; nine great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandson. Betty was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Floyd Poe, on October 19, 2001; granddaughter, Stephanie Waltz and great grandson, Reece Able.
Friends may call from 10:00 AM until the start of the funeral service at 11:00 AM on Thursday, January 26, 2023 at Waskom Capitol Hill Chapel in Cambridge City. Pastor Mal Gibson will be officiating. Burial will follow the funeral in Forest Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville, Indiana.
Enid Patricia (Pat) Bennett, 95, passed away peacefully at her home in Nashville, Tennessee on January 15, 2023. Her husband of 73 years, Robert A. Bennett, survives her. Daughter of Enid Vandeveer Meredith and Joseph Tilson Meredith, Pat was born in Muncie, Indiana in 1927 and spent her childhood there.
Pat was a graduate of Bradford College and DePauw University where she was affiliated with Kappa Alpha Theta. She met Bob, who had recently returned from service in World War II, at DePauw and they were married in 1949. She lived nearly 50 years in Shelbyville, Indiana, where she raised her family, served on the Shelby Country Library Board and was a member of the United Methodist Church, PEO, the Unique Club and numerous other local organizations and groups. In the early 80s, Pat returned to graduate school, earning a Masters degree in Art History from Indiana University. A highlight of her graduate studies was a summer spent in France with a group of her fellow students. She went on to teach Art History at Indiana/Purdue University in Indianapolis and served for many years as a docent at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
She and Bob relocated to Nashville several years ago to be closer to family. Affectionately known in the family as "Sue," she enjoyed every opportunity to spend time with her daughters and grandchildren. A lover of crosswords, Impressionism, Broadway musicals, Cosmos, Paris and all cookbooks, her interests were wide-ranging and engaging. As did her mother, Pat had a great sense of humor and always enjoyed a good laugh.
In addition to Bob, Pat is survived by daughters Meredith (Joseph) Oliver of Beaufort, SC, and Sarah (Jay) Ramsey of Nashville, grandchildren Meredith (Andrew) Kalt, Helen (Ryan) Rominiecki and John (Molly) Ramsey, six great-grandchildren and nine nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother John Meredith and her nephew Todd Meredith of Muncie. The family would like to thank Pat's wonderful and kind caregivers, Kay Carter, Michelle Williams and Allison Bennett. A memorial service will take place at Forest Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville this spring. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Shelby County Library, 57 West Broadway Street, Shelbyville, Indiana 46176.