Tuesday, June 2, 2026
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS
BRCF Landscape Project Taking Shape
Work is underway on a new landscape and public art project outside the Blue River Community Foundation building on West Broadway. The project was funded through a Lilly Endowment grant and designed with assistance from students in the IU J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program. | photo by JOHN WALKER
Duke Easement Approved; Commissioners Discuss Drainage Complaint, Event Security
Shelby County Commissioners yesterday approved an expanded easement request from Duke Energy across county-owned farmland south of Shelbyville as part of a utility infrastructure upgrade project. Duke plans to replace aging poles and equipment along a corridor stretching from McKay Road to County Road 700 South.
County officials said the project will widen an existing easement from 25 feet to 100 feet and add additional utility poles. Stephen Spencer, a Duke Energy representative, said the upgraded poles will be taller and stronger.
The easement agreement includes provisions requiring Duke to remove abandoned facilities and compensate farmers for any crop damage. Spencer said reimbursement is based on local market prices and average yields.
Commissioners also received an update on the Waldron Conservancy District water project. Jody Comer, with the Southeastern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, said grant agreements and environmental reviews have been completed, which allow the project to move forward. The grant has an 18-month completion timeline, with provisions for extensions if needed.
In other business, commissioners approved a revised agreement with SaltCo for water-softening services at county buildings. Facilities Director Jose Gonzales clarified that the program will cost approximately $1,000 more annually than originally reported, but officials said the service will improve efficiency and reduce manual handling of salt bags by maintenance staff.
Emergency Management Director Denis Ratekin said camera towers will be deployed Friday during the Taste of Shelby County on Public Square. The towers are used to monitor large public events and assist with public safety operations. The annual event will feature food vendors, live entertainment, family activities and a car, truck and motorcycle show.
Highway Department Superintendent Ben Taylor reminded residents that the westbound Interstate 74 entrance ramp from SR 44 is expected to remain closed through the end of the year as part of ongoing interstate construction. The official detour directs motorists east on I-74 to SR 244 interchange before returning westbound. Commissioners noted the closure could increase traffic on East Michigan Road and other local routes. (Last night, Mayor Scott Furgeson told the Shelbyville Common Council that the westbound I-74 closure had not created any significant truck traffic issues in Shelbyville on its first day, though he noted traffic appeared heavier on North Riley Highway as motorists adjusted to the detour.)
During public comment, county resident Terri Meal asked commissioners to intervene in an ongoing drainage dispute involving erosion along a ditch near her property in Brandywine Lakes Estates, near County Road 450 North. Commissioners said county records do not identify the waterway as a regulated county drain, which limits the county’s authority to require corrective action. Commissioners explained that regulated drains are maintained through a formal assessment process and are documented within county drainage records. Without that designation, commissioners said the matter would generally be considered a civil issue between neighboring property owners.
The board also approved several utility right-of-way requests and authorized the Highway Department to dispose of surplus equipment through an online auction service. County officials said many of the items have been unused for years and continue to generate insurance costs for the county.
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NOTEBOOK:
The Shelbyville Common Council last night approved on second reading ordinances increasing wastewater and stormwater utility rates. City officials said the increases are intended to support future infrastructure improvements, help fund ongoing system maintenance and position the city to qualify for grants and low-interest financing for utility projects. The wastewater rate increase will take effect with the August 2026 billing cycle, while the stormwater ordinance raises the city’s monthly stormwater fee.
Downtown Shelbyville will be busy Friday as both the City of Shelbyville’s annual Government Day Lunch and Shelby Senior Services’ Strawberry Festival return to the downtown area. The event will also celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Mayor Scott Furgeson said city employees have ordered 400 hot dogs for the free Government Day Lunch, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on East Washington Street. The lunch includes a hot dog, chips and a drink while supplies last. “We run out every year, but we always wait for that year where it rains, and then we’ll have too many hot dogs and not know what to do with them all,” Furgeson said. At the same time, Shelby Senior Services will host its annual Strawberry Festival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Public Square and at the Major Hospital parking lot. Strawberry shortcake and ice cream will be available for $8, with both walk-up and drive-thru service offered.
A driver escaped injury after a single-vehicle crash Friday afternoon in the former Big Lots parking lot on East Michigan Road near Saraina Road. According to police, the vehicle struck the concrete base of an old light pole after the driver failed to see it while pulling away from a parking space. The vehicle sustained substantial damage but remained drivable, and no injuries were reported.
The following couples applied for marriage licenses last week at the Shelby County Clerk’s office: Rachel L. Risley, 36, and Ronald L. Johnston, 34; Blake L. Wilkins, 41, and Amanda Elmore, 42; Tyler A. Deamron, 29, and Zoe L. Peters, 26; Caleb J. Litmer, 24, and Olivia D. Wagner, 24.
HOOSIER NEWS: Indiana’s infant mortality rate remained at a record low in 2025, according to preliminary Indiana Department of Health data. The state recorded 6.3 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, unchanged from 2024 and the lowest rate since record-keeping began in 1900, with nine fewer infant deaths than the previous year. While Indiana continues to improve, its infant mortality rate remains above the national average of 5.36 deaths per 1,000 live births. (Indiana Public Media)
NATIONAL NEWS: Preliminary findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put the fraction of Americans who are smokers at 9.1 percent, a new all-time low. That’s down from close to 42 percent of U.S. adults smoking in the mid-1960s, and continues the gradual shift away from tobacco use. The use of electronic cigarettes has stayed flat year over year, according to the latest data release, at about seven percent. (AP)
The Addison Times is pleased to offer free milestone announcements. Forms are available here: Engagement Announcement, Wedding Announcement and Anniversary Announcement.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: MAJOR HEALTH PARTNERS
This Day in Shelby County History
Local headlines reported on or around this date in Shelby County history. Selections are curated by The Addison Times from Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department materials.
2016: Shelbyville High School senior DeShaun French advanced to the state track championship. He had finished sixth in 2015.
2006: Demolition began on a series of buildings that once housed Wellman Thermal Systems.
1996: Low Bob’s Discount Tobacco opened at 2449 E. State Road 44.
1986: Palco Telecom officials announced plans to open a telephone refurbishing plant in the former TRW Cinch building on East Hendricks Street. The company said they would hire up to 200 local employees. TRW had consolidated its operations to its Noble Street plant and an overseas site in 1985.
1976: The Shelby County REACT (Radio Emergency Associated Citizens Team) set up shop at the Belaire Shopping Center to give Memorial Day travelers a chance to rest. Some 400 travelers took the I-74 exit to take advantage of free coffee, tea and doughnuts, which the club served continuously from Friday 6 p.m. to Monday 6 p.m.
1966: The FOP and Auxiliary Police announced they were stopping the popular Shelby County Fishing Rodeo, which had been held annually for nine years. Patrolman James Pickett said the group decided to discontinue sponsorship because “we got too much criticism.” Some in the community had criticized how prizes were distributed. Although most prizes were determined by the size of the fish, there was also the “Best Sportsman” award, which was subjective.
1956: The Strand offered kids free admission to “The Big Leaguer” by bringing in a sack of tin cans.
1946: Captain Carl Bohman, 24, was listed as the 79th name added to Shelby County’s Gold Star list for World War II. Bohman had been listed as missing in action since Sept. 14, 1944. His plane and that of a wing man had reportedly entered a dense cloud near New Guinea and were not seen again.
1936: The Shelbyville Nationals defeated the Arcadia baseball team, 28-2, at Kennedy Park. Only one Shelbyville player did not score.
Forty men returned to work on the Shelby County Courthouse, following the end of a stone workers strike in Bedford.
1926: Sheet rock asphalt was placed on Harrison Street at Broadway as a test. Representatives of the paving company had asked the city if they could place their product in select locations to prove its value, without expense to the city.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: Freeman Family Funeral Homes & Crematory
OBITUARIES
Robert A. Bennett Robert A. (Bob) Bennett, 100, passed away peacefully at his home in Nashville, Tennessee, September 2, 2025. He was preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, Patricia Meredith Bennett. Son of Allen C. and Oleatha (Ensminger) Bennett, Bob was born April 25, 1925, in Shelbyville, Indiana, where he lived most of his life. Well known as the owner of Todd-Bennett Clothier in Shelbyville, Bob also took a leading role in a number of local organizations throughout his life.
A 1943 graduate of Shelbyville High School, Bob was named Lord Mayor as the top student in his class and escort for the May Queen. At the outset of World War II, Bob enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served as a Navigator with the Fifteenth Air Force. In a letter to his parents, he wrote that his first raid over enemy territory had been “a tough one, but now I have that one under my belt, and I feel lots better.” He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross “for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in the Mediterranean theatre of operations.” With help from the GI Bill, he attended DePauw University where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. It was there that he met Patricia Meredith of Muncie, Indiana. They were married in 1949, the year they both graduated, and settled on Washington Street in Shelbyville.
Bob joined his father at Todd-Bennett, taking over ownership after Curly, as his father was known, passed away in 1965. For many years, the store was one of the few in the area selling men’s clothing and earned a loyal customer base. Todd-Bennett also provided jobs for several local high school students as well as a Friday night and Saturday gathering place for many of them. Several years ago, a group of former employees and frequent visitors, including Mike Vaught, Jimmy Meloy, Billy Horner, John Coffin, John Hayes and Dean Shadley, traveled to Nashville for a reunion with Bob which meant a great deal to him.
In addition to time spent at the store, Bob lent his talents to a number of civic activities including two terms on the Shelbyville School Board in the 1960s and was instrumental in having the city purchase the land where the High School and Middle School stand today. On many Sunday afternoons during construction of the High School, Bob could be found surveying the progress. He was active in the founding of the Shelby County United Fund (SCUFFY) and served as Drive Chairman and Director. He also served as President of the Shelbyville Boys Club, President of the Rotary Club and Exalted Ruler of the Elks Lodge. He was a member of the Indiana CPA Society and the United Methodist Church in Shelbyville. After 35 years and Christmas seasons, Bob sold the store in 1981 but continued his involvement with several local businesses and initiatives. He served on the Farmers National Bank (now National City) Board for 25 years and as Director of Forest Hill Cemetery for 20 years. In an effort to bring more jobs to the Shelbyville area in the late ‘70s, he was an early Director and Officer of Shelby Industrial Development and Shelby Industries. At the same time, he resurrected his golf game and began to play Duplicate Bridge, earning Bronze Life Master Status.
Bob and Pat enjoyed several trips to Europe although Pat, unlike Bob, hated flying, and made numerous road trips to visit family, as well as to Keeneland Racetrack and The Greenbrier. Still driving to New York City in his late eighties, Bob and Pat loved Broadway shows and great dining in the Big Apple. In fact, family road trips had been a tradition dating back to a drive to Miami Beach in the late 50’s. Bob and Pat relocated to Nashville several years ago to be closer to family and loved the chance to see their daughters and grandchildren on a more regular basis.
Bob is survived by daughters Meredith Oliver (Joseph) of Beaufort, SC, Sarah Ramsey (Jay) of Nashville, grandchildren Meredith Kalt (Andrew), Helen Rominiecki (Ryan), John Ramsey (Molly) and great-grandchildren James, Mills, Brooks, Annie, Tilly and Bennett. He is also survived by his nephew and nieces, Mike Vaught, Sally Boone, Peggy Sexson, Judy Griswold, Susan Ervin and Janet Parker. His older sisters Betty Taff and Mary Lou Vaught preceded him in death.
The family would like to thank Bob and Pat’s wonderful and kind caregivers, Kay and Kevin Carter and Rhonda Raphael among others as well as the staff at The Blakeford where he resided.
Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, June 6, 2026 in Forest Hill Cemetery, 704 Morris Avenue, Shelbyville, with Rev. Bill Horner officiating. Military rites will be conducted by the local military committee. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Shelby County United Fund, 126 N. Harrison Street, Shelbyville, IN 46176. Local arrangements have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St., Shelbyville, IN.
Thelma “Jean” Martin, 89, of Indianapolis, passed away on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at Grand Brook Memory Care of Fishers. She was born on December 2, 1936, in Fairland, the daughter of Garnett and Evelyn (Hauk) Miller. On December 2, 1989, she married her husband of 36 years, Gregory Wayne Olin, and he survives. In addition to Greg, Jean is survived by her daughter, Susan Trigilio, of Carmel; son, Bruce Martin of Shelbyville; stepdaughters, Paulina Williams and husband, Dru, and Maria Bickerton and husband, Brett, both of Austin, Texas; sister-in-law and best friend, Beverly Miller, of Fort Worth, Texas; grandchildren, Cisma Ferguson and husband, David, Courtney Locke, Kylie Beaty and husband, Zane, Kari Daffron and husband, Alex, Tessa Gibbons and fiance’, Ryan Beam, Daniel Williams, Aaron Williams, Sophia Bickerton and Roma Bickerton; great-grandchildren, Christian Ferguson, Landon Ferguson, Oliver Ledden, Gwen Daffron and Jensen Locke; and numerous nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind her dog, Ralphie. Jean was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Joed Miller, Cecil Miller and Ralphie Miller; daughter-in-law, Mary Martin; and son-in-law, Ernie Trigilio.
In 1954, Jean graduated from Fairland High School. She was a member of the Fairland United Methodist Church. Jean owned and operated Renewed Reflections in Austin, Texas, for over 15 years, where she was an esthetician until retiring in 2002. She enjoyed traveling and had been to all seven continents. Jean also enjoyed reading, dancing, and, most of all, her family.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Funeral services will follow. Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Indiana Chapter, 50 E. 91st St., Suite 100, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240. Online condolences may be shared with Jean’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Gail Marie Minnick, 76, of Scipio, passed away Saturday, May 30, 2026, at St. Vincent Heart Center in Carmel. Born Aug. 1, 1949, in Shelbyville, she was the daughter of Otis Glen and Gladys E. (Barnes) Kuhn. She married Albert W. Minnick on Jan. 15, 1980, and he preceded her on Dec. 30, 2024. Survivors include two children, Erin Marie Garcia (Alex) of Raymondville, Texas, and Matthew Blaine Minnick of Scipio; two stepchildren, Rene Houin (Mark) of Plymouth, Indiana, and Darin Minnick (Tracy) of Englewood, Ohio; a brother, Gerald “Gary” Kuhn (Linda) of Waldron, and a sister, Patricia “Patty” Higgins of Shelbyville; two grandchildren, Celestina Garcia and Roman Garcia; and nine stepgrandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her spouse, infant brother Larry Kuhn, two stepchildren, Scott Minnick and Mark Minnick, and brother-in-law Tony Higgins.
Gail grew up on a 160-acre farm in Rush County. She was a true farm girl. She loved living on the farm. Unsure of the direction she wanted to pursue in her life, she was handed a pharmacy brochure from a career fair. She and her best friend from college were some of the original pioneers for women in pharmacy, a profession that was dominated by men. She made her voice heard and earned a spot at the script counter. She went on to spend 48 years in the profession, including the last 17 years as owner of Medicap in North Vernon, providing a much-needed alternative to the big chain pharmacies. She left a lasting legacy of helping others. Gail enjoyed classic stained-glass making, loved watching birds and flower gardening, was an avid Purdue sports fan, and enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and extended family.
She graduated from Waldron High School in 1967 and graduated from Purdue School of Pharmacy in 1972. She was a member of Zion Evangelical Church, where she sang in the church choir.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, June 5, 2026, at Zion Evangelical Church, 7025 E. 100 N., Shelbyville, with Rev. Ricky Persons and Pastor Ryan Hicks officiating. Burial will be in Zion Cemetery. Friends may call Thursday, June 4, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., at Glenn E. George & Son Funeral Home, 437 Amos Road, Shelbyville. Memorial contributions can be made to Zion Evangelical Church, 7025 E. 100 N., Shelbyville, Indiana. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.