Tuesday, June 24, 2025
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Bright Idea: Kaleidoscope Installed at Blue River Memorial Park
Tami Zinser, Lisa Robinson, Rich and Lois Hessenius, Martin Zinser and Rick Robinson finish installing a kaleidoscope project at Blue River Memorial Park. | photo by ANNA TUNGATE
A colorful new feature at Blue River Memorial Park is turning heads, literally.
Thanks to a chance visit to a small-town kaleidoscope factory in Pocahontas, Iowa, Shelbyville is now home to an interactive outdoor kaleidoscope. The new installation, located just off the sidewalk near the Blue River Memorial Park splash pad, was the brainchild of Lisa and Rick Robinson, both originally from Iowa.
“Last summer we were back visiting my sister in Carroll, Iowa” Lisa recalled. “We were bored one hot day and decided to drive up to a kaleidoscope factory nearby. In the store, they had a mock-up of a giant kaleidoscope. As soon as we saw it, we thought, ‘What a cool idea! Wouldn’t that be great in Shelbyville?’”
They returned home, contacted the artist behind the kaleidoscope, and began rallying support.
With assistance from the Blue River Community Foundation and a MIBOR grant, the Shelbyville Parks Department, and the Shelbyville Rotary Club, the Robinsons were able to bring the idea to life. “Without (the local organizations), it may not have happened,” Lisa said. “We also had some private donors, including ourselves and Tim and Diane Barrick, who helped contribute to the cost.”
The kaleidoscope was manufactured in Le Mars, Ia., by the Kaleidoscope Factory, a family-run business with an interesting backstory. After surviving a heart attack in his 40s, the company’s founder, Leonard Olson, received a kaleidoscope as a hospital gift. That moment sparked a passion: he began making kaleidoscopes himself. Over time, his creations expanded from hand-held gifts to giant, outdoor interactive sculptures.
Following Leonard’s passing, his sister Lois Hessenius and her husband, Rich, and a friend of Leonard’s, Patty Mefferd, carried on the legacy. “We actually learned how to make kaleidoscopes off YouTube,” Lois said with a laugh. “(Leonard) never shared his methods, but we figured it out, and now we’re installing them in parks across Iowa and beyond.” Patty, who takes care of the store in Pocahontas, also makes wood puzzles, nativity sets and other wood products.
The Blue River kaleidoscope is designed to be both durable and engaging, with two rotating color wheels customized in collaboration with Shelbyville Parks to match their existing purple and orange palette. The structure sits on a specially poured concrete pad, and accessibility is top of mind - steps will be added later this summer so children can enjoy the experience, and the base is already wheelchair accessible.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: FULL CANOPY REAL ESTATE
NOTEBOOK:
The Grover Center’s second annual Juneteenth celebration on Saturday brought community members together on a warm but breezy afternoon at Sunset Park. Executive Director Sarah Richardt credited the event’s origins to a conversation with local James Garrett Jr. shortly after she began her role in 2023. “He said we should do more programming on Black history, and I agreed,” Richardt said. With planning support from Letha Martin, Keyen Macklin, and the City of Shelbyville, the inaugural event attracted some 300 attendees. Free snow cones and live music from Funksway brought attendees out on Saturday. “This year, we’re at about 125 so far,” Richardt said in the afternoon. Richardt also emphasized the importance of public education around Juneteenth, explaining its roots in the 1865 announcement of emancipation to enslaved people in Galveston, Texas. “There’s always some people online asking, ‘Why is Shelbyville doing a Juneteenth event?’” she said. “But this is American history, and we’re proud to celebrate it here.”
A women riding an electric scooter was struck by a vehicle on E. State Road 44 near Progress Parkway. The woman sustained light scratches, but did not need medical attention. She admitted she was not paying attention to the traffic/pedestrian lights and crossed at the wrong time.
HOOSIER NEWS: Indiana state and local governments expect to receive up to $100 million over the next 15 years from a settlement with one of the companies and families accused of fueling the country’s opioid abuse crisis. Attorney General Todd Rokita announced last week that 55 attorneys general - there are 55 because there is one for each of the 50 U.S. states, plus the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands, all of which have their own chief legal officers - have agreed to a settlement with Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family. In a statement, Rokita said the agreement bans the Sacklers from selling opioids in the United States “and delivers critical funds to rebuild our communities through addiction treatment, prevention, and recovery programs.” (Indiana Public Radio)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: The nation of Japan saw visitor numbers go up by 21.5 percent, hitting a new record of 2.639 million for May. This is thanks to increased flights from South Korea, China and Hong Kong. China alone was responsible for 44.8 percent of visitors. In April, tourism from Hong Kong was up 42.9 percent. At this rate, over 40 million visitors per year would easily be a new record for Japan. (Nikkei Asia/Numlock)
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ANNIVERSARY ANNOUNCEMENT
Samuel and Shevin (Winkler) Schaf, Fairland, Ind., celebrate 30 years of marriage today. They were married June 24, 1995 at First Christian Church, Shelbyville. They have three children, Scott (Gina) Schaf, Stephen (Jill) Schaf and Eric (Stephanie) Kendall, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Mrs. Schaf worked at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and Shelby County Recorder’s office. Mr. Schaf worked at ATA Inc., Anderson, Ind. Happy Anniversary!
SHS Courier Archive Highlights
Jan. 17, 1951, Part I
Rex Harding, stationed in Korea, had sent Mrs. Craige a letter noting he received a copy of The Courier. “Mother sent me a copy of the school paper. It sure was good.”
Students in Mr. Brown’s General Business class surveyed students and found that they spent more money on recreation than they saved.
Howard Hill Eichelsdoerfer, 24, had been reported missing in action in Korea. Eichelsdoerfer, an SHS 1945 graduate, had been manager of Porter Pool before Mr. Kuhn took over the position.
A group of SHS students started a show on WSRK called Talent Parade. The students were Marlene Hungerford, Carol Lucas, Carol Schoolfield, Sally Rowsey and Ronnie Lummis.
Commencement gown colors had been selected by the Senior Class. The girls would wear white, and the boys would wear navy blue caps and gowns. The Class of 1951 would be the first to wear white for commencement exercises.
Custodians reported their pet peeves. Mrs. Berauer said students writing on walls, leaving Coke bottles in restrooms and dropping gum in the drinking fountains were her most frustrating clean-ups. Mr. Tucker said paper thrown on the floors and the yard was frustrating. He thanked Mr. Trible, Mr. Clay and Mr. McKeand, who were great about having students pick up paper at the end of each assembly period.
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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: Local teacher volunteers were opening school libraries one day a week during the summer as part of the new Dive into Reading program. Hendricks teacher Sarah Hunton had offered her students a prize for attending five of the 10 summer weeks. Hendricks principal Mary Harper, a lead organizer of the initiative, reported an average of 125 students per week were attending the sessions.
1995: A one-seat experimental airplane built and piloted by a Hope man crashed into a farm field just west of the Shelbvyille Airport a few minutes after it had taken off. The pilot was able to walk away, but went to the hospital for treatment.
1985: Tony Lennen was hired as assistant administrator at Major Hospital. Frank Learned was the hospital administrator.
1975: Several Booker T. Washington Center members volunteered to clean up and beautify the Moresini and Miller Ave. area. They picked up debris, painted a storage shed at Roosevelt Pettis’ home, painted garages and mowed yards. The volunteers were Inez Williams, Tim O’Banyon, Mike Raymond, Byron Reynolds, H.L. Raymond, Laymon Carter, Thad Brewer, Bryant Pettis and Alfred Williams.
1965: The Geneva Methodist Church, nine miles south on State Road 9 and two miles east, hosted the Geneva Big Annual Fair, featuring Jones Amusement rides, horse shoes, archery and advertised “good fish sandwiches.”
1955: Work neared completion on a new parish hall at St. Vincent Church.
Glendo Sullivan, 16, was fined by police for “bad driving” after officers fielded three complaints in one day about the youth’s driving habits. Sullivan’s car had dual exhausts, and he was known to race his car in front of local homes.
1945: Three brooders of 180 quail each and 540 pheasants were placed by state conservation officials on James Nichols’ farm north of Shelbyville on State Road 29.
Fleming Furniture Home, owned by Mildred and Frank Fleming, opened at 33 W. Broadway.
1935: More than 50 swimmers had signed up for the upcoming annual all-city swim meet at Porter Pool. Boys were divided into under- and over-120 pounds for competition, and girls split for those under and over 100 pounds.
1925: A local woman filed for divorce and notified her husband, who cursed her. Police went to the home and fined the man $8 for use of profanity.
1915: Boy Scouts hiked to St. Paul and back in one day. The Scoutmaster had initially planned to take the interurban there and hike back, but the boys balked. Having recently completed a 125-mile round trip hike to Brown County, they insisted St. Paul was no major feat.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: Freeman Family Funeral Homes & Crematory
OBITUARIES
Martha L. Reed, 81, of Morristown, passed away on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at her home. She was born November 29, 1943, in Covington, the daughter of James and Mary (Bowles) Reynolds. On July 27, 1968, she married Richard Van Reed, and he preceded her in death on June 8, 1998. Martha is survived by her daughters, Amanda Neal, Jeannie Reed and Hope Reed; sisters, Donna Jane Reynolds, Beverly Reynolds, Connie McIntyre, Maryann Bushman and Linda Batts; brother, Jim Reynolds; grandchildren, Britanny and Daniel; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to Richard, Martha was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Janet Autrey; brother Baby Jackie; and grandson, Collin Richard Paul.
Martha received her Master’s degree in education from Indiana State University. She retired in 1999 from Morristown High School, where she was a home economics teacher for 35 years. Martha was a member of the Morristown Christian Church. She was also a member of the Lion’s Club and the Sunshine Committee. Martha loved teaching and playing cards with friends. She enjoyed raising children, not just her own, but anyone who needed love. Martha was a tremendous cook and could bribe anyone, to do yardwork or any other kind of work, by baking them her famous chocolate chip or peanut butter cookies.
Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m., Thursday, June 26, 2025 at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 124 E. North St. in Morristown. Funeral services will follow. Interment will be at Asbury Cemetery in Morristown. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cancer Association of Shelby County, PO Box 844, Shelbyville, Ind., 46176 or Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Indiana Chapter, 50 E. 91st St., Suite, 100, Indianapolis, Ind., 46240. Online condolences may be shared with Martha’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.