Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Commissioners Approve Road Cuts, Table Drainage Items
Contractors Rick Lawrence and Andy Cowan, Shelby County Commissioners Jason Abel and Don Parker, County Surveyor Jeff Powell and County Commissioner Kevin Nigh discuss drainage related to the Speedway Solar project yesterday. | photo by ANNA TUNGATE
Before long-term drainage improvements are made around the Speedway Solar project in northeast Shelby County, County Commissioner Jason Abel wants to first see some short-term issues resolved. During yesterday’s Commissioners’ meeting, Abel pointed to culverts damaged by construction truck traffic on county roads 750 E and 700 N as a major issue.
“It’s getting ready to start planting season, and we can’t have drainage issues like that being caused by just rampant destruction by guys bringing material,” Abel said to contractors in attendance.
Commissioners eventually approved two road cuts for the installation of drainage tile on the roads, but drivers were chastised for missing the official entrance to the site and simply taking the next turn. The contractors said they were aware of the issue.
“They’ve been informed that’s not a truck route,” contractor Rich Trevino said. “They’re just like the public; they just do whatever they want when it’s dark and nobody’s watching.”
He added that signs have been ordered to better direct truck traffic on U.S. 52 and CR 700. A logistics engineer is also now on site.
Abel said he appreciated the positive movement, but called the current situation “unacceptable,” adding, “The people that sought the initial approval of this didn’t have any plan whatsoever.”
Contractors and County Surveyor Jeff Powell said future adjustments are possible, and adjacent landowners will be kept apprised of updates.
In other business, Commissioners approved an agreement with USI Consultants to prepare submission for the state’s next round of matching Community Crossing grant funds. The identified areas for rehabilitation are County Road 800 E from Michigan Road to the St. Paul town limits and CR 600 N from Frontage Road to 500 W, totaling about 2.25 miles.
Commissioners also approved a new contract for trash removal for the jail that will save about $300 a month, Sheriff Louie Koch said.
The 30-minute Commissioners meeting was followed by an hour-long drainage board meeting in which the board tabled requests for Primoris Renewable Energy to cross four legal drains and to take a step toward making the perimeter drain a county legal drain. Primoris is the construction contractor for Speedway Solar.
The board discussed interior and perimeter drainage for the project at length. County Surveyor Jeff Powell in general supported a county regulated drain, at least along the exterior.
“I feel it needs to be a regulated drain that could be maintained by the county to ensure that the drainage is full-functioning and that this project is not adversely affecting anybody outside of it,” Powell said. He also called for the solar company to fund an account for future maintenance of the drain.
County officials and contractors continued lengthy discussions of the project logistics, and Abel suggested the need to propose and discuss a formal comprehensive plan. “I don’t want to have this meeting every couple of weeks where we’re doing stuff on the fly,” he said.
But Rick Lawrence, with contractor Drainage Construction Unlimited, said the issue has been trying dealing with input from multiple area landowners. “You know, when you get 10 guys together, how hard is it to agree on something? Pretty dang tough.”
Abel said none of the landowners’ requests have been out of line, to which Lawrence agreed. “It’s just they all want something a little different,” he said.
Both matters were tabled for further discussion.
NOTEBOOK:
NATIONAL NEWS: The Federal Aviation Administration’s database of laser strikes against planes — when a person shines a laser at a plane to mess with it — is showing that such strikes are up, and by a lot. In 2023, pilots were hit with 13,304 laser strikes in the U.S., the worst year on record, and nearly double the 6,852 laser strikes in 2020. In the post-pandemic years there has been an increase in the strikes, with 9,723 in 2021 and 9,457 in 2022, but at current rates this year could be the worst yet. February saw 1,297 reports of laser strikes, averaging 44.7 per day, well on pace for over 16,000 by the end of the year. (Gizmodo/Numlock)
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This Day in Shelby County History
2014: An employee of Tour of Italy restaurant was charged with theft. It was believed she overpaid herself when putting credit card tips into a computer, costing the restaurant about $1,200.
2004: Mayor Scott Furgeson’s discussion on downtown issues included talk of the trees planted in the corner of each Public Square quadrant. Business owners recalled that the type of tree planted was not what was ordered, but when they arrived, they had to be planted anyway, else the grant money used to buy them would have been wasted. As the trees matured, they grew berries and began dripping green liquid onto the sidewalks.
1994: Shelby County officials held a rummage sale to get rid of furniture and equipment from the old jail. The county sold office desks and chairs, several window air conditioners, kitchen trays, a mannequin, many bicycles, dark room equipment and stainless steel kitchen equipment. The old jail, 106 W. Taylor St., which had been built 120 years prior, would soon be demolished, officials said.
1984: Shelby County Commissioners voted 2-1 to spend $19,000 to purchase a new computer system for the courthouse. After much discussion, the decision was made to upgrade the computer in the auditor’s office and later consider adding computers in the clerk’s and assessor’s office. There was also discussion of whether the costs of the computers could truly be saved through efficiencies. Auditor Tom Duvelius said the computer could complete tasks in three days that took his office two weeks to complete.
1974: Mask and Dagger, the Shelbyville High School drama society, presented “The Miracle Worker” at Breck Auditorium. Christi Linne portrayed Helen Keller and Tracy Bruner played Annie Sullivan. Seniors Tom Wilkinson and Barb Pickett played Helen’s parents. The society was under the direction of Gary Myers.
1964: Two local teenagers were jailed for malicious trespassing after they were caught attempting to back a used car out of a parking space at Creek Auto Sales, at Pike and Hendricks.
Shelby County’s School Reorganization Committee adopted a five-district plan. Ralph Adams, local attorney and chairman of the nine-member county committee, invited and urged county residents to attend an upcoming public hearing on the school proposal. Adams said the county committee proposed the establishment of five consolidated school corporations.
1954: A constitution was adopted and the name Shelby County Young Democrats was chosen as the organizers met at headquarters on E. Washington St. The committee was composed of Carson King, Donald Brunner, Martin Cherry and Betty Holbrook. Jack Wood was elected president of the 62-member group.
The Indiana Public Service Commission ordered the New York Central Railroad to provide protection at two crossings in Fairland, at Walnut and Jackson Streets. The railroad was also told to station a flagman at the crossings within 30 days or install automatic flasher signals. The crossings had been the scene of numerous accidents, including fatalities.
Four signs were installed near Shelbyville city limits to give the time and place of weekly Kiwanis meetings. Roscoe Rogers, Frank Barlow, Bob Eck and Mike Tumey installed the signs on North 421, East 44, Old Franklin Road and South State Road 9. The signs said “Kiwanis International” with a small sign below: “The Alcazar, Tues. 6:15 p.m.”
1944: More Shelby County men were drafted by the Army and Navy. Those accepted included Robert Pruitt, Peter Lux Jr., Kenneth Brokering, Kenneth Grizznel, Garnett Baker, Harry Callahan, Thomas Evans, Walter Adams, Charles Jeffries, Russell Small, Joseph Dilley, John Basey, Hubert Engle, Everett Brown, George Wainscott, Ernie Lane, Edgar A. Poe, Charles McComas, John Durbin, Frank Kehoe, Paul Thompson, Howard McMichael, Loren Davis, Perry Tucker, William Hitchcock, Alfred Shadley, Garnett Bryant, Fred Dixon, William Dodd, Paul Ballard, Henry Cooper, Charles Fewell and Albert Hiehle.
1934: Donald Elkins, 106 Third St., was beaten unconscious and robbed of $10 by two men who, by a ruse, lured him out of his car as he was driving on Colescott Street after having worked a night shift at the Great States Corporation’s lawn mower factory. Elkins later said the men stopped and asked which route they should take to get to Greensburg. He got out of his car and walked over to theirs to give instructions when the incident occurred. He regained consciousness at 3 a.m. beside a sidewalk at the Colescott school.
1924: Police arrested and jailed a record 18 - 17 men and one woman - over one weekend.
A 56-year-old resident of the Delos Thompson Home for Aged Women in Waldron died after suffering severe burns when a gas heater ignited her clothes. The woman had been a resident of the Aged Women’s home for nine years.
1914: Fifteen girls, students at Mt. Auburn High School, were in a vehicle that overturned in a five-foot embankment. The girls had been packed in the car, on the running boards, “mud guards and any place where there was anything to hold to and insisted they be allowed to ride to the corner,” The Republican said. One was seriously injured, suffering a broken rib.
A team of horses hitched to a calf wagon in Fairland ran wild for about a block and succeeded in breaking the wagon before coming to a stop. The driver of the team, Elliott McClain, had tied the lines around the whip socket and went into the Tilison livery barn to use the telephone.
OBITUARIES
Richard "Wes” Butcher, 69, of Shelbyville, passed away Saturday, March 23, 2024, at Waldron Health and Rehab. He was born February 27, 1955, in Shelbyville, the son of Richard Dale and Mildred Fay (Phifer) Butcher. On August 30, 1974, he married his wife of nearly 50 years, Patricia “Patty” Smith, and she survives.
In addition to Patty, Wes is survived by his children, Amy Dillon and husband, Heath, of St. Paul, Lori Coffman and husband, Cliff, of Shelbyville, and Jeffrey Butcher and wife, Mandy, of Fairland; brother, Frank Butcher of Birmingham, Alabama; sister, Fay Swift of Shelbyville; grandchildren, Reagan, Katelynn and Haley; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.
In 1973, Wes graduated from Southwestern High School. Shortly after graduating he married the love of his life, Patty, at their home where they were blessed to raise their three children. Wes devoted his life to caring for, supporting, and loving his family. His family was his priority, and his greatest joy was spending time with them. In more recent years, Wes spent a great deal of time attending his granddaughters's various events and being their biggest fan. He connected with each of them individually and was so proud of them.
Wes was identified by countless individuals as one of the kindest people they ever met. It took mere seconds for Wes to become your friend and make you feel special. He was the best kind of friend, and if you had the pleasure of meeting him, you would not forget his kind heart and the special way he made you feel. He was a very committed and loyal individual. He supported his family by working at Sonoco Flexible Packaging for more than 40 years.
Wes also loved working with his hands and helping out on the farm. His hobbies included woodworking and carpentry. He had one of the most meticulously cared for lawn and gardens because he enjoyed mowing and being outdoors.
Wes leaves a wonderful legacy. He made everyone a better person. He stated throughout his life that it was his mission to treat everyone kindly and with respect. He was masterful at doing this, and because he was, everyone loved him.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at the funeral home, with Mickey Pile officiating. Interment will be at Boggstown Cemetery in Shelby County. Memorial contributions may be made to Cancer Association of Shelby County, PO Box 844, Shelbyville, Indiana 46176. Online condolences may be shared with Wes’ family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Gary A. Nicholson, 76, of Shelbyville, passed away Friday March 22, 2024 at his residence. He was born December 17, 1947 in Bedford, Ind. to Franklin A. Nicholson and Norma (Johnson) Nicholson.
Gary served in the United States Navy.
He married Cordelia “Sally” (Lockridge) Nicholson and she survives.
Gary is also survived by, his daughters, Christine Nicholson and Kathy Nicholson; his sons, Joe Bill Stewart ll and Dennis Joe Stewart; his daughters, Vicki Phipps and Diana Matykunas; his sisters, Marsha Ingle and Sheila Baumgart; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by parents and his sister, Vivian Flynn.
A graveside service will be Saturday, March 30, 2024 at 11 a.m. Whispering Hope Honors and Glory, 625 Progress Parkway, Shelbyville, IN. 46176 with military rites conducted by Our Local Veteran Organizations.
Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks, Stuart Parks, and Darin Schutt are honored to serve Gary’s family. Memorial contributions may be given to Trinity United Methodist Church food bank. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.
Freda Kay Bartlett, 86, of Canton, GA, passed away Thursday March 21, 2024 at Northside Hospital. She was born March 3, 1938 in Greensburg, IN. to George M. Benefiel and Bessie M. (Bruner) Benefiel.
Freda was a homemaker. She married Harry L. Bartlett on August 1, 1959 and he preceded her in death in 2007.
Freda is also survived by her sons, Rickie Benefiel, Steven Bartlett and Harry Bartlett Jr.; her daughters, Cindy Wix and Penny Spencer; 15 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchidlren. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her son, Brian Bartlett; her siblings, Dorothy Benefiel (Cramer), Ernest Benefiel, Russell Benefiel, Helen Benefiel (Hite), Virginia Benefiel (Baker), George Benefiel Jr., Paul Benefiel, Arnold Benefiel, Alice Benefiel (Hutcherson), Lois Benefiel (Scroggham).
Visitations will be Wednesday, March 27, 2024 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Murphy-Parks Funeral Services, 703 S. Harrison St., Shelbyville, IN. 46176. Funeral services will be Thursday March 28, 2024 at 1 p.m. at Murphy-Parks Funeral Services with Pastor Jose Rivera officiating. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery. Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks, Stuart Parks, and Darin Schutt are honored to serve Freda’s family. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to www.alzheimersresearchfoundation.com in her honor. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.