Tuesday, May 13, 2025
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS
SENIOR AWARDS
Shelbyville High School senior Colten Sherwood accepts the Shelbyville Lions Blue River Scholarship from Scott Mullins at last night’s Senior Awards Program. BELOW: Sofia Sipes prepares to accept the Centra Foundation Loretta M. Burd Memorial Scholarship from Cheyenne Gardner. | photos by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
MAY FEST
The Southwestern High School choir performs at The Strand Theatre last night. | submitted
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: FULL CANOPY REAL ESTATE
NOTEBOOK:
The Shelbyville Redevelopment Commission last night approved an agreement with Rubicon regarding lots in the Hamilton Major addition on West Washington Street. Rubicon representative Matt Nolley said the company intends to immediately start attempting to resell the lots, but may build a spec home to help generate interest.
The Shelbyville High School softball team remained at No. 13 in the IndyStar’s “Fab 15” rankings. “The Golden Bears offset a loss to New Palestine with a 10-run win over Greensburg and a 12-5 triumph over Triton Central,” the paper said. “That win over the Tigers saw them jump out to a 10-2 lead after three innings, and featured seven total RBIs from Destiney Johnson (4) and Reagan Dillon (3). Anna Shearer had three hits; Gracie Crafton and Sydney Brown handled pitching duties.”
A man from Fillmore, Ind., who was drinking and driving struck a guy wire on the north side of the east-west alley in front of the Old Hickory factory on S. Noble Street. The man kept revving the engine to get through the wire, which he eventually accomplished, destroying the wire and in the process causing a power outage from S. Noble to S. Harrison, which included stop lights, street lights, CVS and adjacent areas. The driver was taken into custody and charged.
Shelby County Commissioners yesterday approved closure of the intersection of CR 300 N and 425 W starting next Monday, May 19, and lasting up until May 30, although it may re-open sooner. The closure will allow Centerpoint Energy to investigate a gas line.
County Surveyor Jeff Powell told the county drainage board yesterday that a drainage blockage was found east of Smithland Road, a trouble spot for some time. Crews will do camera work to determine the cause of the blockage and next steps.
Home sales were down in Shelby County last month compared to March, with 30 closed sales in April 2025, down from 41 in March 2025 and 42 in April 2024. The median number of days on the market for homes in Shelby County, however, fell from 20 to 10, from March to April.
Shelby County Commissioners approved hiring Ben Taylor as the new Highway Superintendent effective later this month, succeeding Kem Anderson, who retired last week. Taylor started with the department as a general laborer 17 years ago, earned his CDL and served as a foreman before becoming Assistant Superintendent. “He is equally adept at running a paver as he is putting in grant requests with the state,” Commissioner Jason Abel said.
The Diligent Diggers’ Garden Club annual plant sale is this Saturday, May 17, 9 a.m. to noon, at Clearwick Park.
Shelbyville Planning Director Adam Rude yesterday was named 2025 Outstanding Young Planner of the Year by the Indiana chapter of the American Planning Association. The statewide award recognizes early-career professionals under 35 who are making a powerful impact on the future of communities through innovation, leadership and dedication. “Since joining the City in 2016 and becoming Planning Director in 2018, Adam has led transformative efforts in housing development, downtown revitalization, and the execution of our city's comprehensive plan,” The City of Shelbyville said in a media release. Rude also serves as president of the Mainstreet Shelbyville, Inc. Board.
The Avon school board approved the hire of Becca Hoefler, who has coached Shelbyville High School girls basketball the past six years. The Golden Bears won their first postseason game in over a decade in 2023 and are amidst a run of three consecutive winning seasons. “This year's campaign was particularly impressive with the Golden Bears finishing 14-11 despite returning no starters and only a couple players with significant varsity experience,” IndyStar reported. The Bears are expected to return all their key contributors, including leading scorers Maddy Jones, Hannah Baker and Jayla Ash.
CORRECTION: The May free Senior Movie is “Juliet and Romeo”, Wednesday, May 14 (not May 4, as listed in yesterday’s edition), at Studio 10 Cinema. Doors open at 8:30 a.m., announcements at 8:45 a.m. and the movie begins at 9 a.m. The event is sponsored by Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory.
HOOSIER NEWS: Eli Lilly and Purdue University are changing how groundbreaking research can be funded as universities and labs across the country grapple with sudden federal funding cuts to vital research. Lilly CEO Dave Ricks and Purdue University President Mung Chiang on May 9 announced a $250 million collaboration to build up pharmaceutical technology in what the two Indiana leaders believe is the largest industry-academic partnership in the country. Over the next eight years, Lilly and Purdue will use the investment to speed up innovation in the pharmaceutical industry, including AI tools to augment traditional drug discovery methods; robotics to scale manufacturing capacity; and facilitating the drug pipeline at the future Lilly Medicine Foundry in Lebanon. An existing partnership was set to expire in 2027, but this program, named the Lilly-Purdue 360 initiative, will expand the collaboration and keep it running until at least 2032. (IndyStar)
NATIONAL NEWS: Since its first approval by the Food and Drug Administration in December 2005, the price of the cancer drug Revlimid has increased 26 times. Upon launch, each pill cost $218 a pop, for a yearly price of $55,000. A few months later, when the drug was approved for multiple myeloma, the price increased to $280 per pill, or $70,560 a year. Today, it stands at $892 per pill. Through the entire process, according to a deposition of a Celgene executive marked “highly confidential,” the cost to manufacture each pill of Revlimid has remained a steady 25 cents per pill. (ProPublica/Numlock)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights
March 3, 1967
Four SHS ensembles and six soloists performed at the State Music Contest, hosted at Butler University. Receiving firsts were the barbershop quartet consisting of Sonny Burnside, Pete Hall, Richard Gray and Roger Shaw, and a trio made up of Judy Elkins, Marcella Wessic and Donna Crider.
Pam Beck was named the winner of the Vestavia Medal. David Longstreet was the Lord Mayor. Other members of May Court were Pam Beck, Becky Brenton, Margaret Owens, Saundra Pyle, Barbara Scott, Sallie Sears and Noell Worland. Members of the Junior Prom court were Judy Christian, Mary Coffin, Christie Eads, Steve Zeller, Dwain Smith and Eric Dickmann.
Teresa Davis was named Rec Sweetheart of 1967. She received a crown of red roses and the sweetheart trophy from Margaret Owens, the 1966 Rec Sweetheart. She and her court, consisting of Sandy Harley, Patty Owens, Jane Brennen and Ann Zeller, were presented with a large heart-shaped box of assorted candy.
Mask & Dagger were preparing to present “Teahouse of the August Moon.” Captain Fishy, played by Warren Krebs, would be sent to Tobiki to “teach the natives democracy and make them self-supporting.” Colonel Purdy, played by John Gaines, was the villain. Lotus Blossom, a geisha in traditional costume, was played by Pam Reed. Mrs. Cederholm was the director.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: MAJOR HEALTH PARTNERS
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: “Return of the Disgruntled Clown” was featured as part of Comedy Night at the St. Paul Tavern.
1995: Members of the Waldron High School prom court were Emily Zauss, Amanda Gosser, April Kuhn, Emily Weaver, Jodi Hampton, Travis Huntsman, Jon Ross, Brady Rife, Geoff Goff and Zach Linder.
1985: A discussion with police over a domestic disturbance turned into a brawl at the police station, leading to the arrest of a local man. The man and his ex-wife had been talking with police in the squad room when he became violent with the woman, then fought with police when they tried to subdue him. A typewriter and a container used to store documents were damaged during the scuffle. State Trooper Jeff Kolls sustained a minor injury, and Bill Dwenger was kicked in the chest. Other officers involved in the incident included Gary Henderson and Robert Belles.
1975: Beth Lovitt was named Optimist Golden Girl at the Girls’ Club banquet, presented by Optimist Club President John Thomas. The Outstanding Girl Award went to Rosemarie Juniet. Mrs. Tindall received the Outstanding Board Member Award, presented by J. Lee McNeely. Rev. James Horner gave the invocation.
1965: The Community Theatre Workshop took over the building at the corner of Noble and South Streets, formerly the location of Lusk Ice & Heating Inc. Norman Willey and Tommy Thomas had designed the set for the group’s upcoming play, which would be held in the Loper auditorium.
1955: Mt. Gilead Baptist Church officials announced plans to mark its 125th anniversary. The church had been organized in 1830, and for a time services were held in a log building west of Smithland. In 1848, a frame building was constructed south of the Miller cemetery. In the 1870s, services were held in a school building at Smithland until the present lot was obtained. The first building on that property was struck by lightning and burned in 1919. The present structure was completed in 1922.
A Shelbyville men was arrested and charged with petit larceny for stealing donuts from several local grocery stores over a six-month period.
1945: Thanks to local fundraising efforts, the Flat Rock Cave grounds were purchased for use by the Boy and Girl Scouts of Shelby County. The camp had been owned by James Pierce and the estate of the late Bertie Anderson.
Teams signed up for the summer softball league were Morristown, Walkerville, Newman’s Store, Western Flashes, Omar Bakery, Cortelyou Hybrids, Waldron, Hoosier Merchants, DeMolay, Co-op, Fairland, Crystal Flash and Brownie’s Tavern.
1935: The Shelbyville school board announced bids would be accepted over the summer for bus routes. Officials expected many more bidders than there were routes.
1925: Russell Fleming bought the downtown building he had been renting for Fleming Drug Store, located between Public Square and Franklin St.
1915: Shelbyville High School dismissed classes for the day to give students a chance to go to Rushville for the track meet and oratorical contest.
R.N. Harrison and Will Yarling debated “Is the motor car more useful to society than the mule?” at the Wi-Hub Circle meeting, hosted at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Cotton on West Franklin Street. Mr. Yarling said no; Mr. Harrison argued in the affirmative.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: Freeman Family Funeral Homes & Crematory
OBITUARIES
Harold H. Stewart, 83, of Shelbyville, passed away Sunday, May 11, 2025 at his residence. Born April 19, 1942, he was the adoptive son of Wilbur and Betty Stewart. He married Sherry (Smith) Stewart on January 1, 1962, and she preceded him on December 8, 2024. Survivors include a daughter, Meichelle Pierce (Mark) of Shelbyville; a granddaughter, Brooke Young (Robert) of Waldron; and two great grandchildren, Mia Meyer and Robby Young. He was preceded in death by his adoptive parents and a son, Hal Stewart.
Mr. Stewart had lived most of his lifetime in this area, was a self-employed architect with New Space Associates, retiring after many years. After retirement, he worked in finance for several local car dealers. He graduated from Shelbyville High School in 1960 and was a member of First United Methodist Church, American Legions, and the Kiwanis Club. He was a US Army Korean War veteran. Harold enjoyed traveling with his wife, dearly loved his dog Crissy, and enjoyed spending time with his family.
Private family services were held at Glenn E. George & Son Funeral Home, 437 Amos Road. No visitation will be observed. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery, where military rites will be conducted by the American Legion. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.