Tuesday, November 25, 2025
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS
BLOCK BY BLOCK
Workers build a new concrete block wall over the weekend on the backside of buildings in the southwest quadrant of Broadway and Harrison streets. | photo by JOHN WALKER
LATIN DAY LEARNING
Shelbyville High School Latin Club members display their banner during the Indiana Junior Classical League Fall Latin Day at Butler University on Saturday. Students participated in sessions such as “Exploring Roman Theatre,” “Learn and Dig!” with archaeology materials and “Greece in Crisis,” along with other academic and cultural workshops. Attending, left to right, were Hannah Shouse, a state IJCL officer, Hana Stenger, Bri Chavez, Lilly Huesman, Chloe Caldwell, Shay Schiloski, Jasey Conner, Harika Patel (front), Elizabeth Washburn (back), Candace Washburn, Riley Casey and Kendra Knopp. | submitted
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: FULL CANOPY REAL ESTATE
NOTEBOOK:
A vehicle traveling west on Colescott Street failed to stop at the intersection with Miller Avenue and continued straight when the driver did not realize the roadway ended. The car went over the curb, crossed the sidewalk and crashed through a garage door at Tuck’s Radiator, coming to rest inside the building and damaging support walls. The passenger sustained a head injury and was taken to MHP Medical Center, while the driver reported minor injuries. According to the report, the driver was investigated for operating while intoxicated, registered over the legal limit, and was taken into custody. The vehicle was impounded, and the business owner responded to assess the damage.
The following couples applied for marriage licenses last week at the Shelby County Clerk’s office: Stephen J. Gill, 59, and Jennifer I. Lindberg, 54; Joseph F. Means, 60, and Brandi M. Tyler, 48; Alicia M. Carpenter, 42, and Edwin J. Northam, 43; Taylor F. Eads, 32, and Rachel L. Head, 33.
The SHS Ecology Lab will host a service day on Saturday, Nov. 29, beginning at 10 a.m. Volunteers will help finish setting up 45,000 Christmas lights around the Biology Pond. Community members are welcome to bring light donations — LEDs are preferred, but any style is appreciated. For more information, visit JustServe.org and search “Ecology Lab,” or find the Shelbyville High School Ecology Lab on Facebook.
Shelbyville Central Schools superintendent Matt Vance, Ph.D., will host another “Visit with Vance” session on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 8 a.m., at Porter Coffee on Miller Ave. The event is an opportunity to hear SCS updates and is open to the public.
Fox59’s Rafael Sanchez reported on Shelbyville Middle School’s horse therapy program. The video is available here.
HOOSIER NEWS: The Bloomington Convention Center expansion is moving forward as structural steel goes up, but plans for a companion hotel have stalled due to a major funding gap. Officials are considering scaling back requirements, including eliminating a rooftop bar and underground parking, to reduce costs by about $15 million, while Dora Hospitality may explore alternate nearby sites. The CIB also approved nearly $288,000 in contingency change orders and received 180 artwork submissions, which will be narrowed to five finalists by year’s end. (Indiana Public Media)
NATIONAL NEWS: Cigarettes and cigars are making their way back into movies and television shows, according to data from the Truth Initiative and the NORC at the University of Chicago. Appearances of cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products in movies are up 10 percent year over year, and about half of the movies that came out in 2024 had an appearance of tobacco. Smoking rates remain low — these days, around 11 percent of Americans say they smoked a cigarette in the past week — but the fear is that, much like vaping, the progress of decades of anti-tobacco efforts is always at risk of being undone with cultural shifts. (WSJ/Numlock)
The Addison Times is pleased to offer free milestone announcements. Forms are available here: Engagement Announcement, Wedding Announcement and Anniversary Announcement.
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From the Grover Collection
An Orebaugh black-and-white glass-plate negative shows 12 men and a young boy seated around a table during what appears to be a dinner gathering inside the Charles H. Campbell home. The photograph, taken in 1906, measures 10 by 12 inches. To learn more about this piece or others in the Grover Center collection, contact archive@grovercenter.org.
SQUIB LOOK-BACK: 1986
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.
2005: Two Triton Central seniors were named state finalists for the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award. Kyle Beaty and Jessica McGown were selected for their strong academics, leadership and involvement in multiple school activities. Both traveled to Indianapolis for the state recognition event.
1995: Shelbyville’s Wastewater Treatment Plant earned three statewide honors from the Indiana Water Pollution Control Association, including awards for laboratory excellence, safety, and best annual report. The facility, classified as a Class IV plant, treated up to 8 million tons of sewage per day and was recognized alongside major cities across the state. Superintendent Bradley Fix, laboratory technician Michele Higdon and safety coordinator M. Matthew Thomas were highlighted for their contributions to the award-winning operation.
1985: Attorney J. Lee McNeely was expected to be selected as the next Shelby County Republican Party chairman, returning to a role he previously held in the late 1960s and mid-1970s, The Shelbyville News reported. He emerged as the sole candidate following Jim Williams’ resignation, with precinct leaders encouraging him to seek the position. Harriett Arland was the local GOP vice president.
1975: The State Bank of Waldron filed an application to open a branch on Shelbyville’s east side. The proposed location was near the future Junction 44 Shopping Center at State Road 44 and East Michigan Road on land owned by auto dealer Donald Siebert. Bank president John F. Haymond said the project awaited approval from federal and state financial regulators.
1965: Santa Claus arrived in Shelbyville to kick off the community’s holiday festivities, greeting children on the Public Square and handing out treats. He was scheduled to return for additional appearances, including a helicopter arrival at the Belaire Shopping Center. Downtown stores planned to close early for Illumination Night, when the season’s overhead lights would be switched on for the first time.
1955: A local grocery store promoted an in-person appearance by the Aunt Jemima character, offering free samples of her pancakes and featuring specials on pancake mix, buckwheat mix and syrup. The event was scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 26, at Allens 421 Market.
1945: The government ended wartime rationing on meats, butter, oils and canned fish, leaving only sugar on the ration list. Officials said fats and oils were still in short supply, but continuing rationing would have required an entirely new system. The sudden end of most rationing surprised many households, and federal leaders projected an increase in meat availability for both civilians and war-torn countries abroad.
1935: Shelbyville won its first home basketball game of the season, defeating Rushville 30-16 after a slow start in the first half. The Bears pulled ahead in the third quarter and dominated the final period while limiting Rushville to a single point. Before tipoff, Coach Wendell Ballard received a horseshoe of flowers from the “S” Club.
1925: Virgil Schoenrutz, 17, of Morristown was reportedly hunting with his dog when Game Warden Milton Justus approached and asked to see his license. Schoenrutz ran, and Justus gave chase, but the warden was attacked several times by the dog, losing the seat of his trousers in the struggle. Schoenrutz was later identified and fined $14.50 in Squire Lange’s court for hunting without a license.
1915: W. B. Berkley expanded oil operations north of Fairland, drilling several wells and planning a pipeline and receiving station to load tank cars on the Big Four railroad. He reported strong crude prices and unusually high-quality oil containing about 58 percent gasoline, which he said made the small-output wells profitable.
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OBITUARIES
Mary Melissa Burchett, 91, of Shelbyville, passed away Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, at Waldron Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center. She was born Dec. 14, 1933, in Albany, Kentucky, to James “Snake” Craig and Gertrude (Norris) Craig.
Mary spent her younger years in Albany before moving to Shelbyville in 1960. She worked at Admiral for several years before working at Hardee’s and Cagney’s. She was a former member of the Shelbyville Moose Lodge 2118 and the Fraternal Order of Eagles 766. She was an avid doll collector and fan of George Jones. She was very artistic and enjoyed coloring as her favorite pastime. Mary also enjoyed the outdoors and sitting outside.
She is survived by her son, Bill (Denise) Burchett of Shelbyville; granddaughter, Ronda Cox of Columbus; grandson, Billy (Brittany) Burchett Jr. of Greenwood; granddaughter, Misti (Eddie) Adkins of Shelbyville; step-granddaughter, Franetta (Nick) Newman of Wisconsin; step-grandson, Thomas Walters of Shelbyville; 14 great-grandchildren, seven step-grandchildren and 16 great-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and her sister-in-law, Leona Craig of Shelbyville. She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers; and two sisters.
Visitation will be Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Murphy-Parks Funeral Service, 703 S. Harrison St., Shelbyville. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Whispering Hope Memorial Gardens. Funeral directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks and Stuart Parks are honored to serve Mary’s family. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.