Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Retired Animal Shelter Director Recognized
Retired Shelby County/Shelbyville Animal Shelter director Keith Barrett receives a plaque yesterday from Mayor Scott Furgeson, who cited Barrett’s 19 years of exemplary service. Barrett was brought on board early in Furgeson’s first term as mayor, when the shelter was, as Furgeson called it, “a crap hole - because I can’t say the other word on record.” The mayor said Barrett played a critical role in overseeing the construction of a new facility and upgrading the equipment, and commended him for giving respect to both animals and people in the community.
Barrett thanked those who have worked with him over the years, in particular Chris Browder and Jim Lane. Barrett’s son, Adam Barrett, is now the director at the animal shelter. | photo by ANNA TUNGATE
Forum Hosts Primary Candidates, Part IV
The six Shelby County Commissioner candidates, four Republicans and two Democrats, answered questions at last week’s Northwest Shelby County Concerned Citizens’ Coalition forum. Republicans David Lawson and Tom Rogers are facing off in the Center District, with the winner facing Soviar, a Democrat, in the fall. J.T. Doane and Nathan Runnebohm are running on the Republican ballot for the South District seat, and the winner will face Democrat Joe Land. The following are the candidates’ responses regarding their vision for development in Shelby County.
Center District:
Lawson said the county is at a crossroads and in an important time to make good decisions. While he believes in consulting the comprehensive plan, Lawson said it should be used “only as a guide” to know the locations of areas for development. “We need to raise the bar, set our standards a little higher,” he said, adding that projects praised by officials sometimes leave residents in the area to suffer.
Although noting that the comprehensive plan must by law be given “favorable consideration,” Rogers sees the current county comprehensive plan as “a living document.” He offered to head up a committee to receive project updates from county officials. “We don’t need to wait (on the next comprehensive planning process to conclude),” he said.
Soviar acknowledged that “everybody has their own vision of what they think is good for Shelby County.” She advocated for more public input, and said the community should be able to easily access and understand the comprehensive plan. She also believes the plan should coordinate with the City of Shelbyville’s plan. “We do have to walk in-step with the city,” she said.
South District:
Doane said he was pleased to see the county currently updating the comprehensive plan, which he called “an action plan; it’s not a bookend.” Doane advocated for residential growth and development that complements the affected area. He said the county had to be able to “say no” while also not being stagnant.
Runnebohm said “growth is inevitable,” so the comprehensive plan and standards hold great value. “Of the donut counties around Indianapolis, we’re the last one to develop,” he said. Runnebohm suggested that this gives county officials the opportunity to learn what works and doesn’t work from others.
Land said that while he likes learning from others, “I sure hope we’re not last to the table every time.” He wants to give the public more of a voice in the process, and would convene those with knowledge of specific issues to work on applicable matters. He called for the county to be “cautiously creative.”
NOTEBOOK:
Following a statewide trend, early voting has been light in Shelby County. As of yesterday morning, the clerk’s office had received 234 ballots, both mail and walk-in, election deputy Jeff Sponsel reported.
First Christian Church, 118 W. Washington St., will host a rummage sale this weekend, Friday, April 19, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday, April 20, 7:30 a.m. to noon. Saturday is $2-a-bag day
NATIONAL NEWS: The cost of a Forever U.S. postage stamp will rise from 68 cents to 73 cents in July, following a price hike just this past January and the sixth increase since January 2021. Still, could be worse: Comparing the U.S. to 30 other peer countries, there are just four countries with cheaper stamps than the United States, and the 26 percent increase from June 2018 to June 2023 is half the average stamp price increase of 55 percent of those countries. One driver of the price hikes for first-class mail is declining volume, with the number of mailed items down 68 percent since 2007. (NRP/Numlock)
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This Day in Shelby County History
2014: With the state legislature mandating, in general terms, the reduction of landfill use and encouraging recycling, the city continued to review trash services. After a review of private services, it was determined the city could still provide their own trash service for less than privatization. The city had cut out holiday trash collection except on the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas eve to cut back on overtime costs, saving approximately $15,000 per year.
2004: Waldron seniors Jordan Barnard and Justin Barnard signed letters of intent to play college basketball at the University of Indianapolis. The Barnards had led Waldron to a 27-0 season and the Class A state championship.
1994: Developers of the 62-lot Candlelight Village subdivision asked the county for help to install a drainage system. County officials said the county would consider taking over the drainage system as a legal drain, but then the property owners would pay any costs not covered by the developers. Shelby County Sanitarian Robert Lewis said that septic failures were so severe in Candlelight Village that bloodworms lived in the drainage ditches.
1984: Members of the Morristown High School prom court were Stacey Collingwood, Dawn Benson, Joy Rush, Jane Linville, Kendy Smith, Gregg Cory, Michael Mullins, Michael Kuhn, Brent Morris and Tony Matney. Waldron High School held their prom, and Edna Settles and Tony Kuhn were crowned queen and king.
1974: Construction was underway on the Morristown Christian Church. The new building would provide a sanctuary with the old structure being put to other use when the building was complete.
1964: Steve Cherry won the area Rotary Speech Contest as part of an Elks Club program. Cherry spoke on “Our American Heritage.”
Fire Chief William H. Smith was injured at the scene of a grass fire on Thompson Road.
1954: The 900 Club bowling team at the St. Joseph men’s league won the season championship. Team members were Roy LeClere, Jim Bogeman, Kenny Lawrence, Dalton Thoman and Leo Gilles.
1944: Fourteen local men left for Army induction. Another contingency was set to leave for Navy induction over the weekend.
1934: The Pentecostal Association of Jesus Christ began restoring the old German church at the southwest corner of East Washington and Hamilton streets, which had been abandoned for 30 years and used as a warehouse during many of those years. There were about 30 members in the congregation. The new church would be called the Washington Street Temple. The PAJC was a denomination including a merger between the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ and the Pentecostal Association of the World.
1924: Several old newspapers were found while workers took up carpet in a home occupied by the late C.N. Perry. There were copies of the Shelbyville Daily Democrat when it was managed by P.G. Kamp and owned by Scott Ray.
The Interstate Public Service Company started a store here to sell electrical and gas equipment. Dan Lavely was made store manager.
The Daniel DePrez Co. offered free ice to the public for a week, during an unseasonably warm spell. “This means much to the consumer and it is proven especially at this particular time of the year that milk, vegetables and meats should be kept at an even temperature,” The Republican said. “Ice is the only solution for this and all that is necessary is to hang up the ice sign, specifying the amount wanted.”
1914: Representatives of the Anti-Saloon League occupied the pulpits of about every local church. “The subject of statewide and nationwide prohibition will be explained,” the paper said.
OBITUARIES
Elizabeth “Ann” Turner, 74, of Shelbyville, passed away Monday April 15, 2024 at Morristown Manor. She was born June 25, 1949 in Bloomington, IN. to George Welch and Barbara (Hazel) Welch.
Ann married Larry E. Turner on April 12, 1966, and he survives. They had just celebrated 58 loving years of marriage together.
She graduated from Shelbyville High School. Ann then went onto being a secretary for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department for over 20 years. She loved to volunteer her time whenever she could, including her time with the Explorer program through the Sheriff’s Department. She also served as a liaison with the Mexican Delegation during the Pan Am Games in Indianapolis in 1984. Ann enjoyed her annual family trip to Florida and she loved the ocean. Her favorite times were spent with family. She was a devoted mother and wife, and she was especially proud to be an active grandmother.
Ann is also survived by her sons, Gary W. (wife, Eva) Turner and Michael (wife, Andrea) Turner; her grandson, Alex W. Turner; her granddaughters, Rylie Turner and Ashlyn Turner all of Shelbyville; her sisters, Dee Fox of Whiteland; Becky (husband, Randy) McDonald of Columbia, SC.; her nieces and nephews, Chasity (husband, JR) Council, Chad McDonald, Christy Randall and Charlie (wife, Jenny) Randall. She was preceded in death by her parents; her aunt and adopted mother, Anna Elizabeth Low; her brother, Kenneth Jaco and nephew, Chris McDonald.
Visitation will be Friday, April 19, 2024 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Murphy-Parks Funeral Service, 703 S. Harrison Street, Shelbyville, IN 46176. Funeral services will follow at 3 p.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Jose Rivera officiating. Burial will be at Whispering Hope Memorial Gardens in the Hero’s of Honor and Glory section. Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks, Stuart Parks, and Darin Schutt are honored to serve Ann’s family. In lieu of flowers a memorial donation may be made in honor of Ann to the Shelbyville Animal Shelter, 705 Hale Rd., Shelbyville, IN. 46176 Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.