Wednesday, April 9, 2025
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Shelby Senior Services hosted a Volunteer Recognition Party Thursday for Rose Allen, the organization’s longest-serving volunteer. Allen, 88, began volunteering at Major Hospital and then moved over to Senior Services. L to R, Crystala Evans, Jerry Thomas, Pat Spurlin and Lois Thomas, celebrate with Allen (seated). | photo by JACK BOYCE
OPENING WIN
Shelbyville High School’s Aiden Smith pitches against New Palestine in yesterday’s season opener while Reece Prickett prepares to field. The Bears (1-0) beat the Dragons, 4-3, and travel to New Pal this afternoon for a rematch. | photo by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
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NOTEBOOK:
The Shelbyville Board of Public Works and Safety yesterday gave the owner of 44 Walker St. until June 30 to clean up the property before the City will step in, clean the property and assess the costs to the owner. Although the property is zoned commercial, it is being occupied. That violation, however, was not under consideration by the Board of Works. The owner asked for more time to remove vehicles on the property, which were recently tagged by police, giving the owner 72 hours to resolve the matter. Mayor Scott Furgeson said the board could not override police action, but he agreed to check in on the matter to offer the owner clarification.
The Board of Works also approved seven additional outside tables for Spegal’s Prime Cuts on Public Square; approved a fundraising road block for SCUFFY on Saturday, April 26, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the intersections of N. Harrison and Mechanic, S. Harrison and Colescott and Lee Blvd. and Progress Parkway to collect donations from those driving through; and approved the appointments of Todd Anderson and Denny Ramsey to the fire merit board.
The Shelby County Plan Department issued the following press release yesterday permits regarding repairs: “Residents of Shelby County are reminded that with the recent flood, many structures in the community may have experienced structural damage. All repairs and/or reconstruction activities to structures damaged due to the flood that are located in the floodplain will require a local floodplain development permit and applicable construction permits from the Shelby County Plan Commission and Building Inspector Office as required by the Shelby County Unified Development Ordinance. The office is located at Room 201, 25 W. Polk St., Shelbyville. Failure to obtain the necessary permits may result in fines up to $7,500. In addition, depending on location of a property, a permit may be required from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources prior to the start of any reconstruction activity. Shelby County will waive permitting fees for repairs and/or reconstruction of structures with documentation showing damage due to the recent flood. Shelby County officials will be conducting damage assessments of structures impacted by the recent flood in the coming weeks. Owners of property in the floodplain located in the municipal limits of Shelbyville, Morristown and Fairland are encouraged to contact their local planning and building office to inquire about required permits. For more information on the permitting process, please contact Desiree Calderella, Planning Director at 317-392-6338 or dcalderella@co.shelby.in.us.
The City of Shelbyville launched a new Golf Cart and Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle (ROV) Registration Program in accordance with a recently enacted ordinance aimed at improving public safety and providing clear operational guidelines for residents. The ordinance, which applies to designated public roadways within Shelbyville city limits, outlines eligibility, safety requirements, registration procedures and enforcement measures. Residents must complete an online registration, pass a vehicle inspection through the Shelbyville Police Department, and meet equipment standards such as headlights, seat belts, turn signals, and mirrors. Operators must be 18 years or older and possess a valid driver’s license or state-issued ID. Vehicles not in compliance may be subject to fines ranging from $300 to $3,000, with potential towing or impoundment. Details and registration form available here.
HOOSIER NEWS: New walkways, landscaping and a gateway plaza featuring a famous Martin Luther King Jr. quote are all part of a $6.8 million expansion of the Indianapolis park where Robert Kennedy made a historic speech on the day of MLK’s assassination in 1968. The city will transform the southern portion of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park on the near north side with a new plaza displaying King’s quote, “Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that,” according to renderings. The plaza will sit just north of the existing Landmark for Peace monument that depicts King and Kennedy reaching toward each other, which will receive upgrades including a new circular walkway with historical placards. The project will also bring new lighting and security cameras to the park. (IndyStar)
NATIONAL NEWS: A new analysis of international trade data reveals which goods we do not get predominately from China. Given China’s extensive printing industry, 93 percent of all Children’s books ($505 million worth of product) imported to the U.S. come from China, as do 97 percent of baby carriages and parts ($380 million in goods). China also dominates fireworks imports (95 percent), umbrellas (96 percent) and vacuum flasks (96 percent). (Sherwood/Numlock)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights
May 20, 1958, Part I
A total of 202 new students were expected to enter the junior high school in the fall, a record due to a new grade school added a year before. Major was sending 58 students; Coulston, 19; Pearson, 67; and Hendricks, 58.
Lee McNeely won a $400 college scholarship from The Shelbyville News. Thomas Pine of Moral High School won the scholarship for county schools. The winners were chosen based on their School and College Ability Test scores.
Miss Marion Chenoweth, SHS English and Journalism teacher, was chosen as one of 25 teachers in the country to attend a Conference on American Studies.
The Courier listed “People and Things I Would Like to Send on a Journey to Sputnik,” which included, “Teachers who give tests on Monday; Boys who race their cars around school, splashing water on pedestrians; Boys who press the button on the clock in the main hallway that rings the bell ahead of time” and “People who purposely go the wrong way on the stairs.”
Mr. Roy Ray, SHS woodshop teacher, was retiring after 40 years in the classroom. Ray was a native of Fairland, which he called, “the garden spot of the world.” Mrs. Merle Gross, JHS geography teacher, was also retiring. Gross was a resident of Columbus.
Lovena Schonfeld, SHS senior, was the only member of the graduating class who had perfect attendance during her four years in high school.
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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: The Evangelical United Church of Christ celebrated its 125th anniversary. The church had moved to Columbus Road from the corner of East Franklin and Pike Streets after a 1962 fire set by an arsonist. Seventy charter members had formed the German Evangelical Protestant Church in 1880. They rented from the Christian Church then at East Pike and Franklin Streets, a building they later purchased. In 1905, a new pipe organ was purchased. The younger men in the church were at times recruited to pump the organ during church services, Judy Sprengelmeyer reported for The Shelbyville News. Much of the history had come from church member Betty Yanzer, who had served as unofficial scribe and historian of the church for many years. “It was also rumored that the organ music would stop periodically, supposedly because the boys in the back groom behind the organ became involved in card games and forgot about why they were there in the first place,” the article said. In 1918, the church’s name was changed to First Evangelical Church, and German-language services were discontinued due to the tensions of World War I. In 1924, the church’s constitution was translated from German to English.
1995: Stars and pitchforks spray painted along East Washington and Vine Street were likely the work of youth, not satanists, police said.
1985: Work on a warehouse building for Weintraut Floor Covering on East McKay Road neared completion.
The producers for a film in the works called “Hoosiers” said they were considering Milroy as the location to tell the story inspired by Milan’s 1954 high school state basketball championship team. Producers said they had visited 50 to 70 rural Hoosier settings, but were still looking for the perfect town.
1975: Don Collins, president of Shelby County ARC, was among four people behind Gov. Otis Bowen’s desk while he signed a proclamation designating it Rike-A-Bike Day for those with developmental disabilities.
1965: Twisters caused significant damage throughout the county, including taking off the roof of Roger McGuire’s home on 421.
Directed by Mrs. Velma Wortman, seniors in the cast of Morristown’s school play prepared for opening night. Those with lead roles included Margaret Gabbard, Judy Zike, Tom Mann, Joyce Unger, Pat Sutton, Linda Kelso, Eddie Currie, Grant Lowe and Carl Guffin.
David Clayton, 14, was named Boy of the Year at the Boys Club. Harold McKee, Optimist Club president, made the presentation.
1955: Local police were frustrated with the number of “unusual requests” received, The Shelbyville News reported. Recent “screwball” demands included someone who said they couldn’t sit on their front porch due to a cloud of mosquitos, a request for police to do something about birds eating all the cherries off a tree and requests for police to keep an eye on allegedly unfaithful wives and husbands. A woman had also recently called about “an atmospheric” disturbance that was causing static on her mother’s radio.
Officials with St. Joseph Catholic School announced plans to expand the building to help accommodate 100 additional students coming in the fall. General Electric’s employee records showed that out of 100 families arriving in Shelbyville recently, 35 were Catholic, leading to 49 new children enrolling in the school.
1945: Rosemary Ash of Van Ave. received word that her husband, Pfc. Glenn Ash, had been seriously wounded in action in Germany.
1935: Three local boys were arrested for placing stench bombs in local theaters.
Mary Ray, a junior at Shelbyville High School, placed first in an advanced typewriting contest held at Central Normal College in Danville.
1925: A home building boom was underway in the city, with 100 homes either under construction or with permits pulled. Homes were being added between Miller St. and Jefferson Ave. and from Colescott St. to Fourth street. George Torrence was building new homes on Van Av. and Noble St.
Richard Walters, 40, Morristown, was shot and killed by C.S. Mercer, editor of the weekly Morristown Sun. The shooting occurred on Main St. in front of the post office. A manslaughter charge was filed against Mercer. The two had not gotten along since Mercer had published an article criticizing former Fire Chief Walters, who had reportedly sounded a false alarm to mark the one year anniversary of his appointment.
1915: The Shelbyville City Council voted to get out of the show business and stop booking the City Opera House. A manager brought in to increase productions said Shelbyville was too close to Indianapolis to attract higher priced attractions. The Opera House would instead be opened for use by local charity organizations and schools.
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OBITUARIES
Arthur William Cole, 89, of Ocala, Florida, formerly of Morristown, passed away on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at Cates Hospice House of Ocala. He was born January 11, 1936, in Shelby County, the son of Dillard and Nadine (Storie) Cole. On October 2, 1954, he married his wife of 70 years, Janice Marlene Hauk, and she survives. In addition to Janice, Arthur is survived by his daughters, Cheryl Ramsey and husband, Gary, of Shelbyville, and Kelly Carlton and husband, Bruce, of Morristown; sister, Joyce Ann Crull of Fishers; grandchildren, Bruce Ramsey and wife, Heather, Melia Rude and husband, Nathan, and Chelsy White and husband, Adam; 12 great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.
In 1954, he graduated from Morristown High School. Arthur retired from International Harvester in April of 1985, with over 30 years of service. He and Janice were highly noted square dancers.
Graveside services will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be shared with Arthur’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.