Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Local Event Celebrates Black History
Guest singer Gabrielle Solange sings with Shelbyville’s Second Baptist Church choir providing back-up vocals at last night’s “Celebrating Our Stories” program at The Strand Theatre. The choir also sang during the presentation, which was the final in a series of events organized by James Garrett Jr.; Sarah Richard, executive director of the Grover Center; and Donna Dennison, director of genealogy at Shelby County Public Library. There were 70 in attendance, including several local officials.
“We have a wonderful community, and it takes all of us together to have this wonderful community,” James Garrett Jr. said in remarks.
photos by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
Trail Progress Continues
The above graphic shows a pedestrian trail plan for the segment that starts on Hale Road, goes through Shelbyville Central Schools property, down McKay Road and crosses back near Meridian St., traveling the old railroad corridor, along the ditch, to its termination point by the city pool. The Shelbyville Board of Public Works and Safety yesterday approved purchasing three easements and a land deed - from First Church of God in Shelbyville, Benjamin and Lisa Compton, Eric and April-Ann Matson and Allen and Allen, LLC - in regards to the trail system. The City remains in talks to acquire more effected land, city engineer John Kuntz said.
Coulston Principal Recognized for Contributions to Local Black History
Coulston Elementary teacher Jonathon Baldwin recognizes Principal Nicole Terrell, the district’s first Black teacher and principal, at a surprise school convocation yesterday organized by teacher Mike Bunton. Below are remarks prepared by the Shelbyville Central Schools’ staff for the occasion. | photo by ANNA TUNGATE
In recognition of Black History Month, today we’re honoring the contributions of Coulston Elementary School principal Nicole (French) Terrell, the first Black teacher and principal in Shelbyville Central Schools history. She is among several trailblazers connected to our district.
In the early 1900s, Shelbyville was one of the first high schools in the state to integrate, and the Golden Bears basketball team of 1947, led by three Black starters, is noted as the first integrated sports team in the nation to win a championship at any level of play.
And although local elementary schools were integrated much too late, in 1949, Shelbyville’s Booker T. Washington School produced many noted scholars, such as John Hodge, the first Black student from Shelby County to attend college; Bill Garrett, the first Black player in the Big Ten and namesake of our high school gym; Cassius Bennett, former City Council member; Doris Henry, the first Black registered nurse at Major Hospital; and Laura Bennett Brewer, who served the U.S. armed forces, to name just a few. Also, three Booker T. Washington students returned to teach at their alma mater: Maria Woolridge Jones, Ophelia Penick and Kathleen Starks.
Following this great tradition, former Pearson Elementary student Nicole (French) Terrell returned in 1994 to teach at Pearson and Hendricks, and has become both a trailblazer and district educational leader. In 2022, she became the first Black principal outside of Booker T. Washington School to serve Shelbyville Central Schools.
We appreciate the French and Terrell family contributions to local government, health, faith, business and many other fields, namely, to education. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Intelligence plus character, that is the goal of true education.” Thank you, Mrs. Terrell, for bringing both every day to our students at Shelbyville Central Schools.
‘FROZEN’ THIS WEEKEND
Shelbyville Middle School students rehearse for this weekend’s production of “Frozen Jr.” in the SMS Cafetorium. The play is Friday and Saturday, March 1 and 2, 7 p.m.. Adults are $8 and students, $5. | photo by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
NOTEBOOK:
The Board of Public Works and Safety ordered a traffic review for consideration of a stop sign at the intersection of Summer Way Dr. and Winter Way/Dylan Drive in Clearview. Nearby resident Jeffrey Johnson expressed concern about traffic speed between Columbus Road and Theobald St. “People will use that entrance (at Columbus Road) to avoid school traffic,” he said. Johnson said he removed a couple of his pine trees at the intersection to help with visibility, but safety concerns remain. Mayor Scott Furgeson said a stop sign was likely “a good idea.” The police department will review the matter and make a recommendation to the board.
In other action, the board approved traffic closures for a Shelby County Fair parade, Saturday, June 8, 2 p.m. The parade route will be the same as last year. The 175th Shelby County Fair starts Monday, June 10.
The BPW notified The Addison Times of some changes to their previously announced spaghetti dinner. The event is March 9, and the adult price is $10. The event will be 4 to 7 p.m. at West Street Methodist Church. The price for children 10 and under is $5.
NATIONAL NEWS: The Federal Trade Commission has sued to block the proposed merger between supermarket empires Kroger and Albertsons. The combined entity would control 13 percent of the U.S. grocery market, and, the FTC argues, diminish competition that keeps prices fair. The cost of food has been up lately, causing lots of consternation; the cost of food consumed at home was up 11.4 percent in 2022 and 5 percent in 2023. (AP/Numlock)
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Blue River Career Programs’ Criminal Justice Offering Highlighted
ABOVE: Shane Lawhon practices on a 911 simulator at Blue River Career Programs. | submitted
BELOW: Isabella Yazel, Morristown High School, and Mackennah Miller, Benjamin Wilson and Alexia Kessler, Shelbyville High School learn to create a boot impression at Blue River Career Programs.
Editor’s note: In recognition of National Career Technical Education Month, The Addison Times is publishing a series of informational articles on programs at Blue River Career Programs in Shelbyville, which serves all public county high schools. The articles were provided by BRCP staff.
Blue River Career Programs offers two years of Criminal Justice for high school sophomores, juniors and seniors in Shelby County. Both courses meet Monday through Friday for approximately two and a half hours. These courses cover careers in law enforcement, corrections and the legal system. The careers options are vast, from graduating students working right after high school up to obtaining a law degree. While in session, students spend half of their time in the classroom learning about the history and present trends of all aspects of our criminal justice system.
Among the many topics discussed in the classroom are the criminal adjudication process, the roles of the courtroom work group, the skills necessary for successful law enforcement efforts and the different theories behind our community’s correctional services. As society becomes more diverse, we also incorporate a multicultural perspective. Our textbooks cover a national scope, so, whenever possible, we look at local and state services and systems to supplement the curriculum. The other half of class is spent conducting labs such as criminal case investigation, forensics, law enforcement stops and arrests, mock trials and 911 dispatch scenarios.
Employability skills are incorporated in everything we do from the academics to the lab activities. Additionally, we attend field trips and host guest speakers from law enforcement to probation, parole, lawyers and judges.
In their first year, students earn six high school credits toward their diploma. They also have the opportunity to earn 12 Ivy Tech credit hours and earn the International Academics of Emergency Dispatch Emergency Telecommunicator Course Certificate. During the optional second year, students can earn an additional two high school credits and an additional six Ivy Tech credits.
Students interested in attending Blue River’s Criminal Justice program should have a strong desire to learn about all Criminal Justice careers including law enforcement, corrections, and legal careers. Due to the academic rigor, interested students should be self-motivated and organized. While in the classroom, students will gain confidence and learn how to communicate effectively, de-escalate situations, and work with peers to accomplish goals.
Students also have the opportunity to participate in SkillsUSA, which is a yearly competition in which some of the best students from the regional, state, and national level compete to earn scholarships and other opportunities. Our Criminal Justice students can participate in Crime Scene Processing and Police Traffic Stops competitions.
This Day in Shelby County History
2014: The Bluebird Restaurant in Morristown aimed to re-open April 28, the Tracy family said. It had been closed since December 15 due to a fire that damaged the building and destroyed the Long Branch Saloon.
2004: A standing-room only meeting in the Shelby Eastern Schools administration building featured environmental talk. Fungus had been found in a junior high room, which followed already-remediated air quality issues.
1994: The Shelby County Sheriff’s Department was open and conducting business from its headquarters in the new jail. County residents could go to the new building for gun permits and to file a complaint. To bail someone out of jail, residents still had to go to the old building. Sheriff Mike Herndon would not release the date the inmates would be moved for security reasons.
1984: The Shelbyville Board of Public Works accepted three acres of land on Hale Road from Shelbyville Central Schools for construction of a new city-county animal shelter. When school officials had deeded five acres to the city for construction of the water tower-fire station, in return the city gave the school corporation the Pioneer Park property on Hale Road.
1974: Postage rates increased to 10 cents for a first-class letter. Mail dropped into the boxes in front of the post office would be served at the old rate until 11:45 p.m., Postmaster Robert Meltzer said.
Members of the Elks Lodge announced plans to sell their lodge facility on W. Broadway. They would operate the lodge and club at the Country Club location on N. State Road 9.
1964: Jacqueline Glessner, fourth grade student of Mrs. Thompson, won the Loper Elementary spelling bee. Phyllis Ann Miller, fifth grade student of Mrs. Surber, was the alternate.
Dr. Stephan VanCleve opened his optometry practice, 21 W. Washington St., in the Union and Loan Association building. Dr. VanCleve was a 1957 Shelbyville High School graduate. He was married to Barbara (Kent), and they had one son, Bradley, 2.
Ora L. Mann, J.G. DePrez Co. employee for 38 years, retired from his job at “the big busy store.”
1954: A “well-known local man and one-time employee of the State Highway Department” was arrested by state police for stealing 12 rolls of wire fencing, The Shelbyville News said.
1944: Shelbyville defeated Columbus, 36 to 35, to win the sectional championship for the first time since 1941. The winning shot was made in the final seconds by Chris Fischer. The Bears would meet Scottsburg, winner of the Madison sectional.
1934: The temperature was seven degrees below zero.
A 16-year-old local student was given a one-year jail sentence for stealing nine chickens from a farm south of Shelbyville. The sentence was later suspended. “Officers blamed his act on the fact that he had long been without money or employment,” The Republican said.
1924: A woman filed for divorce from her husband of 37 years. “The wife alleges that her husband refused to go to church with her or to permit her to go and that he would not permit her to go anyplace unless he went along to drive their automobile,” The Republican said.
The Gordon Orphan Home was filled to capacity. An investigating committee urged prompt action from the taxpayers of Shelbyville. The report said, “To the credit of Mrs. Senour, the help employed and the children, not a sign of dirt was visible. All the floors are wood and they were as clean as floors could possibly be in a building occupied by 46 children and a number of adults.” The Gordon home was 35 years old.
1914: The one-story brick Norristown school building burned to the ground. The building was six years old. All books, including the teachers’ gradebook, were lost. There were four large rooms in the school. The teachers were Prof. Clouse (principal), Mrs. Cochran and Miss Maze.
OBITUARIES
Mary Alice Secrest, formerly of Shelbyville, passed away, Sunday, February 25, 2024 in HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital in Port Charlotte Florida. She was born December 6, 1931, in Columbus, IN to Gerald and Pearl Truitt.
She married Gene Secrest on January 13, 1952, and he preceded her in death in 2008. Mary moved to Shelbyville in January 1963, where she lived in the same house until moving with her daughter to Port Charlotte, Florida in December 2023.
She worked as Deputy County Auditor of Shelby County until her retirement in 1989. Mary was a member of Psi Iota Xi Sorority, Eastern Star, REBS red hat group, BIG investment club, and Indiana Federation of Business & Professional Women, where she served as state secretary.
She enjoyed reading, knitting, and needlework. Mary loved her dachshunds that she had for many years. She also enjoyed playing bridge with her bridge clubs. Mary made needlework Christmas ornaments for her bridge club members for over 30 years. A Christmas tree was decorated with these ornaments at Grover Museum in her honor.
Mary is survived by her daughter, LeAnne Secrest and her daughter-in-law, Shauna Smith. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her sisters, Wanda Henderson and Valura Truitt both of Columbus.
Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks, Stuart Parks, and Darin Schutt are honored to Mary’s family. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.