Wednesday, February 8, 2023
24 Hours in Addison Township: 6:10 p.m.
Grace Orem prepares to bottle-feed Luna, a calf whose mother didn’t “take” to her. Grace’s parents, Andy and Tammy Orem, gave her the calf. Luna is also joined in the pasture by an ewe named Shaggy Black and her lamb in this photo taken late last summer. | photo by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
NOTEBOOK:
Elm Street resident Linda Fox had a simple request for the Shelbyville Board of Public Works members yesterday: “All I want is a damned curb.” The curb outside 615 Elm Street, where Fox lives, disappeared during a recent overlay project because the contractor filled the overlay to the top of the curb, resulting in drainage issues and people parking in her yard, she said. Fox thanked the board for their prior attention to the matter and their promise to follow up.
The Board of Public Works and Safety issued orders to appear yesterday to the owners of 135 Walker St., 145 Walker St., 333 E. Mechanic, and 527 W. Franklin St. regarding nuisance issues.
The board also approved road closures for the St. Joe Festival, set for May 10 - 13, and awarded a project to Schutte Excavating to re-pave Miller Street, from Washington St. to Penn St.
Shelbyville High School senior Christian Haas was named the recipient of this year’s $2,500 Gary Oldham Jr. Scholarship.
Firefighter/paramedic John “Chappy” Chappelow retired from the Shelbyville Fire Department, where he has worked since 2001. Chappelow started at the Shelbyville Police Department in 1995 before moving over to SFD.
HOOSIER NEWS: A total of 226 people died at the hands of others in Indianapolis last year, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. Of those, 79 — or 35% — have been “cleared,” in police jargon. A case is considered cleared if an arrest is made, or if a killing is declared accidental, self-defense or a murder-suicide. (IndyStar)
NATIONAL NEWS: A neighborhood outside of Scottsdale, Arizona, with some 2,000 homes recently learned that they don’t actually have a stable water supply. The 1980s Groundwater Management Act required that in order for a development six lots or larger to proceed in Arizona, it had to secure a 100-year supply of water. The Rio Verde Foothills developers kept splitting parcels into four to five lots, putting them under the six-lot minimum that applied to the law and avoiding that requirement. Previously, 25 percent to 35 percent of the residents — about 500 to 700 homes in the area without a private well — would pay private water trucks to deliver water supplied by Scottsdale, but as the Colorado River level dropped the city cut them off, and now they’ll have to either pay significantly more to truck in water from elsewhere, or drill a well. (High Country News/Numlock)
Correction: Due to an editing error, Kim Gobel was omitted from the Republican Primary Election Ballot published in yesterday’s edition. Gobel is running for City Council in the 4th Ward. A corrected ballot is published below and the original edition has been amended. I apologize for the error. - Kristiaan Rawlings
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY ELECTION BALLOT
Mayor of Shelbyville: David M. Finkel, Scott A. Furgeson, Brad Ridgeway
Shelbyville Clerk-Treasurer: Scott M. Asher, Amy L. Glackman
Shelbyville Common Council - At Large: Dennis E. (Denny) Harrold, Chuck Reed
Shelbyville Common Council - 1st Ward: Kassy Wilson
Shelbyville Common Council - 2nd Ward: Betsy Means-Davis
Shelbyville Common Council - 3rd Ward: Mike S. Johnson
Shelbyville Common Council - 4th Ward: Kim Gobel, Linda J. Sanders
Shelbyville Common Council - 5th Ward: Thurman R. Adams
Morristown Clerk-Treasurer: Morgan M. Stratton
Morristown Town Council: David Benefiel, Tamera “Tammy” Davis
Edinburgh Clerk-Treasurer: No Candidate Filed
Edinburgh Town Council - At Large: Miriam Rooks, Jeff Simpson, Sherri Sweet
SHELBY COUNTY PEOPLE & PLACES: PORTER FORD
Editor’s note: In the mid- to late 1940s, The Shelbyville Republican published a series of articles by Ave Lewis and Hortense Montgomery covering community people and places. Below is one of those features.
Starting with one 6-by-30-foot plant bed 45 years ago, Porter Ford, one of the few remaining plant growers in Shelby County, now tends in season 400 feet of plant bed space in his greenhouses on the Blue Ridge Road about six miles from town.
In writing of the commercial horticulturist career of Mr. Ford it's almost necessary to speak of him as a "team," since he insists that so far as the business is concerned, he and his wife, the former Cora Holbrook, are one. Mr. Ford's eyesight hasn't been the best for the past two years; he recently underwent surgery for the removal of a cataract, and he says her acting as his "eyes" during this period is only one of the innumerable ways they have worked together in their life undertaking.
And now, while they are staying at the home of a son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Cutter, on Shelby Street, as he recuperates from the operation, she reads catalogs to him and they discuss prices and descriptions as they order seed, fertilizer and such for the coming season.
Mr. Ford was orphaned when he was 10 years old, and from then until he was of age he lived with various relatives. But always, in the different families, gardening played an important part, so it was natural for him after building a home of his own (the present home) to try his own "green thumb." He and Mrs. Ford moved into the home following their marriage 50 years ago and he started his first venture in the plant business soon afterwards. From his small plot he first sold plants to the former Gross store in Manilla and the Ayers and Haymond store in Waldron, deliveries being made via horse and spring wagon.
He acquired his first truck in 1915 and built his first greenhouse in 1919. (This was a 16x72 foot building and in 1926 he built an additional greenhouse 16 by 45 in size). The watering problem for the first green house was solved merely with sprinkling cans but it wasn't long until a well driven in the plant yard was necessary, and now water is used from a 1,200 gallon supply tank.
Following the acquisition of a truck his business "branched out" and he began selling plants at Milroy and from the truck at St. Paul on Saturday nights. About this time too he started selling plants at the J.G. DePrez Store, and then for a four-year period sold from his truck on the corner of the Public Square. For 14 years they have maintained storerooms in town for flowers and plants each spring, but the surplus still is sold at the DePrez Store. Many years, particularly on the occasion of Mother's Day and Easter, the services of Mr. and Mrs. Ford, their daughter and eight hired helpers have been necessary to take care of the business.
As in everything else, Mr. Ford says great strides have been made in the greenhouse business. He recalls that plants used to be sold in bulk seedlings instead of being individually potted, as they are today. His own specialty now is hybrid tomato plants. These have proved to be much sturdier and highly productive. And at $16.50 a half ounce, they should be! (Ordinary tomato seeds are sold at 40 cents per ounce). He and Mrs. Ford plan to sow their seed about February 20, and after about four weeks they will be ready to transplant into tiny pots. They reminisce that they have emptied 15,000 such pots during a season.
Fresh soil is secured for the greenhouses each year, brought in by the truck load, and is carefully screened and mixed in proportion with commercial stone and fertilizer. Mr. Ford says women's taste so far as outdoor flowers are concerned don't change much. Geraniums are one of the oldest flowers known, and they remain one of the top favorites, along with petunias, flowering sage and asters. Seed for double petunias incidentally is grown only in California and each plant is pollinated by hand. And it costs $2.50 for 1/64 of an ounce. Mr. Ford laughingly says that's called holding $2.50 between a thumb and finger and not seeing it, since the seed is indeed minute. In addition to their plant work, Mr. and Mrs. Ford have hung quite a few rooms of wallpaper in their day. In fact, only last summer the two of them covered 100 rooms and in addition to that Mr. Ford painted five houses and three barns in seven days in the summer of 1945.
With the daughter, Mrs. Cutter, they have two sons, Hugh and George, both of whom reside in Shelbyville. And their only grandchild is Portia Cutter, a sophomore at the local high school.
This Week in Shelby County" works by George L. Stubbs Sr. are owned by the Shelby County Historical Society (Grover Center) and used with permission.
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 from the Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department.
20 YEARS AGO: 2003
A Runnebohm Construction storage building at 114 E. Rampart Drive was moved 63 feet east of its old location to make room for a new office building.
Bill Moore, owner and operator of Linne’s Pastry Shop and Deli, attained the status of Certified Master Baker. There were only 132 Certified Master Bakers in the country. Moore was one of 12 in Indiana and the only one in Shelby County. There were only two master bakers in Louisiana: they were brothers and worked in the same bakery. Moore had 32 years of baking experience.
30 YEARS AGO: 1993
Funding for a proposed pari-mutuel horse racetrack in Shelby County fell through. Track officials said they would be meeting with gaming officials to discuss next steps. If a deal could not be worked out, only one of three initial groups proposing a track would still be in the running for the state’s first pari-mutuel racetrack. Anderson Park Inc. had proposed building an $8 million to $10 million harness racing track in Anderson. A proposed track to be built near Lapel was also on hold due to financing issues.
40 YEARS AGO: 1983
Shelbyville police were investigating a potentially dangerous situation - someone with a blowgun had been shooting homemade darts into signs and buildings around town.
Shelbyville received a community block grant from the state to pay for the installation of sanitary sewers along Doran Avenue and Ninth Street. Residents of the area had lived for years with trouble-plagued septic systems due to a high water table in the area.
50 YEARS AGO: 1973
Another break-out attempt at Shelby County’s renovated jail was reported. Sheriff Norman Murnan found a cell floor plate pried loose during a jail inspection and was attempting to find which prisoner was attempting to escape from the second-story men’s “bull pen.” The Louisville firm which had remodeled the jail had been contacted about the matter.
60 YEARS AGO: 1963
Recognizing the need for youth physical fitness, Addison Township School Principal Carter Bramwell instituted daily calisthenics for sixth graders. “Several years ago it was thought that youngsters got enough exercise through normal activity but it has been learned that all of today’s modern conveniences are softening up the youngsters as well as the adults,” The Shelbyville News said.
Shelbyville firemen put out a fire at the Indiana Cafe, 30 E. Broadway, after grease in a hood over the stove caught fire. The cafe was operated by Frances McCarty and the building was owned by Dr. Harry Monks.
70 YEARS AGO: 1953
The Palms, which offered sandwiches, ice cream and “our specialty - Coney Islands” re-opened. Louise Carte was owner; he had previously owned the Davey-Lou Drive-in.
Shelbyville High School officials asked basketball fans to stop leaving their seats before the half was ended and coming back after the third quarter started. “It was pointed out that this is discourteous to those fans who want to see all the game,” the paper said.
City Police Officer James Sleeth was named president of the local F.O.P. Other officers were Norman Mellis, Charles Miner, Floyd Wagoner, Roy Anderson, Lewis Myers, Ezra Dagley, Norman Dagley, Robert Meltzer, Lloyd Mellis and Leroy Kelley.
80 YEARS AGO: 1943
All of Shelby County was listed as a “labor stringency” area in which the War Manpower Commission said a 48-hour work week may be needed.
90 YEARS AGO: 1933
County Commissioners awarded a contract to rewire and install new electric lighting fixtures in the Shelby County Courthouse.
Shelbyville City Clerk Harry McClain said the city’s finances were struggling due to the depression. There were overdrafts in the water and light, hospital and bond accounts.
100 YEARS AGO: 1923
The Ku Klux Klan held a meeting at the theatre building in St. Paul after a pastor denied the Klan’s request to hold the meeting in the Christian church.
INCIDENTS
Theft was reported in the 300 block of E. Broadway, Shelbyville.
JAIL BOOK-INS: Justin R. Haus, 32, probation violation; Jason E. Keller, 58, probation violation; Najana R. Smith, 28, writ of attachment; Loretta L. Lett, 51, failure to appear; Kevin N. Cloyd, 41, public intoxication.
OBITUARIES
Richard E. Guffey, 72, of Shelbyville. passed away Friday, February 3, 2023 at IU Methodist Hospital. Born November 29, 1950 in Hoopeston, Illinois, he was the son of Robert Lee Guffey and Rosie Pearl (Furguson) Guffey. He married Carol (Forrest) Guffey on September 22, 1967, and she survives. Other survivors include two sons, William "Billy" Guffey (Shirley Brown) of Shelbyville, Ronnie Guffey (Chasta Johnson) of Waldron; daughter Christina Guffey (Brian Adams) of Shelbyville; two brothers, Jim Guffey (wife Kathy) of Flat Rock, Ray Guffey (wife Debbie) of Bean Blossom; one sister Doris of Indianapolis; eight grandchildren, April, Amanda, MacKenzie (husband DJ), Ricky, Ashley (husband Trey), Ericka (husband Coy), Eddie (wife Emily), Rylan; and several great-grandchildren. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, William Paul Furguson; and three sisters, Wilma Jean Guffey, Carolyn Sue Guffey, and Joyce Kelsay.
Mr. Guffey was a lifelong resident of this area and retired from Wilburt Burial Vault in Indianapolis after over 40 years of service. Richard enjoyed watching the Indianapolis Colts and Indiana University basketball, spending time with his special girl (Carol), and with his family and friends.
Funeral services will be 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 9, 2023 at Glenn E. George & Son Funeral Home, 437 Amos Road, with Pastor Andy Lee officiating. Friend's may call on Thursday evening from 5 p.m. until the time of the service. Memorial contributions can be made to the Richard Guffey Memorial Fund, in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.
Gary Crum, 73, of Indianapolis, passed away on February 5, 2023. No services are planned at this time. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.
Harry B. "Duke" Watson III, age 80, of Fountaintown, passed away Sunday, February 5, 2023 at his home. He was born in Shelby County on September 28, 1942 to Harry Watson II and Louella (Tracy) Watson. He graduated from Morristown Jr. Sr. High School in 1960. On March 1, 1964, he married Patricia (Eakin) at Fountaintown Christian Church.
Before retiring in 1994, he spent his career working for Chrysler in Indianapolis. Duke was the owner of Watson Quarter Horses, where he bred and sold Skipper W horses. Duke was a member of Western Riders Saddle Club and a trap shooting club, that took him all over the US for competitions. He played AAU Basketball for F&M Oil Company in competitions all across the US. He enjoyed chatting with friends at the round table and spending time with his family. Duke was known for his infectious laugh, firms hugs and strong handshake. He never met a stranger.
Duke is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Pat Watson of Fountaintown; daughters, Christine Shull (Casey) of Fountaintown and Amy Hasenkamp (John) of Cumberland; grandchildren, Britney Anderson (Bill), Alec Shull, Taylor McGuire (Ben), Grace Hasenkamp and Olivia Hasenkamp; great-grandchildren, Kya, Analeigh and Elicie Anderson; and his sister, Brenda Hodgen (Steve) of Fountaintown. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Visitation and funeral service will be held at Erlewein Mortuary & Crematory, 1484 W. US Hwy. 40, Greenfield, IN 46140 on Friday, February 10, 2023. Visitation will be from 12 p.m. until 2 p.m. Service will begin at 2 p.m., with Pastor Mike Smith officiating. Burial will follow at Concord Cemetery in Fountaintown. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made by mail to Fountaintown Christian Church, 797 W. Brookville Rd., Fountaintown, IN 46130, or envelopes will be available at the mortuary. Friends may share a memory or condolence at www.erleweinmortuary.com.