Wednesday, January 25, 2023
24 Hours in Addison Township: 5:36 a.m.
Amy Roell, Tammy Etter, Marsha Apsley and Mike Wallace, members of a local running group, meet in the Shelbyville High School parking lot for a morning run in this photo taken last fall. “We’re all kind of the early birds,” Apsley said.
Local Democrats Elect New Chairman
New Shelby County Democrat Party Chair Denny Ramsey, left, accepts the ceremonial gavel from Bob Williams, who stepped down last night. | photo by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
Shelby County Democrats elected Denny L. Ramsey as chairman last night to succeed Bob Williams, who is retiring after serving since 2016.
In a farewell speech, Williams took time to individually thank those who helped the party during his tenure. Under the leadership of Williams and vice-chair Joanne Bowen, who will remain in office, the local party strengthened its fundraising efforts and digital presence.
Ramsey joined the chorus of those in attendance expressing appreciation to Williams. “We just simply have to thank and salute Bob for all these years as Democrat chairperson. His civic and political activities are second to none.”
Ramsey, too, is a life-long Democrat, and recalled his college-age experience of knocking on doors for presidential candidate Robert Kennedy. He said he has been impressed looking through party files of Democrat voter rolls.
“We have many more Democrats in this county than I realized,” he said. “We have enough Democrats to win, but we’ve got to get them to the polls. And we need to do whatever we can to make that happen.”
The appointment continues Ramsey’s lengthy service in the community, which includes a 40-year career in local education and as a board member for multiple not-for-profit organizations.
He started as a teacher in Marion Township before serving as principal at Lora B. Pearson, Coulston and W.F. Loper elementary schools and Shelbyville Middle School.
Ramsey’s efforts include stints as president of the boards of Shelby Senior Services, SCUFFY and Shelby County Youth Center. He also served on the boards of directors for Shelby County International Club, Shelby County Child Protection Team, Shelby County American Cancer Association and Shelby County Players as well as on the Blue River Foundation Grants Committee and in Unique Club.
He is a recipient of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Golden Apple Award, the Jaycees Shelby County Young Educator of the Year (1982) and the District 10 Indiana Principals Association Principal of the Year (2001-2002). He and his wife DeLane are members of St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Ramsey has been a member of the Indiana State University Alumni Club, Indiana Principals Association, Indiana Middle Level Educators Association and Indiana Principals Leadership Academy. He was a member of the Indiana National Guard and presented to Leadership Shelby County and the Franklin College Program for Preparing Teachers, where he worked as a Student Teacher Field Supervisor. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana State University, a master’s degree from Indiana University and an administration certification from Butler University.
Denny and DeLane have one daughter, Emily, who is married to Kris Soller. The Ramseys have three granddaughters, Claire, Caroline and Charlotte Soller.
Party treasurer Sherry Mohr and secretary Edie Sleeth will remain in their positions to round out the party leadership team.
Commissioners Hear County Mental Health Report
Shelby County’s contracted behavioral health provider served 1,067 residents last year - 764 adults and 303 youth - organizational officials reported to Shelby County Commissioners on Monday. Officials from Community Behavioral Health / Gallahue Mental Health Center, led by program manager Jennifer Weimer, provided details of 2022 regarding Shelby County residents treated for mental health and addiction issues. A total of 888 patients (unduplicated) were seen for mental health treatment, while 179 (unduplicated) were seen for addiction treatment.
The bulk of the funding for these services comes from federal sources Medicare and Medicaid, with the county typically paying between $330,000 and $355,000 annually the past few years.
Last year featured some decreases in need, with mental health professionals completing 516 crisis assessments locally compared to 556 in 2021. There were 223 acute care admissions in 2022 compared to 253 the prior year.
Gallahue, which provides a local clinic at 7 East Hendricks Street, Shelbyville, and boasts high satisfaction ratings from patients, continues to partner with county agencies on initiatives such as the Jail Intervention Program and services to youth at Shelbyville Middle School and Shelbyville High School.
In response to a question about why services are not available at other county schools, Vice President of Behavioral Health and CEO George Hurd said his staff had reached out, but “a lot of the schools did not have interest at that time.” Although there can be staffing challenges, services are typically provided where requested, he said.
The Community Health Network offers a variety of services, such as in-patient detox and stabilization, relapse prevention, individual and family therapy and medication management, to name a few.
Alcohol was the most frequently diagnosed substance abused, followed by stimulants and then opioids.
“A trend we saw in 2022 across our healthcare system was lower amounts of opioid use, fairly flat and slightly declining in our overdose reporting to our emergency rooms,” Hurd said. “We saw a very large, almost 300 percent increase, in stimulant use overdoses.”
But Hurd said that data might be misleading. “I think it was the fact that a lot of stimulants are now cut with fentanyl, which is a synthetic opioid that can oftentimes lead to overdose.”
Although funding remains a major hurdle, with federal rates that haven’t been adjusted since the 1990s, Hurd said he is pleased with current Indiana Senate Bill 1, co-authored by State Sen. Michael Crider, providing additional funding for mental health. On the other hand, he is worried about Senate Bill 6 and House Bill 1004, which he said limit mental health funding.
“So, while we see light at the end of the tunnel, we're hoping the tunnel doesn't kind of cave in while we're trying to get there,” Hurd said.
NOTEBOOK:
Shelbyville’s local radio station marked its 62nd anniversary this month. John Hartnett Jr. covered the station’s history in a Shelby County Post article.
The snow has not yet started as of “schedule the publication time,” but the National Weather Service reports that if Indianapolis receives 6 inches of snow today, it will officially exceed last winter’s snow total of 11 inches. That’s down from the seasonal average of 25.5 inches; then again, it’s only January 25.
HOOSIER NEWS: Purdue University joined a list of U.S. colleges banning a popular social media platform, stating the university “will no longer participate on or support the TikTok platform via university central, college or departmental accounts.” The decision, made in December 2022, involved Purdue deleting its central campus account @LifeAtPurdue from the TikTok platform. Purdue also encouraged colleges and departments at their West Lafayette, Fort Wayne and Northwest campuses using TikTok to delete their accounts and cease any further plans to post, interact or engage on TikTok. “The decision was prompted by concerns about cybersecurity risks to user data privacy, algorithmic censorship of free speech, and threats to national security, as documented publicly by the U.S. federal government,” reads Purdue’s press release. TikTok, the Chinese-owned app developed by ByteDance, has become a concern to both Republican and Democratic lawmakers regarding China’s ability to potentially use the app to spy on Americans. (IndyStar)
NATIONAL NEWS: It has been an unusually snowless winter in New York City. In fact, the metro region has yet to receive its first measurable snowfall this winter — defined as at least 0.1 inches. If that continues until Sunday, it will match a record set in the winter of 1973, when the area went snowless until Jan. 29. While two winter storms have dropped a considerable amount of powder upstate — western New York was hit hard by a late-December blizzard, with 51.9 inches recorded in the Buffalo region, resulting in at least 40 deaths — New York’s precipitation has been limited to rain. (New York Times)
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
Kendall’s Tavern celebrated 50 years in the same location with specials and a performance by local band Exit 113. Commemorative merchandise was available. The family business had a long, interesting history, Steve Talbert reported in The Shelbyville News. In 1935, third-generation owner/operator Angie Kendall’s grandfather, Dillard “Did” Kendall, started the business on Teal Street with one case of beer that he kept in his bathtub. Customers were limited to one or two beers per week. In early 1937, Did Kendall opened the first Kendall’s Tavern at 1011 S. Miller St. (now the site of Bible Mission Church.) On Jan. 31, 1953, Did Kendall closed the first tavern and opened a new one at the present location. In the ‘50s and 60s, the tavern attracted patrons with its popular piano bar. In the ‘60s and ‘70s, the tavern had a short-order kitchen. In 1978, Donald Kendall purchased the tavern from his father. Did Kendall continued to visit the establishment until he moved to a nursing home. On April 4, 1980, fire damaged the tavern. Donald rebuilt and reopened within two weeks. Donald Kendall’s brother, Bobby Dale Kendall, was a bartender at the tavern. He was slated to take over the family business one day, but he died in 1990. Angie Kendall, Donald’s daughter, 1978 Shelbyville High School graduate, started working at the tavern and took over when her father died in 2002. The establishment featured coin-topped tables built by Donald and the working antique firehouse bell near the dance floor.
30 YEARS AGO: 1993
Despite Sears closing more than 100 stores nationwide, local store owners Dan and Marcia Hunt said they were hoping to remain open. Sears, 42 Public Square, would continue to ramp up appliance sales.
40 YEARS AGO: 1983
Class rings were offered at Melton Jewelry, 3 Public Square, for $89.95 with a coupon from the newspaper.
Shelbyville’s Clerk-Treasurer Betty Worland announced she would be a candidate for the Republican nomination for the same office in the primary election. Worland pointed out that city funds had earned a record $475,838 in interest during her term. Worland and her husband, Jack, lived at 147 W. Jackson St. They had two children, Robin Burbank and Randall Worland. Betty, 49, was a graduate of Shelbyville High School and a member of the First Presbyterian Church.
50 YEARS AGO: 1973
A Jackson Township man was found in contempt of court for refusing to remove a mobile home, which the court had ruled was placed in violation of county zoning laws. The trailer was placed near Southwestern High School.
60 YEARS AGO: 1963
Dr. and Mrs. William DePrez Inlow of Spring Hill Road were on an 80-day cruise around the world. They were currently enroute to Yokohama from Honolulu and would visit over 20 ports in 12 countries before their return to the U.S. They had left Shelbyville on Jan. 2.
70 YEARS AGO: 1953
A stag party for members of the Shelbyville Elks Lodge featured the burning of the mortgage note on the new lodge home. Wilbur Pell was the speaker at the event. George Tolen Jr. was master of ceremonies.
80 YEARS AGO: 1943
Shelbyville police picked up two elementary school girls from Beech Grove here who had run away from home rather than show their semester report cards. The girls were sent home.
90 YEARS AGO: 1933
Joseph B. Hamilton was appointed receiver for the Sears Corporation, radio cabinet manufacturing concern, which had ceased operations at the end of 1932. Hamilton had been president of the J.B. Hamilton Furniture Company, whose manufacturing plant the Sears Corporation occupied during its activity here.
Van’s Comedy Dog and Pony Show gave a free exhibition on the Public Square, funded by local businessmen, on an open-air stage. Mr. and Mrs. Van had been in vaudeville and circus acts for many years.
100 YEARS AGO: 1923
Women voting meant women jurors, and the need for a woman bailiff, The Republican reported. “Certainly there is nothing wrong about that suggestion. What one single man would want to be hanging around a dozen women for will never be deciphered,” the paper said. “Another step for women juries would be carpets on the jury room floor, pictures on the walls, lace curtains on the windows and better and more modern furnishings. The average jury room these days is a mighty dismal looking place. There are no adornments, nothing in the room but a table and 12 chairs made far back in the memory of man. The floor is bare, decorated with cuspidors, and when no women are around is generally more or less littered with cigar ashes.”
George Bottsford was hired as the first janitor of the new Paul Cross Gym. In other hiring news, Willa Hutchinson was hired to teach the first four grades at Booker T. Washington School. She replaced long-time teacher Ophelia Pennick, who had to step down due to illness.
INCIDENTS
A semi-trucker driver struck a stop sign while turning right onto W. Washington St. from Montgomery Street in Shelbyville.
Theft was reported in the 300 block of 2nd St., Shelbyville.
JAIL BOOK-INS: Wesley B. Pennington, 45, pointing a firearm, intimidation; Hram Ceu, 40, OVWI-prior; James S. Smith, 42, theft, counterfeiting, corrupt business influence; Danielle D. Smith, 58, OVWI-endangerment.
OBITUARIES
Larry Dean Lollar, Sr., 72, of Manilla, passed away Friday, January 20, 2023 at Walker Place. Born April 16, 1950, in Columbus, he was the son of Omer W. Lollar, Sr., and Doris (Baker) Lollar. Survivors include a son, Larry Lollar Jr. of Nineveh; two daughters, Laura Pence (husband Greg) of Shelbyville, and Lisa Schlosser (husband Scott) of Beaverton, Michigan; partner, caregiver and best friend Elizabeth Lollar; five stepchildren, Tom Sleeth (wife Amanda), Margie Miller (husband Leonard), David Sleeth (wife Karen), Travis Brown, Tracy Smith (husband Rodney; two brothers, Omer W. Lollar Jr. of Edinburgh, twin brother Jerry D. Lollar of Edinburgh; three sisters, Joyce Burton of Shelbyville, Susan Tuley of Edinburgh, and Sandra Parks of Mt. Dora, Florida; seven grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and 11 step-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Mr. Lollar was a lifelong resident of this area and attended Southwestern High School. He was a self-employed heating and cooling technician with Lollar & Son Heating & Cooling for many years and a member of First Assembly of God Church in Shelbyville, and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a proud Marine Corp veteran, serving in the Vietnam War. Larry loved metal detecting with his family, collecting model Studebakers, and coins, playing euchre and was an avid Philadelphia Eagles fan.
A graveside Memorial Service will be held at a later date in Winchester Cemetery, where military rites will be conducted by the local VFW memorial squad. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.
Sylvia Faye Rouse, 85, of Shelbyville, passed away January 23, 2023 at Major Hospital. Funeral services are pending at Glenn E. George & Son Funeral Home.