Wednesday, January 29, 2025
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8th Grade Night
ABOVE: Shelbyville Middle School 8th grade cheerleaders and basketball players were recognized at last night’s home games.
photos by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
BELOW: Nick Larner accepts a gift from cheerleader Myla Parks last night’s recognition.
County Planning Department Releases Annual Report
The Shelby County Plan Commission and Building Inspector Annual Report was released this week. The following are excerpts:
Building activity in Shelby County began to increase in 2020 and peaked in 2021. In 2022, building activity began to decrease. However, the amount of agricultural and residential building activity in 2024 remained consistent with agricultural and residential building activity in 2023. The County issued significantly fewer permits for institutional, commercial, and industrial projects in 2024 than in the years of 2020 through 2023. This resulted in a decrease in overall value of structural improvements and department revenue.
The county issued 180 total building permits, including 33 new single-family home permits.
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NOTEBOOK:
The Shelbyville Plan Commission this week approved with conditions a petition from Horseshoe Indianapolis Racing and Casino to proceed with construction of a community center on 2.5 acres on the southeast corner of County Road 200 West and CR 450 N, adjacent to the track. The conditions included ensuring compliance with ADA standards, compliance with lighting standards and revising building elevations. Plan Commission President Mike Evans recused himself from proceedings since he is employed by the petitioner. The Plan Commission welcomed new members Tyler Comstock, city engineer, and Betsy Means-Davis, city councilwoman. Mike Evans and Doug Cassidy were re-elected president and vice-president of the commission, respectively.
The Shelbyville Board of Public Works and Safety yesterday approved closing Webster St. at Montgomery St. for three days, next Tuesday through Thursday, Feb. 4 - 6, for new sanitary sewers to be connected for the incoming Eight37 Lofts apartments. The manhole is in the center of the street, so workers need the street closed during work.
The Board of Works also gave the owner and occupant of 1022 Lincoln Street 30 days to clean up her property. The owner said she has made progress, but the weather has slowed her, her cars were recently stolen and she has been “attacked by stray dogs two or three times,” which she has given her “a little PTSD.” The board thanked her for appearing and promising to resolve the issue.
HOOSIER NEWS: Indiana State Excise Police have seen an "alarming increase" in the illegal sale of recreational-use nitrous oxide — also known as "whippets," laughing gas or Galaxy Gas — over the last year, Indiana Tobacco and Alcohol Commission officials say. Indiana ATC chairwoman Jessica Allen said the State Excise Police, which acts as the enforcement arm of the ATC, has cited 18 state-certified tobacco vendors and confiscated more than 15,000 canisters of nitrous oxide since early 2024. The citations and confiscations followed an increase in complaints about illicit sales to the ATC, which coincided with an increase in people purchasing nitrous oxide for recreational drug use. While it is legal to sell and purchase nitrous oxide for culinary, vehicular or medical use in Indiana, using or selling it for recreational purposes can result in a criminal offense. (IndyStar)
NATIONAL NEWS: Americans have fallen hook, line and sinker for throwing their money at long-shot wagers on apps, multistep parlays that really aren’t working out very well for them. Three states get specific about their in-state gambling — Illinois, New Jersey and Colorado — and as of last year through October, parlays were 27 percent of all sports bets. That said, they’re incredibly lucrative for the big casinos, and by the transitive property, that means that people in the aggregate are getting absolutely hosed on these bets. Despite representing only a quarter of money wagered, parlays were responsible for 56 percent of revenue after payouts for the companies in the states, meaning that the house is really, really winning these. (Wall Street Journal/Numlock)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights
October 3, 1956, Part I
Freshmen enrollment at SHS had been bolstered by 66 students who did not attend the junior high school, including 26 from Addison Township School and 14 from St. Joe. Total enrollment at SHS was 367 boys and 380 girls.
Plans were announced for Ronald Reagan, motion picture actor and TV star-host of General Electric Theater, to visit Shelbyville and SHS to speak before a student assembly on October 17. Reagan’s visit was part of his job as producer, host and frequent star of GE Theater (CBS-TV, seen locally on Channel 8, Sunday, 8 p.m.). He had been visiting his employer’s factories throughout the U.S.
Alumni News: Jim Spindler was named yell leader at DePauw University, and Phil Breedlove made the DePauw football team. Recent graduates Roy Webber and Jim McKeand had been selected to attend the annual Freshmen Leadership Camp at Purdue.
“Beware, Freshmen! Better wear your gun and holsters if you come trotting around SHS in junior or senior cords. (In case you don’t know, the colors of the cords are white and yellow.” Also, “The senior boys will be watching you handsome things this year. Their slogan is, ‘Stay away from our women.’”
Joan Key Tennell, a former student at the junior high, had returned after three years in Germany on a military base.
There were four new teachers at SHS. Mrs. Doris McCartney Butler, Home Ec teacher, replaced Mrs. Laskowski. She and her husband lived in Shelby Township, and they had two children, Brenda, 7, and Jay, 10. For the previous five years, the Butlers had owned and operated the Golden Bear, a restaurant across from the school. Mrs. Katherine Reece was the new English faculty member. Her husband, Lawrence, owned the Reece Cannery in St. Paul. Their children were John, a 1955 SHS graduate, and Evelyn, a sophomore. Leroy “Dee” Compton had degrees from Butler and I.U. He and his wife, Virginia Ann (Coxen) had three sons: James, Leroy, Ted Leslie and Charles Arthur. Harold Wright was the new freshman English teacher. He and his wife, Evelyn, had a three-year-old son, Bill.
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: A 13-year-old girl admitted she had written a threatening message inside a restroom stall at Shelbyville Middle School, but school officials said the case was far from closed, given that multiple messages had appeared. Students had been forced to undergo a booking inspection and body-scanning with metal-detector wands. “This is getting ridiculous,” Shelbyville Central Schools spokesman Johnny McCrory told Judy Sprengelmeyer with The Shelbyville News. “I’m getting tired of having to talk about it.”
1995: Billy D. Cole announced he would take his third shot at the city’s highest office by running against incumbent Mayor Bob Williams, a fellow Democrat, in the primary. Shelby County Democrat chairwoman Linda Emerick said she was surprised by the move. She said she thought Cole was “out of the picture” when he had been hired as marshal of Princes Lakes. She wouldn’t comment further.
1985: The Lottie Beyers family farm near Fairland received a Hoosier Homestead award at the statehouse. The Beyers property had been in the same family since 1883.
1975: Ted’s Tavern owner Jim Snyder got his brass bugle back. The prankster who had stolen it off the tavern wall apparently had a change of heart and mailed it back.
1965: The Jester Realty Company acquired the downtown buildings occupied by the Jester Department Store, the Bradley Hall Furniture Store, the Breedlove Men’s Wear Store, the Pitman building and the former Monte Glove building on E. Jackson St. The three-story Pitman building was built around the Civil War period. It had been remodeled two years’ prior to make it part of the Jester Store. The second floor had been modernized and the general offices of the Jester Stores moved there from W. Washington St.
1955: McCarty’s Bakery opened in the former Cunningham Ice Cream Store building at 212 E. Broadway. James McCarty, of Franklin, was a former Shelbyville resident. He was married to Martha (Knoebel), and they had four children.
1945: Willard J. Day, social studies teacher at the junior high school, was appointed editor of the “Spokesman,” official publication of the Indiana State Federation of Public School Teachers.
1935: Shelbyville Kiwanians celebrated the 20th anniversary of the founding of their organization in a meeting held at the Golden Glow. William F. Loper was the guest speaker. He contrasted the attitudes of Louis XIV and Louis Pasteur, the former assuming the attitude of “I am the state,” whereas the latter chose to devote his life to serving others. Loper condemned cynical and pessimistic ideas “developed during recent years,” The Republican said. He said those groups “may be defined as those who seem to know the price of everything and the value of nothing.”
1925: Plans to move governance of the public library to its own board away from the city schools hit a snag when Mayor Lee Hoop announced he would not support such a move. He believed the move would lead to increased politics in the selection of board members.
1915: Twenty local automobile agents met to complete arrangements for the Automobile Show to be held in Shelbyville in March. The show would be held on West Broadway in a large tent set on the vacant lot next to the Elks Club. Thirty-five cars would be displayed.
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OBITUARIES
Jeremy Scott Kessler, 38, of Elizabethtown, Indiana, passed away on January 25, 2025, due to a tragic accident. Born on February 20, 1986, in Shelbyville, Indiana, Jeremy was known for his loving nature, unwavering reliability, and loyal heart. He had an enduring love for the outdoors, with a particular fondness for hiking with his children and showing them the beauty of nature. What mattered most to Jeremy was his family - his wife, his children, and his dog, Vader.
Jeremy was a proud and honored member of the United States Marine Corps and the FOP in Shelbyville. His service to his country and community was a testament to his strength and dedication. His supportive spirit extended into his work as a processor at Knauf Insulation, where he was a dedicated employee for 13 years.
He is survived by his wife, Kyrie Kessler; children, Madison, Ethan, Jameson, and Samantha Kessler; mother, Linda Kessler; a sister, Jodi Kirk; a brother, Skyler (Heather) Kessler; and his nephews, Elijah, Riley, and Kasey. He was preceded in death by his brother, Jason Kessler; grandfather, Larry Wiley; and grandparents, Paul and Ruth Kessler.
Visitation for Jeremy will be held on Monday, February 3, 2025, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Glenn E. George and Son Funeral Home, located at 437 Amos Road, Shelbyville, Indiana. A service to celebrate Jeremy's life will follow at 7 p.m. at the same location. Please join us in remembering Jeremy. We invite you to share your pictures, thoughts and fond memories at glennegeorgeandson.com.
Richard Ivan “Dick” Parmer, 93, of Shelby County, Ind., passed away January 27, 2025, at Ashford Place Health Campus, Shelbyville, Ind. He was born August 9, 1931, in New Point, Ind. He was the son of Bertis Victor and Rheba Mae (Kemper) Parmer. He married Evelyn Lulu Rose (Westerfeld) Parmer on April 15, 1951. She preceded him in death on July 19, 2016. He is survived by his sons, Larry (Angie) Parmer of Cloverdale, Ind., Jerry (Karen) Parmer of Edinburgh, Ind., and Rick (Stacy) Parmer of Franklin, Ind., daughters, Susie (Ken) Pierce of Clinton, Ind., Linda (Terry) Burlew of Columbus, Ind., and Kathy (Mark) Mohr of Edinburgh, Ind., 13 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and sister, Doris Ann Fields of Greensburg, Ind. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and sister, Janet Maple.
Dick was a member of the St. George Lutheran Church and the Masonic Lodge in New Point. He formerly had worked at Amos Plastics, Como Plastics, and retired as owner of Shelco Fabrications. He enjoyed his grandchildren, watching their activities, camping, sports, being outdoors, especially mowing the grass.
A funeral service will be conducted by Pastor Mike Mercer at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at St. George Lutheran Church in Shelby County, Ind. Calling will be from 10 a.m. until time of service at the church. Burial will be at St. George Cemetery in Shelby County. The family wants to send a heartfelt thank you to Otterbein SeniorLife Community of Franklin, Indiana, Ashford Place Health Campus of Shelbyville, Indiana, and Our Hospice of South Central Indiana in Columbus, Ind. Our dad and the family truly appreciated the love and care you gave him. Arrangements made by Eskew-Eaton Funeral Home in Edinburgh, Indiana. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. George Lutheran Church.