Wednesday, January 4, 2023
ANNUAL REORGANIZATION
photo by ANNA TUNGATE
Shelby County Commissioners Kevin Nigh, Don Parker and Jason Abel held their annual organizational meeting yesterday, with Parker elected president and former President Nigh now vice president. It was the first meeting for Abel, who was elected in November. Following the unanimous vote, Nigh offered the center seat to Parker, but he declined until next week’s meeting. (The photo was taken following the meeting.) Abel was appointed chair of the drainage board.
The commissioners also made their annual appointsments to boards and commissions. Among some of the changes include Winnie Soviar to the county board of health, succeeding Cheryl Stillabower; Nathan Runnebohm to the Shelby County Redevelopment Commission, succeeding Chris Goul; and Megan (Rush) Hart to the Shelby County Plan Commission, succeeding Jordan Caldwell.
County Commissioners will continue to meet at 8 a.m. on Mondays at the Courthouse Annex, with the exceptions of holidays, in 2023.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Construction work is underway at the new MHP MedWorks Pharmacy on Intelliplex Dr., behind Texas Corral. The new facility is expected to be completed by June this year. | photo by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
WATER CYCLES
These photos of a water tower on Shelbyville’s east side show two marks of local history: the old Wellman and General Electric (see inset) logos. The property off Progress Road is the proposed site of two Marriott-branded hotels, a Fairfield Inn & Suites and a Townplace Suites, by development company GSSR. | photos by JOHN WALKER
NOTEBOOK:
An overcrowded woodworking business at 1029 S. Miller Ave. was once again a topic of conversation at yesterday’s Shelbyville Board of Public Works meeting. After months of discussions regarding the property, board members yesterday asked Plan Director Adam Rude to contact the property owner regarding his latest communication with the tenant, Randy Sturgill. Board of Works members understood Sturgill had received an order to vacate from the owner, but that has not happened. There has also been discussion of an addition to the building in the works. Rude said he would reach out and report back on the matter.
In other business, the Board of Works approved the fire department to extend Jordan Brandman a conditional offer of employment.
Building permits filed in Shelbyville last month included: new home constructions on Delacorte Circle; remodel existing carport for additional living space at 310 Howard St.; create bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs and open walls and install a beam downstairs at 118 E. Hendricks St.; new coffee shop construction for 7 Brew at 2424 E. State Road 44; construction of new $2.25 million retail store for Gillman Home Improvement Center at 200 Lee Blvd.; remodel existing retail store for Harbor Freight at 2549 East State Road 44; $1.5 million remodel of existing Coca-Cola plant at 405 N. Harrison St.; construction of a $25 million apartment building at 318 N. Tompkins St.; construction of a $13.8 million apartment building at 330 N. Tompkins St.; and remodel of home at 562 E. Broadway St.
HOOSIER NEWS: A new Indiana law obligates all health care providers to offer lead testing to their young patients, ideally at their 1-year or 2-year child checkups, or as close as possible to those appointments. But testing also must be offered up to age 6 for any child whose medical records show no prior blood lead screening test. The Be Well Crisis Helpline is accessed by dialing 211 or 866-211-9966. Parents continue to have the option of declining to test their children for lead under House Enrolled Act 1313. (Munster Times of Northwest Indiana)
NATIONAL NEWS: Demand for romance novels was up 51 percent in 2022, with 32.3 million sold through early December. Book publishing had two bumper years in 2020 and 2021 as books filled in pandemic-era gaps in time use, averaging 9 percent sales growth annually, but publishing is set to see unit sales drop 7 percent in 2022 as the overall demand picture reverts toward a mean. That hasn’t happened in romance, though, as the genre that makes up about 25 percent of the fiction market has grown thanks to interest on social media and superstar authors like Colleen Hoover crushing it in sales, her alone responsible for 8 million romance sales in 2022. (Bloomberg/Numlock)
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
Beatty Construction demolished an old building that used to house part of Sandman Bros., Fix TV and other businesses at 34 E. Broadway St. A newspaper photo showed Jason Coffey, Rick Davis and backhoe operator Andy Ballard discussing the next step in the process.
30 YEARS AGO: 1993
Two Morristown plants were evacuated after an electrical fire at Park 100 Foods. Employees from Park 100 Foods and Detroit Steel left their buildings after the power went out. There were no injuries.
Anthes Universal Inc. announced plans to close its Shelbyville plant at 738 E. Franklin St. Corporate officials said the design of the building didn’t suit their needs, so they were relocating to an existing building in North Carolina. Nearly 100 employees worked at the plant near Kennedy Park. They were all offered jobs in North Carolina with moving costs, up to 12 weeks’ bonus pay and employment for an accompanying spouse.
40 YEARS AGO: 1983
Shelbyville Police Chief Bob Nolley asked State Sen. Tom Hession to introduce legislation which would permit policemen to issue traffic citations to under-age moped riders. Officers instead had to charge under-age operators with juvenile delinquency, clogging the juvenile court docket.
Police Lt. Bill D. Cole, 39, announced he would be a candidate for the Democratic nomination for mayor of Shelbyville. Cole has lost in his only previous attempt at elective office, the 1974 race for sheriff against former Sheriff Norman Murnan. Cole had served on the publicity and city government committees of the 1982 SCUFFY drive and on many other boards. He had served six years in the U.S. Air Force. He and his wife, Bonnie, had two sons, Bill Jr., 17, and Bryan, 14, both students at Shelbyville High School.
50 YEARS AGO: 1973
Evergreens were planted on the west side of Harrison St. just south of Mechanic and on the south side of Mechanic just west of Harrison St. on the two sides of the Fuller Center. The trees were a Christmas gift to the center from Mr. and Mrs. Parrish Fuller. The Fullers originally owned the home but had turned it over to SCUFFY.
60 YEARS AGO: 1963
A newly-developed 16-oz. bottle for Coca-Cola was being introduced to the Shelbyville area, Frank Rehme, manager of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Shelbyville, said. To promote the new offering, the first full-color newspaper advertisement was published in The Shelbyville News. Coca-Cola had been bottled by the local company since 1917. The plant was on Fourth St. from 1917 to 1936, and since that time had been on N. Harrison St.
Police had made 718 arrests in 1962, 143 more than in 1961, the latest report showed.
70 YEARS AGO: 1953
Two Shelbyville men, Frederick Bird, 30, and Walter Bedwell, 24, both employees of the United States Naval Ordnance Plant in Indianapolis, were killed when their car was struck by a westbound mail train at a multiple crossing on Post Road. The train was going between 75 and 80 miles per hour.
80 YEARS AGO: 1943
Local schools had moved start times to allow for walking to school in daylight in the mornings, but tardies had become a recurring problem, Superintendent W.F. Loper said. The junior-senior high school opened at 8:55 a.m. and the elementary schools opened at 9 a.m. But if the tardies continued, Loper threatened to revert to the old schedule or “penalize offenders.”
90 YEARS AGO: 1933
Kenneth Peck, 515 Montgomery St., Shelbyville, qualified as an expert rifleman in the junior division of the National Rifle Association. The only grade higher than expert was distinguished rifleman.
The Shelbyville High School “Mackman” were defeated for the first time in the 1932-1933 season, 30-23, by the New Castle Trojans in front of 2,500 in New Castle.
100 YEARS AGO: 1923
A man filed for divorce from his wife in Circuit Court. He claimed his wife had attacked him with a mop handle while he was in bed, breaking the mop into many pieces while striking him with it.
Another divorce complaint, filed by a man in Fountaintown, alleged his wife disliked music so much that she had threatened to chop up the piano at the home of his mother. Ralph Adams was attorney for the plaintiff. The man said his wife had “a violent temper and a stubborn disposition.” The newspaper headline read: “Threatened to Chop Up Piano.” The subhead was “Could Not Have Davenport.”
INCIDENTS
Thefts were reported in the 500 block of S. Washington St., Morristown; 9900 block of S 350 E, Flat Rock; and the 2000 block of S 625 W; 100 block of Lee Blvd., 200 block of E. Washington St., 700 block of S. Harrison St. and 800 block of S. Miller Ave., Shelbyville.
JAIL BOOK-INS: Cheyanna M.J. Gebhard, 26, battery; Madisun E. Hicks, 18, robbery while armed, burglary with a deadly weapon; Daniel V. Horner Jr., 29, failure to appear; Morgan R. Jackson, 25, OVWI - endangerment, leaving the scene; Eugene B. Jones, 18, robbery while armed, burglary with a deadly weapon; Christopher A. Peterson, 18, robbery while armed, burglary with a deadly weapon; Mickey W. Rady, 64, hold for another jurisdiction; Donetta G. Smith, 34, court order probation violation; Joshua P. Fender, 25, theft-prior, criminal trespass; Carolyn J. McWhorter, 65, OVWI, leaving the scene of an accident; Dorland Hopson, 49, theft; Tracy D. Brown, 27, theft, possession of narcotic, syringe, DWS, hold for another jurisdiction (2 counts); Krystal A. Brady, 41, failure to appear; Joanna L. Johnson, 54, OVWI; Dennis W. Campbell Jr., 49, hold for another jurisdiction; Cody A. Jewell, 30, OVWI - endangerment; James G. Green, 45, criminal trespass, disorderly conduct, resisting law enforcement, intimidation; Justin L. Maley, 39, reckless driving, OVWI - endangerment; Jaydon K. Meal, 20, OVWI - endangerment, leaving the scene, illegal consumption of alcohol; Michael T. McKinsey, 45, house arrest violation; Isaac L. Wagner, 23, failure to appear (2 counts)
OBITUARIES
Mary Kay “Katie” Burns, 84, of Shelbyville passed away Saturday, December 31, 2022 at Morristown Manor/Cyprus Run. She was born September 3, 1938 in New Castle, IN to Herbert Oldham and Edna (McDaniels) Oldham.
Katie was a housekeeper at Major Hospital. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary for 38 years. Katie loved to cook. She also enjoyed singing, but it could be said that she struggled to carry a tune. She had a big heart and loved her family dearly.
Katie married Eugene “Gene” Burns on December 19, 2003, and he survives. She is also survived by her sons, Tim Sayre, Sr., Jamie Sayre, and Joe Sayre (wife, Cher), and several grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and her son, Randy Sayre, Sr.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday, January 8, 2023 at Murphy-Parks Funeral Services, 703 S. Harrison St., Shelbyville, IN and from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Monday, January 9, 2023 at the funeral home. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Jose Rivera officiating. Burial will be in Miller Cemetery. Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks, Stuart Parks, and Darin Schutt are honored to serve Katie’s family. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.
John N. Carson, 95, of Boggstown, passed away Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at his home. He was born March 16, 1927, in Boggstown, the son of Ralph A. and Belva M. E. (Crosby) Carson. On August 21, 1955, he married his wife of 67 years, Evelyn M. Adams, and she survives. In addition to Evelyn, John is survived by his sons, Jon Kevin Carson and wife, Beverly, and Scott D. Carson and wife, Angie, both of Boggstown; honorary son, Stanley C. Pryor and wife, Mary; grandchildren, Jill Coen and husband, Keith, Christa Weaver and husband, Jeremy, Whitney Mahin and husband, Brett, John Erik Carson and wife, Callie, and Tyler Carson and wife, Maria; and great-grandchildren, Farah Coen, Knox Coen, Ella Weaver, Lindy Weaver, Kent Mahin, Sloan Mahin, Weston Carson and Lincoln Carson. He was preceded in death by his parents.
John was a member of the Boggstown Presbyterian Church, where he served as an elder and deacon. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving from 1953 to 1955. John was a lifelong farmer, farming Meadow Valley Farms, which had been in the family since 1826. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award. He was a member of the Shelby County Fair Board for 20 years, where he served as president. John was also a member of the 4-H Advisory Council, Shelby County Extension Board, a Rural Youth 4-H leader and chairman of the Southeastern Indiana Fair Association. He was also a member of the Sugar Creek-Fairland Masonic Lodge No. 279. John also served on the board of Shelby Senior Services and American Red Cross, for many years. He was elected as the Sugar Creek Township Trustee, serving over 30 years.
Visitation will be from 10 am to Noon, Saturday, January 7, 2023, at Boggstown Presbyterian Church, 2488 North Sand Creek Road, Boggstown, Indiana. Funeral services will follow at Noon at the church, with Pastors Roger Andrew McDaniel and Sandi Martin officiating. Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville, with military graveside rites conducted by the local military committee. Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Boggstown Presbyterian Church; Our Hospice of South Central Indiana, 2626 17th St., Columbus, Indiana 47201; or the American Heart Association, PO Box 840692, Dallas, Texas 75284-0692. Online condolences may be shared with John’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Joseph A. Beyer, 67, of Plainfield, passed away January 3, 2023 at his residence. Services are pending at Glenn E. George & Son Funeral Home.
Joseph E Stieneker, 72, of Shelbyville, passed away Monday, January 2, 2023 at his residence. He was born March 1, 1950 to Russell W. Stieneker and Dorothea M. (Eckstein) Stieneker.
Joe graduated from Shelbyville High School in 1968. He was a Journeyman Plumber. He was a lifetime member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. He was a 54 year member of the Plumbers and Steamfitter Local 440, and also a 50 year member of the Knights of Columbus. In Joe’s early years he enjoyed playing softball and trap shooting especially with the K of C. He was a big fan of Dale Earnhart.
He married Ann (Payne) Stieneker on July 6, 1968 and she survives. Joe is also survived by his daughters, Amy (husband, Kevin) Gibson, Traci (husband, Jason) Foltz, Kimberly (husband, Mark) Rains; all of Shelbyville, grandchildren, Shelby Gibson, Jennah Foltz, Luke Foltz, Jacob Rains, Julianna Rains; his brother, Phillip, (wife, Billie) Stieneker; sister Catherine Creel, Sister-in-law Karen Stieneker, brothers-in-law, Doug (wife, Lori) Payne, Dan Payne, special Aunt, Loretta Eckstein and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother John and grandson Nathan Gibson.
A Rosary will be recited Friday January 6, 2023 at 3:30 p.m. at Murphy-Parks Funeral Services, 703 S. Harrison St., Shelbyville, visitation will follow from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, January 7, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. St. Joseph Catholic Church with Father Mike Keucher officiating. Burial will be in St. Vincent Catholic Cemetery. Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks, Stuart Parks, and Darin Schutt are honored to serve Joseph’s family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Nathan Gibson Scholarship Fund in care of St. Joseph School, 127 E Broadway St. Shelbyville, IN. 46176, also Riley Children Hospital 705 Riley Hospital Dr., Indianapolis IN, 46202 or the charity of your choice. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.