Wednesday, July 16, 2025
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A DECADE AGO
A crane and beam hoisted an American flag and MHP banner 10 years ago today, July 16, 2015, to mark the beginning of construction on a new hospital and facilities on Intelliplex Drive. | photo by JACK BOYCE
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NOTEBOOK:
Kimura Foundry America, a provider of rapid prototype castings, announced yesterday the acquisition of VIP Tooling, a precision tooling and CNC machining company founded in 1973, and also based in Shelbyville. “We're excited to join forces with a company that shares our focus on innovation, craftsmanship and customer success,” said Paul Nolting, COO at VIP Tooling, in a media release. “This partnership strengthens our ability to serve existing clients while opening the door to new opportunities in advanced manufacturing.”
The Shelbyville Board of Public Works and Safety on Monday approved the installation of “No Trucks” signs at the intersections of Jackson and Vine streets, Noble and E. Washington streets, and Vine and E. Washington streets, following a traffic study by the police department.
Code Enforcer Troy Merrick reported that residents of 44 Walker St. have cleaned up the property after intervention by the city. The property is zoned commercial, and the residents plan to move soon, Merrick said. Mayor Scott Furgeson asked the Planning Department to issue a reminder regarding occupancy regulations.
The board also approved a request from Cadillac Jack’s to use the southwest pavilion of Public Square for live entertainment on Thursday evenings from 8 to 11 p.m. for several weeks.
HOOSIER NEWS: The Bison is back in Bloomington. Indiana University's official mascot – Hoosier The Bison - has returned to the IU-Bloomington campus after a nearly 60-year hiatus. The mascot’s homecoming is a result of the “Bring Back the Bison Act” passed by the Indiana University Student Body Congress on Dec. 16, 2024. In response to the student government vote to re-adopt the Bison as the official IU-Bloomington mascot, IU Athletics moved forward with embracing it as a symbol of both the department and campus' spirit, passion, tradition, unity and success. The culmination of those efforts will be on display beginning this fall. Hoosier The Bison will make its public debut at IU Football's 2025 Aug. 30 season opener against Old Dominion at Memorial Stadium. (IU Athletics)
NATIONAL NEWS: The current ratio between the price of corn and the price of fertilizer is now one of the worst in history. Corn farmers need to sell over 150 bushels of corn to pay for a ton of potash fertilizer — the worst on record. The corn-to-fertilizer price ratio for the nitrogen fertilizers urea and UAN are respectively the third-worst and second-worst of any June on record. This means that the cost of the U.S.’ important agricultural inputs is going up, even though the prices the corn and grain go for are low, putting significant pressure on farmers. One issue? The third-largest producer of urea fertilizer is Iran, and the single largest producer is Russia. China, meanwhile, is restricting exports of phosphates and will likely only export 4 million tons this year, less than half their typical exports of 8 million to 10 million tons. (Farm Journal/Numlock)
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Shelby County History: Famous, Infamous and Unknown, Part III
by Donna Dennison, Head of Genealogy and History, Shelby County Public Library
For this edition of “Unknown,” I’m highlighting someone respected across Indiana who did much for Shelby County: Judge Kendell Hord.
Kendell Moss Hord was born Oct. 20, 1850, in Madison County, Kentucky, to Frances and Elizabeth Hord. He was one of nine children. His father, Frances, was a noted lawyer, and his grandfather—a doctor who immigrated from Sweden to Virginia—was also highly regarded.
In 1859, Hord graduated from Maysville Seminary School in Maysville, Kentucky, and began studying law under his father. In 1862, at age 22, he passed the bar exam with the highest praise. At that time, the exam consisted of appearing before three judges and answering their questions.
As Civil War tensions rose in 1862, Hord joined the Kentucky Home Guard and served for more than a year. I wasn’t able to locate discharge records, but given his strong sense of duty, I believe he would have served longer if physically able.
In 1863, Hord moved to Indiana to work at the law office of Thomas A. Hendricks, a friend of his brother, in Indianapolis. Later that year, he accompanied Hendricks to Shelbyville and decided to establish his own practice here.
One possible reason for that decision? A young woman named Emily McConnell, who had moved to Shelbyville in 1855 as a child. Kendell and Emily married in June 1867 and welcomed their only child, Luther, in 1869.
Hord was in Shelbyville less than a year when he was elected district prosecutor of the common pleas court, serving Decatur, Johnson, Rush, Shelby, Hancock and Bartholomew counties. In 1866, he was elected prosecuting attorney. In 1876, he became judge.
Mr. and Mrs. Hord were widely respected for their charity work and kindness. They served on numerous local boards, including the school board, church boards and the Gordon Children’s Home. Their home on West Washington Street—now gone—was known for its hospitality. Hord was close friends with notable men like Alonzo Blair, Charles Morrison, Vice President Thomas A. Hendricks and President Benjamin Harrison.
When not presiding over court cases across central Indiana, Judge Hord enjoyed hunting, camping and fishing. He often hunted with President Harrison and accompanied him on fishing trips out west.
One such trip landed him in trouble in March 1890. On a warm spring day, Hord took a train to St. Paul, borrowed a boat and went fishing on the Flatrock River. The boat overturned in rough water. Hord swam to shore and pulled himself through the mud, losing his hat and shoes in the process. He walked to the train station in Waldron, but when he tried to board, the attendant—failing to recognize the muddy man—thought he was a vagrant and refused him entry. Hord presented a soggy pass, issued to him as a lawyer for the Big Four Railroad, but they assumed he had stolen it and took it away.
Fortunately, Charles Morrison happened to be on the train returning from Greenfield, where he’d been working on a case. Hearing the commotion, Morrison recognized his friend and stepped in to help—but not without some good-natured teasing first.
Judge Hord practiced law in Shelbyville until age 78, when he caught a chill that turned into pneumonia. His obituary filled two full pages and declared, “The life of Judge Hord would make many chapters in the history of Shelby County,” and “Mr. Hord laid the foundation of law, learning and wealth for Shelby County. Judge Hord unassumingly took in all the forward movements in Shelbyville covering a period of almost 50 years.”
Judge Hord was laid to rest April 9, 1917, in the McConnell Mausoleum in Forest Hill Cemetery alongside his wife’s family.
Shelby County history is full of fascinating people like Judge Hord—and so many more. I look forward to sharing more stories with you soon.
SHS Courier Archive Highlights
Oct. 31, 1969
An editorial criticized the athletic field for flying a 48-star flag. “What’s wrong? Doesn’t the athletic society have any respect for our nation’s flag, or is it that they have this thing against Alaska and Hawaii? Little things like this can put Shelbyville down,” the writer said.
Mrs. Craven spoke to the SHS Library Club about the functions of the library and the purpose of the Bookmobile.
Miss Jean Maurer joined Shelbyville High School as a new life science teacher. Mrs. Elaine Druley was hired to teach typing and shorthand.
The Courier asked seniors how they felt about entering their final year of high school:
George Ashmore: “Vietnam, here I come.”
Janet Fuquay: “I feel bad; most freshmen are taller than I am.”
Phil Haehl: “We still have a whole year left.”
Bob Jones: “So?”
Paul Hook: “If I make it, I’ll be surprised.”
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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: The Shelbyville High School classes of 1969, 1970 and 1971 held a joint class reunion on the second floor of Indiana Downs. Tom Stieglitz organized a golf tournament the following day. Cheryl Glaub and Mike Kolls, members of the planning committee, shared details with The Shelbyville News.
1995: The Shelby County Council approved funding for a postage machine that sealed and stamped envelopes. County Clerk Cathy Laird led the effort so county employees would no longer have to lick envelopes and stamps.
1985: Work continued on a new community park in Boggstown, located on the site of Triton West Elementary, formerly Boggstown High School. After the school closed and was demolished in 1983, the school board transferred the land to Sugar Creek Township.
1975: Porter Pool, recently renovated, was filled with 500,000 gallons of water. Those on hand included Pool Manager Anna Catherine Hotopp; Parks Director Randy Hilderbrand; City Councilmen James Buckley, Chester McClain and Merle Platt; Parks Board member James Law; Clerk-Treasurer Delight Adams; and Mayor Jerry Higgins.
1965: The Shelbyville Fire Department conducted a training exercise by burning down a house at the corner of Tompkins and McKinley streets. Fire Chief William Smith said the burn was part of the city’s slum clearance program.
1955: Charles Bowlby was elected president of the Shelby County Rural Youth Club.
1945: Lt. Donald J. Wickizer Jr. was awarded the Air Medal for service in the southwest Pacific. He had evacuated casualties from forward positions and dropped supplies to guerrilla forces behind enemy lines. His parents lived at 748 S. Harrison St.
1935: The state released a plan to reroute State Road 44 between Shelbyville and Rushville, eliminating 23 curves and replacing the Blue River bridge on State Road 29 at the edge of Shelbyville.
1925: An 18-year-old who escaped from the Shelby County Jail surrendered after going two days without food while hiding in cornfields and river bottoms near the Johnson County line. He had escaped through a door left open by the sheriff’s wife, who had been doing laundry.
1915: Ernest Mueller, proprietor of a saloon on East Washington Street, was fined $1 for violating the blue law. He had allowed a man to perform maintenance work in the saloon on a Sunday. The Republican noted, “Under the provisions of this law, all persons who do any unnecessary work on the Sabbath are liable to arrest.”
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OBITUARIES
Phyllis A. Fuel, 84, of Shelbyville, died Monday, July 14, 2025, at the Willows of Shelbyville. She was born March 27, 1941, in Russell County, Kentucky, to Ervil Trimble and Clara Marie (Sowder) Trimble.
Phyllis graduated from Southwestern Junior-Senior High School in 1959 as a member of the school’s first graduating class. She was a member of Flat Rock Christian Church. She worked for many years at Spenax and The Shelbyville News, and later retired in October 2009 from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, where she served as a civil clerk. Phyllis had a love for reading, especially mystery novels by Danielle Steel and Sue Grafton. She also loved music—her favorite genre was southern gospel. Among her favorite TV shows were comedies including “The Golden Girls” and “Three’s Company.” She never missed a chance to go shopping, particularly at rummage and yard sales. An avid Elvis Presley fan, Phyllis also enjoyed working crossword puzzles and word searches. She was a hardworking woman who loved deeply and valued the friendships and relationships that shaped her life.
Survivors include her son, John (Michelle) Fuel; grandsons, Landon Fuel and Mason Fuel; sister, Geraldine Heuer; sister-in-law, Phyllis Trimble; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Jerry Trimble; and brother-in-law, Steven Heuer.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 19, 2025, at Murphy-Parks Funeral Service, 703 S. Harrison St., Shelbyville. A funeral service will follow at 1 p.m., with Pastor Brian Ebersold officiating. Burial will be in Miller Cemetery. Funeral directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks and Stuart Parks are honored to serve Phyllis’s family. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.
Ramey Sue Caudill, 34, of Shelbyville, died Monday, July 14, 2025, at Franciscan Health in Indianapolis. She was born Nov. 20, 1990, in Shelbyville, the daughter of Larry Keith Caudill and Cindy (Endicott) DeMartino. Survivors include her fiancé and life partner, Shane Lower of Shelbyville; father, Larry Keith Caudill and wife, Denise, of Nineveh; mother, Cindy DeMartino of Shelbyville; son, Jaylen Hubbard of Shelbyville; daughters, Emma Lower, Blair Lower and Miah Lower, all of Shelbyville; sisters, Carrie Werbe (Mark) of Edinburgh and Ashley Likely (Jerrell) of Indianapolis; brothers, Timothey “T.J.” Roberts of Southport and Ryan Caudill (Kelsie) of Franklin; step-sisters, Shelbi Macken of Ireland and Emily Macken of Bedford; and nieces and nephews, Tristan, Lea, Forester, Thomas, Hailey, Gemma, Sophia, Kayden, Jayla and Jordyn. She also leaves behind her dogs, Dozer and Lucy.
Ramey was a graduate of Shelbyville High School. She enjoyed attending her children’s events and was a dedicated mother and homemaker.
A gathering of friends and family will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St., Shelbyville. A celebration of life will follow at 7 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Freeman Family Funeral Homes to help with funeral expenses. Online condolences may be shared at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Mae Dell Comstock, 73, of Indianapolis, formerly of Shelbyville, died Sunday, July 13, 2025, at her residence. She was born May 27, 1952, in Shelbyville, the daughter of Claude Smothers and Mary (Elliot) Smothers. She married Billy Joe “Odie” Comstock on Sept. 21, 1970, and he survives. Other survivors include her daughter, Shannon Vassar (Matthew) of Indianapolis; sisters, Peggy Milner (Gary) of Florida and Crissy Leffler (Todd) of Shelbyville; brothers, Ronnie Smothers (Mary) and Scotty Smothers (Kim), both of Shelbyville, and Rickey Smothers of Tennessee. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and six siblings.
Mrs. Comstock had lived in Indianapolis for more than 20 years after moving from Shelbyville. She attended Shelbyville High School and worked as a machine operator at KCL Corp. for 25 years. She later worked in the produce department at the Southport Walmart for 10 years. Mae enjoyed bass fishing with her husband and daughter, camping, and taking drives through the country.
Funeral services will be at 7 p.m. Friday, July 18, 2025, at Glenn E. George & Son Funeral Home, 437 Amos Road, Shelbyville. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, in care of the funeral home.