Wednesday, March 13, 2024
County BZA Approves Electronic Sign, Hears Update on Building Violation
The Shelby County Board of Zoning Appeals last night unanimously approved Evangelical United Church of Christ, 2630 South Miller St., to replace an old sign with an electronic message sign.
The current sign was installed in 1967. “It’s gotten to the point it’s probably not very safe for the person (changing it),” church representative Sylvia Spurling said.
The new sign, which will be used to advertise services and events, will be six feet tall and include nine square feet identifying the name of the church, 18 square feet for an electronic message and a five-square-foot base matching the color and materials of the church building.
Board approval included conditions, such as content cannot be in motion and shall not change more than once every 30 seconds; a sensor must determine the ambient illumination and be programmed to automatically dim according to light conditions; and the sign must be turned off between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
In other business, some Flat Rock area residents showed up to discuss the proposed installation of a 121-foot lattice communications tower at Flat Rock Christian Church, 2553 W. Pope St. The problem was that no one from the church appeared to represent the petition, therefore it was not heard. The church had asked to install the tower southeast of the church annex building to provide high-speed broadband internet to the church and surrounding community. Franklin-based Internet Communications Inc. would complete the work. County plan director Desiree Calderella said the notification process would be completed again if the church proceeds.
The board also received an update from Danny Rigdon regarding correcting a violation at 5879 N PR 660 W, Fairland. The BZA previously ordered Rigdon to fill in a basement constructed at the home that was not part of the approved site plan. Ridgon said 600 tons of pea gravel had been put in, and only another day or so of work would be needed to finish the job.
Calderella recently met with Rigdon to review the matter. “It’s getting to the point of getting corrected,” she said.
NOTEBOOK:
The second “Greening” of Public Square is set for this Saturday, March 16, 4 p.m., when the water in Joseph Fountain downtown Shelbyville will be turned green. Last year’s inaugural event drew a nice crowd despite cold weather. “This year, attendees can look forward to warmer temperatures in the 60s,” a City of Shelbyville press release said. The event will feature a proclamation from Mayor Scott Furgeson, and gold coins will be provided to toss into the fountain after making a wish. Downtown restaurants and bars will join the festivities.
The Shelbyville Board of Works and Public Safety yesterday approved closing the east half of Public Square for a Sun Moon and Music Eclipse Fest downtown on Saturday, April 6, 6 to 9 p.m. The event will include live music and food trucks. “The eclipse is a very odd thing for us to deal with,” Mayor Scott Furgeson said. “We’ve never done it before, but we’ll have a lot of information after this for 800 years from now on how to do it next time.”
The Board of Works also approved a road closure for the St. Joe Spring Festival, to be held May 9 - 11. Noble Street from Broadway to E. Hendricks St. will also be closed Wednesday, May 8, to allow for set-up.
Friday, June 7, will be a big day downtown, featuring the annual Strawberry Festival, hosted by Shelby Senior Services, during the day and Taste of Shelby County that night. Rachael Ackley, executive director of Shelby County Tourism and Visitor’s Bureau, said the Taste of Shelby County was moved to the first week of June because its usual spot on the second weekend coincided with the Shelby County Fair. Having two events on June 7, however, will allow for sharing of tents, tables and chairs. Ackley said 5,948 adults attended the Taste of Shelby County last year, a number that does not include minors because only those 18 and older can be tracked through phone data mining. “It was a big year last year, and it’s looking like this year will probably be even bigger,” Ackley said.
NATIONAL NEWS: A new survey of teenagers found that 38 percent said they spend too much of their time on their smartphone, compared to 51 percent who said they used it the right amount and 5 percent who said too little. All told, 74 percent of teens reported feeling “happy” when they do not have their smartphone with them, 72 percent said they feel peaceful, while 44 percent said anxious, 40 percent said upset and 39 percent said lonely. While phones do have some uses — teens said smartphones made it easier to pursue hobbies and to be creative — more said that smartphones make it harder to learn good social skills than easier. (Pew Research Center/Numlock)
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Blue River Career Programs’ Auto Collision Repair Technology Offering Highlighted
Kane Snyder and Armaan Singh, Morristown High School, use Blue River Career Programs’ state-of-the-art paint booth. | submitted
The Auto Body program at Blue River Career Programs is taught by Carl Walton, who has extensive industry experience through ownership and daily operation of Shelby County Collision for approximately 25 years, and as Auto Collision Technology instructor at BRCP for 10 years. The class currently has 36 students in various stages of ability and the learning process. Students enjoy learning to repair dents and to paint on a regular basis. Students gain experience by repairing vehicles that have been damaged in collisions and brought to our program by customers. We also do insurance work for the public. We teach the students parts of the vehicle and how they work. We clean cars and detail the interiors. We replaced and or repaired all the parts of a 1978 Chevy 4x4 truck that was in rough condition, with defective floors, rockers, cab mounts, cab corners and all exterior body parts rusted through; then painted it resulting in a very satisfactory end product. We mix our own paint and the painting is done in a downdraft bake booth. This is a great piece of equipment for the students to gain experience using.
The students spend an average of two and a half hours per day in the shop and classroom. They receive extensive training in repair, painting, refinishing, automotive welding, mechanical, and electrical component repair. They also learn to use plastics and adhesives. Students have the opportunity to earn up to six college credits from Vincennes University in the Auto Collision class.
The auto collision class allows the students the chance of finding a high paying job throughout the country. Students may also elect to attend a post-secondary school to further their education and skills. Currently, a number of students are committed to attend Ivy Tech, University of Northwestern Ohio, Vincennes University, Lincoln college of Technology, and Universal Institute of Technology.
Questions concerning the Auto Collision Program may be directed to Carl Walton, instructor, at 317-392-4191.
BELOW: Juan Hernandez, Southwestern High School, sand a truck in preparation for painting. | submitted
This Day in Shelby County History
2014: Local school officials pushed back against proposed state legislation that would allow licensed gun owners to bring firearms onto school property as long as the weapons were kept in a locked vehicle out of sight. Dr. David Adams, superintendent of Shelbyville Central Schools, said that even though he was a gun owner, he wanted “people who are highly trained, like the Shelbyville Police Department or SWAT team, to come in and take of any bad situation, not some amateur that happens to have a gun.”
2004: Mount Gilead Baptist Church hosted a Christian music concert, welcoming back a former festival queen: Darla McFadden. She was a 1991 Morristown High School graduate who had been selected queen of the 1989 Bears of Blue River Festival. Her father, Rev. Alvin McFadden, had been pastor of the Methodist church in Morristown.
1994: The Morristown seventh-grade girls basketball team won the Mid-Hoosier Conference Tournament. Players were Erin Peek, Stacie Hanson, Megan Terry, Amy Thurman, Jessi Schlechty, Mindy McDaniel, Michelle Cole, Minday Tarrh, Misty Logan, Rachel Nolan, Tasha Gentory, Katie Wilson, Christina Hart and Kelli Wilson. Karen Lane was coach.
1984: Tom Kremer and Pat Ault were sworn into the Air Force by Kremer’s mother, Army Capt. Lou Ann Kremer. Both boys were seniors at Shelbyville High School.
1974: The federal food stamp program was inaugurated here with the opening of the Shelby County Food Stamp Office, 154 E. Washington St. Betty Walton, Nita Phelps and Brenda Wilson worked in the office.
The Girls Club of Shelbyville Tour Chorus entertained members of the Terre Haute club. Loretta Eckstein was director of the group. Members were Penny Hacker, Denise Brooks, Beth Lovitt, Natalie Kuhn and Tracy Cramer. Mrs. Melton and Anne Reel, club director, helped provide transportation.
1964: Kathy Krise was champion at the Southwestern High School spelling bee. Cynthia Winn was runner-up.
Loper Elementary won the city grade school basketball tourney, held at the Shelbyville High School gym. Team members were Greg Adams, John Breck, Doug Adams, Tim Thompson, Darrell Mollenkopf, Greg Roe, Robbie Elliott, Dale Steffey, Charles Calderone, Mike Davis, Dan Hayes and Todd Plymate. Ed Adams was coach. Vaughn Drake was principal and Seth Martin was assistant principal. Cheerleaders were Sharon Ruddick, Susie Nentrup, Dara Lay, Vicki Lay and Angie Wagner.
1954: A 40-minute color movie, “The Magic of Tug and Pull,” was shown at the Shelby Armory. The film depicted the seven steps of fast cow milking. It featured, “authentic in-the-barn action shots,” a flyer said.
1944: W.F. Loper, superintendent of Shelbyville schools, spoke in Fountaintown on “A Code of Ethics for Parents.” He advocated that parents track their children’s educational progress.
Rev. J.C. Klingeberger, pastor of the local First Evangelical Church, was named Director of Civilian Defense.
1934: Although actual production of gas heaters had not yet started in the new local Ray-Glo factory, located in the former Danziger Furniture Company building, 40 were hired to install machinery and make preparations.
1924: A local man filed for divorce, charging his wife was “cold and indifferent in her attitude” toward him.
The I & C Traction Company announced the addition of traction cars to trains going to Indianapolis in order for local fans to attend state finals games.
1914: A couple was arrested in the alley between Washington and Jackson streets, west of Walnut St. The man was charged with “associating” and sent to jail. The woman was charged with “fornication” and also placed in jail. By the next day, she was the defendant in a suit for divorce. The husband said the man in the alley with his wife had been a “close friend” of his.
A horse’s hoof became stuck in the railroad track at East Washington St. A cross bar was brought in to pry the hoof free.
OBITUARIES
None today