Wednesday, May 15, 2024
County BZA Approves Some Requests, Denies One
BELOW: The Shelby County Board of Zoning Appeals meeting was well attended last night. Details on the final petition will be in tomorrow’s edition. | photo by ANNA TUNGATE
Although the majority of those packing the courthouse annex room last night came to hear about a Morristown proposal regarding anaerobic digestion, the Shelby County Board of Zoning Appeals heard several other cases. (Due to the meeting’s 9:30 p.m. end time, complete coverage of the digester proposal, which passed 3-2 with stipulations, will be in tomorrow’s edition.)
The board denied a variance request from Glen Losey to allow a used car and truck sales business at his residence, 10865 N 150 E, Morristown. Losey, who said he wanted to start a “very small scale” operation, hoped to purchase 10 or fewer cars from auctions for repair and resale, with most sales occurring online but leaving his facility open for some customer traffic.
Joy Douglas, a neighbor, said a nearby property had long been “a used car lot/junkyard/repair shop/garage business for 30 years,” which those in the vicinity had complained about to county officials. That property finally changed hands and is being cleaned up.
“It's a sore spot with the whole community because of that, so you can imagine how everybody was up in arms when we got this letter,” Douglas said.
BZA members discussed stipulations regarding limiting the number of cars onsite. Even though the planning staff had recommended approval of the variance since the location was somewhat isolated from others’ view, the board denied the petition on a 3-2 vote, with Kevin Carson, Jim Douglas and Terry Knudson voting against and Megan Hart and Dave Klene voting in favor.
The board then approved Kristian Reedy’s request to allow a U-Pick Flower Farm at 10318 N 850 W, Fairland. Reedy Family Farm recently began selling flowers to a local florist and through a partnership with Pleasant View Orchard, as well as at this year’s Shelbyville Farmer’s Market. Although a concern was raised about the lack of ADA accessibility due to the gravel parking lot, it was pointed out that a similar facility exists in Johnson County with a gravel parking lot and that customers will need to walk in the fields.
Customers will purchase tickets online in advance to use the field on designated days from July to October. The board approval including a stipulation restricting hours from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
In other business, the board unanimously approved Scott and Lori Scudder, 204 East Washington St., Waldron, to build a two-car, 10-foot tall, 768-square-foot detached garage, replacing a 400-square-foot garage previously on the property.
NOTEBOOK:
The Shelby County Fair Parade, which kicks off the 175th county fair, will be Saturday, June 8, 2 p.m. Questions about participation should be directed to 317-752-6898.
The Shelbyville Board of Public Works and Safety approved a $3,650 easement payment for land for the pedestrian trail that runs from Hale Road to its termination point by the city pool. Three more easement purchases remain, City Engineer John Kuntz said.
NATIONAL NEWS: A new settlement involving 49 out of 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia has the three major telecom carriers forking over $10.2 million — $4.1 million each from T-Mobile and Verizon and $2 million from AT&T — to settle allegations that the carriers engaged in false advertising when they threw around words like “unlimited” wireless plans and “free” phones. It also sets up five years of advertising restrictions around the specific vocabulary of those words, and concluded a nine-year-long investigation. (Ars Technica/Numlock)
The Addison Times publishes essential news and historical content to build our Shelby County community, and is free thanks to the generosity of supporters. Those who donate a minimum of $5 a month (or $45 one-time) receive the three remaining quarterly Addison Times magazines for 2024 as an appreciation gift.
Want the daily edition read to you? Struggling with your email provider filtering out your local news? The Addison Times Substack app will solve those challenges!
This Day in Shelby County History
2014: Annexation talks continued in Fairland. The town had spent the last six years talking about it. While the town reincorporated in 2008, the town limits had not changed much over the past century. The goal was to make the town officially how it looked on the map.
2004: Country Charms Grill opened at 39 Public Square, along with Bob’s Tu Your Door Pizza, formerly Prime Time. The 130-seat restaurant had a game room with video games and pool tables.
1994: A wayward deer pushed the envelope at the Shelbyville post office, crashing through the front door window at 5:15 a.m. Conservation Officer Karl Kelley was forced to kill the injured deer about an hour later. For post office workers, it was a new experience. “I’ve been through tornadoes, blizzards and ice storms, but this is the first time I had to deal with a deer in the post office,” Bob McGill, officer in charge of the Shelbyville post office, said.
Although traffic was mostly re-opened following a major fire at Bishopp’s, one northbound lane on North Harrison St. remained closed for a few days so heavy equipment could be brought in to remove rubble left by the fire.
1984: Hendricks Elementary first grade students planted marigolds on Public Square.
1974: For the first time, baccalaureate and commencement would be held the same day. Rev. Robert Hampton of the First Baptist Church would give the invocation and Rev. Loyd Corbett of the Church of God would give the scripture and the prayer. Mrs. Wolfe would be the accompanist. The concert band was set to present “Jesus Christ, Superstar.”
Mr. William McClain’s Triton West fifth grade class toured the Shelby County jail.
1964: Grand opening was held for Oakley Tire & Appliance, located at E. Washington and Pike St. Mayor Ralph VanNatta and a Goodyear representative led the ceremony.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hayes and sons John and Dan Hayes were selected “Methodist Family of the Year.” Mr. Hayes served on various committees, Mrs. Hayes was a Sunday school teacher, John was an officer in the Youth Fellowship and Dan, a sixth grade student at Loper, was involved in various school activities.
1954: Members of the Charles Major fifth grade track team won the grade school track meet. Team members were Jerry Cowins, Tommy Bartlett, Junior Dillow, Eddie Burton, Bill Pittman, Rickey Sandefur, Ronald Alford, Billy Hume, Roger Gotcher, George Johnson, Wayne Wise, Steven Bowers, Jack Sorrell and David Park.
Colescott school students were served all-they-could-eat ice cream and cake on field day. Servers were Ray Harris, Herbert Day and Edison Brokering.
1944: Used gas ranges were put under price controls. “This includes any person selling his own household effects,” the Shelby County War Price and Rationing Board said.
1934: After boys at the Gordon Children’s Home reported two men had been prowling around the facility, with one entering the boys dorm by climbing up on the fire escape and raising a window, police hid out and caught a 33-year-old man lying on the ground beside a hedge. The man had previously been convicted of assault and battery with intent to attack two women on a Shelbyville street.
1924: May 15 marked the official opening of “Straw Hat” season, locals told The Republican.
Mrs. Talma Hoff, of Manilla, reported one of her newly hatched chickens had four legs. Several people in the Manilla area had stopped by her home to see “the freak chicken,” the paper said.
1914: Linemen of the Interstate Public Service Company had spent several days stringing lights across the street from the public square to the intersection of Noble Street to prepare for the upcoming Eagles’ street far.
OBITUARIES
Linda B. Newton, 72, of Shelbyville, passed away Friday, May 10, 2024 at IU Methodist Health Hospital. Born July 19, 1951, in Bowling Green, Kentucky, she was the daughter of James Albert Brown and Mayzelle (Anderson) Brown. She married James B. Newton on December 3, 1979, and he preceded her on June 29, 2021.
Survivors include a stepson, Donald Benjamin "Ben" Newton (wife Lisa) of Tongapatu Island; a sister, Patricia Lynn Brackney (husband Michael) of Shelbyville; brother-in-law, Allen J. Phelps of Shelbyville; cousin, Janet K. Dodd of Shelbyville, who was her best friend; and is also survived by several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her spouse, and a sister, Mary Jo Phelps.
Mrs. Newton had lived in this area since August of 2023, after moving from Lawrenceville, Georgia, and graduated from Rushville Consolidated High School in 1969. She had been employed as a manager of Kroger's and Rite Aid, retiring after several years of service.
Linda loved reading, animals, playing Bingo, going to rummage sales, and spending time with her family.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. on Thursday, May16, 2024 at Glenn E. George & Son Funeral Home, 437 Amos Road, with Pastor Seth Taylor officiating. Friends may call on Thursday morning from 11 a.m. until the time of the service, at the funeral home. Memorial contributions can be made to the Shelbyville/Shelby Co. Animal Shelter, 705 Hale Road, Shelbyville, IN. 46176. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.
Whitlee Faith Fuller, 3, of Shelbyville passed away Saturday, May 11, 2024, at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. She was born January 14, 2021, in Shelbyville, the daughter of David Lee “DJ” Fuller Jr. and Alyssa Marie (Nance) Fuller. In addition to DJ and Alyssa, Whitlee is survived by her sister, Tatum Fuller of Shelbyville; brother, Riggin Fuller of Shelbyville; maternal grandparents, Shelly and Jonathan Nance of Shelbyville; paternal grandparents, Terri and Chad Ferguson of Phoenix, Arizona, and David and Hope Fuller of Chino Valley, Arizona; maternal great-grandparents, Ron and Paula Hemphill, and Marney Close, all of Prineville, Oregon, and Gene Nance of Phoenix; paternal great-grandparents, Mary and Ron Fuller of Chino Valley, Theresa and Leonard Espinoza, and Ron Ferguson, all of Phoenix; paternal great-great-grandmother, Ada Pope of Chino Valley; aunts, Brooke Ferguson, Rylie and Joe DeGrace, and Quinci Nance, all of Phoenix; uncle, Carson Nance of Shelbyville.
The first thing most noticed about Whitlee was her beautiful curly hair and then her awesome smile. Although she was shy at first, she could quickly wrap anyone around her finger. Whitlee had an easy going and laid back personality, and could be a tom boy and a princess at the same time. She dearly loved her brother and sister. She loved to dance and was very spunky. Whitlee enjoyed anything “Bluey”. Whitlee loved to go to her Sunday school class at Shelbyville Community Church. She loved horses and enjoyed watching her daddy work with them.
Friends may gather from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, May 17, 2024, at Shelbyville Community Church, 720 N 325 E in Shelbyville. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. Friday, at the church. Please wear bright happy springtime colors in memory of Whitlee. Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery. Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Online condolences may be shared with Whitlee’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.