Wednesday, May 28, 2025
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Construction Season Underway
Construction started yesterday on the railroad crossing on N. Harrison St., near the bridge over Blue River. Work on the railroad and structural bridge deck repairs will close N. Riley Highway between Boggstown Road and Michigan Road through Saturday, June 10. These projects are part of the broader North Riley Gateway Project and are designed to improve long-term traffic flow and safety along one of Shelbyville’s busiest corridors, the City of Shelbyville said in a media release. Bridge deck repairs will continue after the full closure re-opens allowing north and south single-lane traffic to continue. Sidewalk and Boggstown Road will be accessible throughout this construction. | photo by JOHN WALKER
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NOTEBOOK:
Rev. Paul Landwerlen, 97, died Monday. Father Landwerlen served as pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish for 17 years, the same church where his great-grandparents became members when they came to America in 1854 and started their farm in Shelby County. His great-uncle, Fr. Francis Joseph Rudolph, was also the pastor of St. Vincent and built the current church in 1880, which suffered a terrible fire in 1924 and was rebuilt in 1926. A full obituary is in today’s edition.
River Road in southern Shelby County near Geneva, between CR 750 S and 300 East, will be closed between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. this week due to work by RushShelby Energy. All homes will be accessible for residents. Anyone east of where workers are on site will exit to the east and go out 750 South.
The topic of broadband, listed on yesterday’s Shelby County Commissioners’ agenda, will instead be on next week’s agenda. Commissioner Jason Abel, who was to have led the discussion, was unable to attend yesterday’s meeting.
The Shelbyville Board of Public Works approved giving 60 days for interested parties to clean up 1215 Jefferson Ave. The home owner passed away and there had been squatters on the property. The daughter of the owner is now involved and has an identified purchaser. However, it is taking time to transfer the property. The potential owner said the condition of the inside of the home is worse than the outside.
The Board of Works issued an order to abate 510 E. McKay Road and assess the clean-up charges to the owner.
Board of Works members and city attorney Jenny Meltzer yesterday discussed, but took no action, selling easements to POET for the company’s proposed carbon capture project. As The Addison Times reported last August, POET hopes to capture the pure, biogenic CO2 from bioethanol production in the small pore spaces about a mile below Earth’s surface. POET already supplies customers nationwide with CO2, used for beverage carbonation, food processing, fire suppression and other applications. But that only accounts for about 20 percent of CO2 from the site, County Commissioner Jason Abel said at a Town Hall meeting last year.
HOOSIER NEWS: Experts say the safest part of a home during a tornado is a basement. But plenty of Indiana residents don’t have one and not as many new homes are being built with basements. Forty-seven percent of all new homes in Indiana and neighboring Great Lakes states were built on slabs in 2023, not basements. Why? They’re cheaper. Indiana Builders Association CEO Rick Wajda said the cost of materials and labor has gone up dramatically since 2020. Fortunately, Indiana University atmospheric science professor Paul Staten said basements aren’t the only option. “Most well built homes, an interior wall or a tub or something is going to be a pretty decent place to go in all but the strongest tornadoes," he said. (Indiana Public Media)
NATIONAL NEWS: “Tornado alley” often refers to Great Plains states that experience a lot of tornadoes like Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma. But in recent decades, more tornadoes have been spotted farther east — in states like Arkansas, Mississippi and even parts of Indiana. one meteorologist said, keep in mind, we have more technology to track tornadoes than we did 30 years ago — so that could also be another reason why we’re seeing more tornadoes. (Indiana Public Media)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights
Sept. 23, 1977, Part I
Homecoming planning was in the works. In a change, class floats would be parked on the southeast end of the football field for viewing. The band Axe would provide music at the dance in the cafeteria.
Work on the track continued. Mercury lights 120 feet high were installed. Mercury lights were also installed at the new tennis courts, but they were not as powerful as those at the football field. A new rubber track had been installed, although lane lines had not yet been painted.
The Courier noted that in the month since Elvis Presley had died at age 43, there had already been “an onslaught of Presley memorabilia” available, including t-shirts, blue suede shoes, memory edition magazines and book and television specials on his life.
Twelve new teachers had started at SHS: Mary Agler (returning), Deborah Shell, Ken Low, Marilyn Willeford, Ed Raymond, Mike Miller, Dale Mallon, Lois Douglas, Larry Grubb, Steve Sommerfield, Jerry Rice and Deborah Fleck.
Several students were participating in “brown bag” days to protest changes to the cafeteria snack line. “The snack line, the only place in which one may escape the old favorites of chicken tetrazzini and meat loaf, has taken a sudden change (for the better or worse is left up to the reader). The old reliable Hostess products, the occasional bag of potato chips and the orange drink have all left our stomachs and been replaced with taco rolls, potato sticks and nice and juicy orange popsicles,” the paper said.
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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: Christine Seaton, Morristown, won $1 million in a Lottery scratch-off game. The money would be paid out in $50,000 increments over 20 years.
Most Shelby County businesses weren’t concerned about the new federal law requiring the shredding or burning of sensitive employee and client information, The Shelbyville News reported, because most of them had been shredding for years.
1995: A police report noted that an arrested man had told sheriff’s deputies his wife had left him due to an argument over fleas. “He indicated that they got in a fight over fleas on a cat. ‘The cat scratched both of us up, and I put up with the cats for 35 years, and these cats,’ (the man told his wife), ‘had to go or you would have to go with them,’” the report continued. “Evidently his wife elected to leave rather than give up the cats,” the report concluded.
1985: The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. closed its office in Shelbyville that had been investigating the liquidation of assets of the failed Shelby National Bank.
1975: Dean Wolfe and the Second Chapter band performed at Willie Farkle’s.
Mayor Jerry Higgins issued a proclamation recognizing the Shelby County Heart Association’s bike-a-thon and the Shelbyville Jaycee’s Bike Rodeo. J.R. Showers and Fred Eaton were chairman and co-chairman of the bike rodeo. Sandy Allen was honorary chairman. The 25-mile bike-a-thon would start on Public Square.
1965: Major Hospital officials discussed the need to expand. The facility had 110 beds, but only 82 of them conformed with modern standards, and 31 were located in the older sections of the building that did not conform with modern hospital standards. They expected to need 50 to 80 more beds by 1975.
Russell Leach and Gene Breeden combined their upholstery shops and opened a new operation based out of Fairland.
1955: Construction neared completion on the new women’s building at the Shelby County fairgrounds. A smaller frame structure had previously occupied the site, which had been razed in the spring.
A stop light was installed for the first time at Miller and Colescott. Red flashers would halt north and south bound traffic during the day, with the red and green lights going into effect for all traffic during rush hours.
1945: Members of the Mothers’ Service Club asked community members to donate use of their cars for the Memorial Day parade. Those interested were to call Mrs. Schoolcraft, (phone number, 613-M), as soon as possible. The parade would precede the annual program at Forest Hill.
1935: W.F. Loper, school superintendent, and Glenn Bass, principal, spoke at the Thomas Hendricks School Memorial Day service. Miss Lois Addison, music teacher, played patriotic songs. Several Bible passages and a prayer were provided by students. Carmen Moody played a violin solo.
1925: Nine more local cases of tuberculosis were confirmed after 22 people who had been experiencing symptoms went in for tests.
Levenstein Brothers, local junk dealers, sold their property on Center St. to Daniel DePrez Mfg. Co., and moved into a new business room at 327 East Broadway.
1915: Two boys, ages 9 and 11, halted a horse, which had been frightened by a car and subsequently took off. The horse rushed south on West St. two blocks, then crossed a lot into Elmer Reddington’s yard. The boys, Ray Peters and Joseph Reddington, ran toward the horse, grabbed the lines and pulled with all their might, effectively halting the horse. The boys were praised in the newspapers for their courage.
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OBITUARIES
Donna Orr, 62, of Shelbyville passed away Sunday, May 25, 2025, at her residence. Born on September 8, 1962, in Rushville, she was the daughter of Herschel Dale Nigh Sr. and Dorothy W. (Clark) Nigh. She married Dean Orr on May 22, 1993, and he survives. Other survivors include four children, Keith (Amanda Newman) Stanley of New Castle, Miranda (John) Thornburg of Indianapolis, Jason (Holly) Orr of Muncie, Lynn Nigh of Shelbyville; 12 grandchildren, Keith (Carrie) Stanley Jr, Sam Bowers, Skyler Stanley, Jaxon Orr, Matthew Orr, Jason Orr, Kylynn Hyden, Brittany Neal, Nevaeh Orr, Emma Orr, Madelyn Orr, Aly Hampton; and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and five siblings.
Donna had lived in this area for 25 years after previously moving from New Castle. She was owner/operator of Donna's Thrift Store for several years, attended Trinity United Methodist Church and was a volunteer for Salvation Army. Donna enjoyed buying, selling and trading. She loved her jewelry and cleaning out storage bins, but most of all loved spending time with her family and her dogs.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m., Friday, May 30, 2025, at Glenn E. George & Son Funeral Home, 437 Amos Road. Family will receive friends from noon until the time of the service, at the funeral home. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.
Rev. Paul Landwerlen, 97, died on Monday, May 26, 2025, at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. He was born January 28, 1928, in Indianapolis to Martin and Mildred (Worden) Landwerlen. They preceded him in death along with two of his brothers, Robert and Thomas. He is survived by another brother, Richard, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Father Landwerlen attended Cathedral High School in Indianapolis for two years and then entered seminary at St. Meinrad. He was ordained a priest on May 3, 1954. During his early years, he served as associate pastor at St. Andrew Church in Richmond, St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Indianapolis, and St. Ambrose Church in Seymour. He served as pastor of St. Mary Church in Mitchell, Our Lord Jesus Christ the King Church in Paoli, Holy Trinity Church in Indianapolis, St. Thomas More Church in Mooresville, St. Gabriel Church in Indianapolis and St. Vincent de Paul Church in Shelbyville. After 59 years of active ministry, he retired in 2013 but continued to fill in as a priest at St. Vincent and St. Joseph, as well as many other parishes. In his retirement, he also led Cursillo weekends and served as chaplain of the Fr. Seger Council No. 10371 Knights of Columbus.
At his request, Fr. Landwerlen’s funeral Mass and burial will take place at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Shelbyville. Not only did he serve St. Vincent de Paul Parish as the pastor for his last 17 years of full-time active ministry, but his great-grandparents became members of the church when they came to America in 1854 and started their farm in Shelby County. His great uncle, Fr. Francis Joseph Rudolph, was also the pastor of St. Vincent and built the current church in 1880, which suffered a terrible fire in 1924 and was rebuilt in 1926. Fr. Landwerlen took care of many projects during his years at St. Vincent, but was most proud when the bells – which had been silent for so long – returned and once again, in a brand new steeple, rang out over the countryside, calling parishioners to worship.
Visitation will be from 1:30 to 4 p.m., Sunday, June 1, 2025 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 4218 E. Michigan Road, Shelbyville. The rosary will be recited at 1 p.m. The Office of the Dead will follow at 4:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Monday, June 2, 2025, at the church, with Archbishop Charles Thompson celebrating and Father Mike Keucher preaching. Other priests will concelebrate as well. Friends may gather from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass. Interment will be at St. Vincent de Paul Cemetery in Shelbyville. Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Online condolences may be shared with Fr. Paul’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Marvin L. Jones, 66, of Acworth, Georgia, formerly of Shelbyville, passed away on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. He was born July 3, 1958, in Martinsville, the son of Russell and Beulah E. (Floyd) Jones. On November 24, 1998, he married Tammie L. Byrnes, and she survives. In addition to Tammie and their son, Samuel Jones of Acworth; Marvin is survived by sons, Jared Jones and wife, Nikki, of Indianapolis, Daniel Jones and wife, Lindsay, of Greensburg, Micah Jones and wife, Kelly, of Warren, Matthew Jones and wife, Jenny, of Rushville, Stephen Jones and wife, Ali, of Greensburg; daughter, Bethany Bushhorn and husband, Josh, of Greensburg; and their mother, Linda Jones; sisters, Reta Hannell, of Bloomington, Lora McMichael and husband, Ron, of Morristown; brothers, Gary Jones and wife, Nida, of Morristown, and Morris Jones and wife, Anita, of Lebanon, and Ed Jones of North Vernon; brother-in-law, Brian Byrnes and wife, Kelly, of Morristown; grandchildren, Mason, Brayden, Fulton and Rylen Jones, William, Abigail, Owen and Katherine Jones, Aynslee, Emoree and Noah Jones, Morgan and Megan Jones, Finley, Averie, Beckham, Ellis and Madden Jones, and Nolan, Cooper and Ace Bushhorn; and a large extended loving family. He was preceded in death by his parents; nephews, Brian Hauk and Christopher Hannell; sister-in-law, Cheri Jones; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Max and Marcia Byrnes.
In 1976, Marvin graduated from North Decatur High School. He received his bachelors degree in religion from Barclay College, formerly known as Friends Bible College, in 1981. After graduation, Marvin served at Little Blue River Friends Church and Greenfield Friends Church as pastor. After working as a carpenter for most of his life, retiring from Local 301, in 2014. He became an associate pastor at Shelbyville Community Church, where he helped lead people with addictions to recovery.
Marvin loved his family and enjoyed going to his grandchildren’s sporting events. He also enjoyed going to the beach, camping and woodworking. He had been an avid Dallas Cowboys fan since 1966 for some reason, to this day we are still not for sure why.
Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m., on Thursday, May 29, 2025, and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 30, 2025, at Shelbyville Community Church, 720 N. 325 E., Shelbyville. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 30, 2025, at the church, with Pastors Gary Jones, Morris Jones and Hubert Nolan officiating. Interment will be at Asbury Cemetery in Morristown. Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 124 E. North St. in Morristown. Memorial contributions may be made to The Bridge Ministry, 1504 S. Harrison St., Shelbyville, IN, 46176, or the Hope Center, 11850 Brookville Road, Indianapolis, IN, 46239. Online condolences may be shared with Marvin’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Fern Ernestine McClellan, 94, of Southport, passed away on Monday, May 26, 2025, at The Wellington of Southport. She was born May 30, 1930, in Parker Township, Illinois, the daughter of Roy Lee and Alma Leona (Swope) Roberts. Fern is survived by her sons, Ronald L. Wolfe and wife, Deborah, of Indianapolis and Chris and Chad McClellan, both of Florida; daughters, Sandra K. Irvine of Shelbyville, and Kathryn S. Baltimore and husband, Jerry, of Whiteland; sister, Norma; brothers, Earl and Doit; seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; 18 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; two grandchildren; and 12 siblings.
Fern was a homemaker and worked as the lead cook in many restaurants. She loved to tend her flower gardens, and raise chickens and eggs. Fern enjoyed sewing and spending time with her family.
Graveside services will be at Asbury Cemetery in Morristown, at a later date. Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 124 E. North St. in Morristown. Online condolences may be shared with Fern’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.