Wednesday, October 15, 2025
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS
Knauf Roundabout Takes Shape
The incoming roundabout near the Knauf entrance on North Riley Highway is taking shape, as seen in this aerial shot. | photo by JOHN WALKER
BZA Approves Homeless Shelter, Tables Storage Business Petition
The Shelbyville Board of Zoning Appeals last night unanimously approved a request from Sunshine House Inc. to operate an overnight shelter for people experiencing homelessness at 21 W. Taylor St., in the former Robert Arnold Law Office across from the jail and courthouse.
The property, zoned Business General, allows a special exception use for a “fair housing facility.” The nonprofit’s director, Dyan Current, told the board the building will provide showers, laundry and a check-in process for guests, along with staff supervision each night.
“There will be a certain amount of time that they’re allowed to stay, and within that time, we’ll be working on goals with them, just as we do with our day center,” Current said.
The board approved the shelter with staff-recommended conditions, including a limit of 26 beds and a minimum of two on-site staff members each night.
Mayor Scott Furgeson, who lives near the site, spoke in support of the project and said the city will use opioid settlement funds to help Sunshine House purchase the building.
“As the mayor of the city, I believe it’s our job and our opportunity to serve every citizen we can,” he said. “We’re never going to cure homelessness, but this is a step in the right direction.”
Public comments reflected both concern and support. Jennifer Thopy, president of the Shelby County Fair Association, cited safety issues she’s witnessed at the fairgrounds and asked how rules and staffing would be enforced. Current said the facility will have cameras in public areas and separate spaces for men and women.
One resident asked whether sex offenders would be housed there. County Prosecutor Brad Landwerlen clarified that because of proximity to youth services, sex offenders would not be eligible to stay at the shelter.
Donna Harrell, executive director of the Shelby County Cancer Association, spoke in favor, noting her group plans to help provide clothing for residents. “There’s all kinds of reasons why people become homeless,” she said. “It would be to everyone’s benefit if these people had a place to go.”
The board’s approval allows Sunshine House to proceed with plans for the city’s first year-round overnight shelter.
In other business, the board opted to table a request by Aaron Callis to construct and operate a 9,000-square-foot rental storage barn for boats, campers and trailers at 2208 N. Michigan Road, across from the Dwain Village neighborhood. The property, nearly five acres and zoned single-family residential, currently includes a home and outbuilding. Callis said roughly 80% of the space would be used for storage rentals and 20% for his company, Aaron’s AC Roofing & Construction.
Planning staff had recommended approval, but the request drew strong objections from nearby residents, including Brad Landwerlen. He and others argued the commercial use would disrupt the quiet character of the neighborhood, increase traffic, and pose drainage and safety concerns for a community that relies on wells.
“This is a place where we all moved because we didn’t want to be surrounded by industry,” Landwerlen said, adding that the building “would change the entire feeling out there.”
Callis defended the plan, saying it would operate more like a farm outbuilding and would not include outside storage or constant traffic. “It’s no different than a farmer building a big pole barn to store his tractors,” he said.
Board member Vince Bradburn thanked residents for attending and said the case raised broader zoning issues. “It seems more appropriate for the Planning Commission to address this as a rezoning proposal rather than to nuance the existing R-1 district,” he said, noting a nearby storage facility zoned light industrial.
The board voted to table the petition for 30 days, giving Callis time to explore alternatives and possibly work with neighbors on a revised plan.
Another petition from Kris and Tangody Fewell, seeking a variance to place a detached garage two feet from the property line at 1026 Summerway Drive, was withdrawn following neighborhood concerns about drainage and setbacks.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: FULL CANOPY REAL ESTATE
NOTEBOOK:
A driver who stopped at Dairy Queen to raise his blood sugar accidentally accelerated while backing out of a parking space when his walking boot became caught between the pedals, striking an unoccupied, properly parked vehicle. The driver had not yet registered or insured the vehicle, which was subsequently towed after he was cited.
Two vehicles backed out of driveways across from one another on Howard Street at the same time, resulting in a low-speed collision between the rear of one vehicle and the side of the other.
Waldron Jr./Sr. High School’s Life Skills and Job Skills program will host its annual Craft and Vendor Fair on Saturday, Oct. 25, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 102 N. East St. in Waldron. The event features handmade items from local vendors and crafters, as well as products created by Waldron Job Skills students. Lunch items will be available, and all proceeds benefit the school’s Life Skills and Job Skills program. More information can be found on the event’s Facebook page.
The Addison Times received a heartfelt note for publication to the Rev. Ralph Botte (pictured below) from the congregation of First Christian Church of Shelbyville in honor of Pastor Appreciation Month. “We want to share our sincerest thank-you and let you know how much you are loved and admired by everyone at the church. We are blessed and grateful for your hard work, wonderful sermons, dedication and commitment to the church and the community. We are so lucky to have you as our pastor at First Christian Church.”
HOOSIER NEWS: Indiana’s tax collections are running $270 million ahead of projections three months into the fiscal year, with overall revenue up 10.7%, or $532 million, compared to the same period last year. September alone brought in $313.6 million more than a year ago and $131 million above forecast, driven by strong sales and individual income tax growth. Despite the gains, state agencies are still operating under 10% budget cuts following a spring forecast downgrade of more than $2 billion. (IBJ)
NATIONAL NEWS: While investment in artificial intelligence surges, America’s manufacturing sector continues its long slide. Factory employment has fallen from a 1979 peak of 19.5 million to fewer than 13 million workers today, including a loss of about 78,000 jobs over the past year. The slowdown extends beyond employment: new factory startups have declined, and federal data show manufacturing investment dropped roughly 6% in the year ending in July, the first such dip since early 2021. (IBJ)
The Addison Times is pleased to offer free milestone announcements. Forms are available here: Engagement Announcement, Wedding Announcement and Anniversary Announcement.
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!
YELLOW BOOK LOOK-BACK
1973
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: MAJOR HEALTH PARTNERS
This Day in Shelby County History
Local headlines reported on or around this date in Shelby County history. Selections are curated by The Addison Times from Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department materials.
2005: David and Kari Farr were transforming the old Indiana National Guard Armory on East Washington Street into a refuge for domestic abuse survivors. The couple purchased the 30,000-square-foot building with hopes of creating The Sanctuary of Shelbyville, a safe and supportive space offering housing and assistance to local families in crisis.
1995: A fertilizer truck carrying 30,000 pounds of product overturned at the southwest corner of North State Road 9 and Rampart Street. The driver lost control when the truck’s brakes failed, spilling the load and blocking the roadway for nearly three hours. No serious injuries were reported.
1985: The Morristown Economic Development Commission approved an $800,000 bond to support the opening of a new Semling-Menke Co. plant in the town’s industrial park. The Wisconsin-based company, known for manufacturing windows, doors and casings, planned to remodel an existing 30,000-square-foot building and begin production by spring. The facility was expected to employ up to 10 workers initially, with the potential to expand to 30 within a year.
1975: The Shelbyville office of the Fairland National Bank opened at 1220 Smithland Road. A ribbon, composed of 25 twenty-dollar bills, later donated to SCUFFY, was cut by Bob Barger, Jim Williams, John Tucker, C.R. Hughes, John Bush, Mayor Jerry Higgins, George Warshel, John Hartnett, Dan Ivie and Nick Cord.
1965: The front window of Paul’s Shoes on Public Square displayed the Wohl collection of antique and foreign shoes. The display was brought in to celebrate Paul’s 30th anniversary in business. Free booklets titled “The Romance and History of Shoes” were distributed.
1955: Lowell McCarty announced the formation of Kustom Kraft, a new firm located on East U.S. 421 about five miles from Shelbyville. The company would manufacture store fixtures, kitchen cabinets and show cases. The two-story brick and stone building was previously known as the Y.M.L. building. Major T. Jester, Richard Jester and Don Richmond were also co-owners of the business.
1945: Sixty-three Boy Scouts and troop leaders attended a weekend encampment at the Flat Rock Cave grounds to prepare equipment at the site for the winter. Sea Scouts under the direction of Skippers George Coffin and Phil Hoop Jr. put all mobile equipment into winter storage and helped cut down three larger dead trees that were endangering the camp area.
1935: Construction began on a new two-story building for the Miller-Yarling ice cream and dairy firm on a lot immediately south of the firm’s current structure on Shelby Street. The new exterior would be stucco and the interior white tile. Ray Miller and George Yarling were owners of the firm.
1925: The Shelbyville school board discussed a plan to relieve severe overcrowding at two city schools, Buildings No. 3 and No. 4 on the city’s south and west sides. With first graders attending only half-days due to lack of space, officials considered purchasing portable classroom buildings similar to those successfully used in Indianapolis. Superintendent A.C. Kibbey supported the proposal, noting the units would include heating systems.
1915: The well-known Dorsey Corner at Broadway and Harrison streets was set for a major change. The longtime tenants, a confectionery and the real estate firm Benedict & Bland, were notified to vacate as plans moved forward for a new dry goods store to take over the space. The corner and adjoining rooms, used by the firm for more than 20 years, were to be combined into one larger storefront. The new store was to be operated by a businessman from Cincinnati, marking the end of an era for one of Shelbyville’s most familiar downtown locations.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: Freeman Family Funeral Homes & Crematory
OBITUARIES
None today.
Roundabouts are such a waste of time, space and money. Glad I don't live in Carmel. Guess it makes people feel like they are saving the planet. AZ even put in three in the middle of nowhere on US Highway 93. Semis just run over the curbing, and they are crumbling now.