Wednesday, September 25, 2024
City, County Find Uses for Federal ARPA Funds
Time is winding up for government entities to spend American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars, which were approved by President Biden and Congress in 2021. City and county governments have until Dec. 31 to obligate remaining funds and then another two years to spend them. If funds remain, the federal government can claw back the money.
Shelby County received approximately $8.7 million in ARPA funds, which were spent on the following: $228,300, new voting machines; $5.2 million, Pleasant View infrastructure; $88,550, new Barracuda license (network protections); and $20,000, broadband. Another $3 million has been committed to broadband, and remaining funds will go toward the new Emergency Management Agency and county maintenance building.
The City of Shelbyville received approximately $4.4 million. However, the federal government later allotted a revenue replacement of up to $5 million, which the city obviously chose in order to take advantage of the additional funds, City Clerk-Treasurer Scott Asher said. Those funds were used for payroll last year, allowing the city to “bank” the funds that would have been used on payroll so they can be used for general purposes.
SCS Team to Present at National Conference
The Shelbyville Central Schools (SCS) Behavior Team is heading to Baltimore, Md. in March 2025 to present at the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) annual national conference. The title of the presentation by Dr. Christina Bradburn, Kris Baker, Heather Wilson and Morgan Dirr is “Hear Today, Use Tomorrow: 25-plus Tips and Tricks to Enhance Your Behavior Management Toolbox.”
“The presentation is a compilation of the strategies that we share daily with teachers to help support staff and students at SCS,” Dr. Bradburn said.
The presenters will glean from others, too. The team looks forward to bringing back best practice strategies from across the country to Shelbyville, Dr. Bradburn said.
NOTEBOOK:
The City of Shelbyville continues to shop several lots in the Major Hamilton subdivision, located on W. Washington St. In response to a question from Plan Commission President Mike Evans on Monday, City Plan Director Adam Rude said Davis Homes ended its purchase option agreement on the lots within the last year or so. “(The City is) having conversations with a few other companies that might be able to provide a similar product and see the vision of that project come to fruition,” Rude told The Addison Times.
The Shelbyville Board of Public Works and Safety yesterday opened and took under advisement bids regarding storm drainage work to repair issues near Amos Road, where a few neighborhood ponds are connected and discharging through an old farm tile near the road. The work involves installing a larger pipe, as well as repairing erosion at the Southern Trace pond.
In other business, the Board of Works approved closing a part of Glenn Ave., near the fairgrounds, on Thursday to fix a pothole. The board also approved lane restrictions near the intersection of Walker and Vine streets, Oct. 7 - 11, during Shelbyville Central Schools’ fall break, to make repairs.
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NATIONAL NEWS: Miley Cyrus’ song “Flowers” has been at No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart for an aggregate 57 weeks, and has also scored 18 weeks at the top of the all-format Radio Songs chart, 17 weeks at the top of Adult Pop Airplay, and lock, stock and barrel 106 weeks atop all the airplay charts they maintain. That makes it far and away a historical front-runner, beating out “Blinding Lights” (87 weeks across all airplay charts), “Despacito” (74 weeks) and “Blurred Lines” (72 weeks). (Billboard/Numlock)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights:
May 1984, Part I
The results of a Courier senior survey were in: Scott Sharp and Lisa Callahan were most outstanding students in a “landslide” decision; Andy Williams and Roberta Nuthak were the most popular; Steve Fero and Debbie Favors were best looking; Oliver Abeleda and Jil Smith were best dressed; Mark Gould and Michelle Meal were best athletes (“Meal had little competition. In the case of Mark Gould, however, it was a contest between him and Mike Posz.”); nicest car honors went to Mark Gould and his Firebird, and Jim Rodriguez won junkiest car “with whatever that thing is he drives.”); Brian Kemple was class clown; and Tom Henderson, class mouth.” “If you hear someone from the class of ’84 say, ‘Where’s the Beef?’ don’t be too surprised, because that’s the favorite saying. “‘The’ hangout is K-mart, although everybody says it’s out. Other places that seem popular are Landy’s house and Brian Taylor’s.
Show Group held Spectacular. The following group members were seniors: Lisa Callahan, Tonya Napier, Diane Pruitt, Barbie Ragsdale, Tina Sebastian, Joyce Sleeth, Jeannie Woods, Roger Armstrong, Pat Ault, Brian Ernstes, Tom Kremer and David Mack.
Show Group members had been selected for 84-85. They were Caroline Abeleda, Gina Allen, DeAnn Brierly, John Bogeman, Todd Gavin, Lori Hirschauer, David Jordan, Judy Jordan, Troy King, Greg Kranz, Misti Kremer, Yvette McDuffey, Michelle Miller, Jenny Morrow, Joe Myetich, Jean Neal, Jill Neeb, Kevin Nolley, Greg Pence, Shirley Rogain, Michael Sheehan, John Smith, Ken Smith, Kelly Staats, Crystal Stafford, Eric Thoman and Todd Weaver.
Varsity cheerleaders for 84-85 would be Heather Brattain, Gail Douglas, Kate Gallagher, Karen Kreinhop, Stacy Barrett and Ann Vardaman.
The story of Senior Circle was re-told. In 1958, J.W.O. Breck, then superintendent, and Kathleen Coulston, treasurer of the school board, visited Rushville High School. Inside the building, they saw a beautiful mosaic in the floor. They thought a similar emblem would look nice in the main entrance of the newly constructed Shelbyville High School. The terrazzo emblem was drawn up and installed by Santaross Mosaic Co. on Jan. 9, 1959. Seniors took charge of the emblem and claimed it. It was accepted that any senior who caught an underclassman stepping on the emblem could punish them in some reasonable way. The emblem, 8 feet in diameter, cost $900 (about $10,000 in today’s money). The various symbols on the perimeter represent the different subjects taught in the school. In the center, the large S stands for Shelbyville High School.
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 from the Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department.
2014: Several Shelby County schools had banned energy drinks such as Red Bull, Monster and NOS. That said, despite nationwide warnings regarding youth consumption, school officials said the drinks had not become a problem locally. “We have no discipline issues that can be tied to caffeinated drinks,” Dr. Robert Evans, Superintendentn of Shelby Eastern Schools, said.
2004: A dog frightened by a lawn mower ran onto Miller Ave. and into a group of motorcycle riders, knocking a 50-year-old Indianapolis man off his Harley Davidson. The man was flown by Lifeline to Methodist.
1994: Louis Andrew Kuhn, 87, died. His wife, Helen (Stader), survived. Kuhn had retired from Shelbyville High School in 1972, where he taught English and literature, coached tennis and worked as librarian. He was a writer and public speaker, and was instrumental in developing the high school’s yearbook, The Squib. He also managed the Porter Pool, 501 N. Harrison St., for 16 summer. Kuhn was a 1925 graduate of Shelbyville High School, then graduated from Indiana State University and Columbia University in New York. He was a World War II veteran and served in the Army.
A stray billy goat got away from Animal Control Officer Glen Phelps. Phelps tried to catch the goat at Libbey-Owens-Ford, where it had wandered onto the property, but the animal did not cooperate. “It assumed a bearing indicative of hostile intent,” Phelps wrote in his report, adding in parentheses, “It looked real mean.” The goat was sighted at three other locations, but eventually disappeared into a cornfield behind Randy Rush’s house on N. Michigan Road.
1984: A TransMed ambulance driven by Ronnie Coy ran into a ditch on I-74 while transporting a patient. State police said Coy had a seizure. Coy denied that, saying he had been up all night taking care of a sick daughter then had to take medication for an ear infection. Several sources told The Shelbyville News they had been concerned about Coy’s health for some time.
1974: The Shelbyville Street Department began using closed circuit television in sewers to observe leaks. The project was supported by federal revenue sharing funds.
1964: The WFBM-TV Antique Auto Show passed through Shelbyville, with over 150 antique cars stopping and parking on Public Square.
Addison Township School was evacuated for a short time after a telephoned bomb threat was received at the school. Martha Stillabower, school secretary, received the prank call around 9:15 a.m. The 312 students were outside nearly 20 minutes during the search.
1954: Four signs were installed along entrance roads to the city. “Shelbyville: for information, Chamber of Commerce at City Hall, 1/2 block west of Public Square,” the signs read.
1944: Three local men serving in the Southwest Pacific - Frank Coffin, Clifton Worland and Quentin Harper - met up overseas to see the motion picture “Home in Indiana,” they reported to their families here. They spent time afterward catching up on hometown news.
Enrollment at Shelbyville High School reached 593, up 59 from the year before.
1934: Reese Dwiggins and Minnie Richardson came to the county clerk’s office to obtain a marriage license. However, Dwiggins was declared intoxicated. He had fallen to the floor while attempting to reach the clerk’s desk, and was arrested by Sheriff Elisha Crosby.
1924: The IHSAA banned all sports games for the year except on Fridays and Saturdays. Several school officials throughout the state had complained about mid-week games. They contended “that the practice served to break up the study of the boys and girls of the school, took their minds from their work, and disturbed the efficiency of the school both on the day of the game and the day following, regardless of the result.”
All 156 fire hydrants in the city, which were previously red, were painted bright yellow.
1914: The Franchise League met to discuss women voting. “The significant note in the talk was that no members of the League expressed a reason for desiring the vote which was purely personal,” The Republican said. “They do not wish the vote for what it will do for them, but for what they may be able to accomplish for others.”
OBITUARIES
Marilyn Jean Hertzer, 87, of Fairland, died on September 21, 2024, in Morristown, Ind. Marilyn was born on July 26, 1937, to Cecil Everett and Ruby Alice (Rouse) Hargrove. She married Dale Perry Hertzer, her high school sweetheart, in 1955 and they raised a family of four children.
Marilyn was a skilled seamstress who made her children’s clothes and sewed Barbie dresses from the fabric scraps. She spent many weekends camping in a tent at the Ohio River with her family, preparing meals for them on a kerosene camp stove, boating, and fishing. She was proud of her cooking skills and especially enjoyed listening to the lids “pop” after a long day at home canning green beans or making homemade relish. She was an expert at completing the daily crossword and crypto quip puzzles and a formidable foe in a game of Scrabble.
Marilyn worked as the secretary of Triton Middle School for several years. Students relished the chance to work in the bookstore under her direction, and she was a generous Santa and mentor for many of them. Marilyn enjoyed spending time with her family boating, fishing, shooting muzzleloaders, staying in her log cabin at Friendship, attending dulcimer festivals, and visiting with her grandchildren. She was a member of Shelbyville Community Church where she participated in many activities, including Seasoned Seniors, Funeral Dinner Ministry, GriefShare, and Bridge to Hope.
In recent years, Marilyn was active in the Senior Citizens at Fairland Horizon Center, where she happily volunteered to collect the lunch money each week. She particularly liked listening to live music, making scrapbook pages, and creating handmade cards at the meetings. She loved Elvis, birds, flowers, vanilla Cokes, anything chocolate, a good sale price on most anything, her Bichon Frisé, Le Chien Toby, and her family.
Marilyn is survived by her children Lynnette Hertzer (Tom) Klinge of Puerto Morelos, Mexico; Cheryl Hertzer of Fairland; Gary (Angie) Hertzer of St. Paul; and Janet Gartrell of Shelbyville; her grandchildren Wafa Amayreh (Jared Link) of San Antonio, Texas and Ibrahim Amayreh (Alysha) of Waxahachie, Texas; great-granddaughter Ollie Link; and brother Richard Hargrove of Indianapolis. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother Earl Hargrove; husband, Perry Hertzer; and son-in-law Dr. Mohammad Amayreh.
Services will be held at Glenn E. George & Son Funeral Home, 437 Amos Road, on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 3 p.m. with Pastor Merry Popplewell officiating. Burial will be in Fairland Cemetery. Friends may call on Saturday afternoon from 1 p.m. until the time of the service, at the funeral home. A funeral meal will be provided at Shelbyville Community Church immediately following the graveside service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Shelby County Animal Shelter. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.
Shirley Jeane (Lefler) Phares, a devoted wife to Norman and beloved mother to Richard, David and Sonia, passed away from kidney disease in Aurora, Colo., on February 16, 2022.
Born on July 30, 1933, in Cisney, Ill., to Floyd and Evelyn Lefler, Shirley grew up in both Cisney and Shawnee Town, Ill. She told the story of escaping in a rowboat with her mother from the Ohio River flood of 1937 that forced Shawnee Town to move to its current location. Her father passed away before Shirley was born. Eventually, her mother remarried and had another child, Shirley’s beloved brother, C.H. Dabney. The family moved to Anderson, Ind., where Shirley lived until college. Shirley attended high school in Anderson before studying education at Ball State Teachers College (now Ball State University). After graduation, she accepted a teaching job in Georgia, where she married Norman after he concluded flight training. During Norman’s career, Shirley learned how to paint while living in Japan, was a substitute teacher (her son Richard was of her students in high school in Illinois) and ran a flower shop in Virginia. She was a fabulous hostess and loved having cocktail parties and dinners with their friends.
Shirley was a devoted and loving mother to her children and was always interested in and participated in their activities. She taught Richard how to bake for his Cub Scout badges; she and David loved to sing to musicals together, especially “Fiddler on the Roof”; and she helped Sonia with home design on a budget.
Shirley and Norman moved 35 times in their 65-year marriage. Shirley turned every residence into a loving, fashionable home.
Shirley enjoyed pets and the family had a series of cats and dogs and would love seeing the pets owned by her children. She was a wonderful seamstress and made dresses for her granddaughter’s dolls and matching dresses for the granddaughters themselves. She enjoyed playing the piano and would play every time she had a chance visiting her mother in Anderson or on her own piano while living in Colorado Springs.
Shirley was preceded in death by her father and mother. She is survived by her children and grandchildren, as well as her brother’s wife and family. We will never forget the love she brought to our lives.
A joint celebration of life for Shirley and Norman will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at Glenn E. George & Son Funeral Home, 437 Amos Road, with inurnment at Forest Hill Cemetery. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.
Norman Phares: Colonel Norman Ray Phares, USAF, a devoted husband to Shirley and father to Richard, David, and Sonia, passed away from Alzheimer’s disease in Aurora, Colo. on June 22, 2024.
Born in 1933, in Manilla, Ind., to Chester and Edna Phares, Norman grew up on the family farm. He attended Morristown High School and went on to study at Ball State Teacher’s College (now Ball State University), where he pursued three majors. After graduating, he received a commission in the United States Air Force and married Shirley Lefler in 1956. Following flight training, Norman transitioned to a career as a meteorologist and earned an additional degree from Penn State University.
Norman was a dedicated and loving father who cherished every moment with his children. He imparted many valuable life lessons, including the practical advice to “buy a pre-lit Christmas tree.” He ended every phone call with “love you, be safe” and treasured family time. He took pride in seeing his children thrive in their careers as parents, military officers, and business executives, and he delighted in being part of their lives and successes.
A proud veteran, Norman served 28 years in the Air Force, retiring with the rank of Colonel. His service took his family to various locations, including Florida, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Virginia, Maryland, Japan, Illinois, Germany, and Ohio. During the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1971, he and his family were stationed with the 20th Weather Squadron at Fuchu Air Station in Kanto Prefecture, Tokyo, Japan. Norman earned several commendations during his service, including the Legion of Merit. Even in the later stages of Alzheimer’s disease, Norman remained committed to his duty, insisting on keeping his uniform ready in case he was called back to service.
After retiring, he and Shirley lived in Virginia, California, Washington State, and Colorado; sharing their joy of entertaining and travel with old and new friends.
Norman was preceded in death by his brothers Glen, Harold, Robert, and Warren, his sister Freda, and his wife Shirley. He is survived by his older brother, Richard Phares.
A joint celebration of life for Shirley and Norman will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at Glenn E. George & Son Funeral Home, 437 Amos Road, with inurnment at Forest Hill Cemetery. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.
Nicholas Adam Schene of Fairland Indiana passed away unexpectedly, on Saturday, September 14, 2024. He was born on February 21, 1979, in Indianapolis, the son of Albert Schene and Rena Carel White. He was employed by ASA Above the Rest, installing signs.
Nick was a man of many trades who could fix almost anything. He loved constructing things, working on vehicles, shooting pool, golfing, and hanging with his dog Luca, but most of all he loved his son, Christopher.
He will be dearly missed by his son, Christopher Adam Lee Schene, Batesville; brothers, Duke Schene, Osgood, Aaron Schene, Fairland; stepfather, Paul D. White, Fairland; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Nick was proceeded in death by his parents; brother, Matthew Schene; uncles, Fred Schene, Greg Schene and Mike Schene; grandparents, Alvin and Mildred Schene and Christian and Mary Carel.
No funeral services will be observed. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.