Friday, July 14, 2023

PLAZAPALOOZA

County Board of Zoning Appeals Approves Petitions

The Shelby County Board of Zoning Appeals on Tuesday approved three petitions.

The board first approved variances for Mark Lee to have three single-family lots utilize a single paved private driveway and one new lot without frontage on a public road at 5815 W PR 874 S, Edinburgh. The board had previously considered the request. "I think we pretty much went over this last month," Lee told the board. "You wanted it paved; I agreed to have it paved." The approval included stipulations including a paved pull-off.

The board then approved a variance to allow Shelly Ham to install a new single-family residence less than 1,600 square feet without a two-car attached garage on three acres at 800 S 600 W, Edinburgh. Hamm plans to divide the property and install a modular 1,300 square foot home with a detached garage. She intends to occupy the modular home to care for her elderly father, who lives in an existing home on the property.

In final action, the board continued consideration of a zoning violation at 7398 W 700 N, Fairland.

Three members of the five-person BZA were in attendance: Nick Hartman, Kevin Carson and Dave Klene.

NOTEBOOK

• Shelbyville Central Schools' registration opens Monday, July 24. Registration Help Sessions for all schools will be held at Shelbyville Middle School. Sixth grade orientation at SMS will be Thursday, Aug. 3, 5:30 - 7 p.m. Ninth grade orientation at Shelbyville High School is set for Wednesday, Aug. 2, 10 a.m. - noon.
• STATE NEWS: The Monroe County Community School Board will ask voters in November to support a school tax levy, largely meant to fund free and low-cost early childhood education. The board approved a resolution at its June meeting to put the levy on November’s ballot. The levy’s rate would not exceed 8.5 cents per $100 of assessed property value. MCCSC’s Superintendent Jeff Hauswald said that would mean a property tax increase of approximately $50 for a $250,000 home. (Indiana Public Media)

This Month in Shelby County History

2018: First-time political candidate Greg Pence visited Shelbyville in his bid for the 6th District Congressional seat once held by his younger brother, Vice President Mike Pence. Rep. Luke Messer was not running for re-election in order to pursue the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate, which went to Mike Braun.

2013: Albert and Dorothy Mae (Cochran) Lane celebrated 60 years of marriage with a dinner given by their children, Debra Ann and Steve Mohler and Steven and Lea Ann Lane. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lane had retired from Arvin Industries.

2008: The City of Shelbyville reached an agreement with the absentee owner of the Bel-Aire Shopping Center regarding a repair and inspection schedule. Endorsing the deal were Board of Works members Tim Barrick and Don Baumgartner and building commissioner Tom DeBaun.

2003: Don Graves was recognized for 50 years of service with the Shelbyville Lions Club. He received a Melvin Jones Fellowship award, the highest honor bestowed on a Lion member.

1998: A group of Shelbyville residents were in Kambara, Japan, on a visit to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the sister city relationship. James Lisher, Nisa Hensley and Becky Bishopp were among those who climbed up Mount Fuji during the trip. Gene Sexton went to a point about six-and-a-half hours from the top and declared that was "far enough for me."

1993: Ernest Conrad, a Morristown firefighter, was riding on the running board of a fire truck as it pulled into the Crystal Flash station on U.S. 52. Conrad, in what he later admitted was not a smart move, jumped off before the truck came to a stop. He stumbled and hit the pavement, and the rear wheels of the truck rolled over one of his legs. His leg, however, was not broken. The Shelbyville News headline was, "Morristown firefighter a tough guy."

1988: The July the Fourth holiday was a busy one for the local fire department with at least four fires caused by fireworks. One grass fire was at KCL on Hodell Street after fireworks had been lit on a parking lot by children. Chief Robert Buckley said dry conditions and seemingly an increasing number of fireworks displays were the culprits.

1983: Joe Kuhn was elected president of the Shelby Eastern School board. He and his wife, Judy, had two children, Greg, 10, a student at Morristown Elementary, and Tammy, 14, a sophomore at Morristown High School. The board meeting was held at the Bluebird Restaurant. Other elected officers included Ron Lanter, David Pearce, Christine Laird and Gerald Carmony.

1978: Shelbyville resident Don Robison returned home Alberta, Canada, where he had experienced a surprise encounter with a black bear. Robison was taking a walk by himself when all of a sudden the bear loomed up in front of him. It was a female and she had four cubs nearby. For what seemed like a long time, it was a standoff. When Robison stood still, the mother bear did too. When Robison moved a few steps the bear would advance a few steps toward him. The local man finally was able to inch his way back to the safety of a building. Robison had his camera with him and managed to get pictures of the bear. He told a friend, "I got a lot of pictures. In case that bear attacked, I wanted to have proof of what got me!" Little Tell reported in The Shelbyville News.

1973: In Morristown Pony League action, the Cubs clipped the Pirates, 8-7, as Ron Garrett hit a homer and single and Jeff Heek and Rod Heek each had two hits. Dana Caldwell doubled for the Cubs. For the Pirates, Bill Terrell tripled, Greg Brewer doubled and Kyle Wood and Don Clark each had two hits. The Astros romped over the Braves, 18-6. For the winners, Bryon Ross threw a no-hitter. Frank Medford tripled, Kevin Willard, Kerry Kilgore and Nick Keaton each had two hits. In Shelbyville Knothole A League action, WSVL registered a 9-3 win against IPC. For WSVL, Hartnett and Winslow had three hits and Gahimer had two hits while pitching for the win.

1968: Army Sergeant Sammy Washburn, Fairland, received the Bronze Star Medal in Vietnam for heroism in action while engaged in ground operations.  The 21-year-old soldier was a Triton Central High School graduate.

1963: Dave Williamson, Scoutmaster of Troop 221 of the West Street Methodist Church, organized a campout on the Dwight Long Farm.  Committee members Earl Riggs, Lewis Brokering, James Edington and Jerry Hyde receive awards at the campout for their involvement. Scouts who received badge advancements were Kenny Scott, Mick Riggs, Arthur Edington, Mike Snapp, Tony Nicholson, John Guidi, Bill Munger, Danny Buchanan, Kent Halberstadt and Charlie Tucker. Others attending were Edward Copple, Mike Hall, Mike Sipes, Mike Dagley, Terry McCall, Garnet Beatty, Mike Wise, Steve Platt, Wesley Miller, John Hitchcock and Gary Kelley.

1958: The new Outlet Store, owned and operated by the Major T. Jester Co., opened at E. Washington St. and Vine Streets. The outlet was for "odds and ends, buyers' mistakes, and goods that for some reason didn't move in the seven stores we operate," Mr. Jester said. Grace Drake and Mildred Payne were in charge of the self-service store. The store had been the site of a grocery for many years.

1953: Top baseball teams in the Midget and Junior Leagues were recognized. It was the ninth season the teams had participated in the summer recreation program coached by Arthur "Doc" Barnett. The Midget League White Sox were a top team. Team members were Bill Foist, Carl Berger, Steve Totten, Don Titus, Bill Pittman, Charles Barker, Doug Lackey, C.M. Hepp, Jim Taylor and Chuck Sharp. Members of the Junior League Phillies were Richard Bennett, David Trueb, Terry Boring, Don Carr, Jerry Gardner, Ron Richardson, Gary Long, John Nauert, Jerry Heisiger and Jerry Bass. Members of the Junior League Cardinals were Herb Loveless, Jim Tindall, Tom Gallagher, Jack Krebs, Russ Kelsay, Joe Davis, Jack Tindall, Ken Sexton and David Plaitt.

1948: The building committee of the new Waldron Baptist Church met for the first time in the new church, although the structure was not yet finished. Those attending were Willie Claytor, Virgil Roberts, George Apple, Earl Haymond, Ralph Moore, Edna Toothman and Pearl Haymon.

1943: Officers of the Shelbyville Church of the Nazarene were announced. The new board members were Clarence Aulby, Paul Hawn and Walter Polston. Officers of the church were Mrs. Curtis Linville, Mrs. Aulby, Mabel Smith, Thomas Bean, Elmer Brooks, Mrs. Curtis Gahimer and Estel Pendleton.

1938: Several hundred people watched a pushmobile race staged on West Broadway between Tompkins and Miller Streets, organized by the WPA. Louis Feller, driving, with Paul Walton as his pusher, won the third and final heat. Other top finishers were Leo Feller and Paul Talbert; Jack Stainbrook and Donald Kuhn; John Dunn and Charles Murray; Jacob Winton and Leonard Goney; and Junior Nicholson and Paul Nicholson. Prizes included cash, flashlights, swimming trunks, polo shirts, cap pistols, candy, firecrackers and theater tickets.

1933: Youngsters passing the beginners' swimming test at Porter Pool were Lois Payne, Frieda Norvall, Leona Sipes, Marion Rice, Frances Anderson, Ruth Strickler, Freda Pope, Carmen Mooody, Mary Leffler, Paul Fisher, Dellion Burton, Edwin Hammon, Junior Pettit, Clifford Husman, James Slaton, Jim Hirschauer and Richard Mann. They all received Red Cross buttons for their achievement.

Police officials said they had received numerous complaints about cyclists pedaling their bikes on sidewalks downtown Shelbyville without regard for pedestrians. Chief John Thompson said the culprits were young men employed downtown, not newspaper delivery boys.

1928: Local furniture manufacturing officials in Chicago and Grand Rapids for exhibitions reported home that sales were strong. The Davis-Birely Company reported strong sales of radio cabinets and living room furniture. The company boasted the largest table manufacturing plant in the world.

1923: The Shelbyville School Board discussed remodeling the Hamilton Street building and the Colescott school building. Plans were to do only minor maintenance at Hamilton Street but spend a substantial amount to remodel the Colescott School.