Monday, June 5, 2023

Class of '73 Comes Home

The Shelbyville High School class of 1973 gathered for a 50-year reunion Saturday, starting with recognition at the 2023 commencement ceremony and continuing with a tour of the high school. Later, dinner and a program were hosted at the Knights of Columbus.

The tour of the high school, led by Shelbyville Central Schools board member David Finkel, included talk of the building's structural changes, hallway numbering adjustments, technology in the classrooms and reminiscing about “sit-ins” at the school during the Vietnam War era. The tour wound its way to the main office, where some remembered the exact former location of the principal’s office better than others.

Finkel explained how the renovations some 15 years ago included moving “Senior Circle” to a newly constructed atrium. With the group standing near the floor design, one classmate recalled that only seniors could walk on the circle, to which another muttered, “Which kind of senior?”

Members of the class listed as present at commencement were: Steve Allen, Tony Armstrong, Bill Baldwin, Jacqueline Bates, Kathy (Baughman) Huffman, Kent Baxter, Gary Beasley, Thomas Beck, Linda (Cordrey) Hampton, Linda (Covington) Richard, Mary (Dile) VanSickle, Kenton Duncan, Bradley Fix, Melanie (Gahimer) Meloche, Jeffry Gibson, Warren Good, Danny Greene, Denise (Hardin) Coffey, Debbie (Hasecuster) Westermann, Catherine Headlee, Dennis Hirschauer, Karen (Johnson) Jackson, Sabrina (Martin) Parker, Joan (Matney) Knight, Bill McNeely, Elaine (Mellis) Sorrell, Greg Montgomery, Jane (Neeb) Shelton, Terry Ogden, John Phares, Paula (Phillips) Chappelow, Rebecca (Pickett) Balting, David Plew, Gary Plunkett, Dwain Shadley, Leroy Sturgeon, Sue (Thornburg) Berauer, Elizabeth (Tower) Pearl, Terrie (Weintraut) Young, Ted Wells, Sandra (Willard) Smith, Carol (Willey) Showers and Bill Zabriskie.

Local Dems Host Golf Outing

NOTEBOOK

• The Shelby County Public Library's Summer Reading Kickoff is this week, with activities in Shelbyville today and in Morristown tomorrow. Today's event at the main branch runs 3 - 6 p.m. with Trent Moss performing at 5 p.m. Tomorrow's kickoff in Morristown also runs 3 - 6 p.m. Details here.
• STATE NEWS: The Indiana State Fair is just about two months away and fair officials are unveiling new stricter rules this year. Fairgoers can expect new bag restrictions. You can’t bring in hard-sided coolers, messenger bags, camera bags or any other bag larger than 9 x 10 x 12. Diaper bags and clutches are allowed. Fair officials also announced a new minor attendance policy. Any minor under the age of 18 will not be allowed in the fair after 6 p.m. without a chaperone, parent or guardian. (Fox 59)

This Day in Shelby County History

2018: Morristown High School held its commencement ceremony, with Cara Armentrout giving her classmates advice from Doc Brown: "Your future hasn't been written yet. No one's has. Your future is whatever you make it, so make it a good one." She also quoted advice from three Disney movies.

2013: Morristown's Haley Hart broke the school's shot put record at regional, throwing farther than any girl ever had in the county. She was the first Lady Yellow Jacket qualifier since Shannon Warfield (1987) for the state track meet.

2008: The Meridian Park Family Aquatic Center kicked off its 10th season. The previous year, 28,161 patrons had visited the pool. Kelly Willard was the pool manager.

2003: Waldron's baseball team won the sectional with an 11-1 win over Southwestern (0-26).

1998: Susan Mann, an attorney for the McNeely, Stephenson, Thopy and Harrold law firm, filed to complete the remainder of the term of Shelbyville Common Councilman Paul Campbell, who had died in May. The three GOP precinct officials in the city's 2nd ward - Greg Thieman, Tina Beck and Jason Stephens - would choose someone to finish the term at an upcoming meeting.

1993: Mary Benning, Dagley Court, celebrated her 100th birthday with an open house.

Waldron's brother-sister combo of Brian and Julie Harker both qualified for state track meet action.

1988: Winners of major academic awards at Morristown High School were Cheri Caldwell, Karyn Fort, Ted Stine, David George, Mark Andis, Tim Byrnes, Erin Everhart, Billie Jo Landis, Christal Callahan and Eric Icenogle.

1983: Miriam Willey, director of nursing at W.S. Major Hospital, received her master of science degree in nursing administration from the Indiana University School of Nursing. Willey had been at the local hospital since 1971.

1978: "Attracting quite a bit of attention these days is a new addition on the lawn at the home of a Shelbyville professional man and his wife," The Shelbyville News' Little Tell reported. "'It' is a gigantic carving of what appears to be Don Quixote, scowlingly surveying the surrounding scene." The mammoth statue had reportedly been carved by a noted chainsaw artist.

"The Last Blast" reunion event hosted students at the St. Paul school for the last time before consolidation to North Decatur. The school's athletic teams had been known as the Blasters, a nickname that dated back to the thriving days of the St. Paul stone quarries. Memorabilia such as graduating class pictures and trophies were being mounted in plywood cases and moved to the town civic center.

1973: Harry Callahan was named clerk-treasurer in Morristown, succeeding Mrs. Clair Kennedy, who was moving to Florida. Callahan operated a barber shop in Morristown. Members of the town board were Steve Cory, Roy Sipe and Richard Sawyers.

1968: Kids completing the term at Playmate Preschool in Brent Woods were Kimmie Rubush, Timmy Heichelbech, Jason Karmire, Craig Walker, Will Graebe, Janee Deckard, Drew Soshnick, Eden Jo Sirkus, Kelly Smith, Matt Brown, Diane Inlow, Nancy Marshall, Tony Schuck, Dodie Eberhart, Sandi Hudson, LeAnne Secrest, Jeff Skillman and Angie Peduto. Mrs. Richard Gehr was director for the three- and four-year olds.

1963: The final "A" Honor Roll at Thomas A. Hendricks School was announced, with the following named: (Grade 4) Gary Cook, Cheryl Durbin, Paul Eck, Stephen Hyde, Debbie Justus, Rachel Pope, Ruth Richmond, Diann Bowman, Michael Degner, Dan Hamilton, Debra Klink, Linda LaMee, Kent McNeely, Beth Ann Miller, Debra Talbert, Connie Van Meter and Robert Wagner; (Grade 5) Brian Beck, Vicki Fyer, Laurie Guest, Pam Hall, Mary Landwerlen, Patricia Palmer, Patricia Stephens, Candice Teasley, Darlene Theobald, Dean Wagner, Farrell Curson, Elaine Fomer, Juanita Itce, David Marshall, Larry Morrell, Anita Peck, Pamela Pence, Dani Sipe, Gary Talbert and Keith Ramsey; and (Grade 6) Peggy Beal, Debbie Brooks, David Critser, Major Jester II, Bill Karnowsky, Sharon Klink, Mary Jane Limpus, Kathy Lindsey, Jim McClain, Brian Moywer, Kathy Oldham, Julie Price, Pamela Van Gordon, Vivan Wagner, Betty Purtlebaugh and Bonnie Fleming.

1958: Eight local women graduated from the Methodist Hospital School of Nursing. They were Doris Bullock, Annette Chueden, Kay Hammond, Carol Hubler, Elizabeth Miles, Mary Richey, Darlene Robins and Niola Siefert.

Charles Chew purchased Chester and Mary David's stake in Chew and David's Super Market, 510 E. Broadway. The store's name was changed to Chew's Regal Store.

1953: Sheriff Robert Meltzer said many county road signs had been removed, vandalized or thrown away. Meltzer said anyone caught would be prosecuted.

The city abandoned plans to pave the first alley west of Harrison St. between Washington and Broadway after nearby residents filed a remonstrance.

1948: The Shelbyville Kiwanis Club, led by president Fred Cramer, hosted a large meeting at the country club for other Kiwanis leaders in the region.

1943: James Andrews, the county's only surviving Civil War veteran, was honored at a veteran's program in Morristown.

Local newspapers organized the Shelbyville Newspapers Cigarette Fund to collect money to send cigarettes to Shelby County soldiers overseas.

1938: James Andrews and William Embry, the county's two surviving Civil War veterans, were honored with a veteran's program.

1933: Wendall Carr, of Homer and student at Shelbyville High School, was given the highest honor offered by the SHS athletic department, the Distinguished Service Shield, emblematic of superiority in scholarship and in four sports. There had been 10 four-letter athletes in the history of the school, "S" Club sponsor Charles Knaub said.

1928: A lawsuit was on its way to court to prevent the paving of Broadway. The suit was filed by Christian Steinhauser. Attorneys Wilbur Israel and Wilbur F. Pell, representing the city of Shelbyville, said most residents were in favor of improving the road.

1923: Shelby County's oldest resident, Minverva Thompson, died two weeks after turning 103. Thompson lived in Waldron. She was survived by her two daughters, Mrs. A.J. Ensminger and Anna Thompson, and her sisters, Eliza Cummins, 97, and Olive Smith, 84.

OBITUARIES

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