Saturday, June 17, 2023

Local Students Learn to Write with Style

Notwithstanding the plethora of pencils and lessons on, say, descriptive techniques, Shelbyville Central Schools’ Young Writers Camp offers similar benefits to any other summer camp: lifelong skills, friendships, teamwork, resilience and self-esteem. Parts of camp are even held outside.

“It’s fun!” first-time participant Kaylan McIntire said. “We get snacks, candy, to see friends, and a cool T-shirt.” And, the topper: “I get to write, which I like doing.”

McIntire, a rising eighth-grader, is one of 20 students participating in the 14th annual summer camp, this year themed “Back to the Writing Camp, Part 2.” (Back to the Writing Camp, Part 1 was 2015.) The sci-fi, time machine twist keeps it light for the young writers, who are mostly in grades 7 - 12.

“This is not school, and this is not school writing. You’re not writing essays unless you want to write an essay,” Joe Anspaugh, SMS Media Specialist, said. This is his 13th year co-leading the two-week camp, this time with SMS English Language Arts teacher Heidi McIntire.

Most kids take their teachers’ advice and avoid formal compositions.

“There are different prompts and no real time limit. If I want to spend the whole week on one short story, I can,” Kaylan McIntire said.

But students still discover useful techniques.

Fraya Watson, attending her third consecutive camp, said her favorite activity is on character creation. “The character I created this year was the opposite of me, so it was hard to write for her, but it has helped me write characters that I'm not comfortable with.”

Everyone in the cohort gets out of their comfort zone by reading pieces aloud and occasionally leaving the cloisters of the SMS library. Yesterday, the group traveled to the Grover Center, which provides the opportunity to use the past as inspiration for writing, Mrs. McIntire said.

On Wednesday, it was the Indiana Historical Society museum downtown Indianapolis.

“It had fantastic food,” Kaylan McIntire said. “It had different exhibits from different time periods, so I could go to one exhibit and write a short story set in the 1930s. Then I could go to another exhibit and write something set in another time.”

Students also enjoyed sitting by the canal and watching the swan pedal boats.

A Writers Celebration will be held the final day of camp and a student anthology compiled. But some serious writers incorporate the camp as part of a strategy.

“I want to write books when I'm older, and though I'm not good enough of a writer to get something published yet, every year I improve bit by bit because of writing camp,” Wasson said.  And she’s enjoying the journey. “Other than that, I do it so I can spend more time with all of my friends.”

NOTEBOOK

• Burglary was reported in the 900 block of Hale Road, Shelbyville.
• STATE NEWS: IUPUI on Wednesday was approved to be dissolved as of June 30, 2024. Initially announced in August last year, Purdue and Indiana University have officially agreed to split their previous joint venture of a shared campus in Indianapolis, known as Indiana University-Purdue University of Indianapolis, or IUPUI. IUPUI had existed since 1970, when Purdue and Indiana University first entered into the agreement. IU assumes responsibility and authority over the School of Science at IUPUI, the Music and Arts Technology department and programs that are currently operated by IU within the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI. It also retains all other schools, departments and IUPUI programs with some exceptions. In addition, IU will have responsibility for providing certain administrative services for both academic organizations and for maintaining the intercollegiate athletic program, the release said. Purdue assumes responsibility for the existing engineering, computer science and technology programs at IUPUI and confer Purdue West Lafayette degrees. (IndyStar)

This Day in Shelby County History

2018: Triton Central sophomore-to-be Tenleigh Phelps competed in the Indiana Class Basketball All-Star Classic on the Girls Red Team. Phelps had led the Tigers in scoring as a freshman and was the team's top rebounder.

2013: Shelby Eastern Schools hired Linda Coleman as new superintendent.

2008: The Shelby County Plan Commission approved to rezone the site of a proposed business park near the Pleasant View interchange at I-74. The project was to be a support service facility for Honda, which had a rule that no such facility could be within 30 miles of a plant. The Pleasant View exit was 32 miles from the Greensburg plant.

2003: A ground-breaking ceremony for fiber optic cable installation was held at Morristown Junior-Senior High School. Participants were Phil Nigh, Donna Tracy, Brent Fuchs, Linda Muegge, Elaine Haehl, Leigh Langkabel, Mark McNeely, Kim Baker, Dave Benefiel and Tim Hills.

1998: Curtis Gahimer, a 14-year-old Shelbyville High School student, scored in the top 5 percent on the Indiana High School Mathematics test. Curtis, the son of Kim and Jerry Gahimer, was one of eight students in the state to get a perfect score on the exam.

1993: Indiana University broadcaster Don Fischer joined Rick Bartlett and Mary Carter for a round of golf at the Elks Blue River Country Club. Fischer said when he first started play-by-play announcing, he had sought the advice of Art Kendall, who would later own WOOO radio in Shelbyville.

1988: The Shelbyville school board approved transfers for teachers Phil Howell, from Coulston to Loper, and Tom Pile, from Pearson to Coulston. The board also approved the retirements of custodian Barbara Hamilton and George Boyd, a junior high math teacher who would remain in his position one more year. The board then approved the following summer school teachers: Peggy Boyd, Bertie Cranford, Laura Heaton, Jeri Jones, Linda Land, Earlene Wheeler, James Farnsley, DeLane Ramsey, Kim Scarlett, Annette Weintraut, Tina Beck, Annette Craft, Jo Dunaway, Mary Jester, Thoma Bastin, Tom Davis and Kathy Morrow.

1983: Sharon Jackson, 23, was named Waldron girls basketball coach. Jackson had played at Ball State University. She was the seventh head coach for the Waldron girls since 1980.

1978: Randall Clevenger was named varsity basketball and cross country coach at Southwestern High School. He succeeded Marty Echelbarger, who had taken a position at Owen Valley.

1973: Shelbyville baseball team members Kent Laird and Tom Nartker were recipients of awards at the Shelbyville Optimist Club meeting. Laird won the Glenn McNamara award and Nartker received the batting average trophy from Coach Tom Hession.

1968: Mike McDaniel, of Waldron, won the agricultural sales demonstration category at the Indiana Future Farmers of America convention.

1963: Barry Graves, 14, and Roger Shaw, 13, attained Eagle Scout. Floyd Lancaster was their Scoutmsater at First Methodist Church.

1958: A bronze marker placed before the graves of William Daniel, a Revolutionary War soldier, and his wife, was dedicated by the local D.A.R. chapter at Sand Hill Cemetery in Sugar Creek Township. The marker was presented by Josephine Morrison in memory of her mother, the late Laura Ray Morrison, great-great-granddaughter of Mr. Daniel.

1953: Work was completed on the new Flat Rock fire station, built entirely by volunteer labor. Stairstep construction at the rear was left so that a recreation center could be built on behind later. Funding for the project had mostly come from the annual Pumpkin festival. A dedication program was led by Norman, Lloyd and Kenneth Barnett; Fritch Fleener; "Slim" Hines; Harold Endicott and Dr. John Davis.

1948: Three vapocillin rebreathing vaporizers were installed at Major Hospital. The state-of-the-art technology was a gift from the Kappa Delta Phi sorority.

1943: Will and Frances (Jones) Stephan celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Mr. Stephan was the senior partner in the Stephan Brothers Shoe Store, the oldest business firm in the city. His childhood home had stood on the site that eventually was occupied by the store on East Washington Street.

1938: Over 1,500 attended a Shelbyville High School band concert at Laura Morrison Park, given in the bandshell. The band planned to return in a week to play Sousa's March.

1933: Three Shelby County girls graduated from Ball State College: Ruth Young, Ellen Stewart and Ruth McNeely.

1928: Meigs Optical Shop moved from the Shelby Hotel to the Query building in the southeast corner of the square which was being vacated by the Armo store. The Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company was moving into the Shop's former location.

1923: Drawings and plans for a foot bridge over Little Blue River, at the end of East Franklin Street, connecting Walkerville with East Shelbyville, were shown to members of the city council by George McBride, city engineer. The estimated cost of the bridge was $1,500 (approximately $27,000 in today's money). But several councilmembers said such a substantial bridge, which could withstand high waters, was unnecessary, and recommended lowering the budget to $200.

OBITUARIES

Kathleen Freeman, 90, of Shelbyville, passed away peacefully on June 15, 2023 at home surrounded by her children, after a long battle of dementia. She was born November 4, 1932 in Bedford, IN. to Alva and Clara Kopp. Kathleen married John Freeman on June 13, 1953 and celebrated nearly 70 years of marriage before he preceded her in death on March 28, 2023.

She was an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church for 58 years, always volunteering her service, and enjoyed her experiences traveling to Mexico, Israel and Rome on church trips, and cherished her travels with her husband to Wales, England, Scotland, Ireland, Hawaii and throughout the states. Kathleen was a devout military wife, a home maker raising four children while supporting her husband’s military career. She always put family and friends before herself. Kathleen was always there to cheer on her children and grandchildren’s activities and sport events, and enjoyed cooking the large family Sunday and holiday dinners. She had many friends and before coming ill, loved visiting the nursing homes to bring cheer to the residents.

Kathleen is survived by sons, Paul Freeman (wife, Valerie), Phil Freeman; daughter, Theresa Griffin (husband, Frank); grandchildren, Ted Freeman, Ben Freeman (wife, Silvana), Tim Freeman (wife, Marissa), Philip Wells, Natasha Merrick, Ryan Rhoades (wife, Christel), Alicia Rhoades, and Kodey Griffin (wife, Katelyn); great-grandchildren, Naomi, Adalynn, Harlym, Violet, Easton, Ian, Bowen, Christian, Zeya, Isla, Charlie and Oliver. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband; son, Mark Freeman; grandsons, Matt Freeman, Errick Freeman; siblings, Warren, Louis, Kenneth, James, Roger, Dorothy, and Howard.

A Rosary will be recited on Tuesday June 20, 2023 at 3:30 p.m. at Murphy-Parks Funeral Services, 703 S. Harrison St., Shelbyville, and visitation will follow from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday June 21, 2023 at 1 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Father Chris Craig officiating. Burial will be in Whispering Hope Memorial Gardens in the Heroes of Honor & Glory Section. Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks, Stuart Parks, and Darin Schutt are honored to serve Kathleen’s family. Memorial contributions may be given to Our Hospice of Southern Indiana, 2626 17th St., Columbus, IN. 467201; Riley Hospital for Children, 705 Riley Hospital Dr., Indianapolis, IN. 46202; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN. 38105. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.

Keven Dale Huseman, 64, of Shelbyville, passed away Friday, June 16, 2023, at Our Hospice of South Central Indiana in Columbus. He was born August 4, 1958, in Greenfield, the son of Lester and Mildred (Mize) Huseman. Keven is survived by his children, Michael Huseman of Shelbyville, Amber Huseman of Leigh High Acres, Jacob Huseman of Fairland, Austin Huseman of Shelbyville, Kyle Huseman of Columbus, Joshua Huseman of Shelbyville, and Makayla Huseman of Shelbyville; siblings, Ernie Huseman of California, Pamela Huseman of Florida, and Brian Huseman of Florida; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Raymond Huseman.

In 1976, he graduated from Shelbyville High School. He was a diesel mechanic for McCallister’s. Keven was also a backyard mechanic. He enjoyed working in his gardens and flower beds. A Celebration of Keven’s life will be held at a later date.
Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Memorial contributions may be made to MHP Oncology and Hematology, 2455 Intelliplex Drive, Shelbyville, Indiana 46176.
Online condolences may be shared with Keven’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.