Wednesday, June 21, 2023

On the Beat

NOTEBOOK

• The Shelbyville Board of Works yesterday approved closing CR 200 W in front of Horseshoe Indianapolis Casino on July 3, 9:45 - 10:45 p.m. due to a patriotic drone show. The 10 p.m. display will cap off a special celebration of entertainment beginning at 2:30 p.m. featuring Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing, live entertainment, giveaways, free activity stations, food trucks and more, the casino said in a statement. "The Drone Light Show, presented by Pixis, will cover the sky in front of the grandstand with 200 drones coming together to form images, including a racehorse, deck of cards, dice, and the Horseshoe Indianapolis logo to personalize the event," the statement said. Pixis is the company who provided the aerial show at Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles. Parking and admission are free at Horseshoe Indianapolis for the Drone Show. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to secure a seat in front of the grandstand.
• As a follow-up to a question raised two weeks ago by an Elm Street resident, a city planning department staff member yesterday clarified that street lights in alleys are privately owned, as confirmed by Duke Energy. Those wanting lights in an alley should contact Duke Energy.
• The nuisance property issue at 529 E. Jackson St. has been resolved, Shelbyville Plan Director Adam Rude said.
• STATE NEWS: Earlier this month, Amtrak announced it submitted applications for more than $700 million in Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) funds. This money would go toward projects that would upgrade some of its long distance routes and expand services – including improvements to the Cardinal line, which runs through Indianapolis. The Cardinal goes from Indianapolis to Chicago. However, it currently operates only three times a week – Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. It also starts in New York and goes through several other cities before reaching the Indianapolis to Chicago connection. This funding would make the Cardinal service daily and would increase the train speeds to allow for faster travel. (Indiana Public Media)

This Day in Shelby County History

2018: After six weeks of closure, the Walkerville Bridge reopened just a week or so ahead of the Shelby County Fair.

2013: Sue Steele's Star Factory FORCE dance team competed at the Applause Talent Regional competition in Tennessee, winning a first place. Dancers were Sydney Gilles, Holly Harris, Kaitlyn Ewing, Greg Cox, Abbey Neeb and Olivia Mohr.

2008: Harold and Jo Anna (Magee) Patterson celebrated 60 years of marriage. Mr. Patterson had retired from General Electric and Wellman, where he was a tool and tie maker. They were the parents of Pamela Burgette and Teresa Waltz.

2003: Three were honored as Shelby County Homemakers of the Year: Sharon Brattain, 68; Patricia Price, 52; and Phyllis Russell, 68.

1998: Paul Gutting, who grew up in Shelby County, spent his career as a professor at the Milwaukee School of Engineering and retired home to Shelby County, was called by his former employer asking him to return. Gutting declined, saying he was happy here and with retirement. Gutting had taught Greg Paddock, who later invented the hydraulic lift system that raised the Titanic in 1997. Paddock credited Gutting for teaching him how to work through problems and develop solutions.

1993: Shelbyville native Edmond Vaughn, 78, died. He had attended SHS before founding Bethesda Temple Apostolic Church in Indianapolis. He served as pastor for 34 years, then as pastor emeritus.

1988: The Shelby County Board of Realtors installed new officers Jane Sanders, Elaine West and Marcia Kuhn. Vicki Bernard was named Realtor of the Year.

1983: The Shelbyville school board accepted a bid from Lighthouse Fellowship to take over the former Charles Major School building on East Franklin St. The school had served Shelbyville for more than 60 years, most recently only for kindergarten classes.

1978: Ica Cook, 84, won the Tiffany Queen contest the Heritage House Convalescent Center. Frances Bryant, who had written two books since she turned 80, won the same competition at Heritage Manor.

1973: Ed Fiant was named the Lions Club's "Lion of the Year." The retiring president, Richard Bishopp, made the presentation and also honored William Yoder, Paul Weber, Jack Worland and Don Graves for 20 years of membership and Ralph Leppert for 10 years of service.

1968: Construction on the two new Wertz Apartment buildings at 400 and 407 E. Washington St. neared completion. The buildings featured a "mall" (grassy area) between them.

The state highway department widened a section of E. Michigan Road to four lanes and changed the sweep of a curve at a junction. The section used to be State Road 29, then U.S. 421, but always was also E. Michigan Road.

1963: A joint resolution to consolidate Addison, Marion and Shelby Townships into the Shelbyville school system failed on a vote of township residents.

1958: Paramount Cleaners re-opened at 1 Public Square following remodeling, and Paramount Speedwash Laundry was opened at 15 N. Harrison St., adjoining the building.  The laundry was open 24 hours a day.

1953: State Trooper Walter Kolls, 27, 530 W. Mechanic St., was assigned to the Connersville post. Kolls had married Sharon Richardson in 1948 and was a World War II veteran.

1948: Col. D. Wray DePrez was named principal speaker for the upcoming homecoming to be held in Tailholt on U.S. 52. Other features of the program included poem reading and whistling and accordion selections.

1943: Local physician Dr. William Tindall died. Services would be held at his home, 603 South Harrison St. Tindall had graduated from Shelbyville High School and taught school before entering medical school.

1938: Ray Everson, Shelby County native and former managing editor of The Indianapolis News, spoke to local Rotary Club members at the Alcazar. He spoke about people who complained about the community but were "too lazy" to help. "It strikes me as a good idea that we should conduct ourselves in such a manner that at the end of the day we can say, 'I have done my part,'" he said.

1933: Pleasant Grove Separate Baptist Church members announced plans for a centennial program. The church was in Noble Township, east of Norristown. The church had been founded July 12, 1833 by the Rev. Matthew Elder at a meeting held under a shade tree on the farm of Wiley Hatton, about three miles southwest of Geneva.

1928: Despite an injunction holding up the paving of Broadway Street in court, city officials announced they would pave a part of the section of Broadway betwen Harrison and Pike streets, and possibly the entire block anyway.

1923: The Shelbyville school board rejected a parent-backed plan to tear down walls between rooms in the No. 5 school building on East Pennsylvania Street, which would increase class sizes and make more expensive renovations unnecessary. The board's contracted architect said the changes were not feasible and wouldn't keep the building in compliance with rules for public structures. The board then discussed an addition to the Colescott school.

OBITUARIES

Curtis Allen Walters, 30, of Shelbyville, passed away Sunday, June 18, 2023 at his residence. He was born May 5, 1993 in Beech Grove, IN. to John Walters and Corinna (Purcell) Walters.

Curtis attended Shelbyville High School. He worked at Ryobi Die Casting as a quality control technician. Curtis enjoyed the times he was able to be out on his motorcycle. He was a thrill seeker and loved the adrenaline rush. He also enjoyed riding around on his electric mountain bike and playing video games. His greatest joy came from spending time with his family and loved ones.

Curtis is survived by his parents; daughter, Allena Grace Walters; maternal grandmother, Linda Dunham-Purcell; paternal grandmother, Patricia Jane Walters; aunts, Paula Elder and Charity Buckley (husband, Aaron), and a host of extended family with his cousins, aunts and uncles. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Paul Allen Purcell; paternal grandfather, Paul Donald Walters; and uncle, Joe Elder.

Visitation will be Friday June 23, 2023 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Murphy-Parks Funeral Service, 703 S. Harrison Street, Shelbyville, IN 46176. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Chris Short officiating. Burial will be in Asbury Cemetery in Morristown, IN. Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks, Stuart Parks, and Darin Schutt are honored to serve Curtis’s family. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to his gofundme: https://www.gofundme.com/f/curtis-walters-funeral-expenses for his daughter Allena. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.

Sharon Sue Drummond, 79, of Shelbyville, passed away Tuesday, June 20, 2023, at her home. She was born August 28, 1943, in Shelbyville, the daughter of Charles Ray and Marjorie (Wells) Shaner. Sharon is survived by her daughter, Tamara Drummond Butler and husband, William, of Shelbyville; son, Andrew James Drummond and wife, Karen, of California; sisters, Sheila Shaner and Suzanne Shaner, both of Shelbyville, and Shelley K. Wilson of Luray, Virginia; granddaughters, Hannah E. Butler and May R. Drummond; one nephew; and two nieces. Sharon was preceded in death by her parents; husband, James A. Drummond, MD; brother, Kevin O. Shaner; and sister, Saundra Walden.

In 1961, Sharon graduated from Shelbyville High School.  She received her nursing degree (BSN) from Indiana University School of Nursing in 1965.  On September 11, 1965, she married James Arthur Drummond, MD. Sharon and Jim enrolled in Lexington Theological Seminary in 1967. Under the supervision of the United Christian Missionary Society, the couple began a mission in The Democratic Republic of The Congo (Zaire).  While in The Congo, Dr. Drummond and Sharon worked in the town of Boende at the local hospital.  The Drummonds completed their Master of Divinity degrees in 1970, just prior to the end of their two-year mission. Upon returning home, Dr. Drummond and Sharon eventually decided to relocate to Milan, in order to take over the medical practice of Dr. Warn, who was retiring.  They ultimately expanded their practice to include Osgood as well.  The couple worked together every day, as doctor and nurse practitioner, until their retirement on December 20, 2013.

She was an avid reader and a member of the Disciples of Christ Christian Church. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 24, 2023, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. Saturday, at the funeral home. Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105-9959. Online condolences may be shared with Sharon’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.

Gary "Bunny" Ward, 60, of Shelbyville, passed away Sunday, June 18, 2023at Community Hospital South. Born January 15, 1963 in Albemarle County, Virginia, he was the son of Alcy Scott Ward and Virgelia (Turner) Ward. Survivors include a daughter Keri Hughes (husband Nathan) of Indianapolis; partner Dee Coffman of Franklin; sister Karen Turner Ward of Hampton, VA., a brother Michael Ward of Columbus, Ohio; and one grandchild Zikhaia Ward. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Mr. Ward had lived in this area since 1983, after moving from Virginia. He was a diesel mechanic with AirWorx of Indy, and had previously worked for Bobcat of Columbus for several years. He graduated from Madison County High School in Madison, Virginia, and was a member of Shelbyville Moose Lodge, where he served as president. Bunny enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing, and attending drag races. He loved spending time with family and friends, and being involved in Moose Lodge activities.

A Celebration of Life will be 2 p.m.   on Saturday, June 24, 2023 at the Shelbyville Moose Lodge,224 E. Jackson St. Burial will be in Gordon Beasley Memorial Cemetery in Madison, VA., where Gary will be laid to rest beside his parents. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.

Glenda J. Hadley, 82, of Manilla, passed away June 17, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. Services will be announced by Glenn E. George & Son Funeral Home.