Three Golden Bears and two Spartans are the finalists for the 2024 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship.

On Friday, the Blue River Community Foundation released the names of the five finalists for the full-scholarship award to an Indiana college or university that will be announced in December.

Shelbyville High School seniors Renee Aldridge, Ella Connolly and Bella Matney and Southwestern High School seniors Ellie Gosser and Carter Snepp have advanced to the personal interview phase of the process, which is scheduled for Oct. 18.

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The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs is inviting residents to apply to receive broadband access through the Indiana Connectivity Program, said State Sen. Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg).

Unserved or underserved homeowners or business owners can apply by creating an account for the Next Level Connections portal and entering their information for consideration in receiving extended broadband service. Eligible residents can also register by phone at 833-639-8522 or by mail at Indiana Broadband Connect Center, The Office of Community and Rural Affairs, 1 N. Capitol Ave., Suite 600, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

"Reliable broadband access is important in supporting Indiana's business environment and quality of life," Leising said. "The state continuously invests in local projects to improve internet access for Indiana families and keep pace with the demands of technology. If you are unserved or underserved in broadband access, I strongly encourage you to apply for consideration."

Internet service providers will review locations listed in applications and submit bids to the state. The state will evaluate bids and make awards to providers whose bid presents the lowest cost per Mbps to the state for extension of the service.

To learn more and apply, click here. 

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A murder suspect has been re-arrested after his release from the Marion County Detention Center due to a clerical error.

Kevin Mason,28, is a suspect in a 2021 murder case in Minneapolis. The U.S. Marshal Service arrested Mason Wednesday afternoon in St. Paul, Minnesota.

He was arrested in Indianapolis on September 11, before his accidental release in Marion County on September 13.

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Attorney General Todd Rokita has filed a lawsuit against three individuals suspected of scheming to defraud Hoosiers seeking installations of manufactured homes.

The lawsuit alleges the defendants — Steven Singer, Jocel Singer and Aron Singer — engaged in the sales of manufactured homes without a license from the Secretary of State Auto Dealer Services Division. The defendants, residents of Bartholomew County, are also alleged to have promised or completed installations of manufactured homes without a manufactured home installers license.

The defendants allegedly did business at times under such names as Singer Manufactured Homes, Cabin Creek Homes, Rock Creek Homes, and United Palace Home Transport and Sales

One consumer complained about a transaction in which the defendants allegedly failed to arrange for installation of a manufactured home as agreed, failed to install working appliances as agreed, and otherwise failed to meet their contractual obligations to the complainant after she paid them $36,000 in cash. The defendants also allegedly failed to deliver a title to the manufactured home — on which the complainant ultimately had to spend additional money to make livable. The complainant later learned the defendants lacked proper licensure to sell and install manufactured homes.

The defendants’ alleged wrongdoing spanned many years.

In 2014, the defendants allegedly received a cease-and-desist order from the Manufactured Home Installers Licensing Board — but thereafter worked to hide their transactions from authorities by both insisting on cash and by conducting advertising/sales online using various social media accounts and marketplaces.

In February of 2023, the Indiana Secretary of State sent the defendants another cease-and-desist notice relating to alleged violations of dealership licensing requirements.  

Anyone who purchased a manufactured home from any of the listed defendants or paid them for the installation of a manufactured home in the last five years, is asked to file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Homeowner Protection Unit here: https://www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/consumer-protection-division/licensing/

A link to the lawsuit is below:

• Singer Complaint.pdf

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The Indiana State Police teamed up with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department to curb a growing trend of illegal "street take-overs" and "spinning" events.

Officers gathered information about a planned for Saturday event in Indianapolis. Troopers and IMPD Officers utilized available assets to strategically plan for enforcement efforts during the planned "take-over" events. 

"These illegal gatherings are not only dangerous for our communities, they often include other crimes such as theft, drugs and illegal firearms. We will continue to work diligently to identify those responsible for organizing these events as well as those who choose to participate in illegal activities," said Indiana State Police Indianapolis District Lieutenant Josh Watson. 

Connected to these events, the Indiana State Police arrested 10 people, recovered three stolen vehicles, recovered two stolen handguns and issued nearly 50 citations for various violations.

The Indiana State Police Aviation Section was instrumental in some of the vehicle pursuits and assisted with identifying vehicles that fled from officers. 

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police arrested five people, recovered three illegal firearms, and issued citations for various violations. 

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Following the burn ban enacted Monday for Shelby County by the Shelby County Commissioners, the City of Shelbyville’s Board of Works enacted a city-wide burn ban Tuesday morning at its weekly meeting.

The burn ban will remain in effect until the Board of Works meeting next Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. Rain is in the forecast later this week.

To read story on Shelby County Commissioners' burn ban notice, go to https://shelbycountypost.com/local-news/708400

In other Board of Works business Tuesday:

• Approved the recommendation of Police Chief Mark Weidner to install a 4-way stop sign at the intersection of Mechanic St. and Tompkins St. “I am not a fan of more stop signs but I think in this case it is warranted,” said Board of Works member Bob Williams.
• Issued an order to appear for the owner of the nuisance property at 309 E. Mechanic St.

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A prolonged stretch of hot, dry weather has prompted the enactment of a burn ban by Shelby County's Commissioners.
On Monday, the Shelby County Board of Commissioners enacted a county-wide burn ban. It became effective immediately for Shelby County due to the exceptionally dry conditions and the fact that Shelby County has not had any significant rainfall since Aug. 18.

The burn ban will be re-evaluated at the next Shelby County Commissioners meeting on Monday, October 2.

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In partnership with Michael Baker International, the Indiana Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing on Monday for the proposed State Road 46 Pavement Rehabilitation Project.

The hearing will take place at the Greensburg City Hall and will provide an opportunity for the public to interact with the project team, receive the latest updates for the project, and provide official public comment. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. to allow attendees the public time to view displays and talk with project personnel prior to a presentation that will begin at 6 p.m.

Following the presentation, a public comment session will be held. 

The project includes pavement replacement and asphalt resurfacing along S.R. 46 from the east junction of S.R. 3 to the west junction of U.S. 421 and from the east junction of U.S. 421 to Base Road. Additional improvements include sidewalk replacement, ADA curb ramp upgrades, construction of a multi-use path, drainage work and additional lighting. The project aims to reset the service life of the roadway and update transportation facilities to current standards. The contract is currently scheduled to let to contractors in 2026.

While the Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) plan for the project is still under development, a preliminary MOT plan will be presented at the public hearing, along with additional project information. Access to all properties will be maintained during construction. INDOT will coordinate with emergency services, local school corporation officials and project stakeholders to ensure potential disruptions are minimized. Construction is expected to begin in late summer/early fall of 2026. Estimated construction cost is approximately $13 million.

There are several ways to follow project progress, ask questions and offer feedback.

• Provide official public comment before, during or after the public hearing (comment period ends October 10, 2023)
  • In-person at the public hearing on Monday, September 25 (written or verbal)
  • By email: mitchell.wilcox@mbakerintl.com
  • By phone: 317-663-8265
  • By mail: Michael Baker International Attn: Mitchell Wilcox, 3815 River Crossing Parkway, Suite 20, Indianapolis, IN 46240
• Ask questions via INDOT4U at indot4u.com or by calling 855-463-6848

Project information, including the presentation will be available online at Seymour.indot.in.gov .

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The Shelbyville Police Department posted photos on its Facebook page looking for a person of interest.

The posting stated that the department has seen an increase in catalytic converter thefts in the past few weeks. The person in the photos is a person of interest in those thefts.

If anyone recognizes this person please call the Shelbyville Police Department at 317-392-2511.

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The sixth annual Shelbyville Brewfest presented by Ascend Roofing and M/I Homes happens in the downtown Friday.

This eagerly anticipated event will be filled with fantastic brews, delicious food, Kidzone, a corn hole tournament hosted by the Southside Division of MIBOR, and live music by Hairbangers Ball.

Admission is free.

Mainstreet's Brandy Coomes.

Shelbyville's Public Square will be closed from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. for the downtown event.

Mainstreet Shelbyville Inc and Compass Insurance Group have invited the Shelbyville graduates of classes 1980-1989 to join us in the northwest quadrant of the Public Square for a night of 80s memories and celebrations topped off with a meet and greet with Hairbangers Ball before they hit the stage.

To gain access to the exclusive Birge and Held Biergarten, simply purchase a Biergarten ticket for $10 ($15 on-site), which also includes a commemorative cup to take home as a memento.

Featured breweries include Centerpoint Brewing, Hoosier Brewery, Klooz Brewz, Mashcraft Brewing, Planetary Brewing Company, Tree City Brew Co.

Featured food trucks include Books Bourbon & Bacon, The Burger Poet, Dayton's Family Affair, Happy Taco, Tasty Tays BBQ, Weenies on Wheels.

Coomes says Friday's event has something for everyone.

The U.S. Marshals Office is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of Kevin Mason.

Mason, 28, is a murder suspect in a 2021 Minnesota case who was mistakenly released by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

Mason was mistakenly released on Sept. 13 because of a faulty records review by inmate clerks in the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. He was arrested Sept. 11.

With lights and sirens and the beating of the drums of the Shelbyville High School marching band, the 2023 Homecoming parade pulled out of the Hendricks Elementary School parking lot Wednesday afternoon and pulled onto streets lined with people awaiting the annual tradition.

GIANT fm Real Radio teamed up with the sophomore student council to pull the sophomores’ float deemed, “Back to the 80s.”

Each of the four classes at Shelbyville High School selected a specific decade to celebrate for Homecoming week.

The sophomore class float featured a large boom box, Rubik’s Cube artwork, PAC-MAN and the ghosts and even multi-colored Slinky toys. GIANT fm provided musical selections from the 80s to tie in with the theme.

The grand marshals for the 2023 parade were Christie Nigh, Susan Wettrick and Gail Procell, who rode in a 1947 International owned and driven by Jeb Bass, father of SHS assistant principal Jason Bass.

The three grand marshals recently retired from the Shelbyville Central Schools administrative office. Procell served 32 years while Nigh and Wettrick served 26 and 23 years, respectively.

Kristiaan Rawlings photo for Shelbyville Central Schools of the grand marshalls

The International truck was originally owned by Jeb Bass’ great-uncle. Bass’ father borrowed the truck the night Jeb Bass was born to drive his mother to the hospital. Bass’ great-uncle eventually handed him the title and he has continued to restore the vehicle over the past 35-plus years.

The Homecoming parade featured floats from the four graduating classes, the marching band, representatives of the elementary schools, as well as various clubs and fall athletic teams from Shelbyville High School and Shelbyville Middle School.

The parade lasted approximately 50 minutes and went from Hendricks to the intersection at Miller St., in front of Shelbyville High School and then around to the parking lot on the school’s west side.

Friday’s Homecoming celebration starts early. Indianapolis television station WTHR-13 will be at McKeand Stadium for its early-morning “Operation Football” broadcast. SHS students are requested to be at the stadium at 5:40 a.m. to prepare for WTHR’s visit.

The students will then be served breakfast before the school day begins.

At 7:30 p.m., Shelbyville (3-2) hosts Yorktown (3-2) in a Hoosier Heritage Conference contest.

GIANT fm will have its pregame show on air from McKeand Stadium at 6:30 p.m. with the game and postgame show to follow.

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The Shelbyville Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating Devon L. Parrish.

Parrish is wanted for his alleged involvement in the armed robbery of an elderly couple (87 and 84 years of age) in Shelbyville on August 18. In the early afternoon hours, Parrish, with an accomplice, allegedly entered the home of the elderly couple, shooting and beating the elderly male, and physically assaulting the elderly female, while they were home alone in their private residence.

On Aug. 28 an arrest warrant was issued for Parrish by Shelby County for Count I: Robbery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, a Level 2 Felony; Count II: Armed Robbery, a Level 3 Felony; Count III: Burglary, a Level 1 Felony.

Parrish is known to frequent the 2900 block of Olney St. in Indianapolis and the 1100 block of E. 106^th St., also of Indianapolis.

Anyone with information concerning Parrish is asked to contact Detective Mark Newman, Shelbyville Police Department, Criminal Investigations Division 317-392-5145 or Crime Stoppers at 317-262-8477 (TIPS) or 800-222-TIPS.

While there is a current moratorium on considering solar farm requests to be located in Shelby County, one is ready to advance its already approved status into construction of the facility.

Shelby County Commissioner Don Parker says they were approached about the number of entrances to the fields that will house the facility in the northeastern part of the county.

Parker notes size and how the entrances would be constructed were a key part of the conversation.

The public had questions, as well.

There are several names of companies, from engineering on up, involved in the process.

Two Ohio men have been arrested on drug charges following an investigation in Bartholomew and Shelby counties.

The Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team received information that Denzel Parish from Dayton had been delivering drugs in Columbus. Parish has a criminal history that includes firearms, drugs and violence.

Earlier this month, further information was gained that Parish, 30, was going to be in Shelby County to distribute drugs. 

Two Ohio residents were arrested recently in Shelby County, after an investigation into the sale of drugs in Bartholomew County. In coordination with the Shelby County Drug Task Force, Shelby County Sheriff's Office and Shelbyville and Edinburgh police departments, Parish was found and arrested.

An accomplice was also arrested, Justice Dungey, 30, also from Dayton.

Baggies of suspected fentanyl, cocaine and Xanax packaged for sale were also found during the arrest.

Police also arrested 30-year-old Justice J. Dungey,  from Dayton, Ohio who was allegedly assisting Parish.

Both are charged with dealing narcotics and cocaine.

The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office has released a statement on the July death of Ron Sexton.

The comedian, known to many as character "Donnie Baker," died in Harrison, Ohio, while on tour.

The statement lists the cause of death as "combined toxic effects from fentanyl and ethanol (alcohol)."

The manner of death has been reported as accidental following the investigation by police in Hamilton and the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office.

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Camping World Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CWH) (“Camping World”), announced that it is set to acquire Edmundson RV in Edinburgh.

The location currently operates 34 service bays and at closing will span nearly 18 acres and serve as the company’s first exclusive Forest River location in Indiana. The transaction is anticipated to close in the first quarter of 2024 and will increase the company’s Indiana location count to four.

“Edmundson RV has a strong presence in Indiana and helps widen our No. 1 position in the state. It remains our goal to increase our dealership count to over 320 locations over the next five years, through a combination of acquisitions, new store openings, and manufacturer exclusive locations,” commented Marcus Lemonis, Chairman and CEO of Camping World.

Camping World currently operates two sales and service locations in Greenwood and Richmond. In July, the company said it would acquire Mount Comfort RV in Greenfield. That deal is scheduled to close in the fourth quarter of this year.

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Indiana’s unemployment rate in August stands at 3.4%, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. By comparison, the national unemployment rate for August stands at 3.8%.

In addition, Indiana’s labor force participation rate moved to 63.5% for August, remaining above the national rate of 62.8%. Indiana’s total labor force, which includes both Hoosiers employed and those seeking employment, stands at 3,429,353 - a decrease of 714 from the previous month.

"The number of Hoosiers in the labor force remains near an all-time high, and the need for skilled workers has never been greater," said DWD Commissioner Richard Paulk. "Individuals looking for their next job are encouraged to visit a WorkOne office or utilize the online resources available through the Indiana Department of Workforce Development to re-enter the workforce and fill one of the many open positions across the state. For many of Indiana's most in-demand jobs, there are resources available to obtain the necessary skills Indiana employers require. Qualifying workers may be eligible for free training to help them increase their earnings."

Private sector employment in Indiana decreased by 4,400 jobs over the last month, resulting in a gain of 45,800 jobs from this time last year. Indiana's August private employment stands at 2,843,100. 

Industries that experienced job increases in August included construction, which had 1,300 jobs added over the month, and manufacturing, which increased by 400 jobs.

As of Monday, there were 104,794 open job postings throughout the state. In August, 15,247 unemployment insurance claims were filed in Indiana.

Individuals looking for work, training or career information are encouraged to visit in.gov/dwd/job-seekers.

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Shelbyville High School’s Champions Together Plane Pull Challenge team was honored Tuesday by the Shelbyville Central Schools board for its first-place performance last month in the Indiana Special Olympics Plane Pull competition.

The 22^nd Annual “Plane Pull Challenge” was held at Indianapolis International Airport and featured approximately 70 teams attempting to pull an 82-ton FedEx jetliner down a marked track.

Shelbyville sent 15 Champions Together representatives, including Shelbyville High School athletes, and moved the jet from a dead stop to the finish line in 8.06 seconds to win its division.

Shelbyville’s Champions Together program raised $1,350 toward the event’s overall fundraising of $165,000 that will go to Indiana Special Olympics.

Shelbyville Central Schools Superintendent Dr. Matt Vance presented the Champions Together representatives with certificates Tuesday during the meeting.

The group also was recognized for a runner-up finish in the recent state Bocce Ball tournament.

In other board business Tuesday:

• D.L. Sanders, organizer of the recent downtown Shelbyville Cornstock event, presented the school board with a check for $1,500 to go to the school system’s lunch program. Sanders informed the school board he planned to donate 20% of the proceeds from the day-long music festival but the event went so well, he upped the amount to nearly 30% of the proceeds.

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Greenfield Police are asking for the public's help in locating Taylor Thomas.

Anyoone with details about where Taylor may be located, is asked to call the Hancock County 911 Center at 317-477-4400.

 Harvest season is officially underway for Indiana’s 94,000 farmers, which means more slow-moving farm equipment will be on Indiana’s rural roads and highways. To keep Hoosiers safe this year, state agencies are asking motorists to be alert and patient, as they share the road with farm equipment this fall.

“At least once each fall as I am traveling through rural Indiana, I find myself behind or crossing paths with large agricultural equipment,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “It is important to remain alert this fall and keep an eye out for these slow-moving farm vehicles, and if the opportunity allows, to safely navigate around them.”

In 2020 three vehicles were involved in crashes with farm equipment in Indiana which resulted in two deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“The fall harvest season is certainly an exciting and busy time for farmers and motorists,” said Don Lamb, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. “By working together to practice alert driving, we can all make it home safely to our families each night.”

Farm equipment during harvest season could include tractors, combines, grain carts, grain wagons and large trucks hauling agricultural products. These vehicles are wide, sometimes taking up most of the road, and often travel at speeds no greater than 25 mph.

The following list includes several safety tips for motorists approaching large farm equipment:

• Farmers will pull over when they are able to let motorists pass, but it may take time for them to get to a safe place to do so.
• Be alert. Farm equipment is wide, sometimes taking up most of the road.
• Be careful when passing. Do not pass in a designated “No Passing Zone” or within 100 feet of any intersection, railroad grade crossing, bridge, elevation structure or tunnel.
• Do not try to pass a slow-moving vehicle on the left without ensuring that the vehicle is not planning a left turn. It may appear that the driver is pulling over for you to pass when it is actually preparing to turn. You will drive right into its path, endangering yourself and the farmer.
• Avoid tailgating, as some farm equipment might have to make sudden stops along the road.
• Allow plenty of time to get to a destination, be aware of alternate routes and avoid distractions.

“When you see farmers out working and moving from field to field, please be patient as they work to harvest their crops which are needed to help feed our communities and the world,” said Doug Carter, Indiana State Police Superintendent. “Let’s all work together to help ensure everyone’s safety on our roadways.”

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The 37^th annual Our Hospice Summer Concert netted over $123,000 to Make Every Moment Count for people needing end-of-life care.

“Sister Hazel and Levi Riggs performed a great show! The weather was perfect, and it was exciting to celebrate with 5,000-6,000 of our friends and supporterstoraise money for the patients and families who need Our Hospice care. I am overwhelmed by the support we received,” said Steph Cain, President of Our Hospice.

Our Hospice is grateful to Title Sponsors, FORVIA Faurecia and Columbus Regional Health, and Partner Sponsors Dunlap General & Mechanical Contractors and My TruAdvantage, SIHO for supporting the concert with much-needed funds for the care of our community served by Our Hospice.

“Gathering the community for a live concert in Mill Race Park among the Exhibit Columbus art was exhilarating. Experiencing the show of support from our community energizes the team and encourages us to fulfill our mission,” said Cain.

“Funds raised from the Summer Concert activities will go directly to the care of patients and families cared for by Our Hospice, an end-of-life service that started in 1980. Our friends, supporters, and community members definitely responded positively, and we couldn’t be more grateful,” said Julie Davis, Event and Volunteer Services Manager for Our Hospice.

A total of 4,809 raffle tickets were sold which helped Our Hospice net over $123,000 exceeding the goal of $120,000.

“We are humbled by the tremendous support our communities demonstrated. We are grateful to those who donated directly or participated in our drive-thru event and purchased cookies, raffle tickets, and T-shirts. In fact, the winning raffle ticket was sold at the drive-thru event this year!” said Davis.

• The drive-thru cookie, raffle & t-shirt sale held at the Hospice Center raised $3,435 and sold 305 dozen cookies baked by staff and volunteers.
• Our Hospice is again grateful to The Tony London Company for their design of the 2023 Concert T-shirts and The Republic for the design of the 2023 Concert Poster.

Congratulations to the 2023 Raffle winners!

$10,000 Grand Prize – Lynette Hall– Columbus

$500 1^st Place – Heather Fruhner– Columbus

$250 2^nd Place – Jacklyn Strietelmeier – Columbus

$150 3^rd Place – Barb Krieg - Francisco, IN

$100 4^th Place – Candi Hyden-Cincinnati, OH

Prior Year’s Results

¹ During Covid (2020-2021) there were fewer expenses as we didn’t hold a live concert; so therefore net revenue was higher during this timeframe.

Caesars Entertainment Inc. alerted federal regulators Thursday that Caesars Rewards loyalty club members personal information was stolen in a cyberattack.

Caesars said in a filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that it determined a copy of its Caesars Reward database was acquired that included the driver’s license numbers and/or Social Security numbers of many of its loyalty members.

Caesars says it’s still investigating to determine exactly what was obtained by the hacker.

Caesars said it has no evidence that any member passwords or personal identification numbers, bank account information or payment card information were stolen.

The parent company of Shelbyville’s Horseshoe Indianapolis Racing & Casino in Shelbyville says the cyberattack has been traced to an attack on an outsourced information technology vendor used by Caesars.

Bloomberg News reported Caesars paid millions of dollars to the group behind the attack to have the information deleted. But there is no guarantee of that taking place.

Caesars is offering credit monitoring and identity theft protection services to loyalty program members who enroll by calling 888-652-1580 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays.

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Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs today announced seven Indiana communities will receive $318,310 in Planning Grants through the Community Development Block Grant program.

The communities will use the funds to develop plans for the implementation of community and economic development projects.

The Planning Grant program strives to encourage communities to plan for long-term community development with the aid of subject matter experts and community input. The applications being funded this quarter address utilities, public facilities and comprehensive planning efforts.

Comprehensive Planning Grants are designed to aid communities in evaluating assets and identifying opportunities to address current needs in the following areas: land use, government capacity, public services, placemaking, economic development, housing, transportation, agriculture, natural resources, broadband access and historic resources.

Edinburgh was chosen to receive a Comprehensive Planning Grant for $50,000.

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The April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse could double the population of Shelby County.

Shelbyville and Shelby County will experience nearly four minutes of “totality” that Monday in early April which has city and county leaders in full preparation mode for an onslaught of eclipse enthusiasts.

On Wednesday at the Shelby County Courthouse Annex, a community eclipse meeting was held to inform area businesses and residents what to expect in the days leading up to the solar eclipse, where the moon will completely block out the sun, creating darkness in the mid-afternoon.

“The reason not everyone can see totality is because of the relative size of the moon compared to the sun,” explained Cyrus Screwvala, an Ivy Tech Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Physics, to the large crowd in attendance. “The shadow of the moon isn’t big enough to engulf the entire part so only certain places get to see totality which is why what will happen in April (in Shelby County) is so special.”

The eclipse will cross southern Indiana from the southwest to the northeast and include such communities as Linton, Bloomington, Indianapolis, Muncie, New Castle and Connersville as well as Shelbyville.

The timeline presented Wednesday has the start of the partial eclipse at 1:50 p.m. The start of the total eclipse will occur at 3:06 p.m. The maximum effect of the eclipse will be at 3:08 p.m. with the end of the total eclipse two minutes later at 3:10 p.m.

Still nearly seven months from the event, all hotels in Shelbyville are sold out. And the Shelby County Fairgrounds has been rented by a group from Napierville, Illinois, that will be bringing astronomy equipment to view the eclipse.

The last total eclipse in this part of the United States came in 2017. City officials have been in contact with counterparts in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, which experienced totality that year.

Preparations are being made for tens of thousands of visitors to Shelbyville and Shelby County the weekend before the eclipse. Rachel Ackley, Executive Director of the Shelby County Tourism & Visitors Bureau believes that estimation will reach upward of 50,000 visitors which would double Shelby County’s population.

By comparison, nearby Johnson County is preparing for one million visitors. Hamilton County on the northeast side of Indianapolis is estimating up to 1.5 million visitors.

The celestial event offers local residents an opportunity to host visitors but to do so comes with cautionary tales. Security and restroom facilities are encouraged for large viewing parties but many of those services are already booked up.

Residents in attendance Wednesday also were encouraged to look into event insurance in case of incidents surrounding the viewing of the event.

A website has been created to provide local information and answer questions about the eclipse. That website can be found at www.eclipseinshelbycountyin.com.

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