Local News

Farmers in all 92 Indiana counties eligible to receive assistance

Governor Eric J. Holcomb today announced that Indiana farmers are eligible for assistance under a secretarial natural disaster designation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

 

This was in response to a letter Gov. Holcomb sent to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue in July, requesting assistance due to the excessive rain and flooding farmers experienced during planting season.

 

“I am grateful that Secretary Perdue and his team recognized the hardships Hoosier farmers experienced this planting season,” Gov. Holcomb said. “As a result of this designation, farmers in all 92 counties are now eligible for assistance, and I encourage those impacted to work with their local Farm Service Agency office.”

 

Seventy-four counties were designated as primary natural disaster areas. USDA deferred its decision on the remaining 18 counties. However, since they border one or more of the primary disaster areas, they are considered contiguous disaster counties – allowing farm operators in those areas to be eligible for the same assistance.

 

Under a secretarial natural disaster designation, farm operators in primary and contiguous counties are eligible for assistance from the Farm Service Agency, provided certain requirements are met. This includes access to low-interest FSA emergency loans, which may be used to: restore or replace essential property, pay all or part of production costs associated with the disaster year, pay essential family living expenses, reorganize the farming operation, and refinance certain debts.

 

In order to qualify, farm operators must show at least a 30 percent loss in crop production or a physical loss to livestock, livestock products, real estate or chattel property. Farmers can borrow up to 100 percent of actual production or physical losses to a maximum amount of $500,000, according to USDA.

 

“This has been an unprecedented year for Indiana farmers,” said Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “I applaud Governor Holcomb, the Indiana Farm Service Agency and our state department of agriculture for making this assistance available.”

 

In addition to emergency loans, farmers with existing FSA loans, who are unable to make their payments, may be eligible to have certain payments deferred. Farmers are encouraged to work with their local FSA office for assistance regarding payment forbearance or emergency disaster loans.

 

“Farmers, who have been doing this their entire lives, acknowledge this has been one of the toughest seasons on record, and we’re not in the clear yet,” said Bruce Kettler, Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director. “While we know this isn’t a cure-all solution, this assistance is welcome news and will help those severely impacted.”

 

For a list of Farm Service Agency offices in Indiana, click here or visit www.fsa.usda.gov, or click here for more information about FSA’s Emergency Farm Loans. Deadline to apply for emergency loans is April 29, 2020.

Shelbyville man, Capitol Police officer arrested on domestic battery charge

A domestic battery charge has resulted in the arrest of a Shelbyville man who works as an Indiana State Capitol Police officer.

 

Few details about the case are available at this time.  Jeffrey Sosbe, 46, was arrested Wednesday. 

 

He is now on administrative leave without pay.

 


Indiana Grand Racing & Casino set to make history with first Sports Book opening

Indiana Grand Racing & Casino will make history Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019 as it becomes the first Sports Book in the state. A special pep rally will lead into the commemorative ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the official opening of Winner’s Circle Race, Sports, Pub.

 

“We are extremely excited and honored to open the first Sports Book in the State of Indiana,” said Ron Baumann, senior vice president and general manager of Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. “Our new Sports Book is a highly anticipated addition to our property, and we have worked hard over the past few months to redesign our current Winner’s Circle to accommodate the newest option in gaming in the state of Indiana.”

 

The Pep Rally will get underway at approximately 12:45 p.m. followed by comments from several local dignitaries, including Mayor Tom DeBaun of Shelbyville.  At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Sports Book will officially launch legalized sports betting in the state of Indiana.

 

Sports available for legal wagers include professional football, basketball, baseball and golf. In addition, more than 100 other sporting events will be included in the new Sports Book at Indiana Grand.

 

The current Winner’s Circle has been expanded to include an entire new section dedicated to sports wagers. This addition will complement the existing area already established as the off-track betting venue for horse racing and dining venue.

 

The event is open to guests 21 years of age and older. The ribbon cutting ceremony will take place in front of the opening into the sports book inside Winner’s Circle, which is located on the casino floor. Those in attendance will receive a commemorative ball cap while supplies last to signify the historic event in Indiana history. 

Duke Energy sending crews from Indiana to assist in storm restoration in the wake of Hurricane Dorian

Duke Energy is sending a contingent of line workers, vegetation workers, supervisors and administrative personnel to assist in restoring power to customers in the Southeast who are affected by Hurricane Dorian.

 

Crews are leaving from eight different operations centers in Indiana, including:

  • Aurora
  • Bedford
  • Clarksville
  • Edinburgh (outlet mall)
  • Princeton
  • Shelbyville
  • Sullivan
  • Interstate 70 at Cloverdale exit

Departure times will be at approximately 7 a.m., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. Crews will drive to Macon, Georgia to spend Friday night. They will await further instructions as to where they will be deployed, either in Florida or the Carolinas, depending on the track of hurricane and level of damage.

It’s unknown at this point how long crews will be deployed.


Indiana Grand set to open sports betting this weekend

Indiana Grand is among the three Indiana casinos that will open sports betting on September 1, the first day sports betting becomes legal in the state.

 

Indiana Grand, Ameristar and Hollywood are all authorized to go live Sept. 1," said Sara Tait, executive director of the Indiana Gaming Commission. "And then Horshoe Hammond is authorized on the fourth of September and French Lick is authorized September 6."

 

Tait anticipates that all other casinos will have their launch dates approved soon, and that the hang-ups are only minor.

 

College betting has been limited to Division 1 sports.  In-play player prop bets for college athletes have been prohibited.  Betting will be available from IndyCar to professional darts.  The list is also on the Gaming Commission website, with it being described as "living", meaning it can change, as long as the sports meet the requirements of the Commission.

 

 

IMPD continues to investigate homicide of Shelby County man

The death of a Shelby County man remains under investigation as a homicide  in Indianapolis.

 

On the evening of August 20 a man was dead in a vehicle on Indy’s southwest side on Ray Street, in an alley near I-70 and Harding Street. It was ruled a homicide after the Marion County Coroner arrived to the scene and determined the man had trauma to his body.

 

The man was identified as Joseph Mefford, 26, of Flat Rock.

 

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475 or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-TIPS.


USDA crop estimates have farmers angered, confused

The USDA’ recent report that indicates crop production for 2019 will only be down slightly has a number of Indiana farmers upset.


With farmers impacted by a 2019 weather pattern that has greatly damaged this crop and the recent Crop Production report issued by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) that forecasted corn production down just from four percent from 2018. That’s a number that most Hoosier farmers would dispute.

 

Scott Gabbard with Shelby County’s Purdue Extension.

 

 

And, that’s even if locally Shelby County is better than most.

 

He says it’s hard to believe that other states can make up for massive losses in several states around the Midwest.

 

Elkhart man identified in fatal work accident

An Elkhart man was killed in an on-the-job accident Friday in Warsaw.

 

Warsaw Police and emergency personnel responded just before noon Friday to a staging area and office site for Meade where employees were performing work for NIPSCO. 

 

A Warsaw Police press release states the accident involved a front-end loader. It appears the front-end loader was operating in reverse when another employee was struck.  The accident caused a catastrophic head injury and the victim was pronounced dead at the scene by the coroner.

 

The deceased has been identified as Cedric Barnett, 31, Elkhart.

 

Currently investigators believe this to be an accidental death as there is no evidence of foul play. The coroner has scheduled an autopsy as is standard in a workplace accident involving death. 

 

The investigation continues and at the time of this release, representatives of OSHA were on the way to the scene to conduct their investigation.

 

Thomas Patrick Lanham, 54, of Leesburg, was the operator of the front-end loader. Lanham also is an employee of Meade and is cooperating with the investigation.

 


Animal shelter to debut, celebrate new Presentation Shelter

This weekend another piece to the improved Shelbyville Shelby County Animal Shelter will be celebrated.

 

On Saturday the shelter will dedicate the Marjorie L. McNamara Presentation Shelter.  The shelter is named after the 1939 SHS graduate who donated the funds used to build it.  McNamara died in 2014.

 

Director Keith Barrett.

 

 

 

Barrett says the shelter is not only impressive to the grounds but is instrumental in events at the shelter.

 

 

Saturday’s event begins at 9:30 including a ribbon cutting, Silly Safari and music from the band Busted Mufflers.

 

A cookout and limited edition T-shirts will be on sale.

Corrections officer arrested for operating while intoxicated

On Friday August, 16, a corrections officer with the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office was arrested for operating while intoxicated following a traffic stop on State Road 46 in Columbus.

 

The investigation began shortly after 12:00 am, when Officer Kyle Weaver, Columbus Police Department, observed a white Jeep swerving and making unsafe lane movements westbound on State Road 46 near Morgan Willow Trace.  Officer Weaver conducted a traffic stop on the Jeep on State Road 46 near Johnson Blvd.  The driver of the vehicle was identified as Kimberly Cruser, 42, of Morgantown.

 

During the course of the traffic stop, Officer Weaver observed that Cruser showed signs of being intoxicated.  The Columbus Police Department soon requested the Indiana State Police take over the investigation after learning that Cruser was a corrections officer with the Bartholomew County Jail. 

 

Trooper Stephen Stoneking arrived on scene and conducted an investigation.  After giving Cruser  field sobriety tests, she was transported to Columbus Regional Hospital where a search warrant was served for her blood to determine her blood alcohol content.

 

After the search warrant was served, Trooper Stoneking arrested Cruser on charges of Operating While Intoxicated and Operating While Intoxicated (Endangerment).  She was also cited for an Open Container Violation.  She was transported to the Bartholomew County Jail where she was then incarcerated.

 

The blood results are pending at this time.  The investigation is ongoing.


I-74 EB & WB lane restrictions to begin Saturday in Shelby County

 I-74 EB & WB will have lane restrictions starting Saturday, August 24. 

 

Both directions of I-74 near N CR 400 W to SR 44 will have intermittent lane closures between now and the middle of November. 

 

At least one lane will be open in each direction at all times. Work will be completed in 1 mile increments along this stretch.

 

Crews will be patching and repairing concrete slabs during construction.

 

INDOT would like to remind drivers to slow down in construction zones and drive distraction free.

Please be aware of slowing or stopped traffic and plan extra time during construction. 

Rain extends I-465 eastbound and northbound closure to Monday

Due to periods of heavy rain slowing construction work in the last several days, the Indiana Department of Transportation will keep all lanes of eastbound and northbound I-465 on Indianapolis' southeast side closed until Monday, August 26 at 6 a.m.

 

Work on the first phase of the approximately $13 million project was targeted for completion on the morning of Saturday, August 24, but INDOT has extended the closure to allow contractors to complete repairs and improvements hampered by weather. Contractors have been working around the clock since August 9 to restore concrete pavement, repair and replace joints, and rehabilitate bridges. INDOT crews have also been performing maintenance activities like sign replacements, guardrail repairs, street sweeping, and drain clearing. 

 

Motorists should continue to plan ahead, use alternate routes, and expect delays while I-465 remains closed. All lanes will reopen ahead of the Monday morning commute.

 

No construction work on I-465 will be happening during Labor Day weekend travel period.

 

The second phase of the project will close I-465 Southbound to Westbound from September 6 at 9 p.m. to September 21.

Shelbyville Common Council lowers planned rainy day fund transfer after further discussion

You’ve probably heard the old phrase, “save a little for a rainy day.”  The City of Shelbyville is able to save more than that but has decided not as much as originally planned.

 

The Shelbyville Common Council approved a resolution to transfer $750, 000 from the Racino fund to its Rainy Day fund.  The initial amount before the council was $2 million.  Councilman Brad Ridgeway asked the council to further discuss the issue in a finance meeting while suggesting a smaller amount.

 

Shelbyville Mayor Tom DeBaun.

 

 

The mayor notes having an amount to debate to place into a rainy day fund is a good thing.

 

 

2019 Indiana State Fair sees a boost in attendance

Despite a closing weekend that included severe weather, this year’s hero-centric Indiana State Fair closed with 878,857 people traveling to the fairgrounds for the 17-day event. 

 

The 2020 Indiana State Fair runs August 7-23. 

MHP and Shelby Senior Services local partners in YMCA plans

Planning continues for the future YMCA and MHP Wellness Center to be built at Shelbyville’s Intelliplex.

 

Major Health Partners intends to establish a YMCA facility in Shelbyville. 

 

MHP Bone & Lifestyle Medicine’s Dr. Gregory Howard says the plan also includes Shelby Senior Services.

 

 

Howard says including Senior Services can mean an improvement of the health of those that utilize those services in the county.

 

 

The plan has received city and county funding to contribute  $1.5 million that would fund the pool portion of the YMCA.

 

MHP would use the warm-water pool for patients' physical therapy.  The pool would also be open to the public as part of the YMCA.

Shelbyville Central among FSSA recipients of early education capacity-building grants

Indiana’s Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning recently awarded early education capacity-building grants totaling more than $870,000 to 14 applicants representing 19 prekindergarten programs in 13 Indiana counties. All recipients are located in counties whose residents are eligible for the On My Way Pre-K program for the first time in the 2019/2020 school year. On My Way Pre-K was expanded statewide as a result of House Enrolled Act 1628, signed by Governor Eric J. Holcomb in May of 2019.

 

On My Way Pre-K is Indiana’s state-funded prekindergarten program for low-income children. The program, which is free to families who qualify, is currently enrolling eligible 4-year-olds for the 2019/2020 school year. Families may check eligibility and apply here.

 

The capacity-building grants are awarded to early learning providers and county coalitions to serve more prekindergarten children and increase the quality of early education opportunities provided in Indiana.

 

Among the recipients:

 

Clay Academy, LLC

Shelby

$22,710.59

 

Mt. Vernon Early Learning Academy - Mini-Marauder Preschool  

Hancock

$17,416.70

 

Shelbyville Central Schools

Shelby

$144,811.32

 

 

Capacity-building grants may be used for the following purposes:

  • Training and professional development of teaching staff;
  • Classroom materials that demonstrate increased outcomes for children or increased instructional practices for educators;
  • Evidence-based curriculum or instructional materials including professional development for teaching staff to utilize the curriculum;
  • Family engagement activities or materials and/or marketing and communication materials; and
  • Other relevant needs to help expand capacity and/or improve quality programming to help programs reach Paths to QUALITY™ level 3 or 4, which is the requirement for a provider to be eligible to be an On My Way Pre-K provider.

Grant awards are for one year with the option to request a no-cost extension if additional capacity-building activities remain that have not been completed after one year. Nonprofit applicants interested in receiving funding for items not allowable had the opportunity to apply for a limited pool of separate grant funding from Early Learning Indiana.

 

All applicants were required to secure matching funds—between 5 and 50% of total budget—from local businesses or other stakeholders who will benefit from the community improvement associated with these capacity-building grants.

City and county look to consolidate dispatch services

The future of law enforcement  and medical services dispatch in Shelby County may bring the City of Shelbyville and Shelby County together as one unit.

 

Shelby County Commissioners were addressed this week by Barry Ritter, co-founder of Ritter Strategic Services.

 

Shelby County Sheriff Louie Koch explains what Ritter has been doing.

 

 

Ritter has thirty years of experience in public safety at the municipal, county, and state level.  He began his public safety career as a police officer in Richmond serving through the rank of Deputy Chief of Police.

 

After retiring, Ritter served for five years as the Director of the Wayne County Emergency Communications Department, a consolidated 9-1-1 center.  In that time, the county built a new 9-1-1 center, purchased new radios and migrated to the State’s trunked 800 system.

 

Ritter was instrumental in leading nine Indiana counties to the very first multi-county ESinet for 9-1-1 services in Indiana.

 

The sheriff says local officials have been studying what can be done to improve the current arrangement of city and county dispatch.

 

 

The idea is not a new one.  In fact, most neighboring counties have done the same.

 

 

Koch notes that combining dispatch efforts in a regional format has been discussed but doesn’t look like it’s the direction Shelbyville and Shelby County will go right now.

 

 

Shelby County Commissioners approved Ritter continuing the process including creating a board to further address the issue. 

 

Sheriff Koch says it may be 18 – 24 months before a transition to a combined dispatch would be completed.

Indiana Secretary of Commerce appointed to US Investment Advisory Council

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross has appointed Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger to the United States Investment Advisory Council (Council). In this role, Schellinger will serve the U.S. Department of Commerce and its SelectUSA program by advising on strategies and efforts to strengthen and increase foreign direct investment in the U.S.
 
“As a state, we are committed to taking Indiana to the world and bringing the world back to Indiana,” Governor Eric J. Holcomb said. “International companies like BWI, Daifuku Wynright, Infosys, Greenleaf Foods and Saab continue to expand and locate here, putting Indiana and Secretary Schellinger in a pole position to contribute to our nation’s vision and strategy in bringing more foreign direct investment to our economy.” 

Between 2016-2018, foreign direct investment committed to the state increased by 300 percent. During that time, the IEDC, in partnership with local communities, secured 123 commitments from international companies representing 22 countries and territories to invest $5.8 billion in Indiana and create 15,502 new Hoosier jobs. That trend has continued in 2019, with companies like Cormo USA, Indiana Wheel Corporation, Multimatic and OSR Inc. announcing plans already this year to locate or expand in Indiana.
 
“The world is more connected than ever before, and under Governor Holcomb’s leadership, we’re working daily to increase our connectivity to the world,” Schellinger said. “With 950 foreign-owned business establishments as well as international, Indiana-based companies like Cummins, Lilly and Hillenbrand, our state serves as a model, uniquely positioned to be at the forefront of the 21st century global economy. I’m honored to serve on this Council and proud to support national efforts to further strengthen our global business opportunities.”
 
The Council advises the U.S. Secretary of Commerce on the development and implementation of strategies and programs to attract and retain foreign direct investment and on ways to support the U.S. in remaining the world’s preeminent recipient of foreign direct investment. First charted in 2016, the Council has made recommendations on issues including broadening infrastructure investment priorities, improving U.S. workforce initiatives and redefining digital tools.  
 
Indiana is home to more than 950 foreign-owned business establishments which together support 193,000 Hoosier jobs, a number that continues to grow. Recent international announcements include Greenleaf Foods, SPC (Canada; Shelby County), Saab (Sweden; Tippecanoe County) and Saturn Petcare (Germany; Vigo County).

Shelbyville industry leader says they prepare for active shooter possibility

As the country mourns the recent mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton a Shelbyville industry says they prepare for just such a possibility.

 

PK U.S.A Vice President Bill Kent.

 

 

Kent says, fortunately, PK has not had any incidents such as this.

 

 

Kent says their employees are entitled to a safe work environment and training like this is part of it.

Shelby among counties to benefit from rural broadband funding

Governor Eric J. Holcomb announced $22.1 million in funding for 11 broadband expansion infrastructure projects across the state as a part of the initial round of the Next Level Broadband program.

 

This funding will provide broadband infrastructure to more than 4,800 homes and commercial locations in 12 counties.

 

The $100 million Next Level Broadband program is the largest single state investment in broadband. For the initial round of funding, service providers could apply for up to $5 million per project to expand service to unserved areas if they provided at least a 20 percent match.

 

Among the applicants to provide unserved areas levels of up to one-gigabyte download and upload service:

 

Miles Communication Corporation
Bartholomew, Jennings and Shelby counties
This project will serve approximately 366 unserved households and 135 unserved businesses, in primarily rural portions of Bartholomew, Jennings and Shelby counties.

The requested grant amount is $2.8 million with a local match of $2.9 million, for a total project cost of more than $5.7 million.

Arrest in Friday hit -and -run

An arrest was made in a Shelbyville hit – and – run involving a car and motorcycle.

 

Shelbyville Police say suspect, Johnny Tillison, 20, of Shelbyville, pulled out in front of the victim on SR 44 from Lee Bvld. The victim was eastbound on 44.

 

Police reported the suspect was driving a white 4-door Lincoln that took off eastbound on 44.  A picture of the suspect vehicle was also released and later the arrest made.

 

Shelbyville Fire Department paramedics transported the male victim with non-life threatening injuries to Methodist Trauma Center where he was initially listed in stable condition.

Indiana American Water breaks ground on water system infrastructure serving Shelbyville,

Indiana American Water, a subsidiary of American Water Company (NYSE: AWK), today announced it is investing $17.6 million to add additional water treatment capacity, storage, and pumping and water transmission capabilities to its Shelbyville system.


“Shelbyville has grown over the last decade since we built the London Road water treatment facility in western Shelby County,” said Indiana American Water President Matt Prine. “The plant was placed in service in 2009 to serve our customers in Johnson County and was built so it could be easily expanded and eventually connected to our Shelbyville system as demand increased there. We have seen significant growth in demand since that time, and these investments will help us to continue to meet Shelbyville’s need for a high-quality source of water.”


The investment in Indiana American Water’s infrastructure serving Shelby County includes:


• Installing nine miles of 20-inch and 16-inch transmission mains to connect the London Road water treatment facility to the Shelbyville system.


• Expanding treatment capacity by 2 million gallons per day and adding two additional pumps at the London Road facility.


• Constructing a new 500,000-gallon storage tank and installing a transmission main near I-74 and State Road 44 on the city’s east side.


• Constructing a new pump station near an existing storage tank along East Michigan Road to create a new pressure zone to enhance system pressures and fire flows in the eastern portion of the system.


The projects will help the company to meet current and future demand, enhance service reliability, and increase water pressure, flows and fire protection capabilities. The new treatment plant pumps and the transmission main connecting the Shelbyville system to the London Road treatment facility are expected to be in service early next year. The remaining projects will all be placed in service by mid-2021.


Indiana American Water has made significant investments over the last decade in its Shelby County water infrastructure, including $4.3 million to replace/relocate water mains and fire hydrants, $2.2 million to install or replace service lines and water meters, and nearly $7.6 million in its pumping, treatment, capacity, storage and operations facilities. The company also placed the London Road treatment facility in service a decade ago at a cost of approximately $19 million.


Indiana American Water serves nearly 7,000 customers in the Shelbyville area, or a population of approximately 19,000.


 

Terre Haute man arrested; wanted in Shelby County

An early Wednesday morning arrest in Vigo County involved a man wanted on charges in Shelby County.

 

About 12:30 am Wednesday, Indiana State Trooper Brad Fyfe observed a vehicle traveling northbound on Lafayette Avenue near Carl Avenue with no operating tail lights.  The vehicle was a white Jeep with an Indiana registration.  Trooper Fyfe activated his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop.  The Jeep promptly pulled over and came to a stop.

 

Trooper Fyfe proceeded to speak to the three occupants in the Jeep.  During his conversation, Trooper Fyfe immediately detected suspicious activity coming from a male passenger in the rear seat of the Jeep. Trooper Fyfe asked him for his identification, but the male passenger was unable to produce a picture ID, becoming visibly nervous, having difficulty even verbalizing his name. 

 

The trooper advised all occupants to stay in the vehicle and returned to his patrol car to verify the information that was provided to him.  Trooper Fyfe then observed the male passenger, from the rear seat, quickly exit the vehicle, running west. Trooper Fyfe, without hesitation, got out of his patrol car and gave loud verbal commands for the male subject to stop, but the commands were disregarded and he pursued on foot.  The fleeing male subject attempted to cross Lee Avenue and Lafayette Street, between two buildings, when Troopers Rondell Shelton and David Petrowski arrived on the scene and demanded the male subject to get on the ground.  The male subject stopped running and immediately complied with the verbal commands of the troopers.

 

The troopers immediately secured the male,Curtis S. Freeland, 34, of Terre Haute, and placed him into a patrol car.  During a search of a backpack that Freeland had left in the Jeep, it was discovered that it contained methamphetamine and a hypodermic syringe.  It was also discovered that Freeland was wanted out of Shelby County for auto theft and criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon. 

 

Freeland was taken into custody and was transported to the Vigo County Jail where he is currently being detained.

A Hope man arrested after fleeing law enforcement

On August 7, 2019, approx. 1:12 pm, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Abner was called to the 20000 block of E SR 46 in reference to a disturbance.

 

A male subject identified as Paul Foley 33, 20072 E SR 46, Hope, was refusing to leave a local business and was threatening an employee.  On arrival, Deputy Abner observed Foley arguing with a female in the parking lot.  As Foley entered his vehicle, Deputy Abner pulled his patrol car in front of Foley’s car so that he could speak with him.

 

Foley accelerated and drove past Deputy Abner.  Deputy Abner then attempted a traffic stop but Foley refused to stop and a pursuit ensued.   Foley abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot after hitting a box trailer parked in a yard on S West Street.  As a result, the trailer was pushed into another vehicle parked south of it. 

 

A short time later, Foley was located in a field and was taken into custody without further incident.  He was transported to the Bartholomew County Jail on preliminary charges of:

 

Resisting law enforcement

Leaving the scene of an accident

Reckless driving

 

He has since been released.

Shelbyville downtown street project nearing end of first stage

Shelbyville’s East Washington Street project is progressing.

 

The re-do on the Shelbyville two block stretch has impacted store owners and traffic.  But the city’s engineer Matt House says they Beaty construction is doing well.

 

 

Full attention will then go to the second block with hopes of completion before winter officially sets in.

 

 

House notes even the heavy rains of spring failed to offer significant issues.  The largest problems came from underground.

 

 

The entire project is scheduled to be done by December 1.

Historic Shelby County bridge finds new home, purpose

You might forgive former Shelby County Commissioner Dave Mohr if he thought the topic of Bridge 13 would never be a cause for celebration.

 

After years of effort a ribbon cutting ceremony was held Monday and brought for some, a sigh of relief.  The historic steel truss bridge is now a prime feature on the trail through Blue River Memorial Park.

 

 

Mohr says he remembers talk of replacing the bridge at its location on 875 West as long ago as the late 70's.

 

 

Originally built in 1889, the structure was rehabilitated and now carries a shared-use path, the Blue River Trail, over a man-made water feature at Blue River Memorial Park in Shelbyville.  

 

The original structure was a 93-foot-long, narrow iron and steel Pratt truss, carrying one lane of traffic on CR 875 West over Buck Creek in northeast Shelby County. 

 

Mohr says time and traffic eventually caught up to the bridge.

 

 

In 2011, the bridge was closed to traffic due to damage and deterioration, with a sufficiency rating of 13. The bridge was classified as a “Select” Historic Bridge and described as an outstanding example of its type, but best suited for non-vehicular use based on condition and structural capacity constraints. The bridge was eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, but due to technicalities, the Shelby County bridge project was subjected to a full Section 106 process, including a Memorandum of Agreement.  An Alternatives Analysis determined the most “prudent and feasible” alternative was replacement of the existing bridge (which was completed in May 2019 and designated as “Bridge 219”),along with relocation of the historic truss, which now resides in Shelbyville Indiana’s Blue River Memorial Park. 

 

The bridge was marketed for re-use for a period of six months, followed by a public hearing to complete the public involvement process.  Construction was completed in July 2019. 

PK U.S.A. impacted by Nissan's troubles; new business model brings new business to Shelbyville facility

The hard times being experienced by an auto manufacturer prompted an industry leader to address the Shebyville Common Council on what the means locally.

 

Vice-President of PK USA Bill Kent says Nissan has been in a tailspin.

 

 

Kent says PK’s Mississippi plant has been particularly hard hit with the cutback’s following poor sales of the Nissan Titan.  Jobs there have been reduced by about a third.

 

Kent says now PK looks to new business.  And there has been success there which is good news for the Shelbyville facility.

 

 

Kent notes PK is stable after 30 years in the Shebyville community and is actually hiring at key positions.

Kent noted PK’s efforts to diversify compared to the city’s loss of hundreds of jobs in 2009 when Meridian Automotive closed following GM’s announced bankruptcy.

Governor Eric Holcomb directs flags to be flown at half-staff

Governor Eric J. Holcomb is directing flags across the state to be flown at half-staff to honor the victims of the tragedies in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio.

 

Flags should be flown at half-staff from now until sunset on Thursday, August 8.

 

Gov. Holcomb also asks businesses and residents across the state to lower their flags to half-staff.

GIANT FM adds Rochester's WROI to its radio stations in Shelbyville and Greenfield

3 Towers Broadcasting, LLC is adding to its family of radio stations with the planned acquisition of WROI - FM in Rochester, Indiana.

 

Tom and Sue Bair have owned the Rochester classic hits station, WROI, for 26 years.

 

 

3 Towers Broadcasting assumed control of operations of 92.1 WROI on Thursday, August 1.

 

3 Towers Broadcasting has operated WSVX in Shelbyville, IN since 2007 with AM 1520 and 96.5 FM. In 2018, WGRN 106.3 FM in Greenfield, IN was added to the corporation’s broadcast stations.

 

3 Towers Broadcasting LLC is owned by Scott Huber, 49, and Johnny McCrory, 48, both of Shelbyville. Tyson Conrady, 34, also of Shelbyville, will join the ownership group with the official close of this acquisition later this year.

 

The completion of the sale is pending Federal Communications Commission approval in approximately 45 days.

SCP brings Nunsense II to The Strand

Nunsense II opens a two-week run Friday night at The Strand Theatre in Shelbyville with Shelby County Players.

 

Director Cindy Leahy says SCP did Nunsense on stage 12 years ago at the old theater on Tompkins Street.  When The Strand opened in 2008 SCP were invited and reprised that performance to sold out crowds.

 

As the Shelby County Players celebrate a 30th season Leahy says it was a vote in a survey with last season’s audience that helped set the schedule this season.  The audience asked to see Nunsense again but instead of reprising the original they went with Nunsense II.  This version allows for a larger cast and more performers.


The dates are August 2, 3, 8, 9, and 10 at 7:30 pm, and August 4 and 11 at 2:00 pm.

 

Shelbyville man killed in Greenfield accident

A Wednesday accident in Greenfield resulted in the death of a Shelbyville teen.

 

Peyton Owens, 18, was the passenger in a vehicle involved in a two-car crash at State Road 9 and New Road.

 

Owens was pronounced dead at Hancock Regional Hospital.

 

The accident remains under investigation.

Gary Bowen named tournament director for Babe Ruth World Series in Florida

Shelbyville's Gary Bowen has a long-time association with Babe Ruth baseball.  This week, one of his all-time greatest honors associated with that sport is sending him on a World Series.

 

 

A man related to other honors for Bowen, his family and business, will provide an added attraction for Bowen’s World Series as tournament director.

 

 

Bowen says he was thrilled when he got the news.

 

 

Surrounded by baseball Bowen says he won’t get to see a lot of complete games but he can’t wait.

 

 

 

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