This Week in Shelby County History: July 16-22

1917

The Women’s Franchise League of Second Baptist Church elected the following officers: Mrs. Will Orebaugh, Mrs. Telles Carter, Mrs. Martha Taylor, Mrs. Kizziah Blackburn, Mrs. Cordella Moore, Mrs. Ella Moteley, and Miss Naomi Moore.

Residents of E. Washington reported that a dog killed a cat, then “trotted across Washington Street, carrying the body of the cat in its mouth, and into the rear yard of a resident of the street. There the body of the cat was dropped while the dog dug a deep hole beneath a tree. When the hole was dug, the dog placed the body of the cat in it, and then covered it.”

1942

Major T. Jester, who had recently suffered a broken hip in a fall from a horse, resigned from city council. He was to be bed-ridden for four months.

Nearly 1,000 people attended the Shelby Specials home opener against Greensburg. Paul Walker and Leon Andrews pitched for the win, with Jack McComas behind the plate. Harry Allison hit a homerun in the sixth inning.

Shelby County’s first July contingent underwent physical exams. They were Paul Moore, Floyd Hill, Stanley Kanouse, John Crosby, Harvey Blaich, Doyle Nigh, Victor LaBarbera, Ralph Jones, E. Lanham Frazier, James Crosby, Homer Stoughton, Virgil Cawein, Raymond Burton, Emerson Thompson, Samuel Abbott, and William Staley. The draft list of “eligibles” included 20-year-olds for the first time.

1967

First Church of the Nazarene broke ground for a new parsonage just north of the church on SR 9. Dale Ramsey, Robert Hasselbring, Rev. Kenneth Jewell (pastor), Norman Smith, Frank Kelley, Cecil Carmony, and Russell McNeely were on the committee.

Participants in the 22nd annual Morristown Cub Scout Coaster Race were Jim Wilson, Mark Rick, Max Rouse, Larry Smith, Jim Knopp, Gene Wicker, Leon Davis, Dick Unger, Norm Morris, Bill Miller, and Bob Rice.

Spears Dairy Sales was once again awarded the school milk supply contract on its low bid of 6.1 cents per half-pint of white milk and 6.35 cents per half-pint of chocolate milk. Other bidders were Compton Dairy and Miller Dairy.

Accidental stream pollution from General Electric killed several hundred fish on Little Blue River. The sewer fed into the Little Blue about one-half mile above Kennedy Park.

Seven Shelbyville area students received diplomas from the Methodist Hospital School of Nursing: Rosalyn Braden, Judith Conover, Beverly Craig, Janet Guffin, Mary Beth Haseman, Nancy Montgomery, and Judith Wilson.

1977

Beth Lewis, a senior at SHS, was crowned Queen of the 1977 Shelby County Fair. Janice Williams was first runner-up, Karen Manning was second runner-up, Terri Meiser was third runner-up, Christy Lutes was fourth runner-up, and Kay Stadtmiller was Miss Congeniality.

Shelbyville’s citizen-soldier Norman E. Miller became Colonel Miller, commander of the 2,450-member 76th Brigade of the Indiana Army National Guard. He and his wife, Bonnie, had three children, Denise, Carla, and Matthew.

Shelbyville Baptist Temple announced they would construct new facilities to house Baptist Academy at their church on Miller Ave.

William O. Scott was named new president of the National Retail Hardware Association, headquartered in Indianapolis.

Robbers stole guns and ammo from the J.G. DePrez Co. and a few old pennies, an unknown amount of cigarettes, and a carton of soft drinks were stolen from the Sweet Shop Market, 207 Montgomery St.

1992

The departure of the 5-10-15-20 store in Belaire left 10 storefronts occupied and ten vacant, causing locals to worry about the center’s viability.

Greg Cory and Bruce Leisure qualified for the 20-lap feature in the United Midget Racing Association in Montpelier, Ind. Cory was the top rookie in the standings.

Carl and Rosamond (Gaines) Walton celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary.

Edna Osborne died, leaving $120,000 to various non-profits. Osborne and her husband, Herbert “Draggy” Osborne, lived on Main St. in Walkerville for many years.