ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS

BRANCHING OUT

A crew plants a tree and completes landscaping work outside the Blue River Community Foundation building this week. Pictured, from left (above), are Jordan England, Eli Sego, Jennifer Jones, Lucas Brown, Lucas Shaw, Mylez Clark, Ava Mummert, Liam Brown and Laura Land. | photo by JACK BOYCE

Shelby Eastern Schools board bulletin

Shelby Eastern Schools Superintendent Dr. Todd Hitchcock announced Wednesday that he plans to step down in October after nearly seven years leading the district. Hitchcock has accepted a position outside education and is leaving on good terms. He plans to help with the transition. The meeting also included updates on third-grade reading scores, career and technical education participation, potential multimillion-dollar facility projects and student discipline and academic policies.

• Hitchcock announces departure: Hitchcock called serving as superintendent the “honor of a lifetime” and said the job had been both the most challenging and rewarding of his career. “I’ve been blessed to get to work alongside some of the best educators and support staff in my career here at Shelby Eastern,” Dr. Hitchcock said. “The students and parents that represent the Morristown and Waldron communities are genuinely great people.” Board members praised his leadership, particularly his work with school finances, facilities and community relationships.

• Third-grade reading: Shelby Eastern reported strong IREAD-3 results, with Morristown Elementary School posting a 94% pass rate and Waldron Elementary School an 88% rate. Hitchcock said all nine third graders who did not pass qualified for state “good cause” exemptions, meaning the district had no mandatory third-grade retentions. Those students will continue working toward proficiency and retake the assessment as fourth graders.

• Career and technical education: Shelby Eastern has 118 students participating in Blue River Career Programs, 49 from Morristown, 55 from Waldron and 14 in the district’s civil construction program. Hitchcock said that represents about 41% of the 290 students eligible to participate, which he believes could be the district’s highest rate ever.

• $7,500 for student lunch debt: Keystone Cooperative presented Shelby Eastern with $7,500 to help eliminate student lunch debt. Hitchcock said a community member apparently applied for the grant without the district knowing about it, and Shelby Eastern was later notified it had been selected.

• Major HVAC needs: The board discussed long-term borrowing and capital needs, including proposed HVAC overhauls at all four district buildings. Hitchcock said preliminary estimates put those projects at roughly $2.5 million to $3.5 million per building. The board discussed whether to pursue a larger, multiyear bond authorization while issuing only the amount needed as individual projects move forward.

• School finances and borrowing: The district’s debt service tax rate is currently just under 59 cents, while state law establishes a 70-cent threshold above which new borrowing authorization would require voter approval through a referendum. Officials discussed maintaining borrowing capacity as existing debt comes off the books while preparing for future building needs and uncertainty surrounding assessed values and changes in state law.

• Friday night school returns: The board approved reinstating Friday night school at both high schools. The approximately three-hour detention is intended as a disciplinary consequence for offenses considered more serious than those warranting a regular detention.

• Athletic grade policy tabled: Administrators proposed weekly grade checks for student-athletes, with eligibility standards that could be stricter than current IHSAA requirements. Board members said they wanted additional information before acting and tabled the proposal.

ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: FULL CANOPY REAL ESTATE

NOTEBOOK:

• Shelby County schools largely outpaced the state average on the latest third-grade reading assessment, with three of the county’s four districts reporting proficiency rates above Indiana’s 88.7%. Triton Central Schools had the county’s highest rate at 95.5%, with 84 of 88 students proficient, followed by Southwestern Consolidated Schools of Shelby County at 93.1%, with 54 of 58 students proficient. Shelby Eastern Schools recorded 90.8%, with 89 of 98 students proficient, while Shelbyville Central Schools had 86.2%, with 237 of 275 students proficient. Within Shelbyville Central Schools, Thomas A. Hendricks Elementary School had the district’s highest proficiency rate at 87.5%, followed by William F. Loper Elementary School at 85.6% and Coulston Elementary School at 85.3%. Statewide, about 88.7% of third graders tested were proficient in reading, up from 87.3% last year.

• Shelby County will waive permitting fees for repairs or reconstruction of structures damaged by the recent flooding, county plan director Desiree Calderella announced Friday. Repairs or reconstruction of flood-damaged structures located in a floodplain still require a local floodplain development permit and any applicable construction permits from the Shelby County Plan Commission and Building Inspector Office. Failure to obtain necessary permits could result in fines of up to $7,500, and some properties may also require a permit from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources before reconstruction begins. County officials plan to conduct damage assessments of structures affected by the flooding in the coming weeks. Property owners within floodplains in Shelbyville, Morristown and Fairland are encouraged to contact their local planning and building offices about permit requirements. For more information, contact Shelby County Planning Director Desiree Calderella at 317-392-6338 or dcalderella@co.shelby.in.us.

• The Shelby County Public Library, The Strand Theatre and Cinema Scares Film Festival are partnering to present “Ars Nocturna: Art of the Night,” the second annual macabre art show held in conjunction with the film festival. Artists of all ages may submit paintings, photographs and 3D art featuring scary, creepy, monster or Halloween themes. Contestants may submit up to three original works, and AI-generated art will not be accepted. Entries are due Sept. 15 at the library’s Genealogy & History Department in the Carnegie East Wing, 33 W. Broadway St. Public voting will run Sept. 16-25, with the top three entries moving to The Strand for the Cinema Scares Film Festival, scheduled for Sept. 25-27. A grand prize winner will be announced at 5 p.m. Sept. 27 during the festival’s closing ceremony. First place will receive $100, while second and third place will each receive $50, with third place also receiving ribbons. All submitted artwork will return to the library for display through the end of October. For more information, contact Donna Dennison at 317-398-8144, ext. 302.

• HOOSIER NEWS: Gov. Mike Braun declared a statewide disaster emergency as heavy rains, flooding and damaging winds sent river levels soaring across Indiana. The White River reached a record 24.75 feet in Anderson, while waterways including Fall Creek, the Tippecanoe River and Big Blue River rose dramatically after days of storms. Some rivers have begun receding, but the Wabash River in Terre Haute is forecast to approach 20 feet by Monday. (IndyStar)

This Week in Shelby County, a cartoon feature illustrated by George L. Stubbs for 38 years, is reproduced with permission of the Shelby County Historical Society and the Stubbs family.

ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: MAJOR HEALTH PARTNERS

This Day in Shelby County History

Local headlines reported on or around this date in Shelby County history. Selections are curated by The Addison Times from Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department materials. | edited by HANNAH BAKER | compiled by MYRON RAWLINGS

2016: The Shelbyville Police Department became the 17th department out of around 500 in the state to earn CALEA accreditation. The department began the process in January 2013 and finished the requirements under Chief Mark Weidner in 2016.

2006: State officials announced 11.3 miles of State Road 44 between Shelbyville and Franklin would be widened starting in 2009. The project was supposed to begin in 2007 but was delayed due to funding issues. A total of 10 houses, some of which were more than 100 years old, would have to be torn down to make room for the improvements. Part of the project would involve disassembling and moving the 1940s steel truss bridge over Sugar Creek. The bridge would be recycled and used somewhere in Boone County, officials said.

A Shelby County team composed of 10-year-olds won “The End of the Summer Bash” tournament in Indianapolis. Members of the team were Riley Hartman, Jared Wise, Ben Lock, Austin Peugh, Cameron Meeke, Jake Laker, Darren Sexton, Ethan Larrison, Riley Reinbold, Chase McColley, Taylor Ivie and Mitchell Mathies. Mike Wise was the coach.

1996: Azaila Elevator won the Waldron 9-11 baseball tournament championship. Team members were Andrew McDaniel, Ryan Lux, Todd McDaniel, Justin Sawyer, Evan Whitacre, Drew Meyers, Isaac Hinkle, Tony Burton, Dustin Wampler, Jonathon Carpenter and Jason Lemmons and coaches Philip Meyers and Darin Sawyer.

Atwood Concrete Construction won the Waldron Little League 12-15 baseball league title for the second straight summer. Team members were Brian Wertz, Ken DeHart, Richy Lewis Raney, Toby Thompson, David Pierce, Mark Raney, Jesse Stewart, Nick Alexander, Doug Bergman, Rich Huffman, Dustin Simerly, Silas Murnan and Seth Murnan. Coaches were Richard Raney and Eddie Williams.

1986: Longtime Shelbyville News Editor John D. Scott received the Arts and Humanities Award sponsored by the Shelbyville Rotary Club. He was editor for 29 years from Feb. 9, 1949, to May 31, 1978. Scott began working for The Shelbyville Democrat in 1935 and he continued when The Democrat and The Republican merged to form The Shelbyville News in 1947. Previous recipients of the award were Marian McFadden, Tom Query, Mickey Wagner, John C. DePrez, Wilbur Pell, DePrez Inlow, William Headlee, Mary Chase Pell, Mary Anne Richey, Donald Carmoney, Louie Kuhn and John Wetnight.

Sheller-Ryobi employees Tom Ralston, Mike Leland, and David Shera visited Japan to learn the craft of diecasting, a manufacturing process that forces molten metal into solids under high pressure. The men commuted to their jobs by train during their 6-week stay, and worked alongside Japanese workers in a similar 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. job.

1976: The Shelbyville Parks Department announced plans for a Midsummer Night’s Festival that would occur at Sunset Park. Included in the events were hayrides, concessions, a cake walk, games and prizes, and a dance that would feature the Medusa Band. There would also be a free swim held at Porter Pool and a concert that featured the Shelbyville High School Marching Band.

1966: Peggy Adkins was named the Shelby County Fair Queen, and Judy Christian was selected as Miss Congeniality.

1956: The state announced plans to replace the Winchester bridge located eight miles south of Shelbyville on State Road 9. The new bridge would be relocated to conform with modern specifications for curve and sight distance. The new bridge would be a three-span concrete reinforced structure with a 39-foot roadway.

1946: The Mothers Service Club discussed plans for a memorial monument to be placed in Forest Hill Cemetery in tribute to men who gave their lives in World War II. Seventy-nine names were to be carved into the stone of the monument.

1936: Dogs owned by Charles Brown and Grant Taylor won the line and tree money at the weekly coon hunt. The hunt was held at the Cobolt Stock Farm with 17 dogs and a few hundred attendees.

Shelbyville officials were considering restrictions on loudspeakers in downtown after business owners complained about broadcasting systems being used for advertising. City Attorney Ralph Adams said he had been asked to prepare an ordinance for the City Council that could restrict or even prohibit their use. Business owners had formally protested the broadcasts at a council caucus, arguing the loudspeakers had become a nuisance. With no city regulations governing the systems at the time, officials said there had been little they could do to restrict them.

1926: A raffle was offered at the Shelby County Fair for a small house to be built by Shelby Lumber Company. The drawing for the winner of the house was planned to be announced September 4.

ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: Freeman Family Funeral Homes & Crematory

OBITUARIES

Margaret “Carol” Huddle, 91, of Conway, South Carolina, passed away on August 6, 2026, while surrounded by her friends and family. Born on July 18, 1935, in Middletown, Indiana, she lived a long and purposeful life marked by devotion, compassion, and a steadfast faith in Christ that guided her every step.

Carol was the daughter of Carl Foutz and Mollie Burton who she was preceded in death as well as her many siblings, late husband Paul “Sonny” Gumbert and grandson Christian Suarez. She pursued her calling in nursing at Ball State University, and her work as a nurse reflected the caring spirit for which she was known throughout her life. In a profession built on kindness, patience, and service, Carol brought comfort to others through both her skill and her gentle presence. She had a way of making people feel seen, valued, and cared for, and that gift stayed with her far beyond her years of work. Carol was a member of Crossroads Community Church in Conway, SC.

Those who knew Carol remember her as a faithful woman with a warm heart and a deep love for her Savior, Jesus. Her faith was not something she held quietly in the background; it was woven into the way she lived, prayed, and loved. She was known as a prayer warrior, and her steadfast belief in God gave strength not only to herself, but also to the people who leaned on her through the seasons of life. She carried her faith with humility and grace, offering encouragement and hope to those around her.

Carol’s greatest joy was her family. She was the beloved wife of Jesse J. Huddle Jr., and together they shared a life rooted in love and devotion. She was also a loving mother to Michael Ridgeway (Sandy), Gregory Ridgeway, Bradley Ridgeway( Carrie), David Moore (Rosie), Susan McKinley (Jeff), Lisa Moore, Julie “Crissy” Suarez (Fernando), Tina Brown (Daryll), Tammy Leaphart (Mark), and Maria McGee (Jimmy). Her love extended proudly into the next generation as well, and she cherished her grandchildren: Christopher Ridgeway, Connor Ridgeway, Carrie Medina, Danny Nuthak, Jessica Niblick, Jacob McKinley, Matthew Rodriguez, Katlyn Moss, Ciarra Suarez, Christian Suarez, Cayla Suarez, Fernando Suarez, Alex Slone, Tori Womble, Grant McGee, Tyler Huddle, and Carl Creighton along with her several great-grandchildren. Each one was part of the life she held close in her heart.

Beyond her devotion to family and faith, Carol found joy in the simple and beautiful things of life. She loved gardening, baking, quilting, crafts, and sewing projects. These were more than pastimes; they were ways she expressed care, patience, and creativity. Through the work of her hands, she made comfort and beauty for others, leaving behind reminders of her love in homes and hearts alike.

Carol leaves behind a legacy of faith, tenderness, and enduring love. Her life was a blessing to those who knew her, and her memory will continue to be cherished by her family and all who were touched by her kindness. May she rest in eternal peace, and may her loved ones find comfort in the promise of God’s presence and the beauty of a life well lived.

A private gathering will be held at Southern Palms Memorial Garden on Friday August 14, 2026 in North Myrtle Beach, SC. Family and friends are invited to attend the celebration of life service which will be held at Crossroads Community Church (2583 Main St. Conway, SC) on Saturday August 15, 2026 at 3 p.m.

Bobbie Jo Williams, 51, of Shelbyville, passed away August 12, 2026, at her residence. She was born on February 20, 1975, in Springfield, Ohio, to Thomas and Sue Williams.

Bobbie spent many years as a stay at home mother where she raised her children before attending and graduating from Ivy Tech Community College, beginning her career as a Registered Nurse. Many of her past coworkers would describe her as a compassionate and dedicated nurse who poured her heart into her work.

Bobbie’s artistic spirit touched every part of her life. She maintained a beautiful garden that she nurtured, taking particular pride in her beloved zinnias, irises, and hostas. As an avid cook, one of the greatest things Bobbie will be remembered for was her gift for preparing meals for the people she loved. Cooking was one of the ways she expressed her love and brought the people around her together, creating memories and passing along recipes that will be cherished for years to come. She loved to create, from crafting extravagant wreaths to designing and decorating her home. Her creativity could be seen in every detail, and through these passions, she created a home that was warm, welcoming, and uniquely her own. She found joy in making ordinary things beautiful, and that gift will live on in the memories and traditions she leaves behind.

Bobbie is survived by her parents; companion, Steven Purdue; three daughters, Sidnee Dennis (Andrew Paetzel), Sammee Dennis, and Chelsee Adams (Blake Fields); grandchildren, Chandler, Ira, Oaklynn, and Arthur who is expected to be born in November of this year; brother, Tommy Williams; and sister, Rhonda Adkins (Matthew).

Family will be holding a celebration of life for her at a later date. Funeral directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks, and Stuart Parks are honored to serve Bobbie’s family. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.