Thursday, August 20, 2026

ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS

The Shelby County Council on Tuesday continued review of Speedway Solar’s tax abatement compliance form after company representatives clarified payroll figures on annual compliance forms and outlined plans to replace dead trees and continue addressing drainage concerns at the property.

The council last month preliminarily found Speedway Solar out of compliance after members questioned a reported salary figure and raised concerns about dead trees and other landscaping. A company representative Tuesday explained that a $300,000 figure on one of the forms was a typo and should have been $30,000. The original Statement of Benefits projected one to four employees earning between $30,000 and $80,000 each, but the PDF form did not allow the company to enter a range. Speedway Solar currently reports approximately 2.5 full-time-equivalent employees with total payroll of about $147,000. The company agreed to submit a corrected form and clarify the figures.

Company representative Danny Norris also addressed concerns about dead trees used as screening around the solar development. He said a mowing issue resulted from a gap in a contractor’s scope of work and has since been corrected. Some trees planted last July did not survive, while replacement of others was delayed as the company worked through drainage questions with the county drainage board.

“You can’t really transplant trees during the heat of the summer if they’re not going to survive,” Norris explained to the council.

He said Speedway expects to begin replacing dead trees next month, noting the guidance the company received was to plant during months September through April.

“So starting next month, they’ll be back out there and replacing those dead trees,” Norris said.

Norris said drainage work has been underway since March and acknowledged additional problems could emerge as conditions change. He agreed to contact landowners with whom the company has previously worked to make sure they are updated on plans for their properties.

The council also heard the introduction of an ordinance authorizing up to $6 million in general obligation bonds to finance a new coroner and maintenance building. Bond counsel Adam Steuerwald of Barnes & Thornburg said the figure establishes a maximum and can be reduced once bids establish the actual project cost. Councilman Jeremy Ruble said officials hope the project will come in between $4.5 million and $5 million. A public hearing and vote on adoption are expected at the council’s next meeting, while the county commissioners are scheduled to consider a project resolution Aug. 24.

In other business, the council appointed Bryan Fischer to the Shelby County Economic Development Commission, filling a position the council had been seeking to fill for several months.

ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: FULL CANOPY REAL ESTATE

• The Shelby County Public Library is accepting entries through Aug. 29, 5 p.m, for its 2026 Haunted Library T-shirt design contest, open to participants of all ages. Digital designs must use four colors or fewer, include the words “Shelby County Haunted Library 2026” and meet the library’s submission requirements; generative AI entries are not permitted. Entries should be emailed to youthservices@sscpl.lib.in.us; the winning design will appear on shirts sold to benefit the Shelby County Friends of the Library, with the winner receiving a shirt and four Haunted Library tickets. For more information, call 317-398-7121.

• HOOSIER NEWS: Fewer than 1% of Indiana households carry flood insurance, leaving many property owners affected by recent flooding without coverage for their losses. Flood insurance is generally optional outside high-risk flood zones, though the National Flood Insurance Program provides coverage to homeowners and businesses in participating communities, and nearly 29% of its claims come from properties outside high-risk areas. Indiana has opened its State Disaster Relief Fund to storm victims, offering grants of up to $5,000, while the state seeks a federal disaster declaration that could make additional assistance available. (IndyStar)

• NATIONAL NEWS: In 2011, Tropical Storm Irene hit New England, and in doing so revealed a major liability in infrastructure: culverts. Culverts are the pipes and boxes that go underneath roads, allowing streams to go through. They’re small enough to not be included in the National Bridge Inventory, but can still get washed out during serious storms and cause problems. In the Green Mountains of Vermont, Irene destroyed 960 culverts, cutting off roads and leaving 13 communities cut off for days. A new study looked at the Deerfield watershed in Vermont, where there are 783 culverts, and 242 of them are “articulation points,” which meant that a single failure at that point would cut off at least one neighborhood; across simulations, 30 percent of the population was without a road to a hospital. (Risk Analysis/Numlock)

by L.V. Spencer

Dear Morristown Town Council Members,

The financial planning discussion presented during the Shelby Eastern School Board meeting on August 12, 2026, highlighted the important relationship between community growth and the long-term financial sustainability of Shelby Eastern Schools. District leaders and financial advisors reviewed future capital improvement needs, debt capacity, assessed valuation (AV) trends, and the potential impact of recent Indiana property tax changes on district finances. The discussion also examined how local housing, development, and growth decisions may influence both enrollment and the district’s financial health in the years ahead.

The School Board’s discussion focused on future capital improvement needs, debt capacity, assessed valuation trends, and the challenges created by changing state tax policies. District leaders emphasized the importance of maintaining and growing assessed valuation to preserve borrowing capacity, fund major facility improvements, and reduce the likelihood of future referendums. Significant anticipated expenses include HVAC replacements at all four school buildings and other long-term infrastructure needs that will require careful financial planning.

A key takeaway from the discussion was that community growth and school district stability are closely connected. Residential, commercial, and industrial development can strengthen the district’s tax base, improve financial flexibility, support enrollment growth, and help offset revenue pressures. At the same time, attracting new families to the community brings additional students into Shelby Eastern Schools, helping to sustain enrollment and support the educational opportunities available to current and future students.

To achieve these benefits, Morristown should encourage a balanced approach to housing development. A mix of housing types, including single-family homes, workforce housing, starter homes, and housing options for seniors wishing to remain in the community, can help attract and retain residents at different stages of life. Increasing the number of households within the community creates opportunities for enrollment growth, expands the local tax base, supports local businesses, and contributes to the long-term vitality of both the town and the school district.

Conversely, limited residential growth, declining enrollment, or stagnant assessed valuation could make it more difficult for the district to fund future capital projects while minimizing costs to taxpayers. As neighboring communities continue to invest in housing and economic development, Morristown risks falling behind if it does not position itself to attract new residents and employers.

For these reasons, I encourage the Town Council to consider the school district’s long-term financial needs when evaluating housing, annexation, zoning, infrastructure, and economic development proposals. Increased coordination between the Town of Morristown and Shelby Eastern School District can help local leaders better understand how development decisions influence assessed valuation, enrollment trends, and future facility requirements. Early collaboration can help ensure that growth benefits both the community and the school district while protecting taxpayers from avoidable future costs.

I respectfully urge the Town Council to make responsible growth a priority by supporting residential, commercial, and industrial development that strengthens the tax base, increases housing opportunities, attracts new families, and supports long-term enrollment growth within Shelby Eastern Schools. I also encourage the Council to establish regular dialogue with school district leadership regarding growth planning and community development initiatives. By working together, local leaders can make informed decisions that align economic development, infrastructure investment, and educational needs.

The decisions made today will help shape Morristown’s future for decades to come. Thoughtful planning, strategic investment, and a commitment to responsible growth can strengthen our community, support educational excellence, expand opportunities for current and future residents, and ensure that Shelby Eastern Schools remain a source of pride and stability for generations to come.

Thank you for your service to our community and for considering these important issues. I welcome any questions or discussion regarding these recommendations.

Sincerely,

L.V. Spencer

ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: MAJOR HEALTH PARTNERS

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. | research by MYRON RAWLINGS

2016: The Shelby County Council discussed the need to add a magistrate position to the county’s three sitting judges. Judge Charles O’Connor and Judge Kent Apsley advocated for the position. Judge David Riggins was not in attendance due to the Triton Central High School celebration of life honoring those lost in a Virginia plane crash. Shelby County’s case load exceeded many other counties that had recently been awarded magistrates.

2006: Kari and Dave Farr, who had sold their home in 2005 and purchased 137 E. Washington St., announced their planned transitional home for victims of abuse, called The Sanctuary, would open by the end of the year. The building, constructed in 1928, had housed the National Guard until 1972, then served as home to the Parks Department. Girls Inc. was housed in the basement from 1972 to 1993.

1996: Candidates for the upcoming Bears of Blue River Festival queen contest were Sandra Gonzalez, Stacy Hall, Michelle Haehl, Amanda Bennett, Julie Burchfield, Emily Fox, Wyndi Waltermire, Tamara Pettis and NaTosha Brockman.

1986: The Shelbyville Central Schools board approved a new contract giving all teachers in city schools and Blue River Special Education Cooperative a 12% raise.

1976: The Major Hospital board of directors continued to discuss future plans. The latest proposal involved purchasing land adjoining the West Washington Street facility for expansion. Plans also called for closing the Franklin Street right-of-way. First Presbyterian Church had offered the hospital land located east of the I-74 and East State Road 44 interchange for free, but hospital officials ruled it out, citing the “remoteness” of the ground and not wanting to deal with expanding sanitary sewer lines across the interstate.

1966: A group of Seymour businessmen announced they had obtained a Holiday Inn franchise, to be located near the I-74 and State Road 9 interchange. The motel would have a two-story design and employ 65 people.

John C. Fox, 10, showed the Hampshire swine which won grand champion 4-H ribbons at the Shelby County Fair. His family had shown the animal chosen as grand champion barrow for five consecutive years.

The Shelby Sharks, a group of young swimmers at the Elks Country Club pool, presented a water ballet, “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” at the club pool. The show featured Diedre Brandenburger, Pam Beck, Louise Brandenburger, Lesa Hoefener, Betsy Warrick, Nancy Owens and Janie Adams.

1956: Sue Coulston was crowned queen at the Flat Rock Festival in front of a crowd of 3,000. The crowning ceremony was led by Easy Gwynn, an Indianapolis disc jockey. Patricia Harrod was runner-up. Winners of scholarships were Judith Fleener, Rebecca Davis and Joan Swinford.

1946: A Columbus pilot who had served in the Army Air Force during World War II struck a telephone line just east of the Big Four viaduct as he was attempting to land at the Suco-Park airport in Shelbyville. Although the landing gear was damaged, the pilot managed to avoid injury.

1936: The Shelbyville Common Council tabled a proposed ordinance banning the use of public address systems for advertising and entertainment after attorney Walter Reece, representing business owners, said it would violate the guarantee of free speech in the Constitution. Robert Money, president of the Shelbyville Chamber of Commerce, said the volume of loudspeaker systems was so great that they had become a public nuisance, annoying the people on the streets and the workers in stores and public buildings.

1926: Michigan Road washed out north of Shelbyville at the foot of the Campbell hill. A man driving an automobile swung his car to the side of the road to avoid another vehicle and ended up overturned in a ditch in five feet of water. The driver was trapped under his car, but several men nearby rescued him within one minute.

ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: Freeman Family Funeral Homes & Crematory

Ann Marie Duerstock, 92, of Shelbyville, Indiana, passed away on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. She was born on July 25, 1934, in Batesville, IN, to the late John and Lydia Forthofer.

Ann was a devoted homemaker and a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church.

She is survived by her five children: James (Stephanie) Duerstock of Shelbyville; Donna (Grant) Holder of Greensburg; Sue Aguilar of Sherman, Texas; Richard (Shona) Duerstock of Shelbyville; and Wanda (John) Stake of Asheboro, North Carolina. She is also survived by nine grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren; her brother, Ray (Virginia) Forthofer; and two sisters, Sr. Ruth Mary Forthofer and Carolyn Billman. Ann was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 51 years, Vincent Duerstock; and her brother, Edward Forthofer.

Family and friends are invited to gather for the Rosary on Friday, August 21, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 2081 East County Road 820 South, Greensburg, Indiana 47240. Visitation will follow the Rosary from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., also at the church. A Funeral Mass will follow at 12 p.m. Burial will take place at Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Paradigm Health, 8904 Bash St., Suite B, Indianapolis, Indiana 46256, or St. Joseph Catholic Church, 123 E. Broadway Street, Shelbyville, IN 46176.