Wednesday, August 5, 2026

ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS

The building at 63 E. Washington St. suffered roof damage during Saturday’s heavy rainstorm. | photo by JACK BOYCE

The Shelbyville Board of Public Works and Safety yesterday ordered the owner of 63 E. Washington St. to appear before the board after a partial roof collapse during Saturday’s heavy rain left the downtown building unsafe for its commercial tenants. Building Commissioner Rod Miller said the city has discussed needed repairs with the owner for some time but has seen little progress and wants a clearer plan for the property’s future.

“The roof fell,” Miller told the board, adding that while the building is stable enough for tenants to retrieve equipment, another significant rainstorm “would be not very good.” He said electricity has been shut off at the building, and the city is working to determine the next steps after speaking with tenants affected by the collapse. Board member Tom Reeves also questioned whether natural gas service should be shut off as an additional safety precaution.

Mainstreet Shelbyville Executive Director Brandy Coomes told the board the property had been approved for a downtown façade improvement grant in 2023, but the project was never completed. Under the organization’s program, recipients have one year to finish work or request an extension. Coomes said communication with the owner eventually ceased, no grant funds were ever disbursed and the money was reassigned to another project.

“It’s disappointing to, one, not get the grant work completed and, two, to ruin a building like that,” Coomes said, adding that Mainstreet Shelbyville would still like to see the historic downtown building restored.

The Shelbyville Common Council on Monday approved the purchase of the former G.M. Shannon building near Sunrise Park, advanced a municipal wheel tax ordinance that would redirect existing road funding to the city, and received updates on tax abatements and a potential new police station.

The council voted 6-1 to authorize the purchase of the former G.M. Shannon property at 441 E. South St. for $550,000. Councilwoman Betsy Means Davis cast the lone dissenting vote, saying she was uncomfortable using the city’s cash reserves for the acquisition.

Parks Board President Gary Nolley said the 1.2-acre property addresses several long-term needs for the city’s parks system. The purchase would restore roughly 40 parking spaces historically used during youth baseball and softball tournaments at Sunrise Park, where overflow parking has become increasingly difficult since the property changed ownership several years ago. Nolley also noted that a portion of the entrance road into Sunrise Park is located on the property, making ownership important for preserving long-term access to the park.

The purchase also would provide more than 9,000 square feet of storage and workspace for a parks department that has expanded its programs and equipment in recent years without adding comparable facilities. In a follow-up interview, Nolley noted the department now manages nearly 200 acres of parkland, miles of trails, expanded holiday events, recreational programming and a growing inventory of specialized equipment, much of which is currently stored in multiple locations or outdoors. Maintenance Supervisor Doug Connor said the building would centralize operations by providing space for maintenance work, seasonal displays, equipment storage, deliveries and the department’s bike-share program, which has grown from 15 to 25 bicycles and logged more than 7,700 rentals in its first three years. He said the additional space would improve efficiency while helping protect equipment and vehicles from the weather.

The council also unanimously approved first reading of ordinances establishing a city wheel tax and vehicle excise surtax. Financial advisor Tyler Lewis, with Reedy Financial, said the proposal would not increase what Shelbyville residents currently pay in wheel and excise taxes. Instead, the city would begin collecting those revenues directly rather than receiving a distribution from Shelby County, an approach Lewis estimated would increase the city’s annual road funding by about $230,000 while also preserving eligibility for new state lane-mile funding.

During public comments, residents questioned whether the proposal would shift money away from Shelby County. Lewis said the county currently levies the same rates the city is proposing, so there would be no immediate change for Shelbyville vehicle owners. He noted, however, that state law allows counties to adopt higher rates if they choose in the future. Lewis also explained that municipalities must adopt the taxes to qualify for the state’s lane-mile transportation funding. Mayor Scott Furgeson noted the additional revenue would support street maintenance, culvert improvements and the city’s required local match for Community Crossings grants.

Council members also accepted annual CF-1 tax abatement compliance reports for 12 companies. Clerk-Treasurer Scott Asher noted that paperwork for Brazeway, Kimura Foundry America and PMC Smart Solutions was unavailable during the committee's initial review, but the forms had been submitted to the county. Tax Abatement Committee chair Denny Harrold said the committee has since received the paperwork and will review it at its next meeting after confirming the companies are in compliance.

The council also held a discussion about a possible new police station. Furgeson said the city is considering the former Hubler Collision Center property on Miller Avenue as a potential site for an approximately $20 million facility. Police Chief Louis Koch said the department has outgrown its current headquarters. He cited limited workspace, overcrowded evidence storage and recent flooding in the jail basement. Council member Means Davis questioned whether a site closer to the city’s higher call-volume areas would be preferable, while Koch responded that officers already spend most of their shifts on patrol and that the current downtown dispatch location would remain available for the public. No action was taken on the proposal.

ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: FULL CANOPY REAL ESTATE

• Mayor Scott Furgeson told the Redevelopment Commission on Monday that engineering work is moving forward on improvements to Mausoleum Road needed for the planned Project Bobcat cold-storage warehouse. The city plans to widen the road from the railroad tracks to Tom Hession Drive, with the work required to be completed by 2028 under the development agreement. Furgeson said the project was shifted to the south side of Mausoleum Road after officials determined relocating high-voltage utility poles on the north side could delay construction by a year or more, requiring the city to acquire additional right of way.

• “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is the next Senior Movie sponsored by Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory at Studio 10 Cinemas. The feature is set for Wednesday, Aug. 12. Doors open at 8:30 a.m., announcements at 8:45 a.m. and the movie begins at 9 a.m.

• HOOSIER NEWS: A conceptual redevelopment plan envisions transforming Indianapolis’ Washington Square Mall into a mixed-use village that would retain Target, Kroger, AMC Theatres and part of the existing mall while adding local retail, restaurants, green space, an indoor sports complex, adult education facilities and, in a later phase, about 250 housing units. The privately funded study, presented by Schmidt Associates, also recommends extending the Grassy Creek Trail and improving the aging property, though any redevelopment will depend on private investment and assembling the site’s 20 parcels, which are owned by 17 property owners across 11 states. (IBJ)

• NATIONAL NEWS: Meat consumption dropped 2 percent by volume in June year over year, with processed meat sales down 5 percent. Processed lunch meat was down 9 percent, frankfurters were down 8 percent, and bacon was down 6 percent. Beef dropped 2 percent and veal sales were down 12 percent; both of those categories saw 12 percent inflation year over year. (Food Dive/Numlock)

Support The Addison Times

• The Addison Times is pleased to offer free milestone announcements. Forms are available here: Engagement Announcement, Wedding Announcement and Anniversary Announcement.

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. | edited by HANNAH BAKER | compiled by MYRON RAWLINGS

2016: After several local residents asked what had happened to the gorilla statue once displayed at 877 Miller Ave., The Addison Times looked into the mystery and found the fiberglass figure had a new home. The 500-pound statue was still in the possession of Randy Robinson, owner of Randy’s Auto Sales, who had moved it to his office on Habig Street. Robinson said the gorilla dated back to when he rented 609 E. State Road 44 to Circus Auto Sales about eight or nine years prior. “They bought the monkey and set him out front for advertisement,” he said. When the business later moved out owing him money, Robinson decided to keep the statue. “Before they could beat me out of my money, I went and got the monkey,” he said.

2006: Jenny Procell, Shelbyville, was recognized by the Indiana Federation of Republican Women for her outstanding service and leadership in the Republican Party at a banquet held in Plainfield.

1996: K-T Corp. announced plans to expand its operations to a new shell building in Northbrook Industrial Park and add about 30 new jobs.

1986: The fourth annual Hoosier Ragtime Festival was held in Boggstown. The festival was set up to handle 200 patrons, including a tent outside the cabaret that accommodated 100.

1976: Work was underway for a new shopping center on the north side of East State Road 44. Donald Siebert, owner and developer of the site, said the center would include a Kroger and a Haag’s Drug Store.

1966: A bright red dye was poured into Big Blue River at Marietta for a time-of-travel study by U.S. Geological Survey scientists. The dye would be monitored from Marietta to the Hendricks Ford bridge near Edinburgh.

1956: Work neared completion on St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on North State Road 9. Cord Brothers was the contractor on the project.

1946: A “get acquainted” shower was held in Boggstown for Mrs. Elden Johnson, a “war bride” who had recently arrived from Australia.

1936: Joe LaBarbera, who had recently been elected national president of the Phi Delta Kappa fraternity at the Cincinnati convention, presided over the local chapter meeting in the Knights of Columbus building. A committee, composed of Maurice Moberly, Warren Chesser and Maurice Lux, was appointed to host a social activity in honor of the newly elected president.

1926: Local police officials said they were attempting to break up a practice here of dividing a set of automobile license plates, using one plate on one machine and the other on another. Police apprehended two “local boys” who had the same plates on their vehicles, but they said they “knew nothing about the matter.”

ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: Freeman Family Funeral Homes & Crematory

Ruth Hodgins-Wilder, 89, of Shelbyville, passed away on August 2, 2026. She was born on September 1, 1936, in Shelbyville, Indiana, to William and Iva (Barr) Elliot.

Ruth began her career at Admiral Corporation, where she worked until the company closed. She then transitioned into the restaurant industry, where she enjoyed serving others as a waitress. In her free time, Ruth loved playing bingo and challenging herself with puzzles.

She married Charles Hodgins and later married Charles Wilder. Both preceded her in death. Ruth is survived by her sons, Danny Hodgins and Matthew Wilder; her daughters, Joyce Knight, Libby Williams, Patti Hodgins, and Winnie Goode; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her sons, Buck Hodgins and Charles Hodgins Jr.; her daughters, Karen Corley, Robin Hodgins, and Debra Dennison; and three brothers and five sisters.

Visitation will be held on Friday, August 7, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Murphy-Parks Funeral Service, 703 S. Harrison Street, Shelbyville, IN 46176. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. with Rev. Seth Taylor officiating. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery. Funeral directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks, and Stuart Parks are honored to serve Ruth’s family. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.