Bill Kent has released the second printing of his book ‘Actions Leading You to Success’.

Included in his book are 12 chapters of inspiring ideas to set you on your individual path both professionally and personally. “You must always think through any issues, whether professionally or personally, before you act on them. Inside this book, I give the reader the opportunity to learn from all areas of Human Resource responsibility and accountability, while maintaining integrity, belief system and self preservation. I encourage anyone who needs positive reinforcement in their day to day interactions to read this book”, states Bill.
Bill’s over 30 years of experience brings the opportunity for everyone to access this experience and knowledge, and leverage his expertise to elevate personal and professional life. “One of the most important aspects of business development is branding your abilities, talents and expertise. Bill Kent Consulting builds on over 30 years of professional experience, including being at the helm of many corporations, acquiring experience, information and knowledge that will help you expand your professional and personal life.
Bill has a Bachelor’s Degree (graduated with highest honors) from Ohio University.
He continued his education at The College of William & Mary and the Florida Institute of Technology.
Bill has been recognized by the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for dedication and contributions as a partner and liaison between the Employer Community and the Commission’s efforts to improve equal employment opportunity opportunities for all citizens in the State of Indiana.
At the request of the EEOC, Bill has spoken at three Technical Assistance Programs on the importance of work - force diversity.
He has co-authored a white paper for the Indiana Chamber of Commerce on the success of the PK USA wellness program, and authored white paper on human resources as a strategic partner – published by SHRM.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

State Sen. Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg) is supporting constituents in Senate District 42 to call for the cancellation of the Link 101 Corridor Project in Southeast Indiana.

The project would create a continuous north-south connection (called State Road 101) between U.S. 50 and the Markland Dam Bridge on the Ohio River, impacting Switzerland, Ohio, Dearborn and Ripley counties.

"I have attended meetings and spoken with state transportation leaders to learn more about how this project could affect communities in my district since it was first proposed," Leising said. "While I have tried to remain open-minded on the matter, I stand with the many constituents who have reached out to express their concerns about how the project will impact our communities and their quality of life."

After receiving correspondence from many residents in Senate District 42, Leising reached out to the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) on March 15 to share constituents' concerns and request additional information on the project.

After INDOT cancelled a meeting scheduled for April 1 that involved legislators and local leaders, Leising reached out again on March 28 to request an update on the project's status. In response, a spokesperson with INDOT said they could not say whether the project is approved for construction or cancelled because they are waiting on the governor to make the final decision any day now.

"The Indiana Department of Transportation has held several public meetings throughout the last year for local residents to ask questions and share their concerns about the project. Attendees' responses were heavily against the plan, and in return, the state has pushed project development forward with little consideration for our communities' thoughts," Leising said. "I seriously hope Gov. Holcomb takes into account our apprehension and responds appropriately."

In the meantime, Leising asks for constituents in Senate District 42 to reach out with any questions or concerns they may have about the project by filling out a "Contact Me" form at IndianaSenateRepublicans.com/Leising.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

The Shelbyville Fire Department was dispatched to reports of a structure fire in the 1000 block of Highpointe Boulevard early Thursday evening.

A large amount of smoke visible was fire crews arrived at the scene just before 6 p.m. 

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

Bunge (NYSE:BG), a global leader in agribusiness, food and ingredients, will have more than 70 full-time jobs available in Morristown, Indiana, over the course of the year.

This is Bunge’s largest hiring initiative to date in the region and is connected to the plant’s expansion with the construction of a $550 million fully integrated soy protein concentrate and textured soy protein concentrate facility. The job openings include hourly Production, Material Handling, Packaging, Warehouse Operators, Maintenance Mechanics, Engineers and Quality Food Safety Experts.

"This is an exciting time to join our growing company. Bunge has been an anchor in the Morristown community for 25+ years and we are expanding our operations to continue to meet the growing demand for our products,” said Brian Douville, Bunge’s Vice President Emulsifiers and Proteins. “We are proud to have dynamic and high performing teams creating ingredients for the fast-growing plant-based protein segment. We are looking for individuals who don’t just come here to work, they come here to grow and be part of a dynamic team," he continued.

Along with providing professional growth, training and developmental opportunities for new employees, Bunge offers a strong compensation and benefits package. In Morristown, Indiana starting wages for qualified applicants are $28+ per hour. The benefits package includes health, dental, vision, life and more. In addition, the company offers vacation, sick and holiday pay starting immediately, as well as a 401(k) plan with a company contribution and a company match.   

Bunge is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Learn more by visiting bunge.com/careers. You can also check out details about what is like to work for Bunge by following the company on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

The Indiana Department of Health released the 2022 infant mortality rate (IMR) and preliminary 2023 data.

The 2022 IMR is 7.2 per 1,000 live births, on trend with the national IMR, which also increased in 2022. Preliminary 2023 data shows a decrease in the IMR, at 6.5 deaths per 1,000 live births.  

“Every baby lost is a tragedy,“ said State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver, MD, FACEP. “Although it’s preliminary, we are encouraged to see that infant mortality is declining in Indiana, and we’ll continue working to understand the causes of these deaths so even more can be prevented.”

Infant mortality is the death of a child before his or her first birthday and is measured by the number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births. The greatest contributing factor in 2022 was perinatal risks, or conditions related to the health and well-being of the mother. Other factors included lack of early prenatal care, stress, obesity and smoking. More details on Indiana’s 2022 IMR are available here.

The IDOH is releasing the preliminary 2023 data to help communities and organizations make timely and well informed public health decisions.  The 2023 IMR is based on the same vital records systems and methodology used every year to calculate the rate. More in-depth analysis of the data will be available in the coming months.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

Indiana Conservation Officers along with the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department are investigating after a woman’s body was recovered from the White River today in Columbus.

About 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, a kayaker discovered the body of a white female near the Water Road public access ramp.

The cause of death is pending the results of an autopsy from the Bartholomew County Coroner. No evidence of foul play was present.

Investigators are working to determine the victim’s identity. Please contact the Indiana DNR Dispatch Center at 812-837-9536 if you have any information.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

Centra Credit Union is opening a new service center location in Lebanon, Indiana early May.

This new location is part of Centra’s partnership and merger with NorthPark Community Credit Union. Members will be able to meet with financial professionals and visit a drive-up Interactive Teller Machine (ITM) with extended hours.

“This new service center location helps Centra expand our products and services to an even broader footprint,” Centra President and CEO Rick Silvers said. “We’re excited to reestablish a physical credit union presence in Lebanon and look forward to creating value for new and current Members.”

Centra and its Team Members will engage with new and existing Members to provide personalized services that fit their financial needs. Visitors to the Lebanon service center will be able to conduct any account transactions as well as schedule appointments with Centra’s experienced Team Members from areas like mortgage lending, financial services (including investments) and business and commercial services.

The Lebanon service center will be Centra’s 27th location and will be located at 450 S Lebanon St. The branch will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Fridays and 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. A drive-up Interactive Teller Machine (ITM) will be available with extended hours.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

Detectives with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department caution business owners, employees, and residents to be aware of a rash of $100 bills (U.S. Currency) recently being used to defraud local businesses.

Detectives are investigating cases throughout the city where different suspects have been using $100 to purchase gas, gift cards, and other items. 

The U.S. Currency Education Program provides tips on how to distinguish real from fake $100 bills. Screenshots from the website are included in this post. To learn more visit https://www.uscurrency.gov/denominations/100.

Anyone with information about possible suspects involved in manufacturing and/or using $100 bills is asked to contact IMPD at 317-327-3811 or Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Midwestern Electric, Inc. plans to conduct a series of single lane closures along Interstate 65 beginning on or after Monday to install seven dynamic message (DMS) boards along I-65 throughout Johnson, Bartholomew, Jackson, Scott, and Clark counties.

Crews will work and are scheduled to conduct each overnight lane closure from approximately 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. each day. Work will take place along I-65 for up to two weeks, weather permitting. 

The nighttime lane closures are currently scheduled as follows:

• Monday, April 1 (weather permitting): Right lane closure along southbound I-65 at mile marker 92.6 in Johnson County (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.).
• Tuesday, April 2 (weather permitting): Right lane closure along southbound I-65 at mile marker 79 in Bartholomew County (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.).
• Wednesday, April 3 (weather permitting): Right lane closure along northbound I-65 at mile marker 71.3 in Bartholomew County (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.).
• Thursday, April 4 (weather permitting): Right lane closure along southbound I-65 at mile marker 52.3 in Bartholomew County (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.).
• Tuesday, April 9 (weather permitting): Right lane closure along southbound I-65 at mile marker 31.2 in Scott County (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.).
• Wednesday, April 10 (weather permitting): Right lane closure along northbound I-65 at mile marker 26.5 in Scott County (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.).
• Thursday, April 11 (weather permitting): Right lane closure along southbound I-65 at mile marker 21.4 in Clark County (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.).

This work is part of a $6.5 million contract awarded to Midwestern Electric in March 2022. INDOT reminds drivers to slow down, use extra caution and avoid distractions when traveling near work zones.

All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

Centra Credit Union has announced its new mission-driven line of business named Onward.

This new division of Centra is dedicated to providing unbiased financial education as well as delivering the products that aren’t readily available to the unbanked or underbanked individuals in the communities Centra serves. This ensures everyone is provided both the opportunity and resources for true financial empowerment.

“Onward continues to build on Centra’s vision to create value for our Members and the Communities we serve,” Centra President and CEO Rick Silvers said. “The team is comprised of experienced financial experts who are passionate about working side-by-side with individuals to truly help them achieve their financial goals, and I’m excited to see how this impact will carry over to make our communities stronger.”

Onward with Centra focuses on four key steps: Financial education through group workshops; personal training provided to individuals to apply what they learn to their current situation; ongoing coaching to set goals and promote financial empowerment, and accountability support to remain on target for individuals to meet their goals.

“We meet people where they are and equip them to get where they want to go, regardless of where they bank,” Centra SVP Financial Inclusion Carma Parrish said. “We want to help provide everyone with the opportunity to build wealth and security.” 

Onward with Centra is also committed to advocating for fair lending practices of the underbanked population to advance upward mobility.

“This can only be done by changing the system within, and we’re here to bring back banking with a cause,” Parrish said.

To learn more about how you can have Onward provide financial education to your group or organization, reach out to Marco Dominguez, AVP Financial Inclusion, at mdominguez@centra.org or 812-314-0688.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

The Indiana DNR Division of Law Enforcement District 9 will be hosting a hiring seminar on Monday.

This event will be held at the Decatur County EMA building, 315 South Ireland, Greensburg, at 7:30 p.m. It will cover the hiring process, a Q&A session and tips on how to be successful.

Applications can be filled out by taking the pre-screening test at: https://www.in.gov/dnr/law-enforcement/.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

The unemployment rate of the State of Indiana in February stands at 3.5%, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. By comparison, the national unemployment rate for February stands at 3.9%.

In addition, Indiana’s labor force participation rate stands at 62.8% for February, remaining above the national rate of 62.5%. This rate is the percentage of Hoosiers 16-and-older that are either working or actively looking for work.

Those not in the labor force include primarily students, retirees and other non-working populations, such as individuals unable to work due to a disability or illness, or adults responsible for their family's childcare needs.  

Indiana’s total labor force stands at 3,389,372 - a decrease of 8,675 from the previous month.

"Indiana's overall economic footing and outlook remain solid with near historically low unemployment," said DWD Commissioner Richard Paulk. "Peak private sector employment - 2,845,200 jobs - is driven by robust labor force participation in the key 25-54 demographic."

Private sector employment in Indiana increased by 2,800 jobs over the last month, resulting in a gain of 32,200 jobs from this time last year. Indiana's February private employment stands at 2,845,200.
Industries that experienced job increases in February included:

• Private Educational and Health Services (+1,300)
• Manufacturing (+1,300)
• Leisure and Hospitality (+400)
• Professional and Business Services (+300)
• Construction (+100)

As of Monday, there were 101,325 open job postings throughout the state. As of the week ending on March 2, Indiana had 25,154 continued unemployment insurance claims filed.

Individuals looking for work, training or career information are encouraged to visit in.gov/dwd/job-seekers.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

Rack Room Shoes opened its doors to the Edinburgh community on Thursday at Indiana Premium Outlets.

Located at 3140 Outlet Dr. SP F055, the family footwear retailer offers an extensive selection of brand name shoes at value prices – and is known for its ongoing “Buy One Get One 50 Percent Off” promotion. 

“We’re very excited to open the doors to our new store in Edinburgh and introduce new and existing customers to our unparalleled shopping experience,” said Shawn Brooks, regional manager at Rack Room Shoes. “We look forward to joining other retailers and enhancing the shopping experience for everyone. Our superior customer service, name-brand shoes, and great prices for the family are a perfect fit.”

Rack Room Shoes has emphasized its athletic offering in the new Edinburgh location through the company’s Athletic Shop. This shop-in-shop concept offers a robust in-store and online experience around its athletic product while closely linking with brand partners.

Rack Room Shoes is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. 

A Hancock County man is facing several federal child sexual abuse charges.

Bobby Cyprus Linhart, 21, of Greenfield, has been charged with one count of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, one count of distribution of child sexual abuse material, and one count of possession of child sexual abuse material.

According to the complaint, on May 13, 2023, investigators with the Hamilton County Metro Child Exploitation Task Force (HCMCETF) received a tip from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children regarding suspected files of child sexual abuse material that had been uploaded to accounts on popular social media sites, Instagram, Snapchat, and X (formerly Twitter) by a user called “maps.syb.”

According to the complaint, “Maps.syb” was an account used by Bobby Linhart. Linhart was allegedly engaging in sexually explicit conversations with girls who identified themselves to be between the ages of 12 and 15 years old. In addition to having sexually explicit conversations, Linhart was able to coerce the children to produce and send to him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves. Linhart also allegedly arranged to meet minors in person to engage in sexual activity.

HCMCETF discovered that Linhart traveled to at least three different cities, one which was out of state, to have sex or attempt to have sex with underage children. In at least one of these instances, Linhart sexually abused a 12-year-old girl. Further, Linhart distributed videos and pictures of children that he had obtained from various victims to another child.

On Monday, investigators executed a search warrant at Linhart’s home in Greenfield and recovered 40 THC vape pens, marijuana, fentanyl drug test kits, suspected cocaine, LSD, and Xanax, and a Springfield XD 9mm handgun. They further seized devices containing evidence of possession of sexually explicit depictions of children.

Investigators believe that Linhart messaged and abused other victims. If you or your child believe you have been a victim of “map.syb” or Bobby Linhart, please contact 317-595-3300 or online at https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=945#

Hamilton County Metro Child Exploitation Task Force (affiliate of the Indiana Crimes Against Children Task Force) and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating this case. Should Linhart be convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany J. Preston and Meredith Wood, who are prosecuting this case.

This investigation is being conducted by the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a multiagency task force led by the Indiana State Police that investigates and prosecutes persons who use the internet to sexually exploit or entice children.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

The Indiana State Fair and Corteva Agriscience have unveiled the 2024 Featured Farmers that will be honored at this year’s Indiana State Fair.

In its ninth year, this popular program celebrates and helps put a face on Hoosier agriculture by connecting consumers with fellow Hoosiers who grow the food they eat. These 15 farm operations represent a variety of regions through the state, showcasing different agricultural products and stories throughout the 15-day State Fair, Aug. 2-18.

Visitors to the Indiana State Fair can attend a live chat at 2:30 p.m. in the Glass Barn with a Featured Farmer every day of the fair, in addition to many other opportunities to talk with that day’s Featured Farm family and learn about their family operation. To learn more about the farmers, visit IndianaStateFair.com.

Featured Farmers program is in its ninth year.

The complete list of featured farmers, farm products and their home counties: includes:

Friday, Aug. 2 – Scarborough Farms (Soybeans), Laporte County

Saturday, Aug. 3 – Paschen Farms Inc. (Pork), Cass County

Sunday, Aug. 4 – Howe Farms (Beef, Pork, Hops), Lake County

Tuesday, Aug. 6 – Lueken Dairy Farm (Dairy), Dubois County

Wednesday, Aug. 7 – Celtic Glen Heritage Livestock (Beef Cattle, Goats, Sheep, Rabbits), Owen County

Thursday, Aug. 8 – Union Go Dairy (Dairy), Randolph County

Friday, Aug. 9 – Blue Yonder Organic Farm (Organic Certified Farm Fresh Products), Hendricks County

Saturday, Aug. 10 – Kirk Hoffman & Family Farms (Corn, Soybeans, Wheat, Forage Production, Maple Syrup), Whitley County

Sunday, Aug. 11 – Fair Farms and Produce (Farm Fresh Produce), Hancock County

Tuesday, Aug. 13 – Advanced Resources Inc. (Seed Corn, Seed Beans), Wabash County

Wednesday, Aug. 14 – DDH Farms (Corn, Soybeans), Randolph County

Thursday, Aug. 15 – Winzerwald Winery (grapes, wine), Perry County

Friday, Aug. 16 – Tree City Bee Company (Honey Drink, Honey, Bees), Decatur County

Saturday, Aug. 17 – Everett Farms and Seed (Corn), Boone County

Sunday, Aug. 18 – 550 Wagyu (Beef), Tippecanoe County

The governor recently signed into law State Rep. Jennifer Meltzer's (R-Shelbyville) bill criminalizing possession and dealing of xylazine, an animal tranquilizer being mixed with illegal drugs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, xylazine, also known as the street drug called "tranq," has become increasingly prevalent in the United States over the past few years. From January 2019 to June 2022, fentanyl overdoses with xylazine increased by more than 250% across 20 states and the District of Columbia.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, xylazine is a central nervous system depressant that can cause drowsiness and amnesia, and slow breathing, heart rate and blood pressure to dangerously low levels. Since it is not an opiate, overdose reversal medication like Narcan is less effective, increasing the chance of permanent injury or death.

Under Meltzer's House Enrolled Act 1203, an individual who possesses xylazine without a prescription could face criminal penalties. Meltzer said this drug can still be utilized for veterinary purposes and used by certain approved persons like pharmacists and veterinarians. 

"Xylazine is a large animal sedative that presents serious risks to drug users," said Meltzer, vice chair of the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee. "Unfortunately, street dealers are mixing this drug with heroin, meth and fentanyl, and it's being found in overdose victims. This legislation is a strong step in the right direction to help law enforcement get 'tranq' off of our streets."

The new law makes possession of xylazine a Class A misdemeanor or a Level 6 felony if the person has a prior unrelated conviction. A person could face up to a level 4 felony for dealing in xylazine.  
Last session, Meltzer authored a new law tasking coroners with testing for any trace of xylazine in suspected and known drug overdose deaths, including if the victim was resistant to overdose reversal medication. She said the data gathered from these reports can help the state understand the scope of the drug's presence in Indiana and form action plans accordingly.

HEA 1203 will go into effect July 1. To follow other bills signed into law by the governor, visit in.gov/gov/newsroom/2024-bill-watch.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

The United States Twirling Association (USTA) will conduct the 2024 U.S. Trials in Shelbyville beginning Friday.

William L. Garrett Gymnasium will be the host venue for the second time for the USTA. The event is a qualifier for the United States squad that will compete at the International Baton Twirling Federation (IBTF) Freestyle and Rhythmic World Championship from Aug. 4-11 in Helsingborg, Sweden.

The athletes arriving in Shelbyville will vie for gold medal honors in Men’s and Women’s Freestyle, Freestyle Pair, and Team. Among the competitors are past and present Grand National Champions and past World Medalists.

“This is sport baton twirling at its very best,” said USTA President Karen Cammer. “These are elite athletes who spend countless hours in training to earn the opportunity to represent their country in the twirling equivalent of the Olympic Games.”

The U.S. Trials competition is free Friday through Sunday and open to the public.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

The Shelbyville Police Department has issued information regarding an incident on March 7 at the Highpointe Addition.

Police officers responded to the Highpointe Addition and talked to a juvenile who advised while at the park, another juvenile came to the park and started a fight. During the time, Juvenile One said an unknown person (who was thought to be 20 years old) joined the fight.

The investigation showed that Juvenile One had gone to Juvenile Two’s house asking to apologize to Juvenile Two for an incident that took place earlier. Juvenile One was directed to the park where Juvenile Two was. Juvenile One went to the park and started a verbal altercation with Juvenile Two.

A physical fight began with Juvenile One striking Juvenile Two. During the fight both juveniles sustained injuries.

Police located several witnesses in the park at the time of the fight. These witnesses included juveniles and adults. Most of the statements from the witnesses, including the adult witness, advised the only ones involved in the fight were the two juveniles.

Police were able to obtain a video of the fight. This is the only video that has been recovered by the police department. The video shows two individuals fighting.

Juvenile One has been charged with false informing and battery and Juvenile Two has been charged with battery.

The case has been sent to the Prosecutor’s Office for a formal charging determination.

At this time, the investigation has been closed. The Shelbyville Police Department does not have any additional information to release.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

Tax abatements are used by city governments to entice companies to locate in their communities.

The City of Shelbyville has allotted millions of dollars in tax abatements over the years and it has resulted in several companies now calling Shelbyville home.

On Monday at City Hall, the Shelbyville Common Council approved a new ordinance that would allow the city to add a new caveat to the tax abatement process. For each year the company receives a tax abatement, typically over a 10-year period based on the city’s history, the company will pay the city 2% of the amount of taxes not being collected.

“Councilman (Brad) Ridgeway, years ago when he was on the council, proposed something very similar to this. We are giving money to all these companies, well what are we getting in return other than the product they are giving or the taxes they are paying?” said Shelbyville Mayor Scott Furgeson. “Franklin does something very similar to this.

“We are going to ask (the company) for whatever is abated, we will get 2% refunded back to the city. We will put that in an economic development fund to attract more industries or to do projects related to economic development in our community.”

The ordinance does not take effect until Jan. 1, 2025.

“Anything that is done now or anything done previously, there is nothing included in that,” said Furgeson.

Furgeson is unsure how much money the fund will accrue since it is all tied to new tax abatements.

Also on Monday, the council approved a resolution to support TWG Development’s project that will create more than 100 apartments on the city’s west side.

In June of 2023, TWG Development appeared before the council seeking to rezone the properties at 837 Webster and 875 Webster (photo) to create an affordable multi-family housing project.

The city has entered into a PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) agreement in a show of support for the project, which has yet to break ground.

“The city, as far as I know, has never done a payment in lieu of taxes,” said Furgeson. “We’ve offered TWG some dollars to help them do their project. We are going to give them their payments in lieu of taxes. So whatever they would pay into, it’s like a tax abatement but we are refunding the money to them. It’s payments in lieu of taxes.”

TWG Development is an Indianapolis-based firm that specializes in multi-family housing developments that it manages and maintains for a minimum of 15 years after construction completion.

The project, known as “Eight 37 Lofts,” is scheduled to break ground this year and be completed in the fall of 2025.

“They have turned their plans into the Plan Commission,” said Furgeson.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

Southwestern Consolidated Schools board president Derrek Tennell opened Wednesday’s school board meeting with a 9-minute statement on recent issues within the southern Shelby County school system.

Since November, Southwestern has seen its superintendent put on administrative leave and then resign, had its agriculture teacher resign, had its technology director resign, and been informed by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) that it will schedule on-site monitoring in the fall of the 2024-2025 school year to oversee mismanagement of Title funding.

Tennell stated the thoughts expressed were his own and not a combined public statement from the school board.

• On high turnover rate at Southwestern, Tennell read, “The reality is we’ve lost less staff this school year than any of the last five years.”
• On staff compensation, he stated, “This school year, we have made huge strides in both pay and benefits. In this year’s contract negotiations, we provided the largest increases to pay in Southwestern’s history.”
• On board members usurping power, he stated, “We have absolutely no individual authority over any Southwestern employee. We can only act on recommendations brought by the superintendent.”
• On work environment issues, he stated, “The board and administration is committed to provide a safe and comfortable work environment.”
• On IDOE issues, he stated, “The individuals responsible are no longer part of the corporation.”

Tennell went on to address what he labeled as “one-sided news articles in conjunction with a large amount of misinformation being aired on social media.”

“Southwestern is still a good school. We are financially secure. Our buildings are filled with competent and dedicated staff,” he read. “And our community, even when looked at from the most objective decisions is what most school districts can only dream of.

“The Southwestern community is small and close-knit. This is one of our greatest benefits. Unfortunately, this small size also does leave us vulnerable to the damages caused by half-truths and whole lies. I hope a majority of our community will choose to keep supporting our school and help promote Southwestern for what it is – a great little school that produces successful and capable young men and women. Southwestern has done this for over four generations and during this time we have persevered many more trying times that this. Even though it may be hard to see at times, I do truly believe the future at Southwestern in bright.”

The board meeting then commenced with corporation teachers and the school corporation nurse addressing positive accomplishments within the school system.

• Sixth grade Language Arts teacher Caleb Tennell shared how the sixth grade class is scoring well above state levels on the ILearn assessment.
• Tylynn Routier, school system nurse in her second year and parent of a Southwestern student, spoke directly to the board and administration about her appreciation for their leadership and the criticism they have received in recent months. “I have never felt more confident or supported as a parent that my child is getting everything he needs to be successful in the elementary school. His teacher, support staff and the admins are all making choices that are in his best interest,” she said.
• Elementary teacher Britney Taylor spoke first representing a large contingent of elementary school teachers and employees at the meeting. They delivered a passionate presentation on the positive values at Southwestern Elementary School.

To watch the school board meeting in its entirety, go to the school system’s website, www.swshelby.k12.in.us and click on the “Board” tab, then click on “Board Information” to find the link to the video of the meeting.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

The Shelbyville Downtown Redevelopment project has been honored with a National Recognition Award in the 2024 Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) competition, hosted by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC).

The ACEC Engineering Excellence Awards are renowned globally as the pinnacle celebration of engineering brilliance, showcasing projects that demonstrate exceptional innovation, creativity, and ingenuity in engineering practices.

Among a competitive pool of submissions, the Shelbyville Downtown Project stood out for its outstanding achievements and positive impact on the urban landscape, according to a City of Shelbyville media release.

“The Shelbyville Downtown Redevelopment project symbolizes our collective vision for a thriving and dynamic community,” said former Shelbyville Mayor Tom DeBaun, who oversaw the project from start to finish during his three-term tenure. “It’s a testament to what can be achieved when we come together with passion, dedication, and a shared commitment to revitalizing our urban spaces.”

Indianapolis-based Butler, Fairman & Seufert, the lead civil engineer for the initiative, Shelbyville-based Genesis Development Group, the lead development group for the project, and Ratio, the landscape architects, played pivotal roles in bringing the vision of the Shelbyville Downtown Redevelopment project to fruition.

“We are thrilled to receive this prestigious National Recognition Award from ACEC,” said current Shelbyville Mayor Scott Furgeson. “The Shelbyville Downtown Redevelopment project represents a collaborative effort between the city, our partners, and the community to create a vibrant and sustainable urban environment. This recognition reaffirms our commitment to innovation and excellence in urban development.”

“Through strategic planning, innovative design, and community engagement, the project has revitalized public spaces, enhanced connectivity, and stimulates economic growth, setting a new benchmark for urban redevelopment initiatives.

“To revitalize a downtown, you need more than just bricks and mortar; you need a shared vision and a committed community,” said DeBaun. “The Shelbyville Downtown Revitalization Project was driven by the passion and collaboration of all involved, proving that together, we can transform our urban spaces into vibrant hubs of activity and pride.”

“This award is a testament to the dedication and expertise of everyone involved in the Shelbyville Downtown Redevelopment project,” said John Kuntz, City of Shelbyville Engineer. “It is a privilege to be recognized on a national stage for our contributions to advancing engineering excellence and creating lasting positive change in communities.”

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

The City of Shelbyville has announced a dedicated public viewing site for the total solar eclipse on April 8.

Tom Hession Drive will be closed to through traffic at 9 a.m. on April 8. There will be no entry off County Road 400. Vehicles should enter Tom Hession Drive from County Road 300.

City employees and law enforcement officials will be onsite to facilitate traffic management.

Totality will begin at 3:06 p.m. and last nearly four minutes.

The one-mile stretch of road will have port-o-lets, trash bins and a food truck serving Mexican food.

Parking will be available for up to two cars on each side of the road, totaling 150 cars.

After the event, attendees will exit Tom Hession Drive via County Road 400 North.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

Shelby County Tourism and Visitors Bureau won Best Festival or Event for The Taste of Shelby County Tuesday at the 2024 Indiana Tourism Association Conference in Evansville.

Shelby County was vying for the award against The Ducktail Run in Gas City, Evansville’s United States Specialty Sports Association Great Lakes Nationals softball tournament, A Night with a Star event by Perry County CVB, Visit Michigan City’s Great Lakes National Grand Prix, Visit South Bend’s 76^th Annual International Juggler’s Association Festival, Visit South Bend’s Fusion Fest, and Whitestown’s Parks and Recreation Viking Fest.

Judges were from across the Midwest and commented, “Great description of the event and ROI is not always a monetary gauge, as it appears there was a significant amount of awareness gained from out of county visitors as well.”

Another comment was, “Impressive results. Opportunity to highlight what made this year’s event unique over previous years.”

“We are beyond thrilled that tourism professionals from across the Midwest honored The Taste of Shelby County with this year’s award,” said Rachael Ackley, Executive Director of Shelby County Tourism and Visitors Bureau. “We were up against some wonderful festivals/events from across the state, so everyone in Shelby County should be proud that our communities have been recognized for such an esteemed award.”

The 2024 Taste of Shelby County returns to downtown Shelbyville on June 7.

Ackley also was honored at the conference as a graduate of the Indiana Tourism Association’s Academy Class of 2024. She obtained her Certified Indiana Tourism Professional designation through the completion of the academy.

The conference drew 200 tourism leaders from around the state for networking and educational sessions from March 11-13.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

Indiana Conservation Officers have recovered the body of Carson Hughes, 18, of Osgood from Versailles Lake.

At 6:50 p.m., conservation officer divers, utilizing sonar, recovered Hughes in six feet of water.

Hughes was pronounced dead on scene by the Ripley County Coroner and an exact cause of death is pending autopsy results. 

At approximately 1:30 p.m. Friday, Ripley County dispatch received a report of a missing adult male at Versailles Lake within Versailles State Park.

Hughes vehicle was located unlocked with the keys still inside near the boat ramp and his kayak located on the water nearby. An initial search for Hughes was conducted on land and water near where his vehicle was located utilizing thermal and side-scan sonar technologies.

Over 150 volunteers at Versailles State Park assisted in the search.

Jac-Cen-Del High School opened its doors Friday night for members of the community who wished to join a vigil praying for Hughes' safe return.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

Police say a crash in Shelbyville's downtown Thursday night involved alcohol.

About 10 p.m., an officer responded to a crash on Harrison Street at the intersection of Washington Street.
A Dodge Ram 1500 was travelling northbound on Harrison approaching the Public Square. The truck collided with a concrete pole on the south side of the
Public Square, then went off the roadway and came to a final resting position in the landscaping of the Public Square after also damaging the curb.
Shelbyville police say Todd Hicks, 56, of Indianapolis, refused to make any statements about what happened. The police report states that Hicks had been drinking,  failed a field sobriety test, refused a PBT, and also refused a
chemical test. A warrant was obtained by the officer who completed the OWI investigation.
Hicks was arrested for OWI and the vehicle was towed by Ross Wrecker Service.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed Senate Enrolled Act 185 Monday which bans “any portable wireless device” from classroom settings.

The new law is part of a national movement to ban cellphones in schools.

“I am not surprised,” said Shelbyville Central Schools Superintendent Dr. Matt Vance after Wednesday night’s monthly school board meeting. “I think there are real issues with cell phones in schools. It’s gotten a lot of attention.

“Obviously, I support it because it’s the law and I think it’s a step in the right direction. I think it does give teachers some discretion if they do see the need to use them, they still have that professional judgment. I think it’s a step in a positive direction.”

The law takes effect at the start of the 2024-2025 school year. Until then, school systems must adopt policies on how the law will be enforced.

“There are committees in the buildings where they work on handbook revisions,” said Vance of the SCS process for creating a new policy. “Next month, the principals or assistant principals will come in with their recommendations. And then the board will vote in May on those changes.”

Vance expects the first public discussion of this new law will come at the school board meeting on April 17.

“We, obviously, will be consistent with the law,” he said. “We will see what our schools come with in terms of other steps we make take too.”

Vance expects there to be resistance from parents not happy with the new law.

“I don’t know (how much resistance there will be). We will see,” he said. “I think there is a lot of support. Again, we have a law now to follow and that’s our job. We will start there and see where it goes.”

Wireless devices may still be used in the classroom setting if approved by a teacher to assist with classwork. In addition, wireless phones are allowed to manage health issues such as blood sugar monitoring.

The creation of the new law was supported by the Indiana State Teachers Association, the American Federation of Teachers, the Indiana Schools Boards Association, and the Indiana Association of Schools Principals.

“I think cell phones have been a topic for discussion for many, many years,” said Vance. “I have been a school administrator now 26 years, especially in the last few years its picked up more. Even back when cell phones were really became something kids have, we’ve had some issues with them from time to time in every district I’ve been in.”

In school board business Wednesday:

• Discussion continued on the issuance of a $35 million bond for the school system to complete upgrades at all five school buildings. No formal decision on the bond process was made at the meeting.
• Approved the hiring of Jacob Shively as head baseball coach at Shelbyville High School. Royce Carlton recently resigned to accept a coaching position with the Miami Marlins. Shively was promoted to head coach with Kurt Corbin and Don Pollard serving as volunteer assistants and Nate Stonebreaker joining the coaching staff as freshman assistant and junior varsity head coach, replacing Shively.
• Also approved on the Personnel Report was the retirement of Shelbyville Middle School physical education instructor Pat Parks, effective at the end of the school year. Parks spent decades as a football coach in the Shelbyville school system and is the Shelbyville High School football program’s career wins leader as a head coach.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

The City of Shelbyville has announced four concerts that will take place at Blue River Memorial Park later this year.

All four concerts feature free admission and are family friendly.

“We’re gearing up for the best time of the year in Shelbyville once again,” said Trisha Tackett, director of the Shelbyville Parks and Recreation Department, in a media release. “Our summer concerts are such an important part of what we do for the community, a tradition we’re honored to keep bringing back better than ever each year.”

The 2024 concert series will feature Bac to Mac on June 28, Don’t Rock the Jukebox on July 26, Thunderstruck on Aug. 16, and No Fences on Sept. 13.

Bac to Mac

Bac to Mac, a tribute to Fleetwood Mac, has a 40-plus song list that spans all the hits of the chart-topping Buckingham/Nicks/McVie era and also features early classics like Peter Green’s “Black Magic Woman” and Bob Welsh’s “Sentimental Lady.”

Don’t Rock the Jukebox

Don’t Rock the Jukebox is a one of a kind tribute by Chicago’s No. 1 country music band – Hillbilly Rockstarz.

This tribute show takes the listener on a journey through time with hit after hit of feel-good country music from the 1980s, 1990 and 2000s.

Thunderstruck

America’s AC/DC gives fans so much more than the sound of AC/DC, they truly capture the high voltage energy and experience.

For fans, it’s about the sense of familiarity, and it’s about a feeling that snatches up listeners and takes over. It’s about a contagious kind of power and electricity that few AC/DC tribute bands can provide.

No Fences

No Fences is the No. 1 tribute to country music icon Garth Brooks featuring Dusty Miller.

Located in the heart of the Midwest, No Fences faithfully replicates the sound, look and feel of a Garth Brooks concert and was founded out of the love of Garth Brooks’ music.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

The Board of Works approved street closures for three events Tuesday morning at City Hall.

Mainstreet Shelbyville is hosting a Sun, Moon & Music Eclipse Fest in downtown Shelbyville on April 6 in association with the solar eclipse activities in Shelby County. A total solar eclipse will occur mid-afternoon on April 8.

Brandy Coomes, director of Mainstreet Shelbyville, appeared before the Board of Works Tuesday asking for the closure of the east half of the Public Square along with East Washington St. at 8 a.m. on April 6. That will allow for time to set up a stage and a large tent and for food vendors to arrive.

The band Hello Weekend will be the featured musical attraction.

A request was made by the St. Joseph Catholic Church asking for the closure of Noble St. from Broadway to Hendricks from May 8 to May 11 for the St. Joseph Spring Fair.

Rachel Ackley, executive director of the Shelby County Tourism and Visitors Bureau, requested street closures for the 2024 Taste of Shelby County event in downtown Shelbyville on June 7.

Ackley is working in conjunction with Shelby Senior Services, which will host the Strawberry Festival one day earlier on the Public Square.

A tent, tables and chairs will be set up on June 6 for use in the Strawberry Festival. The Taste of Shelby County is moving to June 7 this year to avoid a conflict with the Shelby County Fair, which starts June 10.

Initial road closures between Mechanic St. to Jackson St. will start at 9 a.m. with traffic to the Public Square being completely shut off at 2 p.m. to complete the event set up.

The 2023 Taste of Shelby County drew nearly 6,000 people to downtown Shelbyville, according to Ackley.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

Over $85,000 dollars is on the line tonight at the Shelbyville Knights of Columbus.

There's a chance it could be even more next week.

But that hinges on whether or not someone wins the K of C's King of Clubs drawing Wednesday night.

John Schoentrup explains.

Schoentrup says they have had some big winners.  But not this big.

Schoentrup says it's quite an atmosphere on Wednesday's at the Shelbyville Knights of Columbus. He also notes parking is at a premium.

The National Weather Service is reporting an elevated fire weather risk for Tuesday.

With relative humidity values around 25 percent and occasional wind gusts up to 25 mph the fire risk is a potential for concern according to the NWS.

Rain and strong storms are building in the forecast for Wednesday into Thursday.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

The City of Shelbyville has announced the return of the "Greening" of the Public Square event for its second year.

This festive celebration of St. Patrick's Day promises fun for the whole family and will take place this Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Public Square’s Joseph Fountain.

Last year's inaugural event was a resounding success, drawing crowds despite the chilly weather. This year, attendees can look forward to warmer temperatures in the 60s, adding to the cheerful atmosphere of the occasion.
The event will kick off with the official proclamation from Mayor Scott Furgeson. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in the beloved custom of tossing gold coins into the fountain, making wishes for the year ahead.

Specialty gold coins will be provided for this enchanting ritual.

Adding to the festivities, historic downtown restaurants and pubs will be offering an array of Irish-inspired food and drinks. Whether you're craving traditional Irish fare or thirsting for a pint of green beer, there will be something to satisfy every palate.
"We are excited to once again host the 'Greening' of the Public Square event and invite the community to join us for this recent tradition," said Furgeson. "It's a wonderful opportunity for families and friends to come together, enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of our city, and create lasting memories."
Attendees are encouraged to wear green attire and immerse themselves in the spirit of St. Patrick's Day. From festive decorations to lively music, the event promises to be a memorable experience for all.
The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

A Rush County man has entered into a plea agreement in the murder of Valerie Tindall.

Scott was charged with the stragulation death of Tindall, 17. She was missing for several months while the investigation led to Scott and eventually the discovery of Tindall's body buried in a box on Scott's property.

Scott, 59, entered the plea in Rush County Circuit Court. The court has now accepted the plea agreement. According to the agreement, Scott will be sentenced to 57 years in prison and ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution.

According to court documents, Scott said he strangled Tindall because he was afraid she was going to seduce and blackmail him. Tindall had worked for Scott's lawnmowing business at the property just a few hundred feet from her own home.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

The unemployment rate of the State of Indiana in January stands at 3.5%, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. By comparison, the national unemployment rate for January stands at 3.7%.

In addition, Indiana’s labor force participation rate stands at 63% for January, remaining above the national rate of 62.5%. This rate is the percentage of Hoosiers 16-and-older that are either working or actively looking for work.

Those not in the labor force include, primarily, students, retirees and other non-working populations, such as individuals unable to work due to a disability or illness, or adults responsible for their family's childcare needs.

Indiana’s total labor force stands at 3,398,047 - a decrease of 10,628 from the previous month.

"Indiana has carried the momentum from a strong economy in 2023 into 2024," said DWD Commissioner Richard Paulk. "The unemployment rate of 3.5% remains near historic lows and remains below the national average. Additionally, Indiana has again set a new peak for private sector employment."

Private sector employment in Indiana increased by 10,500 jobs over the last month, resulting in a gain of 42,000 jobs from this time last year. Indiana's January private employment stands at 2,845,300.
Industries that experienced job increases in January included:

• Construction (+2,700)
• Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+2,700)
• Private Educational and Health Services (+1,900)

As of March 4, there were 98,653 open job postings throughout the state. As of the week ending on Feb. 24, Indiana had 26,370 continued unemployment insurance claims filed.

Individuals looking for work, training or career information are encouraged to visit in.gov/dwd/job-seekers.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

The Indiana State Police (ISP) has received several concerns from citizens reporting an apparent phone scam. 

ISP receives numerous reports of phone scams each year, but this particular scam involves using the ISP General Headquarters phone number.

The scammer is using a Caller ID showing “Indiana State Police” with “317-232-8248.” The scammer then identifies him/herself as an Indiana State Police trooper and tells them their identity has been compromised or stolen.  =The scammer then asks for personal information to “verify” that the person they are speaking to is actually one in the same.

The ISP does not cold call people and ask for personal or financial information, and would like to remind all citizens that phone scammers are persuasive, convincing, and technically savvy. Scammers will often play on your emotions and fears in order to get your personal information and money.

The easiest way to protect yourself from being scammed over the phone is to either ignore unsolicited calls from unknown callers or just hang up when something doesn’t seem right. If you feel as though you have been a victim of a phone scam, immediately report the incident to your local law enforcement agency and alert your bank as soon as possible so the payment can be stopped, if you have provided that type of information.

As a reminder, never give out personal information such as date of birth, social security number, or bank/credit card numbers. Many of these scammers want you to make a hasty decision and may pressure you to get your personal information and/or money.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

Two men from Indiana have been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges, including for assaulting law enforcement during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Their actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

Donald Lee Moss, 62, of Elizabethtown, and James Link Behymer, 61, of Hope, are charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with felony offenses of civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers. The two men are also charged with several misdemeanor offenses, including entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building or grounds and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building or grounds.

The FBI arrested the men on Wednesday in Indiana. The two made their initial appearance in the Southern District of Indiana. 

According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, at approximately 2 p.m., a group of approximately fifteen Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers, wearing riot gear, walked toward the Lower West Terrace of the United States Capitol building to assist in managing a growing crowd of rioters. Here, on the Lower West Terrace, angry and violent rioters descended on, and surrounded, the officers and began shouting obscenities and curses at them.

At approximately 2:01 p.m., body-worn camera video footage shows two men, later identified as defendants Moss and Behymer briefly speaking to each other and pointing at the officers before approaching. Officers then directed the two men move back, but they refused. Behymer raised his right arm with a closed fist and repeatedly shouted, “USA! USA! USA!” At the same time, Moss pointed towards the U.S. Capitol building and shouted, “[Unintelligible]. This is our f—ing house!” A few seconds later, an officer extended their hand and touched Behymer’s right arm, and attempted to keep him back. Moss then forcefully shoved the officer’s hand off of Behymer. After Moss shoved the officer’s arm, he shouted, “[Unintelligible] . . .your f—ing hand off of him!” and “Keep your f—ing hand off of him!”

Behymer then shoved another officer’s arm as that officer attempted to keep Behymer and other rioters away from the surrounded MPD officers. After Behymer pushed the second officer’s arm, Moss pointed at the second officer and shouted for the third time, “Keep your f—ing hand off of him!” Behymer then raised his fist in the air and again shouted, “USA! USA! USA!”

Court documents say that Moss and Behymer continued to engage with police. In one instance, Moss swung his right arm downward and struck and officer’s hand and baton and in another, forcefully pushed an MPD officer from behind. Behymer repeatedly physical confronted police and grabbed at their hands and batons.

After their physical confrontation with police, the two men climbed a staircase to the Upper West Terrace and entered the Capitol building via the Senate Wing doors. The two men then made their way to the Capitol Crypt. At about 2:31 p.m., Moss was recorded on Capitol closed-circuit television (CCTV) in the Crypt Lobby, carrying a chair across the room and placing it directly in the path of a retractable ceiling door, which would prevent the door from closing. Court documents say that immediately before Moss moved the chair into the door’s path, police were attempting to close off the area by closing the retractable doors. Moss and Behymer then exited the Capitol at approximately 2:41 p.m. and 2:43 p.m.

At about 2:48 p.m., rioters broke through a barricade set up by Capitol Police at the Senate Wing doors. Roughly two minutes later, Moss and Behymer re-entered the Capitol again via the Senate Wing doors and walked toward the Crypt before exiting at 3:34 p.m.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting this case. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Indiana provided valuable assistance.

The FBI’s Indianapolis and Washington Field Offices are invstigating this case. Moss was listed as BOLO (Be on the Lookout) #401 on the FBI’s website. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

In the 38 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,358 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 486 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

Comedian Dave Dugan has been seen on HBO, COMEDY CENTRAL, and every major network over the years and was given his own comedy special produced by DRY BAR COMEDY (showcasing clean comedians.)

You may know Dave from his long history with THE BOB AND TOM SHOW (over 300 appearances, including as the legendary character, Bart McCallister).
Dugan is appearing Friday night at The Strand Theatre in Shelbyville.
Dugan appeared on The Morning Show on GIANT fm WSVX.

A bill that would protect farmland and land around military bases in Indiana from adversarial nations unanimously passed the Senate with bipartisan support on March 4.

House Bill 1183 would prevent individuals, with some exceptions, from countries the U.S. Department of Commerce defines as adversarial states from obtaining farmland and land within a 10-mile radius of a military base in Indiana.

Currently, individuals who are not dual citizens that would be prevented from obtaining farmland in Indiana are those from Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela. Additionally, individuals who are not dual citizens that would be prevented from obtaining land near a military base in Indiana are currently those from Russia, China, North Korea and Iran.

"This legislation would work to address a homeland security risk our state – and by default our country – is facing because there are currently companies from adversarial states seeking projects in Indiana, including 11 from China," State Senator Jean Leising said. "By passing this bill, the state can better protect our communities, military bases, economy and supply food chain from threats."

HB 1183 returned to the House of Representatives with amendments for further consideration.

District 16 Indiana State Representative Kendall Culp joined Leising at the Shelby County Ag Promotion Banquet and gave an update on where the bill stood as of Wednesday evening.

The Indiana General Assembly has until March 14 to complete legislative business during the 2024 legislative session. There has been talk that the session could end Friday.

Agendas, vote tallies and proposed legislation can be viewed online by visiting iga.in.gov. 

The proposed Dollar General Market on the city’s southeast side will have a dedicated entrance off McKay Road.

The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) approved a Special Exception Use for Second Circle Investments, LLC, Tuesday night at City Hall which moves the construction of a Dollar General Market at 1714 Twin Lakes Boulevard one step closer to fruition.

The special exception was needed because the property is zoned Business Neighborhood, which prohibits a structure larger than 10,000 square feet to be constructed. The proposed Dollar General Market will be 10,640 square feet.

The project came before the BZA at its February meeting and met plenty of resistance from residents in the area. The city does not own the property and therefore cannot legally deny Second Circle Investments from building a Dollar General Market.

The property was zoned nearly two decades earlier as part of the Twin Lakes Planned Unit Development.

The five-member BZA had several questions about imposing restrictions on the project and voted to continue its discussion to its March meeting.

One of the strongest points of contention was the use of Twin Lakes Boulevard off McKay Road as an entry point for delivery trucks. A new design for the project now shows a right-turn only lane for trucks off McKay Road coming west from Progress Parkway. The trucks will still use Twin Lakes Boulevard to exit the area.

Other restrictions imposed by the BZA were:

• Maximum height of freestanding lights on site be four feet tall as opposed to 20 feet tall as prescribed in the city ordinance.
• Operating hours will be 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. In addition, delivery trucks will only be permitted during operating hours.
• Building must be constructed with brick or masonry materials on all facades up to the top of the first floor.
• To avoid trash and debris entering the stormwater system, a trash and debris containment system will be required within the on-site stormwater system.
• Prohibit overnight parking of semi-trucks and other commercial vehicles on the property.
• All outdoor storage shall not be visible from the public right-of-way. In addition, any outdoor storage gates or doors must have a fully-opaque gate or door and they are to be closed at all times when items are not being moved in or out of the storage area.

To view the staff report on the project, go to the city’s website at https://www.cityofshelbyvillein.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2024.03.05.BZA_.Staff-Report.DG-Market_SEU_REVISED.pdf

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

Only $737,078.56 to go.

The Shelby County United Fund officially opened its 2024 fundraising drive Wednesday with the traditional kickoff breakfast at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

SCUFFY'S goal is to raise $910,000 to benefit its 13 member agencies. The drive concludes with an end-of-drive dinner to unveil the final numbers.

Executive Director Alecia Gross says it will be an intense two months.

Just over 19% of the 2024 goal was raised by a group called the Pacesetters who hold their individual drive before the opening week in March. Shelbyville High School, McNeely Law LLP, Yushiro Manufacturing America, Major Health Partners, Runnebohm Construction, First Bank Shelbyville, Bowen Engineering and Stephenson Rife LLP combined to raise $172,921.44 in early drive efforts.

Drive chair Amy Larrison says the kickoff breakfast is like getting the crowd ready for the big game.

The SCUFFY drive runs through May 2.

The 3 Towers Broadcasting Company, LLC footprint is growing larger with the announced acquisitions of radio stations in Rockville, Indiana, and Lawrenceville, Illinois.

Shelbyville-based 3 Towers Broadcasting, owned by Scott Huber and Johnny McCrory, is purchasing WAKO-FM 103.1 and WAKO-AM 910 and FM translator W257DW 99.3 in Lawrenceville, and WAXI-FM 104.9 in Rockville from DLC Media, Inc.

The transaction is pending approval from the Federal Communications Commission.

WAKO in Lawrenceville, near Vincennes, Indiana, and WAXI in Rockville will add to the GIANT fm entities of WSVX in Shelbyville and Greenfield, WROI in Rochester, WREB in Greencastle and WTCA in Plymouth.

Much like the other properties controlled by 3 Towers Broadcasting, the Lawrenceville and Rockville stations have served as longtime members of their communities. WAKO first aired in 1959 while WAXI began in 1977.

The Lawrenceville station is the first for the company outside of the state of Indiana.

3 Towers Broadcasting began operations with the purchase of WSVX in Shelbyville on July 1, 2007.

“We are excited to bring GIANT fm and its online news publication sites to the communities of Lawrenceville and Rockville,” said McCrory. “GIANT fm has a proven track record of being a vital source of news, sports and entertainment for listeners and readers in its communities. We look forward to applying our brand of radio, online and community service to the Lawrenceville and Rockville areas.”

Dave Crooks, President of DLC Media Inc., also has a time brokerage agreement for radio station WFML-FM 96.7. At this time, 3 Towers is in talks with the Vincennes University Foundation about a similar agreement.

Crooks’ 44-year career in radio began at the age of 16 at WNDI in Sullivan. He has worked and owned various radio stations in Indiana and Illinois since 1993.

Crooks served several years on the Board of Directors of the Indiana Broadcasters Association, including 2016 as its president. He was an Indiana State Representative for District 63 from 1996-2008. 

Crooks has announced his desire to retire and feels confident the DLC media group is being purchased by veteran radio groups.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

A 17-year-old Greenfield boy is in a juvenile detention facility after being arrested late Tuesday afternoon at his residence in the Saw Mill neighborhood of Greenfield. 

Greenfield detectives began investigating the boy after receiving information that he was allegedly selling handgun “switches”. Detectives were conducting surveillance on the residence Tuesday and observed a hand-to-hand exchange with the suspect and another person in a vehicle.  A traffic stop was conducted, and a “switch” was found in the vehicle.  After the “switch” was located, the child was arrested without incident at the residence.  

Once both parents arrived at the residence, a search warrant was executed.  During the search of the residence, detectives located three illegal handguns, illegal narcotics and additional “switches” for Glock handguns.

A “switch” is a small device that can be placed on the back of a Glock handgun that converts the semi-automatic handgun into a fully automatic machine gun.  The “switch” itself is considered a machine gun by Indiana and federal law.

This boy was on monitored home detention at the time of his arrest for prior gun related crimes.

Formal charges will be determined by the Hancock County Prosecutors Office and filed with the court.  

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

RISU America, Inc., is quickly working to establish a manufacturing facility in Shelbyville.

Local attorney Peter DePrez appeared before the Shelbyville Common Council Monday requesting the city designate the area of RISU’s proposed new facility as an economic revitalization area as a first step toward awarding the Japanese company a tax abatement.

The proposed facility will be at 789 W. Boomer Way, east of Enterprise Drive and north of Boggstown Road.

RISU America, a plastics manufacturer with products such as containers and pallets, will be the 15^th Japanese company to locate in Shelby County, according to Shelbyville Mayor Scott Furgeson.

The council approved the economic revitalization area designation opening the way for DePrez to return at the first April council meeting to formally request a 10-year tax abatement.

DePrez stated Monday that RISU is preparing to break ground in April and already has a local construction agreement in place with Runnebohm Construction to build the facility.

The tax abatement will save the company $4,787,000 in taxes over its 10-year cycle but also means the company will still pay $4,787,000 in taxes in that timeframe.

The same undeveloped property netted the city $884 in taxes in 2023, according to DePrez.

City officials, including Furgeson and common council member Linda Sanders, met with RISU representatives during a September trip to Japan.

“I think this is a great project,” said Sanders (photo) at the council meeting. “They were phenomenal to work with while we were over there, and coming here, the things they make will do well here. I think it’s pretty exciting.

“They have never ventured out of Japan. They have 15 companies in Japan. This is the first time they are coming to the United States. … They are really down-to-earth people and I think they will be great to work with. They will be great for our community.”

RISU America will have 26 employees with an annual total salary of just over $2 million.

In other council business, a request for funding was approved to allow Jenna Martin, the city’s new director of public relations, to work with CivicPlus to create a new website for the City of Shelbyville.

The city currently has four websites – one each for city government, the police department, the fire department and the parks department. Three of those websites are hosted locally by Tubesock, who is eliminating website hosting from its services.

Martin appeared before the council Monday to recommend using CivicPlus, a web development company experienced with creating government sites. The company has several Indiana government clients including Zionsville, Plainfield, Avon, Brownsburg and Hancock County.

The initial investment to CivicPlus will be $28,418 with an annual fee after year one of $7,775 annually.

The plan is to consolidate all four city sites to one unique website that will prove easier to navigate than the current sites.

“Tubesock really wasn’t in the business to do web design or to handle any of that,” said Sanders. “I think this is pretty exciting to get a firm in here that this is what they do every single day. And they have a good history. I think this is well worth it to get it started.”

In the meeting’s final moments, Furgeson updated the board on Monday’s committee meeting focused on building a new police station.

Furgeson stated both the city police department and the county sheriff’s department needs more space. Finding a site and determining how to pay for it is in the early stages.

“It would be, just guessing, a 25,000-to-27,000 square foot building that we would be looking at,” said Furgeson. “I have no idea on a price tag but I’m thinking $15 million or around there.”

Furgeson also stated the city recently replaced approximately 30-year-old carpet at the police department to improve the look of the facility.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

The City of Shelbyville’s Board of Works approved a resolution Tuesday morning at City Hall to transfer four properties to Intend Indiana Inc., to construct houses on the properties.

The four properties are at 116 E. Pennsylvania St., 101 Walker St., 105 Walker St., and 109 Walker St.

“(Intend Indiana) has done a lot of good work around the state,” said Shelbyville Mayor Scott Furgeson, who also is a member of the Board of Works. “They come in and build new housing and do rehabs on houses to turn them over to lower income (residents) at a reasonable rate.”

Intend Indiana is an Indiana nonprofit corporation organized for educational, literary, scientific, religious, or charitable purposes that is exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code, according to the resolution approved Tuesday.

City attorney Jenny Meltzer confirmed the city has had possession of the four properties for nearly a decade now when several lots were transferred from the county to the city. Some were given to Habitat For Humanity and Rupert Boneham for similar type rehabilitation projects, according to Meltzer.

This will be Intend Indiana’s first project in Shelbyville. The non-profit is currently working with the Shelby County Commissioners to purchase more lots. Phase I of this project is expected to create 10 homes.

In other board business, the Board of Works gave approval to the Blue River Community Foundation to create an “Asphalt Art” project at the Blue River Trailhead.

Planet sculptures are already located along the Blue River Trail. The new art project will add the “Sun” to the trail with the assistance of Globe Asphalt Paving. Signage will be added by the sun with information about the trail along with a map of the planets.

The project is supported through grant funding as well as the foundation. There will be no cost to the city, which pair for the installation of the planets.

The design will be astrologically-themed and influenced by the work of artist Roland Hobart, an Austrian artist who lived and worked in Shelbyville from 1966 through the 1980s. His art included murals and printmaking work with sculptures created for Shelbyville High School proms.

The Grover Center in Shelbyville recently received a donation of a few of his astrological prints. An exhibit featuring them will open at the local museum on April 8.

The goal is to have the asphalt artwork installed by April 8, the date of the total solar eclipse.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

The City of Shelbyville will continue with its Morrison Park Community Forum series, aimed at fostering open dialogue and collaboration between the residents and local stakeholders.

The second Morrison Park Community Forum serves as a platform for Ball State University Landscape Architecture students to present their final recommendations to the community and for residents to voice their opinions, share ideas, and engage in discussions on matters concerning the surrounding Morrison Park community. 

This second event is scheduled to showcase the students final recommendations and take place on April 26, from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at Girls Inc.
Residents will have the opportunity to interact with representatives from Ball State University, as well as city officials, to address concerns, propose solutions, and collaborate on initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of life in Shelbyville.
The forum will feature light refreshments. Residents of all ages are encouraged to attend and participate in this important community event.
For more information, please contact Maria Henriquez at mhenriquez@cityofshelbyvillein.com   

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.

Attorney General Todd Rokita announced all Indiana kindergarten through fifth grade students will receive a child ID kit this fall.

The announcement was made during a press conference with Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents, NFL Alumni Association, Colts Super Bowl XLI Champion Marlin Jackson, and Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Singletary.

On average, 1,000 children go missing across the United States every day.

“Human trafficking is on the rise and our open border policies have brought it right to our front door,” said Rokita. “That is why I have filed multiple lawsuits to secure our southern border. Our office fights to keep criminals on appeal behind bars, we protect victims of crimes like human trafficking through our Address Confidentiality Program, and now we have built a coalition of community leaders to provide kits to all K-5 students this fall free of charge to Hoosier families.”

When a child goes missing, time is of the essence. Child ID kits give parents a tool to provide detailed information, a photograph, fingerprint, and DNA to law enforcement quickly. Completed kits are kept in a safe place at home, out of a database, so parents are prepared if the unthinkable happens.

Kits will be distributed by superintendents and school resource officers to all K-5 schools across the state. The Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police will also distribute kits to local law enforcement.

The Attorney General’s office brought together this coalition – Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police, NOBLE, Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents, and the NFL Alumni Association – with public and private funding from the General Assembly and American Electric Power to make these kits available to all K-5 families free of charge in the 2024 school year.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.