

'You make us a better community' - Shelby Senior Services Celebrates 40 Years
Hugs and handshakes, laughs and love were in ample supply at Shelby Senior Services as the organization marked its 40th Anniversary on Friday. Well-wishers and regular clientele flowed through the organization’s facility at 1504 S. Harrison St. in a steady stream during the 3-hour event. Mayor Tom DeBaun thanked the staff and volunteers of Senior Services, which provides physical and emotional support, and stimulating activities for the community’s older adults. “I appreciate


Hanson fundraiser nets more than $13,500
A local family was in need of a boost following one resident being involved in an accident in Madison County earlier this month – and the community delivered in a big way. A fundraiser that included a dinner, silent auction, raffle and live music raised more than $13,500 on Saturday in Morristown. The money raised will go toward Brandon Hanson and his family after he was in a fatal car accident at a construction site on Aug. 4. Rows of items up for auction were lined up insid


Hospital breaks ground for kidney disease center
By JOHN WALKER - jwalker@shelbynews.com More than 800 people in Shelby County have Stage 3 kidney disease, said Major Health Partners CEO Jack Horner. About 60 people in the county have the final Stage 5 kidney disease. “My own dad finally succumbed to kidney failure,” Horner told a crowd of about 100 people late Monday afternoon gathered at a site near the MHP Medical Center, 2451 Intelliplex Drive in Shelbyville. Right after he spoke, the hospital’s board of directors took


BRMP health students learn from seniors
For Bailey Stamper, a health sciences student at Blue River Career Programs, a sit-down meeting with seniors was a great opportunity. “To learn about old traditions. Kids are different today. They (seniors) never had phones, never had Nintendo,” she said. Stamper, who wants to be a chiropractor, was one of 42 health sciences students at Blue River Career Programs, 801 St. Joseph St., who took part in one of two sessions Monday with volunteer participants from Shelby Senior Se


Flat Rock playground opens courtesy of BRCF grant
The snip of a ribbon was all one little boy needed as a cue Friday afternoon to take off sprinting. The child took off moments after a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new playground in Flat Rock, headed straight for the fun that awaited. Flat Rock’s new playground was made possible by a grant given by the Blue River Community Foundation, one of four handed out to local communities this year. Derrek Tennell, a volunteer firefighter in Flat Rock and fourth generation Flat Rock


Seniors learn Animal Shelter is more than pet adoptions
There was the skunk with its head stuck in a mayonnaise jar. And the missing Dachshund found stuck down in a groundhog hole. And the St. Bernard treading water, nearly to the end. And it’s all part of the job for the folks at the Shelbyville/Shelby County Animal Shelter, 705 Hale Road. Chris Browder with the shelter explained that staff members wear many hats. “We adopt pets ... we’re also animal control,” said Browder, to a lunchtime audience at Shelby Senior Services. Browd

New Girl Scout Badges Power Girl Leadership
Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, along with Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), recently revealed 30 new badges for girls ages 5–18 to address some of society’s most pressing needs such as cybersecurity, environmental advocacy, mechanical engineering, robotics, computer science, and space exploration. Girl Scouts worked with top organizations like the Cyber Innovation Center, the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and the Museum of Science to design the most cutting-edge pro


Fountaintown Gas Co. still going strong 51 years later
Fountaintown Gas Co., Inc. began as a small, family-owned gas company that previously served the Fountaintown community from local wells with a very limited natural gas supply. In 1967, Robert Wortman of the neighboring Morristown community, obtained ownership and began construction of a modern distribution system that connected to a major intrastate pipeline. Mr. Wortman recognized the need for natural gas service in the small communities of southeastern Indiana that weren


Cossairt Florist celebrates 122nd anniversary
This month marks the 122nd anniversary of Cossairt Florist and Greenhouse. The company has been owned and operated by the same family in the same county for 122 years! When the company was founded over 4 generations ago in August 1896, William McKinley was the 25th President of the United States, the first modern Olympic games had just taken place in Athens and Henry Ford had just driven his first Ford down the streets of Detroit. As great advances were taking place in this c