Shelbyville High School salutatorian Jacob Harker is recognized at the recent Top 10 banquet. | photo by JACK BOYCE
As a wrestler and football player, Jacob Harker had experience finishing strong. But even he was caught off guard a few days before graduation when his mother texted him, “Congratulations!”
“For what?” Harker remembers replying.
The Shelbyville High School senior’s family had just learned he finished second in the class, salutatorian, the highest rank of his career.
“I always hoped to give a speech at graduation, but toward the end of junior year, I thought it probably wouldn’t happen at this point,” Harker said last week. “But then it did get to happen, luckily.”
The honor was the culmination of a lot of hard work, in and out of the classroom.
Harker and his older brothers, Brice, Dylan and Tyler, the children of Brian and Cherrie Harker, raise pigs on their farm, and Jacob started showed pigs in 4-H at a young age.
“Those were 6 a.m. days of going out and feeding the pigs, and then coming back in, showering and getting ready for school,” he said.
The same duties were repeated in the evenings. Sometimes, when Tyler was still in school, he and Jacob split the chores.
Most of Harker’s public accolades came from his athletic career. He started playing Boys Club football in second grade and then played on a Columbus travel team. By his sixth grade year, Shelbyville had formed a travel team, but Harker stuck with his club for one more year, setting up an important match against his school friends. How did it go? “We knocked them out of the playoffs,” Harker said, laughing.
He joined the Shelbyville Middle School’s 7th and 8th grade teams, playing a variety of positions.
“As much as I tried to run away from playing center, I still always ended up playing center,” he said. He also played guard at times and was on the defensive line, usually as a defensive tackle.
Although the high school team struggled his first three years, senior year saw a break-through with multiple wins and some competitive losses under new head coach Scott Fitzgerald.
“We felt like we were progressing this year, getting better with every practice,” Harker said. “The coaches knew what they were doing on offense and had us blitzing and stunting a lot more on defense. It was a lot more fun, and it was great to have success.”
Harker also excelled on the wrestling mat. After being cut from basketball his seventh grade year, he hit the weight room and learned a new sport. He was undefeated most of his eighth grade year, losing in conference action. Despite breaking his ankle his freshman year and tearing his ACL this past season, Harker had an outstanding career, reaching semi-state last year and coming up one match short of state action this year, despite wrestling with the injury.
The school also counted on his leadership off the field, with Principal Amy Dawson offering him one of 10 spots on the newly formed Student Leadership Council. Harker said he enjoyed meeting multiple times with Dawson and Superintendent Dr. Matt Vance to highlight SHS’s strengths and discuss areas for improvement.
Harker will attend Purdue University, where he intends to study engineering.
Sophie, a “barn cat” cat belonging to Bane Ross, right, son of Matt and Keriane Ross, is checked out at Sunday’s 4-H Cat Show. Ross said Sophie is a great mouser and mother to her two-month-old litter of kittens, her first. | by ANNA TUNGATE
Shelby County Commissioners yesterday approved a County Road Truck Ordinance giving law enforcement the ability to ticket truckers cutting through on county roads. “The county has been having a lot of issues with over-the-road trucks, in particular, making the decision to cut across (between interstates),” Commissioner Jason Abel said. Exceptions to the ordinance include for agricultural vehicles and farm implements, local deliveries and related duties. Also exempt are vehicles owned and operated by county residents traveling to and from their places of residence.
In other action, Shelby County Commissioners approved hiring Tisha Debaun as the county’s new 911 Director.
NATIONAL NEWS: A string of NFL officials retiring and an influx of new blood may be a cause for concern in the coming years, as experienced refs retire and new refs without years of experience in the NFL replace them. Of the 120 officials this year, a third will have five years or fewer on the job, and 27 of them will have three years or fewer. This comes on the heels of a wave of retirements, when 10 officials retired after 2021 and 12 retired after 2022. (The Atlantic/Numlock)
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News around Shelbyville and the surrounding area as reported on or about this date in history. Selections are curated from the Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department.
2014: The Shelbyville Storm Water Utility cleaned up the watershed with a volunteer event starting at Sunset Park and working on the banks of the Big Blue River removing trash. MS4 Director Derrick Byers had organized the event.
2004: Shelbyville First Church of the Nazarene celebrated its 85th anniversary. A hog roast and music program, “Through the Years,” followed a special service. The church began its ministry in Shelbyville in 1918 under the leadership of Rev. Ellis Hawn, who rented the Heavenly Recruit Church on Pike St. In 1919, the congregation purchased a frame building at the corner of Jackson and Noble streets. The church had 44 members at the time. In 1922, the church decided to build a basem*nt for expansion. The frame building was moved to the back of the lot, and services were held in it while the basem*nt was dug out by hand. In 1929, a brick church was built over the basem*nt. Six years later, the church purchased a parsonage at 1014 S. Tompkins. In 1959, the church purchased the current property, 2315 S. Riley Highway, to relocate the church. The parsonage was built next to the church in 1967.
1994: Seven seniors throughout the county were notified on the last day of school they would not have the grades to graduate. Despite frustrated parents, school officials said none of them should have been surprised. Schools had mailed letters in early April notifying parents, but some of the parents said the end-of-year news was the first they had heard of it.
1984: Workers sandblasted the Shelby County Courthouse and replaced some mortar.
Between 1,000 and 2,000 people crowded Shelbyville’s Public Square to either observe or participate in the Shelbyville Marketing and Redevelopment for Tomorrow (SMART) auction. Designed to attract people downtown, more than 80 items were sold on the auction block with SMART bucks, which people had obtained by exchanging sales receipts at local banks. Harry Meeke was the SMART president.
1974: Warrant Officer Jack Fix watched as his son, Brad Fix, was sworn into Headquarters Co., 2nd Battalion Mechanized Infantry. Brad had enlisted in the National Guard and would undergo basic training soon. His father was a 25-year veteran of the National Guard.
1964: Local Boy Scouts placed first at a rifle meet at Ft. Harrison. Participating members were Tom Delligatti, John Peugh, James Buchanan, Duane Buchanan, Jerome Gillard and Wendall Pickett. Lee Fisher was advisor.
Porter Pool admitted 1,020 on a blazing hot day.
City Parks opened for the summer. Jim Kerr was in charge of the softball program and Don Thompson would be tennis instructor. Denny Blind was in charge of the summer basketball league.
1954: Bessie Swain, 51, Fountaintown, attempted to repay a “debt” of two pints of blood donated to her husband, Gurney Swain, a retired postal clerk. Mrs. Swain, however, was denied due to her own high blood pressure. She promised to come back.
1944: Cpl. John Flaitz, son of Ann Flaitz, N. Tompkins St., was awarded the Silver Star, designating he had participated in five major campaigns. He also held a presidential citation and cluster. Cpl. Flaitz had served in Tunisia, Sicily, Anzio and Rome.
Lt. Wilford Kinman’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leo Kinman, received word their son was a prisoner of war in Germany. Lt. Kinman, a B-17 pilot, had been missing since being lost on a mission over the Reich in May.
1934: Arthur Thurston, president of Farmers National Bank of Shelbyville, was conferred an honorary doctor of laws degree from Franklin College. Thurston, 80, had been on the Franklin College board of directors 45 years. He was a member of the Class of 1870, but the college had suspended operations for a time, and he did not graduate. His sons, however, W. Eden Thurston and Frederick N. Thurston, were both Franklin College graduates.
County highway employees constructed two cinder walks on the courthouse lawn. Both of the walks led south from Polk Street, one to the front entrance and the other to the rear entrance.
1924: The SHS Class of 1924 raised $500 to be used for landscaping around the school building.
1914: City Council members toured Rushville and Connersville to review their new cement streets. Rushville had just two city blocks of cement streets but Connersville had seven miles. The first cement road in Connersville had been installed 23 years prior and was still reportedly in good shape. A stone curbing at the side of the alley was worn down below the concrete about three inches, officials noted. Shelbyville Common Council members discussed making Van Ave., from Harrison to Noble St., the first paved road in the city.
Wade E. Siefert, 71, of Chesterfield, passed away Monday, June 3, 2024 at his residence. Born April 18, 1953 in Shelbyville, he was the son of Walter E. Siefert and Patricia Ann (Cherry) Siefert. He married Katie Siefert, and she preceded him in death in April 2023. Other survivors include siblings Penny Gunkel of Montana, Theresa Elamon of Shelbyville; special friend, Cathy Headlee of Shelbyville; many nieces and nephews, including Tonya Price of Anderson, who was his caregiver for many years. He was preceded in death by his parents; spouse; brother, Wally Siefert; and sister, Linda Moulton.
Mr. Siefert had lived in Chesterfield for 12 years after previously living in Shelbyville. He graduated from Shelbyville High School and worked at Siefert Construction for many years. Wade enjoyed artist painting and spending time with his family.
Private graveside services will be held at Lewis Creek Cemetery. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.
Ida “Louise” Davis, 90, of Greensburg, IN. formerly of Geneva in Shelby Co. passed away Sunday June 9, 2024 at Decatur County Memorial Hospital. She was born July 26, 1933 in Nelson, KY. to Parmer Cash and Margie T. (Hughes) Cash.
She enjoyed doing arts and crafts and had a very creative mind. She also enjoyed gardening and would spend a lot of time tending to her plants. Louise was a homemaker and loved caring for her kids and family members. She also had a love for cooking and baking for her loved ones.
She married Harry L. Davis on July 22, 1950, and he preceded her in death on March 3, 2008.
Louise is survived by her daughter, Rosanna Davis; her sons, Dennis A. Davis, Harry L. Davis Jr. (wife, Carolyn), Joel Davis; her grandchildren, Cayce Davis, Dennis Davis, Jr. Davis (wife, Michelle), Jennifer Andrews (husband, Alex), Josh Davis and Amanda Davis; 12 great-grandchildren; and her sister-in-law, Betty Davis. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two brothers and one sister.
Visitation will be Thursday, June 13, 2024 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Murphy-Parks Funeral Service, 703 S. Harrison Street, Shelbyville, IN 46176. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, June 14, 2024 at Murphy-Parks Funeral Services, 703 S. Harrison St., Shelbyville, IN. with Pastor Jose Rivera officiating. Burial will be in Garland Brook Cemetery, 501 Gladstone Ave, Columbus, IN. 47201. Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks, Stuart Parks, and Darin Schutt are honored to serve Louise’s family. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.
Pearl J. Greene, 93, former Shelbyville resident, passed away Monday, June 10, 2024, at OUR Hospice Inpatient Facility. Born June 26, 1930 in Lebanon, Kentucky, she was the daughter of Marion Thomas Smothers and Mary T. Smothers. She was married to Donald Edward Shaffer, Harold Nicholson, andFranklin Greene, all of whom preceded her in death.
Survivors include two daughters, Teresa Keefer of Indianapolis, Donna McMillan of Shelbyville; best friend, Doris Nicholson of Florida, several nieces and nephews; four grandchildren, Kelly, Kim, Cindy, Josh; several great-grandchildren; and several great-great grandchildren. She was preceded indeath by her parents, her spouses, sisters, Shirley, Hazel, Ruth and brother, Foster.
Mrs. Greene had lived in this area most of her lifetime and was a realtor for Theobald Realty for severalyears and a bartender for Walt's Bar. She also owned and operated PJ's Place for several years, and after retirement worked for McDonald's. She was a member of Crossroads Community Church, VFW, and Eagles Lodge. Pearl enjoyed fishing, going to Goodwill, visiting the casino, going on cruises, and enjoyed time with her family and grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m., Friday, June 14, 2024, at Glenn E. George & Son Funeral Home, 437 Amos Road,with Pastor Andy Lee officiating. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery. Friends may call on Thursday evening,June 13 from 4 - 8 p.m., at the funeral home. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.
Paul H. Bowers, 77, of Shelbyville, passed away Saturday, June 8, 2024 at his residence. Born November 12, 1946 in Shelbyville, he was the son of Ernest E. Bowers and Opal Clairabell (Cole) Bowers.He married Cathy (Dixon) Bowers on March 6, 1965, and she survives. Other survivors include three daughters, Valerie Stevens (Troy) of Flat Rock, Kelly Quick (Larry) of Shelbyville, Michelle Powers of Shelbyville; nine grandchildren, Shawn Spurling, Brandon Powers, Michael Lephew, Brittany Sanders, Nathan Stevens, Haley Eichorn, Olivia Bowers, Blake Bowers andBrody Bowers; and eight great-grandchildren.He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Paul Eric Bowers; son-in-law, Jack Powers; and eight brothers and sisters.
Mr. Bowers had lived in this area his entire lifetime, and had been a funeral assistant with Glenn E. George Funeral Home for several years. He was a member of Apostolic Tabernacle for over 30 yearsand was a US Army veteran. Paul was an avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed fishing, camping, hunting, and spending time with his family.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 13, 2024 at First Church of Pentecost, 1500 Miller Avenue, with Pastor Daniel McDonald officiating.Friends may call from 11 a.m. until the time of the service, at the church military graveside rites will be conducted by the American Legion.Memorial contributions can bemade to the First Church of Pentecost Building Fund, in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.
