Shelbyville Police Department K-9 Mikey, a labrador, is retiring after being deployed 161 times and assisting with 61 arrests over seven-plus years. | submitted
Shelbyville Police Officer Keith England clearly remembers his first time seeing Mikey, an incessantly-barking labrador slated to head to Indiana University in Bloomington for bomb detection training.
“I told (another officer), ‘Thank goodness I’m not getting that dog,’” England said with a laugh. “Imagine being in the car with him for 12 hours.”
But that’s exactly what happened. Another dog England had been training was sent to work at the Marion County Jail because the dog didn’t have the right disposition to constantly switch environments, and Mikey landed in Shelbyville.
It turns out his bark was worse than his bite. From kids at the summer food program in Blue River Memorial Park to school reading activities, Mikey was a safe dog to pet, and it seemed every kid wanted the rare chance to pet a K-9 dog.
But Mikey still liked to bark when loaded in the K-9 unit.
“Kids would hear him barking, and I’d say, ‘Do you want to pet him?” England said. “They were like, ‘No, thanks.’ But we’d pop open the door, and Mikey would come out with his tail wagging.”
The kids were typically surprised to see a lab instead of a German Shepherd.
“He was a good bridge builder in the community,” England said.
Mikey was an out-of-state rescue dog who had an incredible sense of smell. He was the department’s second lab, but the first, over 15 years ago, worked in a more discreet role sniffing out narcotics.
Mikey was a narcotics detection dog as well, but with a public persona. He was formally deployed 161 times leading to 61 arrests.
“That doesn’t count all of the times he got out of the car to meet kids,” England said.
Mikey was also a fixture at the Blue River Career Programs’ Criminal Justice class, where England worked as an instructor. The students handled and worked with Mikey to get a feel for the K-9 unit. England even hid synthetic drugs that mimicked the odors for students to practice with Mikey.
As is custom, Mikey lived with his handler, England, and will continue to do so in retirement. England, who now accepts financial responsibility for Mikey, thanked the city for their support of the K-9 program, noting that former Mayor Tom DeBaun and Mayor Scott Furgeson and former Police Chief Mark Weidner and current Chief Dr. Bill Dwenger and others had worked hard to ensure the K-9 program succeeded locally. That goes for the whole community. Even the local Pet Supplies Plus store provided Mikey an annual Christmas basket with toys.
England said he had hoped the working partnership would continue a little longer, but Mikey tore his cranial cruciate ligament (CCL, similar to the anterior cruciate ligament, ACL, in humans) a couple of years ago. Mikey worked post-surgery, but England has had to pick him up to get into the vehicle.
“He’s not a small lab, and I’m not as young as I used to be either,” England said.
Now Mikey will retire to the England home. “He sleeps in the bed with me, and my family loves him,” England said. “My wife and I have always had labs. They’re such great family pets.”
And Mikey is an example that first impressions, especially when it comes to animals, aren’t always accurate.
“He ended up being the best thing that ever could have happened,” England said.
Nikol Tabares and Liam Mollenkopf join fellow incoming Shelbyville High School ninth graders in an activity at yesterday’s orientation. Next Wednesday is the first day of school. | photo by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
The Grover Center is hosting another Architectural Walking Tour of downtown Shelbyville, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2 p.m., led by Kris Schwickrath. The event is free for members or $10 for non-members.
A drunk driver with a suspended license was arrested after his vehicle hit a three-point trailer hitch of a parked vehicle in the 300 block of West Hendricks Street.
A driver who apparently had a medical episode struck a parked car on W. Mechanic St. at the intersection of Mary St. The driver was transported to the hospital by ambulance.
NATIONAL NEWS: A new report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has found that processing fees instituted by electronic school lunch accounts are costing American parents $100 million per year. According to the CFPB, the fees averaged out to $2.37 for flat fees and 4.4 percent when they were levied as a percentage of transactions. There are about 20 companies that handle lunch payment processing, with three of them — MySchoolBucks ($2.55 average flat fee and 4.5 percent average percentage fee), SchoolCafé ($2.38 and 4.58 percent) and LINQ Connect ($2.13 and 3.5 percent) — covering two-thirds of students. Only 21 percent of sampled school districts explicitly disclosed the fees. (Boondoggle)
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Editor’s Note: The following is the first in a serialized version of “580 West Taylor Street,” by Joseph E. “Joed” Landwerlen. The “story” was completed with the editorial assistance of Maddy Brown and historical fact checks by Anna Tungate, who provided me a copy. Once I read this account of the west side of Shelbyville in the 1940s and early 1950s, I asked Mr. Landwerlen for permission to publish this outstanding first-hand account. We will publish it in sections over the next few weeks. The first is a brief prologue, “Before There Was Me.”
by JOSEPH E. LANDWERLEN (cover graphic also by Landwerlen)
My father's parents were Otto Landwerlen, a farmer from Pennsylvania, through Northern Indiana, and Alta Mae Harbert, whose family came from Northern Indiana, through Ohio. Their families lived on adjoining farms in Northern Shelby County. At some point they met and fell in love and were married in 1910, and soon began farming. The couple was blessed with two children. Margaret was born in 1912, and Joseph followed in 1915. Early in 1915, Otto was diagnosed with polio. He passed away in the fall of that year, leaving Alta Mae with two small children to raise.
Grandma took a job with the Kennedy Car Liner as a seamstress and took in "white laundry" to supplement the income. She fell in love with Ephraim J. Wiley, or E.J., as he was known, a WWI veteran also employed at KCL. E.J. was building a house from the ground up at 516 Montgomery Street and worked on it when time permitted. They were married in 1924, and moved into the finished home, and the union produced three girls.
Grandma no longer worked at the factory. She stayed at home to care for Carol, Phyllis, and Shirley. Grandma continued to take in "white laundry" and Grandpa continued to work at the factory.
My mother's parents were Lettie Ann Baker, whose family came from Pennsylvania, and Edward Bassett, whose family came from Kentucky, through Virginia. Edward's family came to Shelbyville looking for employment. He secured work in the furniture trade.
He worked for the Speigal and the Admiral Corporation, and finally retired from Chambers Range. He and Grandma Lettie had 11 children, including my mother, Edna Ruth. Through all that child rearing, Grandma Lettie built a successful wallpaper cleaning business, and her services were widely sought. To keep up with the demands, she taught two of her children the wallpaper cleaning skills. My mom was one of them.
Dad worked as a clerk and delivery boy at George Tucker's Grocery, located at 606 Montgomery Street. The story goes that my mother came into the store one day and met my dad. Over time, their love blossomed and they wanted to marry. The problem was that Grandpa Bassett had a strict rule. None of his nine daughters could get married before their 16th birthday. On July 11, 1937, my mother turned 16. On August 1, 1937, Edna Ruth Bassett and Joe Landwerlen boarded a train to Cincinnati, Ohio.
Traveling with them was mom's sister, Ruby, and her husband, Walter Tucker, and they served as Best Man and Maid of Honor. Mom and Dad were married that afternoon. The honeymoon lasted two days; then they returned home to work. My parents lived with Grandma Wiley for around six months, then rented a house on Locust Street.
Dr. Paul Tindall found that mom was “too small of a woman” to birth naturally. The decision was made that she was to have a cesarean birth at Major Hospital on West Washington Street. Early on Sunday morning, September 4, 1938, the caesarian was performed, and “then there was me.”
March 17, 1967
Judy Christian, Mary Coffin and Christi Eads were named to prom court. Judy had been “Miss Congeniality” of the Shelby County Fair and was secretary of the Booster Club. Mary was active in Mask and Dagger, Future Nurses and Sunshine. Christi was active in Spanish Club, Future Teachers, G.A.A. and was a member of Student Council.
SHS senior Stephen King was awarded the annual Elks Lodge Scholarship, presented by Dr. Norman Willey.
Sondra Finkel provided coverage of the annual JHS Spelling Bee. Mr. Tim Schmidt had been the announcer, and the judges were Mrs. Dorrel, librarian; Mr. Herb Day, Pearson School; and Mrs. Kirk, substitute English teacher. Class winners and alternates were: David Carnaham and June Bennett (7-1), Greg Cole and Ann Cherry (7-2), Robin Gahimer and Mara Lox (7-3), Beth Hasket and Jackie Glessner (7-4), Dee Ann Lockman and Sandy Johnson (7-5), Letitia Gordon and Bob Deglon (7-6), Debbie Morrell and Steve Reff (7-7), Glenda Shepard and Lois Skillman (7-8), Gary Simmons and Lani Kipfer (7-9), James Turner and Rhonda Weaver (7-10), Bonnie Gibson and Kathy Wilson (8-1), Terry Coen and Linda Buckler (8-2), Bob Coffey and Rita Chaney (8-3), Melanie DeLaurentis and Connie Koohns (8-4), Diann Bowman and Paige Glidden (8-5), Kathy Spillman and Toby Scott (8-6), Royce Skinner and Connie Monroe (8-7), Brenda Mayo and Paula LeClere (8-8), Rick Keckler and Norman Johns (8-9) and Cindy Rickleft and Connie Perry (8-10). Mr. McGriff would be the local referee at the next round, in Brazil, Ind.
The JHS Choir was preparing for the Easter convocation, Finkel reported. Ensemble members Sheila Rose, Mary Comstock, Nicki Snapp and Ray Wetnight would sing “Let Us Break Bread Together.”
SHS junior Steve Franklin’s artwork had been published in The National Art and Poetry Press. His work had been entered by Miss Mardis. Other outstanding art students of Miss Mardis included Barry LaFollette, Madonna Kendall and Mike Simpson.
Seven senior girls had been chosen as May Queen candidates, to be crowned by Dave Longstreet, Lord Mayor. Queen candidates were Noel Worland, Margaret Owens, Sallie Sears, Pam Beck, Saundra Pyle, Barbara Scott and Becky Brenton.
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 Morristown Boys and Girls Club officially moved from a building at the Morristown Christian Church to Morristown Elementary School. A before-school program was also launched at the club.
2004: Shelbyville’s Ford Police Mustang, Harley Davidson police motorcycle, 1962 Mercury cruiser, the county rescue boat, D.A.R.E. Ford Crown Victoria and other vehicles were on display at Huber Ford-Lincoln-Mercury on East State Road 44 at a special kids’ event.
Angie’s Lactation Station, 5557 N. Michigan Road, offering a new resource for nursing mothers, opened for business. Angie Boring, certified lactation specialist, was the owner. The store offered a wide range of related products.
1994: Richard Kiefer, owner of Kiefer’s Furniture Home, purchased an old fabric store in Muncie and converted it to a furniture store. Brian and Debbie Kiefer and Jeff and Becky Hendershot, Kiefer’s children and in-laws, would manage the new store. The store would be the only Lazy Boy franchise in the city.
Shelbyville resident Mark Mason had been named commander of the Gaming Enforcement Section of the Indiana Gaming Commission. Mason had joined the state police in 1978, working as a road officer. He lived in Shelbyville with his wife, LuAnn, and their three children, Tom, Eileen and Laura. State Police Det. Jack Yeend, Flat Rock, had been named a temporary member of the Commission’s enforcement section earlier in the year.
1984: The old Nickel Nook hamburger building, on N. Harrison St. between Walker and John streets, was torn down, relieving the city of a building that had become an eyesore.
Robert Brinkman was hired as a new police officer to replace former police Lt. Bill Cole. Brinkman had been a reserve officer with the police department for two years.
1974: Shelby Eastern Schools officials held an auction of unused school furniture at Union Middle School near Rays Crossing. Hundreds of desks and office, kitchen and maintenance equipment would be sold. Items auctioned by Kenneth Nigh came from the Union, Shelby and Noble Township and Fountaintown buildings which were being closed.
“The Playmates” in “Deep Vision 3-D” was on at the Cinema, 10: 30 p.m. The minimum age to enter was 18 and admission, including 3-D glasses, was $2.50.
1964: Police had received several complaints about excessive bicycle horn noises, Sgt. Lewis “Pete” Myers said. “Myers said that bicycle horns are to be used just as automobile horns and too much noise could be labeled ‘disturbing the peace,’” The Shelbyville News said. Myers warned cyclists that police would confiscate bikes of offending riders. City ordinance required bikes to have a horn or a bell.
Shelby National Bank would remain open until 7 p.m. on Friday evenings, President Carl Wright announced. Both the main offices of the bank and the W. Jackson St. motor facility would comply with the new hours.
Two new buildings would be open for the upcoming county fair, a superintendent’s office and 4-H and Open exhibitors livestock barn. The 60 by 128-foot barn replaced tents formerly used south of the racetrack. The new superintendent’s office had been purchased from the George Alley sawmill near Waldron for less than $1,000 after it went unclaimed by a construction company which had ordered it. The fairgrounds had also installed city water supply for the first time.
1954: Larry Cox, Morristown High School senior, won the 4-H tractor driving contest held at the MHS softball diamond. Cox and runner-up Jim Copeland earned the right to compete in the district contest, to be held in Martinsville. Other top finishers were Joe Bruning, Dave Ramsey, Larry Watson, George Darnell, Philip Boring, Raymond Fischer and Bill Farmer.
A dance was held at the Blue River Country Club, 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., featuring Carl Kifer and his six-piece orchestra.
1944: An electric clock at Farmers National Bank short-circuited and started smoking, causing someone to immediately pull box 53. “A crowd which collected outside the bank building was visibly disappointed when it was found there was no real cause for excitement,” The Republican said.
Mr. and Mrs. Lowell Norris, Manilla, received word that their son, Lt. Paul T. Norris, was in a hospital in England after being wounded in combat.
1934: Two teenage boys were arrested when they were caught in the act of carting away about 1,500 pounds of coal that had been thrown off a Pennsylvania Railroad coal car, near the south city limits. The freight train had stopped for a time and the crew had gone to a switch some distance away, when the boys boarded the coal car and started to throw coal into a ditch beside the tracks, south of the McKinley St. crossing. Someone in the neighborhood notified James Pierce, Pennsylvania agent, who in turn called police.
1924: The clerks and employees of the DePrez Hardware store held a wiener roast on the banks of the Brandywine, west of town.
The Kiowa Tribe No. 199 of Red Men announced plans to move to a new lodge hall at Washington and Pike Streets. There were 700 members in the local tribe. The new building, when complete, would have a new front on East Washington St., a new addition on the south and a modern heating plant.
1914: The bridge on the Indianapolis & Cincinnati traction line over Brandywine River was moved 15 feet east.
Karen Marlene (Six) Jonas, 86, of Fountaintown, passed away Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at her home. She was born November 27, 1937, in Indianapolis, the daughter of Roy Oscar and Helen Louise (Sells)Six. On September 2, 1960, she married Loren Henry Jonas, and he preceded her in death on January 7, 2015. Karen is survived by her sons, Mark Jonas of Shelbyville, and Mitchell Jonas and wife, Chrissy, of Fountaintown; daughter, Sheryl Vannoy and husband, Tracy, of Fountaintown; daughter-in-law, Jenny Jonas of Shelbyville; 16 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren. In addition to Loren, Karen was preceded in death by her parents; son, Michael Jonas; and brother, Royemerald Six.
Karen graduated from Shelbyville High School. She was a dedicated farm wife and was formerly the head cook at Triton North Elementary School. Karen enjoyed playing in the Euchre Club. She also enjoyed sewing, her flowers and gardening.She loved to spend time creating memories with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, August 7, 2024, at the funeral home. Interment will be at New Palestine Cemetery in New Palestine. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cancer Association of Shelby County, PO Box 844, Shelbyville, Indiana 46176. Online condolences may be shared with Karen’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Jose Lozano, 71, of Shelbyville, passed away Wednesday July 31, 2024, at Willow of Shelbyville.
Jose was a veteran in the United States Army. He was a talented musician and loved to play the guitar. He played in the WLX Radio Band in Lawrenceburg, TN. Jose also had a love for the outdoors and drawing. He enjoyed fishing and arrowhead hunting.
He is survived by his daughter, Chrissie Lozano; his sister, Carmen Lozano; his brothers, Carlos Lozano, Juan Lozano and Rafael Lozano; several nieces and nephews and ex-wife, Cheryl Hopkins. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks and Stuart Parks are honored to serve Jose’s family. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.
(Revised) Robert Louis “Bob” Golden, 83, of Shelbyville, passed away Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at Morristown Manor in Morristown. He was born July 3, 1941, in Connersville, the son of Louis and Georgia (Workman) Golden. On November 27, 1965, he married Catherine Sue Gordon, and she preceded him in death on November 17, 2017. Bob is survived by his daughter, Gina Scott and significant other, Lennie; sons, Chet Golden, Terry Hammer and wife, Debbie, and Tracy Hammer and wife, Angie, all of Shelbyville; sister, Ann Settles of Oregon; brother, Danny Golden and wife, Carol, of Louisville; grandchildren, Brittany West and Jessica Golden; and numerous step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. In addition to Catherine, Bob was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Georgia Taylor; and brother, Doc Golden.
Bob was a member of Hope’s Point Church. He retired from Ford Motor Company on Shadeland Avenue, with 38 years of service. Bob enjoyed going bowling, golfing and playing softball.
Inurnment will be at Whispering Hope Cemetery in Shelby County at 1 p.m., Monday, August 5, 2024. Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Memorial contributions may be made to Hope’s Point Church, 1703 S. Miller Avenue, Shelbyville, Indiana 46176. Online condolences may be shared with Bob’s family atwww.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
