Features

A successful and joyous anniversary party last Saturday reminded a local artist how much people care for the arts in Shelbyville.

Shelby Artists on Main co-founder Linda Powell said the “anniversary was a smash.”

“The people in attendance seemed very pleased,” she said. Past supporters of the gallery who came were surprised by the obvious improvements.”

About 75 people stopped by to celebrate the now nonprofit gallery’s anniversary, but Powell said there isn’t a tally yet on how many raffle tickets were sold.

Using the Dewey Decimal System at the Shelby County Public Library won’t happen much anymore now that the library has upgraded to a new and more convenient online system.

Customers now can submit an order online for a book at any time, and a library staff member will have it ready for pick up the following the morning, Library Director Pam Federspiel said.

“The public wants more and more things they can do online,” she said. “It gives more functions for the public.”

Lazy summer days, a tall glass of cold lemonade and a picnic in the park sounds pretty good after a cold, rainy spring.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg for summer fun in Shelby County.

First off, there’s the county’s park system and all kinds of activities for kids and adults alike.

Jeremiah Heath, director of the Family Activity Center at Clear Creek Park, laughed when asked what kinds of programs and activities were available this summer.

Maybe Mother Nature was in a good mood Saturday because of Shelby County’s Earth Day celebration at Red Orchard Park.

Whatever the reason, the first day of sunshine in days was a welcome sight, both for visitors and for the dozens of people and organizations that had worked hard to make sure the event was a success, which all agreed that it was.

Shelby County Parks Director Clay Cottongim said he was pleased with the weather and even more pleased with the turnout.

Mother Nature might have slowed him down, but she couldn't stop the Easter bunny on Saturday.

As rain continued to drown the region this weekend, many egg hunts were canceled or moved inside.

But it didn't stop the Finchville Ruritan Club from having its annual egg hunt around the old Finchville school.

"My kids love it," Jeanine Barrett said. "They think it's more fun in the rain."

Since the publication of – in both newspaper and book formats – my columns on Squire Boone, whose Painted Stone Station along Clear Creek was the forerunner of present-day Shelbyville, I have received additional information relating to his life and times.

You may recall that, on Sept. 13, 1781, settlers fleeing Painted Stone for the relative safety of Linn’s Station were attached viciously by Indians in what has been described as “The Long Run Massacre.”

It may seem like an episode of The Amazing Raceevery time you step into Shelbyville's new Kroger Marketplace with its enormous size, new areas and international food flare giving it the feel of circumnavigating the globe.

But on Wednesday it provided a home for CBS’ hit reality show.

Hundreds lined up outside the store to get a chance to make a video with WLKY producers as an audition for the show from 6 to 8 p.m.

William E. Matthews, who has been in the publishing business in Shelbyville for decades, is joining forces with photographer Greg Biagi to produce a new photographic book that he hopes will bridge history for Shelby Countians.

Matthews, who owns the publishing company Historic Kentucky, said that his company and Biagi, who owns Greg Biagi Photos, are producing a full-color, hardcover book with the working title of Shelby County Today.

Picture a dark, theater-like room, loud rock music blaring, with huge video screens flashing bright images on the stage, and each one of the crowd of 700 young people wearing a headset glowing florescent green in the dark.
Sound like a new take on an ultra modern 3-D movie?
Try a high-tech version of  a birds and bees discussion with the emphasis on sexual abstinence targeted toward teens and young adults.