SHELBURN, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) – The town of Shelburn has demolished two dilapidated properties as part of an ongoing effort to revitalize its downtown. The Sullivan County town says the removal of a former residential building and former tavern aligns with its beautification and quality of life goals.
The town hopes to further enhance the overall quality of life and promote economic development.
“Cleaning up and tearing down these rundown, dilapidated properties is part of the bigger picture for Shelburn,” says Jay Southwood, Shelburn clerk and treasurer. “Restoring and revitalizing our town is our contribution to the development of our town and region.”
With the properties demolished, the town says it has a number of ideas and options for its next occupant. The town says both lots offer viable space for future development and revitalization.
The demolitions were funded by the town’s recent increase in local income taxes.
“These revitalization projects are a result of the LIT tax increase and their results stretch further than that. This is about economic development, quality of place and doing our part to support the region’s growing tourism. It really is one piece of a greater puzzle,” said Southwood.
The town says it plans to continue a series of demolitions on several more properties over the course of the next few months.
SHELBURN, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — The town of Shelburn is rolling out a revamped brand, Simply Shelburn.
The Sullivan County town, about 10 miles south of Terre Haute, is also launching a website and Facebook page as part of the rebrand.
Town officials say the brand aims to recognize and celebrate the value of what the town of 1,000 calls “the small-town good life” through a digital platform.
By visiting shelburn.in.gov, users can learn more about the historic aspects of the town and town hall meetings and coding ordinances. Plans also call for online bill pay for water customers.
The website is aimed at promoting economic development and projects in the town.
Shelburn’s new Facebook page, facebook.com/ShelburnIN, allows residents to read about upcoming events and notices while travelers and neighboring communities can interact with and plan for future visits.
“We are so proud of this new website and overall brand. It truly embraces the story of Shelburn while emphasizing and elevating our historic assets,” said Jay Southwood, Shelburn’s clerk-treasurer.
SHELBURN, Ind. (WTWO) — The search for answers is underway following an early morning fire on Saturday that claimed three lives.
The blaze destroyed a home near the 2800 block of State Road 48 just outside the small town of Shelburn in Sullivan County.
The call came in at 3:30 a.m. when a neighbor smelled smoke through an open window.
The neighbor told police that three people were believed to be in the house.
Law enforcement was first on the scene, where they found the fire well underway and could not help the three people inside.
Sullivan County Sheriff Clark Cottom said, “Our deputy tried to make entry into the home and was pushed back from intense heat, flames and smoke. He was not able to get into the home.”
Inside was a grandmother and her two young grandsons. Family members told 24-Hour News 8’s sister station WTWO that the mother of the two boys was at work when the fire started.
After the deputy retreated from the home’s flame, an explosion occurred from what is thought to be the result of the fire coming in contact with a medical oxygen tank.
Chief John Quilliam of Thunderbird Fire Protection Territory said, “The fire itself wasn’t that bad, but the explosion caused the walls to fall out from the structure, which caused the roof to collapse down in on the structure. So basically we had to sift through roofing and ceiling and insulation and lighting to search for the victims.”
The grandmother and the two boys were pronounced dead at the scene, as well as the family dog.
Though the result of this fire is devastating, it is believed to be an accident.
“We have no reason to believe that there is foul play in this particular tragedy,” Cottom said.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation but in cases like this, finding the answers can be challenging.
Officials are waiting to release the identities of the victims until the completion of the autopsies.