“This is something we've talked about for 20 years and now this is a priority for our board,” said Jeff Pruitt, Fair Board President. “Our board is made up of 11 volunteers and we want to do everything we can to make things grow and progress. By adding this pavilion, we will be able to host numerous events throughout the year that we could not accommodate in the past. It's good to see this type of local support for our fairgrounds.”

The current structure is located on the southwest side of the racetrack and will undergo major renovations to provide a new temperature-controlled pavilion. The building will create venue space for everything from goat shows to indoor flea markets and meeting space. A groundbreaking will take place soon as weather becomes more favorable.

“The Shelby County Fairgrounds has been a great partner of Indiana Grand for years and they are a vital part of this community,” said Mike Rich, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Indiana Grand. “Having space for additional events and programs year-round will benefit a lot of area residents and ultimately generate more visitors to Shelbyville. We are dedicated to continue our investment in Shelbyville and Shelby County and hope this is just the beginning of growth and development for this facility.”

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“Animal shelters in the area were hit hard in 2020 due to the pandemic and their numbers have continued to increase as a result, which has put a great strain on a lot of the facilities in the area,” said Mike Rich, Senior Vice President and General Manager. “We recognized these hardships and wanted to step in to provide some monetary relief for several shelters in the area, including the facility in Shelbyville. We are proud to continue our partnership with an organization that is so committed to their mission of assisting unwanted animals.”

The Shelby County Animal Shelter receive strays, getting them off the streets and send them through a spay/neuter program before setting them up for adoption into new homes. The shelter is equipped with an outdoor walking trail, in addition to a waterfall. The area provides a play area for the canine residents, ideal for interaction with potential adoption families and volunteers.

“We will use this money for much needed dog beds and cat towers,” said Chris Browder, administrative assistant of the facility. “We will also use some of the funds for the exterior of our property. Spring always presents us with projects to fix. We want to beautify our facility and make it as inviting as possible, and we always welcome people in to adopt or to volunteer.”

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“They are a volunteer-based program and they speak for children in court who have been victims of abuse and neglect,” said Lindsay Fish, director of sales and business development. “They give children a place to communicate their needs and their service is so important in our community. We are thankful for their commitment to these kids and glad we can assist with their mission.”

The Court and Child Advocacy Group is part of the Rush and Shelby County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), a not for profit organization. Their mission is to ensure all children thrive in a safe and secure home. Kelly Smith-Ford serves as the executive director of the local chapter and was recently presented with a check from Indiana Grand, represented by Mike Rich, senior vice president and general manager, Fish, and Elena Lisle, vice president of marketing.

“We plan to put $1,000 back for mattresses for the kids we work with,” said Smith-Ford. “The other $4,000 will be used to buy the book ‘Do You Have a Secret’ as well as ‘Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention.’ Thank you so much to Indiana Grand for believing in our mission. We appreciate the community support.”

To become a volunteer or to donate to The Court and Child Advocacy Group located in Rush and Shelby County, go to the CASA website at www.childadvocates.net or contact the local office at (317) 392-1212.

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A total of 17 light fixtures will be on display on the inner circle of Blue River Memorial Park beginning with the kick-off of the annual Holiday Parade at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4. The parade will extend from Walmart to Blue River Memorial Park, featuring the new “Holiday of Lights” near the end of the route. The light display will then be available nightly from 5 until 9:30 p.m. through Christmas Eve. The light display will be free to those driving through, and those wishing to make a donation may do so at the end of the display.

“We are really excited, and the Mayor is really excited too about this donation,” said Karen Martin, Parks Department Director. “Because of COVID-19, people haven't been able to get out and our programs are just now starting up. We've been wanting to do something like this for a long time, we just couldn't get the buy-in to get it started. Hopefully, it will grow each year.”

The donation is part of the ongoing operational plan from Indiana Grand Racing & Casino's Community Outreach program for 2020. The committee was searching for a way to support an event in the community when the “Festival of Lights” concept came into focus.

“It's been a very tough year for a lot of folks, and we wanted to do something special for the community,” said Mike Rich, senior vice president and general manager at Indiana Grand. “We believe supporting an event such as the light display will provide the entire area with a new way to celebrate the holiday season. We are always proud to partner with the City of Shelbyville on events such as this one.”

Along with the Parks Department and the City of Shelbyville, the Shelby County Tourism and Visitor's Bureau is also getting involved to enhance the holiday parade and “Festival of Lights” experience.

“It should be a great way to kick off our holiday season here in Shelby County,” added Martin. “We hope those driving through will consider a donation so we can expand and add to the display in the future.”

Racing is held Monday through Thursday until Thursday, Nov. 19. All-Quarter Horse racing is set for Saturday, Oct. 3 and Saturday, Oct. 24. For more information, go to www.indianagrand.com.

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“Blue River Community Foundation (BRCF) is thrilled to have the support of Indiana Grand through this generous gift to allow us to expand on the alley activation project on East Washington Street,” said Jennifer Jones, executive director of BRCF. “We appreciate their recognition of the importance of public art, invigorating our downtown, and keeping Shelby County history alive.”

The Alley Renovation showcases several historical figures from the area, including portraits of Sandy Allen, Bill Garrett and Bucky Barnes of Marvel Comics. Indiana Grand’s contribution will allow BRCF to continue its plans for the space, including greenery, seating, lighting and other aesthetics while preserving the historical content of Shelby County.

“Investing in our local neighborhoods is at the forefront of our community outreach goals,” said Mike Rich, senior vice president and general manager of racing. “The City of Shelbyville is working hard to revitalize the downtown area, and we saw an opportunity to get involved with their vision. The possibilities are endless with this initiative, and we are excited to see the transformation this entire project will have on the community.”

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