Column: Farewell 2024

Dear readers,

As we bid adieu to 2024, let's take a moment to reflect on the year that was filled with its fair share of memorable moments.

From Springfield's pet panic to the IU football team having the best year ever, this year has given me plenty of things to ramble on and on about.

In no particular order, here are a few of my random thoughts as we close out 2024.

Enjoy!

Sports Beat

Congratulations to the Indiana University football team for having their best season ever. IU not only returned to play in the Rose Bowl stadium during the season defeating UCLA, but then also made the NCAA playoffs. Unfortunately, they lost to Notre Dame in the first round.

To those TV sports writers who claim that the SEC should have had more teams in the playoffs and that IU didn’t deserve to be there, I say you are wrong. I point out the following:

Nov. 9, IU beat Michigan 20-15.

Nov. 30, Michigan beat Ohio State 13-10.

Dec. 21, Ohio State beat Tennessee, an SEC team, 42-17 in the first round of the playoffs.

Voodoo Beat

Way back in the year 2000 in an episode “Bart to the Future,” The Simpsons’ TV cartoon accurately predicted Donald Trump would be President of the United States. The Simpsons cartoon family live in Springfield and have a dog named Laddie and a cat named Snowball.

This year we learned once again that fact is stranger than fiction when Donald Trump mentioned Springfield in a presidential debate. He caused a bit of a frenzy when he repeated the rumor that Haitian immigrants were eating people’s pets in Springfield, “they’re eating the dogs and cats.”

The Simpsons are known for having some far-fetched story lines. Maybe next season in an episode called “Pâté Haïtien” Snowball and Laddie will come up missing. 

Our Town Shelbyville Beat

2024 brought Shelbyville more Mexican restaurants. I have heard complaints from some loyal readers who believe we have enough Mexican restaurants already. However, I believe the majority of Shelbyville citizens are shouting “Ole!”

All of the Mexican restaurants are doing a brisk business.

“Next door. Next level” is the new brand Shelbyville got in 2024. What’s in store for 2025? One of my long-time readers predicts a new fragrance.

2024 passed and we still haven’t found a replacement for the Bears of Blue River Festival. Then again, maybe we don’t need a festival. We do have numerous events downtown that attract huge crowds.

We don’t erect a “Boss Pole” in the Public Square or a giant “Corn Shock” like in the old-timey days either.

The Helbing Beat

I can’t end 2024 with a shout out to "The Helbing." Attendance at The Helbing was down a little in 2024 due to the construction of “The Mill” apartments. Stay tuned for a major announcement concerning The Helbing in 2025.

As we look forward to 2025, let's carry with us the laughter, the lessons, and the memories of 2024. Here's to a new year filled with hope, joy, and plenty of reasons to smile.

Farewell, 2024 — we will miss you. As Cher said way back in 1967, “The Beat Goes On.” 

See you all next week, same Schwinn time, same Schwinn channel.

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