The Greentown Grapevine – 1998-06, 05:06

              Volume 5, Issue 6 ' 6a paper for the veovle" June 1998
Banners Proclaim
Sesquicentennial
Just before Mothers' Day, several
men worked various shiRs fiom
7: OO a. m. to 900 p. m. on May 9 to
install 40 banners on poles on the
main thoroughfares in Greentown.
Twenty of the banners carry the
sesquicentennial logo. The
remaining twenty are " Welcome to
Greentown", which will be usable at
any time of the year. The banners
were purchased by the Greentown
Sesquicentennial Committee with
the assistance ofa grant from the
Howard County Visitors Bureau.
Special thanks are due to the
following who worked to hang the
banners: Jim Wise, Jim Custer,
Dennis Vallosia, Jason Wise,
Darwin Freeman, Craig Trott, and
Jerry Myers. Max Hueston not only
labored several hours but loaned his
truck. George Howell loaned a fork
lift and Stan Zirkle loaned a
generator for the operation of the
electric drill.
Marshal Shrock
Retires
Friends Gather to Wish Him
well
Can a secret be kept in Greentown?
The answer is a resounding " Yes."
Nearly two hundred people responded to
an invitation to a surprise retirement
party for Marshal Menill Shock on
Sunday, May 17, at the Kokomo Shrine
Club. Asked if the surprise was
successful, Shrock replied that it was,
that he did not know about the party
until he anived.
The new Greentown Marshal, as of
May 1, Jeff Bennett, started planning
the party in February. The dinner was
served by Barton's with the assistance of
members of Eastern's Students Against
Driving Diunk. Some of those students,
Greg Nicholson, Todd Nicholson, Jake
Medlen, and David Northcutt provided
some light entertainment as they
portrayed famous sports figures.
Former deputies under Merrill recalled
events both humorous and nostalgic.
Those deputies were Doug Bentley, Don
Whitehead and Harold Vincent.
Tom DiNardo, of the Kokomo Police
Departntent, was a special deputy under
M ddu ring the time DiNardo lived in
Greentown. He read a glowing tribute
to Menill, laced with memorable
instances in which Menill earned a
reputation for being a " bad piece of
news'' to those fleeing the police. He
recounted one time when many
members of the Kokomo Police
Depariment listened on their radios as a
chase and capture unfolded in Eastern
Howard County. " The KPD knew that
the pursued wasn't dealing with some
common mortal law enforcement
officer, but with the Armageddon of
police pursuit predators, Greentown
One, otherwise known as ' Shrockie'. It
was like Super Bowl Sunday with the
star quarterback entering the field."
Drawing subtle reference to St.
Michael the Archangel, patron saint of
police officers, DiNardo said, " I, along
with Countless others, will never forget
that while residents of eastern Howard
County slept peacemy in their homes,
a gdl fiom God, an archangel made
manifest in the tunic of blue and the
body and spirit of one Menill Gene
Shock stood steadfast at the gate with
sword raised, a line in the sand he drew
Inside
for all who would do evil to see, a silver
shield upon his chest that read ' This line
you shall not cross."'.
Jeff Bennett then paid his personal
respects to the man who brought him
onto the Greentown Police Force.
Greentown Town Council President,
Robert Armstrong, presented Shock
with a plaque recognizing his service.
Special guests were Merrill's mother,
Helen Shock, his wife, Cindy, and his
brothers, Glen, Melvin and Pud.
M d ' s father- in- law, Robert Hilligoss,
presented him with a memory book of
clippings, photographs, awards, and
letters. The members of the Town
Council were recogtllzed.
Taking the microphone, Merrill
acknowledged Herschel Jacobs,
President of the Town Board when he
was hired November 2,1970, and other
members of that Board. Responding to
the accolades and revealing his sense of
humor, Merrill said, " If1 had known I
was that good, I would have asked for
more money."
Merrill says he plans to spend many
retirement hours at golf and fishing
" fiom his boat".
Herschel Jacobs and MerriII
Shrock at Merrill's retirement
party. Merrill was presented
with a retirement badge.