Another long list of road construction projects in and around Fishers in the coming week.  Note that the city is planning to move State Road 37 lanes to the east as construction begins on the roundabout at 141st Street this summer.

Here is the complete listing, as provided by the City of Fishers:

Continue reading Fishers area road construction for the work week starting Monday, May 20 →

The Fishers City Council is scheduled to vote on a pay raise for city workers.

According to the agenda for Monday night’s Council session, there will be a vote on a proposal increasing the annual salary of sworn public safety employees by $2500  and increase civilian annual salaries by $1000. The adjustment will be effective immediately following the approval of this ordinance.

The Council can suspend the rules and give final approval to this measure with a unanimous Council vote Monday.  The city says this action will support retention and recruitment of city staff following a review of comparable municipalities.

If enacted Monday night, the estimated additional $520,000 needed to fund this salary increase will come from “unused” appropriations from the current year budget, but city officials do not rule out the possibility of asking the Council for additional money to fund this increase yet this year.

This increase is in addition to any pay hike the city may offer city employees in 2025.

For a full list of the revised salaries once this proposal is passed, use this link.

The Fishers Arts Council and Fishers High School’s Future Black Leaders club are set to present the 5th Annual Juneteenth Jubilee, a vibrant celebration of freedom and culture, at Conner Prairie on June 19, 2024, from 5 to 8 p.m. This event, managed by students, will showcase an array of Black-owned businesses, visual and culinary artists, community resources, and talented performing artists.

Initiated by the Future Black Leaders club in 2020, the Juneteenth Jubilee has grown into a cornerstone event for the community. Last year, the Jubilee attracted 2,500 attendees, offering families a unique opportunity to come together in celebration. This year marks the second time the event will be hosted at the expansive Conner Prairie venue.

Currently, approximately 30 vendor spaces remain available, with a fast-approaching application deadline of May 24, 2024. Prospective vendors are encouraged to secure their spot by visiting FishersArtsCouncil.org/Juneteenth. Although applications for entertainers have closed for 2024, there are still opportunities for businesses to support the event through sponsorship. Detailed information on sponsorship packages, which include booth spaces, can be found on the same website.

“Juneteenth is important because it is a celebration for African Americans moving closer to freedom,” says Brooklynn Ferrell, Co-President of the Future Black Leaders club and student organizer for the Juneteenth Jubilee. “This event highlights the achievements and advancements we have made as a culture. Being a part of the Jubilee helps to show support to this important historic holiday in a fun community setting.”

Les Reinhardt, Executive Director of the Fishers Arts Council, lauded the students’ efforts. “Working alongside these incredible student leaders is an inspiration. We are proud to support these students and the amazing event they create for the community year after year. They decide what will be offered, coordinate with the vendors and entertainment, create educational materials, and fundraise. It’s truly amazing to see the power of what our youth can make happen in Fishers”

The Juneteenth Jubilee stands as a testament to the collaborative spirit and dedication of the students of Fishers High School, providing a platform to honor the historical significance of Juneteenth while fostering community engagement and cultural appreciation.

I just returned from a trip to visit family in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  With the Fishers Freight Indoor Football League team set to start in the 2025 season, I checked and found that Sioux Falls has an Indoor Football League team, The Storm, and they were playing a home game during my time in Sioux Falls.

I joined my son-in-law Jacob, his dad Bill and my grandson Dakota as we all watched the game.  It was a fast-paced, high scoring contest.  The facility in Sioux Falls, the Denny Sanford Premier Center, is a nice place to watch a game.  It looks a lot like how the new Fishers Events Center will be once construction is completed late this year.

I look forward to seeing the Fishers Freight play in 2025.

School districts throughout Indiana are working to fill their bus driver positions, and our local Hamilton Southeaster (HSE) Schools, as the state’s 4th largest by enrollment, is no exception.

If you have considered driving a school bus, you can take a spin in an official HSE bus that transports students daily during the school year.  On Thursday, May 30th, 4-6pm, any potential bus driver can drive the bus just to get a feel for the job.

The job itself pays the driver $111.23 per day, plus there are opportunities to make even more.  Full time bus drivers are also eligible for a benefit package which includes participation in the Indiana Public Employees Retirement Fund (PERF) and 5% employer match for 403(b) based on gross wages.   403(b) plans are much like private sector 401(k) accounts.

The HSE Transportation team will be on hand for the event and can answer questions on any job opportunities in their department.  This is the first time HSE has put on such an event.

My twin daughters are 30 years of age now but still have fond memories of HSE school bus drivers they came to know as students.  This is a chance to make extra money, enjoy a benefit package and establish relationships with students and their families for years to come.

The Fishers Parks & Recreation Department recently announced the free concert lineup at the Nickel Plate Amphitheater this summer.  The city is now announcing two back-to-back ticketed performances at the Amp.

On Friday, August 23, Niko Moon will visit Fishers.  The country artist will take his show to the Amp.  Tickets for the Niko Moon concert go on sale this Friday, May 17 at 10 a.m. and will be available at npdamp.com and mokbpresents.com. For ticketed shows, the venue is an all ages facility and children ages two and under are permitted for free. Fans can also bring their own lawn chair and blankets.

The following night, August 24, Brett Dennen will be performing on the same Fishers stage.  Dennend has been described as  having “a singular gift for meditating on life’s most meaningful subject.”

Tickets for the Brett Dennen concert go on sale this Friday, May 17 at 10 a.m. and will be available at npdamp.com and mokbpresents.com. For ticketed shows, the venue is an all ages facility and children ages two and under are permitted for free. Fans can also bring their own lawn chair and blankets.

Both concerts are part of the annual summer concert series at the Nickel Plate Amphitheater.

It was the late 1970s.  I had worked in radio broadcasting for more then 10 years doing just about everything…disc jockey, music director, program director, sports, talks shows and news when needed.  I had experienced just about every aspect of radio broadcasting.

The one thing I had never done was news on a full time basis.  I had been hired as the morning news anchor and reporter at WCSI radio in Columbus, Indiana.  My news director was Sam Simmermaker.

Sam was more than a news director.  He was already a local sports legend.  He also knew Columbus.  As a reporter new in town he was a big help in my understanding the community and what was important news locally.

Sam became a valued colleague and a good friend.  The years I spent sharing the WCSI newsroom with Sam were the best years of my radio life.

All those memories came back when I recently learned that Sam plans to retire.  Think about this.  Sam is 92 years of age and has continued calling play-be-play of local sports and will through the local high schools’ baseball tournament run this season.  He has presented a daily local sportscast all these years, with his final installment due May 24th.

He has been working at WCSI for 64 years.  In that business, this must be a record.

Radio station WKKG, sister station to WCSI, listed on its Web site just a partial rundown on Sam’s many awards & recognitions:

* Indiana Sportscaster of the Year in 1976 and in 1997 by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.
* Indiana Sportscaster of the Year in 1971 by the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.
* Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame inductee in 1998.
* Indiana Associated Press Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame inductee in 1991.
* Best Sports Play-by-Play award by Network Indiana in 2002 and 2004.
* Best Sports Play-by-Play award by Indiana Broadcasters Association in 2005.
* Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.

I know of no one more deserving of retirement than Sam Simmermaker.  I wish him well.

Jane & I have had a lot to celebrate in recent days.  May 11th was our 33rd wedding anniversary.  May 12 was Mother’s Day, and both daughters were able to spend some quality time with their Mom.

This was the second Mother’s Day without my own Mom, who died in January of 2023 at the age of 92.  We were all so fortunate to have her with us for 92 years, but we still miss her nonetheless.

Best of wishes to all Moms on Mother’s Day!

The Fishers area road construction report is a very long one, as to be expected this time of year.

Below is the complete list, as provided by the City of Fishers:

Continue reading Fishers area road construction update for the work week starting May 13 →