The Fishers Redevelopment Commission has approved a workforce training grant for INCOG BioPharma Services, a Fishers-based company that manufactures drugs for pharmaceutical firms.

The agreement allows the commission to reimburse INCOG up to $1,500 per employee for approved training, with a maximum of $50,000 in total. The grant runs through Dec. 31, 2030.

Commission members discussed at the October meeting whether the same item had already been approved in June. Commission attorney Jennifer Messer recommended approving it again because the proper signatures may not have been recorded at the June meeting.

Messer said the training is aimed at military veterans.

The training will be offered through BioTrain, a program run by Heartland BioWorks. Heartland BioWorks is a regional biomanufacturing tech hub powered by the Applied Research Institute.

According to the resolution, the goal is to upskill INCOG’s workforce, creating additional talent pools and higher wages in Fishers.

The money can cover classes, seminars, certifications and conferences. It cannot be used for OSHA or other federally mandated safety training, human resources training or new-employee onboarding.

INCOG will be reimbursed after submitting invoices that describe each training program, list participating employees and show the amount sought for each. The commission is to pay within 30 days of receiving a request.

The resolution describes INCOG as a city ambassador within the life sciences community, crediting the company with helping Fishers land substantial investment and jobs in the city’s Life Sciences Park.

INCOG is a contract development and manufacturing organization, or CDMO, meaning pharmaceutical companies outsource drug production to the firm.

Brad Johnson serves as commission president, and Tony Bonacuse is secretary.

Hamilton County residents will have a chance to safely get rid of expired or unused medications Saturday, Oct. 24, during a drug take-back event in Noblesville.

The Hamilton County Council on Alcohol & Other Drugs (HCCOAOD) is hosting the event in observance of National Drug Take Back Day. Drop-off runs from 9 a.m. to noon in the far east parking lot of Riverview Health, directly across State Road 32 from Federal Hill Commons.

Residents may bring expired or unused medications as well as vape devices. Liquids, sharps and needles will not be accepted.

HCCOAOD Executive Director Monica Greer said the effort targets a common source of prescription drug misuse: the family medicine cabinet.

“Most people who misuse prescription drugs get them from family, friends, and acquaintances,” Greer said. “We know prevention starts at home. The simple step of clearing out medications that are no longer needed makes our homes safer, prevents prescription drug misuse, and can help save lives.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 69,973 people died of drug overdoses in the United States last year, a decrease of almost 14% from 2024.

National Drug Take Back Day began in 2010. Since then, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and its law enforcement partners have removed more than 10,500 tons of medication from circulation, according to the HCCOAOD. The national effort now includes close to 5,000 collection sites.

Greer said unused medicine left in the home can lead to addiction.

“The only safe medications are ones prescribed by a trusted medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist,” she said. “Old and unwanted medicine too often becomes a gateway to addiction. Events like these are a critical effort to curb the historic surge in U.S. overdoses.”

Residents who cannot attend Saturday’s event can dispose of unneeded medications year-round at local pharmacies, hospitals and police departments.

Hamilton Southeastern voters will reshape their school board Nov. 3, and every candidate in a contested race sat down with me for a podcast conversation. Links to all of them, plus my podcast on the HSE operating referendum, are below.

Four of the seven board seats are on the ballot. None of the four incumbents holding those seats, Tiffany Pascoe, Juanita Albright, Dawn Lang and Ben Orr, is running again. That means at least four new members, a board majority, will take office in January 2027.

Seats are elected by district, not at-large. You will see only the race for the district where you live.

This is also the first HSE board election under a new Indiana law that lets school board candidates list a political party on the ballot. Candidates may also run with no party designation, and there is no primary.

The District 4 race is settled. Stephanie Braden is running unopposed

The referendum

Every HSE voter, regardless of district, will also decide on a new operating referendum. It would replace the one voters approved in 2023 with about 70% support.

The 2025 state property tax overhaul, Senate Enrolled Act 1, changed how taxes are calculated. As a result, the current rate of 19.95 cents per $100 of assessed value brings in far less than planned. The district estimates it will collect about $45 million less over the final six years of the current referendum.

The new referendum would run eight years. Its maximum rate would be 36 cents per $100 of assessed value, capped at $47.5 million a year. The ballot language says the money would pay salaries and benefits for about 275 staff members. It would also cover behavioral health therapists in school buildings, school resource officers and other school safety costs.

State law sets a formula for the ballot question. Under that formula, the question says a median $400,000 home would pay $700 more a year at the maximum rate. Superintendent Matt Kegley has said the district does not plan to levy the maximum. He estimates the median homeowner would pay about $3 more per month in 2027.

HSE is one of five Hamilton County districts with an operating referendum on the Nov. 3 ballot. The district offers a tax calculator at hseschools.org.

How to vote

Early in-person voting is underway at the Hamilton County Judicial Center in Noblesville and at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds. Additional sites, including Fishers, open Oct. 21. Election Day polls are open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check the Hamilton County Election Office website for locations and hours.

There are a number of ways to check your sample ballot and know which district in which you reside and which candidates for school board will be on your ballot.  I suggest using vote.org.

Listen to the candidates, then make your voice heard.  Links to the podcasts are below:

Continue reading Hear from the HSE School Board candidates before you vote →

I normally do not write about the Indianapolis Colts. But after watching their game Sunday, October 18, against the Tennessee Titans, I feel I must.

I have been a Colts fan ever since they moved here in 1984. But my concern goes beyond football. It is about what this team means to Central Indiana, and what the people of this area have invested in it.

The Colts lost 26-20 to a previously winless Tennessee team, dropping Indianapolis to 2-4. A blocked punt returned for a touchdown and a late kickoff return that helped set up Tennessee’s go-ahead field goal were costly failures in a game the Colts had opportunities to win.

I have broadcast sports and written about sports for years, although I have never covered the NFL. I do not pretend to know whether the Colts’ problems begin with the players, the coaching, the front office or some combination of those things.

But you do not have to be an NFL expert to find that performance troubling.

And you do not have to buy a ticket to have a financial stake in this franchise.

Continue reading Opinion: Taxpayers have a stake in the Colts, too →

Fishers residents with tender plants still outdoors may want to cover them tonight.

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis has issued a frost advisory for much of central Indiana, including Hamilton County, from 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday. Forecasters say temperatures could dip as low as 35 degrees, cold enough for frost to form on grass, rooftops, car windshields and exposed vegetation.

The advisory also covers portions of east central, north central, south central, southeast, southwest and west central Indiana.

According to the weather service, frost could damage sensitive outdoor vegetation, and plants left uncovered may be killed.

Tonight is expected to be clear with a low around 36 and a light southeast wind. Clear skies and light winds are the classic recipe for frost because heat escapes quickly from the ground overnight, allowing frost to form even when the official air temperature stays a few degrees above freezing.

Protecting your plants

Gardeners can take a few simple steps before heading to bed Sunday night:

• Bring potted plants, hanging baskets and herbs indoors or into a garage.
• Cover in-ground plants with old sheets, blankets or burlap, letting the fabric reach the ground to trap warmth. Avoid letting plastic touch the leaves directly.
• Harvest any remaining tomatoes, peppers, basil and other cold-sensitive produce.
• Remove coverings Monday morning once temperatures rise.

Hardy fall favorites such as mums, pansies, kale and ornamental cabbage typically handle a light frost without trouble.

Monday morning commute

Drivers should allow a few extra minutes Monday to scrape frosty windshields. P

Warm, dry week ahead

The chill will not last long. Monday is forecast to be sunny with a high near 68 and calm winds, and temperatures will climb into the low 70s by midweek.

The forecast calls for sunshine every day through Saturday:

• Monday: Patchy frost early, then sunny, high near 68. Low around 38.
• Tuesday: Sunny, high near 70. Low around 42.
• Wednesday: Sunny, high near 71. Low around 43.
• Thursday: Sunny, high near 71. Low around 46.
• Friday: Sunny, high near 69. Low around 44.
• Saturday: Sunny, high near 69.

The stretch of dry, mild weather should be good news for fall yard work and weekend outdoor events across Fishers.

Frost advisories are a regular part of the season in central Indiana as fall settles in. Once a hard, widespread freeze ends the growing season, the weather service typically stops issuing frost advisories for the area until spring.

There are two weeks each year when Fishers seems to ease off the accelerator: fall break and spring break.

Traffic feels a little lighter. Getting a table at a local restaurant can be a little easier. In a community where school schedules shape so much of daily life, the change is noticeable.

Now it is fall break’s turn.

Hamilton Southeastern Schools students are off Oct. 19–23, with classes resuming Monday, Oct. 26, according to the district’s calendar.

HSE serves families across Delaware, Fall Creek and Wayne townships, so a week away from the classroom has a reach well beyond the school buildings.

At the Oct. 14 school board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Matt Kegley reminded the community that the break began after classes ended Friday, Oct. 16. Even when suitcases are packed and vacation plans are calling, there is still that final school day to finish.

For some families, the break means heading to Florida or another vacation destination. Others will visit friends and relatives, while plenty will enjoy the time off close to home.

Of course, a school break does not necessarily mean a break from work for parents. A week without classes can require some juggling, with grandparents, relatives and other caregivers helping fill the gap.

I know a little about that. Our grandson, a kindergartener at an HSE school, will be spending some time at our home during the week. Our household may be a bit busier even if the roads are a bit quieter.

For those staying here, fall break offers a chance to enjoy an autumn walk, visit a local park or simply spend some time together without the usual school-day rush. A vacation does not have to involve an airport or a long drive.

As for LarryInFishers.com, I will still be here on the Internet, keeping an eye on the news. The local meeting calendar sometimes seems to catch its breath along with everyone else at fall break, but news does not always follow the school schedule.

Whether you are traveling, welcoming family or staying close to home, enjoy fall break.

The Indy Fuel staged a furious third-period comeback Saturday night, but an early deficit proved too much to overcome as the Cincinnati Cyclones handed the Fuel a 4-3 loss at the Fishers Event Center.

Playing their second game in as many nights, the Fuel faced a Cincinnati team making its 2026-27 regular-season debut with a substantially rebuilt roster. The Cyclones, the ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, entered the season with nine players assigned by the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies.

The infusion of talent was evident early as Cincinnati controlled much of the opening period, taking advantage of two Indy turnovers to build a 2-0 lead.

Continue reading Late Fuel rally falls short as Cincinnati Cyclones win 4-3 in Fishers →

Hamilton County Parks and Recreation Director Chris Stice has been elected a Fellow of the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, joining an organization limited to 150 active members.

Stice was inducted Sept. 30 during the academy’s annual reception and awards dinner in Philadelphia, held in conjunction with the 2026 National Recreation and Park Association Conference, according to a Hamilton County announcement.

The honor recognizes professional achievement, leadership and service in parks, recreation and conservation. Members are selected through nominations and peer review.

Stice has spent 30 years with Hamilton County Parks and Recreation. During that time, he has helped lead the acquisition and development of a county park system that grew from 200 acres to more than 1,800 acres, according to the county.

His work has included supporting a 44,000-square-foot indoor archery complex, year-round camping at White River Campground, development of the Seven Streams Park and Bur Oak Bend properties, and expansion of Potter’s Bridge Park and the Nation’s Trail.

Stice said his goal has been to create experiences families remember.

“My goal has always been to create places where our community can experience what I call ‘mantle moments’, memories so meaningful that a photograph of that experience earns a place on the fireplace mantle at home,” Stice said in the announcement.

“Whether it’s a child’s first fishing trip, a family gathering or a quiet moment connecting with nature, our parks provide the setting for stories people cherish for a lifetime,” he said.

Stice’s professional service extends beyond Hamilton County. He has chaired the National Recreation and Park Association’s National Conference Program Committee and served on the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials board and Legislative Committee.

He also has served as president of the Indiana Park and Recreation Association board and the Great Lakes Park Training Institute board.

Founded in 1980, the academy supports leadership, research, education and mentoring in parks, recreation and conservation administration.

The National Weather Service has issued a freeze warning for Fishers and parts of central, east central and west central Indiana, with temperatures expected to dip below freezing early Sunday.

The warning is in effect from 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. Sunday. Forecasters expect lows as cold as 31 degrees under clear skies and calm winds, with widespread frost likely, mainly after 5 a.m.

The weather service warns that frost and freeze conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation and may damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.

Residents should bring potted plants indoors or cover garden beds before sundown. Garden hoses should be disconnected and outdoor faucets and irrigation lines protected. Pets should be brought inside overnight. Drivers heading out early Sunday should allow extra time to scrape frosted windshields.

Today is sunny with a high near 55, with a north-northeast wind of 6 to 10 mph and gusts up to 18 mph.

The cold snap won’t last long. After the frost burns off Sunday morning, the forecast calls for sunshine and a high near 63.

More frost is possible early Monday, with patchy frost before 9 a.m. after a Sunday night low around 36. Monday then warms to a high near 68.

From there, the weather service forecast shows a steady warming trend with sunshine every day through the end of the week:

• Tuesday: Sunny, high near 71
• Wednesday: Sunny, high near 74
• Thursday: Sunny, high near 76
• Friday: Sunny, high near 77

Overnight lows will climb as well, from the upper 30s Monday night to the upper 40s by Thursday night. No rain is in the forecast through Friday.

For many Hamilton County gardeners, tonight’s freeze is likely to end the growing season for tender annuals and vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and basil. Hardier fall plantings, including mums and pansies, typically come through a light freeze with little damage.

Milling and paving are complete at 116th Street and Allisonville Road, but drivers should continue to expect intermittent lane restrictions as crews finish other work, according to the latest City of Fishers road construction report.

Striping, traffic signal work, sidewalk concrete work and restoration remain underway. The east leg of Fishers Crossing Boulevard at Allisonville Road is expected to reopen during the week of Oct. 19. Until then, customers heading to Fishers Station Shopping Center should use alternate entrances. Businesses remain open, while sidewalks within the construction area remain closed.

On 136th Street, the widening project continues between Southeastern Parkway and Prairie Baptist Road. The road is closed to through traffic within the project limits, with a signed detour using those two roads. Improvements include raised medians, multi-use paths on both sides, new pavement and drainage upgrades.

Drivers also face restrictions around the Southeastern Parkway and Olio Road roundabout, where the fifth leg has permanently closed. The report calls for one lane in each direction on Olio Road between the roundabout and just south of 136th Street.

That project also includes an approximately three-week closure of 136th Street west of Olio Road, with traffic detoured using 134th Street. Access from I-69 to IU Health Fishers remains open via the bypass lane, and emergency access will be maintained.

USA Parkway north of 106th Street will continue to have lane restrictions through October, weather permitting. Business and driveway access will remain open, with final restoration work continuing into November.

Other work includes periodic lane restrictions during utility relocation at 131st Street and Brooks School Road, ahead of roundabout construction. Duke Energy utility work continues on Cumberland Road between 106th and 116th streets, with restrictions from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

In Springs of Cambridge, crews are conducting concrete work, with pavement base repairs scheduled to begin on or after Oct. 23.

For drivers traveling through northeast Indianapolis, overnight Clear Path restrictions are scheduled for Oct. 16 and 17, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. The report lists closures of the 82nd Street ramp to northbound I-69 and northbound Binford Boulevard access at 75th Street, along with other ramp restrictions. A fifth northbound I-69 lane north of 82nd Street is expected to open by Sunday morning, Oct. 18.

Construction schedules remain subject to weather and other conditions. The full report follows below.

Continue reading Paving complete at 116th and Allisonville; closures continue elsewhere in Fishers →