The White River is open to recreational users again for the first time in more than a week, but Hamilton County officials say that milestone should not be mistaken for the end of flood recovery.

The Hamilton County Board of Commissioners lifted the travel warning prohibiting recreational travel on the river, effective immediately, while extending the county’s local disaster declaration another seven days. The declaration now runs through Sept. 3.

The river ban was issued Aug. 18 after historic flooding created what commissioners called life-threatening conditions — contamination, submerged debris and a river that had carved itself a new course into the Martin Marietta limestone quarry near 106th Street and Hazel Dell Parkway in Carmel. Commissioners warned at the time that boaters swept past 116th Street risked being pulled into the quarry’s steep drop-offs or into the wreckage of a washed-out bridge.

Recent inspections and testing show conditions have improved substantially. Water sampling by the Hamilton County Health Department found the White River has returned to pre-flood sanitation levels. The river’s course has been corrected so it no longer flows into the quarry. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has determined the river is navigable, and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources found no immediate threat to the public that would prevent recreational activity.

“This is an important sign of progress, but it does not mean our recovery is over,” said Christine Altman, president of the Hamilton County Commissioners. “We are comfortable lifting the travel ban based on the testing and inspections that have been completed, but we still need people to use good judgment on the river. Debris and other hazards may remain in some areas. At the same time, families and neighborhoods across Hamilton County are still recovering from tremendous damage, which is why extending the disaster declaration remains necessary.”

The extended declaration allows Hamilton County Emergency Management and other county departments to continue coordinating response and recovery work, request assistance and pursue reimbursement from state and federal agencies. The declaration notes flooding impacts remain countywide, including significant infrastructure damage.

Fishers takes a different path

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness chose not to extend the local disaster emergency he declared Aug. 15. That declaration expired Aug. 22, and the city has not renewed it. City operations, utilities and schools have returned to normal status, though road and park closures remain in the Fall Creek and White River areas.

The county’s decision to keep its declaration alive comes days after the recovery picture changed significantly. President Trump approved a major disaster declaration Aug. 26 covering 21 Indiana counties, with Hamilton County approved for both individual assistance and public assistance. Individual assistance matters here because standard homeowner policies exclude flood damage and many of the damaged homes sat outside mapped floodplains.

Residents can apply at disasterassistance.gov, by phone at 800-621-3362 or through the FEMA app.

The White River crested at 24.56 feet during the August storms, breaking a 113-year-old record. The Hamilton County Council has appropriated $2.85 million for flood recovery.

Nonprofit leaders from the Fishers area gathered at Ball State University’s facility in downtown Fishers to hear a message that ran counter to how many small organizations chase money: stop treating grant applications as a fundraising plan.

The session, sponsored by Citizens State Bank, was led by Michelle Leonard McConnell, a nonprofit consultant who spent years with two Indiana community foundations before joining IU Health Foundation, where she worked as a fundraiser and later director of campaigns during the system’s first combined statewide philanthropic campaign. She left to start her own practice after realizing she missed small nonprofits.

“I don’t have a crystal ball, and I do not have a money tree,” McConnell told the room. “But there is a structure that we can go off of.”

Much of that structure, she said, starts with understanding where charitable dollars actually come from. Citing Giving USA — the annual report researched by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy — McConnell said Americans gave $607.2 billion to nonprofits in 2025. Individuals accounted for $394.2 billion of that, with an additional $62.19 billion coming through bequests. Foundations, the source of most grant dollars, contributed $117.15 billion. Corporations gave $43.67 billion.

“How many times do you hear somebody say, ‘Well, let’s just write a grant?'” she asked. “That’s not sustainability. That’s not even the biggest funder in town.”

Bequest giving rose nearly 20% last year, a jump McConnell and attendees attributed to an aging donor population. Education, public-society benefit organizations, and environment and animal groups saw the largest increases by sector.

Several attendees said the numbers matched what they are seeing locally, with corporate support tightening and individual donors stepping up. Others described a challenge specific to a fast-growing county: too many organizations approaching the same donors.

“We have a great culture of not competing with one another, but we end up going to the same wells,” one participant said.

McConnell urged the group to build relationships with their community foundation, arguing that as Hamilton County grows, community foundation staff often know newcomers before individual nonprofits do. She also cautioned that generational habits differ sharply — older donors tend to give and step back, while millennial and Generation Z donors want to participate.

Board engagement drew the most discussion, and several attendees admitted their boards do little fundraising. McConnell offered two changes she said any organization can make immediately: build an educational moment into every board meeting so members can speak fluently about the work, and put three to five named prospects in front of the board each time, asking who knows them.

“Never, ever let your board get off the hook by not helping with your fundraising,” she said. “It is all hands on deck.”

She also pushed organizations to examine the return on investment of special events, which many in the room identified as their default fundraiser, and to build stewardship plans that treat a longtime monthly donor differently than a one-time $25 memorial gift. Recurring donors, she said, are the most likely source of future planned gifts.

For organizations with little or no paid staff, McConnell said she writes “good, better, best” plans rather than ambitious ones no one can execute. She pointed to the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy’s webinars, priced at $19.74, as an inexpensive training resource.

Addressing a newly formed nonprofit whose founders called their operation a mess, she offered a correction: “You’re not a mess. You’re just new.”

Fishers enters the 2027 budget process with a strong revenue outlook, although state tax changes are creating uncertainty beyond next year, longtime city financial consultant Mike Reuter told the Fishers City Council Finance Committee Thursday morning.

“Revenues look good for ’27,” said Reuter. He reviewed the city’s two leading revenue sources: property taxes and the local income tax, or LIT.

Fishers’ certified assessed value grew just 0.4% for 2027, compared with 2.7% a year earlier. That figure included $282 million in assessed value from annexed areas—an addition equal to about 2.85% of the tax base.

Reuter said the figures show how new state deductions for homeowners, rental property and some business personal property are reducing taxable value even as property values remain strong.

The state-set maximum levy growth quotient is 6% for property taxes payable in 2027. The figure limits the potential growth of certain property-tax levies; it does not require Fishers to collect the full amount.

Reuter said an annexation adjustment of nearly 3% could push the city’s maximum available levy up roughly 9%, but city officials have not decided how much to use. A larger levy combined with nearly flat assessed-value growth would put upward pressure on the city property-tax rate, he said.

The LIT side offered better news. Hamilton County collections used in the distribution formula increased 15.7% for 2024 after growing 2.8% the previous year. Reuter cautioned that the sharp swing partly reflects when the state processed large tax returns, rather than an economic change of the same size.

The Indiana Department of Local Government Finance estimates Fishers will receive about $47.3 million in certified-share LIT revenue in 2027.

Reuter also said Fishers received a special distribution of about $10 million this year, adding to its cash balance, although officials had anticipated some of that money in the budget.

Beyond 2027, state law calls for new LIT ordinances beginning in 2028 for collections starting in 2029. Reuter said important details remain unresolved, including reliable city-level income data needed to set a municipal rate.  Councilor Bill Stuart referred to this as the “Mike Braun local income tax.”

The committee plans to meet again at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, to hear spending requests from city departments.

Throughout the coverage of what happened to Hailey Buzbee, this website has worked hard to report only the information her family has chosen to release. A Facebook post from Hailey’s father makes clear that others have not taken that approach — and that is a very sad thing for a family already living through the worst kind of loss.

Beau Buzbee, who signed his post “Hailey’s Proud Dad,” wrote that the family has not endorsed, supported, authorized or partnered with any media outlet, influencer, content creator or other individual or group planning to tell his daughter’s story.

“We have experienced and continue to live through the worst kind of pain a parent can endure on this earth,” Buzbee wrote. “While our family is still grieving and have a long road ahead, the vultures are circling and have already started to work to capitalize on this tragedy.”

He directed particular criticism at those who frame that work as a public service.

“I have a serious problem with people who hide behind words like ‘education’ or ‘awareness’ while exploiting a child’s tragedy and doing further harm to a family for attention, content, clicks, money, and personal gain,” he wrote.

Buzbee closed by describing his daughter in plain terms.

“Hailey was a child. She was our daughter. She was deeply loved. Her life and her story are not someone else’s opportunity,” he wrote. “Hailey had everything taken from her, and as her dad, I will continue to fight for her.”

Hailey Buzbee, 17, of Fishers, disappeared from her home Jan. 5. Police said she left willingly and had been in contact for more than a year with Tyler Thomas, 39, of Columbus, Ohio, a man she met through an online gaming platform. Her remains were found in early February in Wayne National Forest in southern Ohio after Thomas led investigators to the site. Authorities have said they believe she died within days of leaving home.

Thomas was initially charged in Ohio with pandering obscenity and tampering with evidence and held on $1.5 million bond. Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of Ohio then charged him with sexually exploiting a minor and traveling interstate with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, each carrying up to 30 years in prison, and the local charges were dismissed so the case could proceed in federal court. The investigation remains open.

The standard here does not change. This website will continue to report what the Buzbee family and public officials choose to make public, in a responsible, journalistic manner .

Fishers drivers who commute to and from Indianapolis should plan for delays this weekend as crews shift traffic into its final configuration on northbound I-465 in northeast Indianapolis.

The Indiana Department of Transportation says northbound I-465 will be reduced to one lane between Fall Creek and I-69 from 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, through 10 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 30. Crews will use the closure to install pavement markings and signage needed to open the rebuilt roadway.

Work will begin closest to the median Friday night and move to the outer lanes Saturday evening.

As crews shift to the outside lanes, the ramp from northbound I-465 to northbound I-69 will close from 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, until 10 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 30. A signed detour will send drivers to westbound I-465, with a turnaround at U.S. 421.

INDOT is advising motorists to expect delays, plan ahead and seek alternate routes when possible.

56th Street ramp expected to reopen

The added capacity is expected to allow the ramp from 56th Street to northbound I-465 to reopen next week — a change many Fishers-area commuters have been waiting on.

Additional closures are scheduled Monday night to prepare for that reopening. From 9 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31, to 6 a.m. Tuesday, drivers can expect:

• The exit ramp from northbound I-465 to 56th Street/Shadeland Avenue (Exit 40) closed
• The ramps from 56th Street to northbound Shadeland Avenue and northbound I-465 closed
• The northbound Shadeland Avenue/56th Street collector ramp reduced to one lane, with no access to 56th Street

The work is weather dependent. INDOT says dates and the scope of the work could change if inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances occur.

Thunderstorms are expected late Wednesday afternoon into the evening as residents continue recovering from recent flooding.

Severe thunderstorms could bring damaging winds and large hail to Hamilton County late Wednesday afternoon and evening, Aug. 26, according to the National Weather Service.

The hazardous weather outlook issued Wednesday morning covers Hamilton County and much of central Indiana. Forecasters said thunderstorms are likely and some could become severe. Weather spotters may be activated.

Hamilton County Emergency Management said partly cloudy conditions are expected during the day, with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing later in the afternoon. Temperatures should reach the lower 80s, with rain chances near 50%.

Showers are likely Wednesday night, with thunderstorms possible into the late-night hours. Rain chances increase to about 60%, and temperatures are expected to fall into the lower 60s.

The National Weather Service forecast for Fishers calls for a high near 83 degrees. Showers and thunderstorms are likely Wednesday night, mainly before 1 a.m., with a low near 64.

Most locations are expected to receive less than an inch of additional rainfall, Hamilton County Emergency Management said. Isolated areas could receive between 1 and 1.5 inches.

That rainfall is not expected to alter current river-level forecasts. However, saturated ground and areas where water is already standing could experience slow drainage or minor localized flooding during heavier downpours.

The storms arrive as Hamilton County continues recovering from widespread flooding earlier this month. The National Weather Service said multiple rounds of storms beginning Aug. 11 produced severe weather and catastrophic flooding in parts of central Indiana.

As of Wednesday morning, the county’s flood-related road closure list showed Hazel Dell Parkway closed between 96th and 106th streets. Conditions and closures may change during the day.

Drivers should avoid flooded roads and never drive around barricades. Residents should also monitor weather alerts as storms approach.

Hamilton County residents who need help with food, shelter or cleanup supplies following the recent flooding can call the county’s recovery hotline at 317-645-3261. Flood damage to homes or businesses may be reported by calling 211. Additional information is available on the county’s flood recovery resource page.

Residents explored the new shared home of three Hamilton County agencies during an open house Tuesday evening at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds in Noblesville.

The Hamilton County Soil & Water Conservation District, Hamilton County Household Hazardous Waste and Hamilton County Weights & Measures hosted the Aug. 25 event at 1721 Pleasant St.

Visitors followed activity stations highlighting conservation, recycling and environmental stewardship. Attractions included the district’s new community mural, the hands-on Soil Trailer and a touch-a-truck display featuring a tractor, forklift and Weights & Measures equipment.

Staff also shared information about services available to residents, including the safe disposal of paint, chemicals, batteries and other household hazardous waste. Snow cones and snacks were served during the family-friendly event.

Hamilton County homeowners and renters who lost property in this month’s record flooding can now apply for federal disaster aid.

President Donald Trump approved Gov. Mike Braun’s request for a major disaster declaration, Braun’s office announced Tuesday. Hamilton County was included on both lists that matter locally: the 21 counties approved for individual assistance, which sends money directly to households, and the 11 counties approved for public assistance, which reimburses local governments and eligible nonprofits.

How to apply

Residents should file an insurance claim first. FEMA cannot duplicate what insurance pays, but it can help cover uninsured or underinsured losses.

Applications are taken three ways:

• Online at disasterassistance.gov
• By phone at 800-621-3362
• Through the FEMA mobile app

Applicants will need a Social Security number, insurance information, a description of the damage, current contact information and banking information for direct deposit.

FEMA had not announced a registration deadline as of Tuesday. The agency typically sets a 60-day window from the date of declaration, so residents should not wait.

That last point carries extra weight in Hamilton County. Standard homeowners policies do not cover flood damage, and many of the homes that took on water this month sit outside mapped floodplains, meaning their owners had no reason to carry a separate flood policy. For those households, federal aid may be the only assistance available.

What individual assistance covers

The program can help with temporary housing, home repairs, replacement of essential personal property and other disaster-related needs not met by insurance. It is not a substitute for full reconstruction, and grant amounts vary by household. FEMA also refers applicants to the U.S. Small Business Administration, which offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters and businesses.

Residents who have not yet documented their losses should photograph damage before making permanent repairs and keep every receipt.

What public assistance covers

Public assistance reimburses cities, the county, townships, school corporations and eligible nonprofits for debris removal, emergency protective measures and repairs to damaged public facilities. In practical terms, that covers the cost of the closed roads, washed-out trails and damaged parks that Fishers, Noblesville and Carmel have been working through since mid-August.

The local damage

The White River crested at 24.56 feet at Noblesville on Aug. 15, breaking a record that had stood for 113 years.

Damage assessment teams went door to door across Hamilton County the following week. Their early counts: roughly 552 residential units affected in Noblesville, concentrated in Riverwood, the southwest quadrant of downtown and near Federal Hill Commons; about 230 properties in Carmel, where 40 residents were relocated, including 14 from a senior living facility; and in Fishers, swift-water rescues and more than 160 families who accepted voluntary evacuation help.

Statewide, Braun’s request reported eight deaths, at least 44 structures destroyed and 959 with major damage. Early estimates put residential property damage between $550 million and more than $5 billion across at least 22,164 parcels — a figure the governor warned will grow.

Other help still available

The Indiana State Disaster Relief Fund remains open for uninsured damage to primary residences. Indiana 211 (call 211 or 866-211-9966) connects residents to local resources. Fishers residents can reach the city’s recovery hotline at 317-595-3211 or submit a request at FishersIN.gov/Flooding.

Counties left off Tuesday’s list could still be added as officials review more damage, according to the governor’s office.

Imitation firearm found in student’s backpack at Fishers Junior High, police say

A 13-year-old Fishers Junior High student was arrested Tuesday after a school resource officer and school administrators found an imitation firearm in his backpack, the Fishers Police Department said.

The department’s School Resource Unit was made aware of the situation Tuesday, Aug. 25, after Fishers Junior High staff learned the student might have an imitation firearm at school, according to a release from FPD. The school’s SRO and administrative staff began an investigation and located the item in the student’s backpack. It was collected as evidence.

The student, whom police did not identify because of his age, is charged with possession of an imitation firearm on school property or on a school bus, a Class B misdemeanor. Any school discipline will be handled by Fishers Junior High, police said.

Police said the situation was resolved quickly and without incident.

“We appreciate our relationship with Hamilton Southeastern Schools,” the department said in its release. “HSE and FPD are committed to keeping our students, staff, and families safe. We are grateful that this situation was handled very quickly and without incident.”

A new state law, in its first school year

The charge stems from a law that is new to Indiana classrooms this fall.

House Enrolled Act 1343, signed into law as Public Law 94-2026, took effect July 1 and makes it a Class B misdemeanor to knowingly or intentionally possess an imitation firearm in or on school property or on a school bus. The 2026-27 school year, which began for HSE students on Aug. 5, is the first full school year the law has been in effect.

The term generally covers realistic-looking replicas that are not actual firearms — airsoft and BB or pellet guns, replica handguns and rifles, and toy guns designed to closely resemble the real thing. The law includes an exemption for an imitation firearm that is lawfully possessed and properly secured inside a locked vehicle.

For an adult, a Class B misdemeanor in Indiana carries a maximum penalty of 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. Cases involving a 13-year-old, however, are generally handled through the juvenile system in Hamilton County rather than adult criminal court, where the matter would be treated as an act of delinquency and the adult sentencing range would not apply directly.

What police did not say

The FPD release did not describe what kind of imitation firearm was recovered, how staff first learned of it, or whether the student was accused of showing it to anyone or making any threat. No students or staff were reported hurt.

Parents and students who become aware of a safety concern at school are urged to tell a teacher, an administrator or a school resource officer.