Hamilton County has earned national recognition for its use of technology to improve government operations and public services.

The county placed third in the 2026 Digital Counties Survey among counties with populations between 250,000 and 499,999. The annual survey evaluates counties in areas including strategic technology planning, cybersecurity, digital services, data management and innovation.

The Center for Digital Government conducts the survey in partnership with the National Association of Counties. Now in its 24th year, the program recognizes local governments using technology to operate more efficiently and better serve residents.

“This award is the result of a countywide commitment to using technology as a tool to better serve our residents,” Hamilton County Information Technology Director Chris Mertens said. “Whether we’re strengthening our cybersecurity posture, modernizing county systems, or improving online access to services, every project is focused on making local government more secure, efficient, and responsive.”

Recipients were honored during the National Association of Counties Annual Conference in New Orleans. Hamilton County commissioners Mark Heirbrandt and Christine Altman attended the recognition event with members of the county’s Information Technology team.

Altman, president of the Hamilton County Commissioners, said technology plays a role in nearly every service the county provides.

“This recognition reflects the incredible work our Information Technology team does behind the scenes every day,” Altman said. “Chris Mertens and his team continue to find innovative ways to improve efficiency, strengthen cybersecurity, and ensure Hamilton County is prepared for the future.”

Additional information about the awards is available on the Digital Counties Survey website.

Car enthusiasts will gather for a good cause at Cars and Coffee from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, July 25, at Knowledge Services in Fishers. The free event welcomes everything from classic and exotic vehicles to everyday cars their owners are proud to display, while raising awareness and scholarship funds for Folds of Honor Indiana.

In this podcast, Larry talks with Mike Daggett, founder and executive director of the Indiana chapter. A 27-year military veteran, Daggett explains how Folds of Honor provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of fallen or disabled military members and first responders.

Daggett also shares how those scholarships have helped Indiana families continue the educational plans they made before tragedy changed their lives—and how the local community can support that mission by attending Cars and Coffee.

The LarryInFishers podcast series is sponsored by Citizens State Bank.

Listen to the podcast at this link or the link below.

A proposed Citizens State Bank branch along 116th Street, just west of Olio Road, drew skepticism from several Fishers City Council members Monday night, with much of the discussion focused on whether the location is appropriate for drive-through banking.

Council members also revisited the history of commercial development plans for the property and concerns previously expressed by residents of nearby neighborhoods.

The proposal calls for a banking center of up to 4,500 square feet, with a drive-through on the north side of the building, away from nearby homes. Bank representatives said the drive-through is expected to generate relatively little traffic and agreed to provide the council with projections supporting that estimate.

Mayor Scott Fadness noted that transportation changes are coming to the area. The city plans to construct a roundabout at 116th Street and Olio Road in 2027, while another roundabout is planned at 113th Street and Olio Road.

The bank proposal next goes to the Fishers Advisory Plan Commission for its Aug. 5 meeting. A final City Council vote is scheduled for Aug. 17.

Council considers two outdoor drinking districts

In a separate matter, the council received a proposal to establish Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas, commonly known as DORAs, in the Nickel Plate District and Fishers District.

Under Indiana law, a DORA allows adults 21 and older to purchase alcoholic beverages from participating licensed businesses and carry those drinks outdoors in specially marked cups. Beverages must remain within the designated boundaries.

Council members’ questions centered largely on enforcement, including how the city would monitor activity within the districts. City officials said the Fishers Police Department would watch for problems and monitor behavior. Public intoxication and other alcohol-related laws would continue to apply.

The council is expected to take a final vote on the DORA proposal Aug. 17. If the districts receive all required local and state approvals, they are scheduled to begin operating Sept. 1.

Other council business

In other matters:

• Legends of Geist: The council reviewed a proposed for-sale, single-family neighborhood at 10401 E. 116th St. The development would cover 10.45 acres and include 32 homes—eight with rear-loaded garages and 24 with side-loaded garages.  The starting price point in these homes are expected to be $900.000, according to the developer. The Plan Commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing Sept. 2, followed by a final City Council vote Sept. 21.
• Annexations: The council gave first reading to several voluntary annexation requests. Additional consideration will be required before the properties can be formally incorporated into the city.
• Community Comment: Residents raised concerns about conditions on several city streets and roads, privacy issues involving the Fishers Police Department’s Flock automated license-plate-reading cameras, conditions along portions of the Nickel Plate Trail and parking near King Jugg Brewing Company.

Professional wrestling returns to Hamilton County this fall as All Elite Wrestling brings “AEW: Dynamite & Collision” to the Fishers Event Center on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 7:30 p.m.

The night will feature a live national broadcast, with AEW Dynamite airing on TBS as part of the event. Fans in attendance can expect a full evening of matches showcasing the promotion’s roster of male and female wrestlers.

Among the stars scheduled to appear are Hangman Adam Page, “The Rated R Superstar” Cope, Jon Moxley, Christian Cage, MJF, Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, MVP, The Young Bucks, Toni Storm, Swerve Strickland, Mercedes Mone, Darby Allin, Kyle Fletcher, Thekla, FTR, Bandido and Mark Briscoe. AEW notes the lineup is subject to change due to storylines, injuries and other factors.

Since its founding in 2019 by CEO, GM and Head of Creative Tony Khan, AEW has built a reputation as one of wrestling’s fastest-rising promotions, known for its athleticism, larger-than-life personalities and ongoing storylines. “AEW: Dynamite” airs Wednesdays from 8-10 p.m. ET on TBS and streams on MAX, while “AEW: Collision” airs Saturdays from 8-10 p.m. ET on TNT, also streaming on MAX.

How to get tickets

Tickets go on sale in two waves. A venue presale begins Thursday, July 23, at 10 a.m. using the password AEW247. The general on-sale follows Monday, July 27, at 10 a.m. local time at FishersEventCenter.com.

There is a 12-ticket limit per household. Groups of 10 or more can receive $10 off select tickets.

The September stop marks a major get for the Fishers Event Center, which continues to attract national touring acts and televised events to the growing venue.

For more information, visit AllEliteWrestling.com or FishersEventCenter.com.

Meijer is hiring 200 employees for a new grocery store and Meijer Express gas station under construction along Southeastern Parkway in Fishers.

The retailer is seeking full- and part-time workers across multiple departments, including produce, deli, bakery, checkout and overnight stocking. Other openings include retail, food and Meijer Express clerks.

The 75,000-square-foot grocery store is being built at 15700 Southeastern Parkway. Meijer said the store and gas station are expected to open later this fall.

The Fishers location will be the company’s second Meijer Grocery concept in Indiana and its 45th store in the state. Unlike a traditional Meijer supercenter, the smaller-format store is designed around everyday grocery trips and weekly restocking.

The store will carry fresh produce, meat, deli and bakery products. It will also include a pharmacy and departments for health and beauty products, baby supplies, pet products, floral arrangements, greeting cards and party supplies.

Starting wages will vary by position and experience. According to Meijer, employee benefits may include weekly pay, tuition assistance, store discounts, paid parental leave, health insurance options and a 401(k) retirement plan.

The company will screen applications and invite selected candidates to interview later this month.

Job seekers can view available positions at jobs.meijer.com/stores. Applicants can select “Search New Store Open Jobs” or search for “Fishers” in the location field.

Meijer, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, operates more than 500 locations across six Midwestern states. The company entered Indiana in 1994 and says it currently employs more than 10,000 people at 44 stores and a manufacturing facility in Middlebury.

The Fishers City Council will consider proposals Monday to allow a new Citizens State Bank branch along East 116th Street and establish the city’s first two designated outdoor drinking districts.

Citizens State Bank is seeking planned unit development zoning for a one-acre property at 13562 E. 116th St. The proposal would allow a banking center of up to 4,500 square feet, including a drive-through on the building’s north side, away from nearby homes.

The drive-through has been a focus of discussions with city officials and neighbors. A revised design replaces an exit lane that wrapped around the front of the building with a U-turn loop northeast of the building. Vehicles would return through the parking lot before reaching 116th Street.

Proposed commitments include a 24-foot height limit, no more than 24 parking spaces and predominantly pitched roofs reflecting residential architecture. The bank would be the property’s sole tenant and owner-occupant. Business hours would be limited to 7 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays.

The proposal is scheduled for a Plan Commission public hearing Aug. 5, followed by a possible final council vote Aug. 17.

A separate ordinance would establish DORAs in the downtown Nickel Plate District and Fishers District near Interstate 69.

A DORA allows adults 21 and older to buy alcohol from approved establishments and carry it outdoors in specially marked, nonbreakable containers. Drinks must stay within district boundaries, and individual businesses may prohibit customers from bringing beverages inside.

The Nickel Plate DORA would generally extend from 116th Street north to Municipal Drive and from Fishers Center Drive east to Commercial Drive and the Nickel Plate Trail. Residential properties would be excluded. It would operate from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. May 1 through Oct. 1 and noon to 11 p.m. during the rest of the year.

Initial participants would be Parks Place Pub, Four Day Ray Brewing, Café Patachou and Another Broken Egg Café.

The Fishers District DORA would encompass commercial areas south of 116th Street between IKEA Way and USA Parkway, including portions of District North Drive, Gritstone Drive, Union Point Drive, Forum Way and Stockdale Street. Its hours would be noon to 11 p.m. daily. Sun King Fishers and Sangiovese Ristorante are listed as initial participants.

Customers could leave a participating establishment with no more than two drinks. Maximum sizes would be 16 ounces for beer or flavored malt beverages, 12 ounces for wine, cider or hard seltzer, and 10 ounces for mixed drinks containing no more than two ounces of liquor.

The council meets at 7 p.m. in the Fishers Municipal Center Theater, 1 Municipal Drive.

Kimi Antonelli strengthened his grip on the Formula One championship Sunday with a Belgian Grand Prix victory, while the Cadillac team, with a headquarters under construction in Fishers, suffered another frustrating mechanical failure.

Antonelli briefly lost the lead when a virtual safety-car period gave Leclerc a more advantageous pit stop. The Mercedes driver closed the gap and passed Charles Leclerc with 10 laps remaining before pulling away for the victory.

Cadillac’s difficult day

Cadillac arrived in Belgium hoping the high-speed Spa circuit would show progress in the team’s first Formula One season. Instead, both cars started near the back and only one reached the checkered flag.

Valtteri Bottas, who started 17th after grid adjustments, finished 18th and one lap behind Antonelli. He nevertheless brought the car home ahead of Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin, which finished two laps down.

Sergio “Checo” Pérez started 18th and initially moved closer to Esteban Ocon’s Haas. His race ended on Lap 13 when an internal component of the Cadillac’s rear suspension failed, according to the team’s Belgian Grand Prix race report.

“We are still investigating the reasons why,” Pérez said.

Pérez also said the Cadillac lacked straight-line speed, leaving him unable to sustain his fight with Ocon. The retirement continued a troubling reliability pattern for the first-year team, which also lost both cars to overheated brakes early in June’s Austrian Grand Prix.

Bottas said completing the race at least supplied engineers with useful information about the car’s reliability and tire degradation.

“We just need to keep pushing,” Bottas said.

Team principal Graeme Lowdon described Bottas’ drive as strong but said Cadillac must determine the cause of Pérez’s failure and regain the reliability it demonstrated earlier in the season.

Cadillac remains without a championship point after Belgium. The team’s next opportunity comes quickly: the Hungarian Grand Prix is scheduled for July 24-26 in Budapest.

A global race with a Fishers connection

Cadillac’s performance has special relevance in Central Indiana because its principal American headquarters is being built in Fishers.

The planned 400,000-square-foot facility will become the team’s headquarters and a major center for car manufacturing, according to Cadillac’s employment site. Cadillac is presently operating across multiple locations, including Silverstone, England, and GM’s motorsports operation in North Carolina.

TWG Motorsports CEO Dan Towriss said earlier this year that the Fishers construction could be completed late in 2026 or during the first quarter of 2027. He described it as a state-of-the-art facility that will operate alongside Cadillac’s European base, according to Formula One.

The Fishers operation ultimately is expected to handle much of Cadillac’s Formula One car production. For now, the team uses Ferrari engines and gearboxes while General Motors develops a Cadillac power unit targeted for competition in 2029.

That makes each race—including difficult afternoons such as Sunday’s in Belgium—part of the foundation for an international racing program whose long-term home is taking shape in Fishers.

Fishers residents are being advised to limit prolonged outdoor exposure Sunday and Monday as wildfire smoke is expected to push fine-particle pollution into a range considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has declared an Air Quality Action Day beginning at midnight Saturday night and continuing through Monday night. The alert includes Fishers and the rest of Hamilton County.

According to the National Weather Service alert, concentrations of PM 2.5 — extremely small airborne particles that can enter the lungs — are expected to reach levels considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Those groups include active children and adults, along with people who have asthma or other respiratory conditions. They are advised to limit prolonged outdoor exposure and reduce strenuous activity.

The alert could affect several outdoor activities in the Fishers area, including the free World Cup final watch party scheduled Sunday afternoon outside the Fishers Event Center.

The event is planned for the FORUM Credit Union Plaza at 11000 Stockdale St. Gates are scheduled to open at 2 p.m., with the game beginning at 3 p.m. Spectators have been encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for the outdoor gathering.

As of Saturday evening, the Fishers Event Center continued to list the watch party on its website.

IDEM recommends that residents avoid or limit exposure to wildfire smoke, reduce strenuous outdoor work and keep windows and doors closed as much as possible. Additional air-quality information is available through the agency’s SmogWatch website.

PM 2.5 pollution can be difficult to see or smell, meaning outdoor conditions may appear normal even when particle concentrations are elevated. Residents experiencing breathing problems or other symptoms should move indoors and follow guidance from their health-care provider.

A lightning strike sparked a fire at a Fifth Third Bank, 11662 Commercial Drive, in Fishers during Friday evening’s commute, prompting a multiagency emergency response.

The Fishers Fire Department said all bank employees evacuated safely before firefighters arrived. Crews contained the fire and prevented it from spreading farther through the building. No injuries were reported.

The response may have caught the attention of drivers traveling through the area Friday evening. Fishers police assisted with traffic control and used a drone to support the operation, while the Indianapolis Fire Department provided additional assistance. Fishers Fire Corps supplied rehabilitation services—including rest and hydration—for crews at the scene.

Officials did not release details about the extent of the damage, the exact time of the fire or whether the building would remain closed. No additional cause beyond the reported lightning strike was announced.

Hamilton County Republican Party Chairman Mario Massillamany on Saturday dismissed Democratic Chair Josh Lowry’s call for Election Administrator Beth Sheller’s resignation as a “clown show,” and countered with an accusation of his own: that Lowry once submitted incorrect paperwork that cost his own party 18 convention delegates.

The exchange is the latest in a fast-moving war of words that began Thursday night, when President Trump delivered a prime-time address repeating his claims that the 2020 election was “rigged, fraudulent, and not secure.” Lowry seized on the speech Friday, arguing that because Republicans held every office overseeing Hamilton County’s 2020 election, Trump’s claims — if true — would mean “Republicans cannot be trusted to run elections in Indiana.” He called on voters to reject every Republican on the November ballot and demanded that Sheller, the Republican candidate for county clerk, resign immediately.

Sheller refused, saying she has administered 11 elections and that a bipartisan county election board tested the machines and certified the 2020 results.

Massillamany echoed that defense in blunter terms.

“Josh Lowry wants Hamilton County voters to fire Beth Sheller, the woman who has personally run eleven elections in this county … with zero credible allegations of wrongdoing — because a president said something in a speech,” he wrote. “That’s not an argument. That’s a Mad Libs page: insert ‘Trump said a thing,’ conclude ‘therefore my opponent should resign.'”

The Republican chairman noted that the county’s bipartisan election board — which includes a Democratic appointee — certified the 2020 results as accurate. “Josh’s own party signed off on it,” he wrote. “If he has a problem with that outcome, he can take it up with his own appointee.”

Massillamany then went on offense, claiming Lowry “personally submitted incorrect delegate numbers and cost Hamilton County Democrats 18 delegates,” and that the error was Lowry’s alone because the election office processes, but does not audit, party chairs’ submissions.

“Before he questions whether Beth Sheller can be trusted to hold elected office, he might want to explain how he can be trusted to count to eighteen,” Massillamany wrote.

Lowry did submit an incorrect delegate allocation in December 2025, sending county election officials a township breakdown totaling 144 delegates even though the Indiana Democratic Party had allotted Hamilton County 162. Lowry acknowledged that he mistakenly copied an earlier draft. The error initially left 18 positions off the May primary ballot, but Lowry said the state party would fill those positions through its rules process and that Hamilton County would retain its full 162-member delegation.

Massillamany characterized Trump’s remarks as being “about a different state entirely.” The president’s 25-minute address did not single out Indiana; it alleged nationwide vulnerabilities, including a claim that China acquired data on 220 million American voters. Trump offered no new evidence of fraudulent votes, and the dozens of lawsuits challenging the 2020 results were rejected by the courts. Election officials of both parties have repeatedly affirmed the security of the 2020 election.

Notably, neither county chairman has disputed the security of Hamilton County’s own elections. Lowry’s release framed its argument as conditional — “if President Trump is correct” — while Sheller and Massillamany both pointed to the bipartisan certification of the 2020 count as evidence the system worked.

The dispute unfolds against the backdrop of this fall’s clerk’s race, in which Sheller is the Republican nominee. Voters will decide the contest in November.