When I first moved to Fishers in May of 1991, this was a town of around 9,000 people.

If you had a craving for a Dairy Queen, you drove to Noblesville. If you wanted to browse the local library, you drove up the road — to Noblesville. We were in the middle of moving into the new Town Hall on 116th Street, and Hamilton Southeastern High School sat almost alone, with very little built up around it.

Oh, how things have changed.

The old Town Hall is gone. In its place stands a new City Hall and Arts Center complex. The development around Hamilton Southeastern High School is now massive, and somewhere along the way we added a second school, Fishers High School. The town I moved into is, since January 1, 2015, a city — one of the fastest-growing in Indiana. The 7,000-some residents counted in the 1990 census have multiplied many times over.

All of that was crossing my mind last Wednesday as I stood at a press conference announcing what’s coming next: a new corporate headquarters relocating to our city, a first-class fieldhouse that will include a home for the Indy Ignite professional volleyball team, and new residential development — all of it rising on what was a vacant field when my wife Jane and I first arrived. JD Finish Line is moving its North American headquarters here, and the Ignite, Indiana’s only women’s pro volleyball team, will practice and run their operation out of the new Fishers Fieldhouse, part of a major expansion of the Fishers District.

A vacant field. That’s what it was.

When you talk with the people who go back a long way in Fishers — and I mean the 1960s, at least — they’ll tell you the story started with two things: the arrival of I-69 and an upgraded sewer line. Those two pieces of infrastructure opened the door, and the development simply took off from there and never really stopped.

I came to this work by a roundabout path. When I retired in late 2011 from a 28-year career as a federal civil servant, I drew on my pre-government life as a journalist and did the simplest thing I could think of: I showed up at local meetings and wrote down what I saw and heard. I figured a few hundred people might care about local government. I was wrong.

In 2025, this website drew more than 100,000 unique visitors. I have already passed that number in 2026, and we are not yet halfway through the year. My podcasts logged more than 22,000 plays last year.

The bottom line is that there is far more appetite for local news than I ever imagined. People who live in Fishers want to know what’s happening in Fishers. I am not the only local news source in town, and I’m humbled, again and again, by how many people choose to spend their time on what I produce.

Until recently, the website and the podcasts were strictly a volunteer endeavor. In the past few months I’ve chosen to accept advertising. I use a national system to place ads on the site, and Citizens State Bank has been a great partner in sponsoring the podcasts. I make very little money after expenses. The sponsorships essentially cover the cost of producing all of this — costs that, until now, came out of my own pocket.

Some people have urged me to switch to a paid model: subscriptions, or a Substack account. I’ve considered it, and decided against it. My main goal is to offer this content free of charge, and that hasn’t changed.

I’ll turn 75 in a few months. My health is reasonably good, so as long as I’m able, I plan to keep going.

The main reason I plan to continue? You. All of you.

I’ve tried to quit this local news gig twice over the past 15 years. Both times, it was you — the readers of this website, the people listening to and watching the podcasts — who urged me to stay. So I stayed.

When Alison Gatz, publisher of Fishers Magazine, asked me to write a piece for new residents in her annual relocation guide, I wrote about the quality of this community. I ended it with a thought I’ll repeat here: Jane and I have chosen to stay in Fishers for 35 years largely because the people who live here are, by and large, good people.

That’s why LarryInFishers continues. The good people of Fishers have asked me to stay.

Here I am.

Fishers High School students will host the 7th annual Juneteenth Jubilee on Friday, June 19, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Conner Prairie. The free, public celebration is organized by the school’s Fishers Black Leaders Club (FBL) with support from the Fishers Arts Council and Conner Prairie.

Now in its fourth year at Conner Prairie, the Jubilee has grown into one of the area’s signature summer events. Last year more than 2,000 people attended with their families. The student-managed celebration spotlights Black-owned businesses, visual and culinary artists, community resources and live performances. MIBOR Realtor Association returns as title sponsor.

Juneteenth marks the end of slavery in the United States, and for the students behind the event, the day carries personal meaning. “Juneteenth marks the celebration of freedom for many African American people,” said student organizer Gianna Fowler. “It celebrates liberty and independence.” Fellow organizer Sondos Mertami pointed to the event’s role in the community: “Juneteenth is important to the Fishers community because it brings people together and raises awareness of the holiday allowing people to learn about the history behind it.”

The evening opens with a live performance of the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by J. Rosamond Johnson and James Weldon Johnson, sung by Abigail Ngene at 5:20 p.m. With support from entertainment sponsors Accent Coatings and Mays Chemical, the stage will feature national touring artist B.I.G.S.T.E.V.E 513, local recording artist Skypp and spoken word artist Angela Barnes, along with returning Jubilee favorites Erick Oneal Fisher and Deezy Not Nice. DJ Mr. Kinetik serves as emcee.

The Jubilee offers something for every age. Free activities include an interactive drum circle with Joyful Noyze, face painting, bounce houses and yard games, while Conner Prairie provides semi-guided tours to select areas during the event. Vendors will sell jewelry, baked goods, bodycare products, clothing, art and more. “There’s a little bit of everything,” Fowler said, “and this is a great opportunity for the community to come together.” Community resources and nonprofits on hand include the Fishers Health Department, Hamilton East Public Library, Fishers PRIDE and the Institute for Quality Education.

Students from FBL have created and run the Jubilee since 2020, handling everything from vendor and entertainment coordination to educational materials, business partnerships and fundraising.

“Conner Prairie is proud to work alongside of the Fishers High School Fishers Black Leaders and the Fishers Arts Council for another exciting Juneteenth Jubilee,” said Ryan Spencer, Vice President and Chief Programs Officer at Conner Prairie. “Uplifting talented students in our community while celebrating Juneteenth with our African-American community is a privilege and joy.”

Les Reinhardt, Executive Director of the Fishers Arts Council, has worked with the FBL students since the council was first invited to help in 2022. “Having the opportunity to work for these incredible student leaders is an inspiration,” she said. “They decide what will be offered, coordinate with the vendors and entertainment, create educational materials, partner with businesses and fundraise. It’s truly amazing to see the power of what our youth can make happen in Fishers.”

The 7th Juneteenth Jubilee is free and open to the public, Friday, June 19, 2026, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Conner Prairie.

Hamilton County Leadership Academy will honor Megan Wiles as its 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, recognizing her service to HCLA and her broader impact in Hamilton County.

Wiles is a member of the HCLA Class of 2000 and served as dean of the Class of 2025. She currently serves as Vice President of Foundation and Community Affairs for Riverview Health, where she has worked since March 2015 raising funds to support programs and projects benefiting patients, families and staff.

Her public service also includes her role on the Noblesville Common Council. Wiles began her third term on the council in January 2024 and has served several times as both council president and vice president.

HCLA cited Wiles’ more than 25 years of work in the not-for-profit sector, through both paid and volunteer positions. She currently serves on the Conner Prairie Board of Directors and was a member of the Richard G. Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series Class of 2018-2019.

A Noblesville High School graduate, Wiles also graduated from Ball State University.

Hamilton County Leadership Academy will recognize Wiles at its annual Leadership Summit on June 18.

Founded in 1991, HCLA describes itself as Hamilton County’s premier leadership program. The academy provides a 10-month immersive experience designed to help participants take a deeper look at issues facing communities throughout the county.

The Fishers Freight have spent the past several weeks finding themselves on the wrong side of close games.

Sunday night in Glendale, Arizona, they finally found a way to finish one.

Facing an Arizona Rattlers team that had been unbeaten at home and entered the game as an 8.5-point favorite, the Freight battled through a tough, physical Indoor Football League contest and escaped with a 37-36 victory, ending a five-game losing streak and moving their season record to 6-6.

It was the kind of game the Freight had been searching for during their recent slide. Neither team was able to build much separation, and both squads had opportunities to take control. Instead, the game came down to the final seconds.

Arizona kicker Mathew Cook had a chance to win it for the Rattlers, but his 26-yard field goal attempt had the distance and sailed wide right as time ran out. The miss preserved the Fishers win and gave the Freight a badly needed boost in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Both kickers had their struggles during the night, but Freight kicker Calum Sutherland provided an important difference by connecting on two deuces — two-point kicks through the uprights on kickoffs.

Quarterback Felix Harper once again helped keep Fishers in the game with his combination of accurate passing and timely running. His ability to stay composed under pressure proved critical in a back-and-forth contest that featured momentum swings, physical play and key penalties on both sides.

The Freight appeared to come up with a major defensive play when they intercepted a pass in the end zone, but the turnover was wiped out by a penalty. Later, Arizona was threatening near the goal line before a holding call pushed the Rattlers backward and forced the final field goal attempt by Cook.

After the game, Freight Coach Dixie Wooten said his team earned the win because the players “played together.” He also credited Harper for showing poise in difficult situations.

The victory keeps Fishers very much alive in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Tulsa and Orlando are both 6-5, while Quad City stands at 5-7. The final two playoff spots in the East are likely to be decided over the closing weeks of the regular season among those teams.

The path will not be easy.

Fishers returns home Saturday to face Iowa at the Fishers Event Center. The Freight then travel to Green Bay for a third meeting this season with the Blizzard, head to Moline to face Quad City, and close the regular season at home against Orlando.

Iowa has only one win this season, but the Freight are not in a position to overlook anyone. If Fishers wants to stay in the playoff hunt, Saturday’s home game against the Barnstormers becomes another critical test.

After weeks of close losses, the Freight finally made the plays needed to win one. Now they must show they can build on it.

The Cadillac Formula 1 Team’s debut season continued Sunday in Barcelona with another lesson in the steep climb required to become competitive at the top level of international motorsports.

Sergio “Checo” Perez brought one of the team’s two cars home in the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, finishing 14th overall. It was Cadillac’s best official finishing position so far in its first Formula 1 season, but still outside the points-paying top 10.

Valtteri Bottas, driving the team’s other car, was forced to retire early in the race. Cadillac said Bottas was pulled from the event on Lap 15 as a precaution after what had already been a difficult weekend on his side of the garage.

For Fishers, Cadillac’s progress in Formula 1 has become more than just an international sports story. The team’s North American headquarters is under construction in Fishers, making each race weekend part of a larger local story as the city becomes connected to one of the world’s most watched sports.

Sunday’s race at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was not expected to be easy for Cadillac. Barcelona is often viewed as a revealing circuit because its mix of long corners, tire wear and aerodynamic demands can expose a car’s weaknesses. Perez started 19th, Bottas 20th, after both Cadillacs were eliminated in the first round of qualifying Saturday.

The race itself became one of tire strategy and survival. Lewis Hamilton scored his first Grand Prix victory for Ferrari, followed by George Russell and Lando Norris. Perez stayed in the race and reached the finish, while Bottas joined a list of seven retirements that also included Kimi Antonelli, Charles Leclerc, Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll, Nico Hulkenberg and Ollie Bearman.

Cadillac Team Principal Graeme Lowdon said after the race the team knew Barcelona would be a difficult measuring stick for where the new operation stands on pace. Still, he noted Perez continued Cadillac’s record of getting at least one car to the finish in every race so far this season.

Perez said the Barcelona weekend gave the team a clear picture of what needs to improve, especially over longer runs. He said the team has updates planned for the next race in Austria, with more development work expected after that.

The Barcelona weekend also included an American milestone for Cadillac. Colton Herta, the American driver now part of the team’s development program, drove in Friday’s first practice session, completing 27 laps in his first official Formula 1 practice outing with Cadillac.

Cadillac remains without a championship point after seven Grand Prix races, but the team has been open from the start that its first season would be about building a foundation. The operation is competing with Ferrari power units for now, with General Motors planning to produce its own F1 power unit later in the decade.

The next test comes in two weeks at the Austrian Grand Prix, followed one week later by the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. For Fishers, the watch continues as the city’s connection to Formula 1 moves from construction site to race results.

When the filing deadline for Indiana’s May primary came and went, no Republican had stepped forward to challenge incumbent Democrat Victoria Garcia Wilburn for the House District 32 seat in the November 3 general election. That may be about to change.

A Republican precinct committee person has shared a message from Hamilton County GOP Chair Mario Massillamany calling a caucus of precinct committeemen and committeewomen for Friday, June 26, to select a Republican candidate for Indiana House District 32. Under Indiana law, when no candidate files in a primary, the county party may fill the ballot vacancy by a caucus vote of its precinct officials — the same process the GOP has used to fill other unexpected openings.

District 32 takes in parts of Fishers, Carmel and a small slice of Indianapolis, spanning portions of both Hamilton and Marion counties.

According to the message, this will be a closed caucus. Only members of the caucus, the caucus board, vote tellers, candidates’ designated watchers, and Hamilton County Republican Party staff and their designees will be permitted inside the meeting.

To qualify, candidates must live within the State Representative District 32 boundaries, have a Republican primary voting history in the last two primaries in which they cast a ballot, and file a notarized Declaration of Candidacy.

Garcia Wilburn, a Democrat first elected in 2022, is seeking a third term. A physical therapist and university faculty member by profession, she serves as the ranking minority member of the House Judiciary Committee and sits on the Public Health and Employment, Labor and Pensions committees.

There is no word yet on who may seek the Republican nomination at the June 26 caucus.

With the Fourth of July around the corner, the question lighting up neighborhood group chats across Fishers is a familiar one: When can I legally set off fireworks, and what am I allowed to use?

City ordinance has the answers, and the rules are more specific than many residents realize. Here is what Fishers law says about consumer fireworks, when you can use them, and what happens if you don’t follow the rules.

The dates and times that matter

Fishers does not allow consumer fireworks year-round or at all hours. The city’s ordinance (Chapter 99) spells out exactly when it is legal to set them off, and the window is narrower than the holiday season might suggest.

Around Independence Day, fireworks are permitted between 5:00 p.m. and two hours after sunset on June 29, June 30, July 1, July 2, July 3, July 5, July 6, July 7, July 8, and July 9. Because sunset in central Indiana in early July falls around 9:15 p.m., that generally means the legal window closes near 11:15 p.m. on those days.

July 4 itself gets the longest leash. On the holiday, fireworks are allowed from 10:00 a.m. all the way to midnight.

The only other legal window in the calendar comes at New Year’s: from 10:00 a.m. on December 31 until 1:00 a.m. on January 1.

Set off fireworks outside those specific dates and hours — including the days immediately before June 29 or after July 9 — and you’re breaking city law.

What counts as a “consumer firework”

The ordinance’s timing rules apply to “consumer fireworks,” a category defined by federal safety standards. In plain terms, it covers the aerial and noise-making devices most people picture: sky rockets, missile-type rockets, helicopter and aerial spinners, Roman candles, mines, shells, firecrackers, salutes and chasers, plus combination items.

Some items are excluded from that definition entirely and remain legal to use, though state permitting rules and statutes can still apply. That list includes wire sparklers and dipped sticks, cylindrical and cone fountains, illuminating torches, wheels, ground spinners, flitter sparklers, snakes and glow worms, smoke devices, and novelty “trick noisemakers” such as party poppers, snappers and booby traps.

A few things are flatly banned. The ordinance specifically excludes — and federal law prohibits — M-80s, cherry bombs and silver salutes, along with any other device the federal government has outlawed.

Big shows are a different story

The neighbor-with-a-mortar rules don’t apply to professional displays. Supervised public fireworks shows put on by municipalities, fair associations, amusement parks and similar organizations are exempt from Chapter 99’s date-and-time limits, though they remain subject to state permitting requirements and statutes. That’s why a city-sanctioned show can light up the sky on a schedule that wouldn’t be legal in your backyard.

Who enforces it, and what it costs

Two agencies share enforcement: the Fishers Department of Fire and Emergency Services and the Fishers Police Department. Either can issue a citation for violating the ordinance.

Violators must pay a fine to the city’s Ordinance Violations Bureau, set under a separate section of city code (§ 36.08). If a fine goes unpaid, the City Attorney’s office can file an enforcement action in Fishers City Court.

The bottom line

If you’re planning to celebrate at home, the safest bet is simple: save the big stuff for July 4, when you have from 10 a.m. to midnight, and otherwise stick to the 5 p.m.-to-two-hours-after-sunset window on the surrounding permitted days. Keep sparklers and fountains handy for the in-between, know your neighbors may be just as tired as you are by late evening, and have a hose or bucket of water close by.

Have a safe and happy Fourth, Fishers.

The full text of the ordinance is available through the city’s online code library under Chapter 99. This article summarizes the law and is not legal advice.

We are into the summer road construction season and there are plenty of projects to keep in mind as you travel in and around the Fishers area.

Here is a quick summary of the major projects, followed by the full report, as provided by the City of Fishers.

• 96th Street and Cyntheanne Road – Full Closure
• 136th Street Widening – Southeastern Parkway to Prairie Baptist Road – follow detour route
• 116th and Allisonville Intersection Improvements Project – Down to one lane in all directions
• Lantern Road – Closure at Morgan Drive from June 8 – 19
• Southeastern Parkway & Olio Road Roundabout Improvements – Periodic lane restrictions
• 126th Street – single-lane restrictions (Beginning July 13)

Continue reading Road Construction Update – week starting Sunday June 14 →

The Fishers Health Department (FHD) is warning residents to use caution near several local waterways after recent water quality testing returned unsatisfactory E. coli levels at four locations.

The affected sites are:

• White River at the 116th Street Bridge (6100 Wahpihani Dr.)
• Geist Reservoir at the Olio Road Boat Ramp (10999 Olio Rd.)
• Fall Creek at Geist Park (10800 Florida Rd.)
• Fall Creek at Canal Place (14400 Geist Ridge Dr.)

Health officials say the elevated bacteria levels are consistent with what the department typically sees following periods of heavy rainfall — a pattern well-documented in the Upper White River Watershed, where Fishers sits.

Why Rain Drives Up E. Coli Levels

E. coli is a naturally occurring bacteria found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. While it doesn’t always cause illness on its own, health officials use it as an indicator for other potentially dangerous bacteria and viruses in the water. Waterborne illnesses linked to contaminated water include dysentery, Hepatitis A, and bacterial gastroenteritis.

When it rains heavily, water rushing over roads, rooftops, sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots carries pollutants directly into storm drains — which eventually empty into local streams and reservoirs. In agricultural areas upstream, runoff can wash animal manure from fields into the same waterways. Older or failing septic systems, stormwater outfalls, and wastewater treatment overflows can also contribute to elevated E. coli counts.

“Frequent unsatisfactory levels at Geist Park and White River are a result of our waterways being in the Upper White River Watershed,” the department noted in its public notice. “Our urban and suburban expansion areas are rapidly increasing, making it particularly susceptible to both agricultural and urbanization influences.”

Warmer water temperatures compound the problem. E. coli thrives in heat, meaning summer conditions can accelerate bacterial growth even between rain events.

What the FHD Tests and Where

The FHD monitors 40 creek and open water locations throughout the area, publishing results monthly during spring, summer, and fall for nine key sites. In addition to E. coli, the department tracks water temperature and dissolved oxygen — both critical indicators of aquatic ecosystem health.

The department recently added a new sampling point at Fall Creek at Canal Place, near where the creek empties into Geist Reservoir east of the Olio Road bridge. The addition allows officials to track how water quality changes as Fall Creek flows into the reservoir and moves south, complementing existing test sites at Family Cove and Cambridge Cove.

What Residents Should Know

Residents who swim, fish, or boat in affected areas should use caution until follow-up testing shows bacteria levels have returned to acceptable ranges. The FHD publishes updated results on its website and offers a free email alert service for water quality and environmental notifications.

The department’s environmental testing program also covers mosquito and rodent control, rabies monitoring, well water sampling, pool inspections, and indoor air quality — a broad public health mandate that keeps local waterways among the most closely watched in the region.

For the latest water quality results or to sign up for email alerts, visit the Fishers Health Department website.

Spark!Fishers, presented by Meijer, returns to downtown Fishers’ Nickel Plate District June 24-27, and this year’s celebration carries extra significance: the festival will commemorate America’s semiquincentennial, the nation’s 250th birthday.

“Spark!Fishers showcases the energy, pride and sense of community that make Fishers such a special place to live,” said Mayor Scott Fadness. “We look forward to welcoming everyone to downtown Fishers for several days of fun, tradition and celebration.”

Festivities begin even before the main event. The Rotary Club of Fishers kicks off the week Monday, June 22, with its Mental Health Initiative Golf Outing at The Hawthorns Golf & Country Club, benefiting Project Hope, which provides school-based mental health support for Hamilton Southeastern students and families. On Wednesday, June 24, the family-friendly Spark!Fishers 5K and Firecracker 1-Miler step off at 7 p.m. on the Nickel Plate Trail, followed by a post-race party with inflatables, food trucks and a foam party.

Friday night brings a free concert at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater featuring P!NK’D, a tribute to pop superstar P!NK, complete with aerial and lighting effects. The popular Spark!Fishers drone show returns to close out the evening. The 8 p.m. show requires no tickets, and guests may bring chairs, blankets and food, though outside alcohol is not permitted.

Saturday is the festival’s biggest day. The Street Fair runs 4-10 p.m. around the Municipal Complex, featuring a new dedicated Kids Zone with a petting zoo and life-size building blocks, a Spark!Fishers edition of Thrift-a-Thon, more than 100 food and craft vendors, and live entertainment across seven stages. The beloved Car & Art Show, newly combined with the Street Fair, fills Municipal Circle from 4-6:30 p.m. with vintage and modern vehicles alongside local artists curated by the Fishers Arts Council.

“Spark!Fishers offers something for everyone,” said Marissa Deckert, director of Fishers Parks. “It’s exciting to see this festival evolve each year and bring our community together to celebrate summer in Fishers.”

The annual parade rolls through downtown at 7 p.m. Saturday, emceed by the hosts of The Scuttlebutt Club podcast, before the grand fireworks finale caps the celebration that evening.

Fishers Parks will offer KultureCity sensory-inclusive bags, weighted lap pads and assisted listening devices, with a respite room available at City Hall. Accessible parking is available at all events.

Organizers are also seeking volunteers of all ages to help with the festival and parade; registration is open at volunteerfishers.com. Full event details, including the parade route and parking information, are available at SparkFishers.com.