More than 25 volunteers gathered Sunday, Oct. 11, to clear flood debris from the Nonie Werbe Krauss Nature Preserve, a 77-acre property along the White River that organizers say helped shield parts of Fishers from flooding nearly eight weeks ago.

According to organizers, the preserve absorbed about 150 million gallons of floodwater, acting as a natural sponge that slowed the river. They credit the property with protecting 116th Street, the Eller Road corridor and Riverside School, and with limiting flooding at Heritage Park, Carmel’s Hazel Landing and White River Park.

Organizers attribute that protection to the late Van Eller, a farmer and conservationist who decades ago planted native trees on his White River farm and worked with the Central Indiana Land Trust (CILTI) to preserve the last of his family’s land.

While the native vegetation held back the water, the receding river left behind a large amount of trash carried downstream. Volunteers from across Central Indiana turned out Sunday to remove it.

Organizers credited Fishers Parks Director Marissa Deckert with coordinating the multi-agency effort, saying the cleanup would not have happened without her.

Heavy debris removal on site was led by Assistant Parks Director Jason King, CILTI volunteer steward John Bauer and CILTI land managers Philip Weldy and Max Gerke, with volunteers handling the rest.

Several agencies supported the work:

• Fishers Parks managed logistics, supplied large utility vehicles and haul wagons, and provided protective equipment to guard volunteers against mold.
• Hamilton County Tourism provided food, snacks and drinks.
• Hamilton County Emergency Management handled the initial removal of hazardous debris and the final pickup and disposal of everything volunteers collected.

Fishers City Councilor Bill Stuart joined CILTI and Fishers Parks in the initial damage assessment and brought the concerns to City Hall. Organizers also thanked Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness and Hamilton County Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt for helping clear the way for the city-county partnership.

“Water is powerful, but the hearts of people can overcome,” said volunteer steward Becky McNichols. “It always warms my heart to see so many people come together and help.”

The preserve is open to the public. To protect wildlife, pollinators and birds, visitors are limited to foot traffic only — no bicycles — and dogs must be kept on a leash.

Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson is urging parents to take a more active role in their children’s online lives, pointing to the death of Hailey Buzbee, the 17-year-old Fishers girl whose kidnapping is now the subject of a federal prosecution.

Wilson made the remarks during a recent appearance on “The Big Picture,” a program on Columbus, Ohio television station WBNS, weeks after meeting with Buzbee’s parents. He said the family’s experience shows that no household should assume it is safe from online predators.

“Hailey’s parents are normal parents,” Wilson said.

He said that if it could happen to the Buzbee family, it could happen to any family, including his own. Wilson said neither his title nor his professional experience makes his children immune from someone trying to harm them.

Buzbee disappeared from her Fishers home earlier this year. Her remains were found weeks later in Perry County in February. Federal prosecutors allege she met the man charged in the case, a 39-year-old Columbus, Ohio, resident, online while playing video games, including Roblox and League of Legends.

On Sept. 23, a federal grand jury indicted the man on nine counts, including kidnapping resulting in death, sexual exploitation of a child resulting in death, traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, and obstruction-related offenses. He pleaded not guilty to all counts at his arraignment in federal court. The allegations have not been proven in court.

Wilson encouraged parents to learn which apps their children use, read up on known safety problems with those platforms and talk openly with their kids about who they interact with online. He said those conversations should come from a place of love and concern for a child’s safety, not an effort to control them.

Wilson said Buzbee’s parents are now sharing their story to warn other families, even though reliving it is painful each time. He said they do so because they want no other parent to suffer the same loss.

The case has also drawn a response from Ohio lawmakers. Senate Bill 379, known as “Hailey’s Law,” was introduced in March by state Sens. Michele Reynolds and Kristina Roegner. The bill is among several proposals aimed at protecting children from online exploitation.

The federal case remains ongoing.

Information from Fort Wayne radio station WOWO contributed to this report.

Monday, Oct. 12, brings a holiday with competing names and different views of American history. Although many communities celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the federal holiday remains officially Columbus Day, according to the Office of Personnel Management.

The distinction reflects a debate over whom the country should honor: an explorer whose voyages transformed world history, or the Indigenous peoples who suffered under European colonization and whose communities endure today.

The differences extend across state lines. A 2025 Pew Research Center review found that 30 states recognized Columbus Day in some form, but only 20 provided a paid holiday for state workers (Indiana does not). Seventeen states and Washington, D.C., had observances honoring Native Americans on the second Monday in October, sometimes alongside Columbus Day.

Supporters of changing the name point to the consequences of Columbus’ arrival in 1492. Indigenous peoples already inhabited the Americas, and European expansion brought enslavement, warfare, displacement and devastating disease. The Library of Congress documents the enslavement of Native people in Columbus’ trading center on Hispaniola.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian supports replacing Columbus Day, arguing that celebrating the explorer dismisses Indigenous losses and colonialism’s continuing effects. Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the museum says, recognizes Native peoples’ resilience and diversity while encouraging a fuller account of history.

Those defending Columbus Day emphasize its meaning for Italian Americans, whose ancestors faced discrimination and violence.

The National Italian American Foundation says the holiday became a source of dignity for Italian Americans and Catholics. That history includes the 1891 lynching of 11 Italian Americans in New Orleans.

The foundation also celebrates Columbus’ voyage as an achievement of exploration and a catalyst for centuries of immigration. It argues that judging a historical figure solely by modern standards overlooks context, and that eliminating the holiday would diminish an established celebration of Italian American contributions.

Recognition of Indigenous peoples does not necessarily require choosing only one observance. The foundation supports an Indigenous holiday while opposing the replacement of Columbus Day, saying both can coexist. Several states already recognize both traditions, illustrating one approach to a debate about history, identity and public honor.

The road through the IHSAA Class 6A football tournament will begin with a crosstown rivalry for Fishers’ two high schools.

Fishers will face Hamilton Southeastern in the opening round of Sectional 3, according to pairings announced by the IHSAA Sunday. The game will be played Friday, Oct. 30, at Hamilton Southeastern’s home field.

With only four teams in the sectional, a meeting between the two Fishers schools was always a strong possibility. Now it is official, and one of the city’s two programs will see its season end after the first round.

The other half of Sectional 3 is equally familiar. Carmel and Westfield will meet in the other opening-round game, played at Westfield.

The winners will meet in the sectional championship. That game will be played at Carmel or Westfield, depending on which team wins that matchup. That means the Fishers–HSE winner will play the sectional final on the road.

Opening-round games in all but one of the state’s 6A sectionals are scheduled for Oct. 30.

The pairing guarantees that the Hamilton County flavor of Sectional 3 will hold all the way through. All four teams come from the county, and each is a regular contender in the state’s largest classification.

For Fishers and Hamilton Southeastern, the matchup adds a postseason chapter to one of the most closely watched rivalries in the community. The two schools share a city, a school district and plenty of family connections, so the game carries extra weight for students, parents and alumni on both sides.

In the 1970s, I hosted a radio talk show whose whole purpose was to take on controversial subjects. Threats came with the job. Some arrived by phone, some by mail. I never let them change how I ran the program, but I did take precautions in my personal life that I would rather not have needed.

So I read a New York Times investigation published this weekend with a sense of recognition, and alarm.

The Times reviewed records from more than 100 open records requests, along with court files and dozens of interviews. Reporters found that over roughly two years, violent threats reached at least 44 governors, at least 70 of the 100 U.S. senators, at least 185 members of the House and more than half the nation’s secretaries of state. The targets ranged from county clerks to senators, Republicans and Democrats alike, and often included their spouses and children.

Indiana is part of the story. Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, told the Times that bomb threats and death threats poured into his office after his chamber resisted President Donald Trump’s push to redraw the state’s congressional map. Bray said he changed his daily routine, varied his route to work and asked his family to stay alert.

The cost shows up in dollars, too. Federal candidates spent about $6 million on security in the 2017-18 election cycle. This cycle, they had spent at least $25 million by Aug. 1. Yet prosecutions are rare. The Times found only 53 federal cases over two years in which someone was charged with threatening a public official other than the president.

What concerns me most does not show up in the statistics: the people who never run.

I have talked with capable people here in Fishers and Hamilton County who decided against seeking office. They told me the climate simply is not worth what it could cost their families. The Times reports that both parties are struggling to recruit candidates, especially women. I have watched that same trend play out at our level.

Local government depends on neighbors willing to serve on city councils, school boards and county offices for modest pay and long hours. When the possibility of harm enters that decision, we lose people. Often the ones who step back are exactly the ones we need most: thoughtful, even-tempered people with jobs and young families.

Threats against public figures are not new. I took my share 50 years ago. What has changed is the volume, the anonymity of the internet and how easily a home address can be found and posted online.

So what can the rest of us do?

Disagree, even sharply, without dehumanizing the person on the other side. Hold officials accountable where it counts: at the ballot box, at public meetings and in letters to the editor. Report threats to law enforcement instead of shrugging them off. And when someone crosses the line from criticism to menace, even in an online comment thread, say so.

I never let threats change how I did my job. But I was a radio host, not a school board member with children in the district. We should not ask our neighbors to accept that kind of risk as the price of public service.

The Cadillac Formula 1 team, whose American headquarters is under construction in Fishers, left Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix still searching for its first championship points.

Sergio Perez finished 17th and teammate Valtteri Bottas placed 19th in the Oct. 11 race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. Perez completed 60 laps, two behind winner Max Verstappen. Bottas completed 59 laps and finished three laps behind, according to

Both Cadillac drivers reached the finish after a difficult Saturday in Singapore. Neither completed the rain-hit Sprint race: Perez was involved in a first-lap collision with Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, while Bottas was caught in a three-car collision involving Williams driver Alex Albon and Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto.

Sunday’s result leaves Cadillac 11th in the team standings with no points during its debut season.

For Fishers residents, the team’s progress carries a local connection beyond the racetrack. Cadillac’s planned $200 million, 400,000-square-foot headquarters is being built near Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport, west of Hague Road between East 96th and East 106th streets. Plans call for about 300 employees, including engineers and technicians who will assemble the team’s cars.

In February, TWG Motorsports CEO Dan Towriss said the team hoped to complete construction later in 2026 or during the first quarter of 2027. The Fishers headquarters is intended to operate alongside Cadillac’s European facility at Silverstone, England.

At the front of Sunday’s race, Verstappen won for Red Bull, finishing 7.335 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli placed third.

Cadillac’s next opportunity to score points comes on American soil in Austin, Texas. The United States Grand Prix weekend is scheduled for Oct. 23-25.

The Indy Fuel scored twice in a 35-second stretch of the first period Saturday night and went on to defeat the Bloomington Bison 4-2 at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington, Illinois.

The Fuel’s only preseason game comes ahead of Friday’s regular-season opener at Fishers Event Center. Fans can see the team at its annual open house today, Sunday, Oct. 11, from 1 to 4 p.m.

Cody Laskosky opened Saturday’s scoring at 7:54 of the first period. Marcus Joughin followed at 8:29, with assists from Kyler Kupka and Dustin Manz.

Jadon Joseph extended Indy’s lead to 3-0 at 15:07 of the second period, assisted by Tommy Budnick and Jesse Tucker. Bloomington’s Mikhail Abramov answered late in the period.

Kyle Aucoin made it 4-1 at 13:35 of the third period, with Josh Nixon earning the assist. Bloomington’s Glebs Prohorenkovs scored with one second remaining.

Indy outshot Bloomington 39-22. Adam Gajan and Thomas Gale shared goaltending duties, with Gajan stopping all 14 shots he faced and Gale making six saves.

Christian Horn directed the Fuel as interim head coach while newly hired head coach Jesse Messier awaits immigration authorization.

The team announced Thursday that an unexpected processing delay at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services had prevented Messier from assuming his duties. At that time, the Fuel said it was uncertain whether approval would arrive before the regular-season opener.

Fuel President Sean Hallett said former head coach Duncan Dalmao’s unexpected departure late in the offseason meant the organization filed its immigration application later than usual. Hallett said that timing did not cause the processing delay but left less flexibility to accommodate it. The team has sought help from U.S. Sen. Todd Young’s office.

Today’s open house at Fishers Event Center will feature selected players, team personnel and community partners, along with a clearance sale of Fuel and Fishers Freight merchandise. Admission and parking are free.

The afternoon’s activities also include giveaways, food and a jersey reveal. The Fuel open the regular season Friday, Oct. 16, against the Wheeling Nailers at Fishers Event Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.   For Indy Fuel tickets, use this link.

A familiar name to Indiana college football fans is joining the Fishers Freight for the 2027 Indoor Football League season.

The Indoor Football League’s transaction listing shows veteran quarterback Nate Davis signing with the Fishers Freight on Thursday, October 8.

Monday, the Freight confirmed Davis will be with the team in the 2027 season.

Felix Harper, Freight starting quarterback in 2026 and part of the 2025 season, has recently signed with the San Antonio Gunslingers, based on IFL transaction reports.

Fishers is adding one of the more accomplished quarterbacks in indoor football, a player with a remarkable career stretching from Ball State University to the National Football League and more than a decade of indoor football competition.

Davis, 39, played three seasons at Ball State from 2006 through 2008, becoming one of the most successful quarterbacks in the school’s history.

His biggest season came in 2008, when he led the Cardinals to a perfect 12-0 regular-season record and a national ranking as high as 12th. Ball State finished 12-2 following losses to Buffalo in the Mid-American Conference championship game and Tulsa in the GMAC Bowl.

Davis was named the 2008 Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year and finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting.

During his three seasons in Muncie, Davis threw for 9,233 yards and 74 touchdowns, completing 678 passes. He was the first quarterback in Ball State history to throw for more than 3,000 yards in consecutive seasons.

Continue reading Former Ball State star quarterback Nate Davis signd with Fishers Freight →

Drivers in Fishers should plan for extra travel time over the next week. Paving begins at a major intersection, interstate ramps close Saturday, and several city projects continue, according to the city’s weekly road construction report.

Milling and paving at 116th Street and Allisonville Road begins today, Friday, Oct. 9. Crews will work on the inside lanes of Allisonville Road from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the city expects long delays and encourages drivers to use another route. Overnight milling on 116th Street is scheduled from 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, to 7 a.m. Tuesday. Overnight paving follows from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Oct. 13-16. Some access points may close temporarily, but area businesses remain open. All dates depend on the weather.

At Southeastern Parkway and Olio Road, the fifth leg of the roundabout has closed permanently. Olio Road is down to one lane in each direction from the roundabout to just south of 136th Street. 136th Street west of Olio Road will also close for about three weeks while crews connect the new two-way section. Traffic will be detoured using 134th Street. Access from I-69 to IU Health Fishers remains open through a bypass lane, and emergency access will be maintained. The city says the project’s second phase remains on track to begin in mid-October.

Farther east, 136th Street is closed to through traffic between Southeastern Parkway and Prairie Baptist Road as the widening project enters its second phase. Drivers should follow the signed detour using those two roads. The project will turn the rural two-lane road into a boulevard with raised medians and multi-use paths on both sides.

On the Clearpath 465 project, the ramp from southbound I-69 to westbound I-465 and the ramp from 82nd Street to southbound I-69 will close Saturday, Oct. 10, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Overnight lane closures on I-69 and I-465 are scheduled Friday and Saturday nights from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Other work in the city includes:

• Lane restrictions on USA Parkway north of 106th Street through October
• Flaggers on Georgia Road at 96th Street
• Utility relocation for a new roundabout at 131st Street and Brooks School Road
• Base repair in Springs of Cambridge beginning on or after Oct. 23
• Fiber installation by AT&T and Brightspeed in several neighborhoods

The complete construction listing appears below.

Continue reading Paving at 116th and Allisonville, I-69 ramp closures top Fishers road work this week →

It was a split decision for Fishers’ two high school football teams Friday night, October 9, as Hamilton Southeastern picked up its second consecutive victory while Fishers High School continued to struggle against Hoosier Crossroads Conference competition.

The Royals traveled to Franklin Central and came away with a 35-14 victory, while Fishers lost at home to Westfield, 42-21, despite an impressive passing performance by quarterback Roman Wessell.

Fishers 21, Westfield 42

The Fishers Tigers generated plenty of offense Friday night, but it was not enough to overcome the Westfield Shamrocks.

Quarterback Roman Wessell completed 30 of 46 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns. His longest completion covered 26 yards.

Fishers also had success running the football. Oh led the Tigers with 90 yards on 19 carries, while Skelton added 52 yards on eight attempts. Girton contributed four yards on one carry, and Cantwell added one yard.

The Tigers finished with 137 rushing yards and 314 passing yards, producing 451 yards of total offense.

Fishers also recorded 29 first downs, compared with 18 for Westfield. However, the Shamrocks were particularly effective on the ground, rushing for 249 yards while adding another 249 through the air.

Westfield finished with 498 yards of total offense.

The Tigers converted six of 15 third-down opportunities, while Westfield was successful on four of five attempts.

For Fishers Coach Curt Funk, the offensive production offered some encouragement, but the Tigers could not find a way to stop a powerful Westfield attack.

The defeat leaves Fishers still searching for its first victory of the season. The Tigers will close out their regular-season schedule Friday, October 16, at Zionsville.

Hamilton Southeastern 35, Franklin Central 14

It has been a much better two weeks for Hamilton Southeastern.

After shutting out Noblesville 36-0 last Friday, the Royals followed that performance with a convincing 35-14 road victory over Franklin Central.

The win gives HSE a two-game winning streak after a difficult stretch in September, when the Royals suffered consecutive losses to Westfield and Zionsville.

The Royals have now outscored their opponents 71-14 over their last two games, providing some positive momentum as the regular season approaches its conclusion.

Coach Michael Kelly’s team improves to 4-4 overall, with one regular-season game remaining.

Hamilton Southeastern will return home Friday, October 16, to face Brownsburg.

The Royals will then turn their attention to the IHSAA state tournament, with sectional play scheduled to begin October 30.