Fishers Police have made two arrests in connection with a May robbery reported at the Fishers Baymont Inn.

On May 31st, Fishers Police responded to the Baymont Inn on the report of a robbery. The victim told investigators that he met a woman in a room and was then robbed at gunpoint by an unknown man. The investigation led authorities to two individuals responsible for this robbery. Last week, Fishers Police Detectives located both suspects and took them into custody without incident.

The suspects are identified as Kyree Lacy, 19, from Indianapolis, and Mia Lambirth, also 19 and also from Indianapolis.  Lambirth faces a felony robbery count.  Lacy faces a list of charges, including robbery, criminal confinement, intimidation and auto theft.

State Police Superintendent Doug Carter has a message for parents wanting advice on dealing with addiction – “I am so sorry.”  The former Hamilton County Sheriff reflected on what his generation did wrong in the area of addiction.

“If we don’t start caring for people as people, we’re gonna lose,” Carter told the Fishers High School crowd of roughly 50 parents about addiction in the State of Indiana.  He emphasized everyone in the state needs to come together and be a part of the solution.

The panel discussion formed a consensus that criminalizing addiction has not solved the problem.  Addiction is an illness or a disease.  For example, we do not impose criminal penalties on cancer patients, but we often criminalize addiction.

Ben Gonzales opened the event with a speech about his road from addiction to recovery.  Ben is now a treatment professional.  He later joined the panel discussion that included:

–Jill Gonzales, Ben’s Mom who shared the family perspective of addiction
and recovery.

–Kim Manlove, EdD, Fairbanks Project Director for the Strategic Plan;
Co-Chair Parent Advisory Board (The Partnership at Drugfree.org).

–Brad Trolson, Recovery Coach with Hope Academy and Adolescent
Services at Fairbanks.

–Doug Carter, Superintendent of Indiana State Police; Governor’s
Commission for Drug-Free Indiana (DFI)

HSE Parents in Partnership sponsored the event.

It is considered quite an honor for a local police officer to attend training at the FBI National Academy, and Fishers Police Lieutenant Michael Taylor recently graduated from a training class at that institution.  Lt. Taylor joined law enforcement personnel from around the nation and the world as he learned from the best.

“The wealth of knowledge and experience shared amongst classmates and instructors is second to none” said Taylor.  “You very quickly realize that no matter what type of department you came from, no matter where it is or how large the department is, we all face the same challenges both internally and externally every day.”

Those graduating from the FBI National Academy are often called the top 1% of law enforcement personnel in the nation.  Lt. Taylor described his classmates as “some of the best and brightest men and women of leadership in law enforcement.”

“The leadership of the Fishers Police Department is proud of Lt. Taylor’s accomplishment and graduation from the prestigious F.B.I. National Academy” said Fishers Police Chief Mitch Thompson. “No doubt Lt. Taylor will implement the knowledge and skills learned to better serve the citizens of the Fishers community.”

Lt. Michael Taylor graduated from Purdue University in 2004 and entered the Armed Forces as an Army Second Lieutenant.  He serves in the National Guard up to this day.  He was deployed to serve in Iraq as a platoon leader and company executive officer in 2007, returning home in 2008.

Michael Taylor joined the Fishers Police Department in September of 2006.  He describes himself as a proud husband and father.  “My family and I are blessed to call Fishers home, and love serving our community,” Taylor said.

Movember is not a misspelling….it is a movement that happens each November aimed at awareness of men’s health issues.  Fishers Fire Chief Steve Orusa and Hamilton Southeastern School Board Vice President John DeLucia talk about the Movember events in Fishers….

One of the most often used, and misunderstood, phrases in tech talk these days is this one – “The Internet of Things.”  IoT, as it is also known, essentially describes technology coming to nearly everything we use.

You’ve heard about those self-driving vehicles coming soon the a roadway near your?  They will all by connected as part of the Internet of Things.  Even your household appliances will all be connected to help you keep control even when you are not home, and become much more efficient with all this connectivity.

One tech writer told me you can have a picture frame with a computer chip in it in the very near future.  If someone is trying to steal your rare, expensive painting, the chip will let you know it is moving and track it so the police can pursue the culprits.

The Internet of Things is very much a part of the technology business boom in Fishers.  Plenty of local tech firms are tied into the development and implementation of IoT.

You may recall Governor Holcomb visited Launch Fishers in February of this year to announce a new Internet of Things laboratory not far from the Launch Fishers building.  The city and state have an investment in that lab.

This would lead one to believe that it’s full speed ahead on the Internet of Things and nothing can stop it now.  There is something that could stop IoT dead in its tracks, and we all should sound a cautionary note on this technology.

A Forbes contributing writer specializing in cutting edge technology, Harold Stark, authored a piece published on www. Forbes.com October 29th.  It gives us all something to think about.

Security is the note of caution one must consider when looking into the future of IoT.  Stark describes a scary vulnerability found in most Wi-Fi connections.  Although patches are being made, is illustrates just how easy it might be for hackers to create societal chaos once virtually everything we use is connected via IoT.

You can read Stark’s entire piece at this link.

A few days earlier, CNBC posted a piece on its web site written by their London-based reporter Anmar Frangoul, that reads, in part:

In 2016, IoT security business ForeScout Technologies released a report in which it looked at seven common IoT devices, including smart fridges, connected printers and IP-connected security systems.

Alarmingly, ForeScout said that the devices could be “hacked in as little as three minutes, but can take days or weeks to remediate.” ForeScout said that IoT hacks could result in the microphones and cameras of devices being hijacked to spy on their users as well as the destruction of critical equipment.

You can read the entire CNBC story at this link.

I am not trying to be alarmist here.  It is well known that many systems thought to be secure have been hacked.  The latest big one was Equifax.  If Equifax can be hacked, just about any target is vulnerable.

Both the City of Fishers and the State of Indiana are working hard, supporting technology businesses to grow and thrive as we become even more Internet connected every day.  I only ask that our elected officials keep in mind that technology has its pitfalls.

If the public turns against the Internet of Things because of security concerns, that bright IoT future could be in jeopardy.  As more effective security systems are developed in the years ahead, this concern may be gone.  But in the meantime, let’s be realistic about the possible IoT dangers ahead.

The Florida Project is the film reviewed in this week’s podcast.  Joe Shearer of FilmYap.com joins Adam & Larry as this week’s guest.

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

David Najjar has been appointed judge of Hamilton Superior Court 5. Gov. Eric Holcomb made the appointment Friday filling a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Wayne Sturtevant in August. For 12 years Najjar has been the county court’s magistrate. Previously he served as a deputy prosecuting attorney.

A 30-year resident of Hamilton County, he lives in Carmel and graduated from Carmel High School and Indiana University. The new judge and his wife, the former Karen Philllips, have three children. He is active in Scouting and his church.

He takes office immediately, becoming only the second judge in Superior 5 history.

Najjar will serve out the remainder of the current term which runs through Dec. 31, 2020.

He was one of 17 local attorneys who submitted applications for the post. The new judge had made an unsuccessful run for judge of Superior Court 2 last year. Jon Brown won that contest.

Local attorneys generally expressed satisfaction with Najjar’s appointment, saying they believe him to be qualified and fair during his tenure as magistrate.

“David Najjar is an exceptional judge who will be able to draw upon his experience as he continues to serve Hamilton County in his new and honorable role as a superior court judge. There were 17 other very worthy candidates vying for this position, and Mr. Najjar’s selection is a testament to his integrity and fairness. Congratulations, Mr. Najjar, I wish you well and know you will do a great job.”

– Rep. Kathy Richardson’s statement on David Najjar’s
appointment to Hamilton County Superior Court

by

Richie Hall

Hamilton County Reporter

Friday’s Class 6A Sectional 5 semi-final football game between Fishers and Hamilton
Southeastern was throwback football at its best: A good, old-fashioned roll in the
Mud…sock.

There was also much at stake, with a trip There was also much at stake, with a trip
to the sectional championship game on the line. In the end, the Tigers prevailed over
the host Royals 9-6 and will host Pike next Friday for the Sectional 5 title.
to the sectional championship game on the line. In the end, the Tigers prevailed over
the host Royals 9-6 and will host Pike next Friday for the Sectional 5 title.

Unlike games in their recent past, this was a defensive showdown between the
Mudsock rivals. The game was played in chilly and gloomy conditions, which added
to the grittiness factor.

“Their team played well,” said Fishers coach Rick Wimmer. “Our defense really
played well tonight. I don’t think we gave up a big play all night, except for a little bit
right there at the end of the first half when they got their drive going. We did a really
good job against the run, got some pressure on the quarterback at times.”

The Tigers got on the board first, with Ben Norton kicking a 24-yard field goal late
in the first quarter. Southeastern had to wait almost a full period to respond, but did so
with a step-by-step drive that finally got it in the end zone.

Jackson Sweeney punched the ball in from the one-yard line with 3:30 left in the
second quarter. Fishers blocked the extra point attempt, but the Royals still had the
lead at halftime, 6-3.

The Tigers re-took the lead early in the third quarter. HL Lewis ran the ball into the
end zone from six yards, getting his team ahead 9-6. Fishers tried to go for two, but a
conversion pass fell incomplete.

After that, the defenses took over. Most of the drives for both teams ended in punts,
but a big defensive stop came with 5:56 left, when the Tigers halted HSE’s drive on
fourth-and-1.

That gave Fishers the ball back with around 4:30 left. The Tigers converted a
fourth-and-2 to keep their drive going, then Lewis’ nine-yard run on third-and-9 with
under a minute left finally clinched the game for Fishers.

Both teams’ leading rushers worked hard to get their yards, with Lewis and Sweeney
carrying the ball 22 times. Lewis finished with 81 yards, while Sweeney collected 49
yards. Lewis also had two catches for the game, the most of any Fishers player. Matt
Wolff finished the game 6-of-16, collecting 75 yards.

Southeastern quarterback Kody Sparks had a solid game, going 13-for-20 on 116
yards. Ben Boysen and Jackson Lantz each made four catches.

The Tigers are now 6-4 for the year, while the Royals finished their season at 3-7.

I spend a good part of my fall and early winter season working to prepare and instruct the Indiana University Tax Practitioner Institute.  Since taxes are a big part of the political discussion these days, I brought together my colleagues at the IU school to talk about taxes, and also discussed adult education.

Cold weather may be upon us, but the road construction listing in and around
Fishers remains a very long one.

Here is the listing of road and street work scheduled for the work week beginning Monday, October 30th, as provided by the City of Fishers.

===============================