Scot Haug (left) of CNA answers a question from the audience as Fishers Police Chief Ed Gebhart looks on
The Fishers Police Department is beginning the process of installing video body cameras on all its officers, with the goal of having a camera on all uniformed field personnel in 2020. Chief Ed Gabhart says the total cost of the equipment alone will be more than $1 million over 5 years, with grants covering a part of the cost.
The city is using CNA Analysis and Solutions as the commercial vendor to provide the video equipment and all that goes with it.
Fishers Police officials held training sessions Thursday and offered a glimpse of the technology to the public Thursday evening. Scot Haug of CNA, a former chief of police, says wearable video cameras for police officers will be the norm, not the exception, over the coming three years.
Haug emphasized that the video cameras will provide many advantages, but also has its limitations. CNA’s Daniel Zehnder, formerly with the Las Vegas Police Department, said the video cameras cannot replace good investigative work.
Chief Gebhart, in answer to a question from the audience, said his department will abide by all state laws relating to public records once the video camera recordings become widely available.
On the rollout schedule, Gebhart says tests are being conducted now as a part of the financial grant process. “We’re taking the entire year to do this the right way, with professionals and with partnerships, and with the community as well,” the Chief said. “In 2020, I hope to be 100% operational if we don’t have any technical difficulties as we go with the program.”
A panel of CNA representatives answered questions (left to right) Laura McElroy, Charles Stephenson & Daniel Zehnder
Noblesville Schools has announced that Jeff Bryant plans to step down as principal of Noblesville High School effective June 30. Bryant, who became principal in August 2011, did not give a specific reason for his departure.
Bryant
“After accepting the principal’s position in 2011, I presented a plan to the Board of School Trustees to re-envision the high school experience. We have accomplished all of those goals and I now look forward to my next challenge,” Bryant said. “I’m excited about the opportunities that exist in my future. I am committed to ensuring a smooth transition as NHS looks forward to continuing high levels of achievement.”
Bryant served as NHS principal for eight years. The school achieved great success throughout his service, including receiving Four Star school ratings, an “A” grade on both state and federal requirements, and the creation of the largest internship program in Indiana. He previously served as an assistant principal and English teacher.
“It has been an absolute honor and privilege to serve the students, staff and community as NHS principal,” Bryant said. “I have enjoyed celebrating with a wonderful staff the best academic performance in the history of NHS.”
The district will begin the recruiting process for Bryant’s replacement immediately and will work with the high school’s four assistant principals and two deans to ensure a smooth transition for the start of school in August. An announcement of Bryant’s replacement will be made at a later date.
Donald G. Rainwater II has filed for mayor of Westfield on the Libertarian Party ticket, which creates a contest with incumbent Republican Mayor Andy Cook. The mayor was unopposed in the primary election. There is no Democratic candidate.
Rainwater
Originally Rainwater had filed for city council, but following the May GOP primary when an apparent undercurrent of voter discontent ousted three incumbent members of the city council, Rainwater withdrew from the council race and filed for mayor.
Rainwater, 55, is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and former vocational computer and business teacher. He and his wife, Leslie, are parents of six children. He ran for state representative as a Libertarian last year in a contest won by incumbent Republican Rep. Donna Schaibley.
New traffic changes at 96th Street and Keystone Parkway are underway, and they’re expected to last through 2019.
Drivers will not be able to turn left onto 96th Street going northbound or southbound due to newly constructed lanes. The traffic light at the intersection is being removed and replaced with two roundabouts.
Carmel already has 125 roundabouts – more than any other city in the country. These new ramps will allow the parkway to be elevated up and over 96th Street.
The hope is that once construction is complete, getting around the city will be safer and faster, but there will be some rerouting in between.
“During the overnight hours, construction crews will begin changing traffic and remove the signal at 96th and Keystone. So that will cut access off across 96th Street, but it will also make Keystone Parkway free flowing north and south. And you’ll also be able to access 96th Street by turning right,” said city engineer Jeremy Kashman.
This is the last construction project on Keystone Parkway to 146th Street.
INDIANAPOLIS – The strategy couldn’t have been more simple for Hamilton Southeastern as the Class 4A state championship baseball game was heading towards its conclusion.
The game was tied at 2-2, with the Royals to bat in the bottom of the seventh inning. The plan was about as basic as it could get: Get on, get in, walk off with the trophy.
Southeastern did just that, scoring the winning run in dramatic fashion to claim a
3-2 victory over Columbus East. The Royals thus won the school’s first-ever baseball
state title in a game that didn’t start until 9:50 p.m. on Monday and didn’t finish until after
midnight on Tuesday due to weather delays that disrupted the earlier 1A game.
“I was pretty confident, although the weather was a little sketchy today,” said Southeastern coach Jeremy Sassanella. “I knew playing at Victory Field with their full grounds crew and with the tarp, and per Mr. Faulkens saying, ‘We’ll play late,’ I was okay. We walked in the door and I said ‘Hey, we’re prepared to play at 3 o’clock in the morning.’ He says, ‘I like to hear that.’ So we don’t want to come back. Thankfully the weather broke enough for us to get the game in.”
Southeastern started its final drive to the championship with perfect defense in the sixth and seventh innings. In the sixth, two Royals players made spectacular catches for
outs in foul territory, starting with Greyson Droste nabbing a foul ball for the first out.
After Tyler Schweitzer got a strikeout, Cam Bolling stepped up with another big foul catch to end the inning.
“Well, that’s huge. Making those foul outs and getting the hard plays,” said Droste.
He noted that if a foul ball isn’t caught, the batter can come back and get a huge hit.
“Taking pressure off the pitcher is huge,” said Droste. “Getting outs on tough plays
and everybody really played great defensively today, and that really helped out the
pitchers. It made us only have to put up a couple runs to win the game.”
Minutes later, the Royals played probably the best seventh inning of any baseball
team in Indiana this season. In the top of the inning, pitcher Tyler Schweitzer faced the
top of the Olympians’ order. No problem: He struck out the side, one-two-three.
“I was all in the moment right there,” said Schweitzer. “I didn’t hear anything
around the crowd. It was just me and Jack.”
That would be catcher Jack DeWolf, and Schweitzer credited him with doing a good
job calling the game.
With the top of the inning finished, HSE brought up the top of its order in the bottom
of the seventh. With one out, Anthony Eggers got on base with a single. That
brought up Brayton Harrison, and he reached on error, moving Eggers to second
base.
Greyson Droste was up next, and he sent a 1-1 pitch into the infield. Columbus East
tried for a double play, but while the Olympians got the out at second, they overthrew
to first base. Meanwhile, Eggers had already passed third, and he was soon home to score
the winning run.
“I rounded it just to look where it was at because I was running to third hard, because I don’t know why I thought the ball was going to three,” said Eggers. “It wasn’t. But I just rounded. I saw it go by, and then everything just went silent. I just scored. I turned around, like, did we even win? It was just so, so quiet. I didn’t even feel like we won, because I thought it was a delay of game or something, until my whole team just came and tackled me. It was just crazy. I’m happy the way it ended. It couldn’t have ended any better.”
“Everything happened so fast,” said Sassanella. “The kids had a tremendous amount of grit all year long. In our league, we just have to fight. We had some hardfought wins early, and I said ‘Guys, this is going to pay dividends and I’m really proud of you for doing that.’ It’s fitting that we had rain. It’s fitting that it went down to the wire. And we’re just blessed, more times than not this year we’ve come out on the winning side of these tight ball games. I’m incredibly proud of the kids.”
Here’s one more reason to be proud of the HSE players: During the trophy presentation, they made sure that Ken Seitz was the first one to take hold of the trophy. Seitz has been with Hamilton Southeastern for 44 years – he was the head baseball coach for 25 years, and also served as the athletic director for 25 years. Seitz came out of retirement to be an assistant coach for the Royals in 2010, and it is his jersey that will be on display in Victory Field for the next year.
The Royals also scored one run each in the first and third innings. In the first, Cole DeWael smacked a double on the very first pitch. He moved to third on a passed ball, then got home on a single by DeWolf.
Columbus East scored in the top of the third, but Southeastern responded with a run in the bottom of the inning. Harrison singled on to first, stole second, and was batted in by DeWolf; it was DeWolf’s second RBI of the game. The Olympians scored again in the fifth inning, and the game stayed in a 2-2 tie until the Royals’ walk-off score.
Southeastern totaled seven hits, with DeWolf going 2-for-3 at the plate.
“It was certainly an awesome experience, different from any other baseball game
I’ve ever played in,” said DeWolf.
Schweitzer came in during the fifth inning, relieving Michael Dillon. The starter
Dillon pitched well in four innings, with three strikeouts against four hits. Schweitzer
finished the game, tossing five strikeouts.
Southeastern finished the season 23-8.
The Royals also won their 12th state championship in school history. Add that to the HSE girls basketball team winning state in February, and it’s the second time the Royals have won two state titles in the same school year. Southeastern won boys swimming and softball state championships in 2007.
Hamilton Southeastern does the traditional dogpile after winning the Class 4A state championship.Longtime Royals baseball coach Ken Seitz will have his jersey displayed in the trophy case in Victory Field for the next year.
Board candidates talk before the meeting (Left to Right) Clint Wilson, Jason Lantzer, Peter Griffin & Travis Brown
Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board members spent time Tuesday afternoon asking questions of the 4 finalists to fill the remaining term of Mike Bottorff, now the board must come to a decision on which candidate to select. However, board members are still uncertain how to go about deliberating.
Board attorney David Day said the law is not clear on whether school boards may discuss candidates to fill board vacancies in a private executive session or open public session. At first, board members were leaning toward scheduling an executive session to meet in private to discuss the four candidates, filling the term for the Fall Creek Township at-large seat.
Day did tell board members there is nothing in the law preventing private one-on-one discussion between two members of the school board.
After a lengthy discussion, the board left open the possibility of scheduling an executive session to talk about the four candidates vying to fill the vacant seat, but did not schedule one. The board will vote on who will be selected at the June 26th regular meeting.
Here is a synopsis of what each board candidate said in answering questions and providing a brief opening a closing statement. All four appeared before the board at the same time, sitting at the same table as each spoke to the board.
Clint Wilson
His family has lived in Fishers 6 years. He has three children. Wilson is an agent with State Farm Insurance.
Wilson’s involvement as a volunteer for the Youth Mentoring Initiative and participation in the Finance Academy motivated him to seek this board seat. He has observed many of the challenges students face in school these days. He understands he will be one of seven members of the board.
As an insurance agent, Wilson collaborated with other agents to establish programs bringing potential clients into the office to discuss what is needed in each individual case.
The greatest challenge for public education, in his view, is figuring out which challenge is the greatest one. Even with the many positive parents in the HSE Schools, students face challenges in dealing with social media. He has found that students learn much differently compared to when Wilson was in school. He says critical thinking is very important for students to learn.
In his final statement, Wilson said his experience will add value to the board.
Jason Lantzer
He moved to the HSE School District 11 years ago. He has two children in local schools. He is a professor at Butler University, working in the admissions office and the honors program
He sees HSE grads and students from other schools through the Butler admissions office, but does not want the local school district to just be a pipeline for the university system. As a board member, he would be focused on results.
Lantzer collaborated with others at Butler to establish a program where students traveled to Germany and received credit for the trip, including observing what is left of the Berlin Wall. He pointed to the effectiveness of his work establishing an honors program by dealing with virtually all parts of Butler University.
There are a number of challenges facing public education, with the technology gap being a major one. Lantzer added that public education often does not do a good job telling its own story to the public.
He would invite parents to become a bigger part of their child’s educational experience. He believes one thing local schools could do better is communicate with parents and the general public.
His family moved to Fishers because of the HSE School District and he has never regretted that decision.
Peter Griffin
Griffin retired as a classroom teacher in HSE Schools just two weeks ago. He has a large family, including adopted kids, and has children in the HSE Schools.
He believes one of the greatest parts of teaching is having an influence on the lives of kids. He is a big believer in “feedback loops.” When asked about collaborations, he described marriage as an important exercise in collaboration. He also pointed to the collaborative nature of his service on nonprofit boards.
Griffin pointed to his experience in handling diversity. He has children that are gifted and talented, as well as in special education programs. He taught in an urban school system before moving to Fishers. He describes social justice as a part of his family growing-up.
As to the greatest challenge facing public education, Griffin also believes the greatest challenge is picking the one greatest challenge. He is concerned about the pace of life and the challenges to get students to read. In his view, reading and writing are critical skills for students to learn, along with the value of resiliency and grit.
In his closing remarks, Griffin said education is in a unique place in time. He believes his skills are what the board is seeking in a new member. He would focus on relationships as a board member.
Travis Brown
His family moved to Fishers 6 years ago from Lafayette. He and his family chose to live within the HSE School District. He specializes in communications
He was motivated to apply for this board opening because he is a minority and wants to be a part of making changes in the school system, bringing a unique opportunity for diversity on the board.
Brown related a story about a speech he gave at a school – a student came up to him afterward and said Brown saved his life, because that student had planned to take his own life the next day and his speech turned his thinking around. Changing school culture over time is something he believes is important.
Although Brown is African American, he believes all diversity is important to HSE Schools. With 3 biracial children, he says he lives with that each day.
He finds one of public education’s biggest challenges is equity, not equality. Equity is more about providing everyone with what is needed to be successful
Brown believes that in many ways the HSE District is “getting it right,” but you cannot know that until school officials actually know what’s going on. He also believes HSE Schools can do a better job of telling its story to the local community.
In closing, Brown said he was inundated with phone calls once the process for replacing Board Member Mike Bottorff was announced. He believes he has the qualities the board needs.
Whether or not the board decides to discuss this issue in executive session, when the vote is conducted June 26th, it will take four votes to select the new board member. If no candidate can muster at least 4 board votes. Hamilton County Circuit Court Judge Paul Felix would make the selection, based on Indiana law.
The issue of law enforcement officers wearing body cameras has been in the national spotlight for some time. As Fishers officers begin the process of using this technology, the Police Department is offering the public a look at local plans. The session is set for Thursday, June 20th, 5:00pm-6:00pm at police headquarters at the municipal complex.
Local officers will receive training and technical help during the day on the 20th from the vendor, CNA Analysis & Solutions.
The Fishers Police Department has been involved in what it calls an “intensive study” of body cams over the past few months.
Some of the subjects to be discussed in the public session Thursday include:
A local school will be able to have 4 goats on the premises following action Monday night by the Fishers City Council. Riverside Intermediate School will house and care for the goats on school property, but needed an exemption from city ordinances.
Last month, Councilman Pete Peterson was concerned about the ordinance change proposed because he had concerns about what unintended consequences could follow. The exemption from the animal control ordinance approved Monday night was specific to the plans at Riverside.
Crew Car Wash received the zoning variance the firm was seeking, allowing plans to move forward and locate the company’s headquarters to a facility near 116th Street & I-69. A car wash operation will be part of the complex.
Monday night, the Fishers City Council passed the final step in allowing the rezoning for the Crew Car Wash plans.
Also, council members members voted Monday for a rezoning of a house located near 126th Street and Olio Road, to be utilized as an insurance agency office. The vote was 7-1 with Pete Peterson casting the no vote. Peterson said this use is not part of the 2040 comprehensive plan and he is concerned about how this will impact the area in the future.
The Fishers City Council approved an apartment project at Lantern Road and Fishers Point Boulevard Monday night, over the objections of three council members. Scannell Properties intends to build the $29 million multifamily development with a tax increment bond to be financed by Scannell. The developer will receive fee waivers from the city as part of the 180 unit project agreement.
Scannell says this development will be an important gateway to the Nickel Plate District and the Fishers downtown.
The council approved the project agreement with Scannel by a vote of 5-3, with Councilors David George, Todd Zimmerman and Cecilia Coble voting no (Councilman Eric Moeller did not attend the meeting). George said he has concerns about building apartments at that specific location, because the apartments could limit the development possibilities north the the development, heading toward 116th Street.
