On August 16th, Fishers City officials told me Allisonville Road construction north 116th Street was expected to be completed, with all four lanes open, by the end of August.  It appears there have been some delays.  The city now says the construction there will continue into the week of Labor Day.

For more on that, see the listing below of road construction projects, as provided by the City of Fishers, for Labor Day week:

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by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

The extremely wet spring weather will keep Hamilton County corn and soybean crops far from setting record yields. But, crops are also far from a disaster this year. That’s the reaction I get from a few folks in the business.

Early in the season it appeared that very little corn would be planted. Some farmers planted soybeans instead because they can be planted later and still have time to mature after a wet spring. But quite a bit of corn was planted before and after the worst of the spring rains. And, in many cases, the corn looks good except for sections of fields that repeatedly flooded.

Farmers seem to think that if we experience some hot weather in September and a reasonably late frost, crops that were planted late will still have time to mature. Corn and beans are by far the county’s largest farm crops.

The Hamilton County Purdue Extension office declined to comment on anything they have heard about how local crops are doing. Apparently, Purdue has told their extension agents to not speculate on crop production. The office also claims to not have information on how many acres are still being planted in the county.

It is obvious that more and more land is being taken out of production for housing and business development. But, north of 196th Street farming is still the major industry, and a big part of the county’s overall economy.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture figures show a little over 100,000 acres in the county are devoted to farming, most of it in cropland. Hamilton County’s total land area amounts to 256,640 acres.

Hamilton County Reporter

The Hamilton County Commissioners, in collaboration with the Humane Society for Hamilton County, are working to update the county’s animal ordinances, which were last revised in 2006. They are inviting the public to review the proposed revisions and FAQs and to offer feedback at the next meeting on Sept. 9.

Heirbrandt

“Last winter we had some residents concerned about the safety and well-being of animals during a bitter cold snap,” said Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt. “That discussion provided a great opportunity to reevaluate our animal ordinance, introduce new guidelines, and more clearly define some ambiguous language.”

The committee presented its proposed ordinance to the County Commissioners on Monday, Aug. 26. The proposal includes new temperature guidelines to protect animals from extreme weather conditions. It also more clearly defines “adequate” food, water, shelter, space, ventilation and veterinary care as it pertains to domesticated pets. New definitions and penalties have also been added for backyard breeders and puppy mills. The proposed changes also further define and strengthen the penalties for animal abuse and neglect.

“We believe this is a precedent-setting ordinance,” said Rebecca Stevens, president and CEO of the Humane Society for Hamilton County. “We’ve studied local ordinances across the United States and surveyed law enforcement in other counties to gauge the effectiveness and enforceability of their current ordinances. We’ve done our due diligence to develop an ordinance we feel could serve as a best practice for other communities.”

The proposed does not have an impact on livestock animals, as that is governed by Indiana State Law by the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. The ordinance will be enforceable in unincorporated areas of the County, but the hope is other cities and towns in Hamilton County will consider adopting it as well.

“Currently all other municipalities utilize their own local animal ordinances and personnel for enforcement that take precedent over Hamilton County’s ordinances,” said Hamilton County Animal Control Deputy Doug Sanford. “It is our hope Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville and Westfield will consider adopting the same language to make for easier and more consistent enforcement.”

County Commissioners will vote on the proposed changes at their next meeting at 1 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 9 in the Commissioner’s Chambers at the Hamilton County Government and Judicial Center, 1 Hamilton County Square, Noblesville.

If approved, the updated ordinance will go into effect Nov. 15. The proposed ordinance, along with an FAQ section, can be found at hamiltoncounty.in.gov. If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Commissioners’ Office at (317) 776-9719.

Hamilton County Reporter

Fishers made it a Metropolitan sweep on Friday, as the Tigers won 26-13 at
Pike.

The Class 6A No. 10 Tigers jumped out to a 13-0 lead by the end of the first
quarter. Marcus Roux completed two short touchdown passes, the first one a
seven-yard throw to Reggie Cook-Graham midway through the period. Later
on, Roux lobbed a two-yard TD pass to Jeffrey Simmons.

Roux struck again in the second quarter, with a third touchdown pass. This one
was from 17 yards out to Caleb Gates.

Meanwhile, the Fishers defense limited the Red Devils to two field goals in the
quarter, and the Tigers went into the locker room at halftime with a 20-6 lead.

Fishers’ Jack Phillips got the only points of the third quarter on a 32-yard
field goal. Pike began the fourth period with a 6-yard rushing touchdown to cut
the Tigers’ lead to 23-13, but the Tigers would get no closer. Phillips nailed another 32-yard field goal with 3:45 left for the final points of the game, he also made two extra-point kicks.

Roux had an outstanding game, completing 18 of 26 passes for 215 yards and the three touchdowns. Reece Boland led the receptions count with five. Fishers’ defense pushed the Pike ground game into negative territory, as the Red Devils finished the game with minus 9 yards rushing.

The Tigers are 2-0 and open Hoosier Crossroads Conference play next Friday
at Noblesville.

Hamilton County Reporter

Hamilton Southeastern was dealt a tough loss on Friday, as North Central stunned the Royals with a fourth-quarter comeback to win 17-16.

Southeastern started the game with a big defensive play from Michael Cross, who took an interception return 48 yards into the end zone for a touchdown with 10:25 left in the first quarter. The Royals then led 6-0 for most of the half until the Panthers got their own pick six with 3:58 left in the second quarter.

The Royals got the lead back right before halftime, as Nijawon Wilson took the ball in from two yards out with 45 seconds left in the half. The subsequent extra point kick put Southeastern up 13-7 at halftime.

Alex Geroulis made a 40-yard field goal with 6:53 remaining in the fourth period to put the Royals up 16-7. But North Central came back with a touchdown, then won on a field goal as time expired.

Southeastern is 1-1 and hosts Avon next Friday to open Hoosier Crossroads
Conference play.

A high school is a busy place on a regular school day.  Students are moving between classes.  The electronic signal is loud and signifies when classes start and stop.  There is a lot going on.

Governor Eric Holcomb chose the Fishers High School College and Career Academy as the site for a big announcement Thursday afternoon.  He and his Health Commissioner, Dr. Kristina Box, announced a marketing campaign to stem the rising tide of young people using vaping.

The campaign will consist of education in the form of classroom curriculum and information on a state Web site with the facts on the health risks of vaping.

Dr. Box spoke of the alarming medical data that is mounting, showing health dangers tied to vaping.  She and Governor Holcomb are launching this campaign to stop the rising number of young people vaping.

Jason Urban, Fishers High School Principal, said he and his staff will be reviewing the high school curriculum being developed by state officials to present the stark health risks tied to vaping, for possible use by his teaching staff.

It was a cool August Thursday morning for the Mayor’s Breakfast, held on the grounds of the historic Ambassador House, benefiting the Youth Mentoring Initiative (YMI), an organization matching local volunteers with HSE School District students in need of mentors.

The crowd was large and enthusiasm for YMI was at a high level for the annual fundraising effort.  Everyone persevered through a coffee shortage, even though twice as much coffee was ordered this year compared to the 2018 event.

Indiana State Health Commissioner Kristina Box was on hand, speaking of the challenges many young people face throughout our state.  She also presented Fishers Mayor Scott Fadnesss with a certificate from a national organization, recognizing his work promoting mentoring programs.

Mayor Fadness told the breakfast crowd about the YMI graduation ceremony he recently attended.

“It was extraordinary to see how proud the mentors were of these kids,” said the mayor.  “It was a nice, quaint celebration.  But for some of those kids, and I’m reading between the lines here, it was probably the most anyone’s ever celebrated in their lives about a particular accomplishment.  It wasn’t necessarily coming form their mom or dad, it was coming from someone in their community that just invested in them.”

Fadness praised the work of the local schools in the mental health area, and how that has been a part of the city’s efforts to improve mental health, using programs aimed at preventing problems.  He described YMI as a key preventative program.

YMI Board President (and Fishers Fire Chief) Steve Orusa made the pitch for donations to YMI.  You can donate now using this link.

YMI is always in need of adult mentors.  Executive Director Alison Gatz says there is a particular need for men mentors, with several male students waiting in line for a mentor.  If you would like to volunteer as a mentor, use this link.

Here are more photos from the Mayor’s Breakfast:

Continue reading YMI Breakfast draws a large crowd, national honor for Mayor Fadness →

There is a great deal of research available that shows secondary school students greatly benefit with later school day starting times, allowing for more sleep before the beginning of the school day.  As a result, the HSE School District is in the early stages of exploring what is described as “flipping” school day start times, with younger students starting the day earlier and secondary students starting school later in the morning.

Administrators are also looking into shortening the student day in HSE Schools.  Assistant Superintendent Jan Combs says HSE District students have the longest student day in Hamilton County and one of the longest in the entire state.

“At the elementary, we are currently 75 minutes over what the state requires,” Combs told the school board Wednesday night.  “We are looking at maybe a model that would cut 15 minutes.  At the secondary, we are 50 minutes over what the state requires.  We’re looking at a model that might cut 20 minutes.”

No school officials were able to clearly explain how HSE Schools ended-up with so many class minutes over state requirements.

Superintendent Allen Bourff intends to conduct community meetings to gather public input on the “flipping” of school day start times and reducing the number of minutes in class each day.  Dr. Combs said the goal is to have a decision by early in the second semester of the current school year, with implementation of any changes to begin in the fall of 2020.

“We’re in the very, very early stages of these conversations,” said Combs.

It appears Durbin Elementary School will not remain at its current location, but will be constructed at another site yet to be determined.  However, Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) school officials say that there is a possibility that the current Durbin building could be used for other school district programs.

The HSE School Board heard from Chief Financial Officer Mike Reuter Wednesday night on the Durbin situation, and he said there are talks going on to either purchase a 20-acre site for the new Durbin Elementary, or find a location already in place near a new or current development in the area.  No specific new locations were mentioned.

The goal is to break ground on a new and larger Durbin during the fall of 2020 and have the elementary school open for students in 2022.

In response to a question from School Board Member Sylvia Shepler, Reuter said maintenance will continue at the current Durbin building, but no improvements will be made, since a new building is now in the works.

Any new site will be evaluated for the availability of sewer hookups.  One reason Durbin will not likely be expanded at the current location relates to the cost of running water and sewer utilities to that site, which Reuter said would cost at least $5 million.

Board member Brad Boyer asked Reuter what would happen to the current Durbin building once the new elementary school opens.  Reuter responded that is yet to be determined.

“There has been some conversation of moving some of our other programs within the district to that (current Durbin) site, but it’s yet to be determined what we do with the existing (Durbin) site,” Reuter said.

Reuter reiterated that expanding the Durbin building is not possible with the lack of utilities available and the high cost of extending utility lines, but the building could be used for other programs without expanding the structure.

In a unanimous vote, members of the Hamilton Southeastern School Board gave the go-ahead on two upcoming school year calendars, as proposed by administrators.

The 2020-2021 & 2021-2022 school calendars proposed by administrators were released to the public early Wednesday morning, the same day of the vote.  Board members held a brief discussion Wednesday evening and voted to approve the calendars released earlier in the day.

Draft calendars were submitted for board consideration at the previous regular board meeting.  There were some tweaks made to the drafts from two weeks ago, including flex days and Monday early student release days.

Prior to the vote, Hamilton Southeastern Education Association President Janet Chandler told the board that the school calendar issue is one of the most controversial the board faces, and all will not be happy, no matter how the calendar is done.

In earlier comments, board members expressed concern that in the two school years under consideration, the school start dates are early – August 5, 2020 and August 4, 2021.  This is largely due to where Christmas Day falls on the calendar.  Using the same basic system of finishing the first semester before Christmas break, Board President Michelle Fullhart said that the start date would fall to August 9th in the 2022–2023 school year.

You can access the 2020-2021 school calendar at this link.  The 2021-2022 school year calendar can be found at this link.