Defense ruled the field for much of  Friday night’s game between Westfield and Hamilton Southeastern, which took place at the Shamrocks’ Riverview Health Stadium.

It took a fourth-quarter touchdown for Westfield to get the separation it needed,
and that allowed the ‘Rocks to cruise home with a 14-3 victory over the Class
6A No. 9 Royals. The victory also kept Westfield unbeaten in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference, while it was the first league loss of the year for Southeastern.

Maximus Webster got the Shamrocks on the board early in the first quarter with
a short touchdown run. That would be it for scoring until the waning seconds of
the second period. The Royals’ Alex Geroulis kicked a 23-yard field goal, keeping
Southeastern within 7-3 at halftime.

Neither team scored in the third quarter. Webster struck again for Westfield
early in the fourth, punching the ball in from the one-yard line. Sean Sullivan
successfully kicked both extra points after each score.

The ‘Rocks had nine different players make at least five total tackles. Micah Hauser led with nine stops, while Charles Dager made eight tackles. Kyle Paper totaled seven tackles, Bryson Hoover and Seth Poriah both had six, and Dillon Thienemann made five.

“Our defense was amazing and kept some great players in check all night,” said Westfield coach Jake Gilbert. “They also forced two takeaways and had several tackles for loss. We are really flying to the football.”

Webster completed 8 of 16 pass attempts for 91 yards and led the rushing with 77 yards. Hauser was right behind on the ground with 75 yards.

“Still too many mistakes on offense but I think we can figure it out soon,” said Gilbert.

John McCall went 10-of-15 through the air for HSE, with 49 yards total. He also was the top rusher for the Royals with 32 yards. Nate Haas had an outstanding defensive night, with 12 tackles. JT Mutchner had 6.5 stops and Louden Sundling made five tackles.

“It was a very defensive-oriented game,” said Southeastern coach Michael Kelly. “Both teams had two turnovers. Their defensive line is physical and they did a nice job scheming against us offensively.”

Westfield now shares the HCC lead with Brownsburg; both teams are 3-0 in the league. This sets up a big game next week, as the ‘Rocks will play at the Bulldogs’ field next Friday. Westfield is 4-1 overall.

The Royals dropped to 2-1 in the conference and 3-2 overall. They will return
home to TCU Field next Friday to play Zionsville.

Hamilton County Reporter

Fishers ran into a buzzsaw on Friday, as the host Tigers dropped a 42-6 Hoosier Crossroads Conference game to Class 6A No. 2 Brownsburg.

The Bulldogs took control of the game early, with Caleb Marcus scoring two touchdowns late in the first quarter. Brownsburg then scored on a 95-yard pass play early in the second period, with Ben Easters throwing to Luke Lacey, who carried it into the end zone. Two more rushing touchdowns gave the Bulldogs a 35-0 halftime lead.

“Brownsburg’s a really good football team and we knew that going in, and we knew that we were going to have to play at our best to come out victorious,” said Tigers coach Curt Funk. “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to perform the way we would like to tonight.”
Fishers scored its lone touchdown at the beginning of the second half, when Carson Dunn ran 70 yards into the end zone. Christian Wayne made the extra-point attempt.

Dunn wound up as the Tigers’ leading rusher with 73 yards. Quarterback Lucas Prewitt went 7-of-14 through the air for 40 yards, with Landon Morris making three catches. Shane Cole, Seth Dunnuck and Curtis Kearshner all had six tackles, including a sack for Kearshner.
Fishers is now 1-2 in HCC play and 1-4 overall. The Tigers go on the road next week to play Avon; this game kicks off at 7:30 p.m.

“We just told our kids that we just got to keep improving each week and building,” said Funk. “And our goal is to be peaking at the end of the season. We’re going to use this loss as a teaching tool as coaches.”

I began showing up at Fishers Town Council meetings in January of 2012 as I began this local news blog.  I had been a reporter covering other local government bodies but it had been more than 28 years since covering such a beat and I was learning at every meeting.

The Town of Fishers retained the law firm of Church, Church, Hittle & Antrim for legal services to the town and in the early days of my town council coverage, Attorney Doug Church was at most council meetings.  He was a treasure trove of information for a new reporter such as me.

For example, when the council passed a routine item financially supporting the Fishers YMCA, Doug Church went into the history of how the Y ended up in Fishers and not another area community (many wanted it).  That history ended up in my story, because I was certain many residents of Fishers, a number of them recent residents, were not aware that Fishers was chosen over many other suitors for that beautiful YMCA facility we continue to enjoy today.

I also remember a town council work session when Counselor Church gave a stern warning to councilors not to lobby a certain board, which state law dictates must remain independent.  Everyone listened carefully and my best educated guess tells me no one lobbied that body again.

Doug Church is a man with a stellar reputation among legal circles, not just locally, but throughout the state.  When he argued before the state supreme court on behalf of the town many years ago, I watched the video and it was clear attorney Church’s reputation was well known to all the justices.

As a new reporter trying to cover the local council, Mr. Church often introduced me to people in town government he thought I should know.  Overall, in his dealings with me, he has always been a class act.

As Fishers became a city, the mayor hired a city attorney and no longer continued the contract with Church, Church, Hittle & Antrim.  But Doug Church’s fingerprints in forming the Fishers we know today are everywhere.

I tend to see Doug Church each year at the fund raising breakfast for the Fishers YMCA.  We nod and say hello and that’s the extent of my contacts with him in recent years.

I am giving you all this background to recognize Doug Church.  He has been named the 2020 Legendary Lawyer by his peers in the Indiana Bar Foundation for his dedication to legal ethics, community involvement and public service, according to a story published this past week by my news gathering partner, the Hamilton County Reporter.

“There is not another person who possesses greater insight, greater passion, or greater humility than Doug,” said the Honorable Steven David, Indiana Supreme Court, in his letter of support. “He is everything that comes to mind when one thinks of what a legendary lawyer is and what a legendary lawyer means to our profession.”

My congratulations to Doug Church on a well deserved honor.

When the community is divided, the elected school board is sometimes also divided.  Thursday morning, the Hamilton Southeastern School Board voted 4-3 to begin 100% in-person classes for grades up to the 4th beginning October 5th.  There will be online virtual classes for those parents choosing that option.

The division on the board was not about whether to return to in-person learning, it was a debate about which date, with some board members advocating for October 12 or 15 as the start date.

Board members Sylvia Shepler, Amanda Shera, Janet Pritchett and Clint Wilson voted for the measure.  Michelle Fullhart, Brad Boyer and Julie Chambers voted against it.

Brad Boyer asked Superintendent Allen Bourff whether social distancing can continue to be observed with school buildings at or near 100% capacity, compared to the hybrid system’s 50%.  Bourff responded that there are no guarantees but staff will enforce distancing to the extent possible.  Dr. Bourff also said the wearing of masks becomes even more important as all students return to classrooms.

Julie Chambers asked whether there will be enough staffing to handle all the classrooms, and Bourff responded that administrators will be “hard-pressed” to keep all the classrooms open.  Administrators told the board they would need to be creative in keeping classrooms staffed, but so far have not resorted to combining classes.

Chambers asked about all-virtual students, and wanted to know whether virtual students were getting the same attention as those physically in the classroom.  Bourff indicated teachers are nervous about handling virtual students while also teaching those in the classroom.  A group of parents representing all-virtual students will be meeting with Dr. Bourff next week.

The Thursday morning session was billed as a special meeting.  The next regularly scheduled school board meeting is set for Wednesday, and the possibility of setting a date to return students grades 5-12 100% in classrooms will likely be discussed and possibly considered, based on the discussions held Thursday morning.

I just finished sitting through my eighth annual media budget briefing from Scott Fadness.  The first few years he was the town manager, in more recent times as mayor.  But this is the first time the mayor, just a few days away from the public hearing on the budget before the city council Monday, could not provide an overall budget number for 2021.

“This is, hands down, the most unusual situation we find ourselves – from a budget – that I can recall,” Fadness said.

The pandemic is to blame for the budget uncertainty, according to the mayor.

There has been some good news that will ease the financial pressure on the city.  The state budget office had forecast a 10% decline in income tax revenues available to local governments, but numbers released Wednesday reveal a 10.8% income tax revenue increase in Hamilton County.  Fadness said this development changed the city’s financial situation “dramatically” literally overnight.

An agreement reached with Carmel dealing with local income tax distribution says any growth in the income tax revenue over 2.5% will go to Fishers.  The new income tax numbers from the state indicate Fishers will gain an additional $4 million based on that agreement.

The mayor, who had shaved spending from the 2021 budget plan bracing for lower revenues, now finds the city with a surplus in the coming year of about $7 million.  He will take time between now and Monday to determine where the extra money will go.

When the state warned of lower revenue numbers in the spring, Fadness eliminated 7 full-time positions through attrition, including 2 deputy mayor jobs (no public safety jobs were impacted).  He also eliminated all travel and training for staff.

City Controller Lisa Bradford says the cuts in spending for 2020 totaled at least $1.2 million.

The mayor also addressed the creation of the Fishers Health Department.  The city dipped into cash reserves to the tune of about $2 million to create the department and establish a COVID-19 testing program.  The city is utilizing CARES Act money, which can only be used for certain qualified expenses, such as testing and overtime, to be reimbursed for nearly all the money taken from reserves for testing and the health department.  Beginning in 2021, the one cent tax rate used by the county to fund the county health department will, for Fishers residents, go to pay for the city health department.  This will be tax rate neutral, the mayor said, with city residents paying the one cent rate to the city health department instead of funding the county health operation in 2021.

Based on the CARES Act funding, the mayor says he is confident that the demand for testing by residents and businesses in Fisher will be met.

Fishers remains the only city in Indiana to maintain a AAA Standard & Poor’s bond rating, and Fadness said the actions taken by the city in reaction to the COVID-19 crisis contributed to keeping that debt rating.

Before the latest revenue numbers, Fadness planned to present a 2021 spending plan to the council with no additional staff and no additional compensation for city employees other than longevity raises already embedded in the pay system.  It would have allowed for a $700,000 surplus to help the city deal with any income shortfalls for 2021.

With the additional money in the pipeline, with a $7 million surplus, Fadness says he will be cautious on how to handle the additional money.

Property tax values are going up, according to the mayor, and commercial values look strong for the time being in Fishers.

The mayor said he had recommended a reduction in the amount of money the city council nonprofit committee would have to distribute to local organizations, down from $250,000 to $100,000.  With the latest income figures, Fadness anticipates more than $100,000 in funds available for nonprofits, since those groups are hurting.  However, at the briefing, the mayor would not commit to a number.

With additional money available, the mayor said he will consider additional staff and possible increases in staff compensation, and will reveal his decision to city councilors Monday.

In terms of city building projects, the Geist Waterfront Park and Nickel Plate Trail will continue to move forward with funding in place.

As to funding the continuing construction on State Road 37, the mayor says the city has bonds rolling off in 2024, allowing the city to issue new bonds handling any additional money needed for completion of the State Road 37 construction without needing a tax rate increase.  The city estimates a need to find an additional $18 million to fully fund the project, according to Fadness.

The mayor described his 2021 budget plan as tax neutral, without any increases in city fees. “It really should be a neutral budget when it comes to (taxpayers’) wallet.”  The mayor did caution that increases in housing values could increase some property tax bills, but that is outside the power of city government to control.

What the mayor described as a “robust” road resurfacing plan will continue in 2021, with wheel tax money and an annual bond issued each year funding that.

One capital project that Fadness will factor into his budget deliberations is the proposed new fire station on the northeast side of the city.  Staffing the station, as well as the building costs, will be a part of that decision.

On another matter, Fadness says he expects the 126th Street roundabout at State Road 37 to be fully open sometime in November.  The construction on 96th Street should be done this fall.

The Hamilton Southeastern School Board acted Thursday morning to bring students back into the classrooms 5-days-per week starting October 5, up to Grade 4.  Below is the statement released by the school district Thursday morning.  The same statement was sent to district parents.  (This story will be updated)

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

During a work session of the Board of School Trustees on Thursday morning, Hamilton Southeastern Schools Superintendent Dr. Allen Bourff made the recommendation to allow students in PreK-4 to return on-site, five-days a week (Phase III).

The recommendation follows the City of Fishers COVID-19 Mitigation and Activity Guidance for schools.

The Board of School Trustees voted to accept the recommendation. Students in PreK-4 will be able to attend school on-site, full-time starting on Monday, October 5.

“We do feel based on what we know what right now, we can ensure the community with 100 percent of students (PreK-4) going back, we can have those buildings open,” said Superintendent Dr. Allen Bourff.

A virtual-only option will still be offered for students who wish to continue learning at home.

Students in grades 5-12 began on-site learning at 50 percent capacity on Thursday, September 17.

HSE Schools also launched a COVID Data Dashboard this week to be as transparent as possible with the public about what is happening in the classrooms.

Data for this tracker is collected from the school nurse at each building and includes information relating to students and staff members. The tracker will be updated every Monday morning to show new COVID-related absences and positive cases that occurred in the previous week. The school nurse along with the Fishers Health Department will determine the length of quarantine based on current information and guidance. Past data will remain on the dashboard to view historical trends.

More information will be released in the updated Operations Plan and the weekly Friday Update.

When The Yard, later renamed Fishers District, was first conceived, a major part of the plan centered on what is generally called a “restaurant accelerator,” allowing chefs to experiment and try new things without the major expense of opening a new restaurant.  The first operations of the “test kitchen” were Korave Korean BBQ, Lil Dumplings Global Street Food, and The Signature Table.  They have been serving customers since the operation opened.

It is now time to give other chefs the opportunity to avail themselves of the Fishers Test Kitchen.

Aspiring chefs, restaurateurs, food truck operators, farmers’ market vendors, and other culinary experts can apply to try out a new food concept and build a following with the goal of eventually opening their own restaurant.

The Fishers Test Kitchen launched in February 2020 as a restaurant accelerator that combines access to a full-service state-of-the-art kitchen and storefront with business coaching and mentorship from Launch Fishers’ CEO John Wechsler along with several restaurant and hospitality industry veterans. As part of the program, the Fishers Test Kitchen signs restaurant entrepreneurs to short-term contracts that allow for a changing line-up of chefs to cycle in and out of the Fishers Test Kitchen as they test new food concepts. The Fishers Test Kitchen is co-located within the Fishers Sun King Brewery and Tap Room and serves customers within the 350-seat family-friendly dining area.

“The goal of The Fishers Test Kitchen is to improve the culinary ecosystem in Fishers by giving chefs and restaurateurs world-class spaces, coaching, and support to prepare them to launch original food concepts in Fishers,” says Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, in a city news release. “We are here to serve every Fishers resident, but we also recognize our role in supporting our growing innovation economy by giving startup and tech companies the local dining options they demand.”

Chefs may submit applications at this link.

My understanding of the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) goes back to 1969, which I took a written test to qualify for a third-class engineer’s license with broadcast endorsement.  It wasn’t much of a certification.  I could read meters on a broadcast transmitter and know enough to contact the chief engineer (with a first class engineering license) who would handle the issue.

The FCC is the agency that regulates over-the-air broadcasting and wireless communications in general.  Lately, commissioners have been knee-deep into the new 5G technology spreading throughout the nation, including Fishers.

That’s why the appointment of Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness to the FCC’s Intergovernmental Advisory Committee is important news. This will bring Fishers to the national table as decisions are made on the 5G wireless tower rollout.

“I am honored to serve the City of Fishers through this new role, and I look forward to using the learning experiences we have had with the deployment of 5G in our community to advocate for our resident and community’s needs at the Federal level,” said Mayor Fadness in a city news release. “The deployment of this infrastructure has presented many challenges due to Federal laws which largely preempt the City’s regulatory authority. Notwithstanding, in April 2017, I led our City to take emergency action to implement a waiver process for the residential deployment of 5G infrastructure. Unlike most communities whose residents are afforded no acknowledgment of residential deployment, our waiver process has provided neighborhoods with an opportunity to meet with the telecommunication industry in order to discuss its proposed locations and any reasonable alternatives offered by the neighborhood. Just this week, the process achieved consensus on an overwhelming majority of residential permits considered. While the process is far from perfect, we hope that it can effectively balance the Federal government’s desire to quickly implement this technology with the preservation and protection of aesthetics in our residential neighborhoods.”

Verizon Wireless is constructing 5G towers in residential neighborhoods throughout Fishers, with 112 now in place and a total of 400 applications expected this year.  Although hamstrung by federal rules, state law allows the city to consider residents’ concerns on the placement of 5G towers in their neighborhoods.

It was a wild series of events for Hamilton County law enforcement that ended in downtown Fishers, causing 116th Street to be blocked for a time Monday.

According to WISH-TV News, it all started when a Hamilton County Sheriff’s deputy attempted to pull a car over near Riverwood Avenue and 211st Street, near the White River about a mile northeast of Noblesville.  Police say the driver ran off. The deputy’s attempt to stop the driver with a Taser did not work.

Authorities say the man later broke into a house, stole a set of keys and a wallet, and then stole a car parked outside.

After the suspect drove away, police from Noblesville and Fishers joined the chase. Officers say the suspect was involved in three minor crashes along State Road 37 before wrecking into the Community Health Network building on 116th Street in downtown Fishers. The road was closed during the afternoon rush-hour as police investigated.

The driver was taken to a Noblesville hospital with injuries not believed to be life- threatening.  No word yet on what charges may be filed.

The good news to report is that there was a Mudsock football game this year in Fishers.  The bad news was that only about 1,000 people were able to watch the game in person.  This event normally draws more than 10,000.

I haven’t missed many Mudsock football tilts in recent years but I did miss this one.  It wasn’t because I was prevented from being there – I never asked school officials for a media credential.

I was out of town visiting my new grandson.  Grand-parenting is new to me and I am enjoying every moment, even if it means missing this year’s Mudscock.

Having seen so many Mudsocks with people packed all over the field, it must have been strange to host this big local event with a much smaller crowd.  HSE defeated Fishers High School this year 21-9.  Richie Hall, Sports Editor for the Hamilton County Reporter, has an excellent write-up of the game at this link.