The editors at the Indianapolis Star and its focus (or lack thereof) on Fishers has been something I have watched over the nearly 10 years I have written this local Fishers news blog.  There have been stretches of time when the Star barely notices Fishers at all, and other periods where Fishers finds lots of attention from Indiana’s largest daily newspaper.

Lately, the IndyStar has been focusing on Fishers.  Perhaps it’s because we have grown into one of the largest cities in the state, with a population, as measured by the 2020 census, just short of 100,000.  Or perhaps Fishers is just making more news.

For whatever reason, two recent articles written by Star reporter John Tuohy indicate the newspaper is paying more attention to Fishers.  One deals with the 98 acres Fishers purchased recently with development in mind.  Tuohy also focuses on a dispute among members of the Fishers City Council about appointments to boards and commissions.

I have reported on the city’s purchase of the 98 acres along the White River near 96th Street.  Tuohy digs deeper, talking to the developer eyeing that area and also addresses opposition to that development from the Hoosier Environmental Council.

Democrat City Councilor Jocelyn Vare voiced her concern about the process used by the council in making appointments to boards and commissions back in January of this year.  She argued that there was little diversity among council appointees.

Since then, Howard Stevenson, an African-American attorney and former member of the Hamilton Southeastern School Board, has become President of the Fishers Plan Commission and has received high marks by local observers in his handling of that job.

Council President Selina Stoller formed a group to look at the entire committee system and council appointment process.  That proposal calls for the council president to make the final decision on appointments to boards and commissions.

Democrat Crystal Neumann, a member of the group issuing the report, criticized the proposal to have all appointments in the hands of the council president.  Republican Pete Peterson voiced his opposition to that proposal, saying the full council should continue to vote on the appointments.

Reporter Tuohy does a nice job of recounting the debate, which is not over.  The council  appointment process has only had first reading, meaning there could still be changes.

I appreciate all the nice comments I receive from people about this blog.  It is a labor of love for me, my volunteer work in giving back to the community in my retirement years.

But I am a one-man-band.  I can only do so much as a local volunteer journalist.  I welcome news coverage of Fishers from whatever news operations chooses to pay attention to our community.

By the way, kudos to M.J. Slaby, a very good reporter for the IndyStar that attends every HSE School Board meeting.  That is another way the Star covers Fishers.

I will repeat something I have said and written many times before.  SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR LOCAL MEDIA!  The Star offers specials where you can begin a subscription for as little as $1 a month the first few months.  If you watch local business, government and politics, subscribe to the Indianapolis Business Journal.

Consider subscribing to the Hamilton County Reporter and The Times, both local Hamilton County newspapers.  It does not cost much to subscribe to either or both.

I am sure I’ve left some news sources out, and I will hear about it if I did.  Just consider subscribing to you local news.  That is the only way those news sources can survive financially.  We need them.