It is that time of year to review the top ten news stories of 2025 in Fishers.  I put the list together and invited Alison Gatz, publisher of Fishers Magazine, to join me in reviewing all ten of the stories.

 

Daniel P McCallister not only wrote a fiction book set in the days of the Roman Empire, he found a publishers and the book is now available.  He talks about how a first time author was able to get his work published.

 

Mayor Scott Fadness sat down for a podcast reviewing 2025 with a look ahead to 2026.  There was much to discuss in the pod, recorded December 17.

 

 

Milly Kirwan coordinates the Mental Health and Counseling programs at Hamilton Southeastern Schools.  Here is Molly’s conversation with Larry, Recorded December 11.

 

Ellie Taylor won the FFA National Proficiency Award at the most recent national convention, for her work in her chapter at HSE High School.  Now a freshman at Purdue, Ellie spoke with me via Zoom about her award and he experiences in FFA.

 

The City of Fishers prepares for snow removal and winter weather each season, and the Department of Public Works is at the forefront of handling this  I spoke with Jonathan Valenta and Nick Powell about handling winter weather and everything else DPW does in Fishers in the podcast linked below.

 

 

Monica Heltz as been the Public Health Director for the Fishers Health Department since the department was created five years ago.  She talks about many issues in this podcast linked below.

 

 

The Fishers Event Center opened about one year ago.  The venue’s General Manager, Mitch List, talks about the first year of the local facility.

 

Here is the video version of the HSE redistricting podcast.

 

Bryan Rausch of HSE Schools and Andrew Bishop from the consulting firm Woolpert joined me for a podcast all about the redistricting process underway at Hamilton Southeastern Schools.  Listen at the link below.

 

 

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness and Jennifer Messer join the podcast and talk about the Central Indiana Regional Development Authority (CIRDA) and how it is developing strategies to develop the entire region.

 

Andre Miksha joined the Hamilton East Library Board (with libraries in Fishers & Noblesville) in September of 2022.  He witnessed a major controversy, was told the following year the school board (which the boad president appointed him originally) was not happy with his library board positions and discussed other issues the library faced during his tenure

Larry’s discussion with Andre Miksha can be heard in the podcast linked below.

 

The past few years, the Film Club at HSE HS has produced a feature length film as the club project.  Last school year, the club produced a film entitled 11:17.  That film has been chosen to be shown at this year’s Heartland Film Festival.  Faculty adviser for the film Club Jamie Follis, and the film’s producer, Katie Follis, talked about being chosen for the festival and more about the film and the club in the podcast linked below.

 

 

Jeff Worrell is a member of the Carmel City Council and has made civility a major issue.  He is a founder of the nonprofit group Project Civility.  Find out more about the organization at this link.

Listen to a podcast with Jeff at the link below.

 

 

Justin Hirnisey is the Executive Director of the Hamilton Southeastern Education Foundation and has plenty to talk about.  His organization is planning a major fund raising concert in February featuring two groups from the 1990s – Blues Traveler and Gin Blossom,  Justin talks about that and much more in this podcast discussion.

 

 

Tyler Zerbe assumed the office of Hamilton Southeastern Education Associate (HSEA) President in July of this year.  He sat down with Larry for a podcast discussion covering a wide variety of issues.  Listen at the link below.

 

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness and his Deputy Mayor Elliott Hultgren joined me for a podcast recording session September 11.  We talked about he 2026 city budget, talk of a change in timing for city elections, whether Mayor Fadness has thought bout another term as mayor and his role chairing the Central Indiana Regional Development Authority (CIRDA.  Listen at the link below.

 

The Hamilton East Library, with buildings in Noblesville and Fishers, has its new charitable arm up and running – the Hamilton East Library Foundation.  I spoke with Library Director Melissa Loiselle and Foundation Director Lisa Longo in the podcast linked below.

 

Best Buddies is a program about forming friendships.  I spoke with Avery VanMiddlesworth, Manager of Mission Advancement for the Indiana state organization.  I also welcome Adrienne Moore to the podcast, a kindergarten teacher at New Britton Elementary School and a Best Buddies Champion Candidate.  Listen at the link below.

 

ReCenter Indiana is a nonprofit organization aimed at encouraging registered voters in the Hoosier state tot actually cast ballots in elections.  Indiana has historically been a low-voter-turnout state historically.

 

America and Central Indiana are witnessing a shortage of trained, qualified nurses.  Two local institutions are working to change that.  Jill Payne is Indiana Market Chief Nursing Officer for Ascension St. Vincent.  Tia Bell is the Dean at the Marian University Leighton School of Nursing.  They both talked about nursing and the current shortage in the podcast linked below.  Those interested in a nursing career can attend an event set for August 27, 4-7pm, at the main St. Vincent Hospital on 86th Street.  Register at this link.

 

Fishers Freight Head Coach Dixie Wooten has completed his first season with the Indoor Football League expansion team.  Dixie talks about the highs and lows of the past season and the fact he expects 21 of his current players to return next season.

 

Patrick Mapes is starting his second full school year as Hamilton Southeastern Schools Superintendent.  He talks about the start of school and much more in this podcast.

 

 

Ed Gebhart is in his seventh year as Chief of Police for the City of Fishers.  We discussed a wide range of issues in this podcast, linked below.

 

Freedom Kolb is the Executive Director of The Milk Bank, an organization providing natural mother’s milk to infants in need.  The organization is celebrating 20 years of service and is inviting the public to tour the local facility.’

Freedom talks about that and much more in this podcast.

 

Dr. Craig McCaffrey is the new Principal at Hamilton Southeastern High School.  He sat down for a discussion about his new job.

 

Andrea Davis is the Executive Director of HAND Inc., a local nonprofit specializing in providing affordable housing.  In this podcast, she talk about  new grant and discusses other housing issues.

 

Monica Heltz, Public Health Director fo the city of Fishers, discusses a wide range of topics in this podcast.

 

 

It’s that time of year once again to plan for the Spark Fishers Festival.  This year it runs June 24-28, with a bonus – a Rotary golf event the following Monday, June 30th.  Listen to the podcast using the link below, featuring Fishers Parks & Rec Director Marissa Deckert and her Assistant Director, Allison (Allie) Kaser.

 

Summer road construction season is here, and Fishers Cit Engineering Department Director Hatem Mekky and Project Engineer Tami Houston talk about the projects going on this summer.  Also, Sanitary Engineer Jeremy Schmitt joins the conversation as well.

 

Andrew Smith and Eva Hallman are broadcasters that bring Indy Fuel hockey and Fishers Freight football into local homes and phones.  They sat down with me Saturday evening, May 3rd, to talk about their work with the Fuel & Freight in the podcast linked below.

 

Fishers Fire and Emergency Services Chief Ky Ragsdale has held that job for about 3 months.  He sits down with Larry to talk about his new position and much more.

 

Mayor Scott Fadness has proposed a 10% cap on single-family  rental homes per subdivision in Fishers.  Steve Ladig, a real estate professional living in Fishers, and former City Councilor Jocelyn Vare, talk about why they oppose this proposed city ordinance in the podcast linked below.

 

 

 

Here is the video version of my podcast with IFL Commissioner Todd Tryon.

 

 

Todd Tryon is Commissioner of the Indoor Football League.  The Fishers Freight ate preparing their first season in the IFL.  Here is my conversation with Commissioner Tryon.

 

 

 

Mayor Scott Fadness and his Chief of Staff Jordin Alexander join the podcast to talk about the proposed rental caps on single-family homes, and a few other subjects.

 

March is Disability Awareness Month.  Fishers City Councilor Decilia Coble and Sarah Buckner, Director of Community Engagement for Hamilton County Tourism, talk with Larry about Disability Awareness Month.

 

Dixie Wooten, Head Coach and General Manager of the Fishers Freight Indoor Football League team, joins Larry to talk about the Freight’s inaugural season starting in late March, 2025.

 

Kyle Goodwin has just been named as the Principal at Fishers High School.  He joins Larry for this podcast discussion.

 

Sarah Donsbach talks about her 4 years serving on the Hamilton Southeastern School Board.

 

 

 

The Hamilton Southeastern Schools will begin a program of Networks, or directors of study, for high school students in the district, starting with the fall semester of 2025.  Central office administrators Steve Loser and Jason Urban talk about how the Networks work.

 

Fishers is opening a new Community Center in November of this year, but you can soon buy a membership to the new facility.  Jake Reardon McSoley & Mike Lindbloom talk about the memberships and more about the new Center.

The President and General Manager of the Indy Ignite professional women’s volleyball team, Mary Kay Huse, joins Larry to talk about the new team.

IndyIgnite Podcast – Mary Kay Huse

 

 

 

The founder of the Fishers Digest local newsletter joins Larry in this podcasts.