Tonight, Saturday, May 24, the Fishers Freight honor those serving in the Armed Forces with Military night, as America observes Memorial Day weekend.

Also, Starting at 5pm Saturday evening in front of the Fishers Event Center, the Freight will host Tailgate Party, featuring  lawn games, inflatables, a beer garden, and food.  Arrive early for tonight’s Indoor Football League game as the Freight face the Jacksonville Sharks, starting at 7pm.  Tickets are available. 

Roundabouts are to be constructed at 131st & Howe Road, along with Hoosier Road & 121st Street.  As a result, on or after May 29, both intersections will be closed for an estimated 60 days, allowing for construction.  Also, look for road closures on parts of 136th Street in the northeast area of Fishers.

Those are just a few examples of all the road construction updates listed below, provided by the City of Fishers, for the week of May 26:

Continue reading Plenty of updates on Fishers-area road construction for the week of May 26 →

The Hamilton County Democratic Party has announced the hiring of its first-ever full-time Executive Director, Raleigh Brown. The move marks a major milestone for Democrats in one of Indiana’s fastest-growing and, according to a party news release, increasingly competitive regions.

Brown, a Kokomo native and graduate of Butler University, brings a background in campaign strategy and grassroots mobilization. Most recently, she served as campaign manager for Josh Lowry’s 2024 run for Indiana House District 24, a race that saw Democrats make notable gains in one of the state’s most hotly contested districts. Under Brown’s leadership, the campaign raised nearly $250,000 and moved the district closer to flipping blue.

“Raleigh Brown stepping in means we’re turning intention into action,” said Lowry, who also serves as Chairman of the Hamilton County Democratic Party. “This is the year we get serious—and we’re just getting started.”

Brown also played a key role in Lisa Washington’s 2022 campaign for Howard County Commissioner and led the State College Democrats of Indiana as president from 2022 to 2024. In that role, she was instrumental in energizing young voters and building statewide networks for Democratic outreach.

“I am extremely passionate about improving communities,” Brown said in a statement. “The data shows that the majority of our residents value great schools, public safety, and common-sense, people-first governance. I’m excited to support and elect candidates who share that vision for Hamilton County.”

The hiring signals the Democratic Party’s growing ambitions in suburban strongholds like Carmel, Westfield, Noblesville, Fishers, and northern Hamilton County—areas that the local party says have shown shifting political trends in recent years. With a full-time executive director now at the helm, party leaders say they’re laying the groundwork for sustained growth and electoral competitiveness in 2026 and beyond.

The Indy Fuel are ensuring stability behind the bench, announcing today that Head Coach Duncan Dalmao has signed a two-year contract extension. Dalmao, already the winningest coach in franchise history, has led the team to three consecutive Kelly Cup Playoff appearances, a first in Fuel history.

“We are thrilled to bring Duncan back for two more years,” said Fuel chairman Jim Hallett. “Duncan has been an integral piece of this team for over three years now, and we could not imagine building on our success with anyone else leading the charge behind the bench.”

Dalmao first took over as interim head coach late in the 2021-22 season before officially earning the role ahead of the 2022-23 campaign. Since then, he has reshaped the team’s trajectory, guiding them to a franchise-best 43 wins in 2022-23, setting records in scoring (244 goals) and road victories (23).

That momentum carried into the following seasons. In 2023-24, the Fuel secured their highest playoff seeding ever, earned their first home playoff win under Dalmao, and broke their attendance record. Then, in 2024-25, the team moved to the Fishers Event Center, where Dalmao once again delivered playoff hockey. On November 29, he cemented his legacy as the winningest coach in Fuel history, securing his 100th victory with the franchise before closing out the season with 125 total wins.

His leadership has also brought a sense of community and excitement to Indy hockey fans, as proven by another attendance record in 2024-25, with 15 sellout home games. Dalmao, who has now coached 232 regular-season games with the Fuel, looks forward to continuing the momentum.

“I’m really looking forward to being behind the bench in Indy and being a part of the community we’ve built,” Dalmao said. “It’s been an honor and a privilege to represent this organization. We will continue to build on our success but also strive for more as we look forward to the upcoming season.”

Before coaching, the Toronto native played 11 professional seasons across North America and Europe. He skated in 391 ECHL games, collecting 49 goals and 152 assists while earning ECHL Defenseman of the Year honors in 2001. Now, he continues to make his mark in the league—this time from behind the bench.

State Representative Victoria Garcia-Wilburn encouraged constituents to step away from their computer screens, talk to their neighbors, and make their voices heard on pressing public issues, during a well-attended town hall Thursday evening at the Hamilton East Library in downtown Fishers.

One emotional moment came when a local nurse shared the challenges she and her colleagues face due to ongoing staffing shortages. Garcia-Wilburn emphasized the importance of sharing such personal stories with lawmakers, saying they help humanize policy debates and influence meaningful change.

The representative also reviewed key issues addressed during the recently concluded Indiana General Assembly budget session. She voiced her opposition to a new law allowing partisan school board elections, raised concerns about proposed cuts to local health department funding, and called for large corporations to pay what she described as their “fair share” in taxes.

Garcia-Wilburn praised her constituents for their civic involvement, noting that her district had the highest response rate to her legislative survey among lawmakers In the Indiana House. She added that her voting record during the session closely aligned with the views expressed by survey participants.

House District 32, represented by Garcia-Wilburn, includes the west side of Fishers, much of Carmel, and a portion of northern Marion County.

Drivers navigating the ongoing construction at 146th Street and Allisonville Road should prepare for a significant traffic pattern change set to begin on or after June 2, according to the Hamilton County Highway Department.

The next phase of the infrastructure project will make the new roundabout at the intersection operational, and one lane of 146th Street will reopen in each direction via the newly constructed bridge over Allisonville Road. Once this phase is in place, left turns—currently prohibited in all directions—will be allowed once again through the roundabout.

Until then, drivers are reminded to continue observing the 35 mph posted speed limit and to avoid making left turns at the intersection. The construction zone remains active, with periodic lane closures and temporary traffic stoppages expected as crews complete various work items.

“Please watch for flaggers and workers in and around the construction zone, and use extreme caution,” the department advised in its latest update.

Bridge rehabilitation and widening efforts continue on the westbound bridge over the White River. Warmer temperatures have allowed the contractor to resume key operations including grading, storm sewer installation, subgrade preparation, and paving.

Additionally, the bridge railing over Allisonville Road was completed in recent weeks, marking a notable milestone in the broader improvement project. Crews are also working on roundabout construction and barrier wall installation within the active work zone.

Construction vehicles will be entering and exiting the site frequently, so motorists are urged to stay alert and reduce speeds while driving through the area.

After the June traffic shift, westbound traffic on 146th Street will be divided over the White River bridge, with active construction continuing between travel lanes. The county cautions drivers to remain vigilant and allow time to adjust to the new traffic configuration.

County highway officials say the project is scheduled to be completed in the fall of this year.

The illustration below is provided by Hamilton County.

The Hamilton County Commissioners and County Council are now accepting applications from local nonprofit organizations seeking grant funding for the 2026 calendar year.

The Hamilton County Non-Profit Grant Program is intended to provide financial assistance to organizations that offer services supporting the County’s goals. These services are considered essential to the community, and without them, the County may need to consider developing such programming internally.

Grants will be awarded based on the score of the application and the availability of funds. All awarded funds must be matched by other funding sources or supported through documented in-kind services. Funding will only be distributed to organizations based in Hamilton County.

Applications are due by Wednesday, June 4 at 4:30 p.m. Late submissions will not be accepted. Applicants selected for funding will be notified on or after Wednesday, November 12, and funds will begin to be distributed in January 2026.

More details, including eligibility requirements and application forms, are available on the County’s Non-Profit Grant Application webpage. For additional information not addressed in the application materials, contact Director of Council Operations Kelly Morehouse at Kelly.Morehouse@HamiltonCounty.in.gov or Assistant Director of Administration Dianna Lynch at Dianna.Lynch@HamiltonCounty.in.gov.

Abby Taylor will be stepping away from the presidency of the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA) as of July 1.  In a social media post, Taylor indicated she made the decision for family reasons.

The new HSEA president as of July 1 will be Tyler Zerbe.  He currently serves as Vice President for Secondary Education with the local teachers union.

Taylor confirmed her decision in an e-mail to LarryInFishers.  I have submitted a number of follow-up questions to HSEA.  Once I receive a response, this story will be updated.

After three decades of service to Hamilton County, Director of Administration and former County Prosecutor Lee Buckingham will retire at the end of this month.

Buckingham’s final day will be Friday, May 30, capping off a distinguished 30-year career in county government that began in 1995.

“Working for Hamilton County has been the honor of a lifetime,” Buckingham said in a statement. “The people—whether in the Prosecutor’s Office, the courts, or county administration—are truly the best part of this job.”

Buckingham started his career in public service as a Deputy Prosecutor, a role he held for 16 years before being elected Hamilton County Prosecutor in 2010. He led the office for 12 years, stepping down in 2022. In January 2023, he took on a new leadership role as Director of Administration for the Hamilton County Commissioners.

In addition to his prosecutorial work, Buckingham served on the county’s Community Corrections Advisory Board for 22 years, many of those as president, contributing to the development of local criminal justice initiatives.

“Lee has been a trusted and thoughtful leader in Hamilton County government,” said Steve Dillinger, President of the Hamilton County Commissioners. “His legal expertise, calm presence, and principled approach to public service have made a lasting difference in our community. We wish him nothing but the best.”

A licensed attorney, Buckingham earned his law degree from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law and holds an undergraduate degree from Loyola University. He is stepping away from public service to be closer to family.

“Leaving Hamilton County is not easy,” Buckingham added. “I’ll always be grateful for the relationships I’ve built and the trust I’ve been given over these 30 years.”

The County has not yet announced who will succeed Buckingham in the Director of Administration role.