As I reported Monday morning, Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) teachers rejected a tentative contract offer from school administrators, with 86% of voting members saying no. In that earlier story, I outlined the next steps in the process.

I asked the HSE School District for comment Monday morning. HSE Superintendent Patrick Mapes released the administration’s response Tuesday afternoon.

In his written statement, Mapes said district leaders are “disappointed that the teachers’ association has chosen not to ratify the tentative agreement that the administration team reached with the bargaining team,” adding that the district remains committed to finding a solution that is “both fair to our educators and responsible to our taxpayers.”

Mapes emphasized that HSE already invests heavily in teacher pay and benefits. According to the superintendent, the district dedicates nearly 84% of its education fund tuition support revenue to teacher compensation — well above the state’s required minimum of 65% — and leads Hamilton County in several key compensation areas, including starting salaries for teachers with bachelor’s and master’s degrees, average teacher salary, and contributions to both retirement and health savings accounts.

He also noted that the district faces new financial pressures due to a projected annual revenue decline of more than $4 million, driven by changes under state law and declining student enrollment. Mapes said the rejected tentative agreement included $1.1 million in benefit enhancements, partially funded by cash transfers to offset rising insurance costs. Because the contract was voted down, those improvements cannot take effect, and health insurance contributions have reverted to prior levels under state law.

“No employee group, and no member of district leadership, including the superintendent, received a salary increase this year,” Mapes wrote. “Our teachers are essential to our success, and our respect for their work is unwavering. We will continue to negotiate in good faith within the state’s prescribed process and remain hopeful that an agreement will be reached that supports our staff, students, and community.”

Meanwhile, the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA) released its own detailed statement on social media Tuesday morning, calling the 86% rejection vote a “mandate” from teachers and saying it reflects frustration over what they describe as a lack of respect from district leaders.

The union criticized the district’s handling of negotiations, saying its proposals on salaries, benefits, and teacher planning time were dismissed. The HSEA is asking administrators to return to the bargaining table with an additional $1.67 million to prevent pay cuts for most teachers, restore 30 minutes of weekly planning time, and commit to making teacher pay more competitive in future years.

Union leaders said their members remain united, describing the next phase of negotiations as a fight for “professional respect and financial dignity.”

The current timeline allows both sides until November 15 to reach an agreement before mediation is required under state law.

Indiana made national headlines today as Governor Mike Braun announced he will call a special session of the General Assembly on November 3. The governor said the primary purpose of the session will be to consider changes to the boundaries of Indiana’s U.S. House districts.  Braun also says he wants to make changes in state tax law in reaction to recent tax changes enacted by Congress.

Reaction to the announcement has been mixed.

House Speaker Todd Huston, who represents the eastern portion of Fishers, issued a statement quoted by The Indiana Lawyer, saying House Republicans “received the Governor’s call for a special session and will continue having conversations within our caucus and with our counterparts in the Senate on our next steps.”

State Representative Victoria Garcia Wilburn offered a sharper response.

“I urge Hamilton County legislators to pose a united front and take a strong stance against redistricting,” Wilburn said. “We can be patriots who are committed to our constituents and who are loyal to the importance of letting voters choose their representation. The leadership in our county is proof that there is a higher road our state can take instead of partisanship for partisanship’s sake.”

State Senator Kyle Walker, who represents Fishers and parts of Lawrence Township in Marion County, has not yet issued a statement on the special session, as best LarryInFishers can determine.

As the Fishers Community Center prepares for its official opening on November 1, city officials are outlining how residents and visitors can access the facility.

While certain amenities—such as fitness equipment and swimming pools—will be reserved for members, several areas will be open to the public at no cost. Free-access spaces include the indoor walking track and indoor playground.

To use these free areas, visitors will need to obtain a community pass, available to both Fishers residents and nonresidents.

Residents and nonresidents can request a free community pass at this link, and those interested in a full membership can learn more or purchase one using this link.

The Fishers Community Center is located at 11400 Johnson Way, near 121st Street and Hoosier Road..

Teachers in the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School District have overwhelmingly rejected a tentative contract agreement with district administrators. In a ratification vote, 86% of teachers voted against the proposed pact.

Craig Frawley, co-chair of the bargaining team for the HSE Education Association, informed teachers of the results Monday morning, saying the outcome “speaks volumes.”

“Eighty-six percent is not just a number; it is a mandate,” Frawley wrote.

The proposed contract offered no increase in teacher pay, higher health insurance premiums, and a one-time contribution to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). It also included some adjustments to rules governing teacher time off.

“The bargaining team anticipated that ratification would be difficult, but we have always believed the final decision rests with our members, and you have spoken decisively,” Frawley said. “The message is clear: we are worth more.”

Under Indiana law, the two sides must reach and ratify an agreement by November 15. If they fail to do so, the state will begin a mediation process, with each side sharing the cost.

If mediation does not produce an agreement, the dispute moves to a fact-finding stage. At that point, each side submits its “last, best offer” to a state-appointed fact finder, who holds a hearing and must choose one of the proposals in its entirety. The decision is based on factors such as the school district’s finances, teacher pay in comparable districts, and the public interest.

The fact finder’s decision is binding but may be appealed  by either side to the Indiana Education Employment Relations Board (IEERB) for a final ruling.

After spending ten years making a living as a journalist, taking 28 years off, and then returning to reporting here in Fishers nearly 14 years ago, not much surprises me these days. Still, every once in a while, the reaction to a story I post manages to raise an eyebrow or two.

This past Wednesday, the Fishers Police Department shared a social media post about a targeted traffic enforcement effort along Olio Road between 116th and 126th Streets. Between noon and 4 p.m. 15 officers conducted a concentrated patrol focused on traffic violations. In that four-hour period, officers made 120 traffic stops.

The department noted that the good news was most drivers were following the rules of the road—especially the speed limit. That’s an important message for this particular stretch, which includes three Hamilton Southeastern School buildings: HSE High School, Fall Creek Junior High, and Fall Creek Intermediate.

Earlier in the day, social media was already buzzing with posts warning drivers about the police presence in that area. The online chatter was significant, and when I published a story about the enforcement effort based on the department’s announcement, the reaction was remarkable. The article quickly became one of the most-read stories on LarryInFishers.com this year.

Perhaps that shouldn’t be surprising. Traffic safety touches nearly everyone in Fishers. I often hear from residents who say driving the speed limit—or even slightly above it—can feel risky because so many others are moving even faster.

Fishers Police have consistently told me that reducing speed and improving safety on city streets is a priority. I see officers pulling over drivers nearly every day, but there’s only so much they can do with limited personnel and resources.

This latest enforcement effort serves as a reminder that speed contributes to many crashes, including those that cause serious injuries. Slowing down, especially in areas near schools and neighborhoods, makes all of us safer.

I doubt this Olio Road operation will be the last focused patrol we see from local police. Targeted enforcement in high-traffic areas will likely continue—and that’s a good reminder for all of us that speed limits are posted for a reason.

One wonders what it will take for the Indy Fuel to get their first win of this ECHL season.  They came up short in a Saturday night showdown at the Fishers Event Center, falling 5-4 in overtime to the Cincinnati Cyclones.

After rallying from a two-goal deficit and taking a late third-period lead, the Fuel were seconds away from victory before Cincinnati forced extra time — and quickly sealed the win.

Cincinnati opened the scoring midway through the first period when Luke Grainger converted on a power play at 8:49 after Indy’s Jordan Martin was called for high sticking. John Jaworski added another goal with just over a minute left in the period to make it 2-0 Cyclones. Tensions flared after the horn as both teams engaged in a brief scuffle before heading to the locker rooms. Shots were even at eight apiece after one.

The Fuel found their spark in the second period. Kevin Lombardi got Indy on the board at 4:50, assisted by Chris Cameron and Martin. Cincinnati extended its lead to 3-1 at 12:33 when Ben King’s goal stood after a video review. Indy answered back when Sahil Panwar netted his first goal of the season on the power play at 15:04, with assists from Holden Wale and Harrison Israels. The Fuel carried momentum into the break, outshooting the Cyclones 22-16 through two periods but still trailing 3-2.

Early in the third, the Fuel tied the game when Lee Lapid — playing against his former team — scored his first of the season on the power play, assisted by Jesse Tucker and Christian Berger. Lombardi struck again at 15:55, giving Indy a 4-3 lead with help from Matt Petgrave and Owen Robinson.

With less than 15 seconds remaining, the Cyclones pulled goaltender Kyle McClellan for an extra skater and were given a two-man advantage after a rare goaltender tripping penalty to Indy’s Owen Flores. The move paid off when Ryan Kirwan scored with just 4.7 seconds on the clock to tie the game 4-4 and send it to overtime.

Cincinnati needed only 40 seconds in the extra period to complete the comeback, as Elijah Vilio netted the game-winner to give the Cyclones a 5-4 victory.

The Fuel were less than 5 seconds away from their first win of this young season and fell short.  The Fuel are now 0-4 as they prepare to head down I-74 and face this same Cincy team on the road Thursday night.

There may be a chill in the air this week, but that does not indicate road construction in and around Fishers is slowing down much.  There is plenty of news to peruse in this week’s update.

Below is the full listing, as provided by the City of Fishers, for the work week starting Monday, October 27:

Continue reading Fishers area road construction news for the work week starting Monday, October 27 →

A section of 96th Street will be closed for more than a week in early November as construction crews complete one of the final steps in the Nickel Plate Trail pedestrian bridge project.

According to the City of Fishers, 96th Street will be fully closed between Hague Road and Masters Road beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday, November 7, and will remain closed through Sunday, November 16. The closure will allow crews to finish roadway reconstruction work beneath the new bridge.

Work is scheduled to take place Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Detours will be clearly marked to guide drivers around the area, and access to all nearby businesses will remain open throughout the project.

City officials say this marks one of the final major milestones before the Nickel Plate Trail pedestrian bridge opens in December. The bridge will provide a safe crossing over 96th Street, connecting the Fishers section of the trail with Indianapolis to the south.

A detour map is posted above to assist drivers in navigating the closure area.

The construction project by the Hamilton County Highway Department continues at 146th Street and Allisonville Road.  Below is a statement about an overnight closures coming, starting Sunday night.

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Please be advised, beginning on or after, Sunday, October 26, 2025, during the hours of 7:00PM and 6:00AM, drivers should expect nightly lane closures and temporary ramp closures for milling and paving operations. The paving operations on 146^th Street and Allisonville Road are expected to be completed by Friday, November 7, 2025. Drivers should expect delays and are encouraged to seek an alternate route.

Please use extreme caution and follow the posted work zone speed limit while driving through this construction zone.

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office is investigating two separate fatal crashes that occurred Wednesday evening in different parts of the county.

The first crash happened around 6:40 p.m. on October 22, 2025, in the 25400 block of Gwinn Road. Deputies responding to the scene found a single-vehicle accident involving a white 2023 Toyota RAV4. According to preliminary findings, the vehicle was traveling northbound when it crossed into the southbound lane and struck a tree on the west side of the roadway.

The driver, 16-year-old Elizabeth Achenbach, was the only occupant of the vehicle. She was transported to St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, where she was later pronounced dead.

About three hours later, at approximately 9:29 p.m., deputies were called to another serious crash on U.S. 31 in Westfield. The collision occurred in the 19000 block of the northbound lanes and involved a Chevrolet Cruze and a Dodge Ram.

Investigators said the Chevrolet Cruze was traveling southbound on U.S. 31 near 191st Street when it crossed the median and began traveling the wrong direction in the northbound lanes. As it approached the 191st Street off-ramp, the Cruze collided head-on with the Dodge Ram.

Both vehicles sustained severe damage. The driver of the Chevrolet Cruze, identified as Edward Johnson, 62, of Sheridan, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office. The occupants of the Dodge Ram suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene.

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Team is investigating both incidents.