The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School District continues to move forward with its 10-year facilities and grounds plan, as the school board’s finance committee recently reviewed an estimated $40 million in proposed spending for 2026.

Director of Facilities and Maintenance Matt Rapp outlined several major projects, including the replacement of the HSE High School varsity gym floor, priced at $350,000. The new floor is expected to last about 60 years, needing only a sanding roughly every decade.

Two tennis court replacements are also planned. The project at Fishers High School carries a $3 million price tag, while the courts at Fishers Junior High are scheduled for a $1.25 million overhaul.

Rapp also reported that a major generator at Fishers Junior High has “given out” and will be replaced for $700,000. At Brook School Elementary, a more energy-efficient boiler will be installed at a cost of $250,000.

These items represent a portion of the district’s planned work for 2026.  Review the full listing of work in the 10-year plan for 2026 at this link.

Chief Financial Officer Tim Brown told committee members that two general obligation  bonds will be issued next year to fund the full $40 million in projects—below the $42 million HSE invested in 2025 as part of its 10-year capital plan.

In other business, Brown noted that the district slightly overestimated its student enrollment projections, resulting in $252,000 less in state funding for November than anticipated.

As the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School District and the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA) prepare to resume contract negotiations with a state-appointed mediator, the teachers union is signaling that a tentative agreement may be possible.

In a post to teachers on social media following Thanksgiving break, HSEA encouraged members to be ready for a potential vote soon. “Prepare to participate in building-level ratification on December 18th. Details are on the way,” the message read.

The notice raises the question of whether union leaders expect a tentative contract to be ready by the state’s mid-December mediation deadline. HSEA President Tyler Zerbe indicated that is the goal.

“It is HSEA’s utmost intention to have a contract that our teachers will ratify after mediation,” Zerbe said in an email to LarryInFishers.

Formal mediation sessions between the district and union are expected to begin in the coming days. If the parties do not reach a ratified agreement by the state-mandated deadline, the process moves to fact-finding — a step that is uncommon but occasionally used when talks reach an impasse.

HSEA has said it wants a pact that will not result in teachers having less take home pay.  HSE has argued it does not have the funding to provide what the union wants.

For now, HSEA appears confident that negotiations will produce a tentative agreement in time for teachers to vote on December 18.

Fishers Fire Department crews responded to a residential fire Monday evening on East 136th Street that left a woman displaced from her home.

According to a department statement, the woman who lived in the home was able to evacuate safely before firefighters arrived. No injuries were reported.

Crews encountered heavy fire conditions on arrival and initially mounted an exterior defensive attack. Once most of the flames were knocked down, firefighters moved inside the structure to complete suppression efforts.

Fishers Fire officials said assistance was provided by the South Madison Fire Territory, and FFD Fire Corps volunteers were on scene to support responders with rehabilitation services.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by Fishers Fire Department fire investigators.

Hamilton county has announced County Prosecutor Greg Garrison is leaving his post December 19, due to “health concerns.”  Josh Kocher will take over the job December 20.  the full statement, posted on Facebook, is below:

Hamilton County Prosecutor J. Gregory Garrison will step down on December 19, 2025, due to recent health concerns. Chief Deputy Prosecutor Josh Kocher will assume Garrison’s duties beginning December 20 to ensure a smooth transition. Prosecutor Garrison says serving Hamilton County has been an honor and extends his heartfelt thanks to colleagues and the community. 

Two-time Grammy Award-winning bluegrass artist Billy Strings will bring his 2026 headline tour to the Fishers Event Center for a pair of shows next spring. The performances are scheduled for Friday, April 24, and Saturday, April 25, 2026.

Tickets will be released in stages: an artist pre-sale begins Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 10 a.m. (sign-up available at billystrings.com/tour), followed by a venue pre-sale on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 10 a.m. through FishersEventCenter.com. General ticket sales open Friday, Dec. 5 at 10 a.m.

The spring dates extend what has already been a standout year for Strings. His latest album, Highway Prayers, is nominated for Best Bluegrass Album at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. Produced by Strings and Jon Brion and released by Reprise Records, the album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales Chart — the first bluegrass record in more than two decades to reach the top spot. The project has drawn national praise, with GQ describing Strings as “the hottest roots-music phenomenon in decades.”

Strings has continued releasing new music, including an Apple Music Nashville Sessions EP that revisits several tracks from Highway Prayers. He also surprised fans with Live at the Legion, a collaborative live album with Bryan Sutton recorded at Nashville’s American Legion Post 82. The record features 20 traditional bluegrass and folk songs.

The acclaimed musician has been highly visible in recent months, performing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and appearing on NPR’s Fresh Air and The Howard Stern Show. His winter tour includes multi-night stops in Louisville, Athens, Asheville and Nashville, along with an exclusive performance at the Ryman Auditorium.

Since emerging in 2017, Strings has become one of the most recognized names in modern bluegrass, earning multiple Grammy Awards, four International Bluegrass Music Association Entertainer of the Year honors and widespread critical acclaim. He has also performed on major national platforms, including The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Austin City Limits and Bluegrass Underground.

Tickets and additional tour information are available at billystrings.com/tour and FishersEventCenter.com.

Giving Tuesday began in 2012 at the 92nd Street Y in New York City, spearheaded by then–executive director Henry Timms. The idea was simple: after the rush of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, why not dedicate a day to giving back?

Since then, Giving Tuesday has grown into a worldwide movement, observed on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving Day in the United States. Countless charitable organizations — around the globe, across the country, and throughout Indiana — rely on this day to highlight the work they do and the support they need.

A question I am often asked this time of year is: Are there worthy charities right here in Fishers? The answer is yes — many.

I’ve worked with a number of local groups and have seen firsthand the difference they make. But I’m not going to recommend specific organizations here; any list I compile would inevitably leave out deserving groups, and that’s not something I want to do on a day dedicated to generosity.

There is, however, an online resource that lists nonprofit organizations based in Fishers. While it’s not exhaustive, it’s the best directory I’ve found.  It is available at this link.   

So on this Giving Tuesday, if you’re able, consider supporting a nonprofit you know is doing meaningful work — whether in our community or beyond. And if you haven’t thought much about giving before, today is a great time to start.

With road conditions deteriorating and the weather forecast not at all promising, HSE Schools made the decision Monday night to hold classes on a two-hour delay Tuesday.

Here is the text of the announcement, issued Monday night:

It’s always interesting to watch social media when major events unfold locally. Over the past few days, the comments have been in overdrive here in Fishers.

We’ve seen several incidents requiring police involvement, the most recent being a shooting death at a local restaurant and bar. But does this mean Fishers is suddenly an unsafe city?

If you read some of the social media reactions, you might think the sky is falling. Nothing could be further from the truth.

By any reasonable measure, Fishers—now a city of more than 107,000 residents—is a safe community. But being safe doesn’t mean being perfect.

The online chatter has grown loud enough that Mayor Scott Fadness stepped in with his own message, writing in part:

“Our team works tirelessly to maintain a safe environment for Fishers families. The last few days have demonstrated that despite our best crime prevention efforts, there are times when criminal activity will still occur. Individuals responsible for crimes in our city the past few days are being held accountable, and as I have shared before, this behavior will not be tolerated in our community.”

The Fishers Police Department is among the most professional public safety agencies you’ll find anywhere. Their focus on prevention is strong, but as a city grows, incidents will happen.

So if your impression of Fishers comes from a social media feed suggesting the city has become unsafe, it’s time to take a step back. I’ve lived in Fishers for 34 years, and I have no plans to live anywhere else.

A man shot by Fishers Police during a November 6 warrant service in Indianapolis has died from his injuries, according to an update released Monday by the Indiana State Police.

ISP said 26-year-old Caleb Weis, of Indianapolis, died November 29 after spending more than three weeks hospitalized. His cause of death will be determined by the Marion County Coroner’s Office. Weis had been the subject of an active Hamilton County arrest warrant for murder at the time of the incident.

State Police also released the names of the four Fishers Police Department officers who discharged their weapons: Sgt. Austin Arndt, a 12-year FPD veteran; Det. Colin Harruff, six years; Det. Cory Schalburg, six years; and Det. Sgt. Cesar Rodriguez, 14 years.

The shooting occurred around 1 p.m. on November 6 near 91st Street and Masters Road, just south of the Marion–Hamilton county line. Fishers officers had located Weis sitting inside a maroon Ford Mustang as part of a planned warrant service.

According to ISP, an FPD vehicle pulled in behind the Mustang and deployed a grappler device that attached to the car. The vehicle went off the road into a ditch, and Weis allegedly fired a handgun toward officers. Fishers officers returned fire, striking Weis. Officers then provided medical aid before he was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

No officers or bystanders were injured.

ISP continues to lead the investigation at the request of Fishers Police Chief Ed Gebhart. The case remains active, and investigators say all information remains preliminary.

We once again face travel difficulties in and around Fishers as a Winter Weather Advisory is in place for the Fishers area through 7am Tuesday.  2-5 inches of additional snow is possible.  The temperatures will remain below freezing, resulting in likely treacherous driving conditions through the Tuesday morning rush hour.

Normal high temperatures this time of year are around 45 degrees, but the next seven days are forecast to be 10-15 degrees below that each day.

Forecasters at the National Weather service caution motorists that heavy snow may fall at times and visibility may become an issued at times during this storm.

See the advisory below.

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS EVENING
UNTIL 7 AM EST TUESDAY...

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 2 and 5
  inches.

* WHERE...Portions of central, east central, and west central
  Indiana.

* WHEN...Until 7 AM EST Tuesday.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous
  conditions could impact the Monday evening and Tuesday morning
  commutes.