Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools Board of Trustees President Juanita Albright has appointed Michael Zahm to the Hamilton East Public Library (HEPL) Board of Trustees, based on a news release issued Wednesday morning by the HSE school district.

Zahm fills the HSE-designated seat on the seven-member board, which oversees the Noblesville and Fishers library branches. He succeeds Andre Miksha, whose term ran from September 29, 2022, through August 26, 2025. The board expressed appreciation to Miksha for his service.  Miksha had indicated he would serve another term if reappointed.

“Michael Zahm is a lifelong educator and community-minded leader whose experience aligns with HEPL’s mission to be a welcoming, literacy-focused resource for every resident,” Albright said in a statement. “His track record in HSE classrooms and buildings, as well as his continued service in our community, make him an excellent choice to represent HSE Schools in this capacity.”

Zahm brings more than 30 years of experience in education and leadership. A Ball State University graduate, he earned a master’s degree in educational leadership and curriculum design from the University of Oregon and completed graduate work at Butler University for his principal’s license. He served as an elementary school principal in HSE Schools from 1998 to 2014 before moving into the private sector as a financial advisor.

He and his wife, Nancy, have two daughters, Sarah and Abby, both graduates of Fishers High School.

“I am honored to serve and to give back to the Fishers community that has given so much to me,” Zahm said. “I look forward to supporting the library’s staff and board as we continue to strengthen literacy and learning across our community.”

The annual Mudsock football game is set for this Friday, September 12, but it’s not too early for fans to start planning ahead for the basketball edition of the rivalry. Tickets for the Mudsock Rivalry Basketball Game go on sale the same day at 10 a.m.

This year’s basketball showdown between Fishers High School and Hamilton Southeastern High School will be played Friday, December 19, at the Fishers Event Center. The girls game tips off at 6 p.m., followed by the boys at 8 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m.

The Mudsock rivalry began in 2006-2007, when Fishers High School opened, and has since become one of the most anticipated dates on the local sports calendar. Hamilton Southeastern currently leads both all-time series: the Royals boys are ahead 10-7, while the HSE girls lead 11-6. This season, Fishers will serve as the home team in the girls game, while Hamilton Southeastern will be home for the boys matchup.

Tickets will be available at FishersEventCenter.com beginning Friday morning. Prices are $10 for general admission, $30 for reserved loge seating, $35 for Legacy Club, and $40 for reserved courtside seats. Purchases are limited to eight tickets per order. Children age 5 and under are admitted free with an accompanying adult ticket.

The “Mudsock” nickname traces its roots to the late 1800s and early 1900s, when swampy ground in the area left residents and their horses ankle-deep in mud that resembled brown socks. The nickname stuck, and today it represents one of the area’s most spirited traditions.

The Hamilton East Library (HEPL) serves Noblesville and Fishers, and is establishing a new foundation to support its work.  Also, all Indiana libraries are sorting through new rules on funding from the Indiana General Assembly.

To talk about that, and much more, I spoke with HEPL Director Melissa Loisell and HEPL Foundation Director Lisa Longo in the podcast linked below.

Whenever I read about the intersection of 96th Street and Allisonville Road, two years immediately come to mind—1991 and 2012.

I moved to Fishers in May 1991 and often drove through 96th and Allisonville, especially during rush hour. Even back then, it was a busy spot where Indianapolis met the growing Town of Fishers.

Fast forward to 2012, the year I launched this news blog. Around that time, the Fishers Town Council was rolling out public-relations efforts to explain a traffic change few Hoosiers had ever seen: the “Michigan Left.” Instead of turning left at the light, drivers would first turn right, then make a U-turn.

Let’s just say the public wasn’t impressed. Social media and local media hammered the plan, and the Michigan Left quickly earned a reputation as a bad idea.

Not everyone agreed, though. My wife Jane, who worked at the Precedent office park near Keystone at the Crossing, used Michigan Lefts regularly and thought it saved time compared to long waits for a left-turn arrow. But public opinion carried the day, and engineers went back to the drawing board.

Studies eventually recommended a roundabout as the best long-term fix for 96th and Allisonville. Construction was painful, as expected, but the project was finished and the new roundabout opened.

Now, more than a decade later, the 96th and Allisonville roundabout is back in the news—and not always in a positive light. Some drivers say it’s just as frustrating as the Michigan Left that came before.

I’m not a traffic engineer, and I try to trust the experts on these matters. Still, I’ve always believed roundabouts are an improvement over four-way stops. When it comes to major intersections, though, I have my doubts. From what I’ve seen at 96th and Allisonville, many of the problems stem less from design and more from drivers who don’t know how to use a roundabout properly. Since Indianapolis doesn’t have nearly as many roundabouts as Fishers or Carmel, it may simply be a matter of unfamiliarity.

That brings me to a recent decision about another busy crossing—116th Street and Allisonville. Fishers officials announced that plans for a roundabout there have been scrapped. A new traffic study suggested that extending left-turn lanes would be a better way to relieve backups, particularly during rush hour.

Carmel may be the roundabout capital of Indiana, perhaps even the nation, and Fishers has been catching up. But the latest move shows that while roundabouts can be valuable, they aren’t always the best answer everywhere.

Cooling temperatures will not result in any slowdown of road construction work in and around Fishers.  Check the long list of resurfacing jobs expected.  Also, see the reminder about the Geist Half Marathon.

Here is the complete listing, as provided by the City of Fishers, for the work week starting Monday, September 8:

Continue reading Fishers Road Construction for the work week starting Monday, September 8 →

Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at Ascension St. Vincent recently celebrated Fishers resident Carter Minion, who was recognized as the Honorary Fever Ball Kid during a recent Indiana Fever home game.

Carter, a patient at the hospital, enjoyed courtside access during warm-ups, met Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, and saw his story highlighted on the video board during halftime. The special recognition honored Carter’s strength and resilience as he continues to live with Type 1 diabetes.

Beyond his own health challenges, Carter has become an advocate for other children living with chronic illnesses. With the support of his family, he helps organize annual fundraisers that benefit patients at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital.

“Honoring Carter as the Honorary Fever Ball Kid is a reminder of the resilience and hope that drive everything we do,” said Stephan Masoncup, Chief Strategy Officer at Ascension St. Vincent. “Ascension St. Vincent is committed to delivering compassionate, world-class care to children facing tough medical challenges.”

The Honorary Fever Ball Kid program recognizes young patients at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital while highlighting their determination and spirit.

Three Hamilton County residents have been chosen to participate in the Emerging Leaders Project, a statewide program aimed at preparing future Democratic leaders.

Nocona Canady-Flatt of Noblesville, Jay Dunne of Westfield, and Fran Smith of Fishers were selected for the initiative, which provides hands-on training in campaign management, public policy, and party organization.

The Emerging Leaders Project, founded in 2011, is an independent nonprofit run by volunteers in coordination with the Indiana Democratic Party. Its goal is to build a pipeline of future Democratic candidates, campaign staff, and community activists across the state.

Josh Lowry, chair of the Hamilton County Democratic Party, praised the local participants for their selection.

“We are thrilled to see three of our own Hamilton County Democrats chosen for this program,” Lowry said. “Nocona, Jay, and Fran represent the next generation of leaders who will continue the work of building a stronger, fairer Indiana.”

The program has a history of producing Democrats who go on to win elected office, manage campaigns, and assume leadership roles within their communities. Party officials say the participation of three Hamilton County residents highlights the growing presence of Democrats in the county.

Best Buddies International is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the social, physical, and economic isolation of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The program pairs people with and without IDD in one-on-one friendships, while also offering support through integrated employment, inclusive living, and leadership development.

Avery VanMiddlesworth is the Manager of Mission Advancement for the Indiana Best Buddies International operation.  Adrienne Moore is a kindergarten teacher at New Britton Elementary School and a Best Buddies Champion candidate.  You can find out more about Ms. Moore’s involvement in Best Buddies and contribute to the organization at this link.

Below is the link to a podcast featuring both ladies talking about Best Buddies.

Fishers Director of Engineering Hatem Mekky briefed the City Council Finance Committee on August 27 about upcoming projects as part of the city’s 2026 budget discussions. While reviewing road work, he described the 116th Street and Allisonville Road project only as an “improvement,” without offering specifics.

For more than a year, city officials had said the signalized intersection would be rebuilt as a roundabout. However, a report published Wednesday by the Indianapolis Star revealed that Fishers has dropped the roundabout plan in favor of extending turn lanes to ease rush-hour congestion.

IndyStar reporter John Tuohy quoted Fishers spokesperson Ashley Elrod, who said the city reassessed the project after recent experiences with the 96th Street and Allisonville roundabout, though she stopped short of directly linking the two.

In January 2023, the Fishers Board of Works and Public Safety authorized $413,000 for roundabout design work at 116th and Allisonville, and in March of this year accepted a $3.1 million construction bid. The city now says the project will be rebid with the new scope.

Elrod told LarryInFishers that a new traffic study concluded longer left-turn lanes, along with keeping the existing signalized system, would better address congestion. She also noted the change avoids a full closure of the intersection during construction.

Pedestrian traffic factored into the decision as well. Elrod said a signalized intersection provides a safer environment for people walking in the area, while a roundabout would have posed challenges.

A note of appreciation to reporter John Tuohy for breaking this story. Tuohy is retiring from the Indianapolis Star at the end of this week. From one retiree to another: best of luck, and enjoy what’s next.

You can read John Tuohy’s IndyStar story at this link, but there is a paywall.

I recall a Catholic priest who always asked parishioners at Mass to stand if they had a birthday that week. Some enjoyed the tradition, others thought it a little odd. But after everyone stood, he always reminded us: it’s better to have a birthday than not to have one.

I thought of that as I mark my 74th year on this earth. What weighs most on my mind is the loss of two close friends this past year, both about my age.

Jack Mitchell was a childhood friend with whom I stayed connected into adulthood. Larry Henry was once my morning show partner on Columbus, Indiana radio. I treasured both friendships, and their absence still leaves a void. Losing friends your own age is a sobering reminder of mortality.

I’ve had my own brushes with it. In October 2020, just months into the COVID-19 pandemic, I tested positive and was very sick for days. My doctor came close to sending me to the hospital. By luck, I recovered at home. Many others my age did not survive in those early months before vaccines and effective treatments.

Then, in November 2021, I landed in the hospital with a rare form of E. coli. I later learned just how easily it could have been fatal. Once again, I was fortunate to recover.

I had actually announced in March 2020 that I intended to end this blog. I’d been at it for years, and it’s been a labor of love—but also a lot of labor for a one-man operation. Then COVID hit, and I decided to keep going a little longer. After my own COVID illness, I realized I needed to continue this work.

I believe God keeps us here for a reason, and takes us when our time is done. Many of my contemporaries are gone, yet I remain. The only conclusion I can draw is that I’m still here because I have more to do. For me, part of that purpose is this: I think, therefore I blog.

Covering news isn’t always uplifting. Conflict and bad news often take center stage. But when possible, I try to highlight the good as well—the moments that show why Fishers is such a special place to live.

I often remember what Fred Rogers said: when bad things happen, look for the helpers. I’m not sure journalists are always helpers, but sometimes we can be. Since my first post in January 2012, my goal has been simple: to keep Fishers residents informed about their community. I can’t say how well I’ve succeeded, but I can say I’ve given it my best effort.

Of course, I’m more than a journalist. I’m a husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother, cousin and friend. Those roles come first. But journalism is still a part of who I am.

Each night before sleep, I reflect on how fortunate I’ve been. I’ve had a full career—first in radio, programming music, then hosting talk shows and reporting news. Later, I served as a federal civil servant, where I’m proud of the work I did alongside so many dedicated people.

Finally, I want to thank you—my readers. My aim has always been to report fairly, though sometimes I feel called to write commentary when important issues aren’t otherwise being addressed. When I launched this blog in 2012, I thought I might reach a few hundred readers. I never imagined that 13 years later, more than 100,000 unique visitors would check this blog out in a single year. That’s only possible because of you.

Now, as I celebrate my 74th birthday, I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to keep this up. For now, though, my health is stable and my mind is clear enough to carry on. So, the posts and podcasts will continue.

Fishers has its challenges, and I’ll continue to cover them. But this city is also filled with good people who care deeply about their community. That’s why I remain optimistic about Fishers’ future.

Thank you for reading.