If you have been around Fishers for any length of time, the names Tom Dickey and Shelby Bowen should be familiar to you.  Both served in staff positions for the Town and later City of Fishers.  Both are with the local firm Rebar Development and both are in the news.

Rebar announced a major leadership transition Monday, appointing Partner Tom Dickey as the company’s new President and Chief Executive Officer. The change is part of a long-planned succession strategy, with co-founder and outgoing CEO Shelby Bowen moving into a strategic advisory role.

Dickey, who joined Rebar in January 2024, praised the smooth transition and expressed appreciation for Bowen’s leadership.

“Shelby had shared early on his intention to eventually step back from day-to-day operations – a goal I respected and fully supported,” said Dickey. “I’m proud that we’re executing on that plan together and am happy for my good friend.”

Bowen co-founded Rebar in 2017 with Jerry Ewing and has led the Fishers-based development firm through a period of rapid growth. Under his guidance, Rebar has delivered more than $300 million in public-private partnership (P3) projects across central Indiana, establishing a reputation for impactful community-focused developments.

Notable Rebar projects include:

• District South – a $32 million mixed-use development in downtown Fishers

• McCord Square – a $50 million master-planned community in McCordsville

• Union Station Lofts – a $20 million mixed-use project currently under construction in Warsaw

• Ambrose on Main – a $27 million development in Westfield co-developed with Hudson Investing

“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished at Rebar since 2017 and the impact our projects have had in communities across Indiana,” Bowen said. “It’s been very rewarding to work alongside such a talented team. With Tom stepping into the CEO role, I’m confident the company is poised for even greater success.”

Bowen’s next chapter includes consulting and serving on the Board of Directors at First Farmers Bank & Trust, along with other entrepreneurial pursuits.

In conjunction with the leadership change, Rebar also announced two key additions to its executive team.

• Mark Branaman has joined the firm as Senior Vice President of Development. Branaman brings significant experience in active adult residential projects.

• Garrett Lucas has been named Vice President of Development.

Both will lead Rebar’s growing portfolio of luxury active adult rental communities. Among the projects in development are:

• CityView – a luxury, mixed-use active adult apartment community in downtown Fishers, in partnership with Tegethoff Development and Hageman

• Vallara Finch Creek – a forthcoming development adjacent to Pulte’s Del Webb community in Noblesville

Just days ago, a major announcement sent shockwaves through the world of auto racing. Roger Penske—owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the IndyCar racing series—has sold a one-third ownership stake in both properties to Fox Sports. As part of the deal, Fox will extend its contract to broadcast the entire IndyCar series, including the iconic Indianapolis 500.

The reaction across the motorsports media landscape has been overwhelmingly positive. Many have hailed the deal as a move that will elevate IndyCar coverage, bring greater financial stability, and expand the sport’s audience.

Meanwhile, another major media shakeup is reportedly in the works. Multiple outlets are reporting that the NFL is about to acquire a 10% stake in ESPN. The speculation is that Disney—ESPN’s parent company—is positioning the network for the post-cable era. A big part of that strategy is its upcoming direct-to-consumer streaming service, which is expected to cost sports fans around $30 a month. As part of the deal, the NFL would hand over control of the NFL Network and RedZone—its popular live look-in channel during Sunday games—to ESPN.

Again, sports media commentators are largely praising the move, calling it a win-win for both ESPN and the NFL.

Please excuse me, but I feel compelled to throw a little cold water on both of these deals. In my view, these arrangements may make business sense—but they are bad news for fans.

For decades, the model for live sports coverage has been relatively straightforward: media companies pay rights fees to broadcast the games, while maintaining editorial independence. This model worked well, striking a balance between access and accountability.

But that balance is now in serious jeopardy.

The NFL, in particular, has a long history of aggressively managing its media relationships. Networks that hold broadcasting rights are under constant pressure to avoid coverage that displeases league officials or team owners. And now, if the NFL has an ownership stake in ESPN, will reporters and commentators really feel free to cover the league honestly? Will viewers hear the full story if something controversial happens—on or off the field?

The same concern applies to Fox and IndyCar. Will Fox reporters call it like they see it when their own company owns a major stake in the sport they’re covering?

As fans, we tune in for honest, insightful, and unbiased coverage. Cross-ownership between leagues and networks undermines that trust. It blurs the line between journalism and promotion, and that should concern anyone who cares about the integrity of sports coverage.

Yes, these deals may offer business advantages to owners and media companies. But let’s be clear: they’re not in the best interest of the fans. And to me, that’s a real loss.

The summer construction season continues to be a busy one.  There are changes coming to the Clear Path project at I-69 & I-465.  Also, the Woofstock 5K is coming up August 9….be aware the the closures tied to that event.

There is a lot to review, so here is the weekly road construction report for the work week starting Monday, August 4, as provided by the City of Fishers:

Continue reading Latest Fishers area road construction update →

When covering Fishers Freight home Indoor Football League games, I run across a number of reporters.  One of them was Chris Schumerth from Indianapolis Monthly Magazine.  He was working on a piece all about the Freight and how the team ended up in Fishers.

Chris did his homework and talked to a number of people connected with the team.  His piece just recently posted on the magazine’s Web site.  He seems fascinated by the special rules needed to play an indoor football game on a 50-yard field.

I think you will enjoy reading his article, which is linked below.

Fishers Freight Ends First Season On High Note

The Before the Bell celebration has become a back-to-school tradition for Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools, but weather hasn’t always been kind to the event. Last year, thunderstorms forced its cancellation. In previous years, intense summer heat put a damper on attendance.

But this year was different.

With rain moving out and cooler, comfortable temperatures settling in, the 2025 celebration at the Nickel Plate Amphitheater saw what may have been its best turnout yet.

Held Thursday evening ahead of the school year starting Wednesday, August 6, the event brought out a large crowd of students, families, teachers, and other members of the community. Teachers officially report on August 4.

The attendance was so strong that navigating through the crowd proved a challenge at times. Nearly every school in the district was represented with a table, and several nonprofit organizations and local businesses were also on hand to connect with attendees.

Thanks to perfect weather and strong community participation, this year’s Before the Bell event was a clear success—and a great kickoff to the new school year.

With Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) classes set to begin Wednesday, August 6, two key roundabout construction projects in Fishers are approaching completion.

According to City of Fishers spokesperson Ashley Elrod, the roundabout at 131st Street and Howe Road is scheduled to be completed by Monday, August 11, just a few days after the start of the school year. Meanwhile, the roundabout at 121st Street and Hoosier Road is expected to be finished by the first day of school, August 6.

Elrod emphasized that both timelines are weather-dependent and could be delayed if adverse conditions arise.

The city has communicated these updates to HSE Schools to ensure school officials are aware of any potential impacts on bus transportation routes.

Students report to school Wednesday, August 6, in the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School District, and Superintendent Patrick Mapes is leading HSE in preparing for the 2025-2026 school year.

I invited Superintendent Mapes to appear on my podcast series to discuss the start of school.  We talked about much more, including the financial situation at HSE, the coming redistricting process, ILEARN results and comments he made at a school board meeting in June of last year.

Listen to the podcast at the link below.

Fishers Parks and Recreation Director Marissa Deckert faced an unusual challenge in 2019—finding farmers to help bring the city’s new AgriPark to life. It wasn’t a common job posting, but Deckert tackled that and many other obstacles as the city developed the AgriPark on Florida Road, located in the far eastern part of Fishers.

On Wednesday morning, Deckert joined Mayor Scott Fadness and other city officials to cut the ribbon on a brand-new building at the AgriPark complex. For Mayor Fadness, who grew up on a farm in North Dakota, the occasion carried personal significance.

“This is a passion of mine,” Fadness told the crowd. “I am astounded by the sheer number of people that come here every day.” According to city officials, the AgriPark welcomes an average of 500 visitors daily.

The new building brings a much-needed amenity to the site: permanent, modern restrooms. Until now, only portable facilities were available to guests.

The mayor also announced more enhancements on the horizon, including a country store, and noted that a playground was added earlier this year.

“This is the evolution of a concept that’s really found its mark here in the City of Fishers,” said Fadness. “We’re excited to see it continue to grow.”

The city has extended the park’s impact beyond Fishers through a new partnership with the Indianapolis Zoo. A farm-to-zoo pilot program now provides freshly harvested vegetables grown at the AgriPark to feed animals such as chimpanzees, giraffes, and more. The weekly deliveries supply thousands of pounds of produce annually, promoting both sustainable agriculture and improved animal nutrition.

The Fishers AgriPark is now open year-round, offering increased access to outdoor amenities and seasonal programs. Summer hours are Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. The park is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Upcoming Events at the Fishers AgriPark:

• Fall Festival
  October 3–5
  A weekend of autumn-themed activities, including pumpkins, inflatables, a scarecrow trail, food vendors, and more. Additional details coming soon.

• AgriPark Campout
  October 10–11
  Enjoy a unique overnight camping experience on the farm. More information to be announced.

Here some additional photos from the Wednesday ceremony:

Continue reading Fishers AgriPark Unveils New Building, Highlights Continued Growth and Innovation →

The Fishers City Council has approved an ordinance giving the Board of Public Works & Safety authority to designate specific streets requiring residential parking permits. At its July meeting, the Council empowered the board to make those determinations, and the board took action Tuesday morning to implement the program in two areas along Lantern Road.

Permit Zones Near AlHuda Mosque and King Jugg

One permit area is located north of 116th Street near the AlHuda Mosque. The other is near King Jugg, a bar and grill just off Lantern Road. In both cases, residents have raised concerns about on-street parking congestion during peak hours.

Streets near the AlHuda Mosque that will require parking permits include:

• Sunblest Blvd

• Torberg Pl

• Turkel Dr

• Turkel Pl

• Turkel Ct

• Farley Dr

• Farley Pl

• Turin Ct

• Traverse Pl

• Tanner Dr

• Trumball Ct

• Torrance Pl

• Trophy Dr

• Trophy Drive

• Tynan Way

• Tito Court

Parking on these streets will be restricted to residents with valid permits on Fridays from 1 to 4 p.m., and during Ramadan from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily. In 2026, Ramadan is to be observed from February 17 through March 18.

In the area near King Jugg, on Lantern Road south of 116th Street, the following streets will be affected:

• Fishers Pointe Blvd

• Pioneer Trl

• Founders Pl

• Legacy Ct

• Manship Dr

• Settlers Ct

• Autumn Harvest Dr

• Traders Ct

• Trappers Ct

• Fountain View Ln

• Spring Blossom Ln

• Blacksmith Ct

• Salatheal Ct

• Anvil Ct

• Meadows Dr

• Royal Dr

• Frances St

• Morgan Dr

Parking permits will be required on these streets Thursday through Monday from 6 p.m. to midnight.

Fishers Police Chief Ed Gebhart told the board that the list of streets under permit regulation will be reviewed regularly. Streets may be added or removed based on updated data and feedback.

Update on Traffic Signal for 116th Street

In other business, Engineering Director Hatem Mekky informed the board that more time is needed to finalize a recommendation for a new traffic signal along 116th Street, between Cumberland and Hoosier Roads. The city had previously told residents of the Spyglass neighborhood that a recommended location would be shared in July.

Mekky said his team and an outside traffic consultant are still reviewing recently collected data and now expect to present a final recommendation by the second Board of Works meeting in August.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness has noticed a curious trend: major announcements in Fishers tend to come with a dramatic shift in the weather. When the Indy Ignite volleyball team revealed the Fishers Event Center as its home, the unveiling took place in biting cold. On Tuesday morning, as news broke of a significant new addition to the city, attendees sweltered under extreme heat—prompting another wry comment from the mayor.

The latest headline is the arrival of a high-end steakhouse in the Crossings development at Fishers District, just steps from the Event Center. While the restaurant’s name remains under wraps, it will be operated by the same team behind Prime 47 in Carmel, promising an upscale dining experience for the area.

Dustin Frye, President of BW Construction, shared that the two new buildings breaking ground at the site are intended to do more than house businesses. “We want to create places that bring people together,” Frye said.

Speaking to the media after the ceremony, Mayor Fadness described the upcoming steakhouse as “a catalyst for other development” and hinted at future announcements featuring a mix of local and nationally recognized tenants.

The $30 million investment from BW Development will bring over 33,000 square feet of leasable restaurant space to Fishers, further transforming the area into a culinary and entertainment destination.