The Fishers Parks & Recreation Department will offer free concerts at the Nickel Plate Amphitheater beginning June 3 with Mike + Joe.  The final concert is set for July .

The entire schedule is shown above, provided by the City of Fishers.

The AMP concert series requiring you to purchase a ticket begins in June 14.  Here is the lineup for that series:

• June 14 – Chase Rice with Drake White
• June 18 – Band of Horses with Secret Guest
• July 17 – Yo La Tengo + Built to Spill
• July 25 – Michael Franti + Spearhead
• August 9 – Here Come the Mummies
• September 13 – Ole 60 with The Jack Wharff Band and Rob Langdon

For tickets and more information, use this link.

A 15-year-old male is in custody following a police pursuit involving a stolen vehicle early Tuesday morning in north Fishers.

According to the Fishers Police Department, officers were alerted just before 6:30 a.m. by License Plate Reader technology to a potentially stolen vehicle in the area of 131st Street and Cumberland Road. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver fled, prompting a short pursuit.

The chase ended when the suspect crashed the vehicle into a light pole, rendering it inoperable. The driver, who was the sole occupant of the car, then fled on foot.

FPD’s K9 unit tracked the suspect to a nearby residence, where he was taken into custody without further incident. Authorities confirmed the suspect is a 15-year-old male juvenile.

He is facing multiple charges, including:

• Resisting Law Enforcement (Level 6 Felony)

• Resisting Law Enforcement (Class A Misdemeanor)

• Operator Never Licensed (Class C Misdemeanor)

• Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Accident (Class B Misdemeanor)

• Theft – Unauthorized Control Over a Motor Vehicle

Police have not released the juvenile’s name due to his age. The investigation is ongoing.

The Noblesville Scanner Facebook page reported this morning a large police presence in the area of 141st Street near Weeping Cherry.  It appears a person in the vehicle bailed and a police search ensued in the area of 146th & Howe Road, extending  to 131st Street and Cumberland.

Fishers Police say the investigation is ongoing so they have few details to share at this time, but confirmed one person is in custody and the law enforcement search is over.

This story has been updated.

I believe the year was 1992—though forgive me if I’m off by a year or two. At the time, I was a federal civil servant, and our local office had been asked to provide a specialist in tax law for a live appearance on what was then a fairly obscure cable TV channel. The program was to be broadcast live, featuring call-in questions from viewers during the one-hour segment.

Because I had a media background prior to joining government service, local management selected me to fly east and appear at a Washington, D.C. television studio. It would be my first visit to our nation’s capital, and I didn’t know if I’d ever have another opportunity to return.

Since the program aired in the evening, the government allowed me to spend the night in Washington and return home the following morning. My flight was scheduled for mid-morning—but there was one experience I knew I had to have before heading to the airport.

I wanted to see the Vietnam War Memorial.

Though I never served in Vietnam, I came very close. I was eligible for the draft during the first year of the draft lottery system. My number was 175, and that year the military only called up to number 125—so I was not selected for service.

Still, many men close to my age did serve. Several of my college classmates attended school thanks to the GI Bill. Their experiences were real, and their sacrifices significant.  I learned a lot from them

It was a damp, drizzly October morning when I rose early and walked several blocks from my hotel to the Memorial. The early hour meant I was alone. The Pentagon was close enough that I saw a military officer jogging nearby; he gave me a friendly wave. He had likely seen many people my age visiting the Memorial at that hour. I was just the latest.

It was a deeply moving moment—quiet, solemn, and powerful.

Every society has its own way of memorializing the fallen. In the United States, what we now call Memorial Day began in 1868 as Decoration Day, a time to honor Civil War dead by decorating their graves. I remember my relatives referring to it as Decoration Day when I was a child.

After World War I, the tradition expanded to include American casualties from all wars. That continued after World War II. In 1967, Congress officially changed the name to Memorial Day, and in 1971, the date was moved from the traditional May 30 to the last Monday in May, creating a federal holiday.

I credit the City of Fishers for making a special effort to honor those who have served in America’s military. The city formed a commission to plan and organize events for days like this. I normally attend the elaborate Memorial Day ceremony in Fishers, but this year I couldn’t be there in person. At age 73, I’m finding it a bit harder to cover everything happening in our active community.

This day is a time to honor those who made the supreme sacrifice defending our nation. Just as importantly, it is a time to honor the families they left behind.

Since that first trip in the early ’90s, I’ve had the opportunity to visit Washington, D.C., several times. And each time, without fail, I find a way to return to the Vietnam War Memorial. It remains a special place, honoring special people—many from my generation.

The Fishers Arts Council (FAC) is calling on Hispanic visual artists from across the region to submit their work for an upcoming exhibit celebrating Hispanic American heritage and creativity.

The exhibit, scheduled to run from July 1 to October 3, 2025, at the FAC Hub Gallery inside the Hamilton County Community Foundation (11810 Technology Drive, Fishers), will showcase a diverse selection of artwork highlighting the depth and richness of Hispanic culture.

Mixed media artist Frances Ruiz and clarinetist Eric Salazar—also known as “The Clarinet Guy”—are advising the exhibit and helping shape its creative direction.

Artists of Hispanic descent are invited to submit original visual art. While traditional themes are encouraged, all subjects are welcome. Submitted works must be appropriate for general audiences, as determined by FAC.

Requirements for submission include:

• 2-D artwork must be ready to hang with wire backing, weigh under 50 pounds, and measure no more than 60 inches in any direction.

• 3-D artwork is also accepted, though space is limited to five pieces. Size guidelines vary, and artists are encouraged to contact FAC to discuss dimensions before submitting.

Selected artists will be invited to participate in a reception and interview during the exhibition.

The deadline to submit artwork is Friday, June 20, 2025. Submissions can be made at FishersArtsCouncil.org/submit. More information about the exhibit is available at FishersArtsCouncil.org/blog.

A Spanish-language version of the announcement is also available on the blog.

U.S. News & World Report has seen better days, like many legacy publications. Even during the golden age of national weekly news magazines, U.S. News was generally considered third-best, trailing behind Time and Newsweek.

Still, U.S. News has carved out a lasting identity through its rankings—especially its widely cited lists of top universities.

One of its ongoing projects is ranking the best places to live in America. As I’ve noted before on this blog, I believe Money Magazine has the most solid methodology when it comes to evaluating livability in local communities.

That said, U.S. News just released its latest list of best places to live—and Fishers landed in an impressive fourth place nationwide. For context, our neighbor Carmel came in second.

I’ll admit I’m a bit skeptical of their approach. The methodology leans heavily on raw data that can sometimes be misleading and relies too much on public surveys, which often come with built-in biases.

Still, it’s worth noting that the city I’ve called home for 34 years has been recognized as one of the top places to live in the country. However imperfect the rankings may be, U.S. News & World Report gave our city a boost—and I’ll take that.

“There are no moral victories” at this point in the season, Fishers Freight head coach Dixie Wooten said after his team’s tough 46–40 loss to the Jacksonville Sharks at the Fishers Event Center. With the defeat, the Freight drop to 2–6 and now turn their attention to a critical road matchup against the Green Bay Blizzard.

Things started strong for the home team. The Freight took a 28–14 lead into halftime, thanks to an impressive first-half performance from quarterback Keegan Shoemaker, a reinvigorated defense, and big plays from special teams, especially on kickoff coverage.

But the second half told a different story.

A pivotal moment came early in the fourth quarter when Shoemaker lost the ball on a controversial fumble. It was unclear whether he was down before the ball came loose, prompting Coach Wooten to challenge the play. After video review, the ruling on the field stood, giving Jacksonville possession.

To make matters worse, Shoemaker was injured on the play and did not return. Backup quarterback Jiya Wright took over for the remainder of the game.

Jacksonville capitalized quickly, scoring with just over 10 minutes remaining in the fourth to take a 30–28 lead—their first of the night. They never looked back.

Emotions ran high throughout the contest, with a flurry of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on both sides. The intensity reached a boiling point in the third quarter when Jacksonville’s Malik Jones received a second unsportsmanlike flag, resulting in his ejection. It’s safe to say there’s no love lost between these two teams.

Jacksonville improves to 6–2 with the win, while Fishers will regroup and prepare for a crucial game on the road. Despite the disappointing result, an energetic crowd of more than 4,000 fans stayed loud and engaged until the final whistle.

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.