by

Jim Belser

Hamilton County Reporter

Offensive yardage heavily favored Fishers in its Friday night battle with Class 6A Noblesville but big defensive plays by the Millers banged out the win for the visitors, surprising the host Tigers 21-9.

It was the first win of the season for Noblesville after lopsided loses to Cathedral and Carmel. Fishers fell to (1-2) on the season.

Zach Gruver of Noblesville was the spoiler with his theft of two Fishers pass attempts, one for an 84-yard touchdown return. His second interception of the night gave the Millers a 13-9 lead late in the third quarter.

“I talked about having to make plays on defense because Fishers is so big, they can lean on you and just wear you down,” Noblesville coach Justin Roden said.

Fishers’ last drive of the game ended on an interception by Noblesville’s Justin Johnson-Sparks, his second pick off in the game – both his interceptions came from overthrown passes. Johnson-Sparks’ first interception gave the ball to Noblesville late in the fourth quarter as Fishers attempted to come back from a 15-9 deficit.

Noblesville scored its final touchdown with 1:55 following a 33-yard reception by Gruver that put the ball on the Fishers eight yard line.

On the ground, Fishers out-rushed Noblesville 198 yards to 71 and edged the Millers 89 yards to 77 in the air. Dylan Scally of Fishers led all rushers with 101 yards on 20 carries. Collin Statz led the night in receiving with four catches for 47 yards for Fishers.

Fishers kicker Jack Phillips put up three field goals on the night, accounting for all of Fishers’ points.

An up and down first half for Noblesville ended on a high note after the Miller’s Zach Gruver intercepted a Fishers pass at the host’s 36-yard line, returning it to the Tigers 23. Two plays later Grant Gremel of Noblesville lofted an arcing pass that found Zach Blevins in the back of an end zone. With 42 seconds to go in the half, the Millers nabbed a 7-6 lead after struggling on offense in the opening quarters.

“They are getting better, they kept battling, which is what I am proud of,” Roden said. “Noblesville teams in the past, tended to let up when things went against them.”

Turnovers inflicted both teams in the first half. Both lost fumbles to the opposition and traded interceptions. Jackson Dunn for Fishers intercepted a pass in the first quarter, returning it 21 yards to the Millers 49 with 9:00 left. A 12-play drive following Dunn’s interception ended in a 28-yard field goal for the Tiger’s Jack Phillips and a Fishers 3-0 lead.

In the Tigers’ first possession of the second quarter, Scally broke through the right side of the Miller’s defense for a 15-yard gain. The drive stalled at the Tiger’s 19-yard line however, leaving it up to the field goal unit. Phillips for the Tigers put it through the uprights once again, this time for 29 yards and a 6-0 Fishers lead.

Marcus Roux came in as quarterback for the Tigers, completing eight of 22 passes for 89 yards. Collin Statz had four of those receptions, totaling 47 yards.

The week of Labor Day is coming up, and with that, the closure of Florida Road to work on a bridge.

Here is the full listing, as provided by the City of Fishers:

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FLORIDA ROAD
Beginning on or after September 4, Florida Road between Luxhaven Road and Martha Street will be closed for the rehabilitation of Bridge 192 (Florida Road over Fall Creek) by the Hamilton County Highway Department. The road will be closed to all thru traffic and will tentatively reopen before November 3.

The intersection of 113th Street and Florida Road is closed for the realignment and construction of a new roundabout at the intersection. The closure is expected to last appropriately 90 days. See the Detour Map.

126TH STREET & SOUTHEASTERN PARKWAY
On September 5 and 6, temporary lane restrictions will be in place near 126th Street and Southeastern Parkway for road work, weather permitting. Flaggers will be in place to help direct traffic.

106TH STREET 
106th Street is closed to through traffic from Eller Road to Allisonville Road and from Allisonville Road to Hague Road for the 106th Street Infrastructure Project. 106th Street is also closed to through traffic between Hague Road and the Crosspoint Boulevard/Lantern Road roundabout. An updated project timeline and Detour Map are now available.

ALLISONVILLE ROAD
Road construction is in full swing along Allisonville Road. Traffic has been shifted to the east to allow for widening on the west side. Restrictions may be in place between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. and flaggers will be on site directing traffic, as necessary. Through September, all southbound left turns from Allisonville Road onto 126th Street will be prohibited. This is an active construction site with reduced speed limits. For more info on this project, view the Fact Sheet.

STATE ROAD 37
A public meeting was held on Tuesday, May 15 at the Delaware Township Trustee Office. The meeting presentation and updated information is available on the project’s new website. The State Road 37 improvement project is a $124 million joint project between Fishers, Hamilton County, Noblesville, and INDOT. Questions or concerns may be directed to SR37@rqaw.com.

When Mayor Scott Fadness spoke Thursday morning at the Youth Mentoring Initiative fundraising breakfast, he announced that his son would be born the following day.  Right on schedule, Hudson Philip Fadness was born Friday morning.

Congratulations to the Fadness family, and special congratulations to the first Fadness child, Lincoln, who now is a big brother!

Bob Kravitz is a well now sportswriter and columnist in the Indianapolis area…..he also has suffered from the impact of mental illness.  Bob talked with me about that, and a few sports issues….

As Fishers moves forward with economic development plans for Metropolitan Airport, just north of 96th Street and East of Allisonville Road, Duke Energy has provided those plans with a shot-in-the-arm.  According to my news-gathering partners at the Hamilton County Reporter, Duke has announced that 200 acres of airport property are now in Duke’s Site Readiness Program.

Local officials have received site development recommendations from Strategic Development Group. In addition, Banning Engineering of Plainfield has produced a desktop review, conceptual drawings and a marketing sheet for the site. These materials can be incorporated into the local plan to attract more jobs to the  community.

Duke Energy has also presented a $10,000 check to the local economic development group in order to help implement the consultant’s recommendations.

“The Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport is an exciting new area for development in our city,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness in a Duke Energy news release. “As we work towards a smart, vibrant, and entrepreneurial Fishers, it is vital that we take a comprehensive approach to economic development in all corners of our community. Fishers’ participation in the Duke Energy Site Readiness Program is an important step in the development of this land and the city’s future. ”

According to Duke, the Site Readiness Program identifies, evaluates and improves sites in the company’s service territory for potential large business or industrial development.

Since 2008, the Duke has participated in the creation of nearly 26,000 jobs and total capital investment of approximately $5.9 billion.

Mayor Scott Fadness had a lot on his mind as he spoke to the Fishers Youth Mentoring Initiative (YMI) fundraising breakfast Thursday morning at the Ambassador House grounds.  The mayor and his wife Aunna are expecting their second child to be born Friday morning, so that was clearly on his mind.  But he also took the opportunity to laud the work of YMI mentors.

The mayor talked about the work continuing, by the city and school corporation, to improve mental health throughout the community.  Fadness cited a ride-a-long he recently had with a Fishers Police officer and responded to a call about a 34-year-old man threatening suicide during a fight with his girlfriend.

“It really irritated me that we have done all this work over the last 4-5 years and we could not figure out how to help that individual,” the mayor said.

Fadness argues that it is important to “get to these people earlier, in the simplest, subtlest ways.”

The mayor told those attending the fund-raising event that organizations such as YMI make subtle interjections into the lives of local young people.  He calls this early intervention “impactful.”

“It was only a few years ago when I sat down John DeLucia and Darren (Heil) to talk about this (YMI) concept, and look what it’s become,” said Fadness.  “I can only imagine the impact (YMI has) had on young people.”

YMI provides mentors for young people in the Hamilton Southeastern School District for students in need of an adult to help them.  Most mentors commit to one hour a week with a mentee.

For more information about YMI, use this link.

To make an online donation to YMI, use this link.

Here are a few pictures from the YMI breakfast event

Continue reading YMI Breakfast Attracts 200 Supporters →

Dunkin’Donuts will soon have a presence on the east side of Fishers, following action Wednesday night by the Fishers Board of Zoning Appeals.  After a favorable recommendation to allow a drive-up window at the location from the Plan Commission, and City Council actions supporting that recommendation, the zoning variance has been formally approved for the drive-up window.  That is the last administrative hurdle to be cleared, allowing the new business to locate at the Brooks School Plaza Development, near the entrance to Promise Church on 116th Street.

Another Dunkin’ Donuts location is in the works on the west side of Fishers, at the corner of Allisonville Road and 116th Street, where Jack in the Box was located before that hamburger operation closed.

Those running the HSE SPORTS youth athletic nonprofit have made one fact clear to me for some time – no young person in the Fishers area wanting to play sports is denied that opportunity if the family is not able to pay fees.

This is only possible through partnerships with organizations like IU Health.  On Tuesday, IU Health announced a renewal of the long-standing partnership maintained with HSE SPORTS.  IU Health says it ha sponsored over 500 scholarships, allowing local youngsters to participate in HSE SPORTS programs.

“We understand the importance of physical activity and recreational sports in the health and wellness of a child’s life,” said Joy Davis, marketing manager for customer experience and community outreach at IU Health Saxony Hospital, inn an IU Health news release. “Our partnership with S.P.O.R.T.S allows us to make a difference for kids who can’t afford to join a team. It’s an opportunity to take the IU Health mission, to improve the health of our patients and community, beyond the hospital walls.”

IU Health Saxony remains the primary scholarship provider and an official community partner of SPORTS.

“We are extremely fortunate to have the support of the healthcare providers in our area. IU Health Saxony Hospital continues to show its commitment to our program and our families,” said Scott Spillman, Executive Director of S.P.O.R.T.S.

As Tony Elliott heads west to Santa Cruze, California, his assistant, Sarha Sandquist, is preparing to take over as Fishers Director of Parks & Recreation.  I spoke with Sarah about her new job.

My first time dealing with Tony Elliot was several years ago when he was serving as Assistant Town Manager for what was then the Town of Fishers.  I was asking  about Liberty Plaza, which was under construction at that time.  If you don’t already know, Liberty Plaza is a wonderful memorial to military veterans located at 116th and Municipal Drive.

I was told this was Tony’s project and he guided it to the final construction phase.  It wasn’t long after that when Tony was promoted to Parks and Recreation Director for the town, and later for the City of Fishers once that transition was made.

Tony led the department through a large growth period.  The population of Fishers was growing and the Parks Department programs and facilities were growing to meet the needs of that booming population.

I cannot remember a more professional and personable city department head in any of my work as a reporter.  Tony is one of a kind.

Fishers’ loss will be Santa Cruz, California’s gain.  I wish Tony and his family well as they make the journey west.  He can look back to Fishers and be proud of what he has accomplished here.