If you’ve visited the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools website (hseschools.org) recently, you may have noticed the “Board” section—a popular destination for community members seeking information about school board meetings and committee sessions. Traditionally, this information has been accessed through the Board Docs platform.

At Wednesday morning’s HSE Schools Policy Committee meeting, officials explained a significant upgrade to this system. The company behind Board Docs, Diligent, is rebranding the platform simply as “Diligent” and rolling out a completely redesigned interface for accessing board documents. The new Diligent system is expected to be more user-friendly and intuitive, with its official debut set for the regular school board meeting on July 9. To ensure a smooth transition, both the old and new systems will be available for that meeting.

One of the most notable new features is the ability for community members to sign up for automatic email alerts. This will allow anyone to receive notifications about upcoming school board meetings, agendas, and committee sessions—making it easier than ever to stay informed and engaged with district governance.

Additional Policy Updates on the July 9 Agenda

In addition to the technology upgrade, the Policy Committee discussed two other items slated for consideration at the July 9 board meeting:

• Tax Anticipation Loans: The board will review updated policy language to provide greater clarity regarding Tax Anticipation Loans. Chief Financial Officer Tim Brown emphasized that while this mechanism exists for situations when the district cannot meet its financial obligations and must borrow funds in anticipation of future revenue, he hopes it will never be needed.

• Behavioral Threat Assessment Management: In compliance with new state law, the board will update policy language to reflect the requirement for Behavioral Threat Assessment Management in every school district. Superintendent Patrick Mapes noted that this change will have no substantive impact on HSE, as the district has maintained such a safety system for many years.

Formstack was one of those firms Fishers wanted to attract  and watch grow in the city.  It started in Indianapolis and moved its headquarters to the second floor of the downtown Fishers building housing Four Day Ray.

John Tuohy of the Indianapolis Star posted a story on the newspaper’s Web site Tuesday afternoon, reporting that Formstack, now calling itself Intellistack, is moving its headquarters from Fishers to Colorado. According to the IndyStar story, Intellistack, a company specializing in digital documents, will continue to have an office in Fishers.

You can read John Tuohy’s story at this link.  (NOTE: At the time I post this story early Wednesday morning, the IndyStar does not have a paywall on this story.  You should be able to access the piece without a Star subscription)

Fishers residents are invited to celebrate Independence Day with a spectacular display of fireworks at three locations across the city on Friday, July 4, 2025. Organized by Fishers Parks, the events promise safe, family-friendly festivities and multiple viewing options for the community, with all fireworks shows scheduled to begin at approximately 10 p.m.

Where to Watch the Fireworks

• Nickel Plate District Amphitheater (6 Municipal Drive):
  The heart of downtown Fishers will light up with fireworks launched from the north parking lot of the Hamilton East Public Library, which will be closed for safety. The primary viewing area is the NPD AMP lawn. Festivities kick off with a free concert by local favorite My Yellow Rickshaw at 8 p.m., followed by the fireworks show. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Outside food and non-alcoholic beverages are welcome, and food trucks will be available. Please note that outside alcohol is not permitted.

• Cyntheanne Park (12383 Cyntheanne Road):
  Fireworks will be launched from Cyntheanne Park, with viewing available both at the park and in the HSE Intermediate/Jr. High parking lots.

• Geist Reservoir:
  This show can be enjoyed by boat or from nearby residences. Fireworks will be launched from a barge at Geist Marina, near the south end of the Fall Creek Bridge. For safety, there will be no fireworks viewing or pedestrian access allowed on the Fall Creek Bridge or its walkway. The bridge will remain open to vehicle traffic. Please note: Fireworks will not be viewable from Geist Waterfront Park, and viewing from park property is not permitted.

Fireworks Ordinance Reminder

According to Fishers City Ordinance, residents may set off fireworks within municipal boundaries between 5 p.m. and two hours after sunset from June 29 to July 3 and July 5 to July 9. On July 4, fireworks are permitted from 10 a.m. until midnight. Residents are encouraged to review the full fireworks ordinance for details.

For more information about the Independence Day celebrations, visit FishersParks.com/Fireworks.

The Fishers City Council is considering a proposal to implement parking permit systems in neighborhoods surrounding the Alhuda mosque and King Jugg restaurant. King Jugg seeks a zoning variance to continue its outdoor dining operations.

At Monday evening’s meeting, the Fishers Board of Zoning Appeals heard public comments on the variance request. Four residents addressed the board: three spoke in opposition, citing concerns that existing parking is insufficient to accommodate crowds on busy nights. The lone supporter voiced approval for the outdoor dining.

During the meeting, board members questioned the status of a city ordinance that would limit parking in neighborhoods near King Jugg’s Lantern Road location. City Planning & Zoning Director Ross Hilleary informed the board that the City Council has passed the first reading of a proposal to restrict parking in certain neighborhoods at specific times, including the area near King Jugg.

If the ordinance is approved, the Fishers Board of Public Works and Safety—comprised of the mayor and two appointees—would be responsible for determining the details of the parking permit system, including which residents are eligible, the exact locations, and the timing of restrictions.

The Zoning Appeals Board decided to continue the hearing on King Jugg’s zoning variance request until the city finalizes its approach to the proposed parking permit system.

If you have always wanted to know about a land trust, Andrea Davis explains how this $55,000 grant will start this trust, which will be aimed at helping families find housing in Hamilton County and other areas nearby.

Andrea discusses that, and much more, in this podcast interview.  Listen at the link below.

The Fishers Century Club marked its fourth anniversary on Tuesday, June 24, continuing its mission to empower local charities through collective giving. The men’s crowd-giving organization gathered for its quarterly meeting, where members heard pitches from three nonprofits and ultimately selected the Kiwanis Holiday Hopes program as this quarter’s funding recipient.

The evening featured presentations from Steve Gilbert for LifeWise Academy, Justin Davis for the Hero’s Foundation, and Fishers resident Howard Burd, who pitched the Holiday Hopes program. Burd’s compelling presentation won the group’s vote, earning the program a significant donation to expand its reach in 2025.

The Kiwanis Holiday Hopes program offers underprivileged children in Fishers a unique holiday shopping experience. Community volunteers are paired with children to shop for gifts, with 75% of the funds allocated for the child’s own gifts and 25% reserved for a present for someone special in their life.

“This model not only helps meet immediate needs but also teaches the children the joy and value of giving,” said Burd. “There are far more underprivileged families and kids in the Fishers community than people might expect, and we are going to use these dollars to allow more children to experience this special holiday program in 2025.”

Burd, a recent Century Club member, encouraged other local men to join the group, calling it “an incredible way to make a real impact.”

The final tally of the crowd-giving funds is still being calculated as contributions continue to come in from members who were unable to attend the meeting. The next Fishers Century Club meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 16 at 5:30 p.m. All men interested in supporting local charities are invited to attend and join the growing movement.

The Fishers Century Club meets quarterly, where members hear from three charities pitched by attendees and vote to select a winning cause. For more information, including a list of previous winners, visit  www.fisherscenturyclub.com or facebook.com/fisherscenturyclub. Those unable to attend meetings can participate online at www.tinyurl.com/OnlineGivingFCC.

Parades are fun and Fishers has gathered for a summer parade ever since the Fishers Freedom Festival started in 1989.  That celebration has been transformed itself into the Spark Fishers Festival, and the parade remains the centerpiece of the festival.

I tried my best to record as much of the parade as possible.  Keep in mind, you have an old guy, working alone with a cell phone.  If your unit is not included, it is no comment at all on you. I had to sort through a long list of technical issues.  Video editing is a skill I am very much learning on the fly.

So, with all that in mind, here is my video of the 2025 Spark Fishers Festival Parade.  It is far from perfect, but the best I can do.  Enjoy by using the link below.

It was a warm summer day, but not oppressively hot.  The sun was out, but hid behind clouds on occasion. But more importantly, the rain stayed away.

The 2025 Spark Fishers Festival drew a large crowd Saturday with the street fair at the municipal complex and the always-popular parade through the Nickel Plate District.  As I walked the grounds Saturday, it was clear all were having a very good time.

This is one of only a few occasions during the year that people in and around Fishers have the chance to gather and just enjoy themselves.

The Festival started Tuesday and featured converts, drone shows, fireworks, a 5K run and one evening devoted to classic cars and artists.  It all culminated with the Saturday events.

Here are some additional photos from Saturday.

Continue reading Weather generally cooperated for the 2025 Spark Fishers Festival →

When I sat down with Fishers Freight head coach Dixie Wooten for a preseason podcast, he echoed a sentiment I’ve heard from countless coaches over the years: most football games, at any level, are won or lost at the line of scrimmage. Saturday night in Tulsa, his team proved that point with authority.

The Freight controlled the trenches on both sides of the ball, shutting down the Oilers and holding them to just 7 points—the lowest total in Tulsa’s IFL franchise history. Fishers’ defense was relentless, with Aaron Jackson recording three interceptions and the unit delivering multiple key fourth-down stops that kept the Oilers out of rhythm. The Freight rolled to a convincing 33-7 win, their fourth victory of the season.

Another recurring storyline for Fishers has been the ever-changing quarterback situation. I have honestly lost count, but I think Felix Harper became the fifth player to take snaps under center this year. Signed just days before the game, Harper made an immediate impact, especially with his mobility in the running game.

The roster shakeup didn’t end there. Starting quarterback Carlos Davis was placed on short-term injured reserve, and running back Shane Simpson was released. To bolster the backfield, Wooten brought in Josiah King, who responded with several strong runs in his debut. Wide receiver Jerrod McGaw was also released as the team continues to fine-tune its lineup.

With a well-earned bye week ahead, the Freight will take a break for the July 4th holiday before returning to action on July 12 with a road trip to Des Moines, facing the Iowa Barnstormers.

With summer in full swing, the Fishers area road construction listing continues to grow.

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

Continue reading Latest on Fishers area road construction →