Father’s Day is special for me.   I am so proud of my two adult daughters, Allison & Mary.   Thanks for making every Father’s Day special.

There is always a tinge of sadness for me because I lost my Dad over 20 years ago. But I have so many wonderful memories of him, what he taught me and what I learned just by his example.

I hope Father’s Day is special for all of you!

by

Fred Swift

(Commentaries by Fred Swift are posted here as part of a partnership between LarryInFishers.com & The Hamilton County Reporter newspaper)

My lunchtime friends at Alexander’s so-called Table of Knowledge this
week were recalling the days when we had a Justice of the Peace in Noblesville.
Actually, we had three in Hamilton County. You don’t hear much about the JPs anymore. They were essentially legislated out of office in the 1970s.

The Justice of the Peace headed one of Indiana’s earliest courts of justice. Starting
right after statehood, the courts had considerable authority until well into the 20th
century when their powers were reduced to handle mainly traffic infractions.

However, just like in the movies, the JP could perform marriages, administer oaths
and consider a few other civil matters. Justices were elected by voters of the township in which they resided. A JP did not have to be a lawyer, and most were not. This was of great concern to the state judiciary and was a major reason for the demise of the position.

Statewide there were probably few female JPs, but two of the three in this county
were women. Naomi Hunt was Noblesville’s longtime JP. She held court at her home at 612 S. 11th St.

Agnes Mitchell was the JP in Cicero who also operated out of her home.

The Justice of the Peace in Carmel was John Christy. He held court in a tiny cement
block building across the street from the old Carnegie Library.

County Court replaced the JP courts about 1980 where the judge was required to
be an attorney, but it was, in turn, replaced by a Superior Court in the 1990s.

Thus, with little fanfare, another chapter in Hamilton County history came to an end.  Now, most folks either can’t remember or are too young to remember what a Justice of the Peace was.

A highly controversial new church building proposed at 126th Street & Brooks School Road may not be built in the location originally planned.  iTown Church was moving toward constructing their new house of worship, but based on a story posted on the Indianapolis Star Web page, iTown has delayed plans for the new church.

Star reporter Andrew Clark quoted a statement from iTown Church saying the religious organization needs more time to consider its future plans.  The church may be looking at another site not far from the original 126th Street & Brooks School Road site, to locate their new church building.

Many neighbors in the Gray Eagle subdivision, adjacent to the original proposed church site, have strongly objected to the church locating at 126th and Brooks School Road.

The Fishers Plan Commission unanimously approved plans for the new church and sent the proposal to the Fishers City Council for a final decision.  The item was a part of the Fishers City Council agenda for the Monday, June 19th session, but will likely be removed from that agenda after the iTown Church’s decision to delay plans for a new church building.

iTown has been a rapidly-growing congregation and currently leases space at 126th Street and Cumberland Road.  Pastor Dave Sumrall told the Fishers City Council in May that his church has been hunting for a location to build their own building for some time.

TigerONE’s main focus is supporting athletics at Fishers High School, but the club is also active in awarding college scholarships.  Five $500 scholarships were announced recently from TigerONE, with all the winners sporting a 3.7 GPA or higher.

Below is a listing of the five winners, as provided by TigerONE:

Megan Bryant: Megan was a member of the National Honor Society, received a
leadership award in Cheerleading, was also a leader in the Show Choir, was active with Best Buddies and Unified Track and had the highest GPA of all of the female scholarship applicants.

Alyssa Chavez: Alyssa was a member of the National Honor Society, Student Athletic Council, Leaders for Fishers, played on the varsity Softball team all four years and was Captain for three seasons and was named All-Conference, All-County and Second AllState.

Cameron Grace Cameron was a member of the National Honor Society, Leaders for Fishers, a member of CRU, a three year letter winner in Track and Field and broke a school record in pole vault all while achieving Magna Cum Laude in the classroom.

Peter Werling: Peter was a member of the National Honor Society, earned seven
varsity letters in Track and Field and Cross Country, received the team Leadership
award his senior year, led his team’s bible study every week, was a state qualifier as a junior, had the highest GPA of all of the male scholarship applicants and in his spare time was an Eagle Scout.

Tyler Grace: Tyler was a leader in Student Government, a member of the National
Honor Society, Leaders for Fishers and CRU, a two year varsity letter winner in Track
and Field and Captain, participated in the State track meet and will graduate Magna
Cum Laude.

In May of this year, the TigerONE Board awarded approximately $40,000 in grants to the Fishers High School Athletic Department and numerous Fishers High School athletic teams.

Specifically, the FHS Athletic Department was awarded $21,000 in grants and 19 different athletic teams received grants totaling over $18,000.

Look out for flag workers on Fall Creek Road between 96th St. and Geist Rd. during the day beginning June 19th, as there will be road work limiting Fall Creek to one lane.

Below is the full listing of road work in and around Fishers for the work week starting Monday, June 19th:

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FALL CREEK ROAD

Weather permitting, Fall Creek Road between 96th Street and Geist Road will have lane restrictions starting Monday, June 19. Restrictions will be in place between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. with signage and flaggers directing traffic.  Please drive with caution.

96TH STREET

Construction has begun on the new roundabout at 96th Street and Lantern Road. 96th Street traffic between Kincaid Drive and Fitness Lane/Pinecreek Drive will be reduced to one lane in each direction throughout the summer.

BROOKS SCHOOL ROAD

The Brooks School Road bridge over Interstate 69 is closed as Milestone Contractors rebuild the bridge deck. During the closure, traffic will be detoured to Promise Road via 126th and 136th streets. The bridge will remain closed until August.

116TH STREET

There will be lane restrictions on 116th Street between I-69 and Cumberland Road throughout the summer in order for the contractor to make improvements to 116th Street.

113TH STREET

Lane restrictions will occur on 113th Street from Olio Road to Florida Road throughout the summer in order for the contractor to resurface and make improvements to the roadway.

USA PARKWAY

There will be lane restrictions on USA Parkway while crews are resurfacing the roadway. Flaggers will be in place directing traffic.

126TH STREET

Expect periodic lane restrictions between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on 126th Street between Allisonville Road and Lantern Road while the contractor installs passing blisters near Reserve at Lantern. Flaggers will be on site to direct traffic during the restrictions.

I-69 AND CAMPUS PARKWAY

The Campus Parkway interchange was recently shifted into a double-crossover traffic pattern. The interchange will remain under construction through July, when it is expected to be fully open to traffic in its permanent configuration.

Multiple traffic lane shifts will be required to complete construction of the new interchange design. Each phase of remaining construction will bring the interchange closer to its final traffic configuration and capacity. For more information about the new traffic pattern, please visit http://www.in.gov/indot/3441.htm

Milestone Contractors has begun mobilizing cranes and other equipment and setting a temporary concrete barrier wall along I-69 at Campus Parkway Exit 210. Work will require alternating lane closures on northbound and southbound I-69 between 9 p.m. and 6 p.m. Lane closures may recur each night through the end of the week depending on weather and progress. Questions about this project should be directed to INDOT at eastcentralin@indot.in.gov or 1-855-463-6848.

STATE ROAD 37

Construction contractors plan to shift State Road 37 traffic lanes this weekend for a $1.5 million drainage structure construction project between 146th Street and Greenfield Avenue in Noblesville. Northbound lanes are scheduled to be shifted on Friday night, and southbound lanes are scheduled to be shifted Saturday night. Single-lane closures in each direction will be scheduled between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The first phase of construction, which is currently underway, will shift two lanes in each direction toward the right shoulders to provide room for construction in the median. The second phase will shift traffic toward the median to allow construction to be completed along the outside shoulders. All work on the project is expected to be complete this summer.

Starting May 1, geotechnical drilling will begin along the State Road 37 corridor as part of the final design phase of State Road 37 Improvement Project. Lane and shoulder restrictions will be active through the June 30.

Motorists will see staked locations along the corridor starting with the 141st Street intersection. The geotechnical drilling will cause lane restrictions from 131st Street through 146th Street through June 30. Southbound restrictions will not begin until 9 a.m. daily and northbound restrictions will be done daily before 4 p.m. to allow for maximum traffic flow during peak hours.

State Road 37 turn lanes will not be affected during lane closures and crews will maintain a minimum of one through-lane at all times.

The SR37 improvement project is a $124 Million joint project between Fishers, Hamilton Co, Noblesville, and INDOT. Questions or concerns may be directed to drivefishers@fishers.in.us.

OUTSIDE OF FISHERS

The City of Carmel has closed 116th Street and Hazel Dell Parkway for the construction of a roundabout. This closure is expected to last for 75 days. Questions and updates about this project should be directed to the City of Carmel at 317-571-2400.

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board voted unanimously Wednesday night to extend the contract of Superintendent Allen Bourff through June 30, 2020.

Dr. Bourff will receive a 3.04% pay hike for the year beginning July 1, 2017, to an annual salary of $185,982.  He will also receive $12,382 in incentive compensation in line with his current contract with the school corporation, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017.

Allen Bourff has been superintendent of HSE Schools since January of 2015.  Before that, he was superintendent of the school corporation in Richmond, Indiana.

If you plan to travel north, then return to Fishers Saturday, be aware of a lane closure on south-bound I-69 Saturday.  Here is the information, courtesy of a news release from the Indiana Department of Transportation, posted below.

=========================

Weather permitting, construction contractors plan to close the right lane of southbound Interstate 69 during daylight hours on Saturday (June 17) for pavement repairs between State Road 9/Scatterfield Road (Exit 226) and State Road 38/Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd. (Exit 222).

Crews plan to close the right lane of southbound I-69 starting at 6 a.m. near mile 223 to remove and repave sections of asphalt pavement. The lane is expected to open before 6 p.m. on Saturday. 

Motorists should be alert for workers in the area, avoid distractions, abide by reduced work zone speed limits, and keep a safe following distance. Posted and electronic message signs will be used to alert drivers of construction. Motorists, especially those with local destinations, should consider alternate routes to avoid potential backups and delays.

A major remodeling of the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools Administration Building will begin this summer, requiring a change of venue for the regular school Board meetings.  Starting in July, HSE Board sessions will be held at the Hamilton Southeastern High School LGI Room, which can be accessed through Door #2, facing Olio Road.  Meetings will return to the Administration Building in November, as the schedule stands now.

CEDIA, an organization involved in home technology, has announced plans to construct a new building in Fishers.  Below is a copy of the news released issued by the company:

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Ever see someone driving a golf cart in your neighborhood?   Ever wondered whether it is legal to do so?

It can be legal, but the City of Fishers has set some stringent guidelines that must be met before a golf cart can be legally driven on a specific neighborhood’s streets.

Below is important information from the Fishers Police Department:

===============================

The Fishers Police Department would like to remind residents of the city’s local ordinance concerning the use and operation of golf carts. Fishers’ City Ordinance No. 090214D (codified at §94.02 of the Code of Ordinances) authorizes the use of golf carts on some neighborhood streets if the following conditions have been met:

1. Fishers has determined that golf carts may be safely operated on the streets within

the specific neighborhood;

2. A threshold amount (75 percent or higher) of property owners in the

neighborhood have voted in favor of allowing golf carts within the neighborhood and the results of the election have been certified; and

3. The proper signage in the designated locations has been placed.

Golf carts shall not be operated on the public streets of Fishers except in full compliance with the provisions of this section. Currently, Britton Falls, Thorpe Creek, and Graystone are the only neighborhoods, in Fishers, to be in full compliance with the provisions of this section.

OPERATION REGULATIONS

a) Hours of Operation. Golf Carts shall only be operated on designated streets from sunrise

to sunset unless such golf cart is equipped with headlights, taillights, brake lights,

seatbelts, turn signals, and rearview mirror.

b) Right-of-Way. The operator of a golf cart shall yield the right-of-way to overtaking

motor vehicles.

c) Streets. Golf carts may only be used on streets designated within the establish

neighborhood or other Fishers’ approved neighborhood areas. Nothing in this policy

shall be construed to apply to or limit the use of golf carts on golf courses or private

property.

d) Fishers Property and Sidewalks. Golf carts shall not be operated on any sidewalk,

pedestrian walkway, multi-use path, or trail or any other non-designated public ways.

The only exception to this use is of golf carts on Fishers’ municipal property for official

purposes.

e) Golf Cart Capacity. The seating capacity, normally no more than four (4) passengers,

shall not be exceeded nor shall the operator or any passenger be permitted to stand while

the golf cart is in operation.

f) Parking. Golf carts may only be parked in the same manner and at the same places

designated for parking of motor vehicles. The stopping, standing, or parking of golf carts

in areas where parking is not allowed or in any place that impede the flow of traffic,

pedestrian walkways, or a passageway is prohibited.

g) Alcohol Use. No person under the influence of an alcoholic beverage shall operate or be in control of any golf cart operated within the neighborhood. No golf cart shall have an open alcoholic beverage container aboard while in operation.

h) Valid License Required. Only persons possessing a valid driver’s license issued by the State of Indiana, another state of the United States, or an international agency shall be permitted to operate a golf cart on Fishers streets.

DISCLAIMER, LIABILITY, AND INSURANCE

a) Disclaimer. Golf carts are not designed for or manufactured to be used on public streets, and Fishers neither advocates nor endorses the golf cart as a safe means of travel on public streets. Fishers in no way shall be liable for accidents, injuries, or death involving the operation of a golf cart.

b) Assumption of Risk. Any person who owns, operates, or rides upon a golf cart on a

public street within the designated use area does so at his/her own risk and peril and

assumes all liability resulting from the operation of the golf cart.

c) “Proof of Financial Responsibility”. Shall mean, pursuant to Ind. Code §9-25-2-3, proof of ability to respond in damages for liability that arises out of the ownership,

maintenance, or use of a Golf Cart in the following amounts:

1) Twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) because of bodily injury to or death of

any one (1) person;

2) Subject to the limit in subdivision (1), fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) because of

bodily injury to or death of two (2) or more persons in any one (1) accident; and

3) Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) because of injury to or destruction of property in

any one (1) accident.

PENALTIES

Fishers shall issue a uniform ordinance violation citation (as outlined in the golf cart ordinance) to any person violating a provision of this policy in the following amounts which shall be processed by and paid to Fishers’ Ordinance Violation Bureau as follows:

a)    First Offense: Fifty Dollars ($50.00);

b)    Second Offense within one (1) year: One Hundred Dollars ($100.00); and

c)    Third offense and any additional offense within (1) year: Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($250.00)