As a local news blogger, I have focused on news in and around Fishers since starting this endeavor in January, 2012. But other levels of government and actions outside the borders of the city can impact Fishers residents, particularly in Noblesville with county government.
As a result, LarryInFishers is happy to announce a new partnership with the Hamilton County Reporter, a daily newspaper. Jeff Jellison and I reached an agreement to enter into this partnership. You will be reading my news about Fishers in the Hamilton County Reporter and you will be reading news articles contained in the Reporter on this news blog.
You can read the announcement of our partnership in the Friday, February 10th edition of the Hamilton County Reporter at this link.
You can subscribe to the Reporter to have it sent to your e-mail address every day. Just fill out the form at this link.
I look forward to partnering with Jeff Jellison and his staff at the Hamilton County Reporter.
Teachers receiving foundation awards talk with school board members
The Hamilton Southeastern School Board is looking to voluntary re-balancing as a way to reduce the student population at HSE Intermediate/Junior High on Cyntheanne Road. After a public meeting to discuss possible redistricting last week, Superintendent Allen Bourff told the board 89 families have expressed an interest in moving voluntarily to re-balance the student population at HSE Intermediate/Junior High. The administration is in the process of making contacts with the 89 families to verify interest in moving their children voluntarily out of HSE Intermediate/Junior High. The board took no action, awaiting the follow-up with the 89 local households.
The board received a presentation on preliminary plans to renovate Cumberland Road Elementary School. You can view the presentation at this link. Board members also received the preliminary proposal to renovate the central office building on Cumberland Road. You can view that presentation at this link.
Finally, the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Foundation announced the awarding of grants to a long list of teachers submitting proposals for funding. Below is a list of the winners”
Scott Henderson (DES) DeskCycles
Marcia Abraham (FCE) Drumming to Develop 21st Century Skills
Sherri Parkison (FCE) for Plein Air Painting
Denise Jarrett (FES) Growing Starts Here
Angela Hampton (HPE) Learning with SPRK
Lauren Avery (HRE) for Project Monarch
Will Hurst (HRE) for Rocket Parkour
Stacy Peters (NBE) for Kindergarten Light Exploration
Susan Bill (TCE) for Inquiring Kindergarten Minds
Sarah Griffey (TCE) for StratoStar
Adam Jahn (FCI) for 3D Printer Epitomizes STEM Education
Brad Lowell (FCI) for STEM Explosion
Jennifer Shults (FCI) for DRUM (Diversity, Respect, and Understanding through Music)
Alexander King (SCI) for Vive for All
Jennifer Renfro (SCI) for Exploring STEAM
Bob Rice (HIJH) for Learning Heredity, Genetics, and Evolution
Rachel Hiatt (FCJH) for Oh the Places We Can Go in STEM
Nick Tschuor (FCJH) for 3D Printer for TechEd
Daniel Moosbrugger (HSEHS) for Drawing in the Digital Realm
Kimberly Pelton (District/RSI) for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Connection
Fishers High School is the place and Tuesday, March 14th at 7pm is the time…..The Peyton Foundation and HSE Parents in Partnership will bring nationally known mental health advocate Jordan Burnham to speak before a local audience.
Vendors will be available beginning at 6:30, with the program set to start at 7:00pm.
Burnham survived a suicide attempt at the age of 18 and now travels the nation telling his story. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among American college students.
The program is free. You can best access the program by entering the high school at Door FH7.
You can find more information on the Peyton Foundation for Youth Hope at this link.
The first 2 construction projects on State Road 37 in Fishers will be at the intersections of 131st Street and 141st Street. That’s according to Fishers Engineering Department Director Jeff Hill. He was joined by Assistant Engineering Director Jason Taylor for a podcast that discussed State Road 37 and some other planned projects in the city.
You can listen to the entire podcast at the link below.
After I retiring from my regular job, one adventure I always wanted to take was hopping in the car, driving south the Daytona, Florida, and watching the 24-hour sports car race at the speedway there. That is exactly what I did in 2017, and took side trips to Orlando, the Kennedy Space Center and Fort Walton Beach.
The race was everything I expected and more. It’s hard to believe that after a full 24 hours of racing, so many cars were on the same lap at the end. The fastest of the four classes, the prototype division, actually had a very close finish. The weather wasn’t so great, rainy overnight and much colder than normal for that part of Florida. But I was very glad to be there.
I left January 25th and just arrived back in Fishers over the past weekend. I find several things have happened during my time away. Here are just a few:
–Kudos to the Fishers Police Department and other law enforcement agencies in the area for making an arrest of a 16-year-old Lawrence Township juvenile, charged with making threats on social media targeting Hamilton Southeastern Schools. Students and staff at HSE were lauded by Fishers Police Chief Mitch Thompson for playing an instrumental role.
–The Hamilton Southeastern School Board approved a method to hand out teacher performance awards on a 6-1 vote. Michelle Fullhart voted no. You can see the plan at this link. The board is also wrestling with some student population imbalances at the intermediate and junior high levels. The board is set to further discuss the imbalance issue at the February 8th meeting.
–John Tuohy of the Indianapolis Star posted a story January 30th about talk of turning the Nickel Plate rail line into a walking and biking trail, much like the Monon Trail running through north Indianapolis and Carmel. City officials had no comment. I wonder if that will be further revealed at the mayor’s State of the City address in March? We will see. You can read the Star story at this link.
–I was sad to learn that local restaurateur Bill Smythe was unable to successfully sell his Claude and Annie’s location in Fishers. Bill is now lobbying the Indiana General Assembly. You can read Lindsey Erdody’s story at this link.
We’ve told you about it before, but here is another reminder about the Game Day event coming to Conner Prairie February 24th. This is the biggest annual fund-raising event for the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Foundation.
This normally sells out, so if you want to be there, don’t wait to buy your tickets.
Below is a foundation news release with the details:
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The event of the year is returning to Hamilton Southeastern Schools! The education celebration, known as Game Day 2017, will return to Conner Prairie on Friday, February 24, 2017 in hopes of scoring big for local teachers.
Game Day is the primary source of innovation funding that brings teacher led ideas to fruition and is the only event that serves all 21 HSE Schools. This year, participants can compete for a chance to win a big screen TV or $500 cash while enjoying a delicious dinner and drinks.Event Chair Sneha Shah elaborates, “Game Day is such a fun evening for parents, teachers, and community leaders to unite for our schools. Our focus this year is to tell the story of innovation from our student’s perspective. We’re adding an adult makerspace, student produced auction items and impact board so families can really see the difference they are making!”
Supportive businesses, families, and individuals can ensure all students win by purchasing tickets, providing sponsorships, or bidding on auction items. Indeed, the silent auction is expected to be the largest in the area reaching over 30,000 subscribers and attracting exceptional, one of a kind experiences.
Grab your jersey and come as an individual player or bring your whole team. Tickets, which are $75, are now on sale at www.hsefoundation.org and include a $50.75 tax deductible donation. Guestsmust be 21 and over to attend.
More work and changes are coming to the I-69 & Campus Parkway construction site. That’s one of three projects on this week’s list of road projects around Fishers.
Below is the listing, provided by the City of Fishers:
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I-69 AND CAMPUS PARKWAY
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 a.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.
106TH STREET & CUMBERLAND ROAD ROUNDABOUT
The new roundabout at 106th Street and Cumberland Road is now open to traffic. Motorists are encouraged to drive with caution, this site is still an active construction zone.
116th STREET
Work is underway on the new traffic signal on 116th Street just west of Olio Road. During this time, the outside lanes of 116th Street will be restricted between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to allow the contractor room to work.
I posted a story January 23rd after the Fishers Board of Works and Safety meeting about the planned rerouting of traffic on 116th Street east of I-69. I received a summary in that meeting, and have had many questions about how traffic will be closed, detoured and rerouted during this year’s HSE spring break.
Fishers City Engineering Department Director Jeff Hill provided more details on what will happen during this project. Eastbound traffic lanes will be closed. The eastbound lanes will be shifted to the westbound lanes during this work. Westbound traffic will be rerouted north on Cumberland Road and turned onto Exit 5 Parkway. The city plans to adjust the timing on the traffic signals allowing the westbound vehicles to have “through movement” even though it is a detour. The city plans to put together more detailed graphics and issue news releases, along with social media updates, as spring break is closer in time.
This work is required to allow Marathon Pipeline time for removal of the existing 111 feet of casing around their existing 8 inch pipeline, which runs underneath 116th Street.
Hamilton Southeastern Schools Spring Break will be March 31 through April 7th this school year.
The 2016 Game Day was a sellout – and you can now buy your tickets for the 2017 celebration. This is one of the major fund-raising events of the year for the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Foundation. The foundation supports the school districts students and teachers.
Here are some of what is planned for this year’s Game Day, set for February 24th, 6:30pm-9:30pm, at Conner Prairie:
Dine on tasty grub and sip beverages
Enjoy unlimited photo booth and pop-a-shot fun
Mingle with friends, neighbors, teachers and principals
Enter for a chance to win $500 cash or a big screen TV!
Tickets are $75, and $50.75 of that total is considered a charitable contribution for tax purposes. You can buy your tickets at this link. Remember, last year’s Game Day was sold out in advance.
