With temperatures in the 60s and winds peaking out at 45 miles-per-hour, I decided to visit a couple of Fishers parks.  As expected, they were busy.  Below are a few of my pictures from exploring on Sunday afternoon.

All the available tickets were sold and it was a full house at the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Foundation GameDay fundraising event held at Conner Prairie.  There was plenty of food, drink and a silent auction….not to mention plenty of people supporting the foundation.

Below are just a few pictures from the Friday night celebration.

Both sides have laid out their arguments, and it will soon be time for the Hamilton County Council to decide on the State Road 37 upgrade.  The council has the county’s share of the funding for this project on its agenda for the March 2nd regularly scheduled meeting.

On December 10th, 2015, Governor Mike Pence announced an agreement involving the state, Hamilton County and the cities of Fishers & Noblesville to fund a massive upgrade to State Road 37.  It would transform that stretch of highway into something like Keystone Avenue in Carmel, with exit and entrance ramps and roundabouts to move traffic east and west.

So far, the State of Indiana, Hamilton County Commissioners and the city of Fishers have signed onto their share of the funding for the first phase of the  work in Fishers, which is expected to cost $124 million.

There is one important government body yet to vote on this proposal – that’s the Hamilton County Council, which handles the money decisions for the county.  If the county doesn’t approve their part of the funding, nothing moves forward on the project.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness has been consistent in his support for the upgrade.  Here’s what he told Reporter Lindsey Erdody of the Indianapolis Business Journal in a story posted February 20th:

“There are some people that are obviously very emotional, very concerned about the project that just don’t want to see it happen,” Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness said. “But the vast majority in the middle agree that something needs to be done.”

You can read the entire IBJ story at this link.

The Fishers City Council has approved its share of the funding for the State Road 37 construction.

The latest support comes from Noblesville Mayor John Ditslear.  He wrote a piece published in the Times of Noblesville, urging the Hamilton County Council members to approve the county’s funding share.  He wrote, in part:

It would be a colossal mistake to miss the opportunity of joining in the improvements primarily funded by the State of Indiana. How could we tell the state officials, “Thanks, but no thanks to $100 million” especially when we all know how essential this project is to motorists?  

You can read Ditslear’s entire article in the Times at this link.

Meanwhile, the founder of the State Road 37 Alliance (a group of businesses along 37 concerned about the proposed project), Bill Smythe, wrote a response to Ditslear’s article. Here’s part of Smythe’s release:

I was taken aback by Mayor Ditslear’s comments in the February 25th The Times where he implored the County Councilors to vote for the State Road 37 project to “avoid momentous consequences”. While I don’t have any issues with the Mayor’s favorable justifications I don’t share his opinion that this vote on March 2nd is mandatory to the long term success of this project.

In fact my opinion is quite the opposite.

I never had the honor of meeting Jim Belden, but I do know this…every time his name was mentioned in my presence, respect filled the room.

In what can (at times) be rough-and -tumble politics in the Hamilton County Republican Party, Jim Belden’s name was synonymous with the kindest words used for a politician.

I first became familiar with his work as a very successful high school football coach at several area schools, where he had a Hall of Fame career.

There will be a celebration of Jim Belden’s life Saturday, February 27th, 3:00pm, at the Ivy Tech Noblesville Gymnasium (300 N. 17th St.)

State Representative Kathy Richardson and U.S. Congresswoman Susan Brooks will be there for an awards presentation.

How would you like to be a volunteer and help people in your own neighborhood? The City of Fishers is giving you that opportunity on Saturday, April 16th.

It’s easy to sign-up.  Just check-in with Dan Domsic at the Parks Department.  His e-mail address is domsicd@fishers.in.us  or just all him on the phone at 317-595-3151.

For more details, here is part of the news release issued by the City of Fishers:

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Volunteers are encouraged to consider their interests before signing up for one of the following project opportunities:

• The Neighborhood Blitz pairs volunteers with homeowners to complete low-intensity, high-impact improvement projects,
• Spring Service Day returns to Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve as volunteers work to remove invasive plants, and
• Various beautification projects will be taking place at parks facilities, community-wide.

Unlike previous years, this year’s KFB offers opportunities for residents to complete individual service projects at their home and in their neighborhoods. In an effort to unite residents community-wide in this KFB service day, anyone completing an independent service project is encouraged to visit the event page to log their hours, photos captured and work completed!

Fishers Police have been saying for months that residents should be on the lookout for suspicious activity in their neighborhoods and report them to authorities.

Local officer made 2 arrests February 19th, charging the suspects with vehicle break-ins in the area of 106th Street and Lantern Road.

Below is the full text of the police department news release:

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During the early morning hours of Friday, February 19^th, Fishers police officers arrested two men for breaking into cars in the area of 8224 Belle Vista Boulevard(106^th Street and Lantern Road).

Shortly after 6am an alert resident, of the Bella Vista Apartment Complex, called 911 after seeing two suspicious men walking thru the parking lot. The caller was able to provide a description of the suspects and their location. Officers quickly responded to the area and established a perimeter. Officers observed one of the suspects attempting to leave the parking lot in a Toyota passenger car. Officers conducted a traffic stop and the driver complied. The second suspect was located as he walked between parked cars. Officers gave loud verbal commands for the suspect to stop and he also complied.

Both suspects were detained and transported to the Fishers Police Department without incident. During the investigation it was determined that these men were linked to several thefts from vehicles. Multiple stolen items were recovered from the suspects and their car. Officers worked diligently to return the stolen items to the rightful owner. Both suspects were arrested and transported to the Hamilton County Jail without incident.

The Fishers Police Department would like to thank the resident that called 911. The See Something, Say Something mentality benefits us all!

Arrested #1:             Christopher M. Thomas

                                    18 years old

                                    Fishers, Indiana

Charge(s):                Theft Level 6 Felony (6 counts)

                                    Unauthorized Entry into a Vehicle “B” Misdemeanor (6counts)

                                    Possession of a Controlled Substance “A” Misdemeanor

                                    Possession of Marijuana “B” Misdemeanor

Held:                          Hamilton County Jail

Arrested #2:             Jackson V. Brooker

                                    18 years old

                                    Fishers, Indiana

Charge(s):                Theft Level 6 Felony (6 counts)

                                    Unauthorized Entry into a Vehicle “B” Misdemeanor (6counts)

                                    Possession of a Controlled Substance “A” Misdemeanor

                                    Possession of Marijuana “B” Misdemeanor

Held:                          Hamilton County Jail

The Hamilton Southeastern Schools Foundation has a dilemma…over $100,000 in requests for help from local schools and not enough money to go around and help them all.

One way you can help is to participate in the silent auction the foundation is doing. Participating in the auction is easy.  Just go to this link.

This is a way to help local teachers and schools, plus get something you might enjoy as well.

The Fishers Police Department is asking for the public’s help in their investigation of a robbery at an ATM machine near 96th & Lantern Road.  Below is the full text of the news release:

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Investigators with the Fishers Police Department are seeking information regarding a strong-arm robbery that occurred on Saturday morning in the parking lot of the Chase Bank located at 9601 Lantern Road (96^th Street and Lantern Rd).
 
Shortly after 9am, this past Saturday, officers from the Fishers Police Department, the Carmel Police Department, and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department responded to a report of a robbery near the Chase Bank. Officers quickly established a perimeter. An extensive search was conducted, however the suspect remains at large. The victim reported being struck from behind as he walked away from the walk-up ATM. The suspect stole the victim’s wallet and ran away. During the assault the victim sustained minor injuries. He was transported to the hospital for additional medical treatment.  
 
Anyone with information regarding this crime is encouraged to contact Detective Cesar Rodriguez at 317-595-3346.
 
Suspect Description:
 
White male
20-30 years old
Brown hair/Brown eyes
Slender build with a short beard
Wearing a dark colored hooded sweatshirt and shorts
 
  
Please consider the following ATM safety tips:

1. Always pay close attention to the ATM and your surroundings. Don’t select an ATM at the corner of a building — corners create a blind spot. Use an ATM located near the center of a building. Do your automated banking in a public, well-lighted location that is free of shrubbery and decorative partitions or dividers.
2. Maintain an awareness of your surroundings throughout the entire transaction. Be wary of people trying to help you with ATM transactions. Be aware of anyone sitting in a parked car nearby. When leaving an ATM make sure you are not being followed. If you are, drive immediately to a police or fire station, or to a crowded, well-lighted location or business.
3. Do not use an ATM that appears unusual looking or offers options with which you are not familiar or comfortable.
4. Do not allow people to look over your shoulder as you enter your PIN. Memorize your PIN; never write it on the back of your card. Do not re-enter your PIN if the ATM eats your card — contact a bank official.
5. Do not wear expensive jewelry or take other valuables to the ATM. This is an added incentive to the assailant.
6. Never count cash at the machine or in public. Wait until you are in your car or another secure place.
7. When using a drive-up ATM, keep your engine running, your doors locked and leave enough room to maneuver between your car and the one ahead of you in the drive-up line.
8. Maintain a supply of deposit envelopes at home or in your car. Prepare all transaction paperwork prior to your arrival at the ATM. This will minimize the amount of time spent at the machine.
9. Closely monitor your bank statements, as well as your balances, and immediately report any problems to your bank.
10. If you are involved in a confrontation with an assailant who demands your money, COMPLY.

Source: The Electronic Funds Transfer Association, and the Los Angeles Police Department.

The Hamilton Southeastern School Board, the body governing our local schools in the city of Fishers and some of the surrounding areas, makes very important decisions on a regular basis.  The most recent one was to place a ballot initiative in the May 3rd primary election asking for a property tax increase to fund money in a number of areas, such as teacher recruitment & retention, and reduce class size.

But the board has also had many conversations with school administrators about Instructional Assistants (IAs).  These school employees help teachers forced to take on large size classes and in other classroom situations.  IAs are mostly used to help out teachers in special education classrooms.

It is becoming more and more difficult to attract and retain good Instructional Assistants. A complicating factor is the Affordable Care Act and providing a health insurance offering that meets the minimum requirements of the law.

According to administrators, nearby school districts have simply reduced the hours of their IAs to less than 30 hours a week, exempting them from the requirement to offer a health plan.  Assistant Superintendent Jan Combs came to HSE from Lawrence Township and she told the HSE Board cutting back hours made it very, very difficult to recruit and retain IAs in Lawrence.

The HSE Schools are now faced with a situation of cutting back hours or reducing the number of IAs, with neither of those options being popular with board members.  One option is to temporarily cut back IA hours, offer health insurance to those eligible under the law, and begin restoring the hours based on how many IAs choose to use the school’s health care plan.  Many IAs may already be covered by a spouse or are still covered by a parent’s plan if the IA has not yet reached 26 years of age.

In a recent work session, board members talked at length about the IA issue and its impact on the budget.  Every board member offering an opinion made it clear that IAs should be made a priority, their hours should not be cut and the administration should look at budget options to make this work.

As a result, HSE School Superintendent Allen Bourff  told board members he would have an administration recommendation on IAs for their consideration, with their comments addressed.

The HSE School Board has plenty of issues to decide all the time, but the issue of taking care of the district’s Instructional Assistants is clearly a priority for this board.  That makes HSE different from most school boards.

When the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) High School “We the People” team gathered on Sunday night for their annual dinner, the teams’s coach, Janet Chandler, received a surprise.

Local Indiana State Representative Todd Huston spoke to the crowd on what an important impact Ms. Chandler had on him when he was a student in several of her classes.  He then presented Ms. Chandler with the Sagamore of the Wabash award.

Ms. Chandler joins such Indiana greats as Ryan White, Herman B. Wells, David Letterman and Jeff Gordon as a recipient of this honor.  The governor decides who receives this certificate.

Janet Chandler also coaches the Mock Trial team at HSE High School, and serves as President of the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association.

This year’s HSE “We the People” team finished second in the state, just behind Indiana Champion Fishers High.