The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has provided an update on overnight paving and patching along Interstate 69 and the work to upgrade Exit 210 set to begin afte July 4th.   The update from the state is below….

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Interstate 69 patching & paving

Milestone Contractors plans to begin tonight (June 28th) paving an asphalt overlay on southbound I-69 south of Campus/Southeastern Parkway (Exit 210) to State Road 37 (Exit 205).

Crews will also continue patching existing northbound pavement north of Exit 210.  The patching operation will continue north over the next several weeks to the end of the project limits, which is just past State Road 38 (Exit 219), before returning southbound on I-69 back to Exit 210.

Milestone is repairing pavement on about 15 miles of interstate before paving a new asphalt overlay on existing lanes.  Motorists may temporarily experience rough pavement after sections are patched and before sections are paved.

Weather permitting, patching and paving operations require alternating lane closures six nights a week on Monday through Saturday nights from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.  One lane of I-69 will remain open at all times, and two lanes will remain open during peak daytime travel times.

The speed limit on I-69 through the work zone is reduced to 60 mph and further reduced to 50 mph when workers are present.  Motorists should also be alert for trucks entering and exiting the highway through the construction zone.

After pavement is repaired and resurfaced, crews will start work to rehabilitate interstate bridges and build the additional travel lane.  Beginning soon after Independence Day (July 4), northbound and southbound I-69 traffic lanes between Exit 205 and Exit 210 will be shifted toward the outside shoulders to set temporary concrete barriers and begin construction of an additional travel lane in the median.

Campus/Southeastern Parkway Exit 210

Construction of the new interchange configuration is scheduled to begin after Independence Day (July 4).  Campus/Southeastern Parkway bridge construction will require overnight lane restrictions between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. starting on or after Wednesday, July 6.

The first phase will begin building the new ramps and will prepare for shifting traffic into a double-crossover diamond configuration later this summer, which is intended to improve traffic flow during widening of the bridge deck and construction of the permanent interchange improvements.

When I interviewed Gerry Dick of Inside Indiana Business for a Podcast posted May 11th (you can listen to it here) he talked about the success of Launch Fishers morphing into a state-wide movement.

Inside Indiana Business recently featured an interview with Elkhart Mayor Tim Neese about his city’s efforts to begin their own Launch movement (you can read more and see the interview video at this link).

Elkhart has been a city dependent on the swings of the RV economy for many years.  When RV sales are down, jobs are scarce around Elkhart.  When RV sales are booming, as they are now, employers are having difficulty filling job vacancies.

Elkhart has caught on to the success of Launch Fishers.  The idea is to provide coworking space and incubate new businesses that will expand locally and begin hiring their own employees.  The hope is to provide employment not so dependent on the volatility of the RV industry.

It’s interesting that Fishers is the place where the (then) town council took a chance, providing seed money for Launch Fishers.  Now Launch has outgrown its quarters in the  Fishers Library and moved to a more expansive facility.  It appears the rest of Indiana is paying attention to Fishers’ success.

When you plan a parade, the worst fear is rain and thunderstorms.  All that stayed away from Fishers late Sunday afternoon and the 2016 Fishers Freedom Festival Parade started right on schedule.

There may have been no rain, but the heat hovered around the 90-degree mark during the event.  There were plenty of water bottles among the crowd looking on and for those in the parade.

Here are a few pictures from this year’s parade.

The Mudscock Jazz Combo played a concert at the Fishers Freedom Festival June 25th….here’s my review…

A perfect, sunny summer day welcomed the first visitors of the Fishers Freedom Festival at Holland Park Saturday morning.  The opening ceremonies featured a raising of the flag and the introduction of the royal court.

The festival runs June 25 & 26, with the parade starting at 4pm on the 26th.  More information is available at this link.

Here is a recording of the live video stream of the festival opening ceremonies Saturday morning

Fishers Police have made 4 arrests on mainly Fraud and Theft Charges, with one suspect identified as a juvenile.  The 3 others are adults.  Police identified the suspects as members of the Felony Lane Gang.

Authorities say it all started with a report of a purse stolen from an unlocked car at the Goodard School, 12818 East 116th Streeet.  The local Crime Reduction unit and detectives launched an investigation leading to the arrests.

Below is the full news release from the Fishers Police Department:

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 On Wednesday, June 22^nd, Fishers police officers responded to the Goddard School, located at 12818 E 116^th Street (116^th Street and Brooks School Road) regarding a woman’s purse being stolen from her unlocked vehicle.

Fishers Detectives and officers assigned to the Crime Reduction Unit launched an extensive investigation that included 24 hour surveillance of multiple suspects. Yesterday afternoon, officers arrested the suspects as they attempted to cash a fraudulent check at a bank in Indianapolis. Two of the suspects were taken into custody without incident. One suspect ran and was taken into custody after a short foot pursuit and the fourth suspect attempted to flee in a vehicle, but was quickly taken into custody. The three adult suspects were transported to the Hamilton County Jail without incident. The fourth suspect was a juvenile and was remanded to the custody of the Hamilton County Juvenile Detention Center. No injuries occurred as a result of these arrests.

This continues to be an active investigation as it is believed these suspects have been involved a crime spree covering multiple states. Anyone with information regarding these suspects is encouraged to contact Detective Dan Nelson at 317-595-3331.   

Suspect:       Givseppe A. Hudson

                        36 years old

                        Margate, Florida

Charge(s):    Theft Level 6 Felony

                        Fraud Level 6 Felony

                        Fraud of a Financial Institution Level 6 Felony

                        Identity Theft Level 6 Felony

Conspiracy

Habitual Offender

Held:              Hamilton County Jail

Suspect:       Vincent L. Slaughter

                        27 years old

                        Oakland Park, Florida

Charge(s):    Theft Level 6 Felony

                        Fraud Level 6 Felony

                        Fraud of a Financial Institution Level 6 Felony

                        Identity Theft Level 6 Felony

Conspiracy

Held:              Hamilton County Jail

Suspect:       Kendrick D. Daise

                        27 years old

                        Pompano Beach, Florida

Charge(s):    Theft Level 6 Felony

                        Fraud Level 6 Felony

                        Fraud of a Financial Institution Level 6 Felony

                        Identity Theft Level 6 Felony

Conspiracy

Held:              Hamilton County Jail

Suspect:       Juvenile

                        17 years old

Charge(s):    Theft Level 6 Felony

                        Fraud Level 6 Felony

                        Fraud of a Financial Institution Level 6 Felony

                        Identity Theft Level 6 Felony

Conspiracy

Held:              Hamilton County Juvenile Detention Center

The “North of North” development planned for downtown Fishers is quickly moving its way through the local governmental approval process.  This past week, the Town Hall Building Corporation approved the project agreements (yes, it still has the town name even though Fishers is now a city), then the Economic Development Commission and the Redevelopment Commission passed resolutions moving the project forward.

The $47 million development will feature mixed use residential, some commercial space and a new headquarters building for RQAW, an architectural and engineering firm.  The complex will feature the ability of people to own businesses on the first floor and live in the upper residential area, creating a “live-work” concept.  A total of 240 residential units are planned.

Nearby Meyer Najem will claim 100 parking places in the 508-space garage as part of “North of North.”  RQAW will also lay claim to 100 of those spaces.

The city is offering $16.5 million in incentives.

Construction is expected to begin later this year, with a projected completion date in the summer of 2018.

Summer has officially begun and road crews continue their work all around Fishers.  Work on Interstate 69 and Exit 210 will begin in earnest.

A complete list is below, as provided by the City of Fishers:

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BRIDGE REPLACEMENT

Continuing this week, the bridge on 106th Street between Allisonville Road and Hague Road will be closed by the Hamilton County Highway Department for replacement. Detour routes will be displayed in the area and access to local traffic will be permitted for residents and businesses. Please direct any questions about this project to alison.krupski@hamiltoncounty.in.gov.

CURB REPAIRS

A contractor will be repairing curb ramps in Bluff and Links at Grey Eagle through the coming weeks. Please anticipate periodic lane restrictions in those areas.

FALL CREEK TRAIL

Fall Creek Trail reconstruction work continues; The Fall Creek Trail project between 96th Street and Brooks School Road will have periodic lane closures for paving operations. Please travel with caution, construction barrels have reduced the existing northbound lane width.

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.

I-69 TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS

INDOT is overseeing an overnight closure on multiple traffic lanes on I-69 overnight this week to continue demolition of the 106th Street overpass bridge. Weather permitting, lane closures and rolling slowdowns of traffic will begin after 9 p.m. and are expected to end before 6 a.m. the next day. Construction schedules and traffic restrictions are subject to change, and questions should be directed to INDOT at indot.carsporgram.org, 1-800-261-ROAD (7623) or 511 from a mobile phone.

PAVING

Road resurfacing work will continue this week in Grey Eagle and in subdivisions near Harrison Thompson Park that will require periodic lane restrictions. Please obey the “No Parking” signs to prevent conflict with paving operations.

STATE ROAD 37

Various general survey work has begun along the State Road 37 corridor. Work will take place starting at the 126th Street intersection. Learn more atwww.Fishers.in.us/SR37.

96th STREET

There will be lane restrictions on eastbound 96th Street between Allisonville Road and Masters Road between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. Work will is anticipated to last until June 25th. All restrictions will take place at night, and barrels with police officers will help direct traffic.

96th STREET AND CARROLL ROAD

The pedestrian path near the intersection of 96th Street and Carroll Road will be closed due to wall repair work. Periodic lane closures may be utilized for the eastbound travel lanes. Please use caution when traveling through the construction area.

106th STREET INTERCHANGE

INDOT has begun work on the 106th Street interchange. A lane shift is currently in place on I-69 and 106th Street is closed as construction continues. Additional details about this project will be released through INDOT and shared on the weekly construction update. Please be advised the speed limit from 82nd Street to 116th Street has been reduced to 55 mph and there are lane shifts on I-69. Please travel with caution and pay close attention to signage in the area.

116th STREET

There may be short-term lane restrictions on eastbound 116th Street between USA Parkway and Exit Five Parkway while utility work is being completed.

116th Street eastbound, east of Cumberland Road will have a temporary lane restriction while service is being established to a business.

126th STREET

• Continuing the week of June 27th, there will be intermittent lane restrictions for westbound traffic just west of Promise Road. These restrictions will allow the contractor to construct the entrance into Granite Ridge subdivision. Advance warning signs will be in place including a directional arrow board, as needed.
• Temporary lane restrictions will be in place on 126th Street between Cyntheanne Road and Atlantic Road in order for shoulder work to be completed. Please drive with caution in the area.

Three Diversity Champions were recognized by the HSE School Board at the June 22nd session.  The award winners are  Sara Curran, principal of Thorpe Creek Elementary; Wafa Safi, AP Science teacher and sponsor of the Muslim Society at Hamilton Southeastern High School; and Renee Vanlandingham, IB English teacher and Equality Alliance sponsor at Fishers High School.   Ms. Curran was not able to attend the board meeting due to another event.

Wafa Safi told the board a major focus of her Muslin student group is to “dispel myths.”

She says her goal is to “dispel a lot of the wrong information that’s out there about Muslims in general.”

Vanlandingham helped form a Gay-Straight Alliance when students approached her about helping start the organization.

“A couple of years ago, I changed the name to Equality Alliance because I wanted it to actually include more people, and not make people feel that they were excluded,” Vanlandingham said.

Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Superintendent Allen Bourff’s contract was extended by the school board through June 30th, 2019 with a base salary amount of $180,495.  As per Dr, Bourff’s contract with the school corporation, incentive compensation for the period from January 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016 was approved by board members at $19,372.50.

The board approved the superintendent’s extension and incentive payment as part of the consent agenda, normally a routine school board agenda item, without comment.

After the meeting, Acting School Board President Howard Stevenson (filling in for absent Board President Karen Harmer) told LarryInFishers, “We are pleased with the performance (Dr. Bourff) has provided to us this school year, with the referendum’s success and all the efforts he’s had for us.”

In other board items:

–Parents are beginning to respond to how their students will use technology this upcoming school year.  In grades Kindergarten through 2nd grade. 384 responses are in, 225 of those plan to rent iPads (59%).  171 of the 394 will leave their iPads at school (45%).  In grades 3-8, 288 of 672 respondents plan to rent iPads (43%).  In grades 9-12, laptops are involved, 99 plan to rent out of 311 responding (32%).  Obviously, not everyone has responded yet.

–The board approved the entire recommended changes to fee structures.  You can read the entire list at this link.

–HSE Schools Chief Financial Officer Mike Reuter provided the board a timeline for this year’s budget process.  The first school board budget work session will be held  September 20th.  A public hearing on the spending plan is set for October 12th.  Final adoption will come at the October 26th board session, just a few days before the state-mandated budget deadline of November 1st.  Reuter told members this will be a very different budget process compared to recent years, due to the passage of the recent 7-year operating referendum.

–Danesa Stolz with the City of Fishers Parks & Recreation Department presented an overview of the Nature First program.  You can see her PowerPoint presentation at this link.

–Superintendent Bourff says most of the hiring for the upcoming school year has been completed and administrators are preparing for the upcoming school year.  He reiterated a comment he made at the last board meeting that board members face decisions on how to handle building space issues with additional classes added after the successful referendum campaign, possibly at the next board session.

–The Mudsock varsity football game will be at HSE High School this year on September 9th.

–Several students represented the HSE School System at the Destination Imagination national competition in Knoxville, Tennessee.  Team Dingos took home a global championship and Renaissance Award at the secondary level in the In Plain Sight Scientific Challenge.  Here’s a listing of how some fared at nationals:

• Team DIngos – Renaissance Award and 1st place, Scientific Challenge, Secondary Level.
• Team Do or DI – 3^rd place, Improv Challenge, University Level.
• Team DI-nosaurs – 5^th place, Technical Challenge, Elementary Level.
• Team Super Dupers – 8^th place, Technical Challenge, Secondary Level
• Team SPeCiMeNS – 8^th place, Fine Arts Challenge, Middle Level
• Team We Haven’t FigureD It Out Yet – 13^th Place, Structural Challenge, Secondary Level
• Team Fierce 7 – 16^th place, Structural Challenge, Middle Level
• Team TEK 7 – 18^th Place, Technical Challenge, Middle Level
• Team This Must Be a Mistake! – 21^st place, Structural Challenge, Elementary Level