After being away from Fishers for about a week, there are some news items announced by the city that I have not yet posted.  Here are some of those items.

Continue reading A little catching-up to do →

There have been times in the past when I have been critical of the Indianapolis Star, particularly during periods of time when the newspaper’s owner, Gannett, has laid-ff journalists.  The Star’s staff of journalists is much smaller than years ago.

I am going to compliment the Star here and now.  I am issuing kudos for the reporter Rachel Fradette and the Star’s editors that provided her the time to write a long-form piece about the Hamilton East Library Board.

The Board made international news recently when best selling author, and Indianapolis area native, John Green publicly took issue with the Board’s policy of reviewing every book in the young adult section based on standards the board wrote about content in those books.

Reporter Rachel talks to a number of sources in this piece, published on the Star’s Web site Thursday morning.  One important source she cites are teens themselves.  She points out that the library has a teen advisory group that was never consulted about the young adult book section review.

Anyone interested in the Hamilton East Libraries, serving Fishers & Noblesville, should read this article.  In fact, anyone interested in libraries and their policies should read this piece.  It is well sourced and well written.

You can read the article at this link.

The only reason the Star is able to produce this kind of journalism is because people subscribe.  I have seen many comments about the rising cost of a print subscription to the Star.  However, online IndyStar subscriptions are not that expensive.  In order for the Star to continue with coverage like this, it needs subscribers.  Once again, I urge everyone –  subscribe to your local media!

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board gave final approval to the $300.6 million 2024 spending plan Wednesday night, on a vote of 5-2.

Board member Tiffany Pascoe cited several reasons for her “no” vote.  She objects to spending tax funds on mental health and wellness “regardless of the (mental health) grant.”  She also opposes spending funds on DEI (diversity, equity & inclusion).  She points to payment amounts going to athletic advisors and objects to a lack of a third-party “municipality group” to work financial matters on behalf of board members.

Suzanne Thomas cast the other “no” vote on the 2024 budget.  She says there is no “confirmation” of funding for support staff pay raises and other educational programs.

Chief Financial Officer Katy Dowling says the final total budget number for 2024 is $300.6 million.  This is a “not to exceed” number.  Dowling earlier cited a total budget of $296 million for next year, but says there is no additional spending, the change in the overall figure reflects required transfers between the education and operations fund.

Dowling also says there will be a 3.89% decease in the HSE District property tax rate in 2024.

The Hamilton Southeastern Education Association and the district administration held their first bargaining session and the board has scheduled a board meeting at 6pm Wednesday, November 1st, to review an anticipated tentative agreement on a new teacher collective bargaining contract.

Here is the link to the video version of the podcast interview with Julie Moorehead, Executive Director of the nonprofit organization More Than A Phone.

Victims of domestic violence often find barriers to leaving an abusive relationship.  A Fishers nonprofit group, More Than A Phone, works at getting cell phones and data plans for these victims to allow safe, secure communications when leaving an abusive situation.

Julie Moorehead is Executive Director of More Than A Phone.  She joins Larry in this podcast discussion about her organization and an upcoming fund-raising event October 29th.

For more on More Than A Phone, use this link.

For details on tickets for the tailgate fund-raising event, use this link.

Listen to the podcast at the link below.

My blog is a one-man-band so when I am out-of-town, I miss a few things.  I was on the road heading back to Fishers from visiting family in South Dakota when I found out a news conference was afoot  Tuesday.

Turns out it was big news.  The Indy Fuel Hockey team will be a major tenant of the new Fishers Events Center currently under construction.  Team owner Jim Hallet announced the Fuel organization is fielding an indoor football team to play in the Events Center.

Since I missed the news conference, you can read more about it from Fox59 at this link. 

I will have more on this story in the future.

When City Councilor David Giffel recently raised the issue of rising trash removal costs, he asked why Fishers does not have a contract with one trash firm to save residents money.  The Town of Fishers investigated this 10 years ago, took bids and had a low bidder.

However, at that time, local residents were loud and clear that they did not want the Town of Fishers to take over the trash removal system, even under a contract with a private company.  Basically, residents told the Town Council they don’t want government intervening in how their trash was collected.

Let’s just say things are different now.  With Waste Management’s purchase of Ray’s, as I understand it, there are only two trash removal operations offering service in Fishers…Waste Management and Republic.

After recording podcast interviews with all but one City Council candidate, Mike Fassold asked the question of what the candidates were hearing in their door-to-door campaigning.  A number of them said the cost of trash removal and the quality of service were a subject with residents before Councilor Giffel publicly asked about this.

It should be noted that two current City Council members, Pete Peterson and John Weingardt, were on the Town Council when the trash issue was investigated 10 years ago.  Current Mayor Scott Fadness was the Town Manager.

Only one councilor has gone on the record to oppose a city contract with one trash firm…Brad DeReamer.

The next step is for the mayor to have a work session with the Council explaining steps that must be taken to just begin the process of accepting bids on a city-wide trash collection contract.  Will the rising cost of trash collection result in a different public reaction this time around?  We will soon find out.

I recently wrote about a new nonprofit news operation being organized named Mirror Indy.  I cited a piece posted on the local Indy Axios operation by former IndyStar columnist James Briggs about the number of Star writers and editors jumping ship to Mirror Indy.

Since I wrote that piece, Ryan Martin, a former Star reporter that won a Pulitzer Prize for an investigation that examined K-9 units and the damage inflicted by police dogs, left the Star for news startup State Affairs.  Martin recently announced on social media he, too, will be joining Mirror Indy.

One of my readers posted a question when it was revealed the news nonprofit has $10 million.  Just who are the donors?

An Indianapolis Star story from February of this year listed a few of the major donors:

• Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust
• Myrta Pulliam
• Herbert Simon Family Foundation
• Lumina Foundation
• The Robert R. and Gayle T. Meyer Family Fund
• Joyce Foundation
• Indianapolis Foundation, an affiliate of the Central Indiana Community Foundation

There are more details about the nonprofit’s donors on their Web site at this link.

The nonprofit’s board of directors includes some prominent local names, such as Publisher of the Indianapolis Recorder Carolene Mays…former Gannett executive Karen Ferguson Fuson…Mark Miles of the Penske Corporation and Myrta Pulliam, part of the family that sold the Star to Gannett in 2000.

One last thought.  The IndyStar is supposed to have a partnership agreement with Mirror Indy.  I would love to be a fly on the wall when the two entities have their first meeting, after Mirror Indy has raided the Star’s journalists.

The Indiana State Police, in collaboration with the Fishers Police Department, have launched an investigation into a reported incident of sexual assault involving a minor. The incident took place on September 25th, on a trail located in the vicinity of 113th Street and Florida Road in Fishers. The case was only recently reported to the Indiana State Police, prompting an immediate criminal investigation in an effort to identify the suspect.

Local law enforcement agencies are now seeking the public’s assistance in this ongoing investigation. Anyone with information, including doorbell video footage or any relevant details about the incident, is strongly encouraged to contact the Indiana State Police at (317) 899-8577.

As of now, this remains an active investigation, and law enforcement is not able to release any further information at this time.

The Fishers road construction update is a bit shorter this week as we get deeper into the fall season.  Notice there is important information about what the Hamilton County Highway Department is planning for 146th Street at Allisonville Road October 25th, in this week’s report.

Below is the full report, as provided by the City of Fishers:

Continue reading Fishers road construction update – work week starting Monday, October 23 →