The Fishers Health Department has some good news in the weekly update, with positive tests down and vaccinations continuing.

Here is the release, from the Health Department:

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		Fishers Metrics Review Positive tests have decreased over the past week. On the vaccination front, 62% of Fishers residents ages 12+ have received their first dose, and 52.5% are fully vaccinated, which is outpacing other counties in Indiana. View the full review of metrics.
		Ages 12+ Now Eligible for Vaccine Everyone ages 12 and older are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine (ages 12-17 can only receive the Pfizer vaccine). Walk-in and prescheduled appointments are available at the Fishers Mass Vaccination Site, and all 3 vaccine types are available for ages 18+. Schedule ahead at ourshot.in.gov or call 2-1-1 or the Fishers COVID Hotline at 317-595-3211. An adult must accompany ages 12-15 to the vaccine appointment. If the adult present is not the parent or guardian, consent must be submitted in advance. For anyone ages 16-17, it’s preferred that a parent or guardian accompany the minor to the vaccination site. If not possible, the parent or guardian can provide written or verbal authorization. Fishers Mass Vaccination Site Walk-In Hours: Monday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesday: noon – 6 p.m. Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Thursday: noon – 6 p.m. Friday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. and at The Fishers Farmers’ Market from 8:30 a.m. – noon. Learn more. Sunday: Closed
		New Guidelines: No Masks Required for Fully Vaccinated Individuals The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced that fully vaccinated people (2 weeks after their 2nd Moderna or Pfizer shot or 2 weeks after their Johnson & Johnson shot) no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance. Learn more.

State Road 37 construction continues and the city prepares to close 116th Street at the Nickel Plate Trail for 60 days starting June 1st.

Those are just a couple of the major road construction projects on the list.  Here is the latest update, as provided by the City of Fishers:

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Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools should not move forward with reconfiguring grade levels at this time, but should “commit to a middle level concept,” based on recommendations from a study group.  The panel also recommended pursuing the implementation of a feeder system.

That was based on a presentation Tuesday morning at a school board work session.

The Feeder and Reconfiguration Study Committee was created once the Operation Right Time Advisory Committee (ORTAG) finished its work.  The committee was made up of 44 members representing 15 school buildings.  The group included school administrators from central office and school buildings, teachers, parents and students.

The committee met seven times from February 2nd through May 3rd.

Currently, HSE Schools are configured this way – kindergarten through 4th grade are at the elementary level, grades 5 & 6 are intermediate, 7th and 8th graders are in junior high buildings and high schools are grades 9-12.

The committee studied reconfiguring the grades and buildings, with grades kindergarten through 5th grade in elementary buildings, grades 6-8 in middle schools and grades 9-12 in high schools.

Matt Kegley, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning, reviewed with the board the many scenarios studied by the members of the committee, along with the associated cost.

The group concluded that reconfiguration would need time to implement, from a cost and building standpoint, as well as adjusting staff.  For example, if fifth-graders are to be in elementary schools, then the current fifth grade teachers would need to move from intermediate schools to the elementary buildings.

That’s why the members of the group suggest committing to a “middle school concept” first.

However, committee members did say the school district should “pursue the implementation of a feeder system.”

According to Kegley, the feeder system means that your path forward through the school system would be controlled by the elementary school the student attends.   There would be no need to redistrict above the elementary school level under this structure.

Superintendent Allen Bourff told the board studies have shown that the fewer transitions students must make, the better the educational outcome.  That’s why moving to a middle school system in the future has merit, said Bourff.

One other recommendation from the committee calls for the school district to conduct an updated demographic study.

You can view the entire presentation made by Dr. Kegley to the school board at this link.

With weather warming and COVID vaccinations allowing people to get out more in their local neighborhoods, you may be seeing golf carts on your streets.  The question is often asked, are there rules governing golf carts on city streets?

The answer to that question is yes, the City of Fishers has a golf cart ordinance and failure to comply can lead to a $50 fine for the first offense, $100 for a second infraction and $250 for a third violation and each one after that.

So, what does the Fishers ordinance say?

First, you can drive your golf cart on your neighborhood streets only after at least 75% of the subdivision property owners consent and the vote is certified.  According to the ordinance, the area must have “proper signage in the designated locations” where golf carts are allowed on the streets.

According to the Fishers Police Department, only four neighborhoods meet the requirements of the ordinance and may legally allow golf carts on the streets.  They are:

–Britton Falls

–Thorpe Creek

–Intracoastal At Geist

–Graystone

Here is the full news release from the Fishers Police Department reminding local residents of the ordinance:

Continue reading Fishers & the golf cart ordinance →

This year’s Fishers Memorial Day celebration will feature the dedication of a new memorial on the Central Green, just south of City Hall.  Gold Star families will be honored with this memorial.

The Fishers Memorial Day celebration will be held Monday, May 31, at 10am, in front of City Hall (1 Municipal Drive).

Fishers city officials highly encourage Gold Star Families to register in advance so that the city can appropriately honor them. Masks are recommended for individuals who are unvaccinated. Learn more at fishers.in.us/FishersHonors.

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

The first of the 17-year cicada emergence has been reported in Hamilton County. Sometimes mistakenly called the “17-year Locust,” they will become increasingly seen and heard from now through June 30.

Emma Mendez at the Hamilton County 4-H Extension office says she got first reports of the insects’ arrival over the past weekend. Their appearance locally was delayed this year by chilly weather.

For the past 17 years the cicadas have been living underground, feeding on the sap of tree roots. They emerge from the ground to mate and lay their eggs. They will feed on tender twigs of young trees, but in most cases will not kill or damage a tree or other vegetation.

Rodents and other wildlife will eat the cicadas, but there are so many that most will survive to lay their eggs before gradually disappearing in July and August, according to Purdue University experts.

The colorful insects are not interested in humans or animals and therefore not dangerous. Their loud singing or buzzing is the most noticeable, sometimes disturbing effect of their presence.

Folks living in areas with numerous trees more than 17 years old will hear and see the greatest number of the unusual insects. Newer subdivisions developed on land that was formerly farm fields will not see many, if any, of the cicadas.

Scientists have yet to discover why cicadas stay underground for 17 years. A popular theory suggests that the great amount of time makes potential predators give up and find other sources of food.

Whatever the reason, if you enjoy seeing them, get a good look this year. If you don’t like hearing them, remember they won’t be back again until 2038.

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

It is said that all politics is local, and it also seems that all politics is at play all the time. It is less than a year until the next election, namely the primary of 2022, and we can assume that maneuvering is already underway.

The local primary is especially important because Hamilton County is heavily Republican, and winners in the GOP primary are usually favored in the November general election.

Despite this, only about 19 percent of eligible voters cast ballots in the primary of 2018.

Next May, voters will choose candidates for U.S. Congress, state legislature, a majority of county offices and all township offices. The primary election is May 6, but candidate filing begins in January.

Most incumbents are expected to seek re-election. Indeed, Congresswoman Victoria Spartz (R- Ind.-05) has already said she will run for a second term.

There are some exceptions. County Assessor Robin Ward is retiring, and longtime Clay Township Trustee Doug Callahan will retire.

The county’s state legislative delegation will likely be running again. The Superior Court 2 and the new Superior Court 7 judgeships are at stake as are offices of county sheriff, prosecutor, clerk of courts, recorder, assessor, coroner, one county commissioner, and four county council positions.

The county’s nine township trustees and 27 township board seats are also up for election.

While not obvious to the general public, preliminary politicking is already underway for some of the 56 offices that will appear on the various ballots throughout the county.

It seems it’s never too early to make plans when playing in the political game.

The Fishers Police Department has received accreditation from the Commission on  Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies in past years and is seeking to keep that certification.  Part of the process is a survey of the general public.  It is an opportunity for Fishers residents to provide feedback on contacts with local officers and perceptions of safety within your own neighborhood or frequented business areas.

“It is the goal of the Fishers Police Department to achieve and maintain the highest level of quality service for our residents and visitors,” says a Fishers Police Department news release.  “Input from the citizens of Fishers is essential in the Fishers Police Department’s continued effort to promote effective police services and protection to all members of the community.”

The survey is open through June 14.  You can access the survey online at this link.

Only 180 students have made a commitment to attend virtual classes for the coming fall semester at Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools.  Superintendent Allen Bourff says his staff will need to “study that,” because the numbers are far below projections, meaning the virtual learning option for the 2021-2022 school year is not a certainty.

Of the 180 students, 92 are Pre-kindergarten through grade 6.  For grades 7 and 8, 24 students are committed online.  In high school, 63 students opted for virtual learning.

Bourff says the low enrollment numbers for the virtual classes will create a staffing challenge, since teachers will be assigned to instructing online only.  For example, if only 5-7 students are virtually learning in one elementary grade, does the school district assign one teacher to that small number of students?  Combining grades for virtual classes may be an option, Bourff said.

Also, high school students would be utilizing Indiana Online, a contractor.  Bourff is not certain whether the contractor could deliver the services at the price quoted ($2,400 per student) with only 63 enrolled in grades 9-12.

However, Dr. Bourff says he is “pleased” at the low virtual learning numbers, because he believes in-person classes provide the “richest educational experience.”

The fireworks planned for Geist on September 11th may not happen as originally planned.  That is what Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness said during a podcast interview recorded May 17.

Some in the community have questioned whether marking the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks with a fireworks display is the proper thing to do, and Fadness says the city is looking at changing those plans.

“I could see that is being changed or modified some way,” Fadness said during the podcast.  “I think that was good feedback from the residents that said, well, I understand what you’re trying to do, but I’m not sure that’s the right tone.”

The city Parks and Recreation Department is taking a look at the date of the Geist fireworks display and Fadness says there could be “some modifications.”

The mayor commented on a number of issues during the podcast, including COVID rules after the new CDC guidance, the much-lower-that expected COVID money coming from the federal government (what had been estimated as $19.6 million is now $7 million), his meeting with the new HSE Schools Superintendent, next steps after the Interrupting Racism program, summer events and the coming road construction.

You can listen to the entire podcast at this link.