I began posting local podcasts in 2016, and have been continuing the series ever since.  It is the one place where local people can sit down and talk about what they are doing in the Fishers community for about 30 minutes.

After roughly four years of regularly posting these podcasts, this reporter is taking a little time off from podcasting, but never fear, new podcasts should be available by early February, at the latest.

Also, I have plans for a special podcast series early this year.  More on that in coming weeks.

If you want to review the many podcasts posted during 2019, you may do so at this link.

Hamilton County Reporter / WISH-TV

Police in Fishers say a juvenile suspect was injured after stealing a car and crashing it into a guardrail during a police pursuit Friday morning.

Photo provided

It happened around 8 a.m. in the area of 98th Street and Allisonville Road.

According to Fishers police, the juvenile was spotted in a black car driving at a high rate of speed. The suspect refused to stop and continued driving northbound on Eller Road.

The juvenile crashed the stolen vehicle about a mile down the road at the 106th Street intersection.

The car went over the guardrail and nearly ended up in a creek.

Police say the suspect was taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

Details about where the car was stolen from or the identity of the suspect have not been released.

Hamilton County Reporter

Hamilton Southeastern traveled to Lawrence Central on Friday night and gave the Class 4A No. 3 Bears a good battle before falling 76-64.

Lawrence Central led 18-14 after the first quarter and 42-31 at halftime. The Royals played even with the Bears in the second half, but LC was able to maintain its lead.

Sam Jacobs had a career-high 19 points to lead Southeastern, including three 3-pointers. DeAndre Rhodes added 14 points, while Vinny Buccilla had 12 points, also making three 3s. Rhodes and Buccilla each had five rebounds, and Rhodes and Mabor Majak made two blocked shots.

The Royals are 4-5 and host Warren Central tonight.

Hamilton County Reporter 

Fishers fell to Pike 63-54 in a Friday night game at the Tiger Den.

Class 4A No. 4 Fishers led 16-11 after the first quarter and 31-26 at halftime, with Jeffrey Simmons scoring 12 first-half points. Issac Farah also had eight points in the half. But the Red Devils came back to tie the game at 43-43 by the end of the third quarter, then outscored the Tigers 20-11 in the fourth.

Simmons scored 17 points, while Farah added 13.

Fishers is 12-2 and hosts Arsenal Tech on Tuesday.

Hamilton County Reporter

The Hamilton Southeastern girls basketball team picked up its second win in two days, defeating Terre Haute South 74-24 in a Friday night road game.

The Class 4A No. 6 Royals were in control from the beginning, leading 20-8 after the first quarter and 32-8 at halftime. Sydney Parrish scored 33 points, shooting 14 of 19 from the field, and also collecting eight rebounds.

Lauren Morris made three 3-pointers on her way to 11 points. Jackie Maulucci pulled eight rebounds, with Lydia Self and Bailee Poore both getting five rebounds. Southeastern had 21 team steals, led by Makayla Hinshaw’s five. Ryan Viele, Morris and Parrish each made four steals.

The Royals are 16-2 and are off until next Friday when they play at Westfield as part of a Hoosier Crossroads Conference girls-boys doubleheader.

The City of Fishers is planning a closure of east-west traffic on 126th Street and State Road 37.  the temporary closure is scheduled to begins at 7am Thursday, January 16 through Saturday, January 18 at 6pm.  According to the city engineering department, this is needed to handle work to be done by Citizens Energy.

For more details on detours, and the rest of the weekly road construction list from the City of Fishers, see the update below.

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At-large Hamilton County Council member Rick McKinney has announced his intention to seek another term on the council.  According to my news-gathering partner, the Hamilton County Reporter, McKinney revealed his re-election bid in a news release.

“I have supported and will continue to support necessary funding for PPP: Pavement (roads/bridges), Parks (quality of life) and Public safety (Sheriff, jail, emergency communications, courts, probation, prosecutor and community corrections),” McKinney said. “Projects started or completed since 2016: Westward expansion of 146^th Street, Lowes Way ramp from 146^th Street to Keystone, State Road 37 redesign, 96^th Street and Keystone bridge, solar power project for the jail complex, expanded jail and Koteewi Park amenities.”

McKinney cited his “experience and independence” as an incumbent member of the council.

McKinney has filed as a candidate in the May 5th Republican primary election.

Hamilton County Reporter

Rick McKinney has been elected president of the Hamilton County Council. He replaces Brad Beaver in the role. Amy Massillamany will serve as Vice President. Election of officers is an annual practice at the first meeting of each year.

Massillamany

McKinney

McKinney was elected to the Hamilton County Council in 1996. He is an at-large member who also served as council president in 2001, 2008 and 2014.

McKinney owns Clearview Professional Window Cleaning. He was appointed to Carmel’s Board of Public Works and Safety by then-Mayor Ted Johnson in 1992. Four years later, he secured his current spot on the County Council.

Since then, McKinney has been instrumental in maintaining a low tax rate, opening council meetings up for public comment and being available for public viewing on the Internet, and funding parks, public safety and infrastructure.

McKinney and his wife Cheryl currently reside in Westfield.

Victoria Spartz shook up the local political scene when she announced late in the day January 8th that she will suspend her campaign for the District 20 state senate and is exploring becoming a candidate for the 5th District U.S. House.  Spartz was elected to fill out the remaining term of long-time Senator Luke Kenley by Republican Precinct Committee officials, when Kenley announced his retirement.

Most local political pundits presumed Spartz would seek election to her state senate seat.  However, according to my news-gathering partner, the Hamilton County Reporter, Spartz issued a news release announcing the suspension of her state senate camapaign.

“I feel that if I decide to spend the next two to four years of my life serving the people, I would like to do it where I can bring the most value” Sparts said. “My unique life experiences, financial and business expertise, and willingness to fight against the status quo would bring a great benefit to our state and our nation.”

Spartz will be joining what is likely to be a very crowded Republican primary election for the 5th District seat, left vacant when incumbent Congresswoman Susan Books decided not to seek re-election.

Meanwhile, be on the lookout for which Republicans will enter the contest to succeed Senator Sparks in the Indiana General Assembly.

District 20 does include a portion of northwest Fishers.

Hamilton County Reporter

Hamilton Southeastern had a solid defensive effort Thursday night against
Warren Central, and that led the Royals to their fifth straight win.

Southeastern, ranked No. 6 in Class 4A, beat the Warriors 40-31 in a home game. The Royals got off to a good start, leading 14-7 after the first quarter. Sydney Parrish, who was honored at the game for becoming the school’s all-time leading scorer, added to her total with eight first-period points.

The Warriors cut into Southeastern’s lead slightly by halftime, but HSE still led 20-14 at the break. The Royals cruised through the third quarter, leading 35-20 before Warren made a basket at the end of the period.

Still, Southeastern held a 35-22 lead going into the fourth, and a Parrish free throw and basket off a steal pushed that advantage to 38-22. The Royals then held firm as the Warriors made a final run.

Southeastern never allowed Warren Central to reach double digits in any of the
four quarters.

“First, I thought our kids did a great job of taking away dribble penetration lanes,” said HSE coach Chris Huppenthal. “The films we have on them, they like to try and get their way to the basket via the dribble and I thought our kids did a really, really good job.”

Huppenthal was pleased with the team’s effort as well.

“Seemed like any loose balls, we got a hold of them,” said Huppenthal. “That’s a credit to our kids. We challenged them defensively and they rose to the challenge.”

Parrish scored 19 points, including two 3-pointers, and also had eight steals. Jackie Maulucci added 10 points and handed out four assists. Lauren Morris made a pair of 3s and Makayla Hinshaw led the rebounding with five.

The Royals are 15-2 and go on the road tonight to play at Terre Haute South.