Hamilton County Reporter

Mayor Scott Fadness presented the Hamilton County Commissioners with a Proclamation Plaque at Monday’s Commissioners’ meeting, listing many transformational projects that Fishers and Hamilton County are collaboratively working on together such as State Road 37, the Historic Bell Ford Covered Bridge and the Fishers Airport Development.

Warren Henderson and Jim White have each been re-elected to serve another term on the Fishers Police Merit Commission.  State law allows police officers to elect two members of the five-member commission.  Henderson and White have been serving as the officers’ elected commission members.

The Police Merit Commission is charged with administering discipline to department members, including suspension, demotion, and termination of employment.  Even when no such cases are pending, the commission is required to meet at least twice each year.

One member of the commission is appointed by the Fishers City Council and the remaining two members are named by the mayor.  Currently, Gary Bolenbaugh is the City Council appointee…the mayor’s appointees are Bryan Babb and Tiffany Sharpley.  However, Ms. Sharpley told commission members at the last meeting she plans to move from Fishers and will need to leave the commission.

Fishers Chief of Police Ed Gebhart announced the election results at Monday’s Board of Works and Safety meeting.

There are times when some people like to mark a special occasion with shots fired, sometimes up into the air.  The problem is this – what goes up must come down, and a bullet returning down can become a dangerous projectile.

Last Monday, the Fishers City Council held a work session and discussed the possibility of enacting a city ordinance dealing with “dangerous projectiles.”

Fishers Police Chief Ed Gebhart told council members his department has seen a marked increase in the number of calls reporting shots fired, with officers processing 197 weapons connected to an investigation in 2018, up 47% compared to 2017.  This is happening all around the city, according to the chief.

Mayor Scott Fadness said the ordinance he is proposing is not dealing with a “bad guy wanting to shoot at someone,” because there are already plenty of laws already addressing that.

“We’re talking about the guy who thinks it’s a good idea to go shoot his gun off on New Year’s Eve because he thinks it’s celebratory,” Fadness told councilors.  The mayor says this proposed ordinance is a way to prevent bad things from happening.

City Attorney Chris Greisl said Fishers currently has no ordinance on the books that prevents the discharge of a weapon in the city.  State rules often make it difficult for municipalities to enact gun laws, according to Greisl.  The city is proposing to prohibit the discharge of a weapon within Fishers City limits, with the exception of protecting your life in self-defense.

Councilman Brad DeReamer voiced concern about Britton Falls, which is located right on the line between the city and county.  He said guns are sometimes fired on county property, but the projectiles land in Britton Falls.   Greisl said in such a situation, the county prosecutor’s office would decide whether charges would be filed for criminal recklessness in such a case.

The proposed ordinance calls for a $250 fine for violators, doubled if not paid within 30 days.

The city council is expected to review the first draft of this ordinance  at a future council session.

At the same work session, council members considered two other items.

–Council members discussed how to deal with deteriorating sidewalks in many Fishers neighborhoods.  The mayor said he will look into what the city’s role might be and will present a proposal to the city council.

–The problem of private roads in commercial areas of the city not being properly maintained was once again a topic of discussion.  Council members appeared to favor using  what is legally termed a “Barrett Law” which would force adjacent business owners to pay for the upkeep of the private roads providing access to their businesses by pating for work over a number of years.  Having businesses build and maintain their own roads is a policy that dates back to the days of Fishers being a town.  Mayor Fadness described that as “an experiment that failed.”  The city is expected to present a proposal to the council soon using the Barrett Law to finance maintenance on that streets.

February is Black History Month and Fishers Arts Council at The Art Gallery at City Hall will highlight the artwork of Bryce Culverhouse, and Fall Creek Junior High School students, with an exhibit.  There will be an opening ceremony Friday, February 8th at Fishers City Hall, starting at 6pm.

During that event, local filmmaker Demetrius Witherspoon will show his 20-minute film, called “Submerge: Echo 51,” which is part of his popular Sci-Fi Film series. The film will be played at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Visitors can meet with Witherspoon and some of the cast of the film before and after the film.

The art exhibit will include several digital typography pieces by Culverhouse, a Brownsburg artist, whose work combines his passion for history and visual art.

“I created specific history or biography lessons that both communicate information about the subject as well as an interesting concept to visualizing the subject,” Culverhouse said. “Each piece is meant to be read as well as view for its visual value.”

Fall Creek Junior High School art and history students created designs featuring historical scenes recreated through the eyes of famous artists, such as Vincent van Gogh. The exhibit also will feature a large self-portrait installation inspired by New York artist Kehinde Wiley, commissioned to paint a portrait of former president Barack Obama and Michelle Obama.

This art exhibit will be open open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays and is free.

Hamilton County Reporter

A $13 million jail expansion project is nearing the end of construction. Hamilton County Building & Grounds Supervisor Steve Wood told the Reporter that construction is scheduled to be completed in March of this year. The expansion will add 84 prefabricated steel cells that can house two to four people per cell.

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

If all goes well, the first phase of the Steven Nation Pathways will be underway two years from now. The recreational trail will be the latest in the growing number of Hamilton County walking and bike trails. The name for the trail was announced Wednesday by County Commissioner Steve Dillinger in his annual State of the County address.

The Nation Pathways, named in honor of recently retired Superior Court Judge Steven Nation, will ultimately run from Potters Bridge Park to Atlanta with a branch to Strawtown Koteewi Park via 234th Street.

Nation

The trail has been on the county’s alternative transportation master plan for several years, but only now is application for funding being sought. The county highway department is in the process of seeking a grant from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources which officials hope will cover 70 percent of the estimated $1.5 million cost of the first phase, says highway director Brad Davis.

The completed trail, several years from now, will cross White River at Potters Bridge north of Noblesville, then run alongside Cumberland Road north to 234th Street then west to Cicero where it will be built alongside State Road 19 to Atlanta. The first phase will be the section from Cicero to Koteewi.

Recreational trails have become immensely popular in recent years, and Hamilton County is seeking to become a leader in this form of recreation and transportation. While the highway department is taking the lead because most of the Nation trail will run on or along highway right-of-way, the county parks department will eventually become involved in some aspects of trail upkeep.

Former Judge Nation was apparently surprised by the naming of the planned trail. He left his court Dec. 31 after a successful 40-year career both as a judge and earlier as county prosecutor. He is a Noblesville resident.

County Parks director Al Patterson also said Friday that his department hopes to open a new 19-acre lake in Koteewi Park this spring. The lake, located where gravel extraction was underway for several years, will provide an additional attraction at the park with fishing, swimming and non-motorized boating. Exact opening date will depend in weather, Patterson said.

Hamilton County Reporter

Fishers won its Senior Night game on Friday, beating Franklin Central 60-42 in the
Tigers’ Hoosier Crossroads Conference and regular-season finale.

Fishers gained the advantage early, leading 19-6 after the first quarter. While the
other quarters were closer, the Tigers outscored the Flashes in all three of them.

Fishers led 31-17 at halftime. Both of the Tigers’ seniors played well:
Skylar Fulton had 17 points, including three 3-pointers, and Cierra Tolbert added seven
points and collected four rebounds.

Sophomore Katie Burton led the scoring with 21 points (including two 3-pointers),
and also had four rebounds and three steals.

Junior Tamia Perryman had a great allaround game with eight rebounds, three steals, two points and two assists.

Fishers finished fourth in the conference with a 4-3 record, and is 14-9 for the regular
season. The Tigers play Anderson Tuesday night in the first round of Sectional 8 at
Hamilton Southeastern.

by

Richie Hall

Sports Editor

Hamilton County Reporter

An all-county and Hoosier Crossroads Conference game went the Royals’ way Friday night, as Hamilton Southeastern beat Noblesville 68-43 at the HSE gym.

The Royals never trailed and steadily built their lead over the contest, and that
resulted in a second straight win at home.

It’s the first time since December that Southeastern has won back-to-back games,
which coach Brian Satterfield credited to finally having everyone back after a string
of injuries and illness.

“We’ve finally got everybody healthy and we’re starting to try to put the pieces
together,” said Satterfield.

Junior Mabor Majak scored the first four points of the game, which Noblesville’s Xavier Hines answered with a 3-pointer. Majak then made a putback, and the Millers’ Jordan Schmidt hit a short jumper to keep Noblesville within 6-5. But the Royals got a sudden burst from their long range game, when Noah Smith and Vinny Buccilla each hit 3s. That put Southeastern up 12-5, and it would lead by around that margin for most of the first half.

The Royals led 15-9 going into the second quarter. The Millers got within 20-16 after Eagan Keever-Hill hit a 3 and Zack Johnson made a layin. Southeastern ended the half on a 9-3 run, with Bradley Beemon’s 3-pointer answering Hines’ 3, then Landon Morris’ layin gave the Royals a 29-19 lead at the break.

“One thing that was special about tonight is how we shared the basketball and we took care of it,” said Satterfield. “I know the first half we only had one turnover.”

Satterfield was also pleased with his team’s rebounding, especially on the offensive end. In the first half, the Royals had eight offensive rebounds.

“Even on some occasions when we did have some misses, we got some offensive
rebounds and had some opportunities there,” said Satterfield.

Noblesville coach Brian McCauley agreed that the offensive rebounding was
crucial to the game.

“For the game they had 14 offensive rebounds, and you’re just not going to win
many games where you give up 14 offensive rebounds,” said McCauley.

Still, the Millers stayed close through most of the third quarter. Keever-Hill made another 3, and a five-point burst (a Hines jumper and Alex Hunt 3) kept the Millers within 37-29.

Southeastern quickly pushed the lead up 41-29 when Aaron Etherington made a dunk and Chris Grubbs hit a layin.

The Royals led 45-35 late in the third, then went off on a 15-0 run that stretched well into the fourth quarter. Etherington started it with a 3-pointer, then made another 3 towards the end of the run. Kole Hornbuckle helped out with a three-point play to score the first points of the fourth quarter. The run put Southeastern up 60-35, and the Royals kept the lead around that margin for the remainder of the game.

Four players reached double figures for Southeastern: Majak led with 16 points, Etherington added 13 (including three 3-pointers), and Smith and Morris both
contributed 11. Grubbs pulled 12 rebounds and handed out seven assists, while Smith
dished out eight assists and collected five rebounds.

Johnson scored 14 points for the Millers, while Keever-Hill and Hines both had eight points, including two 3s each. KeeverHill handed out eight assists, and Schmidt, Hines and Hunt all grabbed three rebounds.

“Overall, disappointing loss, but it gives us a lot of things we know we can work
on,” said McCauley.

The Royals are 3-2 in the HCC and 11-5 overall. Their next game is also a home conference game: Southeastern welcomes Franklin Central on Thursday.

Noblesville is 1-4 in the HCC and 8-7 overall. The Millers return home to The
Mill tonight to take on Class 4A No. 10 Logansport.

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

Emergency 9-1-1 operators will continue to answer calls for help from throughout Hamilton County following agreements signed Monday between County Commissioners and officials of seven communities in the northern part of the county.

Emergency services in Cicero, Arcadia, Atlanta, Sheridan, and White River, Jackson and Wayne townships have been dispatched through the county 9-1-1 center for years, but the communities have not had to pay for the service. Negotiations have been ongoing for nearly two years trying to reach agreement on the rural communities paying for their share of 9-1-1 communications.

The cost of the service has been increasing as the county grows, and county officials said it is only fair that all entities pay their share. Until now Noblesville, Carmel, Fishers and Westfield along with the county government have been paying costs of operation.

Financially, the good news for the northern entities is that they will only pay 10 percent of their calculated obligation this year. This percentage is expected to increase next year and the following year to more accurately reflect their share of expenses.

A big fund-raising event each year for the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Foundation is Game Day, and this year’s celebration will happen Friday, February 22nd, 6:30pm, at Conner Prairie.

Game Day raises more than $100,000 each year to support the foundation’s work funding programs for students and teachers through the Hamilton Southeastern School District. Money raised will support innovative science, engineering, technology and math (STEM); literacy; mental health; and wellness initiatives across all grade levels.

There will be something new at this year’s Game Day.  The 90’s 7-piece group Mixtape will be performing live.  The band is led by Ryan Ahlwardt, a 1999 graduate of Hamilton Southeastern High School. Ahlwardt is a singer-songwriter, arranger, and alumnus of the world-renowned a cappella singing group Straight No Chaser. Last summer, Ahlwardt opened for Sugar Ray at the inaugural Spark! Fishers concert.

One of the highlights each year is the silent auction.  Here are just a few examples of what you can bid on this year:

* Microsoft Surface laptop from Assured Partners

* Lunch with HSE Superintendent Dr. Allen Bourff

* A vacation experience in Jackson Hole, Wyo.

* Half a beef cow

* Meet and greet and garage tour with Indianapolis 500 winner Scott Dixon

* Mallow Run wine tasting experience

* Indiana University basketball tickets

* Hard hat tour of the new Southeastern Elementary School

* A Kentucky Bourbon Trail experience

Game Day normally is a sellout so get tickets while you can.  To order tickets use this link.