Giving Tuesday began in 2012 at the 92nd Street Y in New York City, spearheaded by then–executive director Henry Timms. The idea was simple: after the rush of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, why not dedicate a day to giving back?

Since then, Giving Tuesday has grown into a worldwide movement, observed on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving Day in the United States. Countless charitable organizations — around the globe, across the country, and throughout Indiana — rely on this day to highlight the work they do and the support they need.

A question I am often asked this time of year is: Are there worthy charities right here in Fishers? The answer is yes — many.

I’ve worked with a number of local groups and have seen firsthand the difference they make. But I’m not going to recommend specific organizations here; any list I compile would inevitably leave out deserving groups, and that’s not something I want to do on a day dedicated to generosity.

There is, however, an online resource that lists nonprofit organizations based in Fishers. While it’s not exhaustive, it’s the best directory I’ve found.  It is available at this link.   

So on this Giving Tuesday, if you’re able, consider supporting a nonprofit you know is doing meaningful work — whether in our community or beyond. And if you haven’t thought much about giving before, today is a great time to start.

With road conditions deteriorating and the weather forecast not at all promising, HSE Schools made the decision Monday night to hold classes on a two-hour delay Tuesday.

Here is the text of the announcement, issued Monday night:

It’s always interesting to watch social media when major events unfold locally. Over the past few days, the comments have been in overdrive here in Fishers.

We’ve seen several incidents requiring police involvement, the most recent being a shooting death at a local restaurant and bar. But does this mean Fishers is suddenly an unsafe city?

If you read some of the social media reactions, you might think the sky is falling. Nothing could be further from the truth.

By any reasonable measure, Fishers—now a city of more than 107,000 residents—is a safe community. But being safe doesn’t mean being perfect.

The online chatter has grown loud enough that Mayor Scott Fadness stepped in with his own message, writing in part:

“Our team works tirelessly to maintain a safe environment for Fishers families. The last few days have demonstrated that despite our best crime prevention efforts, there are times when criminal activity will still occur. Individuals responsible for crimes in our city the past few days are being held accountable, and as I have shared before, this behavior will not be tolerated in our community.”

The Fishers Police Department is among the most professional public safety agencies you’ll find anywhere. Their focus on prevention is strong, but as a city grows, incidents will happen.

So if your impression of Fishers comes from a social media feed suggesting the city has become unsafe, it’s time to take a step back. I’ve lived in Fishers for 34 years, and I have no plans to live anywhere else.

A man shot by Fishers Police during a November 6 warrant service in Indianapolis has died from his injuries, according to an update released Monday by the Indiana State Police.

ISP said 26-year-old Caleb Weis, of Indianapolis, died November 29 after spending more than three weeks hospitalized. His cause of death will be determined by the Marion County Coroner’s Office. Weis had been the subject of an active Hamilton County arrest warrant for murder at the time of the incident.

State Police also released the names of the four Fishers Police Department officers who discharged their weapons: Sgt. Austin Arndt, a 12-year FPD veteran; Det. Colin Harruff, six years; Det. Cory Schalburg, six years; and Det. Sgt. Cesar Rodriguez, 14 years.

The shooting occurred around 1 p.m. on November 6 near 91st Street and Masters Road, just south of the Marion–Hamilton county line. Fishers officers had located Weis sitting inside a maroon Ford Mustang as part of a planned warrant service.

According to ISP, an FPD vehicle pulled in behind the Mustang and deployed a grappler device that attached to the car. The vehicle went off the road into a ditch, and Weis allegedly fired a handgun toward officers. Fishers officers returned fire, striking Weis. Officers then provided medical aid before he was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

No officers or bystanders were injured.

ISP continues to lead the investigation at the request of Fishers Police Chief Ed Gebhart. The case remains active, and investigators say all information remains preliminary.

We once again face travel difficulties in and around Fishers as a Winter Weather Advisory is in place for the Fishers area through 7am Tuesday.  2-5 inches of additional snow is possible.  The temperatures will remain below freezing, resulting in likely treacherous driving conditions through the Tuesday morning rush hour.

Normal high temperatures this time of year are around 45 degrees, but the next seven days are forecast to be 10-15 degrees below that each day.

Forecasters at the National Weather service caution motorists that heavy snow may fall at times and visibility may become an issued at times during this storm.

See the advisory below.

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS EVENING
UNTIL 7 AM EST TUESDAY...

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 2 and 5
  inches.

* WHERE...Portions of central, east central, and west central
  Indiana.

* WHEN...Until 7 AM EST Tuesday.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous
  conditions could impact the Monday evening and Tuesday morning
  commutes.

An anonymous tip submitted through the HSE Report It! app Monday morning led Fishers Police to recover a firearm from a student’s vehicle at Fishers High School.

According to the Fishers Police Department, the tip was received Monday and indicated that a student might have a gun in his vehicle on school property. School Resource Officers and Fishers High School administrators quickly located the 17-year-old student and searched his vehicle, where they found a firearm.

Police said they do not believe the student intended to use the weapon to cause harm at the school.

The juvenile is facing a preliminary charge of Possession of a Firearm on School Property.

In a statement, police thanked the person who submitted the tip and commended school administrators for acting swiftly.

“We are grateful for our partnership with HSE Schools,” the department said. “Our ability to work side by side allows us to keep our kids and our community safe.”

Ellie Taylor won the FFA National Proficiency Award at the most recent national convention in Indianapolis for her communications work for her chapter at HSE High School.  Now a freshman at Purdue, Ellie spoke with me about her work in the HSE High School Chapter and her national communications award.

Hamilton Southeastern Schools and the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA) are heading into mediation this week after the two sides were unable to reach a new teacher contract agreement by the state’s legal deadline.

Teachers overwhelmingly rejected a contract proposal from the school district in a membership vote. With no settlement reached before the statutory cutoff, a state-appointed mediator will now step in, as required under Indiana law.

Position of Both Sides

The school district says it is facing budget constraints that limit how much it can offer in salary increases or benefit contributions. District officials argue that their proposal reflects current financial realities and maintains fiscal responsibility.

HSEA leaders, however, say the district’s offer would effectively move teachers backward. According to the union, the proposed contract would increase teacher health insurance premiums while offering no pay raise, resulting in teachers taking home less money than they do under the current contract.

How the Mediation Process Works

Indiana’s collective bargaining rules for public schools outline a structured process once negotiations reach an impasse.

1. Mediation Begins
A mediator assigned through the Indiana Education Employment Relations Board (IEERB) will meet with both parties in an effort to guide them toward a voluntary agreement. Mediation sessions are confidential, and the mediator cannot impose a solution.

2. Mid-December Deadline
The parties have until mid-December to reach a deal. Any agreement must be ratified by union members and then approved by the HSE School Board.

3. Fact-Finding and “Last Best Offers”
If mediation does not produce an agreement, the process moves to fact-finding:

• Each side submits a “last best offer,” outlining final contract terms.

• A fact-finder reviews financial data, budgets, and comparable district contracts.

• The fact-finder then issues a report evaluating which proposal is more financially appropriate.

4. Possible Imposed Contract
If the sides still cannot reach agreement after the fact-finder’s report, IEERB can impose a contract. By law, the imposed terms must come from one of the final offers—IEERB cannot create a new proposal on its own.

This step is uncommon but exists to ensure every Indiana school district has an approved contract in place.

What’s at Stake

While salary and insurance contributions appear to be central issues, the mediation process offers both sides a final opportunity to craft their own agreement before the state takes a more active role in determining the outcome.

An overnight shooting at a Fishers bar has left one man dead and another in police custody, according to Fishers Police Sgt. Angela Ellison.

Officers were called to the Britton Tavern, located near 141st Street and State Road 37, around 2:45 a.m. Monday. Responding units found a 30-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound inside the establishment. He was later pronounced dead.

“This is very rare for this area. This establishment has been here for many, many years,” Ellison told reporters early Monday morning. She added that incidents of this nature are uncommon in Fishers and emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to the public.

The name of the victim has not yet been released, and police say additional details are expected later today as the investigation continues.