Bob Kravitz will be the first to tell you he has the dream job of any sports fan….he has been a newspaper sports columnist most of his career, and now writes for WTHR’s Web site and appears on the TV station’s newscasts, talking about sports. He will also tell you he is blessed with a wonderful wife and two outstanding daughters. To look at him, you would think Bob Kravitz has the idyllic suburban life.
However, earlier this year, Bob Kravitz went public in a sports commentary about his struggles with depression and panic attacks. The man with the seemingly perfect life had a hidden mental health issue no one would have imagined.
Mr. Kravitz was able to get treatment and is doing well now. He will tell his story of overcoming his medical challenges in an event coming up Wednesday, September 5th, at the HSE High School Little Theater, starting at 6:00pm. He and HSE Schools Superintendent Allen Bourff will talk about the importance of mental health and how Bob overcame his dark moments and recovered.
You can hear more about his story in a podcast conversation I had with Bob Kravitz at this link.
During this Labor Day weekend, what comes to my mind is work…the work we all do. Even retired people like myself find ways to volunteer in our local communities, and that is a form of work. Valuing our work, whatever it may be, is what this holiday is all about. When you see anyone working, whether it’s a waitress at a restaurant, an attorney helping you with a legal issue or someone working the counter at a convenience store, we all work. All work has value whatever our compensation may be. So, value work, at all levels, on this Labor Day weekend.
Here are a couple of other random thoughts this Labor Day:
–My congratulations to Scott and Aunna Fadness. They welcomed the newest addition to their family into the world Friday morning – Hudson Philip Fadness. I saw one picture of the mayor and Aunna holding the new baby, and Mr. Fadness was beaming…he should be.
–My wife Jane and I took in the second night of the Fishers Blues Fest at the Nickel Plate Amphitheater Saturday, and I cannot even describe how spectacular Robert Cray’s performance was. My compliments to the city, the Parks and Recreation Department & music act booking guru Bob McCutheon. You have outdone yourself with this year’s Blues Fest.
–The grand opening of the new Fisher Police Headquarters is set for Tuesday, September 4th, 3-7pm. The new HQ is right across the street from the old building. The former Police Department digs will be transformed to city space, alleviating the tight quarters for City Hall staff. Maybe, just maybe, Mayor Fadness will get his office back.
The Hamilton Southeastern Schools are looking into what has been described as an racially-charged situation involving at least two high school students.
For more on this, read the WISH-TV story at this link.
Adam Aasen and I have always viewed our weekly podcast Hamilton County Goes To The Movies as a labor of love. It is a chance for us to review current films showing in local theaters and invite local people with ties to, or interest in, films. Adam is due to become a parent soon, he has decided to become a candidate for public office and I am preparing to travel the state for Indiana University as an instructor. Bottom line, we are both getting very busy. As a result, we have decided to put our film podcast on hiatus. We expect to produce some podcasts later this year and in early 2019 about the Oscars. We fully expect to start-up our weekly film podcasts at some point next year. Adam & I sincerely thank all of you that have loyally listened to our weekly podcasts, we appreciate each and every one of you. Remember, we will be back!
In our final podcast for a while, Adam & I review the film Puzzle, and welcome our guest Nikki Reed, a film lover and part of the crew producing the morning radio show, Smiley in the morning on WZPL Radio in Indianapolis, 99.5 on the FM dial.
Hamilton Southeastern gave it a run at Hoosier Crossroads Conference rival Avon’s field on Friday, but two late scores clinched the game for the Class 6A No. 2 Orioles, who defeated the Royals 29-6.
Southeastern scored the first points of the game, with Matt Harris making a 36-yard run on a fourth-and-1 play with 4:24 left in the first quarter. Avon responded right away, though, as Ohio State recruit Sampson James caught an 86 yard touchdown pass to put the Orioles on the board, then they led 7-6.
Avon made a field goal to go ahead 10-6, then James caught a 13-yard pass with less than a minute to go in the half, putting the Orioles up 16-6 at halftime. Southeastern held Avon scoreless in the third quarter, but the Orioles added two touchdowns in the fourth.
The loss drops Southeastern to 1-2 for the season, while Avon remains undefeated at 3-0. This was the first HCC game for both teams.
The Royals are back home next Friday for another big game, the biggest of all: The Mudsock game. Southeastern hosts Fishers, which is also 1-2 for the season after dropping its HCC opener to Noblesville Friday night.
Marcus Roux stepped in as quarterback for the Tigers. (Hamilton County Reporter photo by Kent Graham)
by
Jim Belser
Hamilton County Reporter
Offensive yardage heavily favored Fishers in its Friday night battle with Class 6A Noblesville but big defensive plays by the Millers banged out the win for the visitors, surprising the host Tigers 21-9.
It was the first win of the season for Noblesville after lopsided loses to Cathedral and Carmel. Fishers fell to (1-2) on the season.
Zach Gruver of Noblesville was the spoiler with his theft of two Fishers pass attempts, one for an 84-yard touchdown return. His second interception of the night gave the Millers a 13-9 lead late in the third quarter.
“I talked about having to make plays on defense because Fishers is so big, they can lean on you and just wear you down,” Noblesville coach Justin Roden said.
Fishers’ last drive of the game ended on an interception by Noblesville’s Justin Johnson-Sparks, his second pick off in the game – both his interceptions came from overthrown passes. Johnson-Sparks’ first interception gave the ball to Noblesville late in the fourth quarter as Fishers attempted to come back from a 15-9 deficit.
Noblesville scored its final touchdown with 1:55 following a 33-yard reception by Gruver that put the ball on the Fishers eight yard line.
On the ground, Fishers out-rushed Noblesville 198 yards to 71 and edged the Millers 89 yards to 77 in the air. Dylan Scally of Fishers led all rushers with 101 yards on 20 carries. Collin Statz led the night in receiving with four catches for 47 yards for Fishers.
Fishers kicker Jack Phillips put up three field goals on the night, accounting for all of Fishers’ points.
An up and down first half for Noblesville ended on a high note after the Miller’s Zach Gruver intercepted a Fishers pass at the host’s 36-yard line, returning it to the Tigers 23. Two plays later Grant Gremel of Noblesville lofted an arcing pass that found Zach Blevins in the back of an end zone. With 42 seconds to go in the half, the Millers nabbed a 7-6 lead after struggling on offense in the opening quarters.
“They are getting better, they kept battling, which is what I am proud of,” Roden said. “Noblesville teams in the past, tended to let up when things went against them.”
Turnovers inflicted both teams in the first half. Both lost fumbles to the opposition and traded interceptions. Jackson Dunn for Fishers intercepted a pass in the first quarter, returning it 21 yards to the Millers 49 with 9:00 left. A 12-play drive following Dunn’s interception ended in a 28-yard field goal for the Tiger’s Jack Phillips and a Fishers 3-0 lead.
In the Tigers’ first possession of the second quarter, Scally broke through the right side of the Miller’s defense for a 15-yard gain. The drive stalled at the Tiger’s 19-yard line however, leaving it up to the field goal unit. Phillips for the Tigers put it through the uprights once again, this time for 29 yards and a 6-0 Fishers lead.
Marcus Roux came in as quarterback for the Tigers, completing eight of 22 passes for 89 yards. Collin Statz had four of those receptions, totaling 47 yards.
The week of Labor Day is coming up, and with that, the closure of Florida Road to work on a bridge.
Here is the full listing, as provided by the City of Fishers:
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FLORIDA ROAD
Beginning on or after September 4, Florida Road between Luxhaven Road and Martha Street will be closed for the rehabilitation of Bridge 192 (Florida Road over Fall Creek) by the Hamilton County Highway Department. The road will be closed to all thru traffic and will tentatively reopen before November 3.
The intersection of 113th Street and Florida Road is closed for the realignment and construction of a new roundabout at the intersection. The closure is expected to last appropriately 90 days. See the Detour Map.
126TH STREET & SOUTHEASTERN PARKWAY On September 5 and 6, temporary lane restrictions will be in place near 126th Street and Southeastern Parkway for road work, weather permitting. Flaggers will be in place to help direct traffic.
106TH STREET
106th Street is closed to through traffic from Eller Road to Allisonville Road and from Allisonville Road to Hague Road for the 106th Street Infrastructure Project. 106th Street is also closed to through traffic between Hague Road and the Crosspoint Boulevard/Lantern Road roundabout. An updated project timeline and Detour Map are now available.
ALLISONVILLE ROAD
Road construction is in full swing along Allisonville Road. Traffic has been shifted to the east to allow for widening on the west side. Restrictions may be in place between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. and flaggers will be on site directing traffic, as necessary. Through September, all southbound left turns from Allisonville Road onto 126th Street will be prohibited. This is an active construction site with reduced speed limits. For more info on this project, view the Fact Sheet.
STATE ROAD 37
A public meeting was held on Tuesday, May 15 at the Delaware Township Trustee Office. The meeting presentation and updated information is available on the project’s new website. The State Road 37 improvement project is a $124 million joint project between Fishers, Hamilton County, Noblesville, and INDOT. Questions or concerns may be directed to SR37@rqaw.com.
When Mayor Scott Fadness spoke Thursday morning at the Youth Mentoring Initiative fundraising breakfast, he announced that his son would be born the following day. Right on schedule, Hudson Philip Fadness was born Friday morning.
Congratulations to the Fadness family, and special congratulations to the first Fadness child, Lincoln, who now is a big brother!
Bob Kravitz is a well now sportswriter and columnist in the Indianapolis area…..he also has suffered from the impact of mental illness. Bob talked with me about that, and a few sports issues….
As Fishers moves forward with economic development plans for Metropolitan Airport, just north of 96th Street and East of Allisonville Road, Duke Energy has provided those plans with a shot-in-the-arm. According to my news-gathering partners at the Hamilton County Reporter, Duke has announced that 200 acres of airport property are now in Duke’s Site Readiness Program.
Local officials have received site development recommendations from Strategic Development Group. In addition, Banning Engineering of Plainfield has produced a desktop review, conceptual drawings and a marketing sheet for the site. These materials can be incorporated into the local plan to attract more jobs to the community.
Duke Energy has also presented a $10,000 check to the local economic development group in order to help implement the consultant’s recommendations.
“The Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport is an exciting new area for development in our city,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness in a Duke Energy news release. “As we work towards a smart, vibrant, and entrepreneurial Fishers, it is vital that we take a comprehensive approach to economic development in all corners of our community. Fishers’ participation in the Duke Energy Site Readiness Program is an important step in the development of this land and the city’s future. ”
According to Duke, the Site Readiness Program identifies, evaluates and improves sites in the company’s service territory for potential large business or industrial development.
Since 2008, the Duke has participated in the creation of nearly 26,000 jobs and total capital investment of approximately $5.9 billion.
