Getting through 8th grade is no small task, and Writer-Director Bo Burnham tells the story of Kayla Day, a young girl making the best of a tough school year

There is so much that goes into the start of the school year, and the school superintendent is at the heart of all that goes on.  At the Hamilton Southeastern School District, the School Superintendent is Allen Bourff.  I spoke with Dr. Bourff about the start of the 2018-2019 school year.

Fishers Police Chief Mitch Thompson has submitted a letter to Mayor Scott Fadness dated today, saying he will “voluntarily relinquish” his role as Fishers Police Chief.  Thompson says he deeply regrets the need to take this action, but calls it “an important first step in taking responsibility for my actions.”

“As a result of the events from this past weekend, I recognize that I am no longer able to effectively lead the agency that I love,” Thompson wrote in his letter to the mayor.

Thompson offered an apology to the members of his department and to the citizens of Fishers for “failing to meet the professional standards that I try to set for myself.”  He plans to cooperate in the administrative probe into his actions.

Mayor Fadness issued a statement sent in tandem with Thompson’s letter, which reads as follows:

Today, Chief Thompson and I met and both agree that he must step down as Chief of Police, effective immediately. The events that transpired Friday evening regarding the motor vehicle accident that Chief Thompson was involved in has made his position of leadership untenable. In the coming days, Officer Thompson will be subjected to the statutory disciplinary process afforded public safety personnel under the Merit Commission. It is my expectation that this process will be professional, transparent, and judicious. Please keep the victims of the accident as well as our police department in your thoughts and prayers as we move forward.

Former Chief Thompson was arrested by IMPD Friday night south of 96th Street on Keystone Avenue, after the IMOD report said Thompson rear-ended a vehicle, resulting in a 3-car accident.  The same police report said Thompson’s blood alcohol level was .126 at the time.

Most of the election campaigns this cycle will be at the county and state levels, but one set of offices a little closer to home will be up for grabs, at the township level.

Delaware Township, which includes the west part of Fishers and some unincorporated areas not within the city limits, will see contested elections this November.

Dan Greenhalgh, who was appointed by the local Democratic County officials a few weeks ago, has issued a release formally announcing his candidacy for Delaware Township Trustee, according to my news gathering partners at the Hamilton County Reporter.

“As a licensed Indiana attorney and an experienced engineer, I have spent my career solving complex problems and continuously improving products and processes,” said Greenhalgh in his news release. “If elected, I’ll use these unique skills and experiences to streamline township government and refocus the township’s nearly $1.5 million budget on the township’s core purpose – providing assistance to those in need.”

Greenhalgh will face long-time incumbent Republican Trustee Debbie Driskell in November.

There will be a full slate of candidates running for Delaware Township Board.  Republicans David Giffel, Ed Pierce and Marilyn Schenkel will appear on the GOP ballot.  The Democrats running include Dayna Colbert, Mary Ray and Bianca Zaklikowski.  The top three vote-getters win seats on that board.

The eastern part of Fishers, including the city and areas not within the city, are part of Fall Creek Township.  Republican Trustee Doug Allman is unopposed in the November general election.  Three Republicans, Brian Baehl, Greg Dewald and Jason Meyer,  are all candidates for the Fall Creek Township Board.  The lone Democrat vying for a board seat is Rachna Greulach.

The general election is set for Tuesday, November 6th.

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

Candidates are slow in filing for school board seats in this fall’s election. The latest and only candidate filing on Thursday was Dan Degnan, incumbent Westfield Washington board member who will seek re-election on Nov. 6. Four other candidates filed earlier in the week including Arnett Cooper at Hamilton Heights, Frank Whelan at Southeastern and Layla Spanenberg and Michael Kerschner at Carmel. The filing period runs until noon on Friday, Aug. 24.

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Hamilton County Republicans have set Sept. 12 as the date for their annual fall dinner. It will be held at the 502 Event Center in Carmel with a 6 p.m. reception followed by dinner at 7. The speaker and other details will be announced later.

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The Hamilton County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will begin classes for interested persons on Sept. 11. CERT trains civilians for assisting in cases of community emergencies. For enrolling in classes or to get further information citizens may email Jon Baldwin at jon.baldwin@hamiltoncounty.in.gov.

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Dan Pajwer, a high school senior from Carmel, was elected governor of Boys State last month. The annual American Legion event, held this year in Angola, provides a week’s intensive training in Indiana’s political system with participants campaigning and electing public officials from governor to township trustee. About 500 high school students participated, with some then attending Boys Nation in Washington, D.C.

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The County Health Department is spraying for mosquitoes carrying the West Nile Virus. Mosquitoes testing positive for the virus have been found at several locations in the county. Two areas being sprayed in Noblesville include Dillon Park and a neighborhood around 2nd and Washington streets. Thus far there have been no cases locally of humans being infected.

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We try not to deal in rumors, but this one is too good not to share. Local powers that be are said to be planning to relocate the Chief Straw monument to the center of the new roundabout on State Road 37 at Strawtown Avenue. The monument is located on private property along White River at Strawtown. Chief Straw was the legendary Delaware chief who settled his people in the area about 1797. He was friendly with the first settlers who came in 1819, and the town was named for him. But, there is no truth to the rumor of putting his monument in the roundabout. At least not yet.

The restaurant business in Fishers continues to be very competitive, and one sign of that trend is the closure of the Ram Restaurant, located near 126th Street and State Road 37.

A message posted on the Ram’s door says, “We are unfortunately closing our doors and want to thank our guests  for the loyal support you have shown us over the years.”  The message goes on to say the Ram location in downtown Indianapolis remains open.

This week, Adam & Larry review the film Sorry To Bother You.  We have two guests this week.  First, Andy Murphy, a Fishers resident and mom of famed TV & film director Ryan Murphy, talks about her literary work and her new screenplay.  Jamie Follis is a teacher at HSE High School and sponsor of the school’s Film Club

Mitch Thompson, only the second police chief to serve Fishers in the municipality’s modern history, has been placed on paid administrative leave following an arrest on DUI charges connected to a Friday night three-car accident.

Early Saturday morning, Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness issued the following statement:

Last night, I was notified by Police Chief Mitch Thompson that he was involved in a three-car personal injury accident on Keystone Avenue in Marion County.  The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the crash.  Chief Thompson reported that he was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

I’ve placed Chief Thompson on paid administrative leave until all facts related to the incident present themselves. In the interim, I have placed Assistant Chief Ed Gebhart as Acting Chief as we continue to gather facts.

Television station WTHR posted a story on its Web page stating that there is an Indianapolis police report filed  saying Thompson’s 2012 Infinity rear-ended another vehicle, which struck another car, south of 96th Street just after 10:45pm.  That same report says Chief Thompson’s alcohol lever was .126 after he submitted to a blood test.  Mitch Thompson was taken to the Marion County Jail.

I was out of pocket for a few hours today, but once back on my e-mail, I found that the Indiana Department of Transportation opened the Brooks School Road Bridge over I-69 Friday.  That is great news for motorists living in that part of the Fishers.

It is good to see some of the big road projects beginning to wrap-up as we head into the month of August.

One project still underway is the closure of Brooks School Road for 30 days south of 116th Street between Desert Glen Drive and Club Point Drive. The detour route is Hoosier Road and Fall Creek Road.

Matt Kegley, long-time principal as Hamilton Southeastern High School, has moved to a position at the school district’s central office.  Charlie Hoover has been named as the interim principal.  The announcement was made late last week to teachers and staff.

School Superintendent Allen Bourff said at the last school board meeting he would be looking at all options in filling the open principal’s job, and apparently has decided to name an interim principal for the time being.

HSE School District spokesperson Emily Abbots says administrators will begin the search for a permanent principal soon, but local school officials are not sure when that search will officially begin.