If you live within the city limits of Fishers, I have a question for you.  Do you love Fishers?  I’m not asking if you think living in Fishers is fine, okay or just all right.  I am asking, do you love Fishers?

If the answer is yes, and you can write a short essay about why you love Fishers, you may win a family four-pack of tickets to Conner Prairie.  All you need to do is submit the essay explaining why you love Fishers so much, as part of the city’s Love Fishers initiative.

The deadline is February 28th, so don’t wait too long.  Gather your thoughts about your love for Fishers and submit the essay before the deadline.

In this day and age, what would an essay initiative be without a hashtag?  This one is simple, #LoveFishers

In addition, you can qualify a second time by sharing a photo taken around Fishers with the hashtag #LoveFishers on social media.

When ready to submit your entry, use this link.

The announcement was made official in early November, but there were strong indications earlier in 2017 that the Fishers Freedom Festival was not likely to continue as it had since 1989.  Here is a brief look at what happened and what may be coming this summer.

The Fishers Freedom Festival has been run by a separate nonprofit organization since its inception in 1989.  The festival always relied on local government support, in the form of both cash and in-kind (police, fire, parks, public works, etc.).  In recent years, the festival organization received roughly $85,000 a year in direct cash from the city and about $45,000 annually for in-kind support.

In a podcast interview with me recorded November 9th, City Councilman Brad DeReamer said he was the one questioning the amount of support the city was providing the nonprofit Freedom Festival group.  It was DeReamer’s idea, he told me, to form a nonprofit committee within the city council to look at all nonprofit organizations seeking city support.

The council committee considered all requests, including one from the Fishers Freedom Festival Board, and in late August announced its decision to no longer fund the Freedom Festival.

The Freedom Festival Board took a few weeks to ponder whether it could support a 2018 festival without city support.  In early November, the board announced the nonprofit would not be able to stage a 2018 festival without the city’s cash & in-kind support.

The city had said as early as late August that if the Freedom Festival organization chose not to continue, the city would pick up the slack.  That commitment was reinforced last November, but how the city would go about organizing the summer festival was still an open question.

We now know more about that.  Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, along with Deputy Mayor Leah McGrath, decided to bring in a wide group of people for ideas on the new festival. The event has a new name – “Spark!Fishers.”

The planning for this year’s summer festival consists of seven separate committees and over 80 people.  We know a few details.  There will be a Friday night concert at the newly-remodeled Amphitheater in the Nickel Plate District featuring an act with a national reputation.  There will be a parade, fireworks and a street fair.  The celebration will happen on a Friday and Saturday, as opposed to the Saturday-Sunday festival schedule in years past.

There are four honorary co-chairs for Spark!Fishers, containing a list of the movers & shakers for the city.  They are: Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, Conner Prairie CEO Norman Burns, HSE Schools Superintendent Allen Bourff and recently-retired HSE SPORTS Executive Director Lynda Carlino.

When I interviewed Fishers Freedom Festival Board President Don Dragoo the day after the board announced it would not stage a 2018 Freedom Festival, he wished the city well in continuing the traditions set by the Freedom Festival, but questioned whether the city would be making a good financial deal.

“I get a little confused by the fact that this is probably going to cost the city more money to continue than what they would have donated to us for putting it on with our volunteers,” Dragoo told me on November 9th.

That is something we obviously do not know at this point.  However, I am told that the seven committees of the 2018 Spark!Fishers Festival are working on commercial sponsorship and their goal is to minimize any costs to the city.  Whether that goal is achieved will not be known until we are much closer to the time of the festival itself.

I have written many times of my fondness for the Fishers Freedom Festival and its history.  I moved to Fishers with my wife Jane in 1991, so I was here for the third festival and have visited nearly every one since.  I have vivid memories of taking my young daughters (now adults) to the festival each year.  Our first home was in the  Sunblest neighborhood and the festival was a nice walk from our house.

I understand the need for preserving the past, but it is also valuable to move with the times and change things up a bit.  I am looking forward to the Spark!Fishers 2018 summer festival June 29th and 30th.  I won’t make the festivities June 29th, I will be walking one of my daughters down the aisle on her wedding day, but I just might see you Saturday, June 29th.

Let’s thank the Fishers Freedom Festival for a job well done for more than 28 years.  At the same time, let’s wish the city well with its Spark!Fishers Festival this year.

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

I am told that many of our Reporter readers are interested in local politics. We are now entering a new election season with the primary only a little over three months away. The Republican primary is of great importance in Hamilton County because our 50 local elective officeholders are usually chosen in the primary. Democrats rarely are successful in the November general election.

The last Democrat to win a countywide election was Charles W. Ardery who was elected 60 years ago as judge of the Hamilton Circuit Court. Charlie is now 87 and a resident of the Robin Run Village, a retirement community in northwest Indianapolis.

He was elected in 1958 at the age of 35 in a stunning upset over the GOP candidate Warren Day. Charlie was a popular member of the local Jaycees, a prominent organization at the time. He also worked hard, really hard, to win election, getting some Republicans to jump the fence, and had the good fortune of running in a year when there was a nationwide trend favoring Democrats.

The judge served one six-year term and did not seek re-election. He moved to Indianapolis where he practiced law for many years. Charlie had grown up in a rural area near Westfield learning an appreciation for the law and politics from his mother, Phoebe Jane Ardery, a lawyer and red-hot Democrat herself.

While speaking of strong Democrats, current County Chairman Joe Weingarten is among those who are considering changing the name of the party’s annual Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner. It seems some in the party feel that in our age of political correctness the Democrats should not have their traditional political gala named for slave owners as were both Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson.

Actually, former President Jefferson is considered to have been a Democratic Republican in the days before parties were operating under their current names. By President Jackson’s time in the 1820s-30s the name became simply Democrat. Jackson took a hit just last year when federal officials decided to take his portrait off the $20 bill sometime in the near future because of some of his actions against American Indians as well as his record as a slave owner.

Meanwhile, Republicans are planning their annual gala, the Lincoln Day Dinner, which will be held this year in a new location at the 502 East banquet center in Carmel. They are planning on having the five candidates for U.S. Senate as honored guests at the March 22 event. One of the five will be chosen in the May 8 primary to challenge incumbent Sen. Joe Donnelly in November.

The county GOP has also moved their headquarters from Fishers to Westfield where they have more office and meeting space as they prepare for the 2018 election cycle. They plan to gear up for a tough general election campaign as Hamilton County is seen as an increasingly important player statewide.

Also, county election officials are planning to continue to have early voting centers which presumably help encourage greater voter participation. The voting centers were well received in the 2016 election when locations were established at the Carmel Library and Fishers City Hall. This year there is consideration of another site in Westfield.

Hours and exact locations will be announced later. The general idea is to give voters an opportunity to cast their ballot during evening hours and weekends at locations closer to the homes of many citizens. Early voting will also continue to be offered at the Government and Judicial Center in Noblesville.

by 

Richie Hall

Sports Editor

Hamilton County Reporter

Carmel had one goal in mind as the girls basketball Class 4A Sectional 8 championship began Saturday night at Fishers: Let it fly.

The Greyhounds got off to an aggressive start, and that carried them to a third
consecutive sectional title. Carmel, the second-ranked team in 4A, beat Hamilton
Southeastern 68-48 to win Sectional 8 and qualify once again for the Kokomo regional.

The ‘Hounds led 23-6 after the first quarter, with their two sharpshooters leading
the way: Tomi Taiwo drained four 3-pointers in that period alone, while Amy
Dilk threw in three triples.

“We wanted to play a real aggressive, physical game,” said Carmel coach Tod
Windlan. “We told our kids, our good shooters, ‘When you’re open, let it fly and
shoot it with confidence.'”

That confidence carried through into the second quarter, in which the Greyhounds led
33-9 at one point. Reagan Hune added five points in that period, while Taiwo hit
another ‘3,’ bringing her total to five. After receiving a scare from Noblesville in
Friday’s semi-finals, Carmel wasn’t about to let Saturday be a repeat.

“Yesterday, it was a battle for sure, and today we learned our lesson,” said Taiwo.
“We ran over sets again and we figured out what we needed to do to come out with a
win and obviously make it easier for ourselves. And we made our shots.”

The Royals finished the second quarter on a 7-0 run, cutting Carmel’s lead to 33-16
at halftime. Molly Walton helped HSE out with four points, a free throw and a 3-pointer.

But the ‘Hounds opened the second half on an 10-0 run. Taiwo scored seven of those
points, starting with her sixth 3-pointer of the game. She was the game’s leading scorer
with 26 points.

Jasmine McWilliams scored the other three points, on a free throw and a layin.
After that, Carmel continued to roll, enjoying its largest lead of the game in the
third quarter at 51-22.

“That team’s good and we had them down close to 30 at one point,” said
Windlan, who credited assistant coach Craig Brunnemer with a good scouting report.
“We really played well on both ends, and I thought we were the aggressor on both ends.”

The Royals made a push in the fourth quarter, scoring eight unanswered points to
get to with 56-41. Amaya Hamilton scored six points of that run, while Walton’s quick
steal turned into two more points. Southeastern was still within 58-43 with
3:38 left to go, but Carmel wouldn’t allow them to get closer. The Greyhounds scored
their last eight points from the free-throw line, going 8-of-8 in the final three minutes.

“It’s definitely been like a journey, but doing it with the team I have has been
awesome, and being able to play with the seniors that I have has just been great,” said
Blake Smith. She led the way on the boards, with seven rebounds. McWilliams collected
six and Dilk had five.

Dilk also added 18 points and dished out nine assists. She did all this with her knee
wrapped up after hurting it in Friday’s game.

“It was just a tweak,” said Dilk. “I just wanted to be able to play with my team and
I just knew I had to gut it out. That’s why I did it. I’m just proud of my team.”

“Amy’s just a warrior,” said Windlan. “That knee’s swollen and not real good and
stuff. But she just got the heart. She wants to win. Reagan and Tomi, I thought were
outstanding and Jasmine started going to the glass really hard, rebounding for us.”

McWilliams and Hune both finished with 10 points.

Malea Jackson scored 14 points to lead the Royals, while Hamilton added 13 and
Walton scored 12. Walton also pulled five rebounds for HSE, which finished its season
16-8.

Carmel, meanwhile, is now 24-2; that sets a new school record for wins in a
season. Next up is Zionsville, the 10th ranked team in 4A, in the noon semi-final
of the Kokomo regional on Saturday, Feb. 10. The first semi-final will see Fort Wayne
Carroll take on Fort Wayne South.

In this week’s Hamilton County Goes To The Movies podcast, Adam & Larry review the Oscar-nominated film Call Me By Your Name.  This week’s guest is local film and commercial producer Philip Paluso.

Hamilton County Reporter

Hamilton County Coroner John Chalfin announced Friday that construction of a new morgue will begin mid-March. The project is a cooperative effort between Hamilton County and Riverview Health.

Chalfin said the current morgue facility built in the mid 1980’s, operated by Riverview Health, used by the Coroner’s Office, can no longer effectively serve the needs of his office and the hospital.

“As the population increases, the need for additional morgue space increases for both the hospital and the county. The morgue expansion ensures that we can better serve the deceased and their families,” said Chalfin.

The cost of the morgue expansion is just over $1 million. Riverview Health is contributing $500,000 and the county will pay the remaining $567,539.

“A joint facility is a significant cost saving for both organizations,” continued Chalfin.

During the announcement, the Coroner praised Hamilton County Commissioner Steve Dillinger and council member Steve Schwartz for their work in developing the project.

American Structurepoint will provide architecture and engineering services for the project and Mayer Najem Construction will serve as the project contractor.

by

Richie Hall

Sports Editor

Hamilton County Reporter

Hamilton Southeastern rolled into the championship game of Class 4A Sectional
8 Friday by beating host Fishers 60-35 at the Tiger Den.

The Royals led 14-7 after the first quarter, with Malea Jackson making two
3-pointers. The Tigers came back at the beginning of the second period, using a 8-0
run to take a 15-14 lead. Ali Gerka hit a 3-pointer of her own, then Cierra Tolbert
added a free throw and a putback to get Fishers within one. Kenedi London’s jumper
put the Tigers ahead.

Sydney Parrish got Southeastern back in front with a 3-pointer, but a rebound basket
by Tamia Perryman – who played incredibly tough throughout the game – tied things up
again at 17-all. Parrish put the Royals back in front with another 3, and HSE never
trailed again.

“Towards the end of the first half, our movements were starting to get lethargic and
we needed to have a quicker burst to try to get ourselves open to get ourselves in
position to get ahead and get shots,” said HSE coach Chris Huppenthal.

Southeastern led 26-21 at halftime. At that point Parrish had 12 points, and it would
turn out she was just getting started. The sophomore added eight more points in the
third quarter, helping the Royals to a 38-28 lead. Amaya Hamilton’s late 3-pointer
pushed HSE’s lead to 10 points for the first time in the game.

“We thought there were some opportunities to try and get Amaya the ball
and get her some touches in the second half, and we were able to get her some and she
capitalized on them,” said Huppenthal. “For the most part, all our kids were involved.”

The Royals continued to surge in the fourth period, outscoring Fishers 22-7.
Parrish went on a 7-0 run all by herself early in the period, making her fourth ‘3’ of the
game in between two other baskets. When was all said and done, Parrish finished the
game with 31 points.

“Sydney’s a special player, and she definitely stepped up tonight,” said Fishers
coach Lauren Vail. “Special players do that in big games, and that’s what she did.”

Parrish wound up with a double-double by grabbing 10 rebounds and also made two
blocked shots. Hamilton and Molly Walton both corralled eight rebounds, with
Hamilton blocking two shots as well. Walton dished out seven assists.

“Molly’s one of those kids who doesn’t give us a lot of points at times, but she does
so many little things for us,” said Huppenthal.

“They did a great job of mixing it up on us,” said Vail. “They played a box-and-1,
they played a 3-2, they played a 2-3, they played man. And we just could never get in
a rhythm. Credit to Coach Huppenthal on that, for mixing it up and really keeping us
on our toes.”

Perryman finished the game with nine points and eight rebounds, while Gerka
scored eight points. Toni Grace scored six points.

Southeastern is now 16-7, and plays Carmel in tonight’s championship game.
“You watch them, they got Division I kids at every position on the floor,” said
Huppenthal. “We’re going to come ready to play. We’re going to give it our best shot.
They’re a great basketball team, but I think we got a pretty special team, too.”

Fishers finished its season 13-12 in Vail’s first year as head coach

“I’m just so proud of our kids,” said Vail. “Getting a new head coach with about a
month to go before the season starts, and not just a new head coach to them, someone
who’s never been a head coach before. I had familiarity in the program, but I’ve never
done this either. We did this together and learned and grew, and they allowed me to
grow.

“Every time I challenged them with something, they responded. The seniors
were great leaders. That’s what I just told them in that locker room. They showed
those younger kids how to lead and they showed those younger kids how to love each
other and be great teammates and that’s what I’m really proud of them for.”

It’s another week of winter, but it is also another week of road construction in & around the City of Fishers.  Once again, be on the lookout for continuing construction issues in the areas of 131st & Cumberland Road, as well as the ongoing work at 106th Street and Allisonville Road.

Below is the road construction listing for the work week beginning Monday, February 5th, as provided by the City of Fishers:

======================

131ST STREET

Periodic lane restrictions will occur at the intersection of 131st Street and Cumberland Road as utility relocation work is completed.

MORGAN DRIVE   

Morgan Drive will be closed between Lantern Road and Emmanual Court for work on stormwater structures.

106TH STREET

Crews will be landscaping the center of the roundabout at 106th Street and Geist Road throughout the week, weather permitting. Temporary lane restrictions may be in place as work is completed.

In an effort to locate utilities at the intersection of 106th Street and Allisonville Road, the westbound lane of 106th Street (just east of Allisonville Road) will be closed until all utilities are located. Westbound traffic on 106th Street will be forced to turn north.

I-69   

As part of a $92 million design-build contract, Milestone has added a third lane in each direction to the median, repaired and resurfaced existing pavement, and rehabilitated bridges and drainage structures on 15 miles of I-69 in Hamilton and Madison counties. Construction of an additional auxiliary lane between the 116th Street entrance ramp to I-69 South and the I-69 South Exit 204 ramp to 106th Street will continue through next spring.

I-69 South will be temporarily reduced to two lanes to allow space for the State Road 37 and 116th Street entrance ramps to safely merge while construction continues on the southbound auxiliary lane between the 116th Street and 106th Street ramps.

Questions about this project should be directed to INDOT via email or at 1-855-463-6848.

STATE ROAD 37  

The Meeting Presentation from the December State Road 37 Project Public Meeting, along with additional project information is available.

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 via email to Drive Fishers.

Hamilton County Reporter

Hamilton Southeastern used a big third quarter to beat Columbus North 64-
54 in a Thursday evening home game.

The Class 4A No. 6 Royals led 30-24 at halftime, then took control by outscoring
the Bull Dogs 22-9 in the third. Four Southeastern players reached double figures, with Mabor Majak scoring 14 points to lead the way.

Chaz Birchfield added 12 points and Aaron Etherington scored 11. The three
were also the leading rebounders, with Birchfield pulling in eight boards, Etherington
six and Majak five.

The Royals had 24 team assists in the game. Etherington dished out seven assists,
while Nick Bowman and Noah Smith both handed out six.

Southeastern improved to 16-2 for the season. The Royals are off until Tuesday,
when they travel to New Castle to play the 3A No. 1-ranked Trojans.

Hamilton County Reporter

Basketball is a game of runs, and that was demonstrated perfectly Thursday night
at the Tiger Den between Fishers and Westfield.

The Tigers got the final run of the game, outscoring the Shamrocks 14-7 in an
overtime period to win 63-56. The terrific 3-point shooting of Jeremy Szilagyi and
free-throw shooting of Willie Jackson helped propel the Tigers to a Hoosier Crossroads Conference win as well as their first overtime victory of the season after two
OT losses.

“There were two games that were played out there,” said Fishers coach Matt Moore.
“That first stretch for us where we were really hitting offensively. And they made a
run and I thought we did a good job of just staying composed and had poise.”

The Tigers led 15-10 after the first quarter, with Szilagyi draining three 3-pointers on his way to 11 points in the period. Fishers then jumped ahead 31-26 at halftime; Szilagyi threw in two more triples and had 19 points.

Westfield’s Caleb Welch quickly tied the game at the beginning of the third quarter,
with a basket and a 3-pointer. The Tigers responded with a 9-0 run to go up 40-31.
Four different players scored for Fishers, including three points (layin and free throw)
for Willie Jackson.

A ‘3’ from Zach Banks ended the run, but the Tigers led 44-34 with 1:07 left in the
third. It was time for the ‘Rocks to start their roll in the fourth quarter, and they did.
Actually, Westfield’s run began early, with two free throws from Banks with 5.4
seconds left in the third.

Josh Van Dyke then nailed back-to-back 3s in the early stages of the fourth, getting
the Shamrocks within 44-42. Banks then tied the game on another 3, at 45-all.

Chris Chin pushed Westfield ahead 49-47 with his basket off a steal, and Josiah
Matthews answered with two free throws with 1:17 left. That was the final score of
regulation, which ended in a 49-49 tie.

Chin’s 3-pointer put the Shamrocks ahead 52-51 early in the overtime, but
Szilagyi answered with a jumper – his 23rd point of the game – and Fishers was up
53-52. The Tigers would steadily increase their lead during the extra period, with
Jackson getting it done from the line.  Jackson went 8-for-8 during the game’s final
45 seconds.

“That’s what he does,” said Moore. “He’s going to go down when he graduates from here as probably the all-time free throw attempts person and free throw makes person. He’s got a unique skill to get fouled and he shoots a pretty decent percentage. And that’s what makes him unique.”

Szilagyi’s 23 points led all scorers, while Jackson finished with 13. Brendhan Russom
and Jordan Jones also had some big baskets during the late stages of the game; they
finished with eight and six points respectively.

Banks scored 22 points for Westfield, including four 3-pointers. Van Dyke totaled
15 points and three 3s, while Chin had 12 points.

“I thought we played well,” said Westfield coach Shane Sumpter. “It certainly came down to a lot more than the end of the game. Obviously, we let 21 (Szilagyi) have a big first half, and then we did a little bit better job in the second half. Offensive rebounds were big, really big, especially in the third quarter. But defensively, I thought we did a much better
job in the fourth quarter and I thought our guys hung tough.”

The Tigers are now 2-3 in HCC play and 8-8 overall. They are back in action Tuesday
at Anderson, the beginning of a four-game road trip. The Shamrocks are 1-4 in the
conference and 6-9 overall; they are back at The Rock on Tuesday to host Harrison.