Mark Montieth is a Fishers resident and grew up watching the Pacers franchise begin and grown.  Mark became a sports journalist and covers the Pacers.  He has a new book out that provides a history of pro basketball in Indianapolis and the first two years of the Indiana Pacers.

One person is being questioned about a short police chase related to a stolen vehicle report in the early morning hours of Thursday.

A Hamilton County Sheriff’s deputy was patrolling in Fishers, near 126th Street and State Road 37.  The deputy saw a vehicle reported stolen.  The driver of the car fled the area when the officer attempted to stop the vehicle.

According to a release from the Sheriff’s Department, there was a short pursuit that ended at Heritage Park, near 106th Street and Eller Road. One person, believed to be  passenger in the vehicle, was taken into custody and interviewed by Fishers Police.

Fishers Police have the car that was reported stolen.

Police are not releasing any more details and have no descriptions of the those in that car that fled the scene.

by

Richie Hall

Sports Editor

Hamilton County Reporter

It’s clear that with the hiring of Adam Morris as Hamilton Southeastern High School’s new head football coach, both the Royals and Morris got what they wanted.

Southeastern has itself an enthusiastic young man with a track record of success –
both as a football player and a coach. And Morris has a place for he and his family to
grow. Morris was officially hired by the Hamilton Southeastern school board at its
first meeting of the year Wednesday evening.

“I have moved around a bunch prior to this, but it was all with the hope that it would
put me in a position to end up at a place like this,” said Morris. “And I’m here with my
wife and daughter now and we can make that happen.”

Southeastern athletic director Jim Self introduced Morris to the school board at the
Wednesday meeting.

“I was with Adam today as we introduced him to our team, and it was about 10,
12 minutes that he spent with them,” Self told the board. “And I can assure you, we
have found the right person to lead Hamilton Southeastern.”

The feeling was mutual, as Morris said that Southeastern has all the things a coach
is looking for from a competitive standpoint.

“A great administration, great facilities, (Class) 6A, Hoosier Crossroads Conference,”
said Morris. “And it also has the tradition for you to lean on as a new coach
coming in.”

This will be Morris’ second job as a high school head football coach. Morris coached
at Muncie Central during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Morris led the Bearcats to a 6-4
record in his first year, then a 7-4 mark in his second year, including a post-season
win, the first for Muncie Central in 10 years.

“I’ve been very fortunate to be around good people,” said Morris. “I think that’s
what more important, necessarily, than the success that I’ve been a part of or the wins
that I’ve been with at all levels, whether as a player in high school, a player in college
or as an assistant or head coach since I’ve started my coaching career. I’ve been around
really good people.”

This past fall, Morris was an assistant football coach at Noblesville. That served
as his introduction to football in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference. The HCC features
some tradition-laden programs: HSE, Noblesville, Fishers, Avon, Brownsburg,
Westfield, Zionsville, and Franklin Central beginning next season.

“At the high school level, you’re not going to find a league that has better coaches
or better programs,” said Morris. “I think that’s the thing that stands out to me when
you look at this league is, every aspect of every program is top notch, whether it’s the
youth league, the weight room, the Friday night adjustment. Every aspect of building
a program is top notch.”

At age 27, Morris will be one of the younger head football coaches in the area.
In fact, he’s not that far removed from his own playing days, at Ball State University
and at Dublin (Ohio) Scioto High School.

“I definitely think the most important thing that any coach or teacher, educator can
do is have a strong rapport with kids,” said Morris. “So I definitely think that my youth
definitely allows me to do that.”

Morris will begin working at HSE next week. He will teach Physical Education and
Health at the high school. And of course, he met with his new team on Wednesday.

“I’m really excited,” said Morris. “I think they’re anxious, as any high school kid
would be as they’re meeting their new coach. I think I’m just excited. I think they’re
excited just to get started. It’s probably been tough for them to go through the process,
maybe as tough as it’s been for me. I’m sure they’re just anxious to get going.”

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

Following the theory that the early bird gets the worm, 24 candidates appeared at the county elections office yesterday to file their candidacies for the May 8 primary election. All are Republicans.

The first to file were Steve Schwartz seeking re-election to the Hamilton County Council, John Chalfin seeking re-election as county coroner and Robin Ward seeking re-election as county assessor.

Filing for office continues until noon on Feb. 9.

Those also filing on the first day included:

• Kathy Richardson for county clerk
• Jennifer Hayden, running for re-election as county recorder
• Bill Clifford, Mitch Russell and Jason Sloderbeck for sheriff
• Sue Maki seeking nomination for County Council, Dist. 1
• Christine Pauley and Rick Sharp running for County Council, Dist. 4
• Matt Snyder seeking re-election on Clay Township Board
• Rick Fain running for Delaware Township Board
• Doug Allman candidate for trustee in Fall Creek Township
• Chad Garrard and Jason Meyer running for township board in Fall Creek
• Robyn Cook for trustee in Jackson Township and Chris Miller, incumbent trustee for re-election in Jackson Township
• Tom Kenley seeking re-election as trustee of Noblesville Township
• Terry Busby candidate for re-election on Noblesville Township Board
• Chad Amos running for Cicero Town Council at large
• Bill Curl and Steve Fisher running for Sheridan Town Council at large
• Doug Allman seeking a State Convention delegate seat from Fall Creek Township, Dist. 3

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board welcomed two new staff members after formally approving them as employees.

Adam Morris will become the new HSE High School varsity football coach.  Morris served as head coach at Muncie Central High School and was on the staff at Noblesville as an assistant coach.  He will begin work as a teacher at HSE HS this semester.

The board also approved the hiring of Erica Buchanan-Rivera as the school corporation’s equity officer.  The position is being funded, at least initially, through a Lilly Foundation grant.

Matt Burke will serve another year as president of the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board.  The vote was unanimous.  Sylvia Shepler will serve as vice president, while Michelle Fullhart will be the board secretary during 2018.

In other board activity during the Wednesday night session:

–Final approval was given for new classes to be offered at both high schools.  The courses had been discussed at length at a previous board meeting.  For more details, use this link.

–The board unanimously gave its stamp of approval to new insurance contracts.  The board is using a new insurance broker and will spend roughly $893,000 on the revised policies with Liberty Mutual and Chubb.  This includes property/casualty and Cyber policies.  The previous insurance contracts cost the school system over $1 million.

–The board postponed a decision on a proposed contract with the Metiri Group to better publicize the HSE21 program.  Board members complained that the agenda item was added at the last minute and the board did not have time to review the proposal.  A vote is tentatively scheduled for the next board meeting.

–The board approved schedules of plans for 2018 meetings.  The board can call a meeting, if there is a need with 48 hours notice (not including weekends and holidays).  With that in mind, here is the schedule of regular board meetings for 2018:

January 10, 24
February 14
March 14, 28
April 11, 25
May 9
June 13, 27
July 11
August 8, 22
September 12, 26
October 10
November 14, 28
December 12

Note that there are some months the board will be meeting only once, a departure from the normal schedule of 2 sessions per month.

For a listing of planned work sessions, which are public meetings of the board, use this link.  

–The board honored Fall Creek Elementary Third Grade Teacher Bill Marquardt and his class, who raised nearly $2,000 dollars to support a family with five foster children for the holidays.

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

Mark Heirbrandt was elected president of the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners in the board’s organizational meeting Monday.  Steve Dillinger was named vice president. Election of officers and appointment of department heads and members of various county boards is an annual practice at the first meeting of the year.

All department heads under commissioners’ jurisdiction were reappointed. They include director of administration Dan Stevens, county attorney Mike Howard, highway director Brad Davis, human resources director Sheena Randall, information technology  Director Chris Martens, Veteran Service Officer Lynn Epperson and Safety and Risk Management director Dan Papineau.

Commissioners engaged a new director of public relations, Tammy Sander. She
becomes the first to hold that position. As a part time contract employee Ms. Sander
will be responsible for communicating with the news media to disseminate information
on county government plans and projects. She and her husband, Scott, reside
in Carmel.

Among other appointments, Dave Burtner was named a member of the County
Board of Health filling a vacancy created by the recent death of longtime board
president Garrick Mallery.

Justin Clevenger and Jonathan Globle were appointed to the County Airport Authority
replacing retiring members.

Andrew Dollard was appointed to the County Redevelopment Authority replacing
Jeanette Kassebaum.

There were no changes made in the membership of the Riverview Hospital
Board, county park board, county plan commission or community
corrections board.

by

Jeff Jellison 

Hamilton County Reporter

The City of Noblesville along with Atlanta, Sheridan and Westfield have joined the list of several other Indiana communities in filing a lawsuit against drug manufacturers
and distributors of opioids.

The suit was filed by Noblesville on Monday in the United States District Court
of Southern Indiana.

Representatives from Sheridan, Atlanta and Westfield confirmed their legal action
on Tuesday.

Noblesville’s suit lists 14 drug manufacturers and four distributors as defendants.

A statement released by Noblesville said, “The City of Noblesville has joined
other Hoosier cities to hold the manufacturers and distributors of highly addictive opioids
responsible for the crisis that our public safety departments are struggling to cope
with. Noblesville has filed a federal lawsuit – at no cost to taxpayers – to seek damages
that would pay for the rising costs of battling the opioid epidemic that is now the
leading cause of death for people under the age of 50.”

The suit alleges Indiana has been especially ravaged by the national opioid crisis
and Indiana has an opioid prescription rate of 109.1 per 100 persons, which ranks ninth
in the country (the median rate for states is 82.5) and a benzodiazepine prescription
rate of 42.9 per 100 persons, which ranks 17th nationally (the median rate for states
is 37.7).

Documents filed in Federal Court indicate Indiana opioid overdose deaths rose 52
percent between 2015 and 2016 and have more than double in the last three years.

Noblesville alleges the opioid epidemic is particularly devastating in its city. During
the period of 2011 to 2015, the number of non-fatal emergency department visits due
to opioid overdoses in Hamilton County has nearly doubled.

Hamilton County, with 410 non-fatal emergency room visits for opioid overdoses,
ranked fourth in the state during the period of 2011 to 2015. Marion County led
the state during the reporting period with 2,557 visits.

The lawsuit states, “This incredible harm to not just the victims of opioid addiction,
but the communities in which those individuals lived, stems directly from the
Defendants’ intentional choice to pump opioids into Plaintiff’s Community in violation
of state and federal law.”

(Editor’s note:  The City of Fishers says there are no plans to join this lawsuit at this time.)

Hamilton County Reporter

Pictured is Wes Shealey, with his wife Jennifer on his right. Wes has been the announcer for multiple sports for Fishers High School. Wes was recognized before Tuesday’s Tigers boys basketball game for his service and dedication to the Tigers community.

Wes was diagnosed almost three years ago with ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and has continued to be the voice of the Tigers. At halftime, the Reporter’s Kirk Green spoke with Wes, and he shared how appreciative he is of the community support, and it’s what keeps him fighting.

by

Richie Hall

Hamilton County Reporter Sports Editor

Fishers boys basketball coach Matt Moore made an interesting point after his Tigers team beat Arsenal Tech on Tuesday night.

“It’s not what you talk about, it’s what you emphasize,” said the coach.

In its past two practices, Fishers worked on its offense, taking “a lot of reps offensively,” said Moore. The Tigers got a chance to put that preparation into a game situation, and it paid off in the form of a 69-54 win over the Titans. With the victory, Fishers is back to .500 for the season at 6-6.

Moore said some of the things the Tigers were working on included trying to get good shots and making sure the team understood its timing and spacing.

“It’s good to see that that’s paying off now in a game situation because I thought we took good shots, I thought our ball movement was really good in that first quarter,” said Moore. “And it just goes to show that if you do the right work, outcomes will eventually happen the way they’re supposed to.”

The first quarter was fantastic for Fishers, as it ended with the Tigers leading 25-14. The game was tied at 14-all late in the period, but Fishers scored the last 11 points of the quarter. Jeremy Szilagyi scored five of those points, including a 3-pointer; he had a total of three in the first period. Jordan Jones added four points and Josiah Matthews had two.
“I thought our guys did a good job of being aggressive,” said Moore.

After their fast start, Fishers kept its lead at or above 10 points for most of the game. Consecutive rebound baskets by Tech in the second quarter got the Titans within 31-23, but the Tigers answered with a layin by Brendhan Russom and a three-point play by Craig Yoho. That pushed Fishers’ lead to 36-23, and it never dropped below 10 points again.

The Tigers had remarkable balance, with five players reaching double figures. Jones came off the bench to wind up Fishers’ leading scorer with 13 points. Matthews and Jeremy Szilagyi both added 11 points, while Willie Jackson and Terry Hicks both scored 10. Five other players scored at least two points.

“I think the fans enjoyed, probably, the tempo more than the last few games for us,” said Moore. “I think still, we’ve got areas that we can improve and we’ve got to get back to work tomorrow, knowing that we can’t be satisfied with showing up and winning. We need to win in the right fashion and dominantly in a lot of different areas.”

Fishers has a quick turnaround, as it will host Brownsburg on Friday. The game is a Hoosier Crossroads Conference girl-boy doubleheader, with the girls playing at 6 p.m. and the boys at 7:30 p.m.

The Bulldogs will come into the Tiger Den with a 10-2 record. Brownsburg has lost only to prep school powerhouse La Porte LaLumiere and defending Class 4A state champion Ben Davis. In the HCC, the Bulldogs are 1-0, having beat Avon 63-33 on Dec. 15.

“They’re really good,” said Moore. “They’re 10-2 for a reason and up there on a lot of boards and rankings. They’ve played in the regional three of the last four years. They got a lot of players that understand what these Friday night games can be. Most of our guys are in it for the first time. It’ll be a good challenge for us. We just got to go back and understand that there’s areas that we can get better at defensively and we got to do that this week.”