Mayor Scott Fadness began his Mental Health Initiative Report to the Community Monday afternoon with some statistics and stories from the previous week.  When police arrive at the scene of a resident suffering a mental health episode that is serious, that person is subject to what is termed in law enforcement parlance an “immediate detention.”

The mayor said one immediate detension run was for a person suffering from depression and schizophrenia, feeling down and seeking help.  Another run involved a woman reporting her daughter had sent suicidal messages that were “concerning,” finding a gun on the stairway.  In yet another, a suicidal man was attacking himself with a knife and was bleeding.  Another man was threatening suicide over the recent breakup with his girlfriend.

So there was a total of 7 immediate detentions in Fishers during one week in July.  The mayor said there were 11 suicides in Fishers during 2016 and 5 so far in 2017.

That set for the stage for the panel discussion led by the mayor to talk about the accomplishments of his 2 1/2 year initiative to deal with mental health issues in Fishers.

During the panel discussion, Dr. Suzanne Clifford of Inspiring Transformations said suburbia, in general. is ignored in the area of mental health services.  She added that, of all places, Silicon Valley in California contains a “cluster” of suicides.

Dr. Bernice A. Pescosolido was the keynote speaker for the luncheon, held at Launch Fishers.  She described how stigma devalues a person as a human being, separating the stigmatized person from the rest of society.  She  has worked to deal with the stigma felt by those needing treatment for mental health issues.

“The only way to reduce stigma and to improve the lives of people with mental health is to do multi-level, long-term changes, because society’s change slowly,” Dr. Pescosolido said.

Dr.  Pescosolido has worked nationally on the issue of mental health stigma, even working on such stigma that exists within the medical profession.

Mayor Fadness said the issue of mental health in the growing suburban city of Fishers is “real.”  He made clear his initiative to address mental health in his city is far from over.

Mark your calendars now for Tuesday morning, August 8th, 10:00am, for the next Coffee with a Cop event at the Starbucks near Exit 210.   Fishers Police Department officers will be on hand to talk with local citizens.

This is scheduled the day before classes begin for Hamilton Southeastern schools, so students will be able to attend.

Police officials say there will be no agenda or speeches, just a chance for Fishers residents to talk with their local police officers.

The Starbucks is located at Olio Road and Olivia Way, near the I-69 Interchange 210.

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

(NOTE: Commentaries by Fred Swift are published on this news blog as a result of a partnership between the Hamilton County Reporter & LarryInFishers.com)

It’s not often that a person serves for 50 years as a member of a governmental body. But, Noblesville’s Garrick Mallery holds that honor, possibly a record in the state if not the nation. Not only that, but Mallery has been president of the Hamilton County Health Board almost the entire time.

The health department is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. An open house for the public is planned from 9 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 27 at the health office. There will be a display of historic vital records going back 135 years. Cake and coffee will be served. The department was actually organized in 1966, but the following year was its first full year in business. Operating out of a room in the basement of the old Courthouse, there were initially three employees: a nurse, a sanitarian and a secretary.

The first board, appointed by county commissioners, was composed of Dr. John Haywood, Dr. Haldon Kraft, Max Hunter, James Morris, Gerald Johnson and Garrick Mallery, who said recently, “It’s been interesting. I’ve done a lot of things, but this was one of the highlights of my life seeing it [the department] come along” to where it is today.

The health department has expanded dramatically as the county has grown. Health inspectors now check hundreds of restaurants and other food handlers to protect the public from unsanitary conditions, provide immunizations for the county’s children, maintain all county birth and death records, seek to eliminate dangerous mosquito breeding grounds and provide public education on best health practices among other services.

Mallery believes the health department does more good for Hamilton County than perhaps the public sometimes gets from the news. Thursday the doors will be open to show the public what all they have in the field of public health.

Adam & I review War for the Planet of the Apes, and we welcome Andy Murphy as our guest – she has quite a show business resume in her own right, but also has a very famous son

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

(Note: Commentaries by Fred Swift are posted on LarryInFishers.com through a partnership with the Hamilton County Reporter.  He expresses his own views in these commentaries which may or may not reflect the views of LarryInFishers.com)

It is beginning to look like a crowded field of candidates later this summer when precinct
committeemen choose a new state senator to fill out retiring State Senator Luke Kenley’s term.  But, if tradition is maintained, the public and the press won’t be witness to it. Kenley announced earlier this month he will resign Sept. 30 from the Senate where he has been an influential member for 25 years. Up to a half-dozen local Republicans have either announced they want the District 20 seat or are considering running for it.

The new state senator will be selected by a caucus of the precinct committeemen
and women of the district. And, due to the lack of state law guaranteeing a public and
open caucus, the selection process will likely be closed to the public.
It is even possible that a person could file for the vacant seat, win in the caucus
and be be sworn into office before the public knows who that person is. There is no
public call for interested persons to file, no requirement that names of candidates be
public, and no requirement that the caucus vote be public.

State law allows political parties to hold private meetings to discuss political
strategy, elect officers, and apparently by omission, hold closed sessions to fill vacancies
in public office. It is a glaring example of the lack of transparency that most
politicians claim to oppose.

In the current case, five candidates have come forward to announce their intentions.
Megan Wiles, Victoria Spartz, Sue Finkam, Brad Beaver and Joe Morris
have made their plans known. Others may do so, but are not required to tell anyone
except the party leadership which will notify committee members and hold the caucus
at a yet to be determined date. In the past, Hamilton County Republican Chair
Laura Campbell must be credited with revealing the date and location of a caucus,
names of those running, and the winner, none of which she would be required to
make public.

Mrs. Campbell has said, however, that doors will be closed because she believes
such action could prevent undue influence being exerted on committeemen.

This writer believes an office as important as state senator, and any public
office for that matter, should not be filled in secret. The law that seems to allow it
should be amended to open the doors when choosing a public official who will be representing all the people of his or her jurisdiction.  It is the right thing to do.

by

Hamilton County Reporter

Nickel Plate Arts is seeking nominations for the annual Nickel Plate Arts
Awards. The honors recognize individuals or organizations that show outstanding
leadership and vision in the support, promotion and provision of creativity.

The organization is accepting nominations through Aug. 5 in the Artist of the
Year, Arts Patron of the Year, Emerging Arts Champion of the Year and Emerging
Artist of the Year categories. Nominees and winners will be honored at the Nickel
Plate Arts Awards ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 16 at the Nickel Plate Arts campus
in Noblesville.

“The Nickel Plate Arts Awards are our opportunity to recognize great leadership
in our local arts community,” says Nickel Plate Arts Director Aili McGill. “In 2018,
we hope to get nominations from all corners of our region for a diverse group of
artists and patrons. We know there are wonderful arts leadership stories in our
community, we just need your help to highlight them!”

Nominations are due to amcgill@nickelplatearts.org by 5 p.m. on Saturday,
Aug. 5. Nominees will be notified by Saturday, Aug. 19. You can find the
nomination form at the Nickel Plate Arts website.

“Last year was the first year for the awards and we were able to recognize two
artists who continue to grow the reputation of the Noblesville arts scene, as well
as patron who have helped ensure that the arts have a strong and dedicated home in
the Nickel Plate Arts Region,” says McGill.

The 2016 winners included Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville Art Director
Kat Ho as Emerging Artist of the Year, Noblesville Economic Development Assistant
Director Alaina Shonkwiler as Emerging Patron of the Year, Lesley Haflich as Artist of the Year and the Noblesville Parks Foundation as Arts Patron of the Year.

The Nickel Plate Arts Awards are being presented in conjunction with the organization’s
fifth anniversary celebration.

Nickel Plate Arts is an umbrella nonprofit organization that creates and coordinates
arts and cultural experiences across communities to improve the quality
of life for residents, strengthen local economies and enrich experiences for
visitors. Nickel Plate Arts is a project of Hamilton County Tourism, Inc. The
Nickel Plate Arts Trail extends 30 miles through Fishers, Noblesville, Cicero,
Arcadia, Atlanta and Tipton. Visit us at 107 S. 8th Street in Noblesville, online
at www.nickelplatearts.org or call 317-452-3690.

Fishers resident Ashton Wolf co-wrote and directed Ten Pin Alli – here is my review

On Friday, August 11th, the Amp After Dark concert at the Amphitheater will feature Dogs of Society with a musical tribute to pop legend Elton John, but there will be an event beforehand you may want to mark on your calendar.

The Hope for Happiness celebration will be 6-9pm, just before the concert, in front of Fishers City Hall.  There will be a Happy Hour with local favorites Dave & Rae.  It’s all about promoting good mental health.

There will be games, food trucks and an number of other activities in this family-friendly event.

For more information, contact the Fishers Parks & Recreation Department at 317-595-3150.

by

Hamilton County Reporter

Two more candidates announced they will be running for Indiana’s District 20
Senate seat, which is being vacated by Luke Kenley.

Current Hamilton County Council member Brad Beaver made the announcement
on Thursday, as did Noblesville resident and businessman Joe Morris.

“I have served on the Hamilton County Council for 20 years,” said Beaver. “I have
never missed a County Council meeting and during my tenure I have never raised property
taxes. Yet the Council has still managed to accumulate a $50 million surplus.
Hamilton County is one of the most fiscally sound governmental entities in the
State. While some politicians may claim to be conservative – I have proven my commitment to taxpayers over the last 20 years. I feel this record clearly sets me apart from
other candidates.”

“Indiana is the envy of the Midwest, in large part because it has elected state representatives and senators who have exercised fiscal restraint while making our State a
beacon for economic development. We must ensure that we send another proven
conservative to the Statehouse – one who will be a good steward of taxpayer money
and pursue a truly conservative agenda. I am confident that I am the candidate that is
most prepared to do this.”

Beaver was born and raised in Noblesville, graduating from Noblesville High
School in 1977. After college, he started his own heating and cooling business. He is a
fourth-generation small business owner in Hamilton County. He has been married to
his wife, Trini, for 27 years and has three adult children.

During his 20 years on the County Council, Beaver has served on various
boards and committees including Hamilton County Plan Commission, Board of Zoning
Appeals, County Solid Waste Board, Personnel Committee and Finance Committee.
Throughout the years he has been active coaching basketball at the Noblesville Boys
and Girls Club. He is a member of White River Christian Church.

“I have spent my entire life living and working in Senate District 20,” said Beaver.
“I am eager to take that next step and serve as Hamilton County’s Senator in the Statehouse.”

“What a great opportunity for Hamilton County and District 20 to continue a strong
tradition of new ideas, continued growth and leadership for the communities of District
20 and the State of Indiana,” said Morris. “I can’t think of a time better than now to join
hands with the residents & leaders of Hamilton County and bring our ideas, professional
experience and creativity to the State Capital. Having discussed this decision
with my family, friends and several leaders in Noblesville, Carmel, Fishers and Westfield;
these business leaders, community leaders and faith leaders all helped me come
to this decision. It’s a great time to be able to represent so many great people, families,
businesses and communities in District 20.”

Beyond his 25 years of professional experience in business, sales, management, consulting, strategic planning, HR compliance administration; Morris has served on a number of local, state, regional & national boards within and outside the financial services industry. Because of his business experience, he has experience working with the legislature at the State & Federal level on issues such as Healthcare Reform, Tax
Reform, Medicare & Medicaid and Small Business issues.

“I have a passion for seeing that our youth develop skills for life, our families
succeed in life, our seniors are respected in life, our businesses thrive in life and our
communities prosper in fostering this passion,” said Morris. “All play a key part in
making a community happy, healthy, safe, respected and attractive for our residents and
visitors.”

Morris is a lifelong resident of Indiana. He grew up in the Southwestern Indiana city
of Washington and left the area in 1987 to continue his education as a student-athlete
at the University of Indianapolis where he played college football. In college, he
received the UIndy “Kelso Reid Mental Attitude” Award.

After college, Morris moved to Noblesville to work as a Marketing Rep for Gordon
Marketing. In 1996, he relocated to northern Indiana and worked in the employee
benefits market insuring various industries such as: schools, municipalities, healthcare
providers, steel mills, unions, manufacturers, casinos, car dealerships and banks. In
2000, he started a number of businesses including insurance, employee benefits, HR
compliance and administration.

In 2011, Morris relocated back to Noblesville and rejoined Gordon Marketing
as the National Marketing & Training Director where he educates, trains and develops
business strategies for independent financial and insurance advisors in the health, Medicare, Medicaid, VA, life insurance and annuity markets.

He is a graduate of Purdue Calumet University’s Entrepreneur’s Club program,
studied Business Administration & Marketing at the University of Indianapolis and is
a Chartered Benefits Consultant by the National Association of Alternative Benefits
Consultants.

A national speaker, Morris travels the country speaking on topics such as Business
Development, Marketing Strategies, Compliance & Ethics, Medicare, Obamacare,
Tax Benefits of Health Plans and Retirement Planning.

Morris volunteers in the local community and throughout Indiana with various
organizations & clubs, is a member of the UIndy Greyhound Club, National Federation
of Independent Business (NFIB), Society of Human Resource Management
(SHRM) and is a Freemason.

Morris lives in Noblesville with his three teenage daughters Kylie (Noblesville High),
Katie (Noblesville High) and Kenlee (Noblesville West Middle School).

Todd Melloh is now off the Edge Building roof in Downtown Fishers, but after more than 3 days camping out, his organization now has more volunteers and donations.  Melloh is the Executive Director of the Youth Mentoring Initiative (YMI), which provides mentors to students in a number of schools within the Hamilton Southeastern School Corporation.

There are now 105 additional people willing to volunteer.  They need to go through a process, but it is important that number of people took the first step and raised their hand, willing to volunteer.

A second goal of the YMI On The Roof campaign was to raise additional money for the local nonprofit group.  Over $18,000 in donations came into the organization during the campaign.  RMG Roofing and Printmore made major contributions.

Now Todd Mellow can get off the roof and go back to his regular job or running the YMI organization