When you work in the media off and on for any length of time (as I have), particularly in the news game, you work with a lot of police departments.  I have found some to be very difficult to deal with, others are better.

In Fishers, the relationship between the media and law enforcement is very good, partly because the media relations officer is Tom Weger.  Tom is a top-notch professional in doing his job.

A police officer tasked with dealing in media relationships always has a tight high-wire act to perform.  His first duty is to his police organization, but he also must have good relations with members of the news media to do the job right.  Tom Weger has always found the right balance.

I discovered through the grapevine recently that Tom Weger was experiencing some health issues.  When someone you know is going through something like that, there is always the question the comes up in the mind – should I contact Tom or would he prefer to be left alone with his family?

Tom Weger has posted a message on Facebook about his health so I feel free to make my own comment.  Tom Weger wrote in that post that he is battling rectal cancer.

Here is the good news –  the prognosis from his medical team is very positive.  He describes how the cancer was caught in the early stages, increasing his chances of a full recovery. There is also a reminder just how important cancer screenings are to all of us.  We need to talk to our physicians about that on a regular basis.

Tom Weger also expressed how much his religious faith plays into all this.  He described how he and his wife Jen, “… believe that God is in control. He has put us on this road and we are going to walk it. I am not angry, sad, mad, or scared. We are very excited to see what God has planned and we know He is going to do some amazing things thru this experience. God is good ALL the time!”

I know I speak for many, many people in and around Fishers, wishing Tom Weger a speedy and successful recovery from this disease.  Remember, prayer can be a powerful thing.

My wife Jane and I are in the process of moving, which is a struggle in the best of times.  I mention this only to explain once again why I have been absent from posting on this site for several days.  I have just put my computer equipment back into good enough shape to start writing here.

When perusing the news of the past week, my memories went back to a day of the 1960s. My dad woke up one Sunday morning and told my mom it was time to buy a new color television.  Hard to believe today with all the advanced video technology at our fingertips, but at that time, color TV was on the cutting edge.

My parents decided to go with a local company to buy our family’s first color television, HH Gregg.  My consumer connection to that locally-owned corporation goes back years with lots of purchases, from HD TV’s to car radios.

So it is with a great deal of sadness that I find Gregg’s is going out of business.  The hyper-competitive arena of electronics, along with the rising popularity of buying online, is making life tough for all brick & mortar operations.  Gregg is just one of them.

In a recent podcast with Fishers City Council Vice President Todd Zimmerman, I asked him about the many years he had spent working there.  At the time we recorded the discussion on March 10th, there were news reports that HH Gregg had a buyer and would continue, perhaps as a smaller concern, as the corporation emerged from bankruptcy.  Sadly, that deal fell through.  But you can listen to Todd talk about his days there, describing the workplace as more like being part of a family than a job.  You can listen to the podcast at this link.  The part about HH Gregg is near the end.

My biggest concern about all this centers on those still working at HH Gregg.  I think about all the people employed at their stores.  I think about all the people working at the corporate headquarters on East 96th Street.

It is always sad when a locally owned company goes away.  The Indianapolis metropolitan area has seen that happen on far too many occasions during my lifetime.  It is sad to see it happen once again.

But with all the bad news, we shouldn’t get too discouraged.  In Indy, and suburbs like Fishers, people are starting new businesses all the time.  Many will prosper and employ many people in the future.

What is happening at HH Gregg is sad.  It is part of my experience living in this area.  Let’s hope for the best in the future among all those losing their jobs.

This is spring break time for the Hamilton Southeastern Schools, which educates the children of Fishers and outlying areas.  Reading Facebook the last couple of days is a bit depressing for those of us left behind.  I’ve seen enough Tiki bars and sandy beaches in those social media pictures to last me awhile.

Hey, I’m not complaining as a mostly retired guy.  I had my trip to Florida in January and it was terrific.   Those of you on spring break vacation should enjoy your time away from Fishers.

However, spring break is not vacation time for my wife Jane and myself.  We are moving. The process of moving from one home to another has never been one of my favorite activities.  I am fortunate to have a wife that immerses herself in the details.  I just salute & follow orders.

Just so you know, Jane and Larry are not moving from Fishers, we are moving from one Fishers home to another Fishers home.  With both daughters now adults living their own lives, it is time to downsize, so we are doing just that.  The man writing the LarryInFishers.com news blog and producing the LarryInFishers Podcast will continue to be a Fishers resident.

The reason I am writing this piece is to warn everyone there may not be as many posts on this blog for a time.  Moving all my stuff, including the computer equipment required to write this blog and produce the podcasts , will take a little while.

So, if you see fewer blog posts and a short pause in podcasts, do not fear, I plan to be back as normal in a short period of time.

Let me take just a moment to once again thank the many readers of this blog and listeners to my podcasts.  This remains a volunteer activity for me.  I do it because so many of you tell me how important it is for me to continue.

If you wish, you can always sort through my past LarryInFishers podcasts…the ones from 2017 are available at this link and the 2016 archive of podcasts may be found at this link.

Some of you listen to my podcasts on iTunes.  If you do so, they can be found by placing this phrase in the search box – “podcasts by Larry Lannan”

Also, if you listen on iTunes, take a few moments to rate my podcast….it helps the visibility of my podcast series and makes it easier for others to find it.

Once the move is complete, I will return!

Fishers has a week of road construction coming up, with the major work east of I-69 on 116th Street front and center.  But there are other projects around the city.

Here is the full listing for the work week starting Monday, April 3rd, as provided by the City of Fishers:

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The hamburger restaurant business is a tough and competitive one.  It wasn’t that long ago when Bagger Dave’s bagged-it-in, closing several locations, including the one in Fishers.

Now, Jack in the Box has become the latest casualty.  The hamburger fast food chain decided to close three eateries in the Indianapolis Metro area, including the one at 116th Street and Allisonville Road in Fishers.

With the new Kroger story under construction nearby, I would think some other operation would want to take over that location at some point in the near future.  But for now, the old Jack in the Box is just an empty building.

A spokesperson for the corporate office told WRTV the chain is still considering expanding in the Indy area.  That’s interesting.

We will be watching for any news of what may come next to the corner of 116th & Allisonville Road.

When first responders head to a Fishers residence on an emergency run, knowing that at least some people living there have special needs, is important information. To better help those residents, the Fishers Fire Department is offering a voluntary system where people with special needs can register.

When Fire Department personnel respond to a home, knowing at least some people in that home need special help before entering the residence, is critical data. Emergency personnel can also better identify people in need of help with general issues, such as power outages, through this database.

To sign up for this database, use this link.

You can read the entire news release from the City of Fishers below:

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When it was announced that IKEA was coming to Fishers, I was just as excited an anyone.  I doubt my family will buy any IKEA furniture, but look forward to sampling their Swedish Meatballs.

I was, and am, excited because IKEA is very picky about where their stores are located.  It had been known for some time that IKEA was scouting the central Indiana area for a new location.

When my community, Fishers, was selected, that said something about the city I have called home for more than 25 years. We must be doing something right.

When the ground breaking ceremony was held, once again it was a big day for Fishers. One thing I can say for sure about IKEA – they know how to host a big event in a first-class manner.

The construction has been moving along at a steady pace.  First, the first blue material that is the IKEA trademark was visible outside the building.  Area media made a big deal about that and I can understand.  It was the first visible clue that IKEA is on the way soon.

But, speaking just for myself, I think we have gone a bit too far.  Several media outlets in the Indianapolis area made a big splash Tuesday when the letters IKEA were first placed outside the building.

Was there some worry that some another company’s name would adorn that building?  Was the building’s color IBM blue and corporate bigwigs just forgot to tell us?

So, we can now all rest at ease.  The letters on the building under construction south of 116th Street near I-69 is, in fact, IKEA.  The letters are there to prove it.

Excuse me if my Fishers local-centric blog does not give you an update on every little IKEA construction development.  That being said, I am looking forward to IKEA opening here in Fishers.  That opening day will be news.

The City of Fishers is wrapping up a very ambitious month of activities during March in celebration of Disability Awareness.  A Disability Round Table was held Tuesday afternoon at City Hall, with Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness leading the discussion.

A number of issues of interest to local residents with disabilities were discussed, including transportation, infrastructure and public safety.  People heading up city departments listened.  Mayor Fadness said some of the issues may not be addressed immediately, but having the concerns of the disabled in the minds of those making decisions will make a difference over time.

One member of the round table raised the issue of affordable housing, particularly for the disabled.  Mayor Fadness made clear the affordable housing issue is under discussion in City Hall.  He emphasized that the community as a whole, not just the local elected officials, need to be a part of the affordable housing conversation.

“It’s a discussion we have often within the walls of City Hall,” Fadness said.  “As soon as we develop a strategy, then I think we need to go out to our broader community and have the conversation, because there are opinions and perceptions about affordable housing in our community that are very strong.”

Construction is coming to the area of 116th Street East of I-69 to Cumberland Road, and along with that will be a lowering of the speed limit.

The current speed limit along that stretch of road is 40 miles per hour….the limit will be reduced to 30 miles per hour from 100 feet west of USA Pkwy to 200 feet east of Spyglass Ridge Drive.  The action will allow for the construction project aimed at widening that area of 116th Street.

Director of Engineering for the City of Fishers, Jeff Hill, told the Board of Public Works and Safety the lower speed limit would likely continue through July.

The board approved the request unanimously.

I don’t normally write about sports on this blog, particularly national sports stories.  However, two stories have come to my attention today that go beyond sports.  They both tell a story of where America is today.

First, the NFL Raiders.  Oakland has been the home of the professional football franchise (except for a few years in Los Angeles along the way).  If you have ever known a Raiders fan, you know just how fanatical they are.  You will find them in Indiana, Chicago, basically anywhere in the USA.

We have word today that the NFL owners have voted to allow Mark Davis, who inherited the team from his his father Al Davis, to move the team to Las Vegas.  The mayor of Oakland has lashed out at NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, the front man for the billionaire owners, for saying her city has  no “viable” stadium option.

What Goodell should have more accurately said was Nevada is willing to sink $750 million into a new Las Vegas stadium and Oakland will not.  These NFL owners, for the most part, want you to show them the money.  Once you do, they say yes.

This is tragic for the Oakland fans.  The move to LA was not a good time, but Al Davis saw the error of his ways and took the team back north to its roots.  Oakland fans will now join the fan bases of St. Louis and San Diego as cities without an NFL franchise.  For St. Louis, this is the second time in recent history they have lost an NFL club, first the Cardinals went to Arizona then the Rams back to LA.

The NFL suffered a decline of about 7% in its television audience last season.  League officials blame the presidential election and the length of the games as culprits.  Maybe both had something to do with it.

Maybe the owners should look in the mirror at the problem.  These constant franchise moves are angering the fans.  Going for the money all the time will catch up with them over time.

Now, to the second issue, the Women’s USA National Hockey team.  Training camp should already be underway, preparing the squad for the World Championships, set to start soon.

USA Hockey is refusing to pay the women what they are requesting in stipends and financial incentives for this team.  The dispute has spiraled into a giant national discussion.  The women are woefully underpaid compared to the men.

The American Women’s Hockey players are three-time defending champs in the World Championships.  Yet these ladies feel they are not receiving what they have earned.

USA Hockey has not enhanced its reputation by trying to lure good women players not on the team to essentially be replacement players.  Based on the media reports I have seen, women players are sticking together and refusing to be replacements.

My daughters loved playing sports but found other interests and never pursued athletics at a high level as they found other interests in life.  If they were treated like this, I would be very angry.

Let’s hope USA Hockey’s executives realize what they are doing.  A world class group of women athletes deserve better treatment.

The two takeaways from these two sports stories?  It’s money over fans int the NFL and we continue to treat women athletes as second class citizens.