Mayor Scott Fadness hands out certificates to the FJHS We The People team
Fishers Junior High School will be off soon the the national We The People competition. The Indiana state champions were honored Monday night by the Fishers City Council. Two members of the group explained how We The People works, as a competition based on civic knowledge.
“No question to me that if you guys were doing a mock Congressional hearing, you are exemplifying the type of maturity and composure that does not exist in Congress today,” said Mayor Scott Fadness.
The mayor handed out certificates from the city to all the FJHS We The People team members at the council session.
Entire FJHS We The People team, before the City Council
Being in the “path of totality” for a solar eclipse is a rare thing. Fishers will experience such an event April 8. I had the opportunity to talk about that with Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, Police Chief Ed Gebhart and Fire Chief Steve Orusa several days ago (listen at this link).
Monday afternoon, the City of Fishers issued a detailed news release on what to expect April 8.
Here is part of the news release:
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On Monday, April 8, from approximately 2 to 4:30 p.m., Hamilton County and Fishers will experience the Total Solar Eclipse. Totality in Fishers will begin at 3:06 p.m. and last three minutes and thirty seconds, the longest length of totality in Hamilton County.
Central Indiana anticipates upward of 500,000 visitors to view the Total Solar Eclipse.
Traffic & Road Closures
Locations that experienced a total solar eclipse in the past saw heavy, often standstill, traffic. With the anticipated additional traffic, motorists should travel with emergency preparedness in mind. This includes ensuring gas tanks are full, planning for extra time to your destination, and packing water and snacks in anticipation of long delays.
Allisonville Road is closed for construction north and southbound at 146th Street. 146th Street will remain open east and westbound.
There is no cross traffic at 141st Street and State Road 37.
Fishers Engineering and Public Works Departments will suspend all road construction work on the day of the eclipse.
Cumberland Road will experience limited, local access only on April 8 to keep a clear thoroughfare for public safety. East-west roadways at Cumberland Road will have soft closures and allow local access only.
Motorists are encouraged to use the Waze app and follow @FishersIN for traffic and travel updates.
Public Safety & Emergency Response
Fishers Fire and Emergency Services and Fishers Police Department will be stationed throughout the city in various locations to alleviate travel distances for emergency responses in the event of heavy traffic.
In the event of a community emergency, all communications will be published from the City of Fishers social media accounts.
Register for Hamiton County’s emergency notification system, Smart911, to be notified of any major public safety emergencies. Register at smart911.com.
Be Prepared
With the anticipated increase of video streaming, social media usage, and calls in a relatively small, concentrated area, those in the path of totality should anticipate loss in communications or poor service.
Fishers Parks will have a modified schedule open to pedestrian traffic only. Beginning at dusk on April 7 through dusk on April 8, vehicular traffic will be restricted to encourage residents to visit neighborhoods or local parks via pedestrian access instead of adding vehicles to the roadways. Geist Waterfront Park will be closed to vehicular and pedestrian access.
Fishers City Services Building will be closed to in-person business. Assistance will be available via phone at 317-595-3111. The Fishers Health Department Clinic will be closed and not accepting appointments or walk-ins.
Visit VisitHamiltonCounty.com for a list of eclipse events happening around Hamilton County.
Safety Information
When watching an eclipse, you must always wear safe solar viewing glasses (eclipse glasses). Visit visithamiltoncounty.com for a list of local businesses selling eclipse glasses.
It is never safe to look directly at the sun, even if the sun is partly obscured.
Do not view the eclipse through regular sunglasses.
Viewing any part of the sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter will instantly cause severe eye injury.
Hamilton County has not experienced a total eclipse in more than 800 years. Unlike in 2017, Hamilton County will experience totality – meaning it will be night in the middle of the day.
Hamilton County announced Monday morning that bids are being accepted to participate in a Public-Private Partnership, with the aim of constructing a new public safety training facility. Proposals will be accepted through 10am, April 3.
Qualifications to potential bidders are available at this link.
A new public safety training facility has been considered for some time, but the county is moving forward on this project, which is good news for public safety operations throughout Hamilton County.
Fishers Police issued a news release early Sunday morning on a homicide investigation linked to a shooting late Saturday night (use this link). Fishers Police Department Public Information Officer Angela Ellison sent a message to local media outlets late Monday morning saying “detectives are working around the clock” in an ongoing investigation into this shooting death.
Ellison also thanked area police agencies for assisting FPD Saturday night. She also emphasized this appears to be an isolated incident.
Bottom line, as of late morning Monday, there is nothing new to report and no arrests have been made. FPD will release updates once there is something to say.
One person is dead following a shooting late Saturday night in 10000 block of Apple Blossom Circle, just north of 141st Street between Cumberland and Howe Roads. Police say there does not appear to be any active threat to the community at this time.
At 11:40pm, Fishers Police responded to reports of shots fired in the area and found one person with gunshot wounds. That individual was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead. Fishers Police say several people have been detained in connection with this shooting.
Authorities have identified the victim as Cameron Doaks,24.
Police describe this as an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information about this incident (including camera footage), please contact Detective LaShawn Tyler at 317-595-3300.
Look for sidewalk work to wind down in the Windermere neighborhood and commence in Brooks Chase in the coming week. Also, be aware of drainage improvements impacting Master Road from 91st to 96th Street. That and much more is included in the latest Fishers-area road construction report. Here is the rundown for the work week beginning Monday, March 18, as provided by the City of Fishers:
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STATE ROAD 37 IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
To learn more about the State Road 37 Improvement Project and sign up to receive text updates, visit 37Thrives.com.
STATE ROAD 37 AND 141ST STREET A pre-construction phase at SR 37 & 141st Street is currently in place. During this phase, 141st Street will be a Right-In-Right-Out (RIRO) traffic configuration. This is not the permanent configuration. This will allow for traffic to flow more freely along SR 37 until the next phases of construction can be activated. This will eliminate backups along SR 37 that have caused dangerous stops to the free flow traffic and backups on the 146th Street interchange. Again, this is not the permanent configuration for 141st Street. The full timeline for the 141st Street interchange will be provided after project bids are accepted in the Spring 2024. View detour routes here.
View how to merge safely onto Northbound SR 37 from 141st Street here and onto Southbound SR 37 from 141st Street here. To navigate the merge, remember:
Use the accel lane to gain speed, not stop
Use your mirrors and pay attention
Look for a gap in SR 37 traffic and safely merge
CLEAR PATH IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
To learn more about the Clear Path Improvement Project and sign up to receive text and email updates, visit clearpath465.com
I-465 & I-69 Drivers will see an increase in construction along the I-69 corridor in the coming months. This work will focus on reconfiguring the interchange at I-465 and I-69. New ramps will provide direct movements from eastbound I-465 and northbound I-465 to northbound I-69. Binford Blvd. will also be reconstructed to separate local traffic from traffic entering and exiting I-69 and I-465. Access to I-69 from Binford Blvd. will remain open.
Crews closed the two ramps at 82nd Street on Monday, January 29. These ramps will remain closed throughout most of 2024.
Ramp from I-69 South to 82nd Street
Ramp from 82nd Street to I-69 South
The ramp from 82nd Street to I-69 North is open.
The ramp from I-69 North to 82nd Street will remain closed through mid-2024. For detour routes and additional project information, visit clearpath465.com
PROJECTS NORTH OF 116TH STREET
146TH STREET & ALLISONVILLE ROAD – HAMILTON COUNTY PROJECT
Phase 2A traffic restrictions are in effect. These restrictions eliminate left turn movements from 146th Street onto Allisonville Road and reopen to two through lanes on eastbound and westbound 146th Street.
Periodic lane closures may be necessary to complete this work. Please watch for flaggers and workers in and around the construction zone. Construction crews are continuing to work on storm sewer installation and roadway grading. Crews are continuing work on the widening of the westbound bridge over the White River. The contractor has installed cofferdams and delineating buoys in the White River for pier construction. The contractor is continuing work on the bridge foundations and substructure units. Please use caution if canoeing or tubing through the work zone. For additional project information, visit the 146th St & Allisonville Rd. Project Page here .
90-DAY ALLISONVILLE ROAD CLOSURE
Please be advised, the contractor has closed Allisonville Road between 146th Street and Kensington Drive, and between 146th Street and Helmsley Court. This will remain closed for 90 calendar days. Property owners within the limits of the closure of Allisonville Road will have access to their property during the closure. Both eastbound and westbound 146th Street will open to all through traffic throughout the closure of Allisonville Rd. The contractor will be placing detour route markers as we approach the road closure.
Please utilize the posted detour route to avoid the road closures on Allisonville. View road closure and detour map here.
MUNICIPAL DRIVE – CONCRETE WORK
Beginning on or about March 1st, Mayer Najem will be doing some concrete work in front of the new city hall and adjacent to the road. During this time a part of Municipal Drive will be one way and will remain so for 1 to 2 months. The section that is to be one way is from Fishers Center Drive to North Street. Outside of this section, traffic patterns will remain the same. Beginning on or about March 1st, Mayer Najem will be doing some concrete work in front of the new city hall and adjacent to the road. During this time a part of Municipal Drive will be one way and will remain so for 1 to 2 months. The section that is to be one way is from Fishers Center Drive to North Street. Outside of this section, traffic patterns will remain the same. View diagram here.
PROJECTS SOUTH OF 116TH STREET
ROAD CLOSURE – BRIDGE 187 (106TH STREET OVER MUD CREEK)- HAMILTON COUNTY PROJECT
Please be advised, beginning on or after Tuesday March 19, 2024, 106th Street between Cumberland Road and Hamilton Pass will be closed to all thru traffic for a bridge replacement project. The anticipated roadway reopening date is Friday, October 18, 2024.
Local traffic will continue to have access to their homes, while thru traffic is asked to utilize the posted detour route of Cumberland Road, 96th Street, and Mollenkopf Road. For more details visit the Hamilton County page.
HERITAGE PARK BRIDGE – TRAIL CLOSURE
The City of Fishers has partnered with the City of Carmel, Clay Township, Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation , Hamilton County, and Delaware Township to connect Heritage Park at White River and Carmel’s Hazel Landing Park with a bridge over White River. This new amenity will provide enhanced connectivity between the two communities, as well as new recreational opportunities for our residents. To construct this bridge, the contractor will need to restrict access to a portion of Heritage Park’s loop trail that runs adjacent to the river through the woods beginning the week of March 4, click here for an ariel view. During this time, you’ll notice temporary construction fencing going up as we prepare for construction. Beginning the week of March 11, the contractor will work to clear the necessary trees between the park and river. Bridge construction will follow beginning in May. Construction is expected to occur Monday through Saturday beginning at 7 a.m. The bridge is expected to be complete in August 2025.
SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
Howard Companies is finishing up sidewalk improvements in the Windermere neighborhood. This work will only consist of removal and replacement of sidewalk panels which pose a toe kick trip hazard. Sidewalk within driveways is not included in the scope of this project. Crews anticipate beginning work in the Brooks Chase neighborhood on or around March 20.
2022 THOROUGHFARE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS- AREA 3 – INDIANAPOLIS PROJECT
Phase 1 of this plan will require closure of Master Road, the anticipated closure dates will be March to April 17. These restrictions will affect through traffic of Master Road between 91st and 96th Street.
Phase 2 is anticipated to take place from April 17 to June 6, during this phase there will be a one lane closure between 91st street and 96th Street.
Mayor Fadness & the City Council meet with the school board
Thursday was a night of talking about all the joint projects the City of Fishers has offered to support the local Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools. The list is a long one.
Every department head in Fishers City Government spoke before the school board, explaining the many joint endeavors each has with the school district. Mayor Scott Fadness talked about a program started by the Town of Fishers in 2014 when Fadness was Town Manager, taking over the responsibilities of groundskeeping and snow removal for the HSE Schools at a time of serious budget difficulties for HSE. Fadness says that program saved enough money to fund 5 teachers. That program continues to this day.
Fadness’ Chief of Staff Jordin Alexander explained the new fund created by the City Council in the 2024 budget, establishing a $500,000 fund for new and innovative programs submitted by HSE Schools’ teachers. A board has been formed of mostly retired teachers to decide which proposals are funded. Alexander & Mayor Fadness emphasized this program is not in any way replacing the work of the HSE Schools Foundation, but plans to supplement the foundation’s work.
The city’s PowerPoint presentation before the school board is available at this link.
Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools Deputy Superintendent Matt Kegley wants to make one thing clear to families of graduating seniors at both high schools…the date for the 2024 graduation is set and is not changing…rehearsal is May 31 and commencement is still on for June 1.
But there is a proposed change to the 2025 graduation date. Instead of May 31, the 2025 HSE Schools graduation will be held on June 7. This will be the first commencement to be conducted at the new Fishers Events Center, currently under construction.
Kegley told the school board the 2025-2026 school calendar will be before the board and the 2026 graduation date will be reflected on that document..
Dr. Denise Rehfuss, a parent with a third-grade son in Hamilton Southeastern Schools, expressed her concern about how racial minorities are not being represented at the top positions in the HSE District during Wednesday night’s public comment period before the school board. She referred to recent resignations of African American administrators. They include Superintendent Yvonne Stokes, Human Resources Director Kim Lippe and DEI Director Nataki Pettigrew.
“It just seems like there is a very defined goal of eliminating anything that is different.” said Dr. Rehfuss. “Our district and our community has a lot of different type(s) of people.”
She described how her son was initially placed in a private school once the family moved to Fishers, but she changed her mind and placed him in public schools here due to the “stellar” reputation of HSE Schools. Now, Dr. Rehfuss says recent developments have caused her to rethink this decision because at HSE Schools, “it feels like it (is) no longer a welcome environment.”
Dr, Rehfuss ended her statement saying HSE is almost at the point of posting a sign saying these people need not apply.
There was no response to her comments from school officials.
Supt. Patrick Mapes, at his first full school board session as supt.
With a new school superintendent hired, there have been a number of changes announced by Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools in the top leadership.
Brian Murphy will be a new face to the HSE central office staff. He comes to the local district from the Indiana State Department of Education where he served as Chief of Staff. Before that, Mr. Murphy served as Executive Director for the Indiana State Board of Education. At HSE, Murphy will serve as Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and will report directly to Superintendent Mapes.
Cecilie Nunn, who served briefly as HSE’s Chief Financial Officer before stepping down to be an Accounts Payable Clerk, will assume the job of Director of Business / Deputy Treasurer, a position she has held before.
Stephanie Madison has served as Director of Business for HSE Schools and is resigning, but will be paid on a contract to handle the transition.
Ryan Taylor will move from leading Student Services to Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools.
Danielle Fetters-Thompson will go from executive director for elementary education to Assistant Superintendent of Foundational Learning.
This is a long list of changes coming to HSE Schools in the top leadership. Those were the only actions approved at the Wednesday evening board meeting at the top of the personnel chart.
