Spyglass traffic-signal timeline remains uncertain as seven departments present spending plans to the City Council Finance Committee

Fishers’ proposed 2027 budget began to take departmental shape Wednesday morning as the City Council Finance Committee heard requests and priorities ranging from police technology and firefighter training to sewer equipment, road work and Community Center operations.

Police Chief Ed Gebhart proposed a $2.46 million operating plan in the categories presented, up 10.07%, with higher costs tied to a police dog replacement, the Hamilton County Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, digital forensics and technology contracts. Fire Chief Ky Ragsdale’s comparable request was nearly flat at $2.18 million, up 0.52%, but included training four more paramedics, preparing a fourth medic unit and expanding rescue and post-incident services.

Engineering Director Hatem Mekky outlined Cumberland Road widening, two annual resurfacing packages, signal modernization and a roundabout at 131st Street and Brooks School Road. The meeting’s clearest unresolved project was a planned signal on 116th Street at the Spyglass subdivision. Responding to committee member Bill Stuart, Mekky said a new signal could cost $500,000 to $700,000 and the city is checking whether equipment removed from other intersections can be reused. He said officials hope to build it in 2027 but could not promise a date.

Public Works Director Jonathan Valenta presented the largest departmental total on the slides: $17.9 million, a 21.04% increase driven largely by a 104.02% jump in capital spending for wastewater plant and lift-station work. Health Department Director Monica Heltz proposed a $721,700 operating budget, up 4.59%, while planning additional clinical services, mental-health navigation and accreditation work.

Parks and Recreation Director Marissa Deckert proposed $1.92 million, up 3.92%, as the department prepares for AgriPark West, a country store at the existing AgriPark, White River Park programming and growing event attendance. Community Center Director Mike Lindbloom projected $6.83 million in revenue against $6.57 million in expenses, leaving $257,145 in net income while membership, programming and a rooftop exercise studio expand.

The figures are not directly comparable: several slides showed selected operating categories, Engineering focused on projects rather than one departmentwide total, and the Community Center projection includes wages and benefits.

None of the proposals is final. Mayor Scott Fadness is scheduled to present the proposed budget and hold a public hearing Sept. 21. Council adoption is scheduled for Oct. 12.

Continue reading Fishers department heads outline 2027 budget priorities →

The Hamilton Southeastern Schools Policy Committee is recommending person-first language throughout a district policy dealing with students who lack stable housing, responding to a school board vote that sent the item back to the committee.

At the board’s last meeting, Sarah Parks Reese questioned why the committee had proposed changing the policy’s title from “Homeless Students” to “Children Experiencing Homelessness” while leaving the older phrasing in place inside the policy. She moved to return the item so members could consider whether the body of the policy should change as well. The board voted 5-2 to do that, with Ben Orr and Board President Tiffany Pascoe voting no. The committee is made up of two board members, Dawn Lang and Juanita Albright.

The recommended version of Policy J07.10 now uses “children experiencing homelessness” in places where “homeless students” appeared. It says the district will work with children experiencing homelessness and their families to provide stability in school attendance, that special attention will be given to the enrollment and attendance of children experiencing homelessness not currently attending school, and that safeguards will protect children experiencing homelessness from discrimination. The definition section is reworded the same way, and the district’s required liaison position becomes the Liaison for Children Experiencing Homelessness.

The substance of the policy is not changing. The list of living situations covered — shared housing due to loss of housing or economic hardship, motels and campgrounds, shelters, cars, parks, abandoned buildings, transportation stations, unaccompanied youth and migratory children — stays the same, as does the requirement to name a liaison.

At the previous meeting, Orr, reading from a prepared statement, argued the person-first phrasing is tied to national advocacy organizations he said carry a political agenda, and called “Homeless Children” a “fine description.” Latrica Schooley said arguing over terminology was not a productive place for the board to be, but added that words matter, particularly when the students involved have experienced trauma.

Both phrasings appear in official use. The federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act uses the statutory term “homeless children and youths,” while person-first constructions are common in state guidance and district policy. Indiana districts must designate a liaison under the federal law regardless of the term the policy uses.

The committee is also recommending a change to the district’s policy on pregnant students, striking the words “whether married or unmarried.” The sentence would then say a student’s participation in HSE educational programs will not be restricted because that student is pregnant. The rest of that policy is unchanged, including language saying modifications from regular classes will be based on the assessed needs of the student, that the school may request medical verification of her ability to continue in classes, and that the superintendent or designee will maintain a procedure covering nursing and counseling staff guidance on pregnancy-related health and social services.

Both recommendations go to the full board for a vote at its September 9 meeting.

Residents must call the county’s flood hotline to be added to the final collection list.

Hamilton County residents with flood-damaged materials have until Thursday, Sept. 3, to place the debris curbside and request a county pickup.

Residents should leave the material where crews can reach it safely, then call the Flood Hotline at 317-645-3261 to have their address added to the final pickup list, according to a Hamilton County announcement.

Although Thursday is the deadline for residents to put out debris and request service, crews will make one final sweep through flood-affected neighborhoods after the Labor Day weekend. The sweep will mark the end of the county’s special curbside collection program.

Any flood debris remaining after the program ends will have to be removed through regular trash service or another standard disposal method.

The county said crews have collected about 2,749 cubic yards of construction and demolition debris since the program began Aug. 24. They also collected and properly disposed of 18,608 pounds of household hazardous waste.

Hamilton County hired CrowderGulf to collect the debris and Tidal Basin Group to monitor and document the work. The county plans to use those records as it seeks reimbursement through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Public Assistance Program.

The contrast shows how media distribution can help a smaller league find viewers while making it harder for casual fans to follow one of the world’s largest sports.

A Fishers Freight home game that ended in a loss nevertheless produced a record-setting national audience for the Indoor Football League.

The Freight’s May 16 game against the Jacksonville Sharks at Fishers Event Center recorded 454,134 viewers, according to the league, making it the most-watched broadcast in IFL history. Jacksonville won 68-50.

That audience helped the IFL finish its 2026 season with more than 6.1 million cumulative views across Yahoo Sports Network and Overnght Sports, the largest audience the league has reported.

The IFL entered the season with national distribution agreements involving both streaming outlets. By June 30, league games had generated more than 4.5 million streams and 30.6 million minutes watched on Yahoo Sports Network alone, according to an IFL postseason announcement.

The league described those numbers as an eighteenfold increase in streams and a fivefold increase in hours watched from the previous year. Twenty-six broadcasts surpassed 50,000 viewers, including seven that exceeded 200,000.

“Six million viewers is a major milestone, but more importantly, it’s the foundation for even greater growth ahead,” IFL Commissioner Todd Tryon said.

The Freight completed their second season with an 8-8 record, missing the Eastern Conference playoffs after a 67-63 loss to Orlando on the final play of the regular-season finale.

The IFL’s growth presents a notable contrast with Formula 1, one of the world’s largest sports properties.

Formula 1 entered 2026 after its most-watched U.S. television season. ESPN reported an average of 1.3 million viewers for each of the 24 races in 2025 across ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC. Sixteen races set event audience records, according to ESPN’s season report.

This year, Formula 1 moved its U.S. coverage exclusively to Apple TV. Data analytics company Samba TV found that household reach declined for eight of the nine races it compared with the corresponding 2025 telecasts, according to a USA TODAY report.

The Miami Grand Prix was down 68%, Monaco declined 66%, Barcelona-Catalunya fell 24%, Canada dropped 23%, Great Britain declined 16% and Austria was down 13%. Australia and China had smaller decreases, while Japan was unchanged.

The largest declines came at races shown on ABC in 2025. Miami averaged 2.17 million viewers that year, Monaco drew 2.3 million and Canada attracted 1.9 million. Moving those races from a widely available broadcast network to a subscription service reduced their potential reach.

The audience figures are not directly comparable. The IFL’s 6.1 million represents cumulative views across a season, ESPN’s 1.3 million was an average per Formula 1 race and Samba measures households rather than individual viewers. The IFL also has not disclosed how many of its views came from people watching multiple games.

Formula 1’s parent company says Apple viewership is up year over year and total hours watched have increased 13%, although it has not released race-by-race totals.

Still, the contrasting trends demonstrate the importance of accessibility. The IFL expanded its distribution, while Formula 1 moved from familiar cable and broadcast networks to a subscription platform.

For Fishers, the result was a national milestone: A game inside the city’s arena became the most-watched broadcast in IFL history.

The “Show Your Card and Save” campaign runs through Sept. 30 at participating Fishers, Noblesville and area businesses.

A Hamilton East Public Library card can secure more than books and digital resources this September.

The library’s “Show Your Card and Save” campaign offers discounts and complimentary items at more than 40 area businesses from Sept. 1 through Sept. 30. Cardholders can receive the participating business’s offer by presenting their library card.

Featured deals include:

• 25% off admission at Adrenaline Action Park
• A buy-one, get-one-free entrée at Another Broken Egg Cafe in Fishers
• 25% off admission and play passes at Dig Dig for Kids
• 10% off purchases at Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream
• 20% off beverages at Indie Coffee Roasters in Noblesville
• 20% off one piece per person per visit at Kiln Creations
• Two free classes at Orangetheory Fitness
• One free doughnut per cardholder at Parlor Doughnuts
• $1 off an order of $10 or more at Twisters Soda Bar
• 10% off purchases at Yafa Golden Coffee

Other participating businesses are offering discounts on restaurant meals, fitness classes, merchandise, entertainment and services. Some offers have location restrictions, purchase requirements or promotional codes. The complete list and terms are available on the Hamilton East Public Library website.

The campaign is part of Library Card Sign-Up Month. Residents can obtain or renew a card at the Fishers branch, 5 Municipal Drive, or the Noblesville branch, 1 Library Plaza. The library also offers online applications for digital cards to eligible adults living in Delaware, Fall Creek, Noblesville and Wayne townships.

Information about eligibility and required identification is available on the library’s Get a Library Card page.

When I invited Indianapolis-area sales trainer and podcaster Matt Nettleton to join the July 24 episode of Fridays With Larry, we had a lively conversation about his interviews with area business leaders and the paths they took to profitability.

Matt later returned the favor and invited me onto his Default Profitable podcast. Our conversation became the show’s 190th episode.

Matt asked how LarryInFishers.com grew from a volunteer project launched in January 2012 into a small business that now earns a modest profit. We also discussed how dramatically the local news business has changed—and discovered that we share an early connection to the industry: Both of us delivered newspapers when we were young.

The 22-minute episode is titled “Larry Lannan, Founder of LarryInFishers.com: Fourteen Years Free, Then a Business.”

You can listen to the podcast on Spotify or use the player below.

Hamilton County and the City of Noblesville will hold a joint ceremony Friday, Sept. 11, marking 25 years since the terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.

The 9/11 Memorial Ceremony begins at 11 a.m. at the Silos at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds, 2003 Pleasant St. in Noblesville. The public is invited.

“Twenty-five years have passed, but the responsibility to remember has not,” said Christine Altman, president of the Hamilton County Commissioners. “We owe it to those who lost their lives, to the families who still carry that loss, and to the first responders who ran toward unimaginable danger to make sure their courage and sacrifice are never forgotten.”

Altman and Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen will both speak, along with representatives of the Hamilton County Council and the Noblesville Common Council.

Jensen tied the anniversary to the flooding that has hit Hamilton County in recent weeks.

“September 11 reminds us how Americans came together in the face of tragedy,” Jensen said. “Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen that same spirit here at home as our community has responded to historic flooding. Neighbors have helped neighbors, first responders have worked side by side, and communities across Hamilton County have supported one another. Twenty-five years later, that sense of unity and service remains one of the most important lessons we can carry forward.”

A joint honor guard from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Noblesville Police Department and Noblesville Fire Department will present the colors.

Local, state and federal elected officials, members of the judiciary, township trustees and public safety leaders from around Hamilton County are also expected to attend.

The appearance will be the first in the Rose Parade for the Fishers High School band.

The Fishers High School Marching Tiger Band has been selected to perform in the 2028 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, Hamilton Southeastern Schools announced.

The New Year’s Day performance will be the band’s first appearance in the Rose Parade and another national spotlight for the program, which performed in the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

More than 200 students learned of the selection during a surprise announcement Aug. 29, following a full day of rehearsals.

“We are honored to show the world the dedication and commitment behind performing arts at Fishers High School,” band director Elijah Gardner said. “Our students are thrilled to take part in one of the largest New Year’s Day celebrations in the world and perform on an international stage.”

According to the school district, Fishers is one of 10 high school bands selected through an international application process. The 2028 group includes bands from Colombia, Costa Rica, Japan, Puerto Rico and the United States.

The official Rose Parade route covers 5.5 miles, beginning near Green Street and Orange Grove Boulevard before continuing along Colorado Boulevard and ending at Villa Street.

Getting the band to Pasadena will require a major logistical and fundraising effort. The group expects to travel about 4,000 miles round trip with more than 200 students. Two box trucks and a semi-trailer will carry instruments, uniforms and other equipment.

The band has launched an online fundraising campaign to help cover the trip.

“Our students are eager to put their hard work on display and return to Fishers with new friends, new stories and a camera roll full of memories,” Gardner said. “We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to represent Fishers, Indiana, in the 2028 Rose Parade.”

HSE Superintendent Matt Kegley said the invitation reflects the students’ talent, discipline and hours of preparation.

“What an incredible moment for these students, their families and all of Fishers High School,” Kegley said. “We could not be prouder to see the Marching Tiger Band carry the HSE Schools and Fishers name onto an international stage.”

HSE Schools estimates that more than 700,000 spectators will watch the parade in person, with millions more following broadcasts around the world.

Peak heat index values could reach 105 degrees across central Indiana, with little relief expected overnight.

A heat advisory covering Fishers and much of central Indiana will take effect at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, and remain in place until 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3.

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis said peak heat index values could reach 105 degrees each afternoon across the advisory area. High humidity and warm overnight temperatures will provide limited relief.

Hamilton County is among the counties included in the advisory. Hot temperatures combined with high humidity can increase the risk of heat-related illnesses.

The Fishers-specific forecast calls for a high near 95 degrees Tuesday, with the heat index reaching about 101. The forecast high is 96 Wednesday and 94 Thursday. Overnight lows are expected to remain in the mid-to-upper 70s during the advisory period.

Residents should drink plenty of fluids, reduce time outdoors and check on relatives and neighbors, particularly older adults and others who may be more vulnerable to extreme heat.

Anyone who must spend time outside should consider moving strenuous activities to the cooler morning or evening hours and taking frequent breaks in an air-conditioned location.

More than 70 artists, artisans and authors will gather along the Nickel Plate Trail on Sunday, Sept. 13, for the seventh annual Harvest Fest.

The free, family-friendly event will run from noon to 5 p.m. in downtown Fishers. Fishers Arts Council and Hamilton County Tourism are presenting the festival, which combines an art fair, live entertainment and activities with fundraising for 10 area nonprofits.

Harvest Fest will extend from Café Patachou, 8654 E. 116th St., to Hamilton East Public Library, 5 Municipal Drive. Vendors and activities will be divided among seven “art fields” along the trail.

Visitors will find fine art, jewelry, woodworking, ceramics, glass, clothing, home décor, personal-care products and books by Indiana authors. Musicians Erick Oneal Fisher, Brandon Douthitt and Glenn Seland will perform, along with the band Enigma Fig.

Participating nonprofits include Bee Free Bakes, Central Indiana Wood Workers, the Delaware Township Trustee food pantry, Fishers Community Chorus, Fishers Art Center, Fishers Historical Society, Hamilton East Public Library Foundation, Hoosier Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, Saving Our Sisters and Fishers Arts Council.

Fundraising activities will include Turkish paper marbling led by artist Esma Yokus, animal interactions with Hoosier Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation and face painting hosted by the Fishers Historical Society.

The Delaware Township Trustee food pantry will collect nonperishable food and monetary donations for fresh milk, meat and produce. Visitors who donate may also decorate a tote bag.

Seven food trucks will donate part of their event proceeds to participating nonprofits. The lineup includes Biscuit Baby, Chef TLC with Faith the Food Bus, Dog & Ball, Ice Cream Donuts, Kona Ice Indy, Pastelitos Las Gochitas and Smokey Blue BBQ. MashCraft-Fishers will sponsor the beer garden.

Harvest Fest was founded in 2020 and moved from Heritage Park at White River to the Nickel Plate Trail in 2025.

“Moving from Heritage Park at White River to the Nickel Plate Trail has added so much to the experience,” Fishers Arts Council Executive Director Les Reinhardt said in the event announcement.

No RSVP is required. Event maps, parking information and updates are available on the Fishers Arts Council event page.