State Representative Victoria Garcia-Wilburn encouraged constituents to step away from their computer screens, talk to their neighbors, and make their voices heard on pressing public issues, during a well-attended town hall Thursday evening at the Hamilton East Library in downtown Fishers.

One emotional moment came when a local nurse shared the challenges she and her colleagues face due to ongoing staffing shortages. Garcia-Wilburn emphasized the importance of sharing such personal stories with lawmakers, saying they help humanize policy debates and influence meaningful change.

The representative also reviewed key issues addressed during the recently concluded Indiana General Assembly budget session. She voiced her opposition to a new law allowing partisan school board elections, raised concerns about proposed cuts to local health department funding, and called for large corporations to pay what she described as their “fair share” in taxes.

Garcia-Wilburn praised her constituents for their civic involvement, noting that her district had the highest response rate to her legislative survey among lawmakers In the Indiana House. She added that her voting record during the session closely aligned with the views expressed by survey participants.

House District 32, represented by Garcia-Wilburn, includes the west side of Fishers, much of Carmel, and a portion of northern Marion County.

Drivers navigating the ongoing construction at 146th Street and Allisonville Road should prepare for a significant traffic pattern change set to begin on or after June 2, according to the Hamilton County Highway Department.

The next phase of the infrastructure project will make the new roundabout at the intersection operational, and one lane of 146th Street will reopen in each direction via the newly constructed bridge over Allisonville Road. Once this phase is in place, left turns—currently prohibited in all directions—will be allowed once again through the roundabout.

Until then, drivers are reminded to continue observing the 35 mph posted speed limit and to avoid making left turns at the intersection. The construction zone remains active, with periodic lane closures and temporary traffic stoppages expected as crews complete various work items.

“Please watch for flaggers and workers in and around the construction zone, and use extreme caution,” the department advised in its latest update.

Bridge rehabilitation and widening efforts continue on the westbound bridge over the White River. Warmer temperatures have allowed the contractor to resume key operations including grading, storm sewer installation, subgrade preparation, and paving.

Additionally, the bridge railing over Allisonville Road was completed in recent weeks, marking a notable milestone in the broader improvement project. Crews are also working on roundabout construction and barrier wall installation within the active work zone.

Construction vehicles will be entering and exiting the site frequently, so motorists are urged to stay alert and reduce speeds while driving through the area.

After the June traffic shift, westbound traffic on 146th Street will be divided over the White River bridge, with active construction continuing between travel lanes. The county cautions drivers to remain vigilant and allow time to adjust to the new traffic configuration.

County highway officials say the project is scheduled to be completed in the fall of this year.

The illustration below is provided by Hamilton County.

The Hamilton County Commissioners and County Council are now accepting applications from local nonprofit organizations seeking grant funding for the 2026 calendar year.

The Hamilton County Non-Profit Grant Program is intended to provide financial assistance to organizations that offer services supporting the County’s goals. These services are considered essential to the community, and without them, the County may need to consider developing such programming internally.

Grants will be awarded based on the score of the application and the availability of funds. All awarded funds must be matched by other funding sources or supported through documented in-kind services. Funding will only be distributed to organizations based in Hamilton County.

Applications are due by Wednesday, June 4 at 4:30 p.m. Late submissions will not be accepted. Applicants selected for funding will be notified on or after Wednesday, November 12, and funds will begin to be distributed in January 2026.

More details, including eligibility requirements and application forms, are available on the County’s Non-Profit Grant Application webpage. For additional information not addressed in the application materials, contact Director of Council Operations Kelly Morehouse at Kelly.Morehouse@HamiltonCounty.in.gov or Assistant Director of Administration Dianna Lynch at Dianna.Lynch@HamiltonCounty.in.gov.

Abby Taylor will be stepping away from the presidency of the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA) as of July 1.  In a social media post, Taylor indicated she made the decision for family reasons.

The new HSEA president as of July 1 will be Tyler Zerbe.  He currently serves as Vice President for Secondary Education with the local teachers union.

Taylor confirmed her decision in an e-mail to LarryInFishers.  I have submitted a number of follow-up questions to HSEA.  Once I receive a response, this story will be updated.

After three decades of service to Hamilton County, Director of Administration and former County Prosecutor Lee Buckingham will retire at the end of this month.

Buckingham’s final day will be Friday, May 30, capping off a distinguished 30-year career in county government that began in 1995.

“Working for Hamilton County has been the honor of a lifetime,” Buckingham said in a statement. “The people—whether in the Prosecutor’s Office, the courts, or county administration—are truly the best part of this job.”

Buckingham started his career in public service as a Deputy Prosecutor, a role he held for 16 years before being elected Hamilton County Prosecutor in 2010. He led the office for 12 years, stepping down in 2022. In January 2023, he took on a new leadership role as Director of Administration for the Hamilton County Commissioners.

In addition to his prosecutorial work, Buckingham served on the county’s Community Corrections Advisory Board for 22 years, many of those as president, contributing to the development of local criminal justice initiatives.

“Lee has been a trusted and thoughtful leader in Hamilton County government,” said Steve Dillinger, President of the Hamilton County Commissioners. “His legal expertise, calm presence, and principled approach to public service have made a lasting difference in our community. We wish him nothing but the best.”

A licensed attorney, Buckingham earned his law degree from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law and holds an undergraduate degree from Loyola University. He is stepping away from public service to be closer to family.

“Leaving Hamilton County is not easy,” Buckingham added. “I’ll always be grateful for the relationships I’ve built and the trust I’ve been given over these 30 years.”

The County has not yet announced who will succeed Buckingham in the Director of Administration role.

I’ve had the same dentist since the mid-1980s. He was just beginning his practice when I became his patient, and over the decades, he’s provided consistent, trusted care—even after I moved out of the neighborhood and had to make a longer drive for my appointments. That relationship, built over time, speaks to the value of continuity in dental care.

But I know this level of access and consistency is not available to everyone. As my own dentist approaches retirement, I’ve started thinking more about the growing challenge many Hoosiers face in finding any dentist at all—especially those living in rural areas or covered by Medicaid.

This is a crisis affecting thousands across Indiana. Lack of access to dental care doesn’t just mean cavities or toothaches—it’s a serious public health issue. Research increasingly shows that poor oral health can lead to major medical complications, including heart disease, diabetes, and infections.

In response to this urgent need, Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana is stepping in with a bold new initiative: a student loan repayment program for dentists who commit to serving underserved communities in Indiana.

Nearly 1 million Hoosiers live in areas with limited access to dental providers. To help reverse this trend, Delta Dental is offering up to $200,000 in student loan repayment for private practice dentists who, upon completing their education, agree to work in these shortage areas and ensure that at least 15% of their patients are on Medicaid.

“The cost of dental and hygiene school continues to rise, and for too many it’s becoming cost prohibitive to enter the profession at a time where there is a growing need for dental care access,” said Jeff Johnston, DDS, chief science officer for Delta Dental. “We want to be part of the solution and help support students struggling to afford an education. We believe our loan repayment program will allow more young people to enter this profession and serve communities desperately in need of their talents and expertise.”

Indiana currently has 123 federally designated dental professional shortage areas, most of them in rural regions. These communities often rely on nonprofit clinics for care—which is why the Delta Dental Foundation is also offering up to $15,000 in loan repayment for dental hygienists and up to $75,000 for dentists who work at nonprofit clinics.

Applications for the program are now open and must be submitted by June 1. To learn more and apply, visit: https://deltadental.pub/loanrepayment

Monday, May 19, was the evening set for the regularly scheduled Fishers City Council meeting.  It did not happen.  Why?

City spokesperson Ashley Elrod says the planned agenda was relatively light and there were Council members unable to attend, leading to the cancellation decision.

No word on whether the session will be rescheduled or the next meeting will be at the regular date in June.

The Delaware Township Community Center has been temporarily shuttered after a lightning strike on the evening of May 13 caused a fire and severe flooding, inflicting significant damage to the building.

The incident rendered the popular community hub uninhabitable. Restoration efforts began the following morning and are expected to continue for several months as crews work to repair the extensive damage.

Despite the setback, township officials say the community has rallied in support of the center.

“We are grateful for the outpouring of support from our community,” said Delaware Township Trustee Debbie Driskell. “We look forward to celebrating and welcoming everyone back to the community center as quickly as possible.”

The township will provide ongoing updates as the restoration progresses and has expressed appreciation for the public’s patience and understanding during the closure.

No injuries were reported, and officials are currently assessing long-term restoration needs. In the meantime, residents are encouraged to follow the township’s website and social media channels for information on alternative arrangements and updates.