The Indy Fuel opened a weekend home-and-home series with Kalamazoo in strong fashion Friday night, building an early lead and cruising to a 4-1 victory over the K-Wings at Wings Event Center.

Indy struck quickly and often in the first period, scoring three times to seize control of the game. Michael Marchesan opened the scoring just 2:04 into the contest, converting on Indy’s first shot of the night.

The Fuel doubled their lead at 12:43 when a wide-angle deflection off a shot by Eric Martin found its way into the net. After a brief review, the goal stood, giving Indy a 2-0 advantage.

Less than two minutes later, the Fuel capitalized on the power play. Terry Broadhurst scored at 14:56, with assists from Martin and Cody Laskosky, to make it 3-0. The goal prompted Kalamazoo to replace starting goaltender Ty Young with Jonathon Lemieux. Indy led 3-0 after one period while outshooting the K-Wings 9-6.

The second period was largely uneventful, with limited scoring chances and no goals. Kalamazoo earned its first power play late in the period after a goaltender interference penalty on Indy’s Matt Petgrave, but the Fuel penalty kill carried the momentum into the third. Shots were even at 19-19 after two periods.

Kalamazoo finally broke through at 6:32 of the third period when David Keefer scored to cut the deficit to 3-1. Indy responded midway through the frame, as Sahil Panwar scored at 13:34, assisted by Broadhurst and Petgrave, to restore the three-goal cushion.

The K-Wings pulled their goaltender late in an attempt to rally, but the Fuel held firm. Kalamazoo outshot Indy 29-28 overall, but the Fuel skated away with the 4-1 win.

Kalamazoo and the Fuel will wrap up the weekend series Saturday night at the Fishers Event Center.

The Indy Fuel announced Friday the rescheduled dates for three games that were postponed in December 2025.  The games were not played as originally scheduled due to a player strike that has since been resolved.

The Fuel will host the Toledo Walleye on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, with puck drop set for 7 p.m. at Fishers Event Center.

Indy will then travel to Fort Wayne to face the Komets on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. That game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.

The third rescheduled contest will take the Fuel on the road to Wheeling, where they will play the Nailers on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 7:10 p.m.

The Indy Fuel are the ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Chicago Blackhawks and the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs. The team is in its 12th season.

This week marks the launch of a new weekly podcast, Fridays With Larry, a more relaxed, conversational companion to our regular local news coverage.

Each Friday, the podcast will take a step back from headlines to look at what’s been happening across Fishers and the surrounding area. I’ll offer perspective on the week’s local news and sit down for a one-on-one conversation with someone who is helping shape life in our community — from public safety and schools to local government, nonprofits, and neighborhood initiatives.

The inaugural episode, released January 16, features a conversation with a Fishers Police Department officer who is leading the department’s current recruitment efforts. With a significant number of officers nearing retirement, the department is working to attract the next generation of uniformed officers to serve the community. We talk about what the department is looking for in applicants, how the recruiting process works, and what a career in law enforcement in Fishers looks like today.

Fridays With Larry will be published weekly and is designed to be informative, approachable, and rooted in the local conversations that matter most to our readers and listeners.

I have a new sponsor for my podcasts, Citizens State Bank.

You can find the video version of the first edition of this new podcast at this link.  Or, if you prefer just listening, use this link.  You can also use the links below.

Drivers in northeast Indianapolis should prepare for significant ramp and lane closures this Friday as crews with the Indiana Department of Transportation shift traffic as part of the Clear Path Project at the I-465 and I-69 interchange.

State highway officials said closures will begin Friday morning, Jan. 16, to allow traffic to be moved onto a new ramp and bridge connecting southbound I-69 to southbound I-465. The work marks a major milestone in the ongoing reconstruction of the interchange.

During daytime hours Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the ramp from 82nd Street to southbound I-465 will be closed. At the same time, the ramp from southbound I-69 to southbound I-465 will be reduced to one lane. All ramps and lanes are scheduled to reopen between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Friday to accommodate evening traffic.

Overnight closures will follow from 9 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday. During that period, the ramp from southbound I-69 to southbound I-465 will be fully closed, along with the ramp from 82nd Street to southbound I-465.

Transportation officials said the new ramp and bridge are expected to open early Saturday morning, Jan. 17, once overnight work is complete.

Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead and use alternate routes to avoid delays during the closures. Officials emphasized that the schedule is weather dependent and could change if inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances occur.

Hamilton County’s two governing bodies have selected new leaders as part of their annual reorganization meetings, ushering in changes at the top of both the County Council and the Board of Commissioners.

The Hamilton County Board of Commissioners elected Christine Altman as its new president, replacing Steve Dillinger. Mark Heirbrandt was chosen to serve as vice president of the three-member board.

“It’s an honor to step into this role,” Altman said in a statement. “I’m excited to work alongside my fellow commissioners to guide the county forward in a thoughtful and strategic way.”

The Hamilton County Council also elected new leadership, naming Brad Beaver as its president. Beaver succeeds Sue Maki in the role. Steve Nation was elected vice president of the council.

Beaver, who was first elected to the County Council in 1994, currently serves as an at-large member representing the entire county. In a statement, he thanked his colleagues for their support.

“I’m grateful for the confidence my colleagues have placed in me,” Beaver said. “The Council has a strong track record of responsible stewardship, and I look forward to continuing that work on behalf of Hamilton County taxpayers.”

The election of officers is a routine, annual practice for both governing bodies and takes place at their first meetings of each calendar year.

Indiana Senate District 31 will see competitive primary contests on both sides of the ballot ahead of the May 5, 2026, primary election, with multiple candidates now officially in the race.

On the Republican side, Fishers City Council member Tiffany Ditlevson formally filed her candidacy this week, joining Juanita Albright, a member of the Hamilton Southeastern School Board, who previously announced her intention to seek the seat.

Ditlevson serves as an at-large member of the Fishers City Council and said her campaign will focus on fiscal discipline, public safety and managing growth in one of the state’s fastest-growing areas. In announcing her candidacy, she said Senate District 31 needs leadership that understands the challenges associated with growth and can deliver results.

A former U.S. Air Force major and combat veteran, Ditlevson brings military, public service and private-sector experience to the race. She said her background includes leading large teams, managing complex budgets and working collaboratively to solve problems, skills she believes translate well to state government.

In her campaign announcement, Ditlevson outlined priorities that include keeping taxes low, making strategic infrastructure investments, strengthening public safety, ensuring effective use of education funding and protecting residents’ quality of life. Her campaign will officially kick off with a fundraising event scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 5.

Albright, her Republican primary opponent, currently serves on the Hamilton Southeastern School Board. Her candidacy adds an education-focused background to the GOP field, setting up a contested Republican primary in the district.

Democrats will also hold at least a three-way primary contest in Senate District 31. Kerry Forestal, Lasima Packett and Catherine Torzewski have all announced they will seek the Democratic nomination. Each candidate is expected to outline policy platforms aimed at appealing to Democratic voters in the district ahead of the spring primary.

The winners of the Republican and Democratic primaries will advance to the general election later in 2026.

Indiana’s primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

The Humane Society for Hamilton County will again partner with local philanthropist Steve Cage to host the fifth annual Furry Fracas pickleball tournament, set for Jan. 29 through Feb. 1 at The Picklr in Noblesville.

The four-day event raises money and awareness for HSHC and is part of the national Victory Pickleball Series, an amateur-only tour that combines competitive play with charitable giving. Organizers expect more than 700 players, volunteers, vendors and spectators to attend this year’s tournament.

Cage, a longtime supporter of HSHC, contributed $4 million to the organization’s capital campaign, helping make possible the Steven J. Cage Foundation Animal Wellness Center in Fishers. His involvement later expanded into ongoing operational support through pickleball fundraising events, leading to the creation of the Furry Fracas.

The tournament has grown steadily since its launch and is now considered one of the top pickleball events in Indiana. According to organizers, the Victory Pickleball Series averages about 450 players per tournament nationwide and has provided more than 45,000 meals for people in need and more than $100,000 in support for shelter pets.

“In five short years, we’ve grown the Furry Fracas into one of the top two tournaments in the state of Indiana,” said Kevin Huff, president of the Victory Pickleball Series. He said the event was created to generate critical awareness and financial support for HSHC.

In 2025, the Furry Fracas raised more than $30,000 in three days to support animal care and lifesaving programs at the shelter. This year’s event includes a partnership with title sponsor Tom Wood Porsche, with a goal of exceeding previous fundraising totals.

Rebecca Stevens, president and CEO of HSHC, said the tournament reflects Cage’s commitment to shelter animals and the community. She said the event benefits not only Hamilton County but also the broader communities reached by the Victory Pickleball Series.

The Furry Fracas is open to players of all ages and skill levels and will feature competition on 19 indoor courts at The Picklr over the course of the tournament.

Two long-time and well-known Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools staff members will retire at the end of the 2025–26 school year, bringing decades of service to the district to a close.  Their retirements were formally approved by a vote of the HSE School Board Wednesday night.

James “Jim” Brown, athletic director at Fishers High School, and Janet Chandler, a longtime teacher and former local teachers union president, will both conclude careers that had a significant impact on students, colleagues, and the broader HSE community.

Jim Brown: Two Decades Leading Fishers High School Athletics

Jim Brown has served as athletic director at Fishers High School since its early years, overseeing the growth of the Tigers’ athletic programs into one of the most visible and competitive in central Indiana. His career in education and athletic administration spans more than four decades.

Before coming to Fishers, Brown spent more than 20 years as athletic director at Triton Central High School. At Fishers High School, he guided the athletic department through rapid enrollment growth, conference realignment, facility expansion, and the increasing complexity of high school athletics.

Colleagues and coaches have credited Brown with emphasizing sportsmanship, student development, and academic balance, while supporting dozens of athletic programs and hundreds of student-athletes each year. Under his leadership, Fishers teams have competed in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference and regularly advanced in sectional, regional, and state tournament play across multiple sports.

Brown has also been active in state-level athletic organizations and has received professional recognition from coaching and athletic administrator groups during his career. His steady presence has made him one of the most familiar and respected figures in Fishers High School athletics.

Janet Chandler: Educator, Advocate, and Union Leader

Janet Chandler’s retirement marks the end of a long career at Hamilton Southeastern High School, where she taught social studies and was deeply involved in academic enrichment programs such as We the People and Mock Trial. Former students and colleagues often point to her passion for civic education and student engagement.

In addition to her classroom work, Chandler served as president of the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA), the district’s teachers union. In that role, she represented educators in contract negotiations, professional concerns, and discussions with district administrators and the school board. She became a familiar voice in public meetings, advocating for teachers while emphasizing collaboration and respect for the profession.

Chandler has received multiple honors during her career, including recognition from the Indiana State Teachers Association and a Sagamore of the Wabash award, reflecting her contributions to education and public service in Indiana.

Her dual roles as both educator and union leader made her a key figure in district conversations about teaching conditions, student needs, and the future of public education.

A Lasting Impact

Together, Brown and Chandler represent two very different but equally influential paths of service within Hamilton Southeastern Schools — one in athletics administration and the other in classroom teaching and professional advocacy. Their retirements will mark the end of an era for Fishers High School and HSE.

Sahil Panwar scored a late power-play goal to break a third-period tie and lift the Indy Fuel to a 3–2 victory over the Fort Wayne Komets on Wednesday night, the teams’ first meeting of the 2026 calendar year.

The Fuel built a 2–0 lead before Fort Wayne rallied early in the third period to even the score, but Indy capitalized on a lengthy 5-on-3 advantage late to secure the regulation win.

Indy opened the scoring at 7:18 of the first period when defenseman Matt Petgrave finished a backhanded shot in front of the net. Nick Grima picked up the assist on the goal. Goaltender Mitchell Weeks helped preserve the lead with several early stops, including a behind-the-back save on a Komets breakaway.

The Fuel held a 1–0 advantage after one period despite being outshot 12–7, and they successfully killed multiple Fort Wayne power plays in the opening frame.

After a scoreless second period for most of the frame, Indy doubled its lead with 39 seconds remaining. Tyler Paquette found the net to make it 2–0, with Jadon Joseph recording the assist. Fort Wayne controlled much of the play through two periods, outshooting the Fuel 26–14.

The Komets broke through early in the third period when Dustyn McFaul scored at 2:19 to cut the deficit to 2–1. Fort Wayne tied the game at 7:29 as Austin Magera beat Weeks to make it 2–2.

The decisive moment came late in regulation. After Fort Wayne was assessed two penalties, giving Indy a 5-on-3 power play, Panwar scored to restore the Fuel’s lead at 3–2. Fort Wayne pulled its goaltender for an extra skater in the final minutes and briefly gained a two-man advantage, but the Fuel held on to close out the win.