The Fishers Event Center is expanding beyond the concert stage later this month, partnering with the City of Fishers and Hamilton County Tourism to create a community-wide fan experience tied to three sold-out performances by Billy Strings.

The Grammy Award-winning bluegrass artist is scheduled to perform April 24, 25 and 26 at the Fishers venue. While tickets for the shows are sold out, organizers say a variety of activities will be open to the public throughout the three-day weekend.

Plans include fan meetups, pop-up activities, a beer garden and food trucks, along with themed photo opportunities on the FORUM Credit Union Plaza at the event center. Fans will also have access to official tour merchandise ahead of each show, with early sales scheduled daily from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

Local tourism officials are promoting the weekend as a broader destination event, encouraging visitors and residents to explore area attractions and businesses tied to the concerts.

Strings, a three-time Grammy Award winner, is touring behind his latest album, Highway Prayers, which recently earned Best Bluegrass Album honors at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. The release debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s all-genre Top Album Sales chart — a rare achievement for a bluegrass record — and has drawn widespread critical acclaim.

Organizers say additional details about activities and participating locations can be found through Hamilton County Tourism’s online guide for the concert weekend.

Hamilton County voters will soon decide who will serve as the county’s next sheriff, with the Republican primary expected to determine the outcome in a race featuring two longtime members of the Sheriff’s Office.

In this edition of my podcast, I sit down with Dustin Dixon, a lieutenant with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, who is seeking the top law enforcement position in the county. Dixon discusses his background, his priorities for the department, and how he would approach leadership of an agency responsible for policing, jail operations, and public safety services across one of Indiana’s fastest-growing counties.

We also talk about key issues in the campaign, including transparency, the use of technology in policing, support for deputies, and how the sheriff’s office should work with local communities and partner agencies.

I have extended an invitation to the other Republican primary candidate for sheriff, John Lowes, to appear on this podcast series.

The LarryInFishers.com Podcast series is sponsored by Citizens State Bank.

My full conversation with Dustin Dixon is available at this link and the link below.

The City of Fishers’ Neighborhood Vibrancy Grant program continues to draw strong interest from local homeowners associations, with demand far exceeding available funding in 2026.

A total of $360,000 was allocated this year for the grant program, which provides funding to HOAs for neighborhood improvements and beautification projects. City officials, led by Mayor Scott Fadness and the City Council, have steadily increased funding for the program over the years.

This year, 66 applications were submitted, requesting more than $1 million in total funding.

Members of the Neighborhood Vibrancy Grant Committee reviewed and scored each application based on criteria established by city staff. Projects receiving the highest scores were considered first as the committee worked its way down the list.

During a meeting Monday, committee members conducted a detailed review of each proposal. In cases where applications contained incomplete information or cost estimates that raised questions, funding amounts were reduced rather than denied outright. The approach allowed the committee to distribute available funds across a greater number of neighborhoods.

Individual grant requests were capped at $25,000, although many applicants sought smaller amounts.

After approximately 90 minutes of deliberation, the committee had effectively allocated its full budget, with recommended awards slightly exceeding the $360,000 available. Final approval of the grants now rests with the Fishers Board of Public Works and Safety, which includes the mayor and two appointed members.  That vote is expected May 12.

The five-member committee—appointed by Mayor Scott Fadness—includes Art Hennig, Eric Steiner, Jason Arnold, Mark LaBarr and Josh Morris. Hennig has served on the panel since 2010, dating back to when Fishers was still a town.

At the conclusion of Monday’s meeting, Planning and Zoning Director Ross Hilleary said neighborhoods selected for funding will be notified by city staff.

Hamilton County officials have rolled out a new online procurement system designed to streamline how businesses connect with the county and compete for government contracts.

The platform, powered by OpenGov, provides a centralized, web-based portal where vendors can view bid opportunities, receive notifications and submit proposals electronically.

County officials say the system replaces older processes with a more modern approach, making it easier for businesses to track and respond to purchasing opportunities.

Through the new portal, vendors can register to receive alerts when new opportunities are posted, review current and upcoming solicitations, and submit proposals directly online. The system also automatically sends updates, amendments and addenda related to specific bids.

Vendor registration is free, and county leaders are encouraging businesses of all sizes to sign up and subscribe to notifications to stay informed about future contracting opportunities.

Officials say the new platform is intended to improve efficiency in the county’s procurement process while also increasing transparency and expanding access for companies interested in working with Hamilton County.

The procurement portal is available through the Hamilton County website under the Bid Opportunities and Solicitation section.

The Indy Ignite added another strong performance Sunday at Fishers Event Center, sweeping the Atlanta Vibe 25-19, 28-26, 27-25 to improve to 18-4 and remain in first place in Major League Volleyball. The victory came three days after Indy clinched a postseason berth, and it left the Ignite 1.5 games ahead of Dallas with six regular-season matches remaining.

Any thought of a letdown after the playoff-clinching win at San Diego did not show up for long. Indy handled the opening set comfortably, then found a way to finish off the final two sets when Atlanta pushed the match into extra points.

Ignite coach Lauren Bertolacci said afterward that Atlanta is the kind of opponent that keeps applying pressure. “It’s good we could manage it and win those,” she told Our Sports Central, noting the value of closing out tight sets late in the season.

Indy again leaned on its veteran firepower. Azhani Tealer led the Ignite with 19 kills while hitting 55.8 percent, and Leketor Member-Meneh added 13 kills. According to the team’s post-match release, the two were especially important late in the second set, combining for eight of Indy’s final nine points to secure the 28-26 win and put the Ignite firmly in control.

Atlanta did not go quietly. Taylor Smith led the Vibe with 12 kills and 14 digs for her second straight double-double, while Anna Dixon provided 11 kills off the bench and Maggie Mendelson added seven kills, two aces and a block. Atlanta coach Kayla Banwarth said her team competed better as the match went on, particularly after a slow start.

The sweep continued what has become a dominant stretch for the Ignite. WTHR described Sunday’s result as another straight-set win for the playoff-bound, league-leading club, which had already improved to 17-4 by rallying past San Diego on April 9 to lock up a championship spot for the second straight season.

Indy’s next match is April 17 at Grand Rapids. The Ignite then return home April 19 to face Dallas in what could be one of the most important regular-season matches left on the schedule.

The Indy Fuel picked up two critical points Sunday, but their playoff fate remains very much in doubt.

With the 4-3 shootout win over the Iowa Heartlanders, Indy now has 76 points and sits in third place in the ECHL’s Western Conference Central Division. Close behind, both Bloomington Bison and Cincinnati Cyclones have 75 points, Kalamazoo has 74, leaving little margin for error.

The top four teams in the division qualify for the playoffs, and the Fuel have just two regular-season games remaining—both on the road—against strong opponents in Fort Wayne on Wednesday and Wheeling on Saturday. Those games could ultimately determine whether Indy reaches the postseason.

Sunday’s win in Iowa did not come easily.

The Heartlanders struck first when Isaac Johnson scored an unassisted goal just 3:31 into the opening period. Iowa controlled much of the early play, outshooting Indy 14-9 and carrying a 1-0 lead into the second.

Iowa extended the advantage early in the second period on a goal by Elliot Desnoyers, but the Fuel responded. Defenseman Matt Petgrave cut the deficit in half and, in the process, set a new franchise single-season record for points by a defenseman with 45.

Later in the period, Cody Laskosky tied the game with a power-play goal, evening the score at 2-2 heading into the third.

Indy briefly took its first lead of the game when Alex DiPaolo scored early in the third period, but Iowa answered quickly to tie it at 3-3. Despite several late chances and five total power-play opportunities, the Fuel could not regain the lead in regulation.

After a scoreless overtime, the game moved to a shootout that stretched six rounds.

Goaltender Owen Flores proved to be the difference, stopping five of six Iowa shooters. Marcus Joughin and Jadon Joseph each converted in the shootout to secure the victory.

Indy outshot Iowa 34-32 overall, but led for only about three minutes of game time.

Now, with the standings tightly packed and no room for missteps, the Fuel head into their final two games knowing every point could make the difference between extending their season—or heading home early.