The construction by the Hamilton County Highway Department at 146th Street and Allisonville Road will reach in new phase on March 1, if all goes as scheduled.  Allisonville Road is scheduled to close in the area of 146th Street for 90 days “on or after March 1.”

The county is constructing a roundabout at street level on Allisonville Road and an overpass on 146th Street.  County highway officials are giving motorists an advance warning of this planned road closure.

Below is the statement issued by the county Friday:

 Please be advised, beginning on or after Friday, March 1, our contractor will be closing Allisonville Road between 146^th Street and Kensington Drive, and between 146^th Street and Helmsley Court for 90 calendar days. Property owners within the limits of the closures will have access to their property during the closure. Both eastbound and westbound 146^th Street will remain open to all through traffic throughout the closure of Allisonville Road.

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.

When I began writing this blog in January of 2012, it never crossed my mind there would be a local story related to international auto racing, but that is what is happening now.

Andretti Global announced some time ago it will locate its new racing operation headquarters in Fishers.  That plan is still in place.  Andretti may be best known as an IndyCar racing team, but there are other series in which Andretti competes, including the IMSA sports car series.

Andretti has been lobbying Formula One to join that prestigious, world-wide racing series.  The answer came Wednesday from the Formula One powers that be.  Not only was it a “no,” it was a disrespectful “no.”

The statement from Formula One basically said Andretti would not be competitive.  There were other reasons provided in that statement, except the one that is most likely true…the current teams do not want to divide the massive amount of money flowing into Formula One with another team.

Andretti would be the only truly American Formula One team, but now the big shots at Formula One say 2028 would be the earliest Andretti would be able to enter the series, if at all.

Jenna Fryer of Associated Press, one of the best auto racing journalists in the world, wrote the following

“The decision outraged American fans of the series and left Michael Andretti and GM exploring potential legal avenues. F1 said it would be willing to revisit the issue if GM has an engine ready for the 2028 season, but was adamant and sharply critical in telling Andretti no for 2025 and 2026.”

Formula One is just getting popular in America, with races in Miami, Austin & Las Vegas.  How North American racing fans will react to the Andretti snub remains to be seen.

Jenna Fryer quoted Mario Andretti’s reaction in a social media post:

“I’m devastated,” the elder Andretti wrote on social media. “I won’t say anything else because I can’t find any other words besides devastated.”

There was speculation that the new Fishers Andretti Global headquarters would include the Formula One operation.  At least for now, it will not, but there should be plenty of land to expand Andretti’s footprint in the coming years if minds change.

In the meantime, let’s see what legal avenues the Andretti family may explore.

Fishers Police arrested a man Sunday accused of robbing Target stores throughout the country of $90,000 worth of merchandise.

Fishers Police were called to the Target store on Commercial Drive, following a theft report. Target’s Asset Protection called authorities saying a suspect had left the store. Asset Protection gave a description of the suspect and his vehicle. Within minutes, Fishers officers stopped the suspect, with the driver identified by police as Frank Covington.

The police report discovery of a device used to disable anti-theft devices in the suspect’s pocket.  Officers also say they found, inside Covington’s rental car, the following:  23 Texas Instrument TI-84 Plus calculators, two Texas Instrument TI-84 Plus calculators and one Texas Instrument TI-Nspire CX 2 calculator.

According to Target’s Asset Protection Team, Covington is listed as a suspect in various Target theft cases throughout the United States with an estimated value of $90,000 dollars.  A Fishers police Department news release says Covington had ten active warrants from several states with crimes ranging from burglary to theft and shoplifting.

The popular Fishers entertainment center Pinheads will re-open Thursday, February 1st.

The Facebook post says, “Thanks to the incredible efforts of our team…Pinheads is reopening on February, 1 2024!”

Pinheads closed after a kitchen fire January 10th.

More than 4 months following the resignation of Hamilton Southeastern Schools Superintendent Yvonne Stokes, with a large separation package, the school board is moving closer to naming a permanent superintendent.

At the end of the January 24th session, board President Juanita Albright said the board, with the help of outside contractor Administrative Assistance, has chosen one candidate for the job.  Dr. Albright did not reveal the name, or any other identifying information about the chosen superintendent candidate.

In the coming days, Albright expects an announcement of a public board meeting to review the proposed contract for the new superintendent, but before the name of the new superintendent candidate is revealed.

“We anticipate that we’ll announce the final candidate shortly after the process closes,” said Albright.

Approval of the superintendent’s contract will be conducted at the same meeting when the name of the superintendent is revealed, according to the board president.

Matt Kegley, formerly assistant superintendent, has been acting superintendent since the resignation of Dr. Stokes.

In other news from the board session.

–Julie Alano, former Teacher of the Year for the district, presented information on the Computer Science Honor Society at HSE High School in celebration of Hour of Code, held the week of December 4-10.  The video presented at the board meeting is available at this link.

–Reilly Harmeyer was announced as the new Assistant Principal at Fall Creek Junior High School

–President Albright announced the committee assignments for board members in 2024.  They are as listed here:

Policy Committee:

Sarah Donsbach

Dawn Lang

Ben Orr

Budget/Finance Committee:

Dawn Lang

Ben Orr

Facilities Committee:

Suzanne Thomas

Wellness Committee:

Sarah Parks-Reese

Tiffany Pascoe

Curriculum Committee:

Sarah Donsbach

Tiffany Pascoe

Noblesville Economic Redevelopment:

Sarah Parks-Reese

Fishers Economic Redevelopment:

Dawn Lang

Legislative Liaison:

Sarah Donsbach

Foundation:

Sarah Donsbach

Suzanne Thomas

I was thinking last week that in 12 years of writing this local Fishers news blog, I have never taken any time away.  Even when traveling, there was an effort on my part to update this blog.  Since I am a one-man-band, when I am away, there is no one to fill-in for me.

I decided Jane & I needed some time to ourselves so we did just that the past few days.  It was nice.

Now that I am back, I see there was some news in Fishers during my time away.  I will try to get caught up as quickly as possible.

Thanks for reading!

Just a heads up. I will be taking a few days off blogging. Don’t do this often, but is something I need to do every now& then. But the blog will return in a few days.

‘Larry in Fishers’: Retiree and former journalist keeps busy with local blog, podcast

My first exposure to Current In Fishers was receiving the weekly local publication in my mailbox.  When I began this local Fishers news blog in 2012, I came to know the Current in Fishers editor at the time, Dan Domsic.  Dan did a quick story on my news blog, mostly as a favor to him because he had a news hole and needed one extra local story in that edition.

Dan has since moved on and I have had the pleasure of knowing the Current in Fishers editors since Dan had the post.  I have done some writing for Current, again, starting as a favor to Dan who asked that I do so, and wrote for several others in charge of the weekly.

Leila Kheiry is the Current in Fishers editor now.  We immediately bonded because she is a former radio person as am I.

Leila asked to interview me for a story so I said yes.  How could a refuse a fellow journalist?

I did not know Leila intended to put me on the cover of the print edition, but that appears to be the case.  It was a surprise.

I was not surprised by the skill Leila exemplified in her interview with me and the story she wrote.  It was a genuine reflection of my interview with her, which I would describe as more of a conversation than an interview.

I never started this blog for any kind of fame, but what I hope Leila’s piece might do is motivate others to start their on local news blogs.  Technology has made that so easy today.

You can access the story online, using the link at the top of this blog post.

It was 2013.  I had started this local Fishers news blog the year before.  We were a town then and the town council looked into a city-wide trash collection contract.  Councilor David George was the one behind the idea, believing such an arrangement would save residents and Homeowners Associations (HOAs) money.

So, the town went through the process outlined in state law.  A request for proposals was issued and the bids were submitted.  Republic was the lowest bidder, at just under $10 a month (if my memory serves me correctly).

Then there was a public hearing.  I was out of town and could not attend.  My good friend Scott Fulton covered that meeting foe mw and it was clear most residents choosing to speak then were against the whole idea of a city-wide trash contract.  Some were satisfied with the service they had and others saw no reason for the town to get involved.  So, the Town of Fishers in 2013 dropped the whole idea.

City Councilors Pete Peterson and John Weingardt were also on the town council in 2013 and the current mayor, Scott Fadness, was town manager at the time.  They all said that trash proposal in 2013 was the most contentious issue they had ever handled on town or city government.

That is the reason Fishers never revisited the city-wide trash collection contract again.  However, in 2024, things have changed.

In 2013, there were several trash collection firms operating in Fishers.  Today, 2 companies, Republic and Waste Management, have most of the contracts.  Another firm, Priority, does have a small presence in Fishers, based on a presentation from the mayor’s Chief of Staff Jordin Alexander.

Alexander made her presentation at the January City Council meeting.  For more on that, read my previous story at this link.

Any city contract would include a number of elements, according to Alexander.  They would include:

–a 5 year term

–Weekly Collection of Solid Waste & Yard Waste

–Bi-Weekly Curbside Recycling

–2 96 Gallon Containers for Solid (65 Gallon Option at Request of Resident)

–1 96 Gallon Container for Recycling

–Leaf/ Landscaping Waste Pick Up:During the months of April, May and October 15th to December 15th, each household is allowed 20 extra bags or bundles per week of landscape waste

–Special Needs Service: For those individuals that are physically unable to wheel trash carts to the curb

The city could consider some additional aspects of any contract, such as:

• Bulky Item Pickup: Collection of Multiple Bulky Items (residents would request and pay through the contractor)

• Option to Extend to 6-7 Year

• Option to Increase to Weekly Recycling

• Christmas Tree Collection: December 26th – January 31st

Our nearby communities of Carmel, Noblesville and Westfield all have city-wide contracts for trash collection.  Mayor Scott Fadness insists he does not want to create a city trash collection service, but is open to contracting with a private firm.

In the past, HOAs have been able to get deals with trash collection operations.  My HOA had the annual meeting a few weeks ago and our trash collection contract is set to increase 35-40%.  Other HOAs are seeing the same thing.

It is clear Fishers is taking the first steps toward a request for proposals (RFP) and see what bids are submitted.  Fishers is a different place now compared to 2013 and the trash collection scene is much different now.

Let’s see how this process moves forward in 2024.

The Hamilton Southeastern Education Foundation only has a few major fund-raising events each year, and one of them is coming up soon.  The 2024 Game Day is set for Friday, February 23rd, 6:30pm, at Hub & Spoke.

Game Day is a time to don your favorite sports outfit and support the foundation’s efforts to support education at Hamilton Southeastern Schools.

Game Day has become a signature event in Fishers, as the largest annual fundraiser benefiting all 22 Hamilton Southeastern schools and attracting a sellout crowd. Event attendees will be provided tailgating themed games, game day food, and the annual district-wide Pop-A-Shot contest. Proceeds from the event help support innovative teacher grants, student scholarships, mental health, and wellness initiatives across all grade levels.

The event also will feature the popular Game Day auction, a way for the entire community to support local schools. The auction annually features hundreds of unique items and experiences, including baskets from each of HSE’s schools and PTOs. You can view the auction items in person by attending Game Day or follow the auction online from anywhere until bidding closes on February 23rd. Each $100 ticket is a tax-deductible donation used to inspire innovation in local education with discounts available for HSE Schools staff and alumni.

Game Day tickets normally sell quickly, so do not delay in buying yours.  Tickets are available at this link.