As a volunteer blogger/reporter, I have provided coverage of the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board and written many stories, sat through a number of meetings and hosted podcast all about what’s happening with local schools.  In my mind, I knew a lot about what was happening with HSE Schools.

As part of that coverage, the HSEngaged program caught my eye.  It allows local community members to learn more about what is happening with HSE Schools.

So, should I apply to be a participant in HSEngaged?  After all, I talk with school officials all the time and maybe I should not take way a slot that could go to another community member.

In the end, I applied and was accepted into the HSEngaged program.  Now that the program is over for this school year, I am very glad I applied.

Our meetings took place in school buildings during the school day, giving us a feel for what it is like in a school building on a school day.  We had one session at Hub & Spoke, where some HSE classes are held.

Yes, I have covered the HSE School Board for 11 years and learned a great deal about local schools during that time.  But HSEngaged opened my eyes to a more detailed learning experience.

For example, I sat through a number of presentations to the board about technology, but I learned much more about how technology is used in HSE classrooms through HSEngaged.

When our group had the end-of-year celebration May 11, it was a bit sad.  I had started to get to know many of my fellow HSEngaged members and realized this would be the last time I would be together with them as a group.

What we all take away from this experience is a much better understanding of the HSE Schools.  I credit Emily Abbots, Director of School and Community Relations for HSE Schools, for putting together a first-class program.

At our final meeting, just about all participants of HSEngaged said they learned a great deal and plan to share their newly-acquired knowledge about HSE Schools with people they know in the community.  I can say I learned a lot as well.

If you are one that makes a habit of listening to my local podcasts, you may have noticed it has been more than a month since I last produced & posted a local podcast on this blog.

There are many reasons why.  I traveled to South Dakota for the birth of my new granddaughter.  I was very sick for a while with a nasty infection.  Also, let’s just say I have been providing a helping hand to people close to me.

However, if all goes well, I should have a new local podcast posted for your listening pleasure by midweek next week.

In the meantime, thanks for reading this blog and listening to my local podcasts,

With warm weather here to stay, it is another long lost of road construction projects in & around Fishers.  Note at the end of the message that the city is looking for citizen feedback on the White River Park.

Below is the update, as provided by the City of Fishers:

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STATE ROAD 37 IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

To learn more about the State Road 37 Improvement Project and sign up to receive text updates, visit 37Thrives.com. 

STATE ROAD 37 AND 141ST STREET
A pre-construction phase at SR 37 & 141st Street is currently in place. During this phase, 141st Street will be a Right-In-Right-Out (RIRO) traffic configuration. 
This is not the permanent configuration. This will allow for traffic to flow more freely along SR 37 until the next phases of construction can be activated. This will eliminate backups along SR 37 that have caused dangerous stops to the free flow traffic and backups on the 146th Street interchange. Again, this is not the permanent configuration for 141st Street. The full timeline for the 141st Street interchange will be provided after project bids are accepted in the Summer of 2023. View detour routes here.

To learn more about the Clear Path Improvement Project and sign up to receive text and email updates, visit clearpath465.com 

I-465 & I-69
Drivers will see an increase in construction along the I-69 corridor in the coming months. This work will focus on reconfiguring the interchange at I-465 and I-69. New ramps will provide direct movements from eastbound I-465 and northbound I-465 to northbound I-69. Binford Blvd. will also be reconstructed to separate local traffic from traffic entering and exiting I-69 and I-465. Access to I-69 from Binford Blvd. will remain open. Drivers can expect to see significant activity on I-69 at the 82nd Street interchange.

The ramp from I-69 North to 82nd Street and the ramp from 82nd Street to I-69 North is currently closed through late 2023. For detour routes and additional project information, visit clearpath465.com 

To learn more about the Nickel Plate Trail, view the Capital Project Dashboard here.

NICKEL PLATE TRAIL
The City of Fishers is working on the completion of the Fishers portion of the Nickel Plate Trail. The remaining paving work from 96th Street to 106th Street is underway, and construction crews are currently working to clear and prep the area for paving. In the coming weeks, construction crews will begin the paving process.

There are daily lane closures currently on Cumberland Road, just south of 126th Street for sanitary and water line work. The northbound right turn lane and the southbound passing blister will be closed. 

Phase 1 construction for the grade separation intersection improvement is currently taking place at 146th Street and Allisonville Road. One through lane and one left turn lane in all directions will be closed through the intersection.

Closures of Sowers Drive and Saville Road at 146th Street will be necessary in June. Additional notifications will be provided prior to the closures. In addition to these closures, the worksite speed limit will be 35 mph. Please exercise caution while driving through this construction zone.

For additional project information, visit Hamilton County website here. 

Hamilton County Highway crews started work this week on the redesign of the intersection at 146th Street and Allisonville Road.  Lanes will be restricted, as are left turns.

When the work is complete, a roundabout will be located on Allsonville Road with an overpass for east-west traffic on 146th Street.

Below is the latest update on the project from the Highway Department:  (Note:  observe the construction speed limit and watch for workers in the work zone)  

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Phase 1 traffic restrictions are in place. Please refrain from entering into closed lanes, which are marked by the presence of traffic barrels and solid lane lines. The worksite speed limit is set at 35 mph. Please exercise caution while driving through this construction zone.

Construction crews are removing center concrete medians and preparing to put down temporary pavement. This will allow traffic to be shifted so construction can begin on the new interchange configuration. Utility relocation work is ongoing in the right-of-way.

Delays at the intersection are anticipated during peak hours. Motorists are encouraged to seek an alternate route when feasible.

Closures of Sowers Dr. and Saville Rd. at 146th Street will be necessary in June. Additional notifications will be provided prior to these closures.

The City of Fishers has announced another music act for the summer series at the Nickel Plate Amphitheater. Niko Moon is set for August 11.

Below is the City of Fishers news release announcing the concert:

Fishers Police Chief Ed Gebhart has issued a statement Thursday responding to a formal complaint filed against Fishers officers that there was racial profiling of an African American driver.  Gebhart says the internal investigation found “officers responded in accordance with department policy and procedure.”

Gebhart says the investigation reviewed officer body worn cameras, in-car cameras, retail videos from the incident, dispatch radio traffic and CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) notes, the 911 call, case report and narratives.

The incident involved was related to a report of a disturbance at Walmart 8300 E. 96th Street on Friday, April 21st.  Dustin Martin, who police report as the other party in the reported disturbance, was arrested May 7th “to be held accountable for his actions,” per the Chief’s statement.

“Currently, the individuals involved in this matter have not responded to the department’s offers to meet and discuss the incident in detail and review all associated videos,” Gebhart said in his statement . “The Fishers Police Department and the City of Fishers will share all facts and evidence in the proper venue as a Tort Claim notice has been received, and a criminal case is pending with the Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.”

“The Fishers Police Department remains committed in our continued efforts to be transparent with our actions, decision-making, and communication,” the Chief says in the statement.

Below is Chief Gebhart’s full statement:

The Fishers Police Department remains committed in our continued efforts to be transparent with our actions, decision-making, and communication.  The Fishers Police Department initiated an internal review of our officers’ actions involving a disturbance at Walmart 8300 E 96^th Street on April 21, 2023, after becoming aware of Mr. Bunnell’s displeasure regarding his contact with police via a social media post.

Members of the police department began working to identify the other involved party to the disturbance and Dustin J. Martin was later identified and contacted by Fishers Police Department on April 24, 2023.  A case was presented to the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office for review, and an arrest warrant was issued.  Dustin Martin was arrested on the warrant on May 7, 2023, to be held accountable for his actions. 

The Fishers Police Department received a formal complaint from Mr. Bunnell on April 25, 2023, and conducted a formal complaint investigation of the facts, circumstances, and information surrounding the incident in question. The internal review of all information (officer body worn cameras, in-car cameras, retail videos from the incident, dispatch radio traffic and CAD notes, the 911 call, case report and narratives) confirmed officers responded in accordance with department policy and procedure.

Currently, the individuals involved in this matter have not responded to the department’s offers to meet and discuss the incident in detail and review all associated videos. The Fishers Police Department and the City of Fishers will share all facts and evidence in the proper venue as a Tort Claim notice has been received, and a criminal case is pending with the Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

It doesn’t take much to get rumors started, so I often look to run down rumors I see or hear and try to determine whether they are true or not.

There has been some talk on social media in the area in recent days about removal of some signs at the site of the new Andretti Racing Team headquarters site in Fishers.  What does that mean?

I asked a spokesperson for Andretti, Ryann Weatherford, about all this.  She confirmed that the signs at the site have been removed, but that was only because those signs “were getting quite weathered.”

“Signage and branding surrounding the area may continue to evolve and change as we work to keep the build site looking its best throughout the duration of the project,” Ms. Weatherford wrote in an e-mail to LarryInFishers.

So, signs may be changing, but plans for a new Andretti Racing headquarters in Fishers are still on schedule

Formstack is a company headquartered in downtown Fishers and has been one of the success stories in bringing business to the city.  The Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ) posted a story to its Web site Thursday morning, written by reporter Susan Orr, that says the firm is laying-off “a significant percentage of its workforce on Wednesday.”

Precisely how many jobs were eliminated was not disclosed by the firm.  IBJ  quoted Formstack CEO Chris Byers as posting on Linked-In, ““Formstack is saying goodbye to  -some wonderful people.”

Reporter Orr cited laid-off employee Linked-In posts indicating  “the cuts spanned multiple departments at Formstack, including marketing, public relations, human resources, customer service, sales and product design.”  Orr reports laid-off workers posts seem to say 40% of the Formstack work force was eliminated, possibly more than 100.

To read the full IBJ story, use this link. (NOTE:  If you are not an IBJ subscriber, your access to this story may be limited.  Once again, I recommend that you subscribe to your local media.)

After a lengthy public hearing at the Fishers Plan Commission with many neighbors speaking against the idea, the Fishers City Council voted 5-4 approving a rezone of 1.76 acres along 116th Street and Olio Road, nestled between the Kroger grocery store and a church.

Residents in the area objecting to the Magnolia Hair Salon went as far as showing the Plan Commission a video of a Town Council meeting where commitments were made on limiting further commercial growth in that area of the city.

Voting no on the rezone were John Weingardt, Cecilia Coble, Pete Peterson and Selina Stoller.  Peterson cited promises made long ago as the main reason for voting no.  Councilors voting yes argued the city needs to encourage small business.

Housing continues to be a front-and-center issue in Hamilton County, and the local nonprofit HAND partnered with other local groups, including the Hamilton County Community Foundation, to talk about the issues in a local housing conference.  The discussions centered on the need for affordable housing within the local workforce.

Community organizations agreed that there is a “widening gap between household incomes and housing costs.”

The conference, held May 3rd at the Embassy Suites in Noblesville, featured local developers discussing how they navigate obstacles like high land costs and restrictive zoning ordinances.

Hamilton County Commissioner Christine Altman provided a brief update on the county’s plans to invest $5 million in federal ARPA funds to acquire land and build infrastructure for what she described as an “attainable housing development.”

The HAND news release about this conference contains the following fact:  “In 2023, Hamilton County has had more million-dollar home sales (58) than home sales under $200,000 (38).”  That provides some context into how difficult it can be to work in Hamilton County and find affordable housing.