When I was informed that media would not be allowed inside the celebration of life for Hailey Buzbee, I understood. That was the family’s wish, and it deserved to be respected. So I did not attend, knowing that many in Fishers view me as a member of the media.

Instead, as many others did Thursday evening, I watched the service live online.

It was a moving event and, as intended, a true celebration of the life of this special 17-year-old Hamilton Southeastern High School junior.

Her uncle, Mark Miranda, spoke first, sharing personal stories that highlighted Hailey’s love of family and friends and the way her personality radiated outward to others. He talked about her interest in journalism and her work in HSE’s television program. She hoped to attend Indiana University in Bloomington — an institution that has educated generations of journalists.

Family members also shared stories of travel. Hailey was often invited to join relatives on trips, and she embraced those opportunities. It was clear she was more than a tag-along — she was a cherished companion.

One of the ministers at iTown Church then read a letter from Hailey’s father to his daughter. It was deeply touching. As a father myself, I give him great credit for being able to express those words under such painful circumstances. I am not certain I could have done the same.

Mayor Scott Fadness followed. He acknowledged that during his more than a decade as mayor, there have been moments of fear and apprehension in the community. He said he knew this tragedy could have produced more of the same. But after meeting with the family on the day it was confirmed Hailey had died, he came away with a clear understanding: their focus would be on who Hailey was, not solely on how she died.

The mayor also noted messages of support from other mayors across the region, many lighting their communities in pink in Hailey’s honor. Hamilton County illuminated the historic courthouse in pink. Pink ribbons have appeared throughout Fishers as visible signs of remembrance.

The celebration at iTown Church reflected exactly what the family and this community would want — remembering Hailey for the life she lived and the joy she brought to so many.

I am proud of the way the Fishers community has closed ranks in support of the Buzbee family. It reminds me why I am proud to call Fishers home.

Policies governing when and how school board members may attend meetings outside of regular board and committee sessions will return to the board’s Policy Committee for revised language.

Board members appeared divided on how the policy should be written. In the end, the board voted 6-1 to direct administrators to work with the Policy Committee on updated language. The committee consists of board members Dawn Lang and Juanita Albright.

In other action Wednesday night:

–Teachers have completed their health insurance plan selections, and under the union contract, Hamilton Southeastern Schools will make a one-time contribution to teachers’ Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) as follows:

Employee only: $340
Employee + spouse: $465
Employee + child(ren): $465
Family: $595

–The district also approved replacing iPad devices for students in kindergarten, fifth grade and ninth grade as part of its regular technology refresh cycle. One speaker during public comment urged the board not to approve the new devices.

In addition, the board approved replacing network hardware at the following schools:

Fall Creek Intermediate
Riverside Intermediate
Sand Creek Intermediate
HSE Intermediate / Junior High

–Board members approved a measure authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds.

–Hamilton Southeastern Intermediate Junior High School sixth grader Hannah Ginther was recognized for her resilience and service to others. Hannah has been named a 2026 Riley Champion, a statewide honor presented to patients who demonstrate courage in the face of serious medical challenges while giving back to their communities.

Hannah underwent a life-saving heart transplant as a young child and has remained closely connected to Riley Hospital for Children. Inspired by activities that brought her comfort during extended hospital stays, Hannah and her family donate Play-Doh to the Riley Cheer Guild to support other young patients. She has also shared her story publicly to encourage families facing similar medical journeys.

Now 11, Hannah plays volleyball and basketball and cheers on her sisters at their games. School officials say she continues to embrace life with the same joy and resilience that led to her selection as a Riley Champion.

The Hamilton Southeastern School board has approved the district’s 2028-2029 school calendar, continuing its practice of setting calendars several years in advance to help families plan vacations and other activities.

The board voted 6-1 in favor of the proposed calendar. An earlier motion to postpone the final vote failed on a 4-3 tally.

Under the approved calendar, students would begin classes on Wednesday, August 9, 2028. Fall break is scheduled for October 16-20. Winter break would run from December 21, 2028, through January 3, 2029, with students returning to classrooms on January 4.

Spring break would begin Friday, March 30, and continue through April 6. The final day of classes is set for Thursday, May 24.

Graduation ceremonies are also on the calendar. Fishers High School’s commencement is scheduled for June 6, with Hamilton Southeastern High School’s graduation set for June 7.

Board member Suzanne Thomas argued for extending winter break, saying additional time off would benefit students and families. However, district officials indicated that adding days to winter break could require starting the school year earlier in August or extending the calendar beyond Memorial Day for students and/or teachers.

Although the motion to delay the decision fell short by one vote, the calendar as presented ultimately received board approval by a 6-1 margin.

If you want to see the calendars for this school year and the following two, here are the links.

2025-2026     

2026-2027

2027-2028

The Hamilton East Public Library system serves both the Fishers and Noblesville communities. As the Ignite Maker Space grew in popularity at the Fishers library, Library Director Melissa Loiselle was frequently asked when a similar space would open in Noblesville.

That question was answered Tuesday afternoon as local officials cut the ribbon to officially open the Noblesville Library’s Ignite Maker Space. Loiselle credited Megan Benson with developing what she described as “a high-level maker lab, tailored for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and serious creators.”

Chris Jensen, mayor of Noblesville, praised the library staff for their work and highlighted the role public libraries play in both community life and the local economy.

“We have to continue to evolve,” Jensen said. “We have to meet people where they are and think about new opportunities. The maker space has a direct impact on the economic health of our community.”

Library officials describe the new Ignite Maker Space as a dedicated area designed to support hands-on learning, creativity, and innovation for patrons across a wide range of interests and skill levels.

For longtime residents of Fishers and Hamilton County, primary elections were once so lopsided that general elections were occasionally rendered unnecessary. In the early 1990s, it was not uncommon for town council races to be effectively decided in Republican primaries, with no Democrats filing and general elections canceled altogether.

That political landscape appears to be shifting.

The Hamilton County Democratic Party announced this week that 359 Democratic candidates have filed to run for public office in the 2026 election cycle, a level of participation party leaders describe as unprecedented in a county long dominated by Republican candidates.

One of the most notable signs of increased engagement is interest in the party’s state convention delegation. According to the party, 220 individuals filed to serve as delegates, far exceeding the county’s allotted 162 seats. Party officials say that level of enthusiasm would have been difficult to imagine just a few years ago, when many voters saw no Democratic names on local ballots.

“We’re finally seeing the fruits of our labor,” said Josh Lowry, chair of the county party. “For years, the Hamilton County Democratic Party has worked tirelessly to encourage citizens to be active participants in their own democracy. Our mission this primary season has been simple but essential: ensure that voters have a choice at the ballot box, which drives turnout and gives people the opportunity to be heard and represented in our government.”

Party leaders say the surge in candidate filings and delegate applications follows months of focused recruitment efforts aimed at encouraging residents to run for office and become involved in party organization.

The increased participation also addresses a long-standing challenge in Indiana politics: low voter turnout at both the state and county levels. By fielding candidates across Hamilton County and expanding its pool of engaged volunteers and delegates, the Democratic Party believes it is building the infrastructure needed for more competitive elections and sustained civic involvement.

What was originally expected to take place last week instead occurred Monday, following the tragic death of Hailey Buzbee.

At several Hamilton Southeastern school buildings, including both high schools, students staged protests during the school day over actions by federal ICE agents. The demonstrations were part of a nationwide student movement.

As a one-person operation, I was generally aware that the protests were planned but was unable to travel among school buildings during the day. Reporters were not permitted on school property for these events. However, Leila Kheiry of Current Publishing provided solid coverage of what occurred.

One question that has surfaced repeatedly online is this: what repercussions, if any, will students face for participating in the protests? The demonstrations took place during the school day, and students necessarily missed class time to take part.

I am not an attorney or a legal expert, but those familiar with education law point to two key considerations.

First, the 1969 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Tinker v. Des Moines established that students do not shed their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse gate. At the same time, most school districts treat participation in protests during the instructional day as an unexcused absence.

Locally, leaving a scheduled class during the school day violates Hamilton Southeastern Schools policy, and the district has the authority to discipline students for doing so.

School administrators have wide discretion in determining consequences. On the low end, discipline could amount to a detention. On the high end, other districts have imposed short suspensions; in a recent example, Southport High School suspended students for one day following a similar action.

School officials do not comment on individual student discipline, and in most districts discipline is progressive. For students with no prior disciplinary history, consequences may be minimal. In other cases, administrators could choose a more severe response.

As of now, Hamilton Southeastern School District has not issued a general statement outlining how student discipline will be handled in this situation. Some anecdotal information may emerge on social media if students or parents choose to share their experiences.

A bipartisan group of state lawmakers representing all or parts of Fishers came together Monday morning to advocate for legislation informally known as “Hailey’s Law,” proposed in response to the death of 17-year-old Fishers resident Hailey Buzbee.

Participating in the media briefing were House Speaker Todd Huston, Representatives Chris Jeter and Victoria Garcia-Wilburn, and Senator Kyle Walker. As Speaker of the Indiana House, Huston holds a key role in determining whether the proposal advances during the current legislative session.

Lawmakers say the legislation is intended to strengthen protections for missing children by addressing what they describe as gaps in Indiana’s current Amber Alert framework. While specific bill language has not yet been released, supporters indicate the proposal would give law enforcement greater flexibility when issuing alerts, particularly in cases that do not meet all existing Amber Alert criteria but still involve credible danger to a child.

The push for the legislation follows the January disappearance of Buzbee, who was reported missing from Fishers and later found deceased in Ohio. An Ohio man is currently being held on charges connected to the case.

According to reporting by WTHR, court documents indicate the suspect had been communicating with Buzbee for approximately a year prior to her disappearance. WTHR reports that investigators say the communication occurred through a gaming platform and later moved to an encrypted messaging application, highlighting ongoing concerns among law enforcement and child safety advocates about online exploitation and grooming.

In a related show of remembrance, Hamilton County announced Monday that it is participating in “Go Pink for Hailey” Month by illuminating the Hamilton County Old Courthouse in pink throughout February.

“Hamilton County stands resolute in its commitment to the safety of all our communities through strong partnerships with community leaders and the public safety professionals who serve and protect our county,” said Hamilton County Commissioner President Christine Altman. “We have zero tolerance for predatory criminals, and we believe they should be held fully accountable under the law.”

A celebration of life for Hailey Buzbee is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, at iTown Church, located at 12491 E. 136th Street in Fishers. Doors will open at 5 p.m., and attendees are encouraged to wear pink, Buzbee’s favorite color.

Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) announced Monday an amendment aimed at strengthening protections for missing children in Indiana.

According to a report by WTHR, Huston said language will be added to House Bill 1303 that would give state lawmakers more flexibility when issuing Amber Alerts. The bill is currently being considered in the Indiana Senate.

The proposed amendment comes in response to the death of 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee, who was reported missing from Fishers on Jan. 5. Authorities later determined she had been taken to Ohio, where she was killed.

Huston said the goal of the amendment is to close gaps in the current Amber Alert process and ensure law enforcement has additional tools available when a child is believed to be in danger.

Details of the amendment were announced Monday, Feb. 9, though specific language had not yet been publicly released at the time of the WTHR report.

House Bill 1303 was already advancing through the legislative process before the amendment was proposed. With the new language added, the bill is expected to continue moving through the Indiana Senate for consideration.