There are so many ways to commemorate a day like Veterans Day.  On Veterans Day 2022, the City of Fishers chose a new venue and the keynote address told the incredible story of one member of the Armed Forces.

The new venue was Knowledge Services, located in what was once the headquarters for the Marsh Grocery Company.  With City Hall demolished to make way for a new Arts & City Hall complex, the Knowledge Services facility has a nice auditorium that served well as the place to hold the annual Fishers Veterans Day ceremony.

The main speaker was retired Major General Richard Chegar and he told the story of a man he described as “the best soldier I ever served with.”  That was Command Sergeant Major Arno Childs.

As a young man, Childs got into a bit of trouble and was given a choice by an Indiana judge – go to jail or the military.  The next day he was in the Army recruiting office.

General Chegar described Childs career, which included more honors and decorations one could count.  His heroism in the Vietnam battlefield was described in detail.

Although haunted by PTSD later in life, Cheagar described how finding religious faith helped Childs shake the PTSD demons later in life.  Childs has been gone for about 10 years but his two daughters were in attendance for General Chegar’s address.

Mayor Scott Fadness passed out service pins to all veterans at the event choosing to receive one.  The mayor also introduced his son Lincoln, who was born on Veterans
Day 8 years ago.  The crowd couldn’t resist breaking out into the Happy Birthday song for Lincoln.

El Ahwardt did his usual outstanding job as master of ceremonies.  Retired Commander Ahlwardt also chairs the Fishers Armed Forces Commission, which handled most of the planning for this Veterans Day celebration.

When I think about Veterans Day, I think about my dad, uncles, cousins and nephews that have served in the military.  There are so many, I would likely leave someone out if trying to list them all.  Let’s just say I’m thinking about all of you every Veterans Day.

Look for a few lane restrictions around Fishers in the coming weeks, including 141st west of SR 37 and on areas of 116th Street.

Here is the full report, as issued by the City of Fishers:

===============

Lane restrictions are currently in place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. through Friday, November 11 on westbound and eastbound 146th Street and the northbound and southbound median lanes of SR 37 for the cleaning of drainage structures and to finish repair work. 

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

116TH STREET
During the week of November 14, there will be lane restrictions on 116th Street near Municipal Drive between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. as Duke Energy is performing utility work. 

Road Resurfacing has been completed. Restoration and final close-out items continue to take place in neighborhoods.

The City of Fishers has been proud of the AAA debt rating from Standard & Poor (S&P) it has maintained for many years.  The rating is provided when a local government issues bonds.

Controller Lisa Bradford told City Council Finance Committee members Wednesday that S&P once again bestowed the City of Fishers with the AAA rating, the highest available, when the bonds for the new Arts & City Hall complex were recently issued.

Bradford said Hamilton County government has a AAA debt rating, but she is not aware of another city in Indiana with the AAA rating.

The AAA rating allows the city to receive a lower interest rate when borrowing.  Bradford said the interest rate on the Arts & City Hall complex came in at just below 4.8%

When Michelle Brittain-Watts presented a list of proposed high school courses, included were classes in literature, poetry, African-American studies and computing.  But the one course that created the most comments from the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board was the one in sports officiating, a one-semester credit class for high school juniors and seniors.

Many board members expressed how a lack of officials put pressure on youth athletic programs throughout the local area.

You can view the entire list of proposed high school courses at the link.

In other board items from the Wednesday meeting:

–School Board work sessions will now be live streamed online after final approval of updates to school policies.

–A contract was awarded to architectural firm CSO to design work on Fishers Elementary School.

–November 11 will be an e-learning day for students as teachers have a professional development day.

Executive Director for the Hamilton Southeastern Education Foundation joked about filling the room during the Wednesday meeting by having teachers on hand that were awarded grants by the foundation in the latest round.

Below you can find a listing of the grants and there is a video shown at the school board meeting.

With City Hall demolished, making way for the new Arts & City Hall complex, there will be a new venue for the Veterans Day ceremony.  This year’s event will be held at Knowledge Services, 9800 Crosspoint Blvd.  Those living in Fishers for a while may remember that building as the former Marsh grocery chain headquarters.  It all starts at 10:00am on Veterans Day, November 11.

The guest speaker will be MG Richard Chegar, US Army (ret). General Chegar graduated from West Point in 1962. Following Infantry, Airborne and Ranger training, Chegar served with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Okinawa and Vietnam. During his career, he was decorated for valor and distinguished service. In retirement, Chegar has served as CEO of the Patton Museum Foundation at Fort Knox and has been inducted into the Indiana Military Veterans Hall of Fame.

A live stream of the ceremony will be provided on the Fishers Magazine Facebook page.

Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board President Julie Chambers had some comments on the election results at Wednesday night’s board session, in which she did not win re-election in her district.

She thanked voters in the HSE District for “coming out and voting” Tuesday.

“I congratulate the candidates that were successful in the school board election,” said Chambers.  “It’s not easy to put yourself out there and work the community.”

She expressed her hope that when the new board takes office in January, the new members “will continue to support our teachers and our students, to uplift everybody and make sure that HSE is the best district there is.”

Superintendent Yvonne Stokes also thanked for voting public for supporting HSE Schools by voting in the board election.

“Kudos to our board members who have served so well and who will be moving on after January, and then, also, I look forward to being able to work with those new board members who will be coming on board (in) January,” said Dr. Stokes.

The three board members seeking re-election were all defeated in their bids for another term and one board member chose not to run for another term.  That means there will be 4 new board members sworn-in during January of 2023.

For 8 years, Steve Loser has been a fixture at Fishers High School as an Assistant Principal.  Now, Mr. Loser is taking on a new challenge with Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools as Director of K-12 Initiatives.

The HSE School Board officially approved his appointment at Tuesday night’s meeting.  Loser will oversee the implementation of the district’s Portrait of a Graduate program as well as new programming focused on expanding innovative career exploration and engagement opportunities for students.

His position is being funded by a Indiana Department of Education Explore, Engage, and Experience (3E) Grant.

“I have always had a single focus and professional drive to shock the world with what young people can do. I am excited to use my skills to bring the school community together to create a common vision of student learning and achievement,” said Loser.

Loser supported community-based enrichment experiences for students, such as Launch Fishers High School Fellowship and Fishers Mayor’s Youth Academy. He has also been a long-time advocate for providing Career Technical Education (CTE), internships, work-based learning and industry certification opportunities.

We have the local Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board election results with all precincts reporting (numbers are unofficial until certified).  There will be a big change in the board as of January 1, 2023.

Concerning the four district races in this year’s balloting, one incumbent chose not to seek another term (Michelle Fullhart) and the three sitting board members lost their bid for re-election.

That means changes will be coming to our local school district.  As to exactly what those changes will be, time will tell.

I do not know the new board members taking office in 2023 well (Tiffany Pascoe, Juanita Albright, Dawn Lang and Ben Orr).  I have briefly met a couple of them and exchanged some brief messages with others.

As to the three board members unsuccessful in their re-election bid (Brad Boyer, Janet Pritchett and Julie Chambers), my experience with each is that they genuinely cared about the students and families of HSE Schools.  You might not always agree with their views and votes, but my experience is that each decision came from wanting the best for students, parents and the local community.  Michelle Fullhart, who will be leaving the board at the end of the year as well, handled her decisions on the board the same way, in my experience.

The new board has a number of challenges to face, including the renewal of the tax referendum (the current tax rate expires at the end of 2023), redistricting and a number of other issues.

And, just so you know, there is a school board meeting tonight (Wednesday) and I plan to be there, covering it for this blog.  That is not changing.

217 of 217 precincts reporting (all of Hamilton County)

(updated at 6:45am Wednesday)

District 1

Brad Boyer                          836            12.14%

Jackie Howell                  2257            32.78%

Tiffany Pascoe                3611             52.45%

Edward Gedeon                181            2.63%

(Mr. Gedeon did not actively campaign)

District 2

Juanita Albright                5622         58.76%

Janet Pritchett                  3945          41.24%

District 3

Carla Cork                    3687                 38.56%

Dawn Lang                  5874                 61.44%

District 4

Julie Chambers           4033              41.61%

Harry Delks                     258                2.66%

Ben Orr                           5401               55.73%