You have have seen some local news reports of a woman in Windermere neighborhood accused of publicly defecating.  Fishers Police issued a statement Thursday saying they have identified the woman but have not released her name.  Officers are encouraging her to seek the professional help needed, but have not ruled out criminal charges going forward.

Police also say at least one person has been publicly falsely accused in this case, and cautions the public not share such unverified information.

Below is the full statement from Fishers Police, posted on Facebook:

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The City is apparently pausing its program for a “Fishers Race Initiative” while “re-evaluating” its contract with the Soul Focused Group.

If you check the section of the city Web site about the Fishers Race Initiative, you see this message:

Thank you for your interest. In light of recent information shared with the City of Fishers about statements made by members of the Soul Focused Group team, the City is re-evaluating its contractual relationship and has suspended additional registrations at this time. 

I have reached out to the city for comment on just what information is referenced in the message, along with the reason for the suspension of the program,  but have yet to receive a response.  I have also reached out to the Soul Focused Group and have not yet received a response.

The city invited any Fishers resident to enroll in a course titled Interrupting Racism in 2020, free of charge, and had a reasonably good response.

Once I receive additional information, I will post it on LarryInFishers.com.

The Fishers Arts & Culture Commission is sending out checks to local groups totaling $43,000.  The commission, provided the funds as part of the 2021 city budget, selected the recipients by requiring they apply to at least two of the following criteria: inclusive, authentic, engaging, collaborative, innovative, and educational.

Here is the list of those selected to receive the grants:

Continue reading Fishers Arts & Culture Commission hands out $43,000 in local grants →

Had a bit of a technical glitch, so I missed the first couple of minutes…the podcast begins with Adam Aasen reviewing Old.

It is good to see Fishers using the Nickel Plate Amphitheater for a Shakespeare play.  In this case, it is Much Ado About Nothing.  The Brown Box Theater troupe brought its traveling production to Fishers on Wednesday, July 21st.  Here is my review.

(NOTE:  If you would like to contribute to Borwn Box, use this link.

A large water main break caused Conner Knoll to be closed south of 141st Street Wednesday afternoon.  Citizens Water crews were on hand along with the Department of Public Works.

No word yet on the cause or amount of damage done to the neighborhood.

For the first time, the Fishers Arts Council is teaming-up with Conner Prairie for the Prairie Art & Music Fair, set for Sunday, August 22nd, 10am-5pm on the grounds of Conner Prairie.

Five musical acts and more than 40 artists will be on hand for this inaugural event.  The musical groups are Mudsock Jazz Combo, One Voice, The Indiana Folk Music Society, Crossing Bridges, and The Klezmets.

“For the first year, we thought we would select American folk music that reflects the museum and standards from the American Song Book,” according to Tom Rich, President of the Fishers Arts Council, in a news release.

Here is a list of the artists and artisans who will be participating this August:

Continue reading Art on the Prairie set for August 22nd at Conner Prairie →

The Fishers City Council is looking at a proposed change in the Nickel Plate Code, requiring those constructing a residence to treat that structure as a residence for 3 years.  City staff says there have been examples of homes constructed as residential that were switched to commercial after the building is complete.

Councilman Pete Peterson said this proposed code change will fill the gaps in the current code. Mayor Scott Fadness said the code change will create accountability for developers.

The next step is to hold a public hearing on this proposed change at the August 4th Fishers Plan Commission meeting.  The code change then will return to the city council for a final vote August 16th.

A production decline in the auto industry during 2020 resulted in a Fishers firm, Thyssenkrupp, losing part of its 5- year personal property tax abatement previously approved.  According to city officials, the firm’s lack of meeting its employee target was a result of that auto industry hit taken during the peak of the COVID pandemic in 2020.

The tax abatement was based on an employee level of 150, but the current worker count is closer to 105.  City Economic Development Director Megan Baumgartner told the council that after meeting with the company, the city has agreed to not have the tax abatement in 2020, but allow the final two years of the abatement, which amounts to about $10,000 over the two-year period.

Councilman Brad DeReamer suggested that the abatement employment level of 105 should be used.  Council member Pete Peterson said the claw-back provisions in the agreement with the city should take care of that.

The council approved the agreement 8-1 with DeReamer voting no.

In more than nine years of covering the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board, the appointment the board makes to the Hamilton East Library Board of Trustees has been non-controversial.  Eight years ago, Brian Meyer was the HSE School Board appointee, and he was re-appointed four years later.

Mr. Meyer, currently serving as vice-president of the library board of trustees based on the library’s Web site, is requesting another four-year term on the Hamilton East board.

The school board held a lengthy discussion on the appointment.  Mr. Meyer’s term expires next month.

The school board plans to establish a process for selecting the next appointment to the Hamilton East Library Board of Trustees.  Based on Tuesday morning’s work session discussion, there will be a way for people in the community to apply for the appointment.

Board members made clear they have no concern about the job Brian Meyer has done as the HSE School Board appointee, but the board appears to desire changes in the process and policies for making this appointment.

HSE Board member Sarah Donsbach researched the state statute, and discovered that Noblesville Schools have two appointments to the library board, while HSE Schools has one appointment.  That is because the principal location for the Hamilton East Library system is in Noblesville.

The HSE Board plans to enact a process for the library board selection at the July 28th meeting, with the intention to make the appointment to the Hamilton East board at the August 11th meeting