On this Log, I handle a number of items from Monday’s news in Fishers.  There is the cancellation of Symphony on the Prairie this year, Hamilton County Health Department hands off a list of duties to the new city department, and there are several education-related items in my Log tonight.

A Noblesville man was exchanging information in a minor accident on I-69’s northbound lanes near 116th Street Monday morning when he was reportedly hit be a vehicle.  Fishers Police say Steven Hahn, 18, was transported to a nearby hospital in serious condition.

Here is what happened, bases on the police department news release:

“The Fishers Police Department Crash Team was called to the scene. Based on witness statements and evidence gathered by Investigators it appears the pedestrian was standing next to a GMC pick-up truck exchanging information due to a previous minor crash. During this exchange a semi tractor-trailer, traveling northbound, collided with the GMC and the pedestrian. Both drivers are cooperating with the investigation. Neither drugs nor alcohol appear to be a factor.”

The drivers of the vehicles involved were identified by police as Stanley Ridley, 69, from Ontario, Canada…and Lou Ann Ridenour, 54, from Pendleton.

Fishers Police continue to investigate the accident.

Today, May 3rd, 2020, is World Press Freedom Day.  But just 2 days prior, we discovered the news media in Bloomington, Indiana took a very serious blow.

On May 1st, Indiana Public Broadcasting (WFIU radio and WTIU television, both in Bloomington) reported that the local newspaper, the Herald Times, had pink slipped both the news editor and the sports editor.  Both were reportedly told their jobs would be eliminated at the end of last week.

Rich Jackson had been the senior executive editor.  He also had an apartment provided by the newspaper which he was ordered to vacate by noon May 1st.   Jackson had been in that position for about ten months.  He’s writing a blog about this experience.  He’s reported on homelessness in the past, now, he writes, he is homeless.

Sports editor Patrick Beane had been with the newspaper 30 years and was just returning from a furlough when informed the layout for the sports section he prepared Thursday night would be his last.  The sports section of the Herald Times had won many awards under Beane’s leadership.

The newspaper business is dying before our very eyes and the journalists toiling to bring you the news are being let go at a record pace.  My heart goes out to the news people impacted by the downward spiral of the news business, but I mostly feel for the public which will once again be deprived of the news coverage we all deserve in a free and democratic society.

So, in Bloomington, there is not much to celebrate on World Press Freedom Day.  I know all existing news organizations are under intense economic pressure.  The Indianapolis Star is covering the biggest story in its history with 25% of its reporting staff on furlough at any given time.

Closer to home, Jeff Jellison, publisher of the Hamilton County Reporter, has vowed to continue with his newspaper and plans to tough out during the current hard times.  The Noblesville Times continues to publish.

Current publishing issues a weekly paper to six local communities, including Fishers.  However, Current in Fishers, which has mailed a copy of its weekly paper to anyone with a Fishers mailing address since its inception, is sending print editions to 25% of Fishers addresses each week on a rotating basis.  You can still read the paper online if you wish.

I must give kudos to the Indianapolis Business Journal, a locally-owned weekly newspaper that does good current reporting on its Web site.  So far, there have been no layoffs or cutbacks there.

Bottom line, life is tough all over in the news business these days, particularly local news. Yet, we need local news now more than ever.  I wrote my Fishers local news blog for more than 8 years and finally had to call it quits.  However, I saw that the local media wasn’t paying much attention to Fishers in the COVID-19 crisis so I do write a story on this blog now and then.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…..subscribe to your local media outlets.  It is more important then ever to support the news sources we have.  Because if we don’t, tomorrow it may not be there at all.

With no movies houses open, no live theater and plenty of time on our hands for many, television is more popular than ever.  If you are seeking some quality television to watch, allow me to make three suggestions.

The state of Indiana waited in anticipation of Governor Eric Holcomb’s announcement on how the state plans to move forward after weeks of stay-in-place orders.  The governor unveiled  5-step program that ends with step 5 and a nearly full reopening of the state on July 4th.  I reviewed the plan, and offer a few words of analysis.

Road construction continues throughout Fishers.  Here is the update from the City of Fishers for the work week starting Monday, May 4th.

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Earlier this year I received an e-mail from a city official suggesting I hook-up with a Fishers couple that produces their own podcast about grand parenting.  Jane & I met Emily & Mike Morgan and enjoyed a dinner in downtown Fishers.

We made a deal – they would appear on one of my podcasts and Jane & I would make a guest appearance on their The Grand Life podcast.

So, Emily & Mike spoke to me about their podcast.  You can listen to that conversation at this link. 

Jane & I recorded an interview with Emily a few weeks ago.  Mike does the podcast production, Emily is the host.  Jane & I were happy to join Emily & Mike’s analysis of sandwich grand parenting.  You can hear that episode of The Grand Life at this link.

Emily & Mike produce a high-quality podcast and I would recommend listening not just to the episode in which Jane & I appeared but the full season one and the ongoing season two.

The bad news about the novel coronavirus builds up over time to the point we all need a little good news.  Tonight’s Log episode attempts to cover some of the good news.

Justin Hirnisey counts himself as a lucky man.  He is executive director of the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Foundation, and his nonprofit group finished up the biggest fund-raising event of the year, Game Day, just before the nation began to largely shutdown over the spread of the novel coronavirus.  He know some other area school foundations were not a fortunate.

I spoke with Mr. Hirnisey about what its like for his organization as schools close their buildings and e-learning is the mode of instruction

When Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness announced his plans to create a city health department, he emphasized that there would be partnerships established with Community Health and Mid-America Clinical Labs to create a local coronavirus testing program.

Now that the City Council has approved the creation of the health department and its funding, Fishers has announced how local residents can ask for a test.

Note that not everyone requesting a test will get one because you must complete an online assessment before a test is scheduled.  This will be the “nasal swap” system for testing.

If you wish to apply for a COVID-19 test, begin the process by using this link.