Bob Kravitz is a well now sportswriter and columnist in the Indianapolis area…..he also has suffered from the impact of mental illness.  Bob talked with me about that, and a few sports issues….

As Fishers moves forward with economic development plans for Metropolitan Airport, just north of 96th Street and East of Allisonville Road, Duke Energy has provided those plans with a shot-in-the-arm.  According to my news-gathering partners at the Hamilton County Reporter, Duke has announced that 200 acres of airport property are now in Duke’s Site Readiness Program.

Local officials have received site development recommendations from Strategic Development Group. In addition, Banning Engineering of Plainfield has produced a desktop review, conceptual drawings and a marketing sheet for the site. These materials can be incorporated into the local plan to attract more jobs to the  community.

Duke Energy has also presented a $10,000 check to the local economic development group in order to help implement the consultant’s recommendations.

“The Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport is an exciting new area for development in our city,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness in a Duke Energy news release. “As we work towards a smart, vibrant, and entrepreneurial Fishers, it is vital that we take a comprehensive approach to economic development in all corners of our community. Fishers’ participation in the Duke Energy Site Readiness Program is an important step in the development of this land and the city’s future. ”

According to Duke, the Site Readiness Program identifies, evaluates and improves sites in the company’s service territory for potential large business or industrial development.

Since 2008, the Duke has participated in the creation of nearly 26,000 jobs and total capital investment of approximately $5.9 billion.

Mayor Scott Fadness had a lot on his mind as he spoke to the Fishers Youth Mentoring Initiative (YMI) fundraising breakfast Thursday morning at the Ambassador House grounds.  The mayor and his wife Aunna are expecting their second child to be born Friday morning, so that was clearly on his mind.  But he also took the opportunity to laud the work of YMI mentors.

The mayor talked about the work continuing, by the city and school corporation, to improve mental health throughout the community.  Fadness cited a ride-a-long he recently had with a Fishers Police officer and responded to a call about a 34-year-old man threatening suicide during a fight with his girlfriend.

“It really irritated me that we have done all this work over the last 4-5 years and we could not figure out how to help that individual,” the mayor said.

Fadness argues that it is important to “get to these people earlier, in the simplest, subtlest ways.”

The mayor told those attending the fund-raising event that organizations such as YMI make subtle interjections into the lives of local young people.  He calls this early intervention “impactful.”

“It was only a few years ago when I sat down John DeLucia and Darren (Heil) to talk about this (YMI) concept, and look what it’s become,” said Fadness.  “I can only imagine the impact (YMI has) had on young people.”

YMI provides mentors for young people in the Hamilton Southeastern School District for students in need of an adult to help them.  Most mentors commit to one hour a week with a mentee.

For more information about YMI, use this link.

To make an online donation to YMI, use this link.

Here are a few pictures from the YMI breakfast event

Continue reading YMI Breakfast Attracts 200 Supporters →

Dunkin’Donuts will soon have a presence on the east side of Fishers, following action Wednesday night by the Fishers Board of Zoning Appeals.  After a favorable recommendation to allow a drive-up window at the location from the Plan Commission, and City Council actions supporting that recommendation, the zoning variance has been formally approved for the drive-up window.  That is the last administrative hurdle to be cleared, allowing the new business to locate at the Brooks School Plaza Development, near the entrance to Promise Church on 116th Street.

Another Dunkin’ Donuts location is in the works on the west side of Fishers, at the corner of Allisonville Road and 116th Street, where Jack in the Box was located before that hamburger operation closed.

Those running the HSE SPORTS youth athletic nonprofit have made one fact clear to me for some time – no young person in the Fishers area wanting to play sports is denied that opportunity if the family is not able to pay fees.

This is only possible through partnerships with organizations like IU Health.  On Tuesday, IU Health announced a renewal of the long-standing partnership maintained with HSE SPORTS.  IU Health says it ha sponsored over 500 scholarships, allowing local youngsters to participate in HSE SPORTS programs.

“We understand the importance of physical activity and recreational sports in the health and wellness of a child’s life,” said Joy Davis, marketing manager for customer experience and community outreach at IU Health Saxony Hospital, inn an IU Health news release. “Our partnership with S.P.O.R.T.S allows us to make a difference for kids who can’t afford to join a team. It’s an opportunity to take the IU Health mission, to improve the health of our patients and community, beyond the hospital walls.”

IU Health Saxony remains the primary scholarship provider and an official community partner of SPORTS.

“We are extremely fortunate to have the support of the healthcare providers in our area. IU Health Saxony Hospital continues to show its commitment to our program and our families,” said Scott Spillman, Executive Director of S.P.O.R.T.S.

As Tony Elliott heads west to Santa Cruze, California, his assistant, Sarha Sandquist, is preparing to take over as Fishers Director of Parks & Recreation.  I spoke with Sarah about her new job.

My first time dealing with Tony Elliot was several years ago when he was serving as Assistant Town Manager for what was then the Town of Fishers.  I was asking  about Liberty Plaza, which was under construction at that time.  If you don’t already know, Liberty Plaza is a wonderful memorial to military veterans located at 116th and Municipal Drive.

I was told this was Tony’s project and he guided it to the final construction phase.  It wasn’t long after that when Tony was promoted to Parks and Recreation Director for the town, and later for the City of Fishers once that transition was made.

Tony led the department through a large growth period.  The population of Fishers was growing and the Parks Department programs and facilities were growing to meet the needs of that booming population.

I cannot remember a more professional and personable city department head in any of my work as a reporter.  Tony is one of a kind.

Fishers’ loss will be Santa Cruz, California’s gain.  I wish Tony and his family well as they make the journey west.  He can look back to Fishers and be proud of what he has accomplished here.

A long list of speed limit changes are coming to a number of Fishers neighborhoods, following action Monday morning by the Fishers Board of Public Works and Safety.  All streets listed will have a speed limit of 25 miles per hour.  For a full listing of all the speed limit changes, use this list.

The board also approved a Citizen’s Energy Group water main relocation at 126th Street and State Road 37.  This project is in preparation for the beginning of the State Road 37 reconstruction, set to begin in spring of 2019.  The $434,637 price tag for this relocation will be funded from bond proceeds or County Option Income Tax (COIT) funds from
Hamilton County.

When you leave Fishers for a week, you miss a lot.  My wife Jane & I took a trip away from Fishers for a week, but we had two very good reasons to do so.  First, it was a chance for Jane & I to spend some time with our daughters Allison & Mary at Allison’s new home located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  After a few days there, we ventured about five hours west to see the gorgeous Black Hills, and take in some amazing places like Custer State Park and the Crazy Horse Memorial.

But the highlight of our excursion was seeing Mount Rushmore, a true treasure of our national park system.  It is impossible to understand the beauty and grandeur of this place without seeing it yourself.  No picture, film, video or written word can do it justice.

When Jane and I arrived home Thursday evening, I already had messages about the planned closure of the Gray Eagle Golf Course, near 126th Street and Brooks School Road, in Fishers.  I had everything confirmed Friday morning and it was my first order of business upon my return to write a story about that.  The course will remain open until the end of 2019 and the homeowners in that neighborhood and the city will be exploring the future of that land.

Here are a few local news items that I need to catch-up on upon my return:

— Fishers firefighters Martin “Marty” Devine and Recruit Jordan Allen graduated as Certified Paramedics from the IU School of Medicine Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services (IEMS) paramedic science program.

–One of my favorite Fishers events of the year is coming up on Friday, August 31st & Saturday, September 1st – the Blues Fest at the downtown  Nickel Plate Amphitheater.  This year’s Fest will also feature the grand opening of the newly-remodeled Amphitheater complex.  For more on the Blues Fest, use this link.

–The HSE School Board extended the contract for Superintendent Allen Bourff through June 30th, 2021.  The board also approved the process and timeline for grades kindergarten through 8th grade redistricting.  The final plan will receive a board vote in December.

–The Hamilton County Highway Department says Florida Road will be closed September 4th between Luxhaven Road and Martha Street for the rehabilitation of Bridge 192 over Fall Creek. The road is scheduled to be closed to all thru traffic and tentatively opening back up to traffic on or before Nov. 3.

–The Democrats in Hamilton County have been receiving more than their normal share of media attention lately because County Chairman Joe Weingarten has made it a priority to run more candidates for office this election year.  The latest piece comes from the Indianapolis Star…you can read Jonn Tuohy’s story at this link.

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

In March of next year, Noblesville’s first major downtown redevelopment project is slated to begin. It involves construction of a $24 million mixed-use complex of commercial, residential and underground parking in the half-block north of Maple Avenue between 8th and 9th streets. News of the project was reported in Saturday’s Reporter.

The site was the location of some of the city’s most historic structures including the Wild Opera House, the first city hall, the second city hall and the Houston Hotel. Still standing, but scheduled to be removed, is the building housing the Holt Legal Group and Ayers Real Estate, which was home to Noblesville’s first telephone exchange.

What is interesting about the project is the fact that prior to the 1970s when a building was demolished, the remains were often simply pushed into the basement and covered with dirt, and in this case, asphalt for parking lots.

What historic remnants may be found when excavating for the new complex next spring? It’s hard to tell, but it will be interesting to see what all might have been buried from the opera house or the original city hall, for example.

The first city hall faced Maple midway between 8th and 9th. It was built in the post-Civil War period. It included space for the police and fire departments on the first floor and city council chambers on the second. The second city hall was built in 1954 facing 8th Street on the northwest corner of the site.

The real gem was the opera house, a three-story structure facing 9^th Street just south of Noblesville Elks Club. It was built in the early 1890s. It was upscale for the time with a 66-foot-wide stage. It was torn down about 1960 for a parking lot.

The Houston Hotel, also built in the late 1800s, was the city’s only hotel for many years. It was heavily damaged by fire in the 1980s and torn down for parking.

So, who knows what relics from Noblesville’s past may turn up in the excavation for the new building? We’ll try to let you know as progress gets underway.