I was out of pocket for a time this past week, so here is an update on what has been happening in Fishers lately:

–When $63,000 was raised in less than a month to fund an additional pair of Pickleball courts at Cyntheanne Park, one person’s large contributions made that happen.  The benefactor was revealed this week as Steve Cage, who wrote a check for $63,000 to make the two additional courts a reality.  Steve Cage is the founder and former owner of Stratosphere Quality, based in Fishers, Indiana, and also is behind Cage Campus, a real estate venture.  The park now will have a total of 8 Pickleball courts once construction is complete, and will reduce the wait times on good weather days to play Pickleball.  The park could also host regional tournaments in the future.

–Janet Pritchett has filed as a candidate for Hamilton Southeastern School Board in District 2.  Frank Whelan has already filed in that district as a candidate.  Michelle Fullhart fixed her filing glitch and is now a certified candidate for re-election in District 3.  Brad Banks has filed in District 4.  No filings yet in District 1.

–Both the Indianapolis Star and Indianapolis Business Journal have published stories that U.S Rail Holdings has filed a petition before the federal Transportation Safety Board to use the Nickel Plate rail line for transporting grain by rail.  The board has not acted on the petition, and the city says this is the equivalent of a football “Hail Mary” pass.  Fishers is moving forward with plans to convert the rail line to a trail.  I will keep on eye on this.

–Former Fishers Police Chief Mitch Thompson has been formally charged with OWI (operating while intoxicated) and endangering a person, according to several Indy-area media outlets.  The former chief is allowed to ask for a hearing before the local Merit Board if he wishes to continue as an officer with Fishers at a lower rank.  In the meantime, he is on paid administrative leave.  Thompson stepped down as chief in a letter to Mayor Fadness the day after the traffic accident that resulted in his arrest.

The Hamilton County Leadership Academy (HCLA) is a highly-respected program to allow county citizens to learn more about how the county works, and allows teams a chance to work on important projects.

Liz Tate will assume the role of Curriculum Dean for the Class of 2019. Mrs. Tate is the retired Vice President for Community Investment of the Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF). The position of dean exists to help participants focus on timely topics within Hamilton County, see the connections and common themes within each program day and build strong, lifelong relationships with fellow participants, alumni and community leaders.

“As an alumni of HCLA and past President of the Board of Directors, I understand the power of HCLA and the incredible impact it makes within our community,” said Tate. “This program has a rich history and tradition. I am honored to be able to serve as dean this year. This new group of participants brings a wealth of knowledge and diversity of experience to the program. It is with great enthusiasm that I get to help them see Hamilton County from a different perspective, understand the issues confronting our communities and identify opportunities to make the county better for all people.”

Here is the listing of the 36 people selected for the 10-month program, starting this month:

Continue reading HCLA Names The Class of 2019 →

c

There are 4 district seats up for grabs on the Hamilton Southeastern School Board in November, but the candidate filings have been slow in the early going.

So far, only three candidates have officially filed with the Hamilton County Election office in Noblesville – Frank Whelan in District 2, Brad  Banks in District 4 and incumbent Michelle Fullhart in District 3. (NOTE: Ms. Fullhart had a glitch in her paperwork filing, but should be officially filed soon)

Districts 2 & 4 are open seats.  John Delucia says he will not seek re-election in District 2 and in District 4, the incumbent Terry Tolle has says he has no plans to seek another term.

In District 1, incumbent Matt Burke cannot run for another term in that district because has has since moved to District 4, and had indicated he leans toward not seeking another term.

Matt Molter has announced plans to run for the board in District 2.

Voters living in the HSE School District cast their ballots for the candidate running within their district in this year’s balloting for school board.

The deadline to file a school board candidacy is noon, Friday, August 24th.

August 1st marks the day Fishers Fire Department first responders will begin to use a non-addictive pain reliever Nitronox (also called laughing gas-nitrous oxide) when responding to medical emergencies in need of pain management.  Fishers is the first in the state of Indiana to provide this option.  Nitronix will replace opiate pain options, such as Fentanyl.

To be blunt, chemistry was never my best subject, so I am am passing on part of the news release from the Fishers Fire Department below:

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

Nitronox is 90% effective in controlling pain and reduces anxiety.  Quick acting and quick to wear off, this option can be utilized for such injuries to extremities like broken bones and sprains.  It can not be used for abdominal pain, head injuries, collapsed lungs, or secondary to opiates.  Fire Chief Steven Orusa said, “This is an effective and responsible adjustment to the care of our patients without the introduction of opiates into their system when possible.”

To be eligible for patients to be given this medication, they must be alert enough to administer the gas to themselves, under the supervision of a paramedic.  It will take effect within 2-3 minutes, and when proper sedation has been given, the patient naturally drops the mask.  This may re-occur through the course of the ride to the hospital as needed.  This is a portable system and can be brought to the patients location.

Administrators for the department will be closely monitoring the use and effectiveness of the Nitronox and will be providing that information to our medical director at St. Vincent Hospital as well as the State of Indiana EMS Medical Director, a division of IDHS.

Fishers Fire Department operates three Advanced Life Support (ALS) transporting ambulances as well as 6 additional apparatus with ALS capabilities.  All Fishers firefighters meet a minimum requirement of Emergency Medical

Technician (EMT.)  144 firefighters operate out of six fire houses and one EMS sub-station.

Fentanyl was provided on 10% of 2017 transports.  This treatment change is estimated to reduce the use of Fentanyl by 2/3rds.

Last year’s National Night Out drew a huge crowd to the area around Fishers City Hall and the Police Headquarters building, so this year the local event will take place at two parks, Holland And Brooks School.  This year, the date is August 7th and the time is 5:30pm-7:30pm.

The 35th annual event is national in scope and asks citizens to focus on fighting crime and drug abuse prevention.  National Night Out is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch and co-sponsored by the Fishers Police Department.

Fishers residents are asked to lock their doors, turn on outside lights and spend the evening outside with neighbors and police.  Local officers will have equipment displays, as well as children’s activities, including balloon artists and face painting.  Hot dogs, cookies, and bottled water will be provided. Kona Ice will be available for purchase.

Getting through 8th grade is no small task, and Writer-Director Bo Burnham tells the story of Kayla Day, a young girl making the best of a tough school year

There is so much that goes into the start of the school year, and the school superintendent is at the heart of all that goes on.  At the Hamilton Southeastern School District, the School Superintendent is Allen Bourff.  I spoke with Dr. Bourff about the start of the 2018-2019 school year.

Fishers Police Chief Mitch Thompson has submitted a letter to Mayor Scott Fadness dated today, saying he will “voluntarily relinquish” his role as Fishers Police Chief.  Thompson says he deeply regrets the need to take this action, but calls it “an important first step in taking responsibility for my actions.”

“As a result of the events from this past weekend, I recognize that I am no longer able to effectively lead the agency that I love,” Thompson wrote in his letter to the mayor.

Thompson offered an apology to the members of his department and to the citizens of Fishers for “failing to meet the professional standards that I try to set for myself.”  He plans to cooperate in the administrative probe into his actions.

Mayor Fadness issued a statement sent in tandem with Thompson’s letter, which reads as follows:

Today, Chief Thompson and I met and both agree that he must step down as Chief of Police, effective immediately. The events that transpired Friday evening regarding the motor vehicle accident that Chief Thompson was involved in has made his position of leadership untenable. In the coming days, Officer Thompson will be subjected to the statutory disciplinary process afforded public safety personnel under the Merit Commission. It is my expectation that this process will be professional, transparent, and judicious. Please keep the victims of the accident as well as our police department in your thoughts and prayers as we move forward.

Former Chief Thompson was arrested by IMPD Friday night south of 96th Street on Keystone Avenue, after the IMOD report said Thompson rear-ended a vehicle, resulting in a 3-car accident.  The same police report said Thompson’s blood alcohol level was .126 at the time.

Most of the election campaigns this cycle will be at the county and state levels, but one set of offices a little closer to home will be up for grabs, at the township level.

Delaware Township, which includes the west part of Fishers and some unincorporated areas not within the city limits, will see contested elections this November.

Dan Greenhalgh, who was appointed by the local Democratic County officials a few weeks ago, has issued a release formally announcing his candidacy for Delaware Township Trustee, according to my news gathering partners at the Hamilton County Reporter.

“As a licensed Indiana attorney and an experienced engineer, I have spent my career solving complex problems and continuously improving products and processes,” said Greenhalgh in his news release. “If elected, I’ll use these unique skills and experiences to streamline township government and refocus the township’s nearly $1.5 million budget on the township’s core purpose – providing assistance to those in need.”

Greenhalgh will face long-time incumbent Republican Trustee Debbie Driskell in November.

There will be a full slate of candidates running for Delaware Township Board.  Republicans David Giffel, Ed Pierce and Marilyn Schenkel will appear on the GOP ballot.  The Democrats running include Dayna Colbert, Mary Ray and Bianca Zaklikowski.  The top three vote-getters win seats on that board.

The eastern part of Fishers, including the city and areas not within the city, are part of Fall Creek Township.  Republican Trustee Doug Allman is unopposed in the November general election.  Three Republicans, Brian Baehl, Greg Dewald and Jason Meyer,  are all candidates for the Fall Creek Township Board.  The lone Democrat vying for a board seat is Rachna Greulach.

The general election is set for Tuesday, November 6th.

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

Candidates are slow in filing for school board seats in this fall’s election. The latest and only candidate filing on Thursday was Dan Degnan, incumbent Westfield Washington board member who will seek re-election on Nov. 6. Four other candidates filed earlier in the week including Arnett Cooper at Hamilton Heights, Frank Whelan at Southeastern and Layla Spanenberg and Michael Kerschner at Carmel. The filing period runs until noon on Friday, Aug. 24.

* * *

Hamilton County Republicans have set Sept. 12 as the date for their annual fall dinner. It will be held at the 502 Event Center in Carmel with a 6 p.m. reception followed by dinner at 7. The speaker and other details will be announced later.

* * *
The Hamilton County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will begin classes for interested persons on Sept. 11. CERT trains civilians for assisting in cases of community emergencies. For enrolling in classes or to get further information citizens may email Jon Baldwin at jon.baldwin@hamiltoncounty.in.gov.

* * *

Dan Pajwer, a high school senior from Carmel, was elected governor of Boys State last month. The annual American Legion event, held this year in Angola, provides a week’s intensive training in Indiana’s political system with participants campaigning and electing public officials from governor to township trustee. About 500 high school students participated, with some then attending Boys Nation in Washington, D.C.

* * *

The County Health Department is spraying for mosquitoes carrying the West Nile Virus. Mosquitoes testing positive for the virus have been found at several locations in the county. Two areas being sprayed in Noblesville include Dillon Park and a neighborhood around 2nd and Washington streets. Thus far there have been no cases locally of humans being infected.

* * *

We try not to deal in rumors, but this one is too good not to share. Local powers that be are said to be planning to relocate the Chief Straw monument to the center of the new roundabout on State Road 37 at Strawtown Avenue. The monument is located on private property along White River at Strawtown. Chief Straw was the legendary Delaware chief who settled his people in the area about 1797. He was friendly with the first settlers who came in 1819, and the town was named for him. But, there is no truth to the rumor of putting his monument in the roundabout. At least not yet.