Parades are fun and Fishers has gathered for a summer parade ever since the Fishers Freedom Festival started in 1989. That celebration has been transformed itself into the Spark Fishers Festival, and the parade remains the centerpiece of the festival.
I tried my best to record as much of the parade as possible. Keep in mind, you have an old guy, working alone with a cell phone. If your unit is not included, it is no comment at all on you. I had to sort through a long list of technical issues. Video editing is a skill I am very much learning on the fly.
So, with all that in mind, here is my video of the 2025 Spark Fishers Festival Parade. It is far from perfect, but the best I can do. Enjoy by using the link below.
It was a warm summer day, but not oppressively hot. The sun was out, but hid behind clouds on occasion. But more importantly, the rain stayed away.
The 2025 Spark Fishers Festival drew a large crowd Saturday with the street fair at the municipal complex and the always-popular parade through the Nickel Plate District. As I walked the grounds Saturday, it was clear all were having a very good time.
This is one of only a few occasions during the year that people in and around Fishers have the chance to gather and just enjoy themselves.
The Festival started Tuesday and featured converts, drone shows, fireworks, a 5K run and one evening devoted to classic cars and artists. It all culminated with the Saturday events.
When I sat down with Fishers Freight head coach Dixie Wooten for a preseason podcast, he echoed a sentiment I’ve heard from countless coaches over the years: most football games, at any level, are won or lost at the line of scrimmage. Saturday night in Tulsa, his team proved that point with authority.
The Freight controlled the trenches on both sides of the ball, shutting down the Oilers and holding them to just 7 points—the lowest total in Tulsa’s IFL franchise history. Fishers’ defense was relentless, with Aaron Jackson recording three interceptions and the unit delivering multiple key fourth-down stops that kept the Oilers out of rhythm. The Freight rolled to a convincing 33-7 win, their fourth victory of the season.
Another recurring storyline for Fishers has been the ever-changing quarterback situation. I have honestly lost count, but I think Felix Harper became the fifth player to take snaps under center this year. Signed just days before the game, Harper made an immediate impact, especially with his mobility in the running game.
The roster shakeup didn’t end there. Starting quarterback Carlos Davis was placed on short-term injured reserve, and running back Shane Simpson was released. To bolster the backfield, Wooten brought in Josiah King, who responded with several strong runs in his debut. Wide receiver Jerrod McGaw was also released as the team continues to fine-tune its lineup.
With a well-earned bye week ahead, the Freight will take a break for the July 4th holiday before returning to action on July 12 with a road trip to Des Moines, facing the Iowa Barnstormers.
When Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness began to see the rising cost of health insurance for his employees, he was shocked when told an annual increase was “only” 8%-13%. What would a bad year yield for a health insurance increase?
As I have reported here many times, Fadness made a decision to insure the entire city staff with a plan with one provider – Community Health. There are a few exceptions, but for the most part, those on the City of Fishers payroll go to Community for health care.
The mayor knew at that time this would not be easy for many staff members with themselves and family members already under the care of physicians and providers outside the Community network. But with the lower cost, everyone, over time, transitioned to the new reality.
Indianapolis Business Journal reporter Daniel Lee wrote a front-page piece for the June 27 edition of the Indianapolis Business Journal about these “narrow” health plans, using the City of Fishers as the example.
You can read the IBJ story at this link. (Note: You may not be able to access this story if you are not an IBJ subscriber)
The Hamilton County Democratic Party is celebrating the election of two of its own to statewide leadership positions within the Indiana Young Democrats (IYD). Neil Koglin has been elected President and Raleigh Brown elected Vice President of the organization, following a statewide election held June 7 in Fort Wayne.
Koglin, a Westfield native, has held leadership roles at both the county and state levels, including President of the Westfield Democratic Committee and Hamilton County Young Democrats. He currently serves as Voter File Administrator at the Indiana Democratic Party.
Brown, who has served as Campaign Manager for Josh Lowry and is the current Executive Director of the Hamilton County Democratic Party, has been a central figure in grassroots organizing and campaign strategy across the county.
The elections mark a significant milestone for Hamilton County, showcasing the growing influence of its young Democratic leaders on the statewide stage. The Indiana Young Democrats is the official youth wing of the Indiana Democratic Party, engaging Hoosiers under 36 in political activism and leadership development.
The Hamilton County Leadership Academy (HCLA) has announced the 36 individuals selected for its Class of 2026. These participants, who either live or work in Hamilton County, will take part in a 10-month community leadership program beginning in late August with a two-day opening retreat.
Excitement for the new class is shared by HCLA staff, volunteers, alumni, and community partners. HCLA notes it is fortunate to have a strong legacy of leaders who continue to invest in the program. Among them is Duke Energy, a long-time supporter and the official sponsor of the Class of 2026.
Included in this year’s list are Ross Hilleary, Director of Planning and Zoning for the City of Fishers…and Melissa Loiselle, Hamilton East Library Director.
“We’re excited to again support the Hamilton County Leadership Academy mission and congratulate the Class of 2026,” said Duke Energy government and community relations manager Mark LaBarr. “Investing in the next generation of leaders is essential to the long-term vitality of Hamilton County, and we’re proud to champion opportunities that build stronger communities through collaboration, education, and civic engagement.”
Each year, HCLA selects participants through a competitive application process. Those chosen demonstrate strong community engagement, a desire to grow through the program, a passion for service and leadership in Hamilton County, and diverse perspectives that enrich the overall learning experience.
HCLA also recently announced that Angie Frazier will serve as the Dean for the Class of 2026.
The Class of 2026 includes the following individuals:
CFO Tim Brown presents the financial situation facing HSE Schools
Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools Chief Financial Officer Tim Brown delivered a comprehensive financial update to the school board Wednesday night, highlighting key funding issues and projecting cautious optimism amid legislative and fiscal challenges.
Brown, alongside Superintendent Patrick Mapes, emphasized that while Indiana’s new school funding measures present hurdles, HSE is “positively” positioned—as well as any district in the state—to address them.
Enrollment Shifts and State Funding
State support for public schools is largely based on enrollment. Brown noted that 1,800 students graduated from HSE’s two high schools this year, while just 1,100 kindergartners were enrolled for the 2024–2025 school year—a trend that could impact future state funding.
Although Indiana increased per-student funding, the General Assembly also folded a $158 per-student textbook and curriculum subsidy into the base funding. That move, Brown said, effectively reduced the size of the funding increase when accounting for new expenses.
Property Tax Changes and Financial Impact
Brown explained that upcoming changes to Indiana’s property tax system will have a significant impact on school finances. In addition to the complex standard and supplementary deductions, every property taxpayer will receive a new $300 credit. While helpful to homeowners, that credit alone is expected to cost HSE Schools roughly $4 million per year in lost revenue.
Mapes added that a clearer financial picture won’t emerge until the district receives updated assessed valuation data later this year.
Administrative Staffing Updates
Brown also presented an update on administrative staffing levels. HSE had 101 administrators in February 2024; by May, that number had grown to 109. The increase includes one additional assistant principal and dean at each high school, as well as four new instructional coaches.
Looking ahead to the 2025–2026 school year, the district plans to add seven more administrative roles:
Director of Career & Technical Education
Executive Director of Elementary Education
District Workplace Learning Manager
Four additional instructional coaches
Legal Expenses
Brown shared details about the district’s legal costs. In 2024, HSE paid a $125,000 retainer to law firm Barnes & Thornburg, plus $81,000 for litigation and labor matters. An additional $4,200 was billed for the Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) complaint involving the local teachers union, and $10,000 went toward collective bargaining legal fees.
For 2025 (through June 11), the board has approved a $60,000 retainer. Other legal expenses include $3,000 for litigation and labor, $3,400 for ULP-related matters, and $25,000 for collective bargaining—some of which covers legal work from the previous year.
More Information Coming
This week, HSE Schools plans to post Brown’s full PowerPoint presentation on the district website. Officials also intend to release a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document to help the community better understand the financial outlook.
While many changes are on the horizon, district leaders remain confident that budget challenges can be addressed without impacting academic programming.
Monica Heltz has been a guest on my podcast series before and she was kind enough to give me some of her time for a podcast recording session Tuesday, June 24. We discussed a wide range of issues, including dealing with extreme heat, E.coli testing, budgets and many more.
