Todd Melloh is on a mission – he wants 100 new mentors and $100,000 in new donations. He is the Executive Director of the Youth Mentoring Initiative (YMI), which provides adult mentors to students in need at many schools within the Hamilton Southeastern School Corporation.

In order to accomplish that, Todd is living in a tent atop the Edge office building in downtown Fishers.

“Over 37% of students feel sad, hopeless or depressed,” Melloh said.  “That’s about 5,000 people (in HSE Schools).”

YMI now mentors about 250 students in the HSE School District.  Three new schools will be serviced by YMI in the upcoming school year – Hamilton Southeastern Junior High, Fall Creek Intermediate and the alternative high school.

Todd Melloh is hoping to get to his goal of 100 new adult mentors and $100,000 in new donations by sometime Wednesday.

To volunteer as a mentor and/or donate to YMI, use this link.

Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Superintendent Allen Bourff and Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness have held discussions on the possibility of creating a local certification process for preschools.  During a school board work session Tuesday morning, Dr. Bourff described the talks with the mayor.

“(Assistant HSE Superintendent) Jan (Combs) and I met with Scott Fadness months ago  and flew the idea of, if Fishers, as a community, is really wanting to produce the best or provide the very best experience for any kid who grows up here, then there ought to be an emphasis on certifying all the preschools,” Bourff said.  “So that we understand, when we have the children who come to us in kindergarten, that they’ve had the particular level of quality experience in preschool.”

Dr. Bourff said the HSE School District would like to be partners with the preschools. Administrators estimate that there are about 150 preschools within the school corporation boundaries, if all of them, even the small preschool operations held in homes, are counted.

HSE schools would be unable to provide preschool services to all children in the school corporation boundaries and Dr. Bourff said the local school district has no interest in putting private preschools out of business.

Although there is no indication any certification process will be implemented anytime soon, Dr, Bourff told the board Mayor Fadness “has not said no” to the idea.

The iTown Church began the process of finding a new home at the intersection of 126th Street and Brooks School Road, but a rezoning now approved by the Fishers City Council means they will pursue that new house of worship further north, at 136th Street and Brooks School Road.  Council members suspended the rules with a unanimous vote, then approved the rezoning with all voting yes except Councilman Rich Block, who abstained from voting because he is a member of the church.

iTown started by eyeing a property in the area of the Gray Eagle neighborhood.   Once the residents in that neighborhood began organizing against the church moving there, church leaders decided to change their plans and propose the new church complex be constructed on what is now farm land at 136th & Brooks School.

But there was an obstacle in the way.  In 2012, the Town of Fishers established an I-69 overlay zone that would prevent churches and other nonprofit groups from locating in that area, preserving valuable property near the Interstate to continue on the property tax roles.  Churches do not pay property taxes.

The area at 136th & Brooks School has not drawn any serious commercial or industrial interest since 2012.  The city planning staff recommended rezoning the proposed church location for that reason.

Residents near 136th Street and Brooks School Road spoke against the church’s plans, saying it would bring weekend activity into what has, up to now, been a quiet neighborhood.

This process is not over for iTown.  The rezone allows the church to move forward on planning the new structure.  The building plans will also go through the planning and approval process. Neighbors will be given the opportunity to be a part of that process as it moves along.

In one other item at Monday night’s council session, a proclamation was approved congratulating Meyer Najem for 30 years in business.

Here’s my review of the latest Planet of the Apes film

A favorite pastime of boating on Geist Lake is tubing, where a motorboat pulls someone behind on a an inflated tube.  An accident Saturday afternoon illustrates how important safety precautions can be while boating.

Alec Harris, 18, from Fishers, suffered serious injuries to both feet. He was transported to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, where he underwent surgery to repair deep lacerations,
broken bones and torn tendons and ligaments.

State conservation officers determined that Harris’ injuries had been caused by a propeller strike. Harris had been tubing when the accident occurred.  He had been thrown off the tube in a turn and the boat which was towing him came back around and ran over him. Neither of the 15-year-old girls on-board the boat who were observing saw Harris fall off the tube and the operator was unaware until it was too late.  A 17-year-old was operating the boat.

So, the bottom line is this:  We are in the middle of the boating season.  Be careful.

By

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

(NOTE: Fred Swift commentaries are posted here as part of a partnership between the Hamilton County Reporter and LarryInFishers.com.  In the piece below, Fred writes about a number of Hamilton County items)

–The surprising decision of Luke Kenley to resign from the State Senate has reportedly
brought a flood of prospective candidates to fill Kenley’s seat. The winner of
a Republican Party caucus in the next few months will represent Hamilton County in
the next three sessions of the legislature.  So far five individuals have expressed
interest including Noblesville City Councilor Megan Wiles, longtime GOP activist
Victoria Sparx and Carmel City Councilor Sue Finkam. There is also interest from a
county council member and a Westfield businessman indicating intentions to run.

–State officials last week released plans on where the Department of Transportation (INDOT) will spend new revenue from the 10 cent per gallon increase in the
gas tax. Hamilton County state roads are scheduled to get about $25 million over
the next five years. This is far less than some other counties in central Indiana, but
there may be a good reason for that. In an agreement last year Hamilton County is
getting $100 million for State Road 37 reconstruction and got another $65 million
in a one-time COIT distribution, most of which must go toward road improvements.
So, we already got a pretty good deal out of the Statehouse.

–New York is known as the city that never sleeps. We could call Carmel the city
that never quits building. The city council will soon consider a new $100 million
bond issue for more public improvements and amenities. Plans call for yet more
roundabouts, a five-star hotel and an antique Canadian merry-go-round among
other things. Mayor Jim Brainard has reportedly lined up needed majority support
on the council.

–Plans proposed earlier this year by County Commissioners for the use of solar
energy to provide power at the county jail did not get immediate approval from the
County Council. At their last meeting the council majority said costs and financing
will undergo detailed study by members.  No firm date has been set for a vote on the
$8.1 million request to fund a bank of solar panels and other equipment needed to
convert sunlight to electricity. The use of solar energy could save big money, commissioners say.

–Commissioners in their last meeting approved an agreement with the firm of
Butler, Fairman and Seufert to provide engineering for the widening and rehabilitation of Noblesville’s Logan Street Bridge. The plan is to get a new pedestrian walkway across the river to allow safer access to the new Federal Hill Commons.  Cost, about $200,000. Another bridge job approved calls for a new span across the Keiser Ditch on Cyntheanne Road at a cost of $1.1 million.

–And, the Good Kid Award this month goes to Eagle Scout Zach Witty, who is
leading a project to create a walking trail around the perimeter of the County 4-H
Fairgrounds. Signage will be provided along the pathway which is designed to
promote physical fitness.

In the July 15th installment of Hamilton County Goes To The Movies, Adam & Larry review the latest Spiderman film and the opening feature at the Indy Film Fest, Wind River.  James Moriarty then joins the conversation to talk about the upcoming Carmel Film Forum.

by

Richie Hall

Hamilton County Reporter

The theme of this year’s Hamilton County 4-H Queen Pageant
was “An Evening in Paris” – appropriate for Bastille Day, n’est-ce
pas?

At the end of Friday’s pageant, there was considerable joie de
vivre from Chloe Mills. The Cicero 10-year member of the Harey
Hoppers was crowned as Hamilton County 4-H Queen for 2017. Mills’
name has now been added to the honor roll of 4-H Queens, which
dates back to 1961.

“I was shocked and excited and so happy,” said Mills, 18, a Cicero
resident who will be a freshman at Purdue University this fall.

There were 16 queen contestants at this year’s pageant, which
took place at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds. The contestants
all did interviews with the judges earlier Friday afternoon. At the
pageant, the contestants modeled professional wear and evening
wear, and were asked an impromptu question by Mistress of
Ceremonies Mary Beth Riley.

“It was very nerve-wracking with the interview with the judges,”
said Mills. But once she and the other contestants got on stage,
Mills said the pageant “went by really fast” and was very easy-going.

Mills’ impromptu question revealed her favorite school subject,
which many people don’t find easy-going: Math. Mills said she
enjoys math “because I love challenging myself, and there’s always
one way to do it, and that’s math.”

Mills said she also enjoyed meeting the other contestants,
noting that they were people she wouldn’t have met if she hadn’t
participated in the Queen Pageant.

“They were all so sweet,” said Mills. “We’ve all been friends. I’m
very excited to be friends with them after the fair.”

“The whole pageant experience was wonderful,” said Mills. “I
loved every second of it. It’s very educational and it prepares you for so much
more in life with the interview.”

Mills and her court will be a major presence at the 4-H Fair, which runs from
July 20-24 this year. The other members of the court include:

–First runner-up: Viktoria Mills, 16, Westfield, of Carmel 4-C’s

–Second runner-up: Emma Swain, 17, of Sheridan Ag

–Third runner-up: Rebeca Hayes, 17, Noblesville, of Forest Hill

–Fourth runner-up: Ashlyn Robertson, 16, of Progressive Farmers

–Miss Congeniality: Crystal Xue, 17, of Carmel 4-C’s

“It’s such a great honor, particularly because it’s the peers that vote for you,” said
Xue. “So it’s truly a testament to their greatness and how well that they performed.”

Xue enjoyed the Queen Pageant experience as well.

“I absolutely loved it,” she said. “It taught me so much about being confident in
myself and learning new things, and of course being open.”

Right before the 2017 queen was announced, 2016 queen Rachel Adams
spoke to the crowd. In addition, Phyllis Davis entertained the crowd with some
piano selections while the judges were making their decision. This was her 50th
pageant.

Whenever an outdoor downtown Fishers event is planned, one of the biggest variables is the weather.  For the second year in a row, the Fishers Arts Crawl experienced a perfect July evening for people to walk the Nickel Plate District an enjoy the many artists on display.

Here are some pictures to try and capture the Arts Crawl.

Continue reading Perfect Weather for 2017 Fishers Arts Crawl →

In December of 2016, The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board approved a normally routine item that evening – the consent agenda.  That item rolls into a long list of actions. Included in it are usually resignations, retirements, hiring employees, etc.  For the first time I know, buried in that consent agenda, was a 5-day suspension for Employee Number 10042.  I must admit, I did not pick up on it, and no other journalist found it, except one – Bob Segall of WTHR’s 13Investigates.

He pressed the school corporation for the name of the suspended staff member, and HSE School officials disclosed the suspension was given to Fishers High School football coach Rick Wimmer.

Since that time, HSE has refused to provide more than general, vague information about why Coach Wimmer was suspended.  Twice 13Investigates has asked for opinions from the Indiana Public Access Counselor, an expert on state laws relating to open records and an appointee of the governor, on whether HSE has followed the law in refusing to disclose any specific facts about why Coach Wimmer was suspended.  Counselor Luke Britt has twice issued opinions clearly stating HSE must disclose specific facts about this suspension.

Yet, HSE has twice refused to follow those opinions.  Now Public Counselor Britt has done an on-camera interview with 13Investigates’ Segall to make the incredible statement that HSE officials “don’t get it” when interpreting his opinions.  It is highly unusual for a public counselor to make a statement like that on television.

The 13Investigates team has the option of going to court and forcing the issue before a judge.  But Segall said in his most recent story that WTHR is proposing that HSE privately disclose to Britt the specific facts related to the Coach Wimmer suspension so Britt may determine whether HSE has any legally valid reason not to disclose the facts of this suspension.  HSE has not yet responded to that proposal from Segall and his team.

Segall is also asking HSE Schools how much this legal battle is costing the school corporation in additional legal fees.  So far, HSE has not responded.

If HSE somehow thinks 13Investigates will give up on this story, keep in mind that it is very rare for a local television news operation to win a Peabody Award, described as the Oscars of the news business.  In the last round, 13Investigates won not one, but two Peabody awards.  The 13Investigates team knows what they are doing.

There are many more details contained on the latest story from 13Investigates.  You can read the story, and watch the video of the story that aired on the 5:30pm WTHR newscast on July 14th, at this link.