The Kroger store at 116th Street and Cumberland Road held the grand opening for the newly-remodeled grocery, and the company opened its checkbook to support area charities.

Kroger Public Affairs Manager Eric Halvorson handled the Master of Ceremony duties at the event, as local store workers and city officials took to the podium.

But the important part of the festivities centered on checks handed out to local groups doing good things in the area.

Here’s a listing of Kroger donations announced at the Friday morning event:

Fishers Summer Lunch Program                                         $4,000

Fishers Fire Department Foundation                                 $  500

Fishers Police Department                                                     $  500

Third Phase                                                                                   $  500

Disability Roundtable                                                               $  500

Hatch for Hunger                                                                       $25,000

Gleaners Food Bank                                                                 $30,000

(NOTE:  Commentaries from Fred Swift are posted here as part of a partnership between LarryInFishers.com and The Hamilton County Reporter newspaper.)

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter 

The only proposal for the future of the Nickel Plate Railroad
which apparently matches the desires of local officials is a plan
submitted by the Hamilton County Hamilton County Visitors and Convention
Commission.

The Hoosier Heritage Port Authority, owners of the Nickel Plate tracks, had asked for proposals from groups interested in operating on the rail line. Four proposals were received by the port authority’s deadline.

The future of the railroad is complicated by a federal law suit filed last week
by the Indiana Transportation Museum claiming their rights have been violated
because they are no longer allowed to use the railway.

The future of the historic railroad has become a controversial topic in Noblesville
and other communities through which the Nickel Plate runs. No trains have run since
March of 2016 when the port authority suspended the museum’s permit to use the
tracks due to safety concerns. The museum, headquartered at Forest Park, had operated
excursion trains for the past 20 years including the popular Fairtrain.

The four proposals being considered by the port authority came from Indianapolis Metro Railway Company, the Hoosier Heritage Railroad Inc. of Fishers, the
Transportation Museum and the Visitor and Convention Bureau.

Only the Visitor and Convention plan proposes to continue rail service north from
Noblesville to Tipton while turning the rail bed from Noblesville south into a hiking
and bicycle trail. Local officials in Fishers, Noblesville and county government have
generally favored this idea although as controversy grew, they have said no decision
would be made until more information is gathered. The other three groups want to
keep the rails intact to Indianapolis.

Officially, the port authority will rank the proposals by July 1, and announce a
decision at an undetermined date thereafter.  That date could be delayed indefinitely
by the lawsuit as there is no certainty when the suit will be adjudicated.

In the meantime, of course, no trains on the Nickel Plate.

Mike Reuter is the Chief Financial Officer for the Hamilton Southeastern Schools.  He talked to Larry about a number of school finance issues.

Monday night’s Fishers City Council meeting took time to honor two groups of people, the Citizen’s Academy graduates and Mayor’s Youth Council.  Here is list of those honored, as provided by the City of Fishers:

Citizen’s Government Academy Graduates:

Cecilia Shaw

Haley Waldkoetter

James Greig

Jason Arnold

Jason Dew

Ken Jansing

Mayor’s Youth Council:

Claire Baney

Stephen MacKenzie

Madison Schwarz

A’Lyrika Bowens

Emma Crell

Kevin Kwon

Sophia Silcox

Rachel Billheimer

Nevile Makau

Elijah Heindricks

Jada Edson

Joe Bergin

Jack Huybers

Ariana Bailey

Kyler Mansinne

John Ryu

Hanna Scholl

Sarah Jacobs

Adam Howard

The City of Fishers had a plan a few years ago to add art to the growing downtown area. That plan continued Wednesday morning as the city introduced new summer art facing I-69 on the Edge Building along 116th Street.  “This mural celebrates Fishers in glorious summer with so many fun things to do,” said the project artist Kyle Ragsdale.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness and artist Ragsdale were on hand for the unveiling ceremony.

You can see most of the murals below.

Fishers Police placed two men under arrest after a Tuesday morning situation that happened at the BP gas station and convenience store on 131st Street at State Road 37, which was apparently over allegations of stealing.

According to authorities, Steven D. Robinson, 23, residing in, Indianapolis, was accused of stealing a cigar at the store by a clerk.  The store clerk, Ahmad Al-Rafie, 31, from Fishers, allegedly pointed a gun at Robinson in the parking lot as Robinson was leaving the store, based on information from police investigating the incident.

Robinson faces Theft and Driving While Suspended charges. while Al-Rafie has been charged with Intimidation with a firearm and pointing a firearm at another person.

Robinson drove away after the incident.  He was located by Fishers police a short time later.  There were no shots fired and no one was hurt.

Braden Business Systems is building a new structure just east of City Hall, which is starting to take shape, and the City Council Monday night approved additional parking spaces for the company.  City officials say Braden has increased its investment in the new office building, leading to a recommendation to add parking and an enhancement in the economic development incentives, adding one year to the tax abatement.

In another economic development item, the council approved incentives for Knowledge Services, which plans to construct a 70,000 square foot, $6.7 million headquarters facility across from Navient near I-69.  Council members put their stamp of approval on the 10-year real property tax abatement in the amount of 85% of taxes assessed on the building.  The company estimates 800 new employees will call the new HQ building home, including some additional hires.

In other news items from the council session:

–Another Broken Egg, a restaurant soon to locate in the downtown Switch Building,  entered into a formal written commitment and use agreement with the City for a three-way alcohol beverage license, after the council signed on to the agreement.

–The council acted to amend the city’s noise ordinance.  Before the change, the Nickel Plate District would no longer be able to hold concerts and be in compliance with the local law.  Anyone wanting to have a live entertainment event will be required to apply for a permit on a form provided on the City of Fishers website.   City officials say this is an attempt to control the noise level of live entertainment events within the Nickel Plate District at a given day and time.

–In a work session before the main council session, Deputy Mayor Leah McGrath provided a one year update on the status of the city’s Comprehensive 2040 Plan.  Council Member Brad DeReamer raised some issues in the Britton Falls neighborhood dealing with curbs, sidewalks and compliance with provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The iTown Church is looking to expand at a new location, 136th Street and Brooks School Road.  According to a report on WRTV Channel 6, the pastor announced to the congregation Sunday that the iTown will not expand at the site originally targeted, near 126th Street and Brooks School Road.

Residents in the adjacent Gray Eagle neighborhood strongly objected to the church locating in that area, arguing it would take away green space and endanger the future of the Gray Eagle Golf Course.

The new site at 136th Street and Brooks School Road will not need to go through the approval process under Fishers City ordinances.

Father’s Day is special for me.   I am so proud of my two adult daughters, Allison & Mary.   Thanks for making every Father’s Day special.

There is always a tinge of sadness for me because I lost my Dad over 20 years ago. But I have so many wonderful memories of him, what he taught me and what I learned just by his example.

I hope Father’s Day is special for all of you!

by

Fred Swift

(Commentaries by Fred Swift are posted here as part of a partnership between LarryInFishers.com & The Hamilton County Reporter newspaper)

My lunchtime friends at Alexander’s so-called Table of Knowledge this
week were recalling the days when we had a Justice of the Peace in Noblesville.
Actually, we had three in Hamilton County. You don’t hear much about the JPs anymore. They were essentially legislated out of office in the 1970s.

The Justice of the Peace headed one of Indiana’s earliest courts of justice. Starting
right after statehood, the courts had considerable authority until well into the 20th
century when their powers were reduced to handle mainly traffic infractions.

However, just like in the movies, the JP could perform marriages, administer oaths
and consider a few other civil matters. Justices were elected by voters of the township in which they resided. A JP did not have to be a lawyer, and most were not. This was of great concern to the state judiciary and was a major reason for the demise of the position.

Statewide there were probably few female JPs, but two of the three in this county
were women. Naomi Hunt was Noblesville’s longtime JP. She held court at her home at 612 S. 11th St.

Agnes Mitchell was the JP in Cicero who also operated out of her home.

The Justice of the Peace in Carmel was John Christy. He held court in a tiny cement
block building across the street from the old Carnegie Library.

County Court replaced the JP courts about 1980 where the judge was required to
be an attorney, but it was, in turn, replaced by a Superior Court in the 1990s.

Thus, with little fanfare, another chapter in Hamilton County history came to an end.  Now, most folks either can’t remember or are too young to remember what a Justice of the Peace was.