By

The Hamilton County Reporter

(This story is posted as part of a partnership between the Hamilton County Reporter newspaper & LarryInFishers.com.  It appeared in the March 2nd edition of the Reporter.  It contains the Indiana Transportation Museum’s response to the recent proposed transformation of the rail line into a walking & biking trail)

With the announcement of plans by the
Cities of Fishers and Noblesville to convert
the local landmark, Nickel Plate railroad to
a walking and biking trail, the area is at risk
of losing a major historic and economic
differentiator.

The Indiana Transportation Museum,
which has operated events and excursions
on the line since 1990, is disheartened by
the direction local leaders have chosen.
With downtown developments carrying the
Nickel Plate theme, the railroad as a
historical, tourism-oriented entity has the
capacity to continually enrich the area’s
market appeal and economic footprint.
Studies have shown ITM is one of the top
attractions in Hamilton County.

Many cities have walking and biking
paths, but few in the United States have an
operating heritage railroad operating
through bustling business districts with
access to a large metropolitan market such
as Indianapolis. The organization brings in
more than 40,000 riders into the area each
year at a growing rate, and many travel from
out of town. These visitors buy gas, soda
and snacks at convenience stores; have dinner and drinks at local restaurants and
bars as well as stay in local hotels. The
economic impact of such a move on the local
businesses and community must be carefully
considered before the heritage railroad is
removed.

Museum officials have prepared a
master plan that calls for increased
excursions and events in order to maximize
economic and cultural benefit. The Museum
urges city officials to consider a join-useplan
for the rail corridor, thereby allowing
for both attractions to coexist for maximum
community benefit. The Museum believes
collaboration with city leaders is of the
utmost necessity to preserve this unique icon
and differentiator for the region as well as
future generations of enjoyment.

Currently, as many as 10,000 families
from across the region make museum events
such as Polar Bear Express, FairTrain and
regular offerings a family tradition. The
Museum wishes to reach a joint resolution
to ensure these experiences are preserved
for all to enjoy, thus allowing for the longterm
continuation of museum programs.

By

The Hamilton County Reporter

(This story is posted as part of a partnership between the Hamilton County Reporter newspaper & LarryInFishers.com.  It appeared in the March 2nd edition of the Reporter)

The Hamilton County Traffic Safety
Partnership, a consortium of law
enforcement agencies
including Carmel
Police, Cicero Police,
Fishers Police,
Noblesville Police,
Westfield Police,
Indiana State Police,
and the Hamilton
County Sheriff’s
Office, announced
today they will join
efforts with over 250
Indiana state and local
law enforcement agencies to increase
education and enforcement around
dangerous and impaired driving.
From March 3 through March 26, 2017,
officers across the state will conduct highvisibility
patrols specifically designated to
identify and intercept those driving
aggressively and under the influence.

“As a state known for basketball
hysteria, March is a time of celebration and
fun here in Indiana,” said Hamilton
County Sheriff Mark Bowen. “Throw in St. Patrick’s Day as well, and its critical we
drive home the message that the only way
to celebrate, is responsibly. For this reason,
our officers will be working day and night
all across the county looking out for our
fellow Hoosiers, because if we do see you
driving dangerously or impaired, we will
pull you over.”

Increased enforcement during March is
a statewide effort supported by federal
funding allocated to the Hamilton County
Traffic Safety Partnership from the Traffic
Safety Division of the Indiana Criminal
Justice Institute (ICJI). Officers from around
the county will work overtime to conduct
observational patrols and sobriety
checkpoints around the clock.

According to ICJI, in March 2016 there
were 495 alcohol-related crashes across
Indiana, resulting in 231 injuries and 11
fatalities. Additionally, during the same
period, crash reports indicate 1,128
collisions occurred due to dangerous
driving, resulting in 260 injuries and two
fatalities. Dangerous driving includes
factors such as “speed too fast for weather conditions,” “driver distracted,” and “driver
asleep or fatigued.”

“Protecting all those traveling Indiana’s
roadways is an action we do not take
lightly,” said ICJI Executive Director Dave
Murtaugh. “With various celebratory events
taking place during the month of March, it’s
important we remind all drivers and
passengers the responsibility of staying safe
on the road, lies at their feet. I want to thank
our hard working and dedicated officers who
will be out in full patrol working to ensure
this message is front and center in the mind
of all those behind the wheel. The key to
safe travel is simple. Buckle up and drive
sober.”

Crashes resulting from dangerous and
impaired driving are preventable. The
Hamilton County Traffic Safety Partnership
and ICJI would like to remind motorists safe driving is as simple as following these easy
steps:
• Before the celebration begins, plan a safe
way home
• Do not drive impaired
• If you do drink, use a taxi, public
transportation, ridesharing service or
designate a sober friend or family member,
and give them your keys
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, call
911
• If you know someone who is about to drive
or ride impaired, take their keys and help
make arrangements to get them home safely

By RICHIE HALL
Hamilton County Reporter Sports Editor

The sectional re-match between the
Fishers and Hamilton Southeastern boys
basketball was hard-fought and intense, just
like everybody expected.

In the end, the Royals were able to get
past the Tigers 72-66 in a first-round game
at Class 4A Sectional 8 at Carmel’s Eric
Clark Activity Center. With the victory,
Southeastern advanced to Friday’s semifinals
to take on Anderson, while Fishers
with a 10-14 record.

That record didn’t fool Royals coach
Brian Satterfield. He remembers the regularseason
game between HSE and the Tigers,
in which the Royals needed overtime to win.

“They’re better than their record shows,”
said Satterfield.

The first quarter ended with Southeastern
up 16-12, with the Royals’ senior star
Zach Gunn scoring nine of those points. On
the Fishers’ side, sophomore Armaan Franklin
made his entrance into star territory,
scoring all 12 of the Tigers’ points.

Franklin would eventually finish with 33
points, leading all scorers.

“I thought he was absolutely spectacular,”
said Fishers coach Joe Leonard. “He
got an offer from IUPUI, so people were on
to him. He’s going to be a big-time player
here.”

The Royals led 39-31 at halftime, and
ran their lead up to 12 at one point in the
third quarter. Noah Smith had a solid second
period for HSE, scoring 11 points.

But the Tigers made a run, and tied the
game back up at 50-50 by the end of the
period. Franklin scored another seven points
in that quarter, while Connor Washburn
added six and Jamil Turner-Hall four.

Fishers took the lead twice early in the
fourth period, but Southeastern quickly tied
the game back up both times, and gradually
took control of the quarter. A 3-pointer from
Nick Bowman helped the Royals out during
the period.

“We had some good ball reversals and
got a wide open look in the corner, and
Bowman hits a big 3 for us to tie it,” said
Satterfield, whose team is now 20-5 for the
season. “And then we got a few stops during
that stretch where they came back and tied
it.”

“We came up with some of the loose balls, the rebounds and things like that. But
at the offensive end, we were very efficient.
We sort of got shots that we wanted to from
that point on.”

“Very proud of how they fought
tonight,” said Leonard. “We had played
them earlier in the season and had got down
12 and came back. It’s a group that I would
never give up on because of their ability to
come back.”

Gunn led HSE with 23 points, including
10 in the third quarter. He also grabbed nine
rebounds. Smith added 20 points, and dished
out four assists. Jack Davidson scored 12 for
HSE.

After Franklin’s 33, Washburn scored
nine points and grabbed nine rebounds as
well. Jamil Turner-Hall added eight points
and handed out eight assists.

It seems every time I am scheduled to be out of town, a big announcement happens in Fishers.  Tuesday morning was one of those occasions.

Noblesville, Fishers and Hamilton County appear poised to begin the process of establishing a Nickel Plate Train along the old rail line.  It has been used for the State Fair Train and a few other excursions in recent years, but with $5 million (at least) of work needed to bring the rail line up to safety standards, the train may be done for good.

Mayor Scott Fadness has expressed his intention of having meetings for public input on the proposal to transform the Nickel Plate Rail line from 96th Street north 9 miles to Noblesville, at a projected cost of about $9 million.

This idea has been rumored for a long time.  Now that the proposal is up for public debate, let’s see what happens.

You can read more about the Nickel Plate Tuesday morning announcement from Lindsey Erdody’s Indianapolis Business Journal story at this link.

When an announcement was scheduled for Tuesday morning involving Fishers, Noblesville and Hamilton County at the Downtown Fishers Switch Building, speculation began to center on the Nickel Plate rail line and recent rumors that line would be converted to a trail.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness would not comment at all before Monday’s Board of Works meeting on what the announcement may entail.

John Tuohy of the Indianapolis Star posted a story Monday evening speculating that the Tuesday morning announcement will involve turning the rail line into a trail.

You can read the IndyStar story at this link.

The City of Fishers has entered into an agreement with the Hagerman Group, a Fishers-based construction firm, to build a new parking garage for the city police department.  The Fishers Board of Public Works and Safety, a body made up of Mayor Scott Fadness and his two appointees, approved the $5.7 million public-private partnership pact unanimously.

The facility is scheduled to be turned over to the city on August 1, 2018, but the actual construction is expected to be complete well before that date.

A public hearing drew no speakers.

Mayor Scott Fadness says Hagerman and police officials are currently working on the final design of the new police station, to be constructed adjacent to the garage.  That arrangement will be considered by the board once those plans are complete.

The city has been concerned about the security of police equipment, particularly parked law enforcement vehicles in a lot.  The garage would allow better security for that equipment.

In one other Board of Works action –the board approved the contract with Fall Creek Township for the city to provide Fire and Emergency Services.  The roughly $538,000 contract is slightly higher than the previous year.  Board member Jason Meyer abstained from voting, since he has recently assumed a seat on the Fall Creek Township Board.

OK, how could I resist?  Here is my review of the 2017 Academy Awards TV show

You know it’s a big deal when a room full of entrepreneurs pack themselves into the Launch Fishers auditorium to hear from Governor Eric Holcomb, Mayor Scott Fadness, Launch Fishers Founder John Wechsler, ClearObject CEO John McDonald and many others.  The occasion was the February 21st unveiling of a new planned Internet of Things (IoT) Lab near Launch Fishers, contained within a state-designated Certified Tech Park.

The Tech Park designation is important because the first $5 million in state tax money generated by businesses in the Tech Park are plowed back into improvements at the Tech Park, rather then going into the state coffers.

In a podcast interview the day following the announcement with myself and Lindsey Erdody of the Indianapolis Business Journal, John McDonald said this may be the first IoT Lab in the world featuring a public-private partnership.  There are many private companies with such operations, but he cannot find another IoT Lab like the one planned for Fishers.

If you want to better understand the Internet of Things, listen to the podcast with John McDonald.     John explains how nearly everything we use, including our cars and lighting systems, will be tied to the Internet, creating this Internet of Things.

McDonald is also hopeful the new IoT Lab will continue to establish Fishers as a hub for high-tech companies.  He credits Launch Fishers as a big part of bringing the high-tech culture to the Fishers economy.

McDonald’s company ClearObject (formerly known as CloudOne) will have its own employees working in the Fishers IoT Lab.  There is little doubt other high tech firms will follow.

This is the second time Governor Holcomb has visited Fishers this month in a public appearance (first was a legislative breakfast at Conner Prairie).  He and Mayor Fadness are clearly on the same page on how to grow the local economy.

“Fishers is on the cutting edge and on the move,” the governor said at the IoT Lab announcement.

If staying at the forefront of the high-tech world is an important cog in continuing the growth of Fishers, this announcement is a large step forward in that effort.

Keep in mind, Mayor Scott Fadness has promised the unveiling of even more initiatives at his State of the City address March 15th.

It’s one of the biggest parties of the year in Fishers, and this party benefits local schools. Friday night marked the annual Game Day celebration, the biggest annual fund-raiser for the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Foundation.

It was a packed house, with bids stacking up for the many items in the silent auction. There was food and drink for all.

Continue reading Game Day Party Benefits HSE Schools Foundation →

The City of Fishers held a banquet Thursday night to recognize volunteers around the local community.

The Key to the City was awarded to Warren Harling, whose service on the local Plan Commission goes all the way back to 1993.  This is only the third Key to the City awarded by Mayor Scott Fadness.  The first two went to Tom Curry, founder of the S.P.O.R.T.S organization, and long-time Fishers Police Chief George Kehl.

“In 1993, the population of Fishers was 13,000 people,” Mayor Scott Fadness told the crowd.  “Warren Harling today is still on the Plan Commission, still on the Board of Zoning Appeals.  Not only does he serve on these committees month after month, but he presides over them.”

It was my honor to serve as emcee for the event.  Kudos to Tony Elliot, Dan Domsic and Mayor Fadness for holding this celebration of volunteering.  It’s the first time Fishers has ever done such an event.  I suspect it will not be the last one.

Below is a list of all those honored at the City of Service Evening, held at Forum Credit Union’s Conference Center:

Fishers Parks and Recreation Youth Volunteers of the Year:

Dorothy and Jacqueline Schmok

Fishers Parks and Recreation Adult Volunteer of the Year:

Bernard Thomasson

Department of Public Works Volunteer of the Year:

Stan Schenher

District Teacher of the Year:

Julie Alano

HSE Schools Foundation Volunteer of the Year:

Linda Witt

Nonprofit Volunteer of the Year:

Peg Powers

Key to the City:

Warren Harling