If you have a teen looking for something to do this month in Fishers, the local police department has an idea for you.   June 20th-25th will feature the Fishers Police Department Teen Academy.  It’s a chance for local teens to learn more about law enforcement and get acquainted with police officers.

Below is the Fishers Police Department news release with all the details..

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The 15th annual Fishers Police Department Teen Academy will be held June 20^th – 24^thin conjunction with the Fishers YMCA.  This year’s academy will be held at Riverside Intermediate in Fishers.  The academy is one week of law enforcement type training that will allow teens to better understand how law enforcement works.  The academy will also allow teens to get to know several officers through a variety of social activities. 
 
Each day will begin at 9:00am. The teens will start each day with physical exercise.  The students will then attend classroom training followed by practical hands on skills to reinforce the lesson of the day. Each day will conclude with a social activity between officers and students. Parents can pick up their teen at 3:30pm.
 
“The children in our community are very important to us and with the success of Teen Academy, we are excited to work with the kids again this year.” – Chief George Kehl. 
 
            The purpose of the academy is to allow teens to better understand police officers and to strengthen the relationship between the police department and the community.  Officers will teach blocks of instruction on various topics such as making traffic stops, meeting our K-9 units and learning how they work with police, learning about the Fishers Dive Team, meeting our Crime Scene Investigators, learning about Internet Safety and much more. Students will have classroom instruction as well as practical “role play” training each day.
 
            The academy is open to any applicant 13 years of age or older.  Applicants must be enrolled in a junior high or high school in Fishers.  Each applicant is subject to a screening process and therefore walk-ins will not be allowed. We only have 40 spots available for this year’s academy!  If you are interested, please contact Officer Cory Robinson at robinsonc@fishers.in.us to begin the screening process. 

When I learned of the passing of Muhammad Ali, I starting watching, listening and reading the tributes to the late heavyweight boxing champ, who became much more than a sports figure in America.  But the Muhammad Ali being discussed today was not the celebrity I read about in the 1960s.

First, no one gave the man then called Cassius Clay any chance of beating Sonny Liston in their first heavyweight championship match in Miami Beach held on February 25th, 1964. That included all the newspaper writers regularly covering the boxing beat (there were many in those days).  It also included all the so-called boxing “experts” of that era.

I don’t blame any of them for predicting a dominating Liston win.  There were major contenders for the title that refused to even box Liston….he was known as a powerful boxer with an even more powerful punch.  In the heavyweight division, a boxer like Liston could dominate.

But Clay (as he was known at the time) did something boxing orthodoxy of the time said not to do.  He used his speed and quickness in the ring to wear out his opponent.  The match went 6 rounds, with Liston not coming out for round 7.  Ali was the Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World.

The day after the fight, Clay announced he was joining the Nation of Islam.  He later changed his name to Muhammad Ali.

There was a rematch scheduled between Liston and Ali, but Ali had emergency hernia surgery that delayed the bout.  Boston Gardens was the original site for the rematch, but for a number of reasons, Boston backed out.  At the last minute the small town of Lewiston, Maine, population 41,000, became the new site of the rematch set for May 25th, 1965.  Only 2,434 boxing fans showed up in a venue that could handle a crowd of 4,900. There were many security concerns.  The FBI took many of the threats of violence seriously enough that law enforcement posted a 12-man, 24-hour guard around Ali before and during the fight.

In one of the shortest heavyweight title fights in boxing history, Ali won again when Listen fell to the ring canvas abut one minute into the first round.  There was mass confusion after that, but the officials ruled Listen was down for the count.

Those 2 fights were controversial, but Ali won both.

Muhammad Ali was not able to box during years of his prime because he refused to be inducted into the military.  Many people today were born long after the military draft was abolished, but at one time, it was considered your patriotic responsibility to report for duty if drafted.  Ali opposed the Vietnam War and said he refused to serve on religious grounds. Boxing regulators stripped him of his title and his ability to fight as a boxer professionally. Eventually, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Ali’s favor and he avoided prison.  With the legal troubles settled, Ali was allowed to get back into the ring.

What most people don’t realize is just how hated Ali was by many people during most of the 1960s.  The Vietnam War was not always unpopular with Americans as a whole, particularly in the early years of the conflict.  Many hated Ali not just for his stance on the war, but for his association with the Nation of Islam.  To put it bluntly, Muhammad Ali scared a lot of white Americans in the 1960s.

Then his reputation began to slowly change during the 1970s and into the 1980s.  Ali had contracted Parkinson’s Disease, but remained active, particularly in supporting causes of peace and charitable work.  Many say Muhammad Ali was the most popular man in earth, with the best-known countenance in the world.

I thought about all this when watching, reading and listening to all the praises being expressed at the death of Muhammad Ali.  He was a polarizing figure early in his life, then became something else entirely in the later years of his life – a highly respected man.

Muhammad Ali may well have been the best athlete of the 20th Century.  He knew how to promote himself (whether you liked it or not).  Those 2 things would be enough to cement a legacy.  But Muhammad Ali was more than that.  He was a cultural icon known throughout the world.  That’s how most of us will remember him.

As street and road work continues in and around the city of Fishers, the list is too long to summarize.  Work continues on the 106th Street I-69 interchange, and preparation work continues for the redesign of Exit 210 on I-69 (near Saxony).  Here’s the full list below, as provided by the City of Fishers:

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BRIDGE REPLACEMENT

Effective Monday, June 13^th, the bridge on 106th Street between Allisonville Road and Hague Road will be closed by the Hamilton County Highway Department for replacement. Detour routes will be displayed in the area and access to local traffic will be permitted for residents and businesses. Please direct any questions about this project toalison.krupski@hamiltoncounty.in.gov.

CURB REPAIRS

A contractor will be repairing curb ramps in Bluff and Links at Grey Eagle through the coming weeks. Please anticipate periodic lane restrictions in those areas.

FALL CREEK TRAIL

Fall Creek Trail reconstruction work continues; the pedestrian bridges and section of sidewalk along the trail have been removed. Pedestrians should not use the trail within the sections that have been removed. In addition, there will be periodic lane closures along the project throughout the week of May 30th. Please travel with caution, construction barrels have reduced the existing northbound lane width.

I-69 AND CAMPUS PARKWAY

Milestone Contractors has begun mobilizing cranes and other equipment and setting a temporary concrete barrier wall along I-69 at Campus Parkway Exit 210. Work will require alternating lane closures on northbound and southbound I-69 between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Lane closures may recur each night through the end of the week depending on weather and progress. Questions about this project should be directed to INDOT at eastcentralin@indot.in.gov or 1-855-463-6848.

I-69 TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS

INDOT is overseeing an overnight closure on multiple traffic lanes on I-69 overnight this week to continue demolition of the 106th Street overpass bridge. Weather permitting, lane closures and rolling slowdowns of traffic will begin after 9 p.m. and are expected to end before 6 a.m. the next day. Construction schedules and traffic restrictions are subject to change, and questions should be directed to INDOT at indot.carsporgram.org, 1-800-261-ROAD (7623) or 511 from a mobile phone.

PAVING

A contractor will be paving streets on Lantern Road from 131st Street to Harrison Parkway, Conner Knoll and Gray Eagle throughout the coming weeks. Please anticipate periodic lane restrictions in those areas.

STATE ROAD 37
Continued work will take place along the State Road 37 corridor this weekend from June 3rd through 6th. Work will include archeological and historic reconnaissance from 126th Street in Fishers to State Road 32 in Noblesville. Learn more at www.Fishers.in.us/SR37.

96th STREET

There will be lane restrictions on eastbound 96th Street between Allisonville Road and Masters Road between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. Work will start on the evening of June 6th and last until June 25th. All restrictions will take place at night, and barrels with police officers will help direct traffic.

96th STREET AND CUMBERLAND ROAD

The Hamilton County Highway Department has closed 96th Street and Cumberland Road for 100 calendar days in order to construct a roundabout at this intersection. Anyone with concerns about this project should call 773-7770. Please visit www.Fishers.in.us/DriveFishers to view a detour map. The tentative completion date for this project is June 30, 2016.

106th STREET INTERCHANGE

INDOT has begun work on the 106th Street interchange. A lane shift is currently in place on I-69 and 106th Street is closed as construction continues. Additional details about this project will be released through INDOT and shared on the weekly construction update. Please be advised the speed limit from 82nd Street to 116th Street has been reduced to 55 mph and there are lane shifts on I-69. Please travel with caution and pay close attention to signage in the area.

116th STREET

There may be short-term lane restrictions on eastbound 116th Street between USA Parkway and Exit Five Parkway while utility work is being completed.

126th STREET

• Continuing the week of May 30th, there will be intermittent lane restrictions for westbound traffic just west of Promise Road. These restrictions will allow the contractor to construct the entrance into Granite Ridge subdivision. Advance warning signs will be in place including a directional arrow board, as needed.

• Temporary lane restrictions will be in place on 126th Street between Cyntheanne Road and Atlantic Road in order for should work to be completed. Please drive with caution in the area.

The Hamilton County Highway Department announced Friday afternoon that 106th Street in Fishers will be closed just east of Allisonville Road for 90 days in order to replace the bridge over Cheney Creek.  County governments in Indiana are normally responsible for the construction and maintenance of bridges.

Below is part of the news release issued by the county highway department:

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Effective Monday, June 13, 2016, E. 106th Street between Allisonville Road and Hague Road will be closed for the replacement of Bridge #261, E.106th Street over Cheeney Creek. Currently, E. 106th Street is closed and will continue to be closed to through traffic from Lantern Road/Crosspoint Boulevard to Lantern Road/USA Parkway for the new 106th Street interchange project with the Indiana Department of Transportation.

East 106th Street between Allisonville Road and Hague Road is scheduled to be closed for 90 days.

The signed detour will consist of Allisonville Road, 116th Street, and Hague Road. All through traffic is advised to follow the signed detour or find an alternate route. During the road closure, access will be provided to local traffic from the east (Hague Road) for residences and businesses. Access from the west (Allisonville Road) to Metro Storage and Anthony Builders will be available.

Corbin Montgomery was sentenced Wednesday afternoon after entering into a plea agreement on charges stemming the the death of Connor Shockley.  Here is the judge’s sentence, from a news release from the Hamilton County Prosecutor:

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Upon accepting the plea agreement, the Court sentenced Mr. Montgomery accordingly and entered judgment of conviction against him. Mr. Montgomery’s sentence is forty-five (45) years, with forty (40) years executed as thirty-eight (38) years in prison followed by two (2) years in work release. The remaining five (5) years will be suspended over him during three (3) years of probation.

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The charges are related to Shockley’s stabbing death in June, 2014.

Fishers Police Chief George Kehl is preparing to retire in September after a long tenure at the helm of local law enforcement, but he told a police promotion ceremony Thursday he will be dealing with an unusual situation over the next 4 months – 2 assistant chiefs.  “That’s going to exciting,” Kehl said, “I’m going to have some fun with this.”

Ed Gebhart was promoted to Assistant Chief during the promotion ceremony.  He will join Mitch Thompson as the other assistant chief over the coming 4 months.  Once Chief Kehl retires in September, Mitch Thompson will take over the job as Fishers Chief of Police.

Others receiving promotions at the Thursday ceremony include:

–Dave Seward – Captain

–Kevin Kobli – Lieutenant

–Ben Colling – Sergeant

–Jason Peasley – Sergeant

Mayor Scott Fadness told the audience these promotions pave the way for “the next generation of leadership for the department.”

When the Edge Building design was underway, the architectural renderings told me one thing – this building will be a little different for Fishers…for lack of a better term, “edgier” than most of the other buildings in the downtown area.

Now that the Edge Building is nearing completion, the city announced a very different type of tenant – The Escape Room.  A little Internet research found that there is currently an Escape Room in downtown Indianapolis on South Meridian Street.

What is the Escape Room?  It appears to be a variety of “adventure challenges” along with a lounge.  Here’s how the city news release describes it…

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The Escape Room Fishers plans to house six different adventure challenges and the Escape Lounge, serving local Indiana beer and wine, on the second and third floors of The Edge. The interactive game is designed for everyone. Participants are locked in a themed room with 60 minutes to find clues, solve puzzles, and discover keys and combinations to escape the room before time is up. 

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The Escape Room plans to lease more than 6,000 square feet in The Edge building.  The new Fishers location expects to hire 20 new employees from management to hourly positions.

The Edge plans to have Community Health Network as its largest tenant. Others leasing space in the structure are The Well, The Borrowed Boutique and Progressive Eye Care.

“The Escape Room is a unique addition to the Nickel Plate District,” said Mayor Scott Fadness in the news release. “The revitalization of the area was done to ensure our residents and visitors have a place to live, work and play in our community. It’s very exciting to see this vision come to life, and welcome the Escape Room to Fishers.”

The Escape Room plans to handle special events and corporate groups as part of its business plan, according to the news release.

Prepare yourself for a new musical production all about the history of Indiana and Hamilton County, as part of the Indiana State Bicentennial.  Local arts impresario Ashton Wolf has assembled a group of people to write and produce “Indiana – The Musical.”  Ashton will be directing the show.  The cast has recently been selected.  The show is currently in rehearsals .

“Indiana – The Musical”  is set to open Saturday, July 16th, at the Fishers Balmoral Golf Club.  The second performance will be Sunday, July 24th, at Fishers’ historic Ambassador House.  Two more shows are scheduled for July, Saturday the 29th and Sunday, the 30th, at the Ji-Eun Lee Music Academy, near 126th Street and Cumberland Road.

The story centers on the filming of a Hollywood musical in Indiana about the state’s history.  Some music will be original, some songs are from familiar Hoosier composers, such as Cole Porter.

Tickets will go on sale soon.

For more information, use this link.

Edra Waterman and Beth Meyer talk about many issues, including their summer reading program, the state bicentennial and how library’s continue to be relevant in today’s world

Keynote Speaker Taylor Downing talks about her father

The weather was gorgeous for the May 30th, 2016 Memorial Day ceremony, with the largest crowd yet for such an event in the  City of Fishers.  But what those in attendance for this commemoration will remember most will not be the weather.  The keynote speech by Taylor Downing is one no one will soon forget.

She talked about her father and how much she treasured the time she did have with him. He died while on duty in Iraq.  Taylor talked in detail about the last time she was with her Dad.  Then she described the day she was told her father had died while serving his country.

I do not know how Taylor Downing was able to complete that speech.  The tears came often and there were a few times emotions overwhelmed her and she paused.  At one point, during one of those pauses. the crowd began to applaud, in recognition of her courage to speak about such a painful experience.

One passage from the speech struck me.  Her father died from a sniper’s bullet.  She is often asked if she wants that sniper to die.  No, she replied, Taylor knows what her father’s death has done to her family.  She knows the sniper that fired the fatal shot has  family too. Taylor wouldn’t wish that pain on any family.

Taylor is a student at Indiana State University working on her degree.

Memorial Day is an important annual holiday in America.  In our part of Indiana, the Indianapolis 500 sometimes overshadows the holiday it is built around.  This year, Fishers experienced a very special Memorial Day ceremony.  It is one I will not soon forget.

Here is a video of the ceremony’s first 20 minutes