A major issue now before the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board is redistricting, driven by shifting enrollment patterns across the district. The number of school-age children is increasing in HSE’s eastern neighborhoods and declining in the west, prompting the need to redraw district boundaries to balance enrollment.

District officials say redistricting is necessary to maintain reasonable class sizes, use school facilities efficiently, and manage the budget responsibly. Superintendent Patrick Mapes has noted that updated boundaries will help control costs and generate savings in the years ahead.

To guide the process, the board hired Woolpert, a national consulting firm. The firm launched its work with online surveys and focus groups, then partnered with district administrators to host two public meetings where residents could review draft maps and provide input.

Woolpert has now delivered its final recommendations for new elementary, intermediate, and junior high boundaries. The two high school attendance zones will remain unchanged.

As with previous redistricting efforts in HSE, the public response has been mixed. Many families are comfortable with the proposed maps, while some neighborhoods have expressed concerns about how their students may be affected.

Making last-minute changes can be challenging, as adjustments in one area often ripple into others. However, Woolpert indicated it may consider limited revisions that do not impact surrounding neighborhoods—provided there is adequate space in the affected school.

HSE Schools will continue accepting survey feedback through midnight on November 30. Details on the redistricting process, including a link to the survey, are available on the HSE Schools website.

If the timeline holds, the HSE School Board is expected to vote on the final redistricting plan at its meeting on Wednesday, December 10, at 7 p.m. at the district administration building on Cumberland Road.

A scoreless battle stretched through three periods and a seven-minute overtime Saturday night at the Fishers Event Center, but the Indy Fuel came up just short, falling 1-0 to the Adirondack Thunder in a shootout.

Despite the loss, the Fuel secured one point in the ECHL standings. The lone tally of the night came in the shootout’s third round, when Adirondack’s Brannon McManus slipped the puck into the net. Indy was unable to convert on any of its three attempts.

Defense dominated from start to finish, with both teams unable to capitalize on several power-play opportunities in regulation or the 3-on-3 overtime session.

Goaltending was the story on both ends of the ice. Fuel netminder Owen Flores delivered another strong performance for the second straight night, while Adirondack’s Jeremy Brodeur matched him save for save to preserve the shutout.

Adding to the atmosphere, the Fuel took the ice in retro Indianapolis Racers jerseys for Racer Night, drawing an energetic crowd.

The Fuel now hit the road for a Wednesday matchup in Wheeling. They return home after Thanksgiving, hosting in-state rival Fort Wayne on Friday before welcoming Cincinnati on Saturday.

Public safety agencies from across Hamilton County and Central Indiana spent this week at Ruoff Music Center participating in a large-scale, multi-day training exercise aimed at improving coordinated response during major emergencies.

The exercise brought together law enforcement, fire, EMS, and emergency management teams to practice communication and response during complex scenarios such as active-threat situations, suspicious objects, and multiple simulated victims. Officials said the goal is to strengthen how agencies work together when real-world crises occur.

Over four days, approximately 400 public safety personnel and more than 550 volunteer crisis actors took part in 12 separate scenarios — the result of 19 months of planning.

To create realistic but controlled conditions, the training incorporated medical equipment, non-lethal training ammunition, gunshot simulators, simulated crowd noise, and professional injury moulage.

Fishers Police and Fishers Fire & EMS were among the participating agencies, along with departments from Carmel, Noblesville, Westfield, South Madison, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana State Police, and Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. Hamilton County Emergency Management, 911 dispatchers, and three private partner organizations also took part.

Andrew Newport, regional vice president of operations for Ruoff Music Center, said the venue is committed to preparing for large-scale emergencies.

“Ruoff Music Center is committed to maintaining the highest standards of preparedness through ongoing collaboration with public safety and emergency management partners,” Newport said. “This exercise demonstrates our shared commitment to the safety of our fans, crew, and community.”

Public safety officials noted that the training was planned in advance and did not pose a threat to the public.

We are headed to Thanksgiving week, so be aware of some street closures to make way for two 5K events.  Also, be aware of lane restrictions on Sate Road 37 southbound at the 141st Street construction area.

There is a lot more in this week’s Fishers-area road construction report for the work week starting Mponday, November 24, as provided by the City of Fishers:

Continue reading Road construction update – week starting Monday, November 24 →

Cody Laskosky supplied all the offense the Indy Fuel needed Friday night, and goaltender Owen Flores delivered a highlight-reel performance to secure a 2-1 victory over the Adirondack Thunder at the Fishers Event Center.

Both teams skated to a scoreless first period, with defense dominating the opening 20 minutes.

Tensions rose midway through the game when Indy’s Jadon Joseph and Adirondack’s Ryan Wheeler dropped the gloves, earning matching penalties. Wheeler also drew an unsportsmanlike conduct call, giving the Fuel a power play, but Indy was unable to convert.

Laskosky broke the deadlock with 4:30 remaining in the second period, then struck again with about 12 minutes left in the third to put the Fuel up 2-0.

Adirondack pulled goaltender Jeremy Brodeur with two minutes to play, and the gamble paid off briefly as Tyson Fawcett scored with 1:16 remaining. But the Fuel defense held firm in the final moments, securing the team’s seventh win of the young season. Indy now stands at 7-6-1.

The Fuel and Thunder meet again Saturday for Racers Night, honoring Indianapolis’ former WHA franchise. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. at the Fishers Event Center.

The Hamilton East Public Library will kick off its annual Season of Giving on Dec. 1, offering residents a variety of ways to support local families in need while highlighting a new partnership with Hamilton Southeastern Schools.

The campaign runs through Jan. 11 at both the Noblesville and Fishers library branches. Donation drives this year include winter clothing, non-perishable food, and period care products. Items collected at the Fishers Library will go to the Delaware Township Trustee’s Office, while donations at the Noblesville Library will support the Noblesville Township Trustee’s Office.

The library is also partnering with the Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank to collect shelf-stable foods. In addition, HEPL is working with HamCo Love, a nonprofit focusing on period poverty, to gather menstrual care products or monetary donations through the organization’s online wish lists or Venmo account.

A new element of this year’s campaign is an externship collaboration with Hamilton Southeastern High School. Three students from the school’s Public Relations class worked with HEPL’s marketing team this fall to assist with storytelling, messaging, photography, and social media promotion for the Season of Giving.

HSE senior Claire Robertson, who led the student team, said their goal was to help boost donations by 5% over last year. “We’re so thankful to our adviser, Bill DeLisle, and HEPL’s Director of Marketing and Communications, Kelsey Sweet, for giving us this opportunity,” Robertson said in the release.

Alongside the donation drives, the library will offer a series of programs for families, adults, teens, and children throughout the season. Events include Bling-a-Book for teens and adults (Nov. 29 in Noblesville and Dec. 13 in Fishers), Teen Gourmet workshops, a Stitch-a-Thon, a Family Portrait Day, Riso holiday card-making at Ignite Studio, a Dec. 26 blood drive in Noblesville, and the Heart Connectors program in January.

Additional drop-in crafts and activities will be available at both library locations. A full schedule and registration details are posted on the library’s online events calendar.

More information about the Season of Giving and donation guidelines can be found at hamiltoneastpl.org.

Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston, a Republican from Fishers, joined Indiana House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta on Friday in strongly condemning a series of recent threats and swatting attempts directed at members of the Indiana Senate.

In a joint statement, the legislative leaders called the incidents “abhorrent and completely unacceptable,” stressing that criminal acts are not an appropriate way to express political disagreement.

“The threats, swatting attempts and other criminal activity being directed at our colleagues in the Senate are abhorrent and completely unacceptable. This is no way to express political disagreement, and it must stop,” Huston and GiaQuinta said.

The lawmakers thanked local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies for their swift response and ongoing investigations, noting that officers have been working to ensure the safety of elected officials and their families.

“This is incredibly harmful to those being directly impacted and to our entire state,” the statement continued. “We’re praying for our colleagues, their families and neighbors, and our law enforcement partners. We hope to see swift justice for anyone responsible for these crimes.”

Authorities have not released details about the specific threats or identified any suspects. Swatting involves making a false report to provoke a heavy police response, often placing victims and responding officers in danger.

Five Fishers Police Department officers conducted a targeted traffic enforcement effort along 116th Street on Thursday morning, resulting in 39 traffic stops over a four-hour period.

The traffic blitz took place between Olio Road and Cumberland Road from 8 a.m. to noon. According to the department, the highest speed recorded during the operation was 27 mph over the posted limit.

Police said several stops led to positive conversations with drivers about road safety, and officers noted that many motorists were already following the speed limit.

“Every stop is an opportunity to prevent crashes and protect our community,” the department said in its update.

Fishers Police thanked drivers who slowed down and set “an excellent example for safe driving,” reminding residents that reduced speeds help create safer streets throughout the city.

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal crash that occurred early Thursday on southbound U.S. 31 in the 25000 block near Sheridan.

Deputies were called to the scene around 3:59 a.m. after a Kia Optima traveling southbound struck a deer while attempting to avoid it. According to investigators, the impact caused the vehicle to leave the roadway and go down an embankment before eventually returning to the roadway and coming to rest in the outside lane.

After an unknown period of time, a southbound Volvo semi-truck struck both the disabled Kia and its driver, who authorities believe had been standing outside the vehicle. The driver of the Kia was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office is working to confirm the victim’s identity and notify family members.

The crash remains under investigation by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Crash Team. Agencies assisting at the scene included the Sheridan Police Department, Emergency Management Agency, Sheridan Fire Department, Jackson Fire Department and the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office.

The Indoor Football League (IFL), which includes the Fishers Freight franchise, announced Wednesday a new national broadcast partnership with FanDuel Sports Network that will bring the league’s games to millions of households starting in 2026.

Under the agreement, FanDuel Sports Network will air 60 live IFL games each season across its television channels and streaming app. The package includes national coverage of the Western Conference Championship and the IFL National Championship.

A key feature of the partnership is the launch of Sunday Night Indoor Football, a weekly primetime broadcast set for Sundays at 7:30 p.m. ET. The league says the showcase will highlight the IFL’s fast pace, high energy, and unique indoor atmosphere.

“Partnering with FanDuel Sports Network represents a major step forward for the Indoor Football League,” IFL Commissioner Todd Tryon said in a statement. “This partnership expands our reach to new audiences across the country, gives our coaches, players, and officials the exposure needed to advance their brand, and gives our loyal fans a premier viewing experience each week.”

Jared Widman, president of the IFL Business Division, said the national platform will deliver new opportunities for teams, sponsors, and league partners.

“National exposure across the network reinforces our commitment to growing the IFL brand and showcasing the incredible talent and energy on our fields,” Widman said.

FanDuel Sports Network, operated by Main Street Sports Group, manages a large portfolio of local sports media rights and produces more than 3,000 live sporting events each year, including coverage for select MLB, NHL, and NBA teams.

The IFL’s 2026 season will be the first presented under the new media agreement.