Whenever I read about the intersection of 96th Street and Allisonville Road, two years immediately come to mind—1991 and 2012.

I moved to Fishers in May 1991 and often drove through 96th and Allisonville, especially during rush hour. Even back then, it was a busy spot where Indianapolis met the growing Town of Fishers.

Fast forward to 2012, the year I launched this news blog. Around that time, the Fishers Town Council was rolling out public-relations efforts to explain a traffic change few Hoosiers had ever seen: the “Michigan Left.” Instead of turning left at the light, drivers would first turn right, then make a U-turn.

Let’s just say the public wasn’t impressed. Social media and local media hammered the plan, and the Michigan Left quickly earned a reputation as a bad idea.

Not everyone agreed, though. My wife Jane, who worked at the Precedent office park near Keystone at the Crossing, used Michigan Lefts regularly and thought it saved time compared to long waits for a left-turn arrow. But public opinion carried the day, and engineers went back to the drawing board.

Studies eventually recommended a roundabout as the best long-term fix for 96th and Allisonville. Construction was painful, as expected, but the project was finished and the new roundabout opened.

Now, more than a decade later, the 96th and Allisonville roundabout is back in the news—and not always in a positive light. Some drivers say it’s just as frustrating as the Michigan Left that came before.

I’m not a traffic engineer, and I try to trust the experts on these matters. Still, I’ve always believed roundabouts are an improvement over four-way stops. When it comes to major intersections, though, I have my doubts. From what I’ve seen at 96th and Allisonville, many of the problems stem less from design and more from drivers who don’t know how to use a roundabout properly. Since Indianapolis doesn’t have nearly as many roundabouts as Fishers or Carmel, it may simply be a matter of unfamiliarity.

That brings me to a recent decision about another busy crossing—116th Street and Allisonville. Fishers officials announced that plans for a roundabout there have been scrapped. A new traffic study suggested that extending left-turn lanes would be a better way to relieve backups, particularly during rush hour.

Carmel may be the roundabout capital of Indiana, perhaps even the nation, and Fishers has been catching up. But the latest move shows that while roundabouts can be valuable, they aren’t always the best answer everywhere.

Cooling temperatures will not result in any slowdown of road construction work in and around Fishers.  Check the long list of resurfacing jobs expected.  Also, see the reminder about the Geist Half Marathon.

Here is the complete listing, as provided by the City of Fishers, for the work week starting Monday, September 8:

Continue reading Fishers Road Construction for the work week starting Monday, September 8 →

Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at Ascension St. Vincent recently celebrated Fishers resident Carter Minion, who was recognized as the Honorary Fever Ball Kid during a recent Indiana Fever home game.

Carter, a patient at the hospital, enjoyed courtside access during warm-ups, met Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, and saw his story highlighted on the video board during halftime. The special recognition honored Carter’s strength and resilience as he continues to live with Type 1 diabetes.

Beyond his own health challenges, Carter has become an advocate for other children living with chronic illnesses. With the support of his family, he helps organize annual fundraisers that benefit patients at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital.

“Honoring Carter as the Honorary Fever Ball Kid is a reminder of the resilience and hope that drive everything we do,” said Stephan Masoncup, Chief Strategy Officer at Ascension St. Vincent. “Ascension St. Vincent is committed to delivering compassionate, world-class care to children facing tough medical challenges.”

The Honorary Fever Ball Kid program recognizes young patients at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital while highlighting their determination and spirit.

Three Hamilton County residents have been chosen to participate in the Emerging Leaders Project, a statewide program aimed at preparing future Democratic leaders.

Nocona Canady-Flatt of Noblesville, Jay Dunne of Westfield, and Fran Smith of Fishers were selected for the initiative, which provides hands-on training in campaign management, public policy, and party organization.

The Emerging Leaders Project, founded in 2011, is an independent nonprofit run by volunteers in coordination with the Indiana Democratic Party. Its goal is to build a pipeline of future Democratic candidates, campaign staff, and community activists across the state.

Josh Lowry, chair of the Hamilton County Democratic Party, praised the local participants for their selection.

“We are thrilled to see three of our own Hamilton County Democrats chosen for this program,” Lowry said. “Nocona, Jay, and Fran represent the next generation of leaders who will continue the work of building a stronger, fairer Indiana.”

The program has a history of producing Democrats who go on to win elected office, manage campaigns, and assume leadership roles within their communities. Party officials say the participation of three Hamilton County residents highlights the growing presence of Democrats in the county.

Best Buddies International is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the social, physical, and economic isolation of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The program pairs people with and without IDD in one-on-one friendships, while also offering support through integrated employment, inclusive living, and leadership development.

Avery VanMiddlesworth is the Manager of Mission Advancement for the Indiana Best Buddies International operation.  Adrienne Moore is a kindergarten teacher at New Britton Elementary School and a Best Buddies Champion candidate.  You can find out more about Ms. Moore’s involvement in Best Buddies and contribute to the organization at this link.

Below is the link to a podcast featuring both ladies talking about Best Buddies.

Fishers Director of Engineering Hatem Mekky briefed the City Council Finance Committee on August 27 about upcoming projects as part of the city’s 2026 budget discussions. While reviewing road work, he described the 116th Street and Allisonville Road project only as an “improvement,” without offering specifics.

For more than a year, city officials had said the signalized intersection would be rebuilt as a roundabout. However, a report published Wednesday by the Indianapolis Star revealed that Fishers has dropped the roundabout plan in favor of extending turn lanes to ease rush-hour congestion.

IndyStar reporter John Tuohy quoted Fishers spokesperson Ashley Elrod, who said the city reassessed the project after recent experiences with the 96th Street and Allisonville roundabout, though she stopped short of directly linking the two.

In January 2023, the Fishers Board of Works and Public Safety authorized $413,000 for roundabout design work at 116th and Allisonville, and in March of this year accepted a $3.1 million construction bid. The city now says the project will be rebid with the new scope.

Elrod told LarryInFishers that a new traffic study concluded longer left-turn lanes, along with keeping the existing signalized system, would better address congestion. She also noted the change avoids a full closure of the intersection during construction.

Pedestrian traffic factored into the decision as well. Elrod said a signalized intersection provides a safer environment for people walking in the area, while a roundabout would have posed challenges.

A note of appreciation to reporter John Tuohy for breaking this story. Tuohy is retiring from the Indianapolis Star at the end of this week. From one retiree to another: best of luck, and enjoy what’s next.

You can read John Tuohy’s IndyStar story at this link, but there is a paywall.

I recall a Catholic priest who always asked parishioners at Mass to stand if they had a birthday that week. Some enjoyed the tradition, others thought it a little odd. But after everyone stood, he always reminded us: it’s better to have a birthday than not to have one.

I thought of that as I mark my 74th year on this earth. What weighs most on my mind is the loss of two close friends this past year, both about my age.

Jack Mitchell was a childhood friend with whom I stayed connected into adulthood. Larry Henry was once my morning show partner on Columbus, Indiana radio. I treasured both friendships, and their absence still leaves a void. Losing friends your own age is a sobering reminder of mortality.

I’ve had my own brushes with it. In October 2020, just months into the COVID-19 pandemic, I tested positive and was very sick for days. My doctor came close to sending me to the hospital. By luck, I recovered at home. Many others my age did not survive in those early months before vaccines and effective treatments.

Then, in November 2021, I landed in the hospital with a rare form of E. coli. I later learned just how easily it could have been fatal. Once again, I was fortunate to recover.

I had actually announced in March 2020 that I intended to end this blog. I’d been at it for years, and it’s been a labor of love—but also a lot of labor for a one-man operation. Then COVID hit, and I decided to keep going a little longer. After my own COVID illness, I realized I needed to continue this work.

I believe God keeps us here for a reason, and takes us when our time is done. Many of my contemporaries are gone, yet I remain. The only conclusion I can draw is that I’m still here because I have more to do. For me, part of that purpose is this: I think, therefore I blog.

Covering news isn’t always uplifting. Conflict and bad news often take center stage. But when possible, I try to highlight the good as well—the moments that show why Fishers is such a special place to live.

I often remember what Fred Rogers said: when bad things happen, look for the helpers. I’m not sure journalists are always helpers, but sometimes we can be. Since my first post in January 2012, my goal has been simple: to keep Fishers residents informed about their community. I can’t say how well I’ve succeeded, but I can say I’ve given it my best effort.

Of course, I’m more than a journalist. I’m a husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother, cousin and friend. Those roles come first. But journalism is still a part of who I am.

Each night before sleep, I reflect on how fortunate I’ve been. I’ve had a full career—first in radio, programming music, then hosting talk shows and reporting news. Later, I served as a federal civil servant, where I’m proud of the work I did alongside so many dedicated people.

Finally, I want to thank you—my readers. My aim has always been to report fairly, though sometimes I feel called to write commentary when important issues aren’t otherwise being addressed. When I launched this blog in 2012, I thought I might reach a few hundred readers. I never imagined that 13 years later, more than 100,000 unique visitors would check this blog out in a single year. That’s only possible because of you.

Now, as I celebrate my 74th birthday, I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to keep this up. For now, though, my health is stable and my mind is clear enough to carry on. So, the posts and podcasts will continue.

Fishers has its challenges, and I’ll continue to cover them. But this city is also filled with good people who care deeply about their community. That’s why I remain optimistic about Fishers’ future.

Thank you for reading.

The financial outlook for Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools in 2026 appears steady, but district officials warn of growing challenges in the years ahead.

Chief Financial Officer Tim Brown told the school board’s Finance Committee Tuesday that while 2026 revenues are expected to hold up, changes in state tax policy will begin to strain the district’s referendum funding starting in 2027.

Superintendent Patrick Mapes said new state rules on local government finance could force HSE to revisit its current referendum in 2028. “In 2026, you will see a lot of school districts go and fix their referendum rate,” Mapes said. “And that’s probably something that (HSE will) have to do in ’28.”

Property Tax Changes Impacting Revenue

Brown explained that state lawmakers have expanded property tax deductions, gradually reducing the base value on which tax rates are applied. For HSE, this will erode revenue from its voter-approved referendum rate, which cannot be changed without another referendum.

Brown projects the referendum will generate $27.5 million in 2026, but revenue will drop to $26.6 million in 2027, $24.7 million in 2028, and $25.1 million in 2029. While assessed property values are expected to rise, the expanded deductions will offset those gains.

Class Size Concerns

Mapes reminded the committee that class sizes were a central issue in passing the last referendum. He said the new revenue pressures will likely affect staffing.  He proposes class sizes remain the same for grades kindergarten through grade 3, but look at changes in grade 4 and above.

“I think, in order for us to be realistic about what we’re doing and trying to keep staff in place, we’re not going to be able to maintain 25 & 26 (students per class). It could mean we go to 26 in all of them,” Mapes said. He noted that even a small increase in class sizes across a district as large as HSE has major implications for staffing costs.

State Tuition Support Declines

For the 2025–2026 school year, HSE will receive $7,121.04 in tuition support for each student—an increase of $281.90 per student. However, after factoring in the district’s new obligation to cover the cost of curricular materials, the net gain falls to $124 per student.

The official state student count will be taken October 1. Brown’s projection shows 20,262 in-person students and 14 in virtual programs enrolled for 2025–2026. Because enrollment is down from last year, state tuition support will fall by about $359,302. Without the benefit of out-of-district transfers, Brown said the loss would have been closer to $900,000.

Consumables Fee Proposal Coming

Looking ahead, Mapes said he plans to propose a “consumables fee” in spring 2026. The fee would cover one-time-use items such as workbooks, food for culinary classes, or science lab materials. He estimated the fee would be no more than $100 per student and would take effect in the 2026–2027 school year.

Brown said no tax rate changes are expected in 2026, but “difficult conversations” are likely after that as referendum and operations funding continue to feel the effects of state property tax changes.

You can access Tim Brown’s presentation before the Finance Committee at this link.

There are certain holidays that will impact trash collection in Fishers as part of the city’s contract with Republic Services.  One of those holidays is Labor Day

So employees of Republic may enjoy Labor Day with their families, trash collection in Fishers will be delayed by one day.  Below is the schedule:

• Monday’s collection will occur on Tuesday, September 2nd.
• Tuesday’s collection will occur on Wednesday, September 3rd.
• Wednesday’s collection will occur on Thursday, September 4th.
• Thursday’s collection will occur on Friday, September 5th.
• Friday’s collection will occur on Saturday, September 6th.

Fishers city department heads met with the City Council Finance Committee on August 27 to review their 2026 budget proposals. Mayor Scott Fadness is scheduled to present his full budget to the council on September 15, with more details expected to be released to the public in the days leading up to that meeting.

Engineering Director Hatem Mekky provided an update on several major projects his department expects to complete this year and those scheduled for 2026.

One of the most closely watched projects is the interchange at 141st Street and State Road 37, where construction crews are building an underpass for through traffic on State Road 37 and a roundabout for motorists using 141st Street. City officials had previously projected completion by the end of this year. Mekky told the committee he still hopes that timeline can be met but acknowledged the work may stretch into next year. If delayed, he expects the interchange to be finished by spring 2026, completing the long-planned State Road 37 corridor improvements in Fishers.

Another major project is planned near the I-69 Exit 210 interchange, where the existing five-prong roundabout at Olio Road and Southeastern Parkway will be reconfigured into a four-leg roundabout. The plan calls for eliminating one connection, creating a “tear-drop” design at 136th Street, and adding a traffic signal on Olio Road north of the roundabout. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, though no detailed timeline was provided.

“That would hopefully clean up that area, make it easier for people to navigate,” Mekky said. “It will be a two-lane roundabout. If you are coming north on Olio, it will have three lanes at that approach — one dedicated to the I-69 exit, with the other two continuing north and east toward 136th Street.”

Several other projects are nearing completion or set to begin soon:

• This year: The Nickel Plate Trail pedestrian bridge over 96th Street is expected to open, along with the new roundabout at 136th Street and Prairie Baptist Road.

• 2026: Work is scheduled to begin on a roundabout at 131st Street and Brooks School Road, pending utility and right-of-way clearances.

• 2026: Construction is planned along 136th Street between Southeastern Parkway and Prairie Baptist Road, as well as a new roundabout at 96th Street and Cyntheanne Road — currently a four-way stop after being transferred from county to city jurisdiction.

Mekky also highlighted upcoming resurfacing and trail projects.

Other department heads presented their own 2026 budget outlooks. While some departments may see reductions due to state changes in the funding formula, some departments will be asked to redirect funds toward the Health Department due to a large cut in state public health support. Public safety funding is not expected to decrease.

Meanwhile, the Fishers Community Center remains on track to open in November. Community Center Director Mike Lindbloom told committee members that membership sales are progressing well ahead of the facility’s debut.