Fishers will field an expansion team in the Indoor Football League in 2025, the Fishers Freight.  Dixie Wooten is the Head Coach and General Manager for the newly-formed club.

The Freight open their first season Saturday, March 29, traveling to Northern Arizona.  The home opener at the Fishers Event Center will be Friday, April 4.  It is a 16 game schedule with 8 home contests.

Dixie Wooten is the Head Coach and General Manager of the new Freight squad.  He sat down for a podcast with me to talk about the team’s inaugural season, which you can access at the link below.

In a fast-paced and physical matchup, the Indy Fuel fell to the Fort Wayne Komets 4-3 in overtime on Wednesday night at the Fishers Event Center. Despite a strong start from the Fuel, the Komets stormed back to claim the victory, with Ethan Keppen netting the game-winning goal in the extra frame.

The Fuel wasted no time getting on the board, as Cam Hausinger found the net just 1:03 into the game with assists from Chris Cameron and Nathan Burke. However, Fort Wayne responded quickly, with Nolan Volcan tying the game at 3:09.

Indy regained the lead at 6:30 when Ethan Manderville scored his second goal of the season, assisted by Cameron—his second helper of the night—and Matus Spodniak. Ty Farmer extended the Fuel’s lead to 3-1 at 9:22, with Colin Bilek and Lucas Brenton picking up assists.

Fort Wayne struck back late in the period, as Brandon McManus scored with just over a minute remaining to cut the Fuel’s lead to 3-2. By the end of the first period, Indy led on the scoreboard but was outshot 8-5.

Both teams clamped down defensively in the second period, with limited scoring chances. The Fuel successfully killed off a tripping penalty by Spodniak at 15:21, but the Komets kept pressing. Their persistence paid off at 18:26, when Keppen netted his first goal of the night, tying the game at 3-3. Fort Wayne outshot Indy 13-11 through two periods.

As the intensity increased, both teams played a more disciplined game, avoiding the penalty box in a chippy third period. However, neither squad could find the back of the net. Fort Wayne controlled play, outshooting Indy 9-3 in the frame and carrying the momentum into overtime.

Goaltender Cam Gray led the Fuel into overtime for the second consecutive game. However, a hooking penalty on Bryan Lemos at 2:01 gave the Komets a crucial 4-on-3 power play. The Fuel’s penalty kill unit held strong, but just moments after the penalty expired, Keppen capitalized on a breakaway opportunity at 5:18 to secure the 4-3 win for Fort Wayne.

With the victory, the Komets outshot the Fuel 25-16 and handed Indy a tough overtime loss. The Fuel will look to bounce back as they head to Bloomington to take on the Bison for a Friday and Saturday set of contests.

The debate over how, and to what extent, to change the property tax system in Indiana has sparked quite a debate, in the General Assembly and among cities in Hamilton County.

Daniel Bradley of the Indianapolis Business Journal wrote a story posted Tuesday, quoting city officials from Carmel, Noblesville, Westfield and Greenwood (in Johnson County) on how much money the initial proposal from Governor Mike Braun would cost their respective cities (read the story at this link. but will likely need a subscription to access the story).

Carmel says it is holding off on hiring employees until state lawmakers settle the matter.  Noblesville says the original Braun plan would cost that city $30 million in revenue over 3 years.  Westfield says the financial hit would be significant.  Greenwood is putting hiring and other spending on hold.

After the City Council Finance Committee meeting Wednesday evening, I asked John Weingardt, Chairman of the panel, about the Braun property tax plan.  He did not offer up any numbers, but voiced his concern.

“We want to keep taxes low, but we also have to look out for our city and pay our employees,” Weingardt told LarryInFishers.  He believes the state would need to find a way to replace the lost revenue to Fishers.

“The city of Fishers does a whole lot with a whole lot less than other communities around us,” said Weingardt.  “We provide great service.”

The legislative session is just a bit over halfway-done, assuming the governor does not call a special session.  State lawmakers still have a lot of work to do before any decisions are made on Indiana property taxes.

After a period of time serving as the interim Principal at Fishers High School, Kyle Goodwin was recently named as the permanent Principal.  I spoke with Kyle Goodwin at his office, about what he learned during his time in interim status, his decision making process and much more in the podcast linked below.

There are a handful of people I have known in Fishers government since starting this local news blog in January of 2012.  One of them was Eric Pethtel, long-time leader of the Fishers Department of Public Works (DPW).

He died February 16 after a long bout with cancer at the age of 60.  Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, at his recent State of the City Address, announced Mr. Pethtel’s retirement and the city’s action to name the DPW facility after him

Fishers has been known as a place, as a town and later a city, that always took good care of local streets, clearing the snow in the winter and filling potholes in spring.  Eric Pethtel led the staff that handled those situations so well for so many years.

I had the pleasure of knowing Eric, recording two podcasts with him and found him to be a top-notch professional in his field, but at the same time down-to-earth and easy to talk with.

Visitation will be at the Hamilton Hills Church, 10293 East 126th Street, Wednesday, February 26, 1:30-3:30, with a celebration of life to begin at the church at 3:30.  Burial will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery.  You can see his full obituary at this link.

Eric Pethtel will be missed…by all that knew him well and those that benefited from his long association with Fishers DPW.  It is a personal loss for me.  This was a difficult story to write.

Two prominent organizations dedicated to supporting youth in the Hamilton Southeastern School District have merged to form Fishers Youth Initiative (FYI), a new nonprofit aimed at expanding services and strengthening support for young people in the community.

The merger brings together the Youth Mentoring Initiative (YMI), known for its successful student mentoring programs, and the Fishers Youth Assistance Program (FYAP), which has provided early intervention referral services to connect youth and families with essential resources. By combining their efforts, FYI aims to increase its impact and create a more comprehensive network of programs and services.

“Our shared mission has always been to support young people in our community,” said Matt Schlueter, co-chair of the new FYI Board. “After closely partnering on various initiatives in recent years, we saw an opportunity to partner more formally through this new nonprofit organization. We are so excited about the prospects of reaching more youth in our community.”

FYI is set to enhance youth services by expanding existing programs, streamlining access to resources, and fostering collaboration among organizations and individuals committed to supporting children and families. The new nonprofit will continue offering programs previously run by YMI and FYAP, including YMI’s student mentoring program, the Snack Attack initiative, and the Summer Meals Program. Additionally, FYI will maintain its partnership with Early Intervention Advocates from the Hamilton County Youth Assistance Program.

FYI Board co-chair Anderson Schoenrock expressed gratitude for the volunteers, donors, and community partners who have supported both YMI and FYAP over the years. “We look forward to building on our past successes with an eye toward supporting Fishers youth for years to come.”

In the coming weeks, FYI will unveil a new brand and website that will provide details on joint programs and fundraising opportunities. Until then, community members can continue to access resources through the existing YMI and FYAP websites.

To celebrate the launch of Fishers Youth Initiative, a special reception will be held on Monday, March 17, at 8 a.m. at the Fishers Municipal Center Theater. Community members and supporters are invited to attend, with registration requested in advance at this link.

For more information, visit www.ymionline.org or www.fishersyap.org.

The Andretti racing headquarters under construction in Fishers is adding Formula 1 to the list of racing series where the operation will be competing.  Andretti’s F1 team will be known as Cadillac when it enters the grid for the 2026 season.

Monday afternoon, the Fishers Economic Development Commission voted in favor of allowing the bond closing date for the Andretti project to be extended to August 1 of this year to allow for the addition of Formula 1 to the local headquarters facility.

The Commission also voted for officers to serve in 2025.  Maggie Sadler will be Commission President, Jamie Nieves Vice President and Mandy Leverenz will be the Commission Secretary.

The Indy Fuel capped off a grueling stretch of four games in five days with a statement win, shutting out the Cincinnati Cyclones 2-0 on Sunday afternoon. Goaltender Ryan Kenny made his first start in a Fuel uniform and delivered a standout performance, stopping all 21 shots he faced to secure his first ECHL victory and shutout.

Indy wasted no time getting on the board, as Nathan Burke struck just 1:15 into the contest with the game’s first shot. The goal marked Burke’s 12th tally of the season and set the tone for a defensively sound contest.

Despite three power-play opportunities—two for Cincinnati and one for Indy—neither team managed to capitalize. The Cyclones held a slight edge in shots, outshooting the Fuel 8-7 in the opening frame.

The middle stanza was largely uneventful, with the only notable action being a Fuel power play two minutes into the period. Both teams remained locked in defensively, with Indy edging Cincinnati in shots 6-5. By the end of 40 minutes, the shots were even at 13 apiece.

The Fuel doubled their lead early in the third when Colin Bilek found the back of the net at 3:01, registering his 14th goal of the season. That insurance tally would prove more than enough.

The Cyclones peppered the Fuel net with 21 total shots but could not solve the goaltender. Kenny’s shutout performance ensured Indy’s victory, cementing a crucial divisional win.

The Fuel return home to the Fishers Event Center Wednesday at 7pm, facing the Fort Wayne Komets.

We have had a bad case of the winter blues in and around Fishers, starting early Sunday morning.  We received snow in varying depths, not a lot (an inch or two in most places) but enough to cause driving problems.  The biggest issue with the local road crews was the rain that fell Saturday, making it impossible to effectively pre-treat area roads.

That led to snow covered and very slick conditions Sunday morning.  Conditions have improved as Sunday morning turned to afternoon, but the snow may not be done.

The National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Advisory until 7pm Sunday.

“Scattered snow showers and slick conditions” are possible during the Advisory period, according to National Weather Service forecasters.  We could see up to an inch of additional snow.

But the snow is not the biggest issue we face.  We may see winds gusting as high as 40 miles per hour.  The temperature early Monday morning is forecast to be about 6 degrees here in Fishers.  The high winds will make things that much worse.

Bottom line, be careful driving Sunday and be prepared for very cold temperatures the next 5-6 days.

In front of a sold-out crowd of 6,647 fans at the Fishers Event Center, the Indy Fuel battled the Florida Everblades to a nail-biting finish, ultimately falling 3-2 in a shootout on Saturday night. The matchup concluded a three-game series between the Fuel and the Everblades, with Indy securing one hard-earned point in the standings.

Indy came out firing, generating early offensive pressure against Florida. However, a penalty against Nick Grima at 15:15 for interference momentarily shifted momentum. The Fuel penalty kill stood tall, successfully neutralizing the Everblades’ power play.

Despite Indy’s strong start, Florida struck first. At 17:56, Dillon Hamaliuk found the back of the net, putting the Everblades ahead 1-0 as the first period came to a close.

Indy had its first power-play opportunity at 6:07 after a high-sticking minor by Florida’s Cole Moberg, but the Everblades’ killed that penalty. The Fuel remained persistent, and their efforts paid off when Lucas Brenton netted his first professional goal at 14:54, assisted by Bryan Lemos and Colin Bilek, tying the game at 1-1.

As the intensity ramped up, tempers flared between the two squads, though no additional penalties were called during the period. Florida’s Jordan Sambrook was assessed an interference penalty at the 20:00 mark, giving Indy a power play to start the third.

Through two periods, the Fuel held a slight edge in shots, outshooting Florida 16-13.

Both teams pushed the pace in search of the go-ahead goal, but stellar goaltending at both ends kept the game deadlocked. At 13:57, Carson Gicewicz broke through for the Everblades, reclaiming the lead at 2-1.

With just over two minutes left in regulation, Indy pulled their goaltender for an extra attacker, a gamble that paid off. Colin Bilek buried the equalizer, assisted by Lemos and Nathan Burke, at 18:32, forcing overtime.

The five-minute three-on-three overtime saw back-and-forth action, with Florida outshooting Indy 3-1, but neither team could find the game-winner, sending the contest to a shootout.

Indy sent Maksimovich, Bilek, and Burke to face Florida’s Cam Johnson in net, but all three were denied. Florida’s shootout trio consisted of Hargrove, Fizer, and Kile, with Kile breaking through in the final round to secure the 3-2 victory for the Everblades.

The Fuel travel to Cincinnati and take on the Cyclones for a 3pm Sunday contest.  They return home Wednesday, February 19, facing the in-state rival Fort Wayne Komets.