Growing pains are expected when launching an expansion franchise, and the Fishers Freight certainly felt them Saturday night in Jacksonville.

In their inaugural season as part of the Indoor Football League, the Freight were overmatched by the Florida-based Sharks, falling 59-27 in a game that was never really in question. Jacksonville controlled the contest from the opening snap.

Fishers quarterback Jiya Wright threw an interception on the very first play from scrimmage, setting the tone for a difficult evening. The Freight went on to come up empty on two fourth-down conversion attempts in the first half.

The Sharks capitalized quickly, jumping out to a 21-0 lead before the Freight finally got on the board with a 3-yard touchdown run to make it 21-7. Fishers then attempted an onside kick, but Jacksonville recovered and wasted no time finding the end zone again, extending their lead to 28-7 by halftime.

The second half opened no better for the Freight, as Jacksonville marched down the field 49 yards to take a commanding 35-7 lead. While backup quarterback Keegan Shoemaker did help Fishers put some points on the board in the second half, the gap was far too wide to close.

With the win, Jacksonville improves to 5-2, while the Freight drop to 2-5 on the season.

The good news? Fishers won’t have to wait long for a shot at revenge. The Sharks travel north to Indiana for a rematch this Saturday night.

Motorists will experience new traffic configurations along the construction zone on State Road 37 and 141st Street.  Traffic is being diverted to the west side of the project.  There are several other ongoing and updates construction zones in and around Fishers.

Here is the latest Fishers area road construction report provided by the City of Fishers, for the work week starting Monday, May 19:

Continue reading Fishers road construction report for the week of Monday, May 19 →

As many of you know, I spent over 14 years in radio broadcasting—hosting talk shows, reporting the news, and anchoring newscasts. In 1983, I transitioned into the federal civil service, where I worked until my retirement in 2011.

I’ve written before about the often unfair attacks on the news media (some criticism is certainly warranted), but I can no longer stay silent about the alarming direction of the federal civil service. Massive staffing and budget cuts are underway across government agencies, and the public will soon begin to feel the effects. Unfortunately, it won’t be pleasant.

These changes will hit home when Social Security payments are delayed and processing times slow dramatically. Mass layoffs at the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center could jeopardize early warnings about dangerous weather events. And I can’t even begin to quantify the harm being done at agencies like the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—though respected public health experts are sounding the alarm.  These are just a few examples.

I know many people believe the tired narrative that federal employees are lazy or unmotivated. But having spent 14 years in the private sector and 28 years in government, I can say with confidence that I saw more freeloading in the private sector than in the public one. It exists in both worlds, of course—but in my experience, favoritism and coasting are more tolerated in private companies, where being friends with the boss often goes a long way. That kind of behavior is far less common in government settings.

I don’t usually use this space to review books, but I want to recommend one: Who Is Government? by Michael Lewis, best known for Moneyball and The Big Short. In this book, Lewis and his team of writers tell the stories of individual federal workers who have made extraordinary contributions. One developed building designs that saved the lives of mine workers. Another discovered an effective treatment for a rare disease. Yet another tracked cryptocurrency transactions and helped take down child exploitation networks.

The central message of the book is clear: federal workers rarely get the credit they deserve. Most shy away from the spotlight, preferring to acknowledge their colleagues rather than take individual praise.

As we begin to hear about thousands of federal employees being laid off, some will celebrate. I will not. I believe in efficiency—I spent a good part of my government career working to improve it. But there is nothing efficient about indiscriminate firings.

Planes don’t land themselves. Government payments don’t process themselves. Weather alerts don’t issue themselves. Behind each of these tasks are real people doing real, important work.

The work of government matters. It’s unfortunate that only through public hardship will some come to fully appreciate that.

The Indy Fuel just finished their 2024-2025 season, but the schedule for the Fuel’s 2025-2026 season has now been released.  The first game will be at home October 17 against the in-state rival Fort Wayne Komets.

The Fuel will have three home contests to start the season, with the Komets, Toledo and Cincinnati facing the Fuel before the team hits the road for the first time.

Fuel season tickets are already on sale.

The 6th Annual Juneteenth Jubilee, a celebration of Black culture, history, and community, will return to Conner Prairie on June 19, 2025, from 5 to 8 p.m. Hosted by Fishers High School’s Future Black Leaders club, the student-led event is free and open to the public, featuring an array of performances, local Black-owned businesses, artists, food vendors, and family-friendly activities.

Presented in partnership with the Fishers Arts Council and Conner Prairie, the Jubilee is supported by community members and local sponsors, reflecting a growing tradition of youth leadership and cultural education in Hamilton County. The event was originally founded in 2020 by Fishers Equity Awareness and has been organized by students since 2022.

“This is more than a celebration—it’s an opportunity for learning, connection, and progress,” said Jayden Rucker, president of the Future Black Leaders club for the 2024–2025 school year. “Juneteenth helps connect our community and shine a light on important stories and progress that are too often overlooked.”

Last year, the event drew over 2,500 attendees to Conner Prairie, marking its second year at the historic venue. This year’s celebration will again spotlight Black excellence through a vibrant lineup of performing artists and vendors, with space still available for those looking to participate. Approximately 30 vendor spots remain, with applications for vendors and performers open until May 19 at FishersArtsCouncil.org/Juneteenth.

Sponsorships are also being accepted, providing an opportunity for businesses—large and small—to support the event. All sponsorship tiers include booth space during the celebration.

Organizers say the Jubilee continues to leave a meaningful impression on both participants and the broader community.

“The Juneteenth Jubilee is a great way to learn about and celebrate the culture, history, and traditions of our neighbors,” said one past attendee. “It truly helps build stronger community connections.”

Les Reinhardt, executive director of the Fishers Arts Council, praised the students for their leadership and vision.

“We are proud to support these students and the community-focused event they create year after year,” Reinhardt said. “The student leadership makes all the decisions regarding vendors, entertainment, and promotions. It’s truly amazing to see what our youth can make happen in Fishers.”

For more information, to apply as a vendor or performer, or to learn about sponsorship opportunities, visit FishersArtsCouncil.org/Juneteenth.

After covering the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board for over 13 years, I’ve witnessed many boards and board members come and go. While most meetings are routine and many votes are unanimous, a couple of incidents during Wednesday night’s session stood out.

Debate Over HSEA Participation

First, during a discussion on proposed changes to student textbooks, board member Sarah Parks-Reese asked the leadership of the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA) to comment on teacher involvement in the textbook selection process.

Because Board President Juanita Albright was attending virtually, Vice President Tiffany Pascoe chaired the meeting. Pascoe intervened, stating that Robert’s Rules of Order requires a board vote before HSEA representatives can address the board.

While I’m no expert on Robert’s Rules, I can say that in the past 13 years, I don’t recall any board vote being required when a member asked HSEA to speak. If a board member had a question for HSEA, they were typically allowed to ask it directly.

Parks-Reese appeared surprised by the procedural objection but proceeded to make a motion to allow HSEA to address the board. Ben Orr seconded the motion. The board voted 5–2 in favor, allowing HSEA representatives to speak. Pascoe and Albright voted no.

Disagreement Over New Administrative Position

The board also voted on a list of personnel actions, which included the creation of a new central office role: Executive Director for Elementary Education.

Board member Suzanne Thomas raised concerns, pointing to the district’s current budget uncertainty and stating she did not have enough information to support the creation of the new position. Parks-Reese agreed, also citing a lack of clarity on the financial impact.

Ben Orr acknowledged having similar questions but said his concerns had been addressed and that the elimination of other positions justified the addition of the new role. At the close of the meeting, board member Dawn Lang voiced her support, saying one assistant superintendent overseeing all 17 elementary schools was too much for one person to manage effectively.

The personnel actions passed on a 4–3 vote. Thomas, Parks-Reese, and Latricia Schooley voted against the measure.

Final Thoughts

School board members are elected to represent the public and will naturally have disagreements on important matters. That’s nothing new. What I’m noticing lately, however, is that these disagreements are becoming more pronounced—and more frequent.

Indiana State Representative Victoria Garcia-Wilburn has scheduled a town hall meeting in Fishers.  The town hall is set for Thursday, May 22, 6:00pm-7:30pm, at the Hamilton East Library in downtown Fishers.

UPDATE:  In a previous version of this post, I cited the representative’s staff as saying media would not be allowed to cover the town hall in Fishers.  HEPL Library Director Melissa Loiselle tells LarryInFishers there was a miscommunication at the staff level and assures me media is welcome to cover Representative Garcia Wilburn’s May 22 town hall at the Fishers Library.

The Fishers Freight Indoor Football League team is coming off a bye week.  However, the  club has been busy with player moves, announcing four signings Wednesday.

Here is the list:

Defensive Back JUSTIC’E KING

King has experience in the IFL, two seasons with the Iowa Barnstormers and one with the San Diego Strikeforce. During his time with the Strikeforce, he had 60 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 1 touchdown.

Defensive Lineman AKEEM SMITH

This will be Smith’s second season with the IFL. He has played for the San Antonio Gunslingers and Iowa Barnstormers. With the Gunslingers, he had two tackles, one forced fumble, and a blocked kick.

Offensive Lineman DARIUS LONG

This will be Long’s first year in the IFL. He graduated college in 2023 from the University of California. While at Cal, he played in 27 games, had 16 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 1 forced fumble.

Defensive Lineman EYABI OKIE

This will be Okie’s first year in the IFL. He graduated college in 2023 from the University of Charlotte. While there, he was the 2023 team leader in sacks and tackles for loss with 56 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble.

The Freight travel to Jacksonville this Saturday, May 17,  with their new roster additions, taking on the Sharks.

Centier Bank has announced the appointment of Lora Lemon as Branch Manager of its Fishers Crossing location at 11684 Allisonville Road.

Lemon brings nearly four decades of banking experience to the role, having held a range of positions with major national and regional institutions. Her background includes leadership in corporate sales, operations, and recruitment, in addition to expertise in retail banking.

“As a proud Indiana native, I’m excited to join Centier Bank—an institution deeply rooted in serving Hoosiers first,” Lemon said. “I’m eager to lead and grow a team of dedicated, skilled, and enthusiastic banking professionals.”

In her new role, Lemon will focus on team development, client service, and business growth as Centier continues to expand its presence in Central Indiana.

“Lora will make an immediate impact at Fishers Crossing,” said Ben Studebaker, Vice President and Regional Sales Manager. “Her decades of experience and leadership will guide the branch toward continued success.”

Originally from Fort Wayne, Lemon has lived in Indianapolis since 2019. She and her husband, Mark, enjoy exploring the city and spending time with their two grandsons.

Thompson Thrift has officially broken ground on The Union at Fishers District, marking the final phase of the $750 million Fishers District master-planned development in one of Indiana’s fastest-growing cities.

The mixed-use project will introduce luxury apartments, vibrant retail and office space, and the state’s first AC Hotel by Marriott. Located near Interstate 69 and 116th Street, the commercial portion is slated for completion in late 2026 and will include 57,000 square feet of retail and entertainment, 70,000 square feet of Class A office space, and a 135-room hotel.

“This final phase brings together our deep expertise to deliver a high-quality destination that will serve the community for years to come,” said Dan Sink, president and CFO of Thompson Thrift Development.

The development will also feature a central event plaza, designed as a community gathering space year-round. Confirmed tenants include Piedra, Niku Sushi.Kitchen.Bar, Kitchen Social, Everbowl, and Racha Thai, along with wellness and beauty businesses like Renova Aesthetics and Sweathouz.

The Union Flats, a 251-unit Class A apartment community, will offer residents upscale living above ground-level retail. Amenities will include a resort-style pool, outdoor kitchen, dog park, fitness center, and modern apartment features like quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances.

“With thoughtfully designed homes and resort-style amenities just steps from restaurants and entertainment, we’re creating a community where convenience and lifestyle come together,” said Josh Purvis, managing partner for Thompson Thrift Residential.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness praised the development’s walkability and mixed-use design, calling it an example of the city’s commitment to innovation and quality of life.

Thompson Thrift began work on Fishers District in 2015 and received a Monumental Award in 2020 for its initial phase. Once completed, the 123-acre development will connect residential, retail, office, and entertainment spaces with pedestrian-friendly pathways.