The long-delayed Maple Del housing project in the Nickel Plate District is nearly ready to break ground after the Fishers Redevelopment Commission unanimously approved changes to the project agreement Tuesday afternoon.

The amendment lets developer Mithra Development LLC assign the agreement to David Weekley Homes, which will build 54 for-sale townhomes and eight single-family homes on the site. It also removes a multiparty covenant the commission had required as protection while the home builder was still unknown.

“We’re really excited that we’re at like the one-yard line now,” said Megan Baumgartner, the city’s director of economic development and community development.

Baumgartner called the project “a long and winding road.” It began around 2018 as a J.C. Hart multifamily development. The COVID-19 pandemic led the city to rethink the site, and the plan shifted to for-sale homes under developer Corby Thompson and his Boomerang Development team. Old Town Group was initially expected to build the homes, but Baumgartner said that arrangement didn’t work out, and the team turned to David Weekley.

The architecture has been approved through the Nickel Plate Review Committee and permits are largely in hand, Baumgartner said. The amendment and a sewer agreement are the final pieces needed.

The three-story townhomes will be paired with single-family homes along the south side of the site along 116th Street, creating a buffer so headlights and parking do not affect existing neighbors’ homes and backyards.

Baumgartner said the covenant is no longer needed because city staff worked closely with the builder on the site plan and architecture. Removing it gives David Weekley Homes the comfort to take on the agreement. She said the city’s commitments to the project do not change.

Attorney Jennifer Messer told commissioners the developer’s investment has exceeded what the original agreement required. The only protection the city gives up, she said, is a trigger tied to continuing construction; the other trigger, failure to begin work, is essentially already met. Messer said it would be “super odd” for the builder to start and then not finish, given the money already invested, and noted the mayor has described the David Weekley project as the city’s best chance.

Under the amended agreement, the property must be transferred to David Weekley Homes and the first improvement location permit issued by Dec. 1, 2026. If that deadline is missed, the commission may terminate the agreement and reclaim the property. If it is met, the commission will record a release giving up that right.

The documents also state that Mithra closed on the property Dec. 27, 2024, was originally required to start townhome construction within a year, has cited delays beyond its control and has self-financed the project rather than taking a construction loan. The overall site work carries an estimated $5.6 million investment.

Asked whether neighbors had been informed of design tweaks, Baumgartner said changes went through the Nickel Plate Review Committee’s public meetings with posted notice signs. She acknowledged some neighbors still wish the city would turn the land into a park.

Early voting starts Tuesday, Oct. 6, in Hamilton County. Voters who plan to vote a straight party ticket should know that a single selection won’t complete their ballot.

According to the Indiana Capital Chronicle, Indiana is one of six states that still let voters choose all of one party’s candidates with one mark. But state law leaves out several parts of the ballot. In those contests, a straight-ticket vote doesn’t count, and voters have to mark each choice themselves. If they don’t, that race is left blank.

School board

The newest exception is school board races. That includes four of the seven Hamilton Southeastern Schools board seats on the ballot this year.

Senate Bill 287, signed by Gov. Mike Braun in 2025, lets school board candidates list a Republican or Democratic affiliation, run as independents, or list no party at all. Even when a party label appears next to a candidate’s name, a straight-ticket vote does not count in that race. HSE board members are elected by district, so voters see only the race for the district where they live.

School funding referendum questions also need an additional vote cast past the straight-party vote.  HSE has a referendum on this year’s ballot.

Township boards

Township board members are elected three at a time, and voters may choose up to three candidates. Under a law signed in March 2016 by then-Gov. Mike Pence, a straight-ticket vote no longer counts in races where voters elect more than one candidate. This year that affects township board races, including those in Fall Creek and Delaware townships.

State officials said the change was made because voter intent was unclear when people marked a straight ticket and then also marked individual candidates in multi-seat races.

Judicial retention

Hamilton County voters will be asked whether to retain Court of Appeals Judge Dana J. Kenworthy, Court of Appeals Judge Mary A. DeBoer, Court of Appeals Judge Paul A. Felix and Tax Court Judge Justin L. McAdam. Retention questions are yes-or-no votes with no party label, so a straight-ticket vote doesn’t apply. No Indiana Supreme Court justices are up for retention this year.

Two constitutional amendments

Public questions aren’t partisan races, and both proposed amendments to the Indiana Constitution need a separate yes or no vote:

• Question 1 would let judges deny bail to people charged with crimes other than murder or treason. A judge could do so only when the proof is evident or the presumption strong, and the state shows by clear and convincing evidence that no release conditions would reasonably protect others or the community. Right now, the constitution allows denying bail only in murder and treason cases.
• Question 2 would let a city or town court judge live in the court’s county or in the bordering county closest to that city or town.

Check your ballot first

Through Oct. 20, early voting is available only in Noblesville, at the Hamilton County Judicial Center and the Hamilton County Fairgrounds. The two Fishers sites, at the Roy G. Holland Memorial Park Building and the Billericay Park Building, open Oct. 21. Bring a photo ID.

For full hours, visit hamiltoncounty.in.gov or call the Hamilton County Voter Registration Office at 317-776-9632.

Braiden Bell’s brief tenure as Portland’s new television announcer raises questions about accountability, growing up and the public interest in someone’s digital past.

Braiden Bell’s opportunity to become the television voice of the Portland Trail Blazers ended the same day his hiring was announced.

On Oct. 1, the team announced Bell’s arrival, then dropped him after Portland television station KGW brought offensive social media posts from his teenage years to its attention. The team said the posts violated its policies and those of the NBA.

The episode presents a difficult question for journalism: When does examining a public figure’s past serve the public, and when does it give youthful wrongdoing more weight than the adult life that followed?

Journalism’s major ethics codes offer no automatic expiration date for old information. They do require accuracy, context, fairness and consideration of harm. Applying those principles requires more judgment than simply finding something offensive.

Continue reading Should teenage posts cost an adult a career? Trail Blazers controversy tests journalism’s judgment →

Kelly Yang, a No. 1 New York Times bestselling author, will return to the Fishers Library on Monday, Oct. 19, to mark the release of the graphic novel adaptation of her novel “Front Desk.”

The Hamilton East Public Library event runs from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and is presented with LoudMouth Books. Registration is required.

Yang was a popular guest with local readers and families when she visited HEPL in 2022. This time, children, families and fans will hear her talk about “Front Desk” and the new graphic novel version, which was illustrated by Fumio Obata.

“We are excited to welcome award-winning author Kelly Yang back to the Hamilton East Public Library!” said Allison Kartman, HEPL’s systemwide program coordinator. “Kelly has the unique ability to distill big ideas and topical issues into language kids can understand. Reading her books can spark many meaningful conversations between kids and caregivers.”

Kartman added that Yang “loves inspiring young budding writers to tell their own stories.”

“Front Desk” was first published in 2018 and draws on Yang’s own childhood. She was a first-generation immigrant who lived and worked in a motel with her family. The book follows 10-year-old Mia Tang, who runs the front desk of the Calivista Motel while her immigrant parents clean the rooms. As Mia deals with family, friendship and her dream of becoming a writer, she finds the courage to stand up for others and go after her own goals.

Kirkus Reviews named “Front Desk” one of the best books of the 21st century. Yang has written more than 15 books for children, teens and adults. Her awards include the Asian Pacific American Award for Literature, the California Young Reader Medal, the Parents’ Choice Gold Medal and Italy’s Strega Prize. Her books have also appeared on best-of-the-year lists from Amazon, The Washington Post, Kirkus, School Library Journal, NPR and Publishers Weekly.

Yang will sign books after the program. LoudMouth Books will have a selection of her titles for sale on site.

HEPL says registration helps the library and LoudMouth Books plan for the event. To register or learn more, see the events calendar on the Hamilton East Public Library website.

The City of Fishers is offering $200 grants to homeowners associations and neighborhood groups that want to start or expand walking groups.

The new Neighborhood Walking Grant program is part of the city’s Culture of Health initiative. Ten grants are available, with a limit of one per neighborhood.

Applications opened Oct. 1 and will be accepted through Oct. 30. The city will notify applicants by Nov. 13.

Grant money can go toward items that support participation in a walking group, including apparel, water, healthy snacks and other walking supplies.

“The simplest habits can make a meaningful difference in our health and well-being,” said Jake Reardon McSoley, the city’s director of recreation and wellness. “A walk through the neighborhood is an opportunity to get moving, spend time outside and connect with the people who live around us.”

The Culture of Health initiative encourages Fishers residents to get active, explore nature and connect with one another. Other programs under the initiative include the Geist Race Series, Open Gym and community bike rides.

City officials said the walking grants also support Mayor Scott Fadness’ focus on neighborhood vibrancy and building connections among residents.

“We want to continue investing in the things that make Fishers’ residents strong, and that includes the connections between the people who live there,” Fadness said. “The Neighborhood Walking Grants are a simple way to support healthy habits while giving residents more opportunities to connect with their neighbors.”

To learn more or apply, visit FishersIN.gov/NWG.

Whether you support or oppose the death penalty, we should be honest about what it requires: the government deliberately ending a human life. In my view, there is no humane way to do that.

Tennessee has supplied another disturbing reason to confront that reality.

On Sept. 30, the state attempted to execute Christa Pike, convicted of torturing and killing 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer in 1995. Pike survived two doses of pentobarbital. Witnesses described continued breathing, snoring sounds and complaints of arm pain. She was taken to a hospital.

As of Oct. 4, Pike remained unconscious and on a ventilator, according to her lawyer. Her prognosis remained uncertain.

The precise failure still requires investigation. Tennessee officials said they followed their protocol. Gov. Bill Lee halted the remaining scheduled execution for 2026 and ordered an independent review. On Oct. 3, he announced that corrections Commissioner Frank Strada would step down this month.

Reaction reflects both outrage and enduring grief. Tennessee’s Catholic and Episcopal bishops urged Lee to commute Pike’s sentence. Slemmer’s mother, May Martinez, told the AP she had not received justice for her daughter. Her suffering deserves acknowledgment in any discussion of this case.

The response has crossed borders. Amnesty International condemned the attempt and called for commutation. Its German leadership renewed its demand for worldwide abolition, arguing that lethal injection offers no humane execution method.

Here in Indiana, another concern is how much the public is permitted to see.

Indiana and Wyoming bar journalists from attending executions as designated press witnesses. Indiana allows an exception when an inmate invites a reporter as a guest. That is no substitute for dependable, independent press access.

I have never witnessed an execution. I know reporters who have. Suffice it to say, it is not easy for anyone to witness. That difficulty makes their work essential. When government exercises its ultimate power, citizens need more than an official announcement that the prisoner is dead.

Indiana, like Tennessee, has used pentobarbital in executions. Over the years, a growing list of pharmaceutical companies has acted to prevent its medicines from reaching execution chambers. Pfizer, for example, restricts distribution of certain drugs and explicitly objects to their use in capital punishment.

The distinction matters: medicines developed to preserve life are being enlisted to end it. A clinical setting and a syringe cannot settle the moral question.

Nothing about that argument diminishes a murder victim’s life or excuses the person responsible. Society must protect the public and hold killers accountable.

But if you favor the death penalty, understand what you are supporting. Understand the restraints, the drugs, the witnesses and the possibility of prolonged suffering. Even when the procedure goes as planned, the state has intentionally killed a human being.

There is no humane way to execute a human being.

Hamilton Southeastern senior Sophie Roberts has been named the 2026 Indiana Miss Golf recipient by the Indiana High School Golf Coaches Association, adding a statewide honor to a career that includes a regional championship and multiple state finals appearances.

The award recognizes the state’s top senior based on her play throughout her high school career, according to the coaches association. The announcement of Roberts’ selection cited points earned during her career and her finishes at regional and state tournaments.

Roberts closed her senior season with rounds of 77 and 78 for a two-day total of 155 at the IHSAA state finals, held Oct. 2-3 at Battle Ground Golf Club. The IHSAA’s final results list her tied for 18th individually. HSE finished fourth among 18 teams with a total of 637, behind Zionsville, Carmel and Westfield.

A week earlier, Roberts shot a 72 at the Lapel Regional at Edgewood Golf Club in Anderson, helping the Royals win the team championship. HSE posted a 304, finishing 11 strokes ahead of runner-up Lapel.

Edgewood also was the site of one of Roberts’ strongest individual performances. In 2025, she won the regional title with a 68, a score included on the IHSAA’s list of lowest rounds in girls golf regional history.

As a sophomore in 2024, Roberts tied for 17th at the state finals, shooting 80 and 78 for a total of 158. She and teammate Janelle Garcia finished with matching scores as HSE placed third in the team standings.

The Royals followed that performance with a fifth-place state finish in 2025 before taking fourth this fall, giving HSE three consecutive top-five finishes during Roberts’ sophomore, junior and senior seasons.

Michelle Fulhart led the Hamilton Southeastern Schools board during the COVID-19 pandemic. She served two terms, eight years in all, and chose not to run again. Now she wants her seat back, and she says she’s running to give voters a nonpartisan choice in District 3.

Fulhart joins me on the latest LarryInFishers.com podcast, part of my series with HSE School Board candidates before the Nov. 3 election.

She has kept going to board meetings since she left. She said she doesn’t like what she’s seen.

“I’ve watched the board for the last four years, seeing a lot of division on the board, the partisanship, and I don’t think it has served our district well,” Fulhart said.

Fulhart said she is the only nonpartisan candidate in the District 3 race. She is paying for her own campaign so she won’t be “beholden to any one person or one party.”

We talked about her time as board president during the pandemic. She said state law required HSE to follow its local health authority, the Fishers Health Department, at a time when little was known about the virus.

“I could not sleep if I knew that we did not do everything we could to protect our students, our teachers and our families,” she said.

Fulhart supports the HSE operating referendum on the November ballot. She said state funding has not kept up with inflation. She noted that five of the six Hamilton County school districts are running referendums.

If the referendum fails, she said, HSE would still have its 2023 referendum to fall back on. Even so, she warned of “hard decisions,” which could mean bigger classes.

On keeping teachers, Fulhart said pay is only part of the answer. She wants 360-degree evaluations, which would let teachers evaluate their principals. She also wants exit interviews for teachers who leave. She pointed to the district’s old balanced-literacy reading program as a case where teachers raised concerns that went unheard for too long.

The Hamilton Southeastern Education Association, the teachers’ union, has endorsed Fulhart. She said she made no promises to get that endorsement.

She also backs funding student mental health services and said she has confidence in Superintendent Dr. Matt Kegley. Fulhart said she would handle disagreements with other board members privately and respectfully.

“Everybody on that board is duly elected, and their voice should be heard,” she said.

This podcast is sponsored by Citizens State Bank.

Listen to the full conversation at this link or the link below.

The Cadillac Formula 1 Team, whose headquarters is under construction in Fishers, came away from Malaysia without points again Sunday. Sergio Pérez was the final car running at the finish in 19th place, and Valtteri Bottas spun out of the race.

The event was officially the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. It was moved from Bahrain to the Sepang International Circuit because of the regional conflict in the Middle East. It was the 16th round of the 2026 season and the first race at Sepang since 2017.

A heavy rainstorm pushed the start back about an hour and a half. By the time racing began, the track had partly dried, and teams split between slick tires and intermediates. The intermediates proved the right call, with those drivers gaining as much as 20 seconds a lap early on. Both Bottas and Pérez started on soft slick tires.

Bottas, who started 19th, lost control of his Cadillac on soft tires and went into the gravel on the ninth lap, bringing out the safety car. Official results list the retirement as an accident.

Pérez started 20th and finished 29.310 seconds behind the winner.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won, his first victory of the 2026 season. Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli was second, and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton was third. Mercedes’ George Russell retired from third place late in the race when his power unit failed.

Cadillac expected a difficult weekend. Bottas and Pérez qualified 21st and 22nd Saturday. They each moved up two spots after grid penalties to Arvid Lindblad and Franco Colapinto. The team said track temperatures topped 136 degrees Fahrenheit during qualifying.

Before the weekend, the drivers said Sepang plays to two of the car’s weaknesses: tire overheating and high-speed corners. Pérez said the car has “a massive lack of load in the car and a lot of drag.”

The team also held back Pérez’s newest engine. He said the team felt it was better to “save the new engine for another race” where it could help more.

Cadillac is still looking for its first championship point. Pérez briefly scored one at the Monaco Grand Prix before a post-race penalty took it away.

The series moves next to the Singapore Grand Prix at Marina Bay, Oct. 9-11.

Drivers should prepare for daytime and overnight paving at 116th Street and Allisonville Road beginning Oct. 9, while closures along 136th Street continue to affect travel in eastern Fishers, according to the city’s weekly construction report.

Milling and paving on Allisonville Road is scheduled for 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 9–10. Crews will work on outside lanes Friday and inside lanes Saturday, with lane and turn restrictions and temporary entrance closures.

On 116th Street, overnight milling is scheduled from 7 p.m. Oct. 12 to 7 a.m. Oct. 13. Overnight paving is listed for Oct. 13–16, with work hours of 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Businesses will remain accessible, although individual entrances may close temporarily.

The intersection remains limited to one lane in each direction. The east leg of Fishers Crossing Boulevard at Allisonville Road is closed for paving, requiring drivers entering or leaving Fishers Station Shopping Center to use another entrance. Sidewalks within the project area also are closed.

136th Street and Olio Road

The widening project has closed 136th Street to through traffic between Southeastern Parkway and Prairie Baptist Road. The signed detour uses those two roads. Improvements include raised medians, multi-use paths, new pavement and drainage upgrades.

Separately, the fifth leg of the Southeastern Parkway and Olio Road roundabout has permanently closed. Olio Road is being reduced to one lane in each direction between the roundabout and a point south of 136th Street.

The report also lists an approximately three-week closure of 136th Street west of Olio Road, with traffic detoured via 134th Street. Access from I-69 to IU Health Fishers remains open through the bypass lane, and emergency access will be maintained.

Other construction impacts

USA Parkway north of 106th Street will have lane restrictions through October. Business and driveway access will remain open. Substantial completion is anticipated in mid-October, with final work continuing into November.

Utility relocation at 131st Street and Brooks School Road may cause periodic lane restrictions ahead of roundabout construction. Duke utility work continues to restrict lanes on Cumberland Road between 106th and 116th streets from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Resurfacing is substantially complete on 131st Street, Howe Road and Promise Road, with finishing work remaining. Milling in Springs of Cambridge is scheduled to begin on or after Oct. 23.

Construction schedules are subject to weather and other conditions. Drivers should allow extra travel time and follow posted detours.

Here is the full report, as provided by the City of Fishers:

Continue reading Fishers road update: Paving ahead at 116th and Allisonville, closures continue on 136th →