The Indy Fuel face a demanding early-season test this weekend, playing three games in three days, two of them at the Fishers Event Center.

Indy enters the weekend 1-1 after splitting its opening weekend in Fishers. The Fuel opened the 2026-27 ECHL season Oct. 16 with a 2-1 overtime win over the Wheeling Nailers, then fell 4-3 to the Cincinnati Cyclones the next night despite a late third-period rally.

The Fuel host the Toledo Walleye Friday at 7:15 p.m. in Fishers, then travel to Fort Wayne for a 7:35 p.m. Saturday game against the rival Komets at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. The weekend wraps up Sunday at 4 p.m. back in Fishers with a rematch against Cincinnati.

All three opponents are Central Division rivals. Indy opens the season with 15 straight games against Central opponents, and 56 of the Fuel’s 72 games this season come against division foes. Fort Wayne ended Indy’s 2025-26 season, eliminating the Fuel in five games in the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Sunday game supports HSE classrooms

Sunday’s game is the first of 10 Sunday home games on the Fuel schedule tied to the Hamilton Southeastern Education Foundation. Fans who buy through a dedicated link can purchase a 10-game Sunday package for $199, with all proceeds going to the foundation.

The Sunday package is part of a pledge by Hallett Sports & Entertainment, the family-owned company behind the Fuel and the Fishers Freight, to give at least $100,000 a year to HSEF for the next 10 years. Fuel President Sean Hallett, who recently joined the foundation’s board of directors, made the commitment. HSEF funds classroom grants and student scholarships across Hamilton Southeastern Schools.

Head coach still awaiting approval

Assistant coach Christian Horn has directed the team as interim head coach while newly hired head coach Jesse Messier, a native of Keswick, Ontario, awaits authorization from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to begin his duties.

LarryInFishers asked the Fuel on Thursday for an update on Messier’s status and had not received a response as of publication.

The team has said the late-offseason departure of former head coach Duncan Dalmao, who left to become an assistant with the American Hockey League’s Bakersfield Condors, pushed back its immigration filing. Hallett said that timing did not cause the processing delay but left the organization less flexibility to absorb it. The Fuel have sought help from the office of U.S. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind.

The Fuel named Messier the fifth head coach in franchise history Aug. 21. He spent the past two seasons as an assistant with the Bloomington Bison, one of Indy’s Central Division rivals.

Saturday, Oct. 24, is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, and Meijer is reminding customers that its pharmacies will be ready to take unwanted, unused and expired medications.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is hosting the 31st national Take Back Day, working with more than 4,300 law enforcement partners. Collection sites registered with the DEA will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Meijer, which first took part in the national program in February 2019, says it has collected more than 350 tons of medications at its in-store kiosks, including more than 50 tons so far in 2026.

The Midwest retailer says every day is drug take back day at its stores. Kiosks near each Meijer pharmacy accept over-the-counter and prescription medications, including controlled substances, year-round during normal pharmacy hours, no questions asked.

Meijer kiosks do not accept needles or other sharps, inhalers, mercury thermometers, medications containing iodine or illicit drugs. Pharmacy staff can help if needed.

Meijer is not the only option for Fishers and Hamilton County residents.

The Fishers Police Department maintains a prescription drug drop box at its headquarters, 4 Municipal Drive. The department operates the box in partnership with the Fishers Health Department, and users must follow the posted rules on what is accepted.

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office has offered a drug collection unit in its administration lobby at 18100 Cumberland Road in Noblesville.

Walgreens offers free medication disposal kiosks at many of its pharmacies year-round, and stores without a kiosk can provide at-home disposal packets on request. CVS also offers an online tool to find year-round disposal sites by ZIP code.

In past years, Indiana State Police posts, except the Toll Road Post, have accepted pill and liquid medications on Take Back Day.

Residents can find a registered Take Back Day site, or one of more than 15,300 pharmacies, hospitals and businesses that accept medications year-round, at DEATakeBack.com.

Needles and other sharps are generally not accepted at drug drop-off sites. Hamilton County residents have been directed to Hamilton County Household Hazardous Waste in Noblesville for sharps disposal. Call (317) 776-4005 before going.

Health officials warn against flushing medications or throwing them in the trash, because both can pose health and environmental risks. Most misused prescription drugs come from the home medicine cabinets of family and friends.

Onyx+East celebrated the opening of its Nickel Row model home with a ribbon cutting, marking the Indianapolis homebuilder’s first development in Fishers.

The community will include 35 three-story townhomes along the Nickel Plate Trail, offering residents access to downtown restaurants, shops and community activities.

Onyx+East CEO Kelly Lawrence told me at the event that the homes will sell for between $500,000 and $700,000, with elevators in some units. Pricing on the company’s Nickel Row website extends beyond that range: floor plans start at $579,900, while individual available homes are listed as high as $799,900.

During the ceremony, Lawrence pointed to Fishers’ investment in the trail and Nickel Plate District as key reasons the company chose the location.

“Today is about more than opening a model home,” Lawrence said. “It’s about celebrating a new neighborhood and the continued investment and evolution of downtown Fishers.”

Lawrence said the trail’s connections to neighborhoods, businesses and public spaces helped make the property attractive for development. She described Nickel Row as an option for buyers seeking low-maintenance living near downtown amenities, including restaurants, concerts and the farmers market.

The model home is at 11365 Fishers Pointe Boulevard. According to the developer’s website, the community offers direct trail access, private two-car garages and private elevators in select residences.

City Council member Todd Zimmerman said the development fits the city’s vision of a downtown where residents can work, live and spend their leisure time.

Zimmerman, who said he moved to Fishers in 1989, described the community’s transition from a small farming town and bedroom community to a city with a broader business base. He thanked Onyx+East for being part of that growth.

Lawrence also recognized Holy Family Episcopal Church, saying its property helped make the development possible, and Everwise Credit Union, the project’s financing partner. She thanked city officials, investors, trade partners and the company’s staff for their roles in bringing Nickel Row to fruition.

The ceremony concluded with the ribbon cutting and an invitation to tour the newly completed model home.

Lawrence said the company hopes Nickel Row will be the first of more Onyx+East communities in Fishers.

Ribbon is cut at the model home

Hamilton Southeastern Schools has turned down the top offer for roughly 16 acres of district-owned land at 136th Street and Prairie Baptist Road after bidding failed to reach the district’s target price.

Bidding on the property closed at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Tim Brown, assistant superintendent for finance, said in an email to LarryInFishers.com that the district received 45 bids.

“However, we did not meet our targeted goal, so at this time we did not accept the final offer,” Brown wrote.

Brown said district officials will update the school board on next steps at its meeting Wednesday. He added that the district is “not concerned about meeting our goal in the future.”

Brown’s response did not include the amount of the highest bid or the target price the district had set.

The land, which is leased out and farmed, is what remains of a larger parcel the district once owned at the intersection. Part of the original tract was used in a partnership with the City of Fishers to build a fire station.

District officials told the board’s Finance and Facilities Committee in August that the remaining ground is too small and poorly located to serve as a future school site.

Brown said then that the sale would carry no contingencies limiting how a buyer could use the property. Any zoning or land-use approvals would go through the City of Fishers, not the school district.

The board voted to authorize the sale before the property went to bid. Under the process outlined in August, members would also have to approve any final sale.

Hamilton County voters who want to cast a ballot by mail in the Nov. 3 general election have until 11:59 p.m. today, Thursday, Oct. 22, to get their application in.

Indiana law requires the county election office to receive the application by that deadline. A postmark does not count. The application can be submitted online through the state’s voter portal at IndianaVoters.com, or by email, fax, mail or hand delivery to the Hamilton County Election Office. With the deadline hours away, voters are urged to use the online portal or email rather than the mail.

Not every Hoosier can vote by mail. Indiana requires voters to give one of the reasons allowed under state law. Those include being 65 or older, having a disability, expecting to be outside the county on Election Day and during the entire early voting period, working a shift that covers all 12 hours the polls are open, and caring for a confined person at a private residence. The application lists every accepted reason, and voters must select one.

Applications must also include the voter’s Indiana driver’s license or state ID number, or a copy of a valid photo ID. Leaving that information off can delay or stop the application.

Once a ballot arrives, the voter must mark it personally and sign the ballot security envelope. Completed ballots must reach the county election office by 6 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3. Ballots arriving after that will not be counted. The U.S. Postal Service generally estimates five to seven days for first-class mail delivery, so voters should return their ballots as soon as possible.

Voters who miss today’s deadline or do not qualify to vote by mail still have options. Any registered voter may vote early in person for any reason. Early voting began Oct. 6 at the Hamilton County Judicial Center and the Hamilton County Fairgrounds in Noblesville. Satellite early voting sites in Fishers, Carmel and Westfield opened Oct. 21. All Indiana counties must offer early voting on Saturday, Oct. 24, and Saturday, Oct. 31. Early in-person voting ends at noon Monday, Nov. 2.

Voters must bring a valid photo ID to vote in person.

On Election Day, polls are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For locations, hours and other election information, visit the Hamilton County Election Office website or call the office at 317-776-8476.

Hamilton Southeastern captured its first boys tennis state championship Oct. 17, defeating Delta 4-1 at the Barbara Wynne Tennis Center at North Central High School in Indianapolis.

The top-ranked Royals finished 22-1, winning 22 consecutive matches after a season-opening loss to Carmel, according to the IHSAA championship account.

HSE won both doubles matches and the top two singles matches against sixth-ranked Delta.

Freshman Abhi Manikandan defeated Jackson Darby 6-0, 6-3 at No. 1 singles. Sophomore Parker Stump beat Charlie Vannatter 6-3, 7-6 (5) at No. 2 singles.

At No. 1 doubles, Brady Stump and Logan Foust defeated Tyce Dishman and Brandon Grubbs 6-1, 7-5. Evan Holderman and Hudson Osswald won 6-3, 6-2 over Roman Ashcraft and Easton Duckworth at No. 2 doubles.

Coach Doug Gemert’s championship lineup included two freshmen and a sophomore in singles.

The Royals became the first school to claim its initial boys tennis state title since Indianapolis Cathedral in 2005.

Four Hamilton County food pantries will collect donations and share information about food assistance during Fishers’ Boo Bash on Saturday, Oct. 31.

The Delaware Township Food Pantry, Fall Creek Township Food Pantry, Come to Me Food Pantry and Sally Burton Food Pantry are partnering with Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank to host a joint food drive at the free community event. Boo Bash runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater.

About 21,000 people in Hamilton County experience food insecurity each year, according to Delaware Township. Food insecurity refers to a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life.

The pantries said they joined forces to highlight the need for food assistance in the county and to help residents learn about resources available close to home.

All food collected at Boo Bash will stay in the local community. Donations will be divided among the four participating pantries.

Beyond collecting food, the organizations will staff a booth where attendees can learn about food assistance programs, volunteer opportunities and other ways to help their neighbors. The booth will also offer information for individuals and families who need food assistance or other community resources.

Residents who donate food will receive a coupon for a free doughnut from Parlor Doughnuts.

Through the partnership, the pantries hope to raise awareness of food insecurity, connect residents with available help and encourage more community involvement in fighting hunger locally.

Drivers who use the Olio Road and Southeastern Parkway intersection in Fishers will face new traffic patterns beginning next week, as construction on the roundabout there moves into its second phase.

The City of Fishers says the switch to the Phase 2 traffic configuration begins at 9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26. The biggest change: the roundabout connections that carry traffic north and south on Olio Road will close.

City officials urge drivers to review the Phase 2 detour map before traveling through the area.

Here is how traffic will move during Phase 2:

Southbound Olio Road: Traffic coming from the north will be directed west only, onto Campus Parkway/146th Street. Drivers who need to continue south on Olio should use alternate routes.

Northbound Olio Road: Drivers will detour using 136th Street at its new connection to Southeastern Parkway. From there, they can continue east on Southeastern Parkway or use the roundabout at 136th Street and Southeastern Parkway to turn around and head west or north.

Eastbound traffic: Drivers will use the bypass lane toward IU Health Fishers to reach the roundabout at 136th Street. From there, they can continue along 136th Street, reach southbound Olio Road using the new connection, or cross Olio and continue east on 136th Street to Southeastern Parkway.

Westbound traffic: Drivers can continue through the roundabout west toward Campus Parkway/146th Street or north on Olio Road. Those heading south can use the new connection at 136th Street to cross Olio Road, continue west on 136th Street to Minden Drive and then travel south.

Nearby businesses, hospitals and medical offices will remain open and accessible, according to the city. Access from Interstate 69 to IU Health Fishers will stay open via the bypass lane, and emergency access will be maintained throughout construction.

The city warns drivers to expect changing traffic patterns and significant delays, especially during peak travel hours.

A motorcyclist died Tuesday evening, Oct. 20, after crashing into a utility pole on 141st Street near the Sedona Woods neighborhood in Fishers, according to the Noblesville Police Department.

Officers from Noblesville and Fishers responded to the intersection of 141st Street and Catalina Drive at approximately 6:07 p.m. The intersection is along the boundary between the two cities.

Police said preliminary witness reports and evidence at the scene indicate a 2012 Honda CBR motorcycle was traveling east on 141st Street at a high rate of speed when the rider lost control and struck the pole. No other vehicles were involved.

The rider was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office will determine and release the rider’s identity.

The Noblesville Police Department’s Crash Reconstruction Unit responded to investigate. Both lanes of 141st Street between Promise Road and Copper Boulevard were closed for approximately two hours while investigators collected and documented evidence.

The crash remains under investigation.

The Hamilton East Public Library will hold its third annual LibraryCon! on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Fishers branch. The free, family-friendly event celebrates fandom culture for all ages.

Cosplay is encouraged but not required. Visitors can pose at a photo booth, and costumed members of Star Wars Indiana will roam the library throughout the day. Transformers meet-and-greets are scheduled at several times between 11 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.

The keynote speaker is Misako Rocks, a Japanese manga artist and online educator whose work has been published worldwide. She will discuss the making of her Bounce Back book series and demonstrate drawing manga step by step from 2 to 3 p.m., with a book signing afterward.

Hands-on workshops round out the schedule. Cosplay duo Molly Silver and Isabella, known as FruitGoblin Cosplay, will lead an EVA foam bracers workshop from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Illustrator Ray Brown will teach comic-making in “The Art of Four Panels” from 1:15 to 2:45 p.m. Both require pre-registration, as do the Jedi Academy sessions and the adult and teen video game tournaments.

Music includes the group il Troubadore performing anime, video game, TV and movie music from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Eric Salazar and Ashton Vickery of Forward Motion will play Legend of Zelda music on clarinet and piano from 12:45 to 1:45 p.m.

Trivia fans can join LibraryCon! Book Trivia, hosted by the library’s Teen Advisory Board, at 11:30 a.m., or the LibraryCon! Trivia Showdown at 12:30 p.m.

Drop-in activities run all day, including:

• Open board gaming and playtesting with Who’s Yer Gamers and Indy Tabletop Game Creators
• Learn-to-play Dungeons & Dragons
• The GameStar Mobile video game truck
• Family crafts in the Children’s Department
• A sensory-friendly room
• An artist alley and marketplace featuring local creators
• A community corner with the Hamilton East Public Library Foundation, Circle City Ghostbusters and other groups
• Food trucks and a mobile coffee cart

Visitors can also donate blood at a Versiti blood drive; donors receive library swag and a free book. Pre-registration is recommended. The Friends of the Library bookstore will hold a special sale in the lobby.

A scavenger hunt will run throughout the event, with finishers entered into a prize drawing at 1:45 p.m. Participants must be present to win.

The library notes the schedule and list of participants are subject to change. More information is available on the Hamilton East Public Library website.