Monthly Archives: September 2017

IBJ: Archer’s To Close, Owners Retiring

As Fishers continues to grow, there have been a handful of businesses that have continued from the days when I moved to Fishers in 1991.  One of those businesses, Archer’s Meat and Catering downtown, is now set to close so the owners can retire.

Archer’s will be missed, but the owners have very much earned their retirement.

Lindsey Erdody of the Indianapolis Business Journal first reported this story.  You can read it at this link.

Ryan White Remembered

by

Hamilton County Reporter

State Rep. Tony Cook (R-Cicero) and local and state leaders joined the staff and students of Hamilton Heights Middle School Thursday in commemorating the 30th anniversary of Ryan White’s first day as a student at Hamilton Heights High School.

The Hamilton Heights High School Principal at that time, Tony Cook, Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Jerome Adams and HIV Prevention Director John Nichols all spoke at the event.

“Celebrating Ryan’s life is a learning and growing experience for the community and students,” Cook said. “Going back to school was so important to Ryan even though he knew he didn’t have a lot of time left. His classmates were able to see how important it was for him to be in a normal classroom, to be a normal student. It’s wonderful to see our community and students continue to support and lift others up.”

At the age of 13, White received a tainted blood transfusion he received to treat his hemophilia and was infected with AIDS. At that time, information about the disease was unknown and his story and the challenges he faced attracted the national spotlight. White died on April 8, 1990, just days before his high school graduation.

The “Remembering Ryan” program brought leaders, students, faculty and alumni from White’s class to celebrate the day he entered the school on Aug. 31, 1987.

“Ryan White taught us about courage, acceptance and perseverance,” said Indiana State Health Commissioner Jerome Adams, M.D., M.P.H. “While medical advances have made HIV a chronic disease that can be managed with medications, we must continue to honor Ryan’s legacy and promote research and education that ultimately end HIV and the stigma it still carries.”

White’s mother, Jeanne White-Ginder, has since become an HIV/AIDS activist. She successfully pushed for the enactment of the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act, which provides assistance to uninsured or underinsured individuals who have AIDS and was named in honor of Ryan in 1990 and was reauthorized in 2013. White-Ginder speaks regularly to audiences nationwide about her experience and the AIDS epidemic.

There is also a Ryan White Room at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. Visit www.RyanWhite.com for more of Ryan’s story.

“It’s my hope that this celebration of Ryan White’s life, 30 years after he came to Hamilton Heights, has inspired our students, staff, and community to take on the challenges of our day with the same courage, trust in education, and compassion towards others that his classmates demonstrated for us,” Hamilton Heights Middle School Principal Bret Bailey said. “Ultimately, our goal has been to take time to remember Ryan and the impact he had on our school, community and world.”

According to the Indiana State Department of Health, the only way to know if you are infected with HIV is to be tested. Many people who are infected with HIV do not have any symptoms at all for 10 years or more. No cure currently exists for HIV, but HIV can be controlled with proper medical care. Today, someone diagnosed with HIV and treated before the disease is advanced can have a nearly normal life expectancy.

Fred Swift on Complex Intersections

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

(NOTE: Commentaries by Fred Swift are posted on my blog as part of a partnership between LarryInFishers.com and the Hamilton County Reporter.  Views expressed are those of Fred Swift and do not necessarily reflect the views of LarryInFishers.com)

Some major intersections in Hamilton County are being over-engineered and way too complicated. That’s my opinion, and one shared by others I talk with.

What do I mean? Take a look at the intersecting roads converging near Hamilton Town Center and I-69, or the confusing intersections along the “new” U.S. 31, especially at 31 and Smoky Row Road, or the incredible ‘Michigan Left’ at 96th and Allisonville Road.

There is no doubt these major highways experience a lot of traffic, and should be engineered and built to handle it. But, simple can be better in planning our roadways. Complex interchanges involving multiple roundabouts and circuitous access ramps are very expensive as well as sometimes confusing for motorists.

Various engineering firms have been responsible for the increasing number and complexity of our roads. We are told these roadways are being built to handle an anticipated increase in traffic. Of course, that seems like the right answer.

But, would a more simple cloverleaf interchange do the trick at some of these intersections? Take for example that Michigan Left or the intersection of 116th and 31. A traditional interchange would seem to accomplish the desired result at these and other locations. The road building industry benefits financially from complex construction, but they are building what they are told we want. Ultimately “we” are our elected officials, most of whom are not experienced highway design experts.

Now, the rebuilding of the intersections on State Road 37 is about to begin. Let’s hope those officials in control of this project insist on effective, but more practical solutions. And, it might save us a lot of money.