The federal Surface Transportation Board  has issued its ruling on the future of the Nickel Plate Rail Line, and rules in favor of Fishers, Noblesville and Hamilton County in their plans to convert the line from rails to trails.

You can read the entire text of the decision at this link.

This will now allow conversion of the Nickel Plate Rail into a pedestrian trail pursuant to the National Trails System Act and the Board’s interim trail use regulations

The City of Fishers, in a news release, says local officials will immediately pursue the conversion of the Nickel Plate line to a trail from 96^th street to 146^th street.

There were a number of comments received by local residents and a “Save the Trail” group organized to preserve the Nickel Plate line for trains, but the board ruled in favor of the local governmental units in their plans using the rail banking process to convert the rail line into a trail, much like the Monon Trail in Carmel.

Fishers announced Wednesday that it is forming a committee to work on plans for the Nickel Plate Trail.  For more on that, use this link.

Monday, June 4th is the date two road projects begin in Fishers and local motorists need to plan now on how to change driving habits this summer.

First, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) will close Brooks School Road between 126th Street and 136th Street in order to add a sidewalk to the east side of the bridge over I-69.  INDOT’s suggested detours include utilizing 136th Street, Promise Road and 126th Street.  Weather permitting, Brooks School Road will close over I-69 June 4th and reopen in early August.

Secondly, a new roundabout will be constructed at 131st Street and Cumberland Road.  The City of Fishers has waited until the HSE school year was over to start this project, which will require the closing of that intersection during construction.  Originally, this work was set to start in late May, but the start date has been moved back to June 4th, again, weather permitting.  City officials say the project is still scheduled for completion in late July, well before the HSE students report back to school August 8th.

Hundreds of people packed into HSE High School’s Leonard Auditorium Wednesday night for a look at what the City of Fishers and the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools have been doing and plan to do in the future about school safety.  The officials presenting the forum had an important message…school safety was an important issue before the Noblesville school shooting and will continue to be an important issue going forward.

HSE School Superintendent Allen Bourff told the audience the school corporation and the City of Fisher will be working toward expanding the number School Resource Officers, sworn police officers, in HSE school buildings.  Bourff said officers must be trained and the money must be set aside, but “expansion will be coming very soon.”

Dr. Bourff and Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness hosted the forum.  Panel members included Fishers High School Assistant Principal Ryan Taylor, Inclusion Officer Erica Buchanan-Rivera, Assistant Superintendent Mike Beresford, HSE Mental Health Coordinator Brooke Lawson, Fishers Police Chief Mitch Thompson and School Resource Officer Mike Johnson.

Audience members wrote down questions and the panel fielded as many as time allowed.

Here are some of the issues and questions raised at the forum, and responses by panel members:

What about metal detectors at entrances to schools?

Dr. Bourff:  The first issue is finance, how would you pay for such a security system, with the number of doors used to enter the buildings? Also, there is a logistical challenge to processing 3,200-3,300 students in 15-20 minutes.  It’s not just the cost of the metal detectors, but each metal detector would need to be staffed, resulting in increased labor costs.  Those issues must be overcome to implement such a security system.  There is some research indicating students can work around those metal detectors, although technology is improving.

What about arming teachers? 

Dr. Bourff:  “We do have well-trained armed personnel in our buildings every day, our SROs (School Resource Officers).  We are concerned that we would have the level of preparation necessary under stressful situations for our staff to be successful. It’s very difficult even for our armed professionals to provide that accuracy under stressful circumstances.”

What about the responsibility of gun owners securing their firearms when not in use? 

Police Chief Thompson: A friend told the chief that if a child takes an action with a gun the child obtained from their parents, authorities should charge the parent with the same crime, then maybe, finally, people would start to secure their weapons.  The chief then explained how often people keep guns in their cars unsecured and report those guns as stolen.

Dr. Bourff said all questions and answers from the forum, even those that were not addressed during the event. will be posted online.

The main message from those speaking at this forum is that school safety is a top priority for the city and school corporation, and has been for many years.

The 106th Street Infrastructure Improvement Project will receive a  $639,583.44 change order following action Tuesday by the Fishers Board of Works and Public Safety.  Jonathan Valenta, Assistant Director of Water Quality in the Fishers Public Works Department, told the board that if there are delays, Eller Road and 106th St will be opened unrestricted for the winter months, December of 2018 through March of 2019. Any remaining paving will be completed April through June, 2019.  The board approved a 90-day delay for substantial completion of the work due to delays in utility firms handling their part of the construction.

Even with this change order, the 106th Street improvements will remain under the $12 million budgeted by the city.

For more details on what was approved by the board for this 106th Street project, use this link. 

In other actions Tuesday by the board:

–Bids have been approved for resurfacing projects for 126th Street from Allisonville Road to Lantern Road, 141st Street from Allisonville Road to SR 37, and Marilyn Road from 131st Street to 136th Street.  Mayor Scott Fadness says revenue from the wheel tax allows to the city handle road maintenance projects such as these.

–The city renewed its contract with Microsoft for information technology services.

Federal regulators are considering the future of the Nickel Plat Rail Line, but the City of Fishers is moving forward with plans to convert the line to a trail.  The Surface Transportation Board is considering the plan to rail bank that line, meaning it could be converted back to rail use at some future time but would be used now as a trail.  As that decision is awaited, the city is forming its plans for the trail.

Fishers wants the part of the Nickel Plate line within its boundaries, from 96th Street north to 146th Street, converted to a trail, much like the Monon trail running through Carmel.  The city says it will release its request for proposals (RFP) during the month of June.

The Nickel Plate Master Planning Committee will be co-chaired by Fishers Councilman John Weingardt and Fishers resident Amanda Welu of DELV Design. The Committee  will guide the planning process.

“I’m looking forward to working hand-in-hand with local leaders and stakeholders to bring this free recreational amenity to our community,” said Committee Co-Chair and Fishers City Councilman John Weingardt, in a city news release. “Our Committee will strive to create a destination for all to enjoy for years to come.”

Committee members include:

·         John Weingardt, Fishers City Councilman (Co-Chair)

·         Amanda Welu, DELV Design (Co-Chair)

·         David Becker, First Internet Bank

·         Erik Braden, Braden Business Systems

·         Shawn Curran, Fishers Running Club

·         Debbie Driskell, Delaware Township Trustee

·         Dan Kloc, Fishers Arts Council

·         Lori Mankin, New Britton Elementary

·         Ailithir McGill, Nickel Plate Arts

·         Jake Reardon-McSoley, Fishers YMCA

·         Brenda Myers, Visit Hamilton County

·         Corby Thompson, Boomerang Development

·         John Wechsler, Launch Fishers / Indiana IoT Lab – Fishers

·         Scott Whitlock, Flexware Innovation

Advisory committee members include:

·         Caleb Gutshall, City of Noblesville

·         Karen Kryah, Binford Redevelopment Group (BRAG)

·         Lindsey Lord, Indy Arts Council

·         Jennifer Milliken, Urban Land Institute

·         Mark Zwoyer, City of Indianapolis

If you are interested in being involved in the planning process,  e-mail Lexi Onofrey at npt@fishers.in.us. Public planning meetings will likely happen this fall for public input.

“The Nickel Plate Trail will allow residents and visitors to experience our city in new and different ways, and this Committee will help create another amenity toward our vision of creating a vibrant city,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness. “Residents often request increased connectivity for walking, running, and biking in our community and this trail will be a major step toward fulfilling that need.”

For updates on the Nickel Plate trail, use this link.

WISH-TV/Hamilton County Reporter

There has been little to no information released about the suspected shooter in the May 25 Noblesville West Middle School, and according to the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office, that is unlikely to change.

The prosecutor’s office says they are bound by the Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct and juvenile law, which creates extra protections for children in Indiana. They limit the amount of information that can be released to the public.

The Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office released the following statement on the matter:

Due to the number of media inquiries, the State provides this release relating to the shooting incident that occurred at Noblesville West Middle School on Friday, May 25.

The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing. Not only are prosecutors bound by the Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct with respect to making extra-judicial statements, in this situation, juvenile law also creates additional protection for the privacy of children in Indiana and further limits the release of information to the public. Whenever a petition has been filed alleging that a child is delinquent as the result of an alleged act that would be a felony if committed by an adult, only then may very limited information be released pursuant to statute.

The State cannot confirm the identity of the suspect, describe the nature of the offense, detail any steps in litigation, and so forth until such a petition has been filed. If filed, a petition would be filed within seven (7) business days of a detention hearing, as required by statute.

The fact that a child has been alleged to be delinquent is merely an accusation, and the child is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Given the express constraints of statutes and the rules, no further details will be provided. Should a petition be filed with the court, the State will supplement this release.

WISH-TV/Hamilton County Reporter

Hero teacher Jason Seaman made his first public appearances Monday, after being credited with tackling and disarming a student shooter in his classroom on Friday.

He was one of thousands of Noblesville Schools students, parents and staff who flooded into Don Dunker Field for the Noblesville High School baseball sectional game Monday morning.

Seaman arrived at the game just an hour after speaking to the media at the Noblesville Schools Administration Building, where he said his actions Friday were the only acceptable actions he could have taken. He thanked those who have helped him in his rapid recovery and thanked the community for coming together with such strength.

During the Memorial Day pregame program, the announcer commended Seaman, injured seventh grader Ella Whistler and the staff at West Middle School for their brave actions during Friday’s shooting. The crowds held a moment of silence before listening to the national anthem and beginning the baseball game.

Seaman arrived shortly afterwards and was seated along the first baseline, in a shaded seated section reserved for school administrators and separated from the fans by a fence. He watched the game and was presented with the game baseball in the early innings.

“He saved everyone,” said Mackenzie Miller, an eighth-grader at West Middle attending the game. “It would have been so much worse if he hadn’t been so brave.”

“He kind of protected all of us because if that gunman had gotten out, all us eighth-graders would have been in the hallway, then it would have been a lot bigger,” explained Ashley Nickley, Miller’s classmate.

Miller admitted she normally wouldn’t have attended Monday’s baseball game, especially given the near-record heat, but wanted to support the community, Seaman and Ella.

“Everybody’s here to get shirts and probably talk and heal a little bit,” said Deb Satterfield, attending the game as an Hamilton Southeastern Royals baseball fan from Fishers. “I think it’s fantastic that so many people from both sides are coming out to support the community, being right next door.”

Seaman didn’t address the crowd or greet individual students during the game, but many there knew he attended and said they were impressed he cared enough and was healthy enough to come.

“I think it’s great for the students and the parents to know he’s here and he’s okay physically. I think it’s fantastic,” said Satterfield.

The sectional game broke a record for Noblesville Schools: Upwards of 4,000 attendees. Assistant athletic director Tony Oilar said the usual attendance is around 1,000 fans.

That helped fundraiser #NoblesvilleStrong t-shirt sales sell out quickly. All 1,600 printed shirts sold out within minutes. Staff began sending fans online to purchase a shirt for $15, with proceeds to benefit Ella and her family, per Jason Seaman’s request.

There are GoFundMe sites set up for Seaman and for Ella, as well as a fund set up by the school district.

Julia Drozd and Joe Bergin are graduating from Fishers and HSE High Schools on June 2nd…I talked with them about their experience in HSE Schools…

The new Spark!Fishers summer festival now has a presenting sponsor, and it is a local firm, Freedom Mortgage.  Roughly 80 people are working on various committees to plan for the celebration, which begins with a concert Friday, June 29th, at  Saxony Fields, located just east of Witten Park, starring 90’s national recording act, Sugar Ray.

On Saturday, the festival will be centered in the heart of the Nickel Plate District and include many of the family-friendly activities that residents have come to cherish as part of their Fourth of July celebration.

“We are thrilled to sponsor the first-ever Spark!Fishers celebration,” said Stan Middleman, president and CEO of Freedom Mortgage. “Freedom Mortgage has a history of supporting the Fishers Freedom Festival, and we are glad to have the opportunity to continue giving back to this great community. As one of the city’s largest employers, Fishers is a special place to Freedom Mortgage.”

The family-owned company has locations nationwide, with the Fishers office the second-largest.

“Spark!Fishers is a celebration of our city – from where it began to its future,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness. “The incredible collaboration with the community steering committee has resulted in an exciting day packed with experiences sure to build new memories. Freedom Mortgage’s support as presenting sponsor of Spark!Fishers shows their dedication to being a key part of our vibrant Fishers community.”

The city has also announced more details about the inaugural Spark!Fishers festival…below is a listing, as provided by the City of Fishers:

Continue reading Freedom Mortgage Steps Forward As Spark!Fishers Presenting Sponsor →

WISH-TV/Hamilton County Reporter

A man who has been hailed as a hero for his actions during a shooting at
Noblesville West Middle School spoke publicly for the first time on Monday.

Jason Seaman, a 29-year-old seventh grade science teacher at the school, addressed the media after being one of the two victims shot by a student.

“I want to make it clear that my actions on that day in my mind were the only
acceptable actions I could have done given the circumstances,” said Seaman.

“I care for my students and their well-being so that’s why I did what I did
that day.”

From students’ accounts from inside the classroom, a student opened fire inside
the classroom after he left and returned with two handguns.  Seaman and 13-year-old Ella Whistler were both shot by the suspect. Seaman was shot while taking down the shooter, and was taken to IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Whistler was taken to Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health in Indianapolis.

“I can’t say enough how proud of Ella I am and how we all should be,” said Seaman.
“Her courage and strenghth at such a young age is nothing short of remarkable.”

You can watch the press conference in its entirety at this link.