Hamilton County Reporter

On Friday morning, a Noblesville West Middle School student walked
into a classroom armed with two handguns and began firing. Seventh-grade
student Ella Whistler and science teacher Jason Seaman were both shot
in the incident. Despite his injuries, Seaman was able to disarm and restrain
the shooter until police arrived.

On Saturday, hundreds gathered at a prayer vigil conducted by the City
of Noblesville at Federal Hill Commons Park. Officials described the
event as a day of healing for the Noblesville community, which is still
coming to terms with a middle school student shooting a classmate
and teacher.

During the event, several local, state and federal officials expressed their
pride for the Noblesville Community and how it has come together to support
those affected by the shooting. Governor Eric Holcomb, while speaking
at the vigil, announced that Ella Whistler is expected to make a full recovery.

Earlier on Saturday, Congresswoman Susan Brooks met with Seaman. After being shot multiple times, Seaman heroically tackled and disarmed the shooter. Brooks said Seaman was smiling when she saw him and that he was grateful to be alive.

“I just wanted him to know how grateful I was, how grateful everyone
was and that he truly is a hero,” Brooks said.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness was quick to comment on social media in the aftermath of the Noblesville West Middle School shooting.  After all, this happened literally in the school district next door to ours.  The Noblesville School Superintendent Beth Niedermeyer was an assistant superintendent at our local school district before assuming the Noblesville job.  This all hits way too close to home.

Mayor Fadness posted on social media how he has listened and interacted with people around Fishers after what happened in Noblesville.  He described the fear and uncertainty expressed to him by local parents.  Our mayor is a father and says he understands those emotions.  But the mayor wrote, “we are a community of action, not complacency.”

As a result, the City of Fishers and the Hamilton Southeastern School  Corporation are planning to host a discussion about local school safety at HSE High School on Wednesday, May 30th, 6:30pm, at the Leonard Auditorium.  Those planning on attending are asked to enter at door Number 18, entrance to the College and Career Academy.

Based on the mayor’s social media post, the first goal of this event is to explain to the community what city and school officials already have in place to keep students safe in our local schools, as well as additional steps being taken.

You will also learn how you, as a member of the local community, can play a role in school safety.

Finally, members of the public will be given an opportunity to comment on the plans outlined by city and school leaders.

It was good to hear from Noblesville Middle School teacher Jason Seaman as he spoke to the media Monday morning.  He wasn’t able to say much, but he clearly is uncomfortable in his sudden role as a public hero.  It appears he wants some privacy and that’s why the media conference was arranged and the school spokesperson made it clear Mr. Seaman will not be doing one-on-one interviews with anyone at this time.

But it is very good to see Mr. Seaman is in good enough health  to get up before the media and make a statement.  It is also good to hear the young girl injured in the shooting, Ella Whistler, is expected to make a full recovery.

HSE Schools are already on summer break, but Noblesville finishes up classes this week.  Noblesville Police have issued a statement that there will be officers at every Noblesville School Building the rest of this week.

I also know there was increased police presence at HSE Schools after the Noblesville shooting, just to be on the safe side.

Once again, if you want an update on what is happening locally on the school safety issue, the event is Wednesday night at HSE High School.

Update: Here is an update from Hamilton County Reporter Sports Editor Richie Hall Monday morning:

Best news of the day: Over $10,000 was raised at Don Dunker Field for hero teacher Jason Seaman and Ella Whistler. There were 1600 NOB Strong t-shirts sold out in an hour

Jesse Mendenhall is the perfect keynote speaker for a Memorial Day observance, because she has a story to tell about service and sacrifice.  Her husband was a Marine, A.J. White, who suffered injuries during a tour serving in Iraq.  He retired from the Marine Corps as a result of those service-related medical condition.

Jesse talked about the difficulty Adam had in dealing with his injuries after returning home.  A.J. suddenly died due to an enlarged heart connected to his injuries suffered serving in Iraq.  That left Jesse without her husband and their three small children fatherless.  Jesse had high praise for Folds of Honor, a group dedicated to assisting families like Jesse’s.  All three children were able to continue in their Catholic school due to assistance from Folds of Honor.

Jesse is now remarried and is pregnant. When Jesse told her story, it was hard to find a dry eye in the large crowd assembled at Liberty Plaza in downtown Fishers.  Even Jesse had to compose herself a couple of times as she told her story.

Jesse’s story is just one of the many stories among families with loved ones serving in our Armed Forces around the world.  She was warmly received by the crowd, and this warmth had nothing to do with the thermometer reading.

Navy veteran El Ahlwardt was the master of ceremonies for the annual event, a task he has performed a number of times around Fishers.  Mayor Scott Fadness made brief remarks as well.

World War II veteran Wayne Caldwell has become a regular at these Memorial Day events in Fishers, and led the audience in the singing of God Bless America.

Below are some pictures from the Monday morning observance:

Continue reading Moving Keynote Speech At Fishers Memorial Day Observance →

On this week’s podcast, Adam Aasen & I welcome Greg Sorvig of the Heartland Film Festival to talk about the new Star Wars film Solo, and we talk about a few other items as well.  Adam & I talk with our guest this week, Mark Rosenau, winner of this year’s Indy Film Fest 48-hour film competition.

UPDATE:  The 13-year-old shooting victim at Noblesville West Middle school has been identified by her family late Friday night as Ella Whistler.  Her family released the following statement:

“Our daughter, Ella Whistler, was involved in a horrific shooting today at her school. We will spend the next days and weeks processing what happened and why. But first, we wanted to say she is doing well at Riley Hospital for Children. Her status is critical, yet we are pleased to report she is stable. We’d like to thank everyone across the country who prayed for our family today. We’ve felt those prayers and appreciate each of them. We’d also like to thank the first responders, Noblesville police, Indiana State Police and the medical staff and surgeons at Riley. Please do not contact our family for further comment at this time. We appreciate you respecting our privacy as we support Ella in her recovery.”

For a long time, I made my living by writing.  Even after leaving journalism as a profession in 1983 and taking a job with the federal government, I spent a lot of time writing in that job.

I always had something on my mind to write.  This time, this evening, I’ve been thinking all day what I was going to express.  So, I guess I’ll just write what I’m feeling.

I feel sadness, frustration and sympathy.  There has been a school shooting in a school corporation next door to ours.  Noblesville Schools endured a shooting at a middle school.

As student witnesses were interviewed by the local television reporters camped outside, it hit me just how young these students are.  It also hit me how young the 13-year-old girl shot in the tragedy is.  I also thought that the shooter is just as young.  I just cannot wrap my mind around that.

Then there is the story of the science teacher at Noblesville West Middle School,  Jason Seaman.  Stories are now being told about his heroism in stopping the shooter, preventing additional violence.  It appears he has undergone surgery, and based on everything I am hearing from people that know him, his medical team expects a full recovery.

I am also hearing that there are many more heroes whose stories will be told in the coming days, as authorities are able to disclose more details about what happened in that school Friday morning.

We all must think and pray for the victims and their families, but that is just not enough.  What I think and pray about is an open consideration of what must be done to prevent more of these shootings.  When looking for solutions, I only ask this – nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing, should be taken off the table for consideration in that discussion.  Anything less would be failing our students, who have enough to worry about without having one more stressful worry on their minds as they go to school each day.

There is one thing I want all residents of Delaware, Fall Creek and Wayne Townships (The City of Fishers is included within that boundary) to know.  The Hamilton Southeastern Schools will sponsor a public forum Wednesday, May 30th, at 6:30pm.  The plan is to hold this event at the Charles Leonard Audiorium at HSE High School.  Those coming should use Entrance 18 at the College and Career Academy.

This forum is a joint effort of Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness and Hamilton Southeastern Schools Superintendent Allen Bourff.  It’s called “Safe City, Safe Schools.”  This forum will look at ways to better protect local students.  There will also be first-hand information on some of the measures HSE Schools and Fishers City officials have in place.

If the attendance at this event looks to be very large, the location may be changed.  If so, I will post that here on my blog and my Twitter account @LarryInFishers

My heart goes out to Beth Niedermeyer, Noblesville Schools Superintendent.  I got to know her when she served as an assistant superintendent at HSE Schools.  This must have been the toughest day on the job for her as an educator.

There are some silver linings here.  All the adjoining public safety agencies, including Fishers Police and Fire, sent assistance to Noblesville in their time of crisis.  It is amazing that once there is an emergency situation, everyone closes ranks.  That is encouraging.

Also, the school officials and students did what they were trained to do.  We still do not have all the details, but everything we know now indicates the injures were kept at a minimum because everyone, including the students, did what they were trained to do.

It’s just sad that part of going to school these days is doing drills and preparing for a shooting incident.  It’s time to consider all options in preventing tragedies like this.  We adults fail our own children if we fail to look at all the solutions available.

The latest in the Star Wars film series look at the early years of Han Solo.  the film is simplye titled Solo.  Here is my review.

The Fishers Youth Assistance Program has a big task ahead of it this year – providing hundreds of lunches to needy HSE School District students this summer.  I talked with Trisha Straus, Amy DeLucia and Lynda Carlino about how you can help.

County Commissioners still intend to move forward on expansion of the Hamilton County Judicial Center, but the project will be delayed.  According to my news gathering partner, The Hamilton County Reporter,  the bids came in $311,000 more than anticipated.

Commissioners say they will take another look at the project and plan to accept another round of bids later this year or in early 2019.  The estimated $24.17 million expansion plan would add courts and move the county auditor, recorder and assessor from the historic downtown Noblesville courthouse to the newly-expanded Judicial Center.

Meanwhile, the county continues with plans to move utilities on the current Judicial Center complex in order to prepare for the planned expansion.

As the end of school is near, it is once again the start-up time for the summer reading programs at the Fishers & Noblesville Libraries, both part of the Hamilton East Library system.  You can wins books and other prizes, and all you need to do is read!

The summer reading program starts June 1st and ends July 31st.

This year’s summer reading program theme is – Libraries Rock!

Registration for the 2018 summer reading program is easy…just use this link.

Last year, the Fishers City Council decided to do a reset on how local nonprofit organizations would be financially supported.  Before last year’s budget process, only a few groups received cash support from the city.

Previously, most of the funds went to The Fishers Freedom Festival and Conner Prairie, but the city began providing money to more organizations and even, at one point, considered using an independent, outside group to make these decisions, but decided in the end to keep everything in-house.

In 2017, the City Council formed a 3-person committee of council members and established an application process for consideration of financial support.  As a result of that process, the city decided to continue support for Conner Prairie, along with a number of other local groups.  One organization that did not receive funding or in-kind support from the city in the 2018 budget was the Fishers Freedom Festival.  The city is now organizing the Spark!Fishers Festival in its place.

Here is a list of groups that received funding from the city as part of the 2018 budget:

     –Advocates for Children and Families, dba Cherish

      –Ascent 121

      –Conner Prairie Museum, Inc.

      –Geist Half Marathon

      –Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, Inc.

      –Hamilton County Leadership Academy

      –Hamilton County Youth Assistance

      –Hamilton Southeastern School Foundation

      –Hope Academy

      –Janus Developmental Services

      –Nickel Plate Arts

      –Spaceport Exploration

      –YMI

The applications for 2019 funds will start from scratch as the city budget process begins for calendar year 2019.  The City Council members that served on last year’s Nonprofit Committee will serve again in this year’s budget cycle consideration of the applications…they are Brad DeReamer, Cecilia Coble and Pete Peterson.  All three will evaluate each application.

The deadline to submit an application is June 14th.  For more information, use this link.