Hamilton Southeastern’s Matt Harris (center) takes this direct snap from shotgun, fakes the handoff and powers his way in to the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown with 34 seconds left in the fourth quarter of the Royals’ game with Lawrence Central Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium. (Reporter Photo by Kirk Green)

Hamilton County Reporter

Adam Morris will likely never forget his first-ever win as the Hamilton Southeastern
football coach.

Neither will any of the players, especially Matt Harris. The senior running back
scored a two-yard touchdown with 34 seconds left in the fourth quarter, and that
finally brought the Royals even with Lawrence Central Friday in the second game of
the Colts Horseshoe Classic.

Harris’ touchdown made the score 20-20, and kicker Mitch Hebenstreit hit the extra
point to make it 21-20. Southeastern’s defense made one final stand, with John
McCall’s interception sealing the 21-20 victory for HSE.

“It was great,” said Morris. “We did a good job offensively.”

There was some strategy involved in Southeastern’s final drive, as Morris said his
team was trying to leave the Bears as little time as possible to get a chance to score right back. Morris credited the Royals’ defense with stepping up.

“We were so comfortable in that situation at the end of the game,” said Morris.
“Our kids were comfortable, they felt prepared and they just executed.”

Lawrence Central led 14-0 at halftime. Southeastern got on the board in the third
quarter with a four-yard run from Harris.

The Bears answered that with a one-yard touchdown run, but the extra point didn’t go.

HSE’s Manny Daniels got the Royals back within one score by making a 13-yard
interception return, also in the third period. Hebenstreit kicked both extra points in that quarter, keeping the Royals within 20-14 going into the fourth period.

Kody Sparks had a solid night passing, with 14 completions out of 29 attempts and
151 yards. Ben Boysen made six catches and Landon Morris got four receptions.

The Royals will play their home opener next Friday, taking on North Central.

Here is the Fishers road construction listing for the work week beginning Monday, August 20th, as provided by the City of Fishers:

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NORTH STREET
The westbound lane of North Street between Lantern Road and Maple Street will be closed from Friday, August 17 through Monday, August 20 for concrete replacement.

106TH STREET 
106th Street is closed to through traffic from Eller Road to Allisonville Road and from Allisonville Road to Hague Road for the 106th Street Infrastructure Project. 106th Street is also closed to through traffic between Hague Road and the Crosspoint Boulevard/Lantern Road roundabout. An updated project timeline and Detour Map are now available.

ALLISONVILLE ROAD
Closures will be in effect overnight this week, weather permitting, for storm sewer crossings. Beginning Tuesday, August 21 through Thursday, August 23, Allisonville Road will be closed from just north of 126th Street to 141st Street from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. daily. Traffic should detour down 126th Street and 141st Street to State Road 37. The road will reopen for traffic each morning by 5 a.m.

Road construction is in full swing along Allisonville Road. Traffic has been shifted to the east to allow for widening on the west side. Restrictions may be in place between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. and flaggers will be on site directing traffic, as necessary. Through September, all southbound left turns from Allisonville Road onto 126th Street will be prohibited. This is an active construction site with reduced speed limits. For more info on this project, view the Fact Sheet.

HOOSIER ROAD
There are periodic lane restrictions on Hoosier Road south of 116th Street while Hamilton County Highway Department completes the resurfacing and striping of Hoosier Road and 111th Street.

113TH STREET & FLORIDA ROAD 
The intersection of 113th Street and Florida Road is closed for the realignment and construction of a new roundabout at the intersection. The closure is expected to last appropriately 90 days. See the Detour Map.

SOUTHEASTERN PARKWAY 
Southeastern Parkway is closed from 136th Street to Isle of Man Way (Avalon subdivision) for approximately 30 days to complete a roundabout. Traffic to detour up Prairie Baptist Road to 136th Street. See the Detour Map.

106TH STREET   
106th Street is closed to through traffic from Eller Road to Allisonville Road and from Allisonville Road to Hague Road for the 106th Street Infrastructure Project. Closures for through traffic will also take place from Hague Road to the Crosspoint Boulevard/Lantern Road roundabout. For more info on this project, view the Fact Sheet.

STATE ROAD 37
A public meeting was held on Tuesday, May 15 at the Delaware Township Trustee Office. The meeting presentation and updated information is available on the project’s new website. The State Road 37 improvement project is a $124 million joint project between Fishers, Hamilton County, Noblesville, and INDOT. Questions or concerns may be directed to SR37@rqaw.com.

by

Richie Hall

Sports Editor

Hamilton County Reporter

With a new coach and a solid group of players running on to the biggest football field in Indiana, there will be excitement for Hamilton Southeastern tonight as Friday night football begins.

The Royals will play their first game at approximately 8:30 p.m. at Lucas Oil Stadium as part of the Colts Horseshoe Classic. Southeastern takes on Lawrence Central, a team the Royals last played back in 2007.

Adam Morris is the new head coach for HSE, and he will lead a team that features several juniors who will figure prominently in the offense. That includes two quarterbacks: Kody Sparks and Andrew Hobson.

Sparks played in 10 games last year, and completed 83 of 182 passes for 722 yards and two touchdowns.

“We have two good ones,” said Morris. “Obviously there’s Kody coming back, who has the most time, starts and games last year. I really thought he made progress as the year went on, got more comfortable. You’re talking about a kid who moved in June and had just joined the kids. And I really thought he got better as the season progressed.

“And now the kids aren’t as new, but now the offense is new, so it’s still more new stuff for him. But I think he’s taking it on very well. He’s very talented, big, strong kid. Can make all the throws. I think it’s just coming along with the offense.”

Hobson only has five varsity pass attempts to his credit (and two completions), but Morris sees the potential in him, calling Hobson a “young talented kid.”

“Another kid who spins it very well,” said Morris. “And it’s been a battle. We’ve had a battle all summer. And we’ve been really happy with both of them.”

The top returning rusher for the Royals is senior Lance Stephens, who gained 144 yards and scored a touchdown last year. He will trade off with another senior Matt Harris, who was injured last year. Morris said Harris played in junior varsity games during the first half of last season, but then broke his hand and was out of commission.

But since then, Harris has made a strong comeback. Morris said Harris did a “great job” in the winter and spring in the weight room and “has really built himself” physically.

“So we look for him to have a good year,” said Morris. “We do have Lance Stephens back as a running back, also, who was a kid who played some varsity as a sophomore, played some varsity as a junior. Now he’s back for a third year. So we feel like we have two solid guys back there.”

“The running back position’s kind of an anomaly just in the fact that there are two seniors,” said Morris. “At a lot of other places, we have younger kids.”
With two solid running backs, it will be expected that HSE runs the football.

“You have to run the football,” said Morris. “We have two big, strong running backs. Offensive line is probably a place that is the most fluid. It normally is this time of year, just trying to find the five best ones. We’re going to do what we can, spread it out and get the ball to our weapons.”

On defense, two good seniors return. Anthony Eggers made 48 tackles last year, with Isaac Abeo getting 14 stops.

“Eggers is a kid probably who’s played as much football, if not more football, than any kid on the program, especially defensively,” said Morris. “He was the only underclassmen starter Weeks 1 and 2 last year defensively. So he’s played some football. He’ll play some safety, play some linebacker, can kind of do it all for us.
“Abeo is a kid who’s more dynamic. He can put his hand on the ground, he can play on both feet, play in space, but definitely a kid who can make some plays in the backfield.”

One part of the game that’s overlooked is special teams, but not by Morris. He said the Royals have two good Class 6A kickers in Mitch Hebenstreit and Tyler Melser, both seniors. Another senior, Andrew Klink, is back as the long snapper.

“Tyler has probably kicked a little bit better so far,” said Morris. “Mitch has probably punted a little bit better so far. But they both do both pretty well.”

Following its Lucas Oil game, the Royals will host North Central in Week 2 for their first home game of the year, before beginning its Hoosier Crossroads Conference schedule.

When Fishers Police Chief Mitch Thompson stepped down from the top job on the force July 30th, following an arrest for operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI), his second in command Ed Gebhart was named acting chief.  You can now remove the term “acting” from Gebhart’s title.  Mayor Scott Fadness has announced Ed Gebhart as the new police chief for the City of Fishers.

“I’m honored to serve Fishers residents and the men and women of the Fishers Police Department as Chief of Police,” said Chief Gebhart. “Our department will fundamentally hold the safety and security of our city, the future of our children, and the honor of our officers to the highest standards.”

Chief Gebhart’s swearing-in ceremony has been set for Friday, September 7th.

“During his nearly two decades with the City, Assistant Chief Gebhart has demonstrated thoughtful, proactive leadership and adaptability,” said Mayor Fadness. “Through his career experience as a member of the SWAT team, a field training officer and patrol commander, and most recently as Assistant Chief where he led the development of the Fishers Crimewatch App, Gebhart has demonstrated the resident-centered approach and entrepreneurial thinking that we pride ourselves on as a City. I am confident that Chief Gebhart will lead our police department with this same dedication, putting our residents’ needs first and ensuring that Fishers continues to lead the nation as a safe city.”

During his law enforcement career, Officer Gebhart has served in many roles, including helping to create the technology-based Crime Watch program, where citizens may report suspected crimes through a cell phone app.  Gebhart has been a patrol officer, investigator, detective, sergeant, and patrol lieutenant all prior to his current rank, captain in the investigations unit, a role he has held since 2014. Gannon holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and anticipates earning his Masters Degree in Criminal Justice in Spring 2019.

Gebhart holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. In 2012, he graduated from the FBI National Academy (Class 251) and has since completed FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar (LEEDS) and Police Chief Executive Program.

With about a week to go before the filing deadline for Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board candidates, we have at least one candidate in District 1 – Benjamin Elsbury.

LarryInFishers has no additional information on this candidate, but I have left a message for Mr. Elsbury to contact me in order to learn more about his candidacy.

by

Richie Hall

Sports Editor

Hamilton County Reporter

Last season’s Fishers football team started slow (and injured), but finished fast.

How fast? The Tigers won Hoosier Crossroads Conference and sectional
championships. This year’s edition of Fishers has the potential to do just as well, with
several strong returning players both on offense and defense.

The Tigers had two quarterbacks last year, the now-graduated Matt Wolff and
then-junior Jon Vore, who returns this year as a senior. The two-quarterback scheme
worked well for Fishers, and also gave Vore solid experience: Last year he completed 56
of 111 passes for 683 yards and seven touchdowns.

The top returning rusher for the Tigers is senior HL Lewis. The 6-foot, 192-pound
tailback had to deal with injuries last year – “I don’t think he played till the fifth game,”
said Fishers coach Rick Wimmer – but performed solidly when he was out on the field. In
seven games, he carried the ball 124 times for 518 yards and two touchdowns.

“I thought he ended the year really a solid running, good running back,” said Wimmer.
“I’ve been really pleased with him this summer and in our week of practice we had this
week. He’s got excellent speed.”

Lewis will be backed up by junior Dylan Scally, who got into six games last season
as a sophomore. Scally totaled 230 yards and a touchdown.

“Dylan proved himself last year, getting an opportunity to play as a sophomore,” said
Wimmer. “Probably played before we really expected him to play or wanted to play him,
but because of some injuries he played and he showed he was capable.”

Another junior, Matt Noble, will also figure into the running game this season.

“So that gives us three varsity quality tailbacks that we can work with,” said Wimmer,
who did say that Lewis would the No. 1 runner, although all three tailbacks would be used.

“He’s going to get most of the reps as long as he’s healthy and ready to go,” said
Wimmer.

Fishers’ defense will be strong as well, with five returning players. Senior Emmanuel
Davis leads the way, bringing back 62 total tackles, including five for a loss. Junior
Geoffrey Brown was close behind with 50 total stops, with five for a loss. Senior Roman
Molden also returns; he had 44 tackles last season.

“They will be our linebackers,” said Wimmer. “I’m really excited about that group.”
The coach called them a “very mobile group,” one that runs well.

“They get to the football, good physical group,” said the coach. “And a group that’s
got a lot of experience playing football.”

Other key defensive returners are junior Collin Shelton at safety, senior Jason Lassic
in the cornerback position, and senior Cam Field on the defensive line.

“He’s the only defensive lineman that returns for us,” said Wimmer.

Fishers will begin its season at North Central this Friday, then host Pike in Week 2
before beginning Hoosier Crossroads Conference play.

The Fishers Police Merit Commission was taken on a tour of the new headquarters building Wednesday morning.  The facility is nearing completion.  Acting Chief Ed Gebhart told commission members the new structure should handle the department’s needs for at least the next 20 years.  The move across Municipal Drive should begin in about three weeks, Gebhart said.

The acting chief provided a number of updates, the biggest one being the hiring process.  New officers from Colorado and  Arizona are set to join the force.  Both candidates found Fishers and applied.  Other job offers have been made to officers currently working in Zionsville, Anderson and Muncie.

“We are full-up currently,” Gebhart told the commission.  “(Those) are all our positions for 2018.”

Gebhart unveiled a new badge for Fishers Police officers.  Gebhart said the officers wanted to do this.  The previous badge was designed like the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) badge.

There was no mention of the previous Police Chief Mitch Thompson until late in the formal meeting.  Thompson stepped down from the chief’s position after charges were filed against him related to an accident south of 96th Street and Keystone Avenue July 27th.  The charges include OWI endangering a person and operating a vehicle with a blood-alcohol level of .08 or more.

Although he is no longer chief, Thompson is reserving the right to return to the Fishers Police Department in another role, if approved.  Police officials cannot begin to look at the administrative issues until the criminal charges pending against Thompson are resolved.  The matter could come before the Merit Commission in the future .

Two Merit Commission members raised the issue about the status of former Chief Thompson as the formal meeting was ending , but before any comments could be made, City Attorney Chris Greisl stopped the discussion, saying he would address a memo related to the Thomson matter, raised by a Merit Commission member, but not in a public meeting.

This is the new Fishers Police Department badge 

This year’s HSE School District Teacher of the Year is John Hochstetler, Media Specialist at Sand Creek Intermediate School…here’ my conversation with him…

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

With a little more than a week before the deadline to file for school board, Noblesville still has no candidates. Never before has there apparently been so little interest. Incumbent members have not publicly expressed interest in re-election and no others have come forward to seek the two seats at stake in this fall’s election.

Most recent school candidate filings in other county school districts are David C. Martin in Hamilton Heights’ Jackson Township district, and Julie Chambers in Southeastern, District 4.

Countywide, there are only 16 candidates so far for the 18 seats up for election this year. The deadline to file is noon on Friday, Aug. 24.

* * *

Indiana Republican Party leaders, realizing the importance of Hamilton County to their statewide election strategy, sent field director Matt Organ to the GOP Breakfast Club meeting to outline how crucial a Republican plurality may become this year.

The election’s marquee race will feature the Senate contest between Mike Braun and Democrat Joe Donnelly. Braun is scheduled to appear here in October at the annual Carmel GOP pork roast.

Donnelly will also make one or more appearances, but his schedule has not been announced.

* * *

The county’s Civil War monument in Crownland Cemetery (for which Monument Street is named) will be rededicated in public ceremonies at 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 16.

It was first dedicated 150 years ago on July 4, 1868, and bears the names of all who enlisted in Union forces from Hamilton County. (271 of them died in the war.)

The County Historical Society is sponsoring the event which will feature members of the military, Masonic Lodge and Boy Scouts. Patriotic music is planned and a Lincoln re-enactor will be present. Ronald Wilson is coordinating the event.

* * *

One of our Reporter readers who saw our story on the removal of relics from the Transportation Museum at Forest Park asked what happened to the dismantled Indianapolis interurban terminal that was stored at the park. The world’s largest interurban station was trucked to the park in pieces in 1968 with the intention of having it re-assembled to house the museum’s trains.

The huge structure where 500 interurban electric trains arrived daily had nine sets of tracks under roof. It was built in 1904 and served until 1941 when it was converted to a bus station.

After lying in pieces at the museum for years, the steel was sold for scrap because there was not enough money to restore it.

The Hamilton Southeastern School Board is beginning a redistricting  process for grades kindergarten through 8th grade, that will end December 12th with a board vote on new K-8 school boundaries for the 2019-2020 school year.  Board members held a work session early Tuesday morning to talk about what priorities the board wants in asking for input from the public ,as the process moves along the remainder of this year.

There are a number of reasons redistricting is needed.  A new school, Southeastern Elementary. will open in August of 2019.  Some schools are very overcrowded…for example, Thorpe Creek Elementary School has 900 students, many more students than an elementary building should contain.  There continue to be schools utilizing portable classrooms.

Dr. William Carnes, who served as interim HSE Superintendent for several months during 2014 & 2015, is now filling-in as an interim assistant superintendent until Mike Beresford’s former position is filled.  Carnes is leading the administration’s work on the redistricting plan.

At the August 8th school board meeting, Carnes presented the following priorities for consideration in the redistricting process:

To the extent possible:

 The redistricting plan will attempt to assign students to attend schools closest to their homes.
 The redistricting plan will attempt to design a “feeder” system.
 The redistricting process will attempt to maintain neighborhoods and subdivisions.
 Stabilize the movement of the Exceptional Learner’s instructional learning spaces.    

At the Tuesday work session, board members brainstormed a number of other considerations, including:

–Have a transparent process

–Maximize school capacity on the west side of the district to allow for continued growth in the eastern areas

–Reduce the use of portable classrooms, now and in the future

–Establish a feeder system, for example, where students from a junior high school will all go the the same high school

–Use a neighborhood concept to keep neighborhoods going to the closest school geographically

–Maintain subdivisions and neighborhood in the same school where possible

The board members and administrators will grapple with the fact that many of these concepts cannot both be used.  For example, using a feeder system may not be consistent with keeping neighborhoods and subdivisions headed to the same school.

Dr. Carnes will use the ideas from board members at the work session and fashion a recommendation of priorities for the board to consider at the next regular board meeting August 22nd.

The board priorities will serve as a guideline for members of the community, as they are asked to make suggestions on how the school boundaries should be drawn.  “Cluster groups,” appointed by school  principals, will meet September 10th & 11th.  There will be focus groups sessions in late September and community dialogue sessions are set for October 24th and 25th.  Then administrators and board members will begin to take that information and form the new school boundary lines for a final board decision December 12th.