Hamilton County Reporter

Fishers fell to Elkhart Central 64-53 in a Saturday afternoon game that was played
at the New Castle Fieldhouse.

The score was tied at 13-13 after the first quarter, and the Blue Blazers led 24-23 at
halftime. Elkhart Central pulled away in the second half; the Blue Blazers had 30
points in the paint compared to the Tigers’ 10.

Katie Burton scored 15 points, with Kaitlynn Feagan and Katie Howard both
adding nine. Feagan and Howard both made three 3-pointers, while Skylar Fulton had
two 3s. Tamia Perryman led the rebounding with eight; she also handed out five assists
and made four steals. Cierra Tolbert pulled seven rebounds.

Fishers is 6-2 and hosts Bishop Chatard on Thursday.

From the tradition of Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, being a major shopping day in America, several traditions have emerged.  Small Business Saturday is now featured on the day after Black Friday, highlighting  small businesses located in local communities.

Fishers has been part of the Small Business Saturday game for several years, but the city upped the ante on this year’s Small Business Saturday.  It began Saturday morning with special deals for early arrivals the the winter Farmers Market at Holland Park in the morning.

After noon, the action moved to City Hall, where local artists had their work on display and for sale.  Local musicians were showing their talents courtesy of Fishers Music Works.  There were refreshments, including hot chocolate and cookies on hand for City Hall visitors.

Here are a few pictures I snapped while walking around town for Small Business Saturday:

Continue reading Fishers Celebrates Small Business Saturday →

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

(NOTE: This is a commentary written by Fred Swift of the Hamilton County Reporter. The views expressed are those of Fred Swift and do not necessarily reflect the views of LarryInFishers.com.  This opinion piece is posted here as part of a partnership between the Reporter and LarryInFishers.com) 

Are elections drifting toward the Democrats in Hamilton County? The outcome of the recent off-year election tends to give that impression. But, the question going forward is whether this drift will continue or will it revert in the next major election.

The county has been overwhelmingly Republican since the days of Abraham Lincoln. The number of Democrats elected to countywide office in the past 150 years can be counted on your fingers. Again, in this fall’s election, Republicans won 55 of the 56 offices at stake, but the margins noticeably narrowed.

Times have changed, there are a lot more people from different parts of the state and nation moving in, many are Republicans, but many are Democrats.

Folks who watch elections closely think there are some other likely reasons for the change in the winning GOP margins which dropped from near 70 percent Republican (and only about 30 percent Democrat) in recent elections to a 60-40 split favoring the GOP this year.

There seems to be no question that there is an anti-Trump trend among some suburban voters nationwide, especially moderate Republican women. These voters may have taken out their frustration on Senator-elect Mike Braun, a strong Trump supporter. Braun carried the county by 11,000 votes which is far less than would be expected in most elections here.

There is also an assumption that the hundreds of new apartments now found in Hamilton County may be home to voters more inclined to vote for Democrats.

There is also the unknown effect of the massive voter turnout on Election Day this year. Many more citizens voted than in most off-year elections. Both Democrats and Republicans voted in larger numbers, but the net result may have favored Democratic candidates.

And finally, there is the fact that there were more Democratic candidates on the ballot than usual this year. In past elections there were few, sometimes almost no opponents for Republican candidates. This may have encouraged some closet Democrats to show up at the polls. So, all this raises a question as to whether the next election will return to ‘normal’ meaning more typical Republican vote totals. It might well return to a more normal situation, but President Trump is almost certain to be on the ballot.

He carried the county in 2016 by 30,000 votes which was a little less than other GOP candidates. So, he may win the county again in 2020, but Hamilton County may not be his biggest county if the Braun-Donnelly result is an indication of a long-term trend.

Democrats, of course, hope the party’s fortunes continue to rise to the point where they can begin winning locally. Republicans not only hope for continuing wins, but vow to work harder to increase their winning margins.

Obviously, only time will tell, but both parties now have some results from which to get ideas of what they want and need to do in future campaigns.

by

Craig Adkins

Hamilton County Reporter

In what was anticipated to be a close game, it sure lived up to its expectations for the better part of three quarters until the visiting No. 4 Hamilton Southeastern Royals decided to keep their foot on the gas pedal and pull away in the fourth period for a 62-43 road win on Friday afternoon at the Eric Clark Activity Center in Carmel.

The first half proved to be the back and forth affair that left a lot to be desired for the final two quarters.

It took two solid minutes before any points were on the scoreboard in the first when HSE’s Malea Jackson put the Royals up 2-0 at the 5:57 mark. Carmel freshman Kate Clarke canned a trey for a 3-2 Greyhounds edge. Then, with a free throw by junior Sydney Parrish and another bucket by Jackson from a steal, the Royals has taken a 5-3 lead.

Senior Reagan Hune scored five straight for Carmel for an 8-5 advantage and the Greyhounds added to that late in the first with five from senior Mackenzie Wood. That gave Carmel its biggest lead of the game at 13-7.

Parrish, a pre-season All-State candidate, would score the final eight of the first for HSE, but with a Kiara Gill three, Carmel led 16-15 after one.

“We were switching and we were switching and sitting back, instead of switching and jumping out on people,” said Hamilton Southeastern head coach Chris Huppenthal on his team’s defensive stance in the first half.

“That was allowing them to get open looks on the 3-point line and we told them in the second half they had to jump out more and take the three-point line away. They had a lot less 3’s in the second half than they did in the first half,” said Huppenthal on the change defensively that took Carmel out of their offensive game plan.

HSE junior Jackie Maulucci grabbed the second lead for HSE with a backdoor layup on the first possession of the second for 17-16. A Parrish swish from outside pushed it to 20-16, but it would be obvious that Carmel wouldn’t go a away for quite a while.

Hune sank another jumper and Clarke dropped in two consecutive 3’s to put the ‘Hounds back on top 24-21.

Maulucci got fouled outside the arc and sank all three from the charity stripe to tie it 24-24.
Amaya Hamilton had an offensive rebound that she put off the glass and in for 26-24 as time wound down before half.

Riley Pennington found a gap in the Royals’ defense for two and the score was knotted at 26-26 at halftime.

Parrish and Jackson had a mini 6-0 run to start the second half, giving HSE a 32-26 lead, thanks to a quick Carmel miscue.

“We came out in that third quarter feeling good and started with a turnover right off the bat,” said Carmel acting head coach Erin Trimpe on the Greyhounds’ confidence coming out of the locker room at halftime.

Following that short Royals run, Hune knocked down another from outside to cut it back to 32-29.

But, with consecutive baskets by Maulucci, Parrish and Tayah Irvin and a Jackson free throw, Hamilton Southeastern had jumped its lead out to double-digits at 39-29.
Hamilton swished a turnaround hook shot from 10 feet out, but Hune cut it back to a half dozen at the end of three with her third of the afternoon for 41-35 score.

“They’re great defensively and they’ve really locked down this season. Allowing them easy steals in transition buckets really got them into a lead we just couldn’t dig out of,” said Trimpe on the Royals’ defensive pressure throughout the game that became a thorn in Carmel’s side down the stretch in the fourth.

For Southeastern, it didn’t matter who did what, when, where and how in the fourth quarter, as long as it resulted in either points scored to extend their lead or forcing Greyhound turnovers that led to getting the ball back in their hands.

The fourth-ranked Royals proved they deserved their ranking, as they dominated the final quarter and spread the wealth amongst themselves, making it a team effort to pull away from the host ‘Hounds with a 21-8 frame that would pushed the final to 62-43.

“The second halftime adjustment was being patient on offense,” Huppenthal told his team at halftime to be patient, because they rushed a lot of possessions in the first half.
“This was the second game in a row I thought we were trying to rush things in the first half. They were after Syd and we knew they would do that. Sometimes Syd’s just got to let the other kids get into the flow. I thought in the second half, she let the game come to her,” Huppenthal on halftime adjustments and Parrish adjusting to Carmel keying on her.

Carmel sure did key on Parrish throughout the game, but it really didn’t matter when it came down to it.

The Greyhounds had no answers for her and she took advantage, whether it was scoring or dishing off to open teammates.

Carmel drops to 3-3 on the young season and its schedule won’t get any easier. The Greyhounds start off MIC play this week hosting No. 6 Lawrence North (6-1) on Nov. 27 and visit No. 1 Warren Central (5-0) on Nov. 30.

Reagan Hune led the Greyhounds with 16, while Kate Clarke added nine.
HSE (9-0) kept its perfect season going and looks to go for its 10th win as the Royals play another HCC game on Nov. 28 when they travel to Noblesville (3-4).

The Royals were led by Sydney Parrish’s 25. She was joined in double figures with Jackie Maulucci’s 13 and Malea Jackson had 10.

This is one of the strangest Thanksgiving Days I have experienced in many years.

My lovely wife Jane is with her parents at their Florida home and my daughter Allison and her husband Jacob live in South Dakota, so they will not be able to come home for this holiday.  Allison did call me today and it was so good to talk with her.

But I will be joined by a big part of my family at a Thanksgiving dinner put on by my sister and brother-in-law.  My daughter Mary will join that crowd later today.

So I miss my wife Jane and my daughter Allison today, but remain thankful to be with so many family members.  It will be a joyous occasion.

I continue to be amazed at the number of people that continue to read this blog on a regular basis.  I have been writing LarryInFishers.com for nearly 7 years and the number of people reading continues to grow.  My podcast listeners also have increased over time.  The 10 interviews I conducted with all Hamilton Southeastern School Board candidates brought a number of new listeners to my podcast series, which is mostly locally-focused.

So I wish to extend a special Happy Thanksgiving greeting to all of you.  I have made many friends in my nearly 7 years of writing this blog and almost 3 years of producing podcasts.  None of this would be possible without your support.

This continues to be a labor of love for me, my volunteer work to support the community where I have lived for 27 years – Fishers, Indiana.

So, thank you for reading and thank you for listening.  It’s because of all of you, the people living in Fishers, that this city is consistently rated is one of the best places to live in America.

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

The city of Noblesville has annexed a major tract of land at State Road 32 and Promise Road in anticipation of a huge mixed use development next year. Corby Thompson, Fishers area developer and realtor, has plans pending for building a commercial, industrial and residential development on more than 300 acres on both sides of Promise Road, immediately north of 32.

Thompson does not yet have final approval of plans, according to the Planning Department, but the city council adopted an annexation ordinance on Nov. 13 which becomes effective on Dec. 13, apparently expecting approval of the extensive project. It will be one of the largest real estate developments approved in Noblesville to date.

With annexation, the new area will get public safety services, city utilities and street maintenance. In exchange, the development will provide several million dollars worth of taxable property. This will add not only to the city tax base, but the county and school system as well.

Further details on the project have not been released. The only announcement came in the form of a legal publication of annexation in the Hamilton County Reporter.

When CMG moved from its Fishers building along I-69 to downtown Indy, the question was, what till move into that structure?  The Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ) reports that insurance firm DMC.  The move is expected to happen this spring, with DMC planning to add 50 staff members to the new location.

For more details, read the IBJ story at this link 

Hamilton County Reporter

Fishers dropped its first game of the season on Tuesday, losing a Hoosier
Crossroads Conference game at Zionsville 69-53.

The Eagles zoomed through the first quarter, outscoring the Class 4A No. 9 Tigers 15-4. Fishers came right back, scoring 25 points in the second period to cut Zionsville’s lead to
32-29. But the Eagles outscored the Tigers in each of the next two quarters.

Skylar Fulton scored 16 points, including four 3-pointers, while Katie Burton
added 15 points. Tamia Perryman collected six rebounds and blocked two shots, and
Fulton cleared five rebounds.

Fishers is now 6-1, and 1-1 in HCC play.

The Tigers will travel to New Castle on Saturday to play Elkhart Central in a 4:15
p.m. game.

Hamilton County Reporter

Hamilton Southeastern’s girls got a big test from Brownsburg
on Tuesday night, and the Royals passed with honors in the
second half.

The Class 4A No. 4 Royals kept their unbeaten season going by coming from
behind and defeating the 4A No. 8 Bulldogs 55-41. Southeastern is
now 8-0 for the season, and 2-0 in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference standings.

The Royals led 16-12 after the first quarter, but Brownsburg dominated the
second period, using its pressure defense to outscore HSE 15-4 to take a 27-20 halftime
lead. Southeastern pushed back in the second half, outscoring the Bulldogs 35-14.

The Royals got quick scores off defensive deflections in the third quarter, then continued
the pressure in the fourth.

Sydney Parrish led Southeastern’s scoring with 21 points, followed by Malea
Jackson with 13 and Amaya Hamilton with 12. Parrish went 9-of-9 from the free throw
line, while Jackson was 6-of-6.

Hamilton led the rebounding with seven, followed by Lydia Self with six. Jackie
Maulucci and Molly Walton both cleared five rebounds. The Royals had 13 steals as
a team, with Parrish making five and Hamilton four.

Southeastern travels to Carmel on Friday for an afternoon game. The contest has been
moved up one hour: Junior varsity tips off at noon, followed by varsity at 1:30 p.m.

Hamilton County Reporter

Fishers had a tough opener on Tuesday evening, falling to Lawrence Central 73-58
at the Tiger Den.

The Bears had a high-scoring first quarter, leading Fishers 23-13 at the end of
the period. The Tigers cut that lead to 33-29 by halftime, but LC took off again in the
third, pouring in another 24 points while allowing Fishers just 15.

Willie Jackson led the way for the Tigers, scoring 21 points. Alex Szilagyi
drained three 3-pointers on his way to 13 points.

Fishers will play another home game Saturday afternoon, welcoming Ben Davis.