February is Black History Month, and Fishers City Hall will have Black History themed artwork on display throughout the month.

The art work comes from Bryce Culverhouse, and Fall Creek Junior High School students.  The Fishers Arts Council is sponsoring the art display.

Below is a sample of some artwork on display:

Continue reading Reception Kicks-Off Black History Art Exhibit At Fishers City Hall →

The filing period for candidates ended at noon today (February 8th) and there will be several contested races in the Republican primary, including one for mayor.

As previously reported here, Logan Day filed his intention to run for Mayor of Fishers against incumbent Scott Fadness.  But there will be several other contested races.

Tom Grinslade will run in the GOP primary against incumbent Northeast District Council Member Brad DeReamer.

A Democrat filed for a council seat Friday…and will be unopposed in the primary.  Democrat Lane Skeeters will face incumbent Republican John Weingardt in the Northeast District general election.

Dan Henke is unopposed for Fishers City Judge.

City Council members with no primary opponents include Eric Moeller. Selina Stoller (following Mike Colby’s withdrawal), David George and John Weingardt.  George and Weingardt both have Democratic opponents in the fall general election.

Here is the final list of candidates filing for office after the filing deadline, per the Hamilton County Elections Office in Noblesville:

===========================

Mayor of Fishers
Logan Day (Republican) (2-8-19)
Scott Fadness (Republican) (2-1-19)

Fishers City Clerk
Jackie Bowen (Republican) (1-9-19)
Jennifer L. Kehl (Republican) (1-11-19)

Fishers City Judge
Daniel E. Henke (Republican) (1-10-19)

Fishers City Council, North Central 
Eric Moeller (Republican) (1-9-19)

Fishers City Council, Northeast 
Brad DeReamer (Republican) (1-9-19)
Tom Grinslade (Republican) (2-8-19)

Fishers City Council, Northwest 
Mike Colby (Republican) (1-9-19) – WITHDRAWN on 2-7-19
Selina Stoller (Republican) (1-17-19)

Fishers City Council, Southwest
David C. George (Republican) (1-9-19)
Adam Kaps (Democratic) (2-7-19)

Fishers City Council, Southeast
Paula Hughel (Republican) (2-6-19)
Pete Peterson (Republican) (1-14-19)

Fishers City Council, South Central
John W. Weingardt (Republican) (1-14-19)
Lane Skeeters (Democratic) (2-8-19)

Fishers City Council, At Large (vote for 3)
Rich Block (Republican) (1-17-19)
Cecilia Coble (Republican) (1-9-19)
Gurinder Singh (Republican) (2-6-19)
Todd Zimmerman (Republican) (1-9-19)
Jocelyn Vare (Democratic) (2-5-19)

The latest road construction update highlights two important projects local motorists should know.

First, lane restriction are coming to 146th Street and Allisonville Road, at the line between the Fishers and Noblesville city limits.  See the details below.

Also, the traffic signal at 131st Street & Allisonville Road will be down for one hour, 10am-11am, Wednesday, February 13th, as that intersection transitions to a new signal.  For that period of time, this intersection will be a three-way stop.  There will be people with flags helping traffic navigate the intersection during that time.  Avoiding the intersection during this work may be the best strategy.

Work continues on State Road 37 & Allisonville Road.

See the entire list, as provided by the City of Fishers, below:

=================

146TH STREET & ALLISONVILLE ROAD

131ST STREET & ALLISONVILLE ROAD
The traffic signal at 131st Street and Allisonville Road will be out of service on Wednesday, February 13 from 10 to 11 a.m. as we transfer the signal to the new service. This intersection will be treated as a four-way stop and flaggers will be onsite to direct traffic.

ALLISONVILLE ROAD 
Southbound and northbound traffic on Allisonville Road has moved onto the newly constructed pavement as part of Phase 3 of the project.This will be the traffic configuration moving into the spring of 2019. The posted speed limit will remain 30 mph.

For more info on this project, view the Fact Sheet.

STATE ROAD 37
Drainage work for SR37 is in progress. Construction vehicles will be using the construction entrance on Lantern Road, between 126th Street and 131st Street, and may cause some short delays. There are no scheduled lane restrictions or closures along SR37 at this time.

Logan Day has been very active on social media the past few weeks, behaving very much like a candidate for the mayor’s job in Fishers.  Mr. Day made all that official today as he filed his official paperwork at the Hamilton County just before the February 8th noon deadline.

That means there will be a contested Republican primary for mayor in Fishers for the first time since Fishers transformed from a town to a city, and there was a transition election for one-year terms in 2014.  In that first city election, there were six candidates for mayor.

In that 2014 balloting, Fadness had 46% of the votes cast in the GOP primary, defeating former Fishers Town Council President Walt Kelly, who had 42% of the vote.  All of the four other candidates were far behind those vote totals.

Logan Day’s Facebook post announcing his official candidacy cites what he describes as “transparent, responsible, strategic and sustainable leadership” in his campaign for the mayor’s office.

On his campaign Facebook page. Day posted a video of him talking along 116th Street, asking whether Fishers has become a “disposable community” with new developments planned for downtown.  He also appears to be critical of The Yard development, asking whether it is an example of “scope creep.”

Incumbent Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness announced his intention to run for re-election months ago and filed his official candidacy paperwork February 1st.

Hamilton County Commissioners looked south to Monroe County to find their choice heading-up the local 911 communications center.  Jeffrey Schemmer served as Communication Manager for the Monroe County Central Emergency Dispatch Center, according to my news-gathering partners at the Hamilton County Reporter.

Prior to his job in Monroe County, Schemmer served as training officer, public safety telecommunicator and as an EMT for Bloomington Hospital Services.

Schemmer is a member of the statewide 9-1-1 Board Training Standards Committee and serves as At-Large Vice President for the Indiana Chapter National Emergency Number Association.

Schemmer has received certifications from National Emergency Number Association as a Certified Manager and Association of Public Safety Communications Officials as a Certified Communications Training Officer.

He fills the county’s vacant Communication Director spot after Mike Snowden resigned to accept a position as City Administrator for the city of O’Fallon, Mo.

by

Richie Hall

Sports Editor 

Hamilton County Reporter

For the first time in 12 years, the Hamilton Southeastern girls basketball team is playing in a regional.

The Royals will travel to the Class 4A Kokomo regional on Saturday to play Fort Wayne Carroll in the day’s first game at 10 a.m. Zionsville and Homestead will play immediately afterwards in the second semi-final, with the championship game at 8 p.m.

So just how long is 12 years for Southeastern? The Royals won their last championship during the 2006-07 school year, during which this year’s seniors were in kindergarten. This year’s sectional title was the fourth in school history for Southeastern; the Royals also won in 1999, 2006 and 2007. Southeastern also won a regional title in 2006.

Fort Wayne Carroll comes into the regional after winning its third straight sectional championship. The Chargers had been having an up-and-down season, starting out 4-0, then losing four in a row late in the season. But Carroll stepped up in the DeKalb sectional, beating Snider 49-42, East Noble 52-32 and Northrop 61-48 to claim the program’s ninth sectional title.

The Royals played the Chargers earlier in the season, on Nov. 17, winning 62-22. Since then, Southeastern has rolled to a 23-1 record, with its only loss to Ryle, one of the top teams in Kentucky. The Royals then won their own sectional by beating Fishers 36-27 and Carmel 47-34.

Carroll is 14-10 for the season. The Chargers are led in scoring by sophomore Emily Parrett, who is averaging 12.9 points per game. Two junior players are chipping in over nine points per contest: Olivia Hoeppner is scoring 9.4 points per game and Malia Williams is averaging 9.3 per game. Williams is the team’s top 3-point shooter, making 38 triples out of 118 attempts for 32.2 percent.

Junior Audrey Freeland leads the rebounding with 4.2 per game and is also Carroll’s top shooter, making 49.5 percent of her field goals. Hoeppner has the most steals this season with 82 (3.6 per game) as well as the most assists with 78 (3.4 per game), and is the leading free throw shooter at 75.3 percent.

The Royals’ leading scorer is junior Sydney Parrish, a varsity player for HSE since her freshman year. The heavily-recruited Parrish is averaging 20.9 points per game and passed the 1,000-point mark for her career earlier in the season. Parrish leads the Royals in almost all the statistical categories: She is a 50.4 percent field goal and 39.4 percent 3-point shooter, is averaging 7.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

Southeastern’s senior class contains four four-year varsity players. Amaya Hamilton is averaging 12.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, while Malea Jackson scores 9.8 points per game and has made 41 3-pointers this season. Tayah Irvin is a strong presence on defense, and Molly Walton is able to contribute solid minutes as well. Both Irvin and Walton average 4.0 rebounds per game, with Irvin totaling 32 steals this season and Walton 31. Junior Jackie Maulucci scores 7.6 points per game, and sophomore Lydia Self is a rising star; she also averages 4.0 rebounds per game.

The second semi-final at Kokomo features two teams that made the state championship game in the past two years. Homestead won state in 2017, while Zionsville was the runner-up in 2018, falling to Warren Central.

The Eagles are 18-8 and won their own sectional, beating Lafayette Jefferson 78-60, Kokomo 67-28 and Harrison 62-26. Zionsville was instantly boosted by the return of senior Maddie Nolan, who had been injured for most of the season, but came back for the Eagles’ regular-season finale. Already in those four games, Nolan averaged 13.5 points.

Sophomore Katey Richason is scoring at a 13.7 points per game clip, with senior Delaney Richason adding 10.8 points. Katey Richason pulls 7.1 rebounds per game, and senior Megan Sheridan is averaging 7.0 per game.

Homestead is 24-3 for the season and also won its own sectional, defeating Fort Wayne Wayne 76-13 and Fort Wayne South Side 63-36. The Spartans recently were three-time regional champions, winning in 2015-16-17 and culminating in a state title in 2017, where they beat Pike 61-54.

Freshman Ayanna Patterson is already a 6-foot-3 force: She is averaging 12.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Senior Sylare Starks is scoring at an 11.1 points per game clip and hands out 4.0 assists. and junior Syndey Graber contributes 10.0 points and 6.2 rebounds.

There were two important developments in the Fishers City Election Thursday, the next-to-last day for filing as a candidate in this year’s municipal election.

First, Republican Mike Colby will not be challenging incumbent Northwest District Councilor Selina Stoller. Colby submitted his withdrawal from the race.  In a Facebook posting, Mr. Colby wrote he is pulling out of the race due to health concerns.  Please get better, Mike.

Second, a Democrat has filed to run in the Southwest Council District, the seat currently held by Republican David George.  Adam Kaps is on the primary ballot on the Democratic side.  Kaps is the second Democrat to file in the May primary election.  Joceyln Vare filed earlier this week for city council at-large.

Logan Day has been posting candidate videos and other items on his Logan Day for Mayor Facebook page, but has not formally filed to run for Mayor of Fishers as of the close of business Thursday at the Hamilton County Elections Office.  He and any other candidates have until noon Friday, February 7th, to file their candidacy and appear on the May primary ballot.

Here are the up-to-date filings in the Fishers city primary election as of Thursday:

==========================

Mayor of Fishers
Scott Fadness (Republican) (2-1-19)

Fishers City Clerk
Jackie Bowen (Republican) (1-9-19)
Jennifer L. Kehl (Republican) (1-11-19)

Fishers City Judge
Daniel E. Henke (Republican) (1-10-19)

Fishers City Council, North Central 
Eric Moeller (Republican) (1-9-19)

Fishers City Council, Northeast 
Brad DeReamer (Republican) (1-9-19)

Fishers City Council, Northwest 
Mike Colby (Republican) (1-9-19) – WITHDRAWN on 2-7-19
Selina Stoller (Republican) (1-17-19)

Fishers City Council, Southwest
David C. George (Republican) (1-9-19)
Adam Kaps (Democratic) (2-7-19)

Fishers City Council, Southeast 
Paula Hughel (Republican) (2-6-19)
Pete Peterson (Republican) (1-14-19)

Fishers City Council, South Central 
John W. Weingardt (Republican) (1-14-19)

Fishers City Council, At Large (vote for 3)
Rich Block (Republican) (1-17-19)
Cecilia Coble (Republican) (1-9-19)
Gurinder Singh (Republican) (2-6-19)
Todd Zimmerman (Republican) (1-9-19)
Jocelyn Vare (Democratic) (2-5-19)

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) 

The slating of candidates in a primary election is a subject that fails to catch the attention of many in the general public, but it is so important to the election of our public officials that it should not go unnoticed. Should political parties in Hamilton County slate?

Slating by the political parties can be controversial. Marion County parties held slating conventions over the past weekends. It involves a gathering of precinct committee members who vote a preference for one candidate for each office at stake in an upcoming election. The party organization then works to nominate the favored candidates in the primary.

There is no slating in Hamilton County. It was tried here a generation ago and received considerable backlash. Some of those slated won their primary contests, and some did not. It was not attempted again because of an outcry against it.

As cities and counties grow larger slating is more common because a smaller percentage of the voters know the candidates. The theory in favor of this practice involves the belief that folks within a party structure are better able to choose candidates who can win their respective races in the general election.

There is logic to this practice, but it gives political insiders great influence in the selection of our public officials. Often, a person not slated will drop out of the race, leaving voters fewer or sometimes no choices in the primary election.

In many areas voters still have a choice in the general election between Republican and Democratic candidates.

But, generally Hamilton County is a different situation. Traditionally, public officials are chosen in the Republican primary because the county is heavily Republican and, at the local level, the fall election simply makes the GOP candidates official.

So, voters get their real chance in the primary, and with the one exception 25 years ago, our local officials have chosen to keep the wide open primary where every candidate (at least in theory) has an equal chance to win.

It’s a good choice for Hamilton County.

As the deadline looms for candidates to file for the May municipal election primary, two more hopefuls have filed their paperwork to put their names on the ballot.

Two city council candidates, both Republicans, officially threw their hats in the 2019 ring.

Paula Hughel will be a Fishers City Council candidate in the Southeast District, taking on incumbent Pete Peterson.  Peterson has already filed his paperwork to run for re-election.

Gurinder Singh will run for a City Council at-large seat.  All three Republican incumbents – Rich Block, Cecilia Coble and Todd Zimmerman – have filed their paperwork for a re-election bid.  Tuesday, Democrat Jocelyn Vare filed her paperwork to run.  So far, Vare is the only Democrat to file candidacy in this year’s Fishers city election.

Here is a full rundown on all candidates that have officially filed to run in Fishers, as of the close of business Wednesday, February 6th, based on information provided by the Hamilton County Elections Office in Noblesville:

==============================

Mayor of Fishers (vote for 1)
Scott Fadness (Republican) (2-1-19)

Fishers City Clerk (vote for 1)
Jackie Bowen (Republican) (1-9-19)
Jennifer L. Kehl (Republican) (1-11-19)

Fishers City Judge (vote for 1)
Daniel E. Henke (Republican) (1-10-19)

Fishers City Council, North Central (vote for 1)
Eric Moeller (Republican) (1-9-19)

Fishers City Council, Northeast (vote for 1)
Brad DeReamer (Republican) (1-9-19)

Fishers City Council, Northwest (vote for 1)
Mike Colby (Republican) (1-9-19)
Selina Stoller (Republican) (1-17-19)

Fishers City Council, Southwest (vote for 1)
David C. George (Republican) (1-9-19)

Fishers City Council, Southeast (vote for 1)
Paula Hughel (Republican) (2-6-19)
Pete Peterson (Republican) (1-14-19)

Fishers City Council, South Central (vote for 1)
John W. Weingardt (Republican) (1-14-19)

Fishers City Council, At Large (vote for 3)
Rich Block (Republican) (1-17-19)
Cecilia Coble (Republican) (1-9-19)
Gurinder Singh (Republican) (2-6-19)
Todd Zimmerman (Republican) (1-9-19)
Jocelyn Vare (Democratic) (2-5-19)

=========================

The deadline for filing is Friday, February 8th, at noon.

The Fishers Plan Commission voted 8-1 Wednesday night , sending a neutral recommendation to the City Council on a  proposed text amendment to the city’s Unified Development Ordinance.  The proposal would require third-party inspections before a developer turns over common-area improvements contained in  housing developments to a Homeowners Association.  The no vote was cast by Plan Commission Member Brad DeReamer, who is also a Fishers City Councilor.

DeReamer had offered a motion to send a favorable recommendation to the city council for approval of the ordinance amendment, but the motion died after no Plan Commission member was willing to second his motion.

The “no recommendation” motion that was approved means the Plan Commission is taking no position on the proposal at this time.  Initially, Plan Commission Member Pete Peterson, who also serves on the city council, offered a motion to send an unfavorable recommendation to the city council, but at Plan Commission President Warren Harling’s suggestion, changed his motion to a “no recommendation.”   Harling argued this matter needs to be studied and perhaps would come back as an ordinance amendment if needed in the future.

Rich Block, a Plan Commission and city council member, voiced opposition to the proposal, saying he is hesitant to add another layer of government to the building process.  Peterson voiced the same argument.

DeReamer said he was elected to represent the people, and in his opinion, the citizens want this change, adding that the City of Carmel has already enacted such an ordinance.

Kate Collins, representing the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis (BAGI), said her group opposes this change because it puts government in the middle of private, contractual relationships.