Rich Block is serving his first stint as Fishers City Council President in 2019, but he has served nearly 5 years on the council   He talked about his re-election campaign in this podcast.

Cecilia Coble has served on the Fishers City Council since the town transitioned to a city in 2015.  She is seeking another 4-year term on the council.  Here is my podcast interview with Cecilia Coble

When Mike Reuter started his new job as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) with Hamilton Southeastern Schools in 1994, the local school corporation was a fraction of what it is today.  Mike Reuter has been the man guiding Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools through a thicket of state funding formula complexity, managing the growing schools system’s finances.

The HSE School District is now the fourth largest in the state and Mike Reuter was along for the long ride of all that student expansion.

HSE Schools Superintendent Allen Bourff announced at Wednesday night’s school board meeting that Mike Reuter plans to retire at the end of calendar year 2019.  Mike told LarryInFishers after the meeting he plans to expand his already busy operation of being a consultant to a variety of government entities on financial matters.  He has done tax revenue analysis and projections for the City of Fishers.

Congratulations, Mike Reuter, for the many years of service to our local schools.  But, don’t forget, you are still at HSE Schools for about nine more months!

When a team of students receives recognition by the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board, you know the audience seats will be packed.  Wednesday night, you could multiply that number by three.

That’s right, three different academic teams were before the board to talk about their work created a standing-room-only crowd as the board session began.  The teams include:

–The Sand Creek Intermediate 2018 Elementary Spell Bowl Winners

–Hamilton Southeastern Intermediate Junior High School 2019 Elementary
Science Bowl Winners

–Riverside Intermediate 2019 Elementary M.A.T.H. Bowl Winners

All three squads were state champions.

Pickleball fans in Fishers were excited when the first four Pickleball courts were opened at Cyntheanne Park on the northeast side of the city in late July of 2015.  There was a big ceremony and Mayor Scott Fadness played a round or two of Pickleball.  Many of those attending that opening event were from the nearby Britton Falls neighborhood.

Fast forward to 2018 and Pickleball fans were before the city again.  There was such a demand for the Pickleball courts at Cyntheanne Park, only a few of the people wanting to use the courts could get time to play.  Pickleball lovers were before the city wanting more courts constructed.

Mayor Fadness said there was money in the budget to fund two more courts, but not enough to pay for the four additional courts residents were requesting.

Then local entrepreneur Steve Cage entered the picture.  An avid Pickleballer himself, Cage offered to donate $63,000 for the two additional courts.

As a result of that donation, all eight Pickleball courts at Cyntheanne Park are named “Cage Pickleball.”  Now, the opening of the new courts will be celebrated with a new tournament

The grand opening of the new Cage Pickleball Challenge Courts will be marked with a new Pickleball Tournament, which is expected to become an annual event.  Tournament activity begins on Friday, April 26, 4-8pm, and extends to the following day, Saturday, April 27, 8am-4pm.

Registration is $25 per player (NOTE: this tournament is not USAPA sanctioned). Spectators are welcome and are free to attend.

Register at this link.

Hamilton County Reporter

Greenaway to arresting officers: “I have been set up”

Greenaway

On Monday, Hamilton County Superior Court 2 Magistrate William Greenaway was charged with three Level 6 felonies. According to court documents, Greenaway was the focus of a four-month narcotics investigation conducted by officers from the Indiana State Police.

A probable cause affidavit states the following:

On Nov. 4, 2018, two Indiana State Police investigators and a Noblesville police officer met with a confidential informant who provided information concerning a Hamilton County magistrate using methamphetamine.

The informant identified William Greenaway as the magistrate, and that Greenaway was dating a female who had previously purchased methamphetamine from the informant. The informant also told investigators William Greenaway used methamphetamine with his (Greenaway’s) girlfriend and was observed using methamphetamine by the informant.

In February, another informant, told detectives she had a personal relationship with Greenaway and had observed him use meth on several occasions. The same informant also told police she had purchased and orchestrated meth transactions on behalf of Greenaway in the past, and that Greenaway used a code word, “Coffee,” when discussing meth.

Then on March 20, with the help of the second informant, police conducted a money transaction from Greenaway for the anticipated purchase of meth.

Court documents indicate Greenaway gave the informant $140 in exchange for 2.5 grams of meth that would be delivered later in the day.

The informant then met with Greenaway in the parking lot of the Noblesville Goodwill Store to deliver the methamphetamine.

Police officers conducting a surveillance then attempted to arrest Greenaway. Reports indicate Greenaway allegedly swallowed the meth and bit a State Police officer’s thumb during the arrest. Because Greenaway swallowed the drugs, he was transported to the hospital where he told police officers he was “set up.”

Greenaway explained to officers that the female (informant) told him to hold something as the police were running up to his vehicle. Greenaway told officers he panicked and swallowed it, describing a white crystal substance in a small plastic baggie.

During a search of Greenaway’s jacket police found court documents that pertained to the arrest of another individual that reportedly was a previous source of meth for Greenaway. Police did not indicate if that individual had been charged in Superior Court 2, the court Greenaway serves as magistrate.

Greenaway was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, Resisting Law Enforcement and Obstruction of Justice. Hamilton County Jail records do not indicate Greenaway has been booked in. Court records do not indicate if a bond was set or the amount.

McCann

McCann chosen to serve as Special Prosecutor

On Monday, the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office requested Superior Court 5 Judge David Najjar assign a Special Prosecutor to the William Greenway narcotics case.

Howard County Prosecutor Mark McCann was selected as the Special Prosecutor.

McCann has served as Howard County’s Prosecutor since 2010 and prior to that he served as the county’s chief deputy prosecutor for 16 years.

Lett

Tipton County Judge issues order on Greenaway’s incarceration

On Tuesday, following an order issued by Hamilton County Superior Court 5 Judge David Najjar to recuse himself from the William Greenaway case, Tipton County Judge Thomas Lett issued an order to law enforcement officers to transport William Greenaway to the Hamilton County Jail upon Greenaway’s release from Community Hospital.

In addition, Lett’s order requires Greenaway’s release from jail to be subject to the following conditions:

1. Greenaway shall appear in Court at all times required by the Court;
2. Greenaway shall not leave the State of Indiana without the prior written consent of the Court;
3. Greenaway shall not commit nor be arrested for another criminal offense;
4. Greenaway shall keep his attorney and the Court advised in writing of any change of address within 24 hours of such change; and
5. Greenaway shall comply with any other condition ordered by the Court, including the Defendant shall comply with the mandates of any treatment, including that directed by mental health professionals affiliated with Community North Hospital.

With spring comes road construction, and the City of Fishers is preparing for two road closures in the coming weeks.  City officials shared some of the plans with LarryInFishers late Tuesday afternoon.

First, 126th Street will be the focus of a closure tied to the construction of a roundabout.  The entrance to Reynolds Drive, the road that takes you to Reynolds Farm Equipment from 126th Street, is being moved a bit east to Parkside Drive, where a roundabout is to be built.  The city will be closing off the median with a raised concrete curb at the intersection of 126th Street and Enterprise Drive/Reynolds Drive. Left turns in this area will be forced to the roundabout as a safety measure.

The city has previously announced 126th Street between State Road 37 and Cumberland Road will be closed from Tuesday, April 2 through Friday, April 5 for storm sewer installation across 126th Street. Middleton Place will still have access from the east.

For the rest of the project, 126th Street will remain open, but reduced to one lane in each direction. Parkside Drive at 126th Street will be closed during the construction of the north side of the roundabout.  The exact closure dates are still being determined.

This project will cost $1.7 million….90% of the cost is being picked up by the federal government, and 10% is funded by the City of Fishers.

Second, The 4-way stop at 136th Street and Cyntheanne Road is to be transformed into a one-lane roundabout, with the new construction designed to allow a two-lane roundabout intersection in the future if needed.  Work will include pavement removal and replacement, the installation of crosswalks for pedestrian traffic in all directions and new lighting.  The city’s goal is to increase traffic capacity and improve the safety of the intersection for both motorists and pedestrians.

City crews plan to close the intersection for 45 days beginning in July.  This is dependent on weather and utility relocation completion.

The price tag on this work is estimated at $1.5 million,  80% from federal money and 20% from local funds.

When the Town of Fishers last widened 116th Street, it was 1997.  22 years later, with major development set for construction in the downtown area, the Fishers Board of Works and Public Safety gave city engineers the go-ahead to move forward on the widening, which will create left-turn lanes between Municipal Drive and Commercial Drive.  The city and the contractor, A&F Engineering, will continue with the widening plans, with the blessing of the Board of Works.  Construction on the 116th Street turn lanes is not expected to begin until fall of this year, at the earliest.  For the engineer’s drawing on where the left-turn lanes would be located, use this link.

In other actions taken at the Monday board meeting, all the following items were approved:

–A 4-way stop at Traymoore Drive and Luxor Chase

–Fire protection service agreement between the City of Fishers and both Fall Creek and Delaware Townships.

–$183,168.62 of landscaping, encompassing the 116th Street medians on each side of I-69 that will receive shrubbery, perennials, and flowers to match the existing street medians along 116th Street.  The city has also identified 6 median tips along Allisonville Road from just south of Easy Street to just north of Sunblest Boulevard that will receive summer and fall flowers to match the existing color palate as well.

–Vendors set to participate in this year’s Fishers Farmers Markets

–$35,000 was authorized for an Auto Vehicle Locator contract with AT&T

–A $5.18 million bid was approved for reconstruction of South Street downtown

–2 design contracts for the Geist Greenway

–A curb cut for right-in/right-out access to 116th Street for the Stations project, located near The Yard and the nearby Kroger store.

Liberty Plaza

The City of Fishers will celebrate National Vietnam War Veterans Day at 11am, March 29th, at Liberty Plaza, just south of City Hall.

This is part of the 50^th anniversary of the Vietnam War. The program will honor veterans and their families who served during the Vietnam War period and will include a Vietnam Veteran’s lapel pin presentation. Program speakers include City of Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness; Commander El Ahlwardt; U.S. Navy Retired; Kyle Fisher, American Legion 470 Commander; and Hospital Corpsman Second Class George Stavropoulos, U.S. Navy.  Music will be provided by the White River Brass Troupe.

As part of an ongoing initiative by the City of Fishers in partnership with the Fishers Parks Foundation, engraved pavers are available for purchase and installation at Liberty Plaza in honor of a service member.

Veterans and active service personnel are encouraged to sign up to receive notices of these events and other opportunities throughout the year.

To RSVP for the event and to learn more about programs for veterans at the City of Fishers, please visit playfishers.com/fishershonors. To learn more about the Commemoration, please visit VietnamWar50th.com