Hamilton County Reporter

Chris Huppenthal received a big honor from the National Federation of High School Associations this week: The Hamilton Southeastern girls basketball coach was selected as the 2018-19 Indiana Girls Basketball Coach of the Year.

Huppenthal coached the Royals toc the school’s first ever girls basketball state championship during the 2018-19 season, a year when Southeastern finished with a 27-1 record. Huppenthal has been the coach at HSE for 15 years, with a record of 267-78.

Huppenthal also coached the Royals to back-toback sectional titles in 2006 and 2007,
and a regional title in 2006.

“Not only did his teams winning streak catch their attention, but his school and community involvement and coaching philosophy,” said a news release on the hseroyalsathletics.com
website. “Congratulations to Coach Huppenthal for making such an impact on Hamilton Southeastern High School Athletics as well as our community.”

Huppenthal also coached for one season at Kokomo (winning a regional title) and eight seasons at his alma mater, Highland, where he won four regional titles. His overall record is 442-116.

Hamilton County Reporter

Hamilton Southeastern’s Sydney Parrish was selected to the prestigious 2020 McDonald’s All American Game on Thursday.

Parrish, a 6-foot-1 senior guard, was named alongside 23 other top girls high school players from across the United States. She is set to attend the University of Oregon next season.

Parrish is one of five Oregon commits to receive McDonald’s All American honors.

Parrish has been a force on the Royals team since her very first game as a freshman. She helped Southeastern to its first-ever girls basketball state championship last season as a junior, scoring 30 points in the Class 4A state championship game. She is currently the second-leading all-time Hamilton County girls scorer with 1,812 points, behind Noblesville’s Courtney Cox, who holds the record of 1,869 points. This season, Parrish is averaging 25.3 points per game, and has a career average of 19.5 points
per contest.

Parrish is the third Hamilton Southeastern player to be named as a McDonald’s All American. She follows Taya Reimer in 2013 and Gary Harris in 2012. Parrish is also
the fourth Hamilton County player to receive this honor; Carmel’s Josh McRoberts was the first in 2005. Parrish is the only Indiana player among either the girls or boys
rosters.

A number of notable basketball players have also donned the McDonald’s All American jersey. The list includes Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, James Harden, Candace Parker, Maya Moore, Elena
Delle Donne, Skylar Diggins and Breanna Stewart.

The McDonald’s All American Games will take place Wednesday, April 1 from Houston’s Toyota Center. The 19th annual girls game tips off at 5 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN2. The 43rd annual boys game follows at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN.

Tickets are now available through the Toyota Center box office.

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

Here is some good news for most Hamilton County property taxpayers. The county auditor’s office has released tax rates that are slightly lower this year than last.

Despite increased budgets in most taxing units, rates are down a little thanks to the expanding tax base that includes vast amounts of new construction and a trending upwards in assessments of some existing properties.

“Trending” is a term used by assessors which is designed to reflect increased value of existing properties. This process can cause an individual taxpayer to get a slightly higher tax bill even if his or her taxing unit has a slightly lower tax rate.

But, overall in 14 of the county’s 17 municipalities and unincorporated township areas, taxes are going down, slightly as they may be. The largest decrease in rates are found in Washington Township outside Westfield, down 8.65 percent. The smallest decrease is found in Delaware Township at 0.89 of a percent.

In only three taxing units are rates up. In Arcadia the rate is up 1.28 percent due largely to a shrinking tax base. In Carmel the rate is up just short of 1 percent largely due to an approved school referendum. And, in Fishers there is a tiny 0.13 of 1 percent increase.

So, after the increases and decreases, Sheridan residents will pay the county’s highest tax rate at $3.19 per hundred dollars of assessed value. That is more than 1 percent lower than last year. Unincorporated White River Township will pay the lowest rate at $1.50 per hundred, down nearly 2 percent.

Deputy Auditor Lee Graham prepared the information showing increases and decreases in rates this year. She also created a full matrix of this year’s rates showing the tax rates for corporate, school, township, library and county rates, which together creates the total tax rate.

This breakdown appears in a legal notice in this week’s print edition of the Hamilton County Reporter.

Judge Steve Nation had served Hamilton County for many years when he decided not to seek another term as a local judge.  After 4 terms as prosecutor and 4 terms as a county judge, Nation has decided to run as a public servant once again by announcing his candidacy for an at-large seat on the Hamilton County Council.

“It’s always been my duty to do two things — protect people and help people reach their highest potential,” said Judge Nation in a news release announcing his candidacy.  “I’ll continue to do this by serving as a Hamilton County councilor.”

Even after leaving the bench as a judge, Nation has remained active in the local community.  He helped start the county’s Youth Assistance Program (YAP), including the Fishers YAP.

Judge Nation joins a crowded field of Republican candidates in the May 5th primary election for County Council.  Incumbents Rick McKinney, Brad Beaver and Jeff Hern have filed for re-election.  Nation joins one other challenger for a county council seat, Sue Maki from Carmel.  The three candidates with the most votes in the primary election will be GOP candidates in the November 3rd general election.

There is still time for others to file their candidacy.  The filing deadline is noon, Tuesday, February 4th.

Commissioner Steve Dillinger tried to tell a story in the annual State Of The County address, talking about what he described as the story of the community that is Hamilton County.

According to my news-gathering partner, the Hamilton County Reporter, over 400 people attended the Noblesville Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Embassy Suites Wednesday.

“This isn’t a speech, it’s a story with a beginning, middle and end,” Dillinger said. “It’s important for the community to see what we’ve accomplished in the past year, what we’re still working on in the new year, and what we’re planning for the future. Hamilton County is constantly evolving.”

Dillinger cited numbers on local tourism, such as the $820 million in visitor spending during 2019, the 1.5 million hotel rooms occupied to more than 4 million people.  He pointed out the Nickel Plate Express as a tourist draw, with more than 25,000 passengers last year.

Dillinger spent time during the speech to provide updates on the Hamilton County Government Center, the jail expansion project and the solar energy effort.  He says county government saved $810,000 using solar power in 2019 and projects $25.6 million in savings in the coming 25 years.

Specific construction projects were mentioned by Commissioner Dillinger, including the completion of the Logan Street Bridge in Noblesville, the Lowe’s Way expansion in Carmel and the reconstruction of State Road 37 within Fishers and Noblesville.

by

Richie Hall

Sports Editor

Hamilton County Reporter

Before a top 10 and all-county girls basketball clash with Carmel Tuesday night, Tigers coach Lauren Votaw had a challenge for her team.

“We haven’t come out and started well in the last few games and I really
challenged our kids to make tonight different,” said Votaw.

Challenge accepted. Fishers was up to the task big time: The Tigers got off to
a tremendous start, held off runs by the Greyhounds in the middle of the game,
then finished strong to score a 65-44 win at the Tiger Den, ending Carmel’s ninegame win streak.

The game became a top 10 matchup when this week’s Class 4A coaches poll came out, with Fishers ranked No. 4 and Carmel tied for ninth with North Central.

The Tigers had played the Panthers on Jan. 11, with North Central handing Fishers its only loss of the year, and the lessons of that game came up in Tuesday’s contest.

“We talked about the fact that when we faced adversity against North Central,
we struggled a little bit,” said Votaw. “We struggled in the face of adversity, and so
I was proud of them for when those runs came at us, they stayed together and they
fought together.”

Fishers ran away with the first quarter, leading 22-7 by the end of the period. Six different players scored for the Tigers, including seven points for Tamia Perryman and five for Audra Emmerson.

Both players included a 3-pointer in their first-quarter totals.

Carmel began to make a run in the second period, eventually cutting Fishers’ lead to 25-20 with 2:20 to go. Kate Clarke and Bridget Dunn each had five points, with both making a 3. But Perryman stepped up for the Tigers in the final minute of the half, nailing two triples to
give Fishers a 33-24 lead at the break.

The Greyhounds came out lightning fast in the third quarter, scoring three points in the first 19 seconds on a Dunn steal and a free throw from Kiara Gill.

Fishers took a timeout, then responded with a 6-0 run. Perryman started it with
a layin, Hailey Smith scored off a steal and Katie Burton’s layin made the score
39-27.

Carmel went on one more run, scoring eight unanswered points to get within 39-35. Dunn drained a 3 before making a putback, and Gill hit a 3-pointer. But Fishers held off that run as well, getting the last five points of the period to lead 44-35 after three.

Clarke opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer, putting Carmel within 44-38.
But after that, it was all Fishers. Burton nailed a 3 to get the Tigers’ lead back to
49-39. Clarke answered with a jumper, but Fishers took care of business after
that, outscoring the ‘Hounds 16-3. Burton added eight more points during that
run.

Votaw was happy with her team’s energy and communication on the defensive end.

“I was just really proud of our kids and how they weathered the storms, because they put a lot of runs on us,” said Votaw. “It felt like a lot of runs. And our kids weathered the storm. They stayed together. They stayed tough. I was just really proud of them.”

Perryman finished the game with 21 points, including three 3-pointers, while
Burton scored 18. Perryman collected five rebounds, while Smith had four
steals.

Dunn led Carmel’s scoring with 19 points, also hitting three 3s. Clarke scored 12 points.

“Fishers is such a good team and they really expose some of your weaknesses and they did a great job defensively on us in limiting our movement and the things that we can do,” said Greyhounds coach Erin Trimpe. “So it’s a lot of credit to them and it just shows us what we need to get back to work on.”

The Tigers are 18-1 for the season. Fishers will play another home game Saturday afternoon, taking on Avon in a Hoosier Crossroads Conference game.

The Tigers are on top of the conference standings with a 5-0 record.

“Our kids have done a really good job of buying in to the ‘one game at a time’
mentality,” said Votaw. “And as a staff, that’s what we try to do. The next game
is the only one that matters. So we’re really trying to focus in right now on coming back tomorrow and getting ready for Avon.”

Carmel is 12-7 and also plays a conference game for its next contest. The Greyhounds play at Pike Friday in a Metropolitan Conference game.

“We’ll get back into the gym tomorrow and work on some stuff and hopefully improve on what we saw tonight,” said Trimpe.

Hamilton County Reporter

In a re-match of last year’s Class 4A state championship game, Hamilton
Southeastern beat Lawrence North 49-43 Tuesday night at the Wildcats’ gym.

The game was close throughout, although the No. 6 Royals were able to
hold leads on No. 5 LN after the first quarter (9-7) and at halftime (22-20).

The Wildcats tied the game at 31-31 after three quarters, but Southeastern was able
to pull away at the end.

Jackie Maulucci scored 24 points for the Royals. Sydney Parrish had 10 points
and Makayla Hinshaw scored nine points.

Southeastern is 18-2 for the season and hosts Zionsville Friday in a girls-boys Hoosier Crossroads Conference doubleheader.

Some were newly elected, most were re-elected, but all elected Fishers city officials were sworn into office Tuesday evening, before the regular city council meeting.  It is a special occasion to celebrate for those serving in local elective office.

Mayor Scott Fadness was sworn-in for another term, along with City Clerk Jennifer Kehl and all city council members.  City Judge Dan Henke handled the oath of office duties.

It was a very special night for two specific council members.  For the first time in anyone’s memory, Democrats were elected.  Sam DeLong and Jocelyn Vare both were sworn-into office as new council members.  That made some Fishers history.

Mayor Scott Fadness called it an “historic day” for Fishers as Councilwoman Cecilia Coble took the gavel after being unanimously elected as city council president for 2020.  Fadness says even the old town council never had a female president, making this decision even more historic.

Selina Stoller was elected Council Vice President, also by a unanimous vote.

In other council actions at the Tuesday session:

—Appointments to boards and commissions were approved.  Todd Zimmerman will join the Fishers Plan Commission and David George will take a seat on the Finance Committee.  In a separate action, Jocelyn Vare was appointed to the council’s Nonprofit Committee.

–After two years of having the Fishers Plan Commission get first review of proposals, the council voted to go back to having council members go through first reading on developments and other items before sending the item to the Plan Commission.  Planning and Zoning Director Tony Bagato said this will give the Plan Commission an idea of how the council views the project before the public hearing.

–Two project tax abatement items received final council approval.  New commercial projects on Sunlight Drive and Amp West (near the Nickel Plate Amphitheater) were both passed.

–A proposal on nonresidential open spaces, already passed with a favorable recommendation from the Plan Commission, was amended by council vote, meaning the provision will return to the Plan Commission for more consideration.

–The former Ram Restaurant site near 126th Street and State Road 37 is being eyed as an office building, but the setback standards may not be met due to construction on State Road 37, so the council approved a change in the setback rule for that property.

–Jamie Burrows and Duane Reddick were honored for 20 years of service to the Fishers Fire Department.  Dave Seward was recognized for 25 years of service to the Fishers Police Department.

–During the community comment period, a contractor for the city storm water operation asked to be considered for becoming a city employee and Mayor Fadness promised to look into it.  Former Town Council Member Mike Colby asked when the city will announce the street repaving list, because he is concerned about a particular piece of roadway in the River Glen neighborhood.  Fadness said the listing should be available online soon.

–This was the first council session for two new council members, both Democrats, Jocelyn Vare and Sam DeLong.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Lee Buckingham announces his police “officers of the year” each year at about this time.  Two Fishers officers received the honor this time around.  They are Dave Finn and Jarred Koopman.

Detective Finn is a Marine Corps veteran, serving there for 5 years.  He joined the Fishers department in 2007, serving as a road officer before becoming an investigator.  “Detective Finn distinguished himself with genuine compassion toward the victims in the cases he investigates and with balanced attention to all cases, regardless of the overall seriousness of the allegations,” said Buckingham in a news release.

Road Officer Koopman has been in the news recently, as his K-9 partner Harlej died pursuing a suspect during November of 2019 in the Saxony area. Harlej became part of the Fishers Police force in 2015, with officer Koopman as his handler.  “Officer Koopman and Harlej worked tirelessly over the years and helped to take quantities of drugs, large and small, off of our county’s streets,” Prosecutor Buckingham said.

Buckingham also recognized Detective Mike Haskett of the Noblesville Police Department as a third Officer of the Year.

This year proved a particularly difficult year in which to choose the Officers of the Year, according to Buckingham, due to the large number of potential candidates.