Boombozz Pizza appears to have closed its Fishers location on 116th Street.  A post on the local Boombozz Facebook page says, “Hey Fishers- We Miss you already!” – then offers a discount at nearby Boobozz restaurants.

The City of Fishers says the zoning status of the property means a liquor store is allowed to occupy that building.  The Indianapolis Business Journal has reported a 21st Amendment Liquor Store will be taking over that space.

Ron Howard is the director.  Venessa Taylor, writer for The Shape of Water, wrote the screenplay.  Glenn Close and Amy Adams are cast members.  Does the film Hillbilly Elegy meet the high standards all these filmmakers have shown in the past?

Here is my review of the film Hillbilly Elegy.

It has been traditional for many years that the Tuesday following Thanksgiving is designated as Giving Tuesday.  It is a day when nonprofit organizations make a special appeal to spread holiday cheer their way.

The Hamilton Southeastern Schools Foundation is getting a head start with continuing their annual fund-raising campaign for Giving Tuesday.

Teachers in our local schools are toiling under some very tough working conditions during this pandemic and a gift to the foundation is a way of saying thanks.  The HSE Schools Foundation has been supporting teachers, students and the work they all do in classrooms (and, in this environment, also from home virtually).

This year’s campaign includes encouraging an “Sunselfie Sign” once you donate.

See below for the information from the foundation on how to participate Tuesday, December 1st:

STEP 1:  Make a donation online at www.hsefoundation.org

The Fishers Police Department expressed thanks to local residents willing to report suspicious activity in their neighborhoods quickly, because that led to three arrests connected to two burglary investigations.

The first occurred at The Hamilton Apartments (Hamilton Pass and Hoosier Road). A resident notified police after observing a suspicious car driving thru the apartment complex. While officers were searching the area, they observed a suspect inside a screened-in porch. The suspect refused commands from the officers and ran. Police chased the suspect and took him into custody. The suspect was later identified as Dwayne Chaney, 54, from Indianapolis.

The second incident occurred in the 9700 Block of April Rose Drive (96th Street and Cyntheanne Road). Like the prior incident, a resident immediately called 911 to report a suspicious person at their front door. As officers arrived, they observed the two suspects fleeing the area in a Honda passenger car. Officers pursued the suspects for a short distance before the Honda became disabled. The suspects were later identified as Gregory Gardner, 30, from North Vernon and Emily Parrish, 23, also from North Vernon.

The three suspects were taken into custody and transported to the Hamilton County Jail.  All three face several charges.

The Shop Fishers promotion for 2020 will start with Small Business Saturday on November 28, but will not end there.  About 65 local businesses will continue this promotion through the end of the year.  Stephanie Perry & Megan Baumgartner with the City of Fishers jointed me in this podcast.  Megan also talks about how local businesses are faring in general as part of her Economic Development job.

For more details on the 2020 Shop Fishers, use this link.   Listen to the podcast at the link below.

Whenever I start a conversation about COVID-19, I look to two sources – raw statistics and the analysis of public health & infectious disease experts that have devoted their lives to studying something like the novel coronavirus.  The numbers alone say a lot.

Let’s start with the numbers from the Fishers Health Department.  For those living within the city limits, 39 souls have died due to COVID.  Since the virus appeared on the scene last March – 3,490 in our city have tested positive.  Those numbers and many other metrics have placed our city in a red Level 4 status, the highest level of risk for COVID.

In the State of Indiana, more than 5,000 Hoosiers have died after contracting the virus.  The numbers state-wide are bad and getting worse.  Nationwide, more than a quarter of a million (250,00) Americans have died from COVID

I could cite lots of other numbers but it would just cause your head to spin.  However, here is one that I believe is important….more than 20,000 coronavirus tests have been conducted by the City of Fishers.  Another testing site is being opened aimed at students and staff at our local school district, Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools.

Mayor Scott Fadness absorbed a lot of criticism for creating a city health department, something only a handful of municipalities in Indiana have done.  It should be noted the City of Indianapolis extends its boundaries to the county line so the Marion County Health Department is essentially the City of Indianapolis health department.

A major reason Mayor Fadness created the department? –  there was no plan for testing and he felt at that time, and continues to believe, that availability of testing is key to the health of the population and to businesses located in Fishers.  Testing for residents of Fishers is offered for free and local businesses have access to testing for their staff for a fee.

To my knowledge, no local government in Indiana is offering a testing program as extensive as the Fishers program.  I do not agree with the critics of the mayor’s action.  I believe the testing program is an important ingredient in fighting this virus.

Now, let’s talk about the HSE Schools.  I recorded candidate podcasts for all 7 members of the current school board during their election campaigns.  I have not been able to attend school board meetings in person but have monitored all their meetings online since about April.

I know each member of that board wants to have every student back in their classrooms.  But each school board member also has a responsibility for the health and safety of students and staff.

The board voted last week to have all classes held virtually for all grade levels.  The reason this was necessary is that there are lots of teachers and other staff members either positive with COVID or have been exposed to someone testing positive and must quarantine for 14 days or more.

That has created a serious staffing problem for the local schools.  The number of available substitute teachers has dwindled dramatically since March.  Administrators at all levels had been handling classrooms left unstaffed.  Many teachers volunteered to staff a classroom during their preparation period.  In extreme cases, classes had to be combined, but that means students must be put closer together, bringing with that increased danger of spreading the virus.

This staffing issue is what caused HSE Schools to go all-virtual.  Classrooms must be staffed with an adult in charge.

Mayor Fadness sent out a blunt message soon after the school board meeting where all-virtual classes were approved.  In a podcast interview with me a few days later, he continued to stand by his statement but had regrets that not everyone interpreted his message in the way he claims it was intended.

As we enter the Thanksgiving holiday season, the public health experts are strongly recommending that families stay away from large gatherings as many have had in the past.  I am the oldest of six children and we traditionally have had a large celebration.  Adding up my brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, their children and some cousins sprinkled-in, we end up with quite a large party.  The Lannan family will not be doing that this year.  We will each have much smaller events, abiding by the experts’ advice.

I know we are not alone.  Contact tracing data from the Fishers Health Department show that in recent weeks, virus transmission has been happening mostly within homes & families, including events like weddings and birthday parties.

This is a case where we all must dig into our souls and determine the right thing to do under these extreme circumstance of a major pandemic.

Returning to the issue of schools, there is something leaders in this community can do.  This may already be happening but I have no inside information either way.

HSE Schools are in desperate need of substitute teachers in order to bring grades up to the 4th back into the classrooms, and bring back grades 5 & 6 back in-person 50% of the time.  Let’s start a program to encourage people in our community to become substitute teachers.

This is where the mayor can take a leadership position.  Perhaps the mayor could encourage those on the city payroll to volunteer a few days each month as a teaching sub.  Local employers could do the same.  Leaders in this community, service clubs and local nonprofit groups could be part of a campaign to recruit more substitute teachers.

I often hear local people ask what they can do to help the schools and here is a perfect example.  If you are not in a position to be a substitute teacher yourself, there is a good chance you know one or more people that would be in such a position.

As I have written before in this space, I contracted COVID-19.  I had symptoms.  That was not a pleasant experience, but I was lucky.  There were no hospital visits and even though I am in a high-risk group in more ways than one, at this point it appears I have made a full recovery.

My twin daughters are adults in their mid-20s now, but my wife Jane & I often talk about how hard it would be if our girls were in elementary school and we needed to support them in virtual learning.  I feel for all the parents dealing with that now.

I know the community is very divided on some of the COVID issues, particularly as it applies to the schools.  We have a major crisis.  I would argue we need to find enough common ground to come together as best we can to deal with the worst pandemic to hit the United States in 100 years.

I will be watching the Fishers community in the days and weeks to come.  Let’s agree to fight this virus and its local impact together.

Adam Aasen is away this weekend, so Alec Toombs & Larry Lannan handle the podcasting duties this week.

126th Street has been closed to east-west traffic at State Road 37 since late February, but as of November 19th, motorists are getting their first look at the newly-constructed interchange.  East-west vehicles will cross SR 37 on an elevated roundabout.  State Road 37 traffic heading north and south will not be impeded at 126th Street as an underpass has been constructed underneath that roundabout.

This is the first phase of the massive State Road 37 project in Fishers.  There is much left to be done.  Construction has already begun at 146th Street at SR 37 and that work is projected to continue well into 2022.  Bids will be let on the reconstruction of 131st Street & ST 37 within a month or two, with work expected to begin next year.  The design phase for the SR 37 & 141st Street interchange should be completed soon, with bids expected to be opened in about one year from now.

The project is over budget.  Mayor Scott Fadness insists the city can fund the project shortfall by borrowing once a municipal bond is paid-off in 2024, therefore not impacting the city’s property tax rate.

There was not a traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony in lieu of the COVID-19 pandemic.  There was a caravan of vehicles that opened up the road officially Thursday, with the first vehicle driving through the ribbon.

“It’s rewarding to see the hard work that has been done thus far and the magnitude of the improvements on SR 37 at this stage,” says Scott Fadness, Mayor of Fishers, in a city news release. “This section will reduce congestion and streamline traffic flow, providing a safe intersection for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.”

State Road 37 will continue to be open during all remaining phases of construction, with two northbound and two southbound lanes open during each phase. There will be closures on side roads with alternative routes always accessible. All interchanges within this improvement project are scheduled to be complete in 2023

“We appreciate the patience and adaptability of our local businesses and the community at large,” said Mark Heirbrandt, Hamilton County Commissioner.  “A project of this size disrupts our day-to-day, but its positive impact will be felt by all of us for years to come.”

The City of Fishers, City of Noblesville, Hamilton County, and INDOT are working together to improve the accessibility of SR37 for local businesses, residents, and those driving into the city.

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

The membership of the Hamilton County Bicentennial Commission has been established with one member from each of the county’s nine townships, according to Brenda Myers, director of county tourism, who will lend support to the commission.

Chairing the commission will be Jessica Petty, who also serves as president of the county historical society. Co-chairs are Kathy Williams and Kent Ward.

The commission is charged with developing a bicentennial celebration in the year 2023. The county was organized in 1823 after the Indiana General Assembly created the county and established its boundaries.

The county was named for Alexander Hamilton, considered one of the nation’s ‘founding fathers’ and a Revolutionary War hero. Originally the county was larger in area, including the southern half of what is now Tipton County.

The Bicentennial Commission will meet in December to review a charter and goals for the celebration. The charter will be adopted by county commissioners.

Township members of the commission are: Ron Stone, Adams Township; Debbie Gangstad, Clay Township; Rick Fain, Delaware Township; Diane Whelchel, Fall Creek Township; Nicole Duncan, Jackson Township; Dottie Young, Noblesville Township; Diane Nevitt, Wayne Township and Jamie Rulon, White River Township.

County Historian Dave Heighway will serve as an ex-officio member.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness issued a statement Tuesday critical of the decision by the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board to have all grade levels go to virtual classes beginning November 19 through at least December 4.  The mayor tells me in a podcast interview recorded Wednesday, November 18,  that he stands by that statement, but has one regret.

“People, I think, read more into that statement than probably was there, but I stand by it,” said the mayor in the LarryInFishers.com podcast episode. ”Obviously, right now, things are emotionally charged, people took (the statement) and ran with it.  I regret that aspect of it.”

The city will provide any resources it can provide to support getting HSE students back into classrooms, according to the mayor.

Mayor Fadness talked about that, more COID-19 issues, the Interrupting Racism program, the State 37 construction project and more in this podcast interview.

There were a few audio glitches that happen sometimes in Zoom connections, so please be aware, but you should be able to hear most of the interview with no problems.