by

Richie Hall

Sports Editor

Hamilton County Reporter

FISHERS – Even during a basketball season with fan restrictions, quarantines and interrupted schedules, some things aren’t changing.

A good example of this is the Mudsock boys basketball game, which took place Friday when Hamilton Southeastern visited Fishers. While some things were different, such as a drastically reduced crowd at the Tiger Den due to those restrictions, the emotion of the game was still the same.

The Royals rode that emotion into a big win. Despite being down for a good portion of the first half, Southeastern turned things around by the second quarter and went on to a 65-51 victory over the Class 4A No. 10 Tigers.

“That was the biggest thing that we keep harping on with our guys: The way that we were resilient, kept fighting back and never give up,” said Royals coach Brian Satterfield. “The one thing that we love about our kids, they get out there and they compete every day.”

Fishers hadn’t played a game since Dec. 1, but showed no signs of rust in the first quarter. The Tigers skipped off to an 11-2 lead; HSE’s Vinny Buccilla scored the first basket of the game before Fishers ran off 11 straight points. Lucas Prewitt hit a 3-pointers, Jeffrey Simmons and Bryce Williams both made three-point plays, then Simmons scored again on a layin.

Simmons then nailed two more triples in the latter part of the quarter, helping the Tigers to a 21-11 lead. Buccilla made a pair of free throws and Alex Totton scored the last basket of the period to get HSE within 21-15, then Loudon Sundling opened the second with a layin.

Williams made a rare four-point play, making the free throw while being fouled in the act of hitting a 3-pointer, early in the second quarter. Simmons made two foul shots a minute later, and Fishers led 29-19.

That’s when the Royals made their first big run, a 13-0 stretch to take a 32-31 lead with under three minutes remaining in the half. Isaac Bowman drained a pair of 3s, and Buccilla added five points.

Southeastern then hung on to the lead until halftime, which saw the Royals ahead 38-36. Williams hit a 3-pointer to keep the Tigers within two.

“They came out and they were outhustling and winning those 50/50 balls early on and that’s what allowed them to get that lead,” said Satterfield. “They were moving the basketball and hitting the open look. I think after that, especially in that second quarter, we started winning those 50/50 balls, were getting the rebounds.”

Fishers’ Drew Turner opened the second half with a putback to tie the game at 38-38. But Southeastern embarked on another run, this one a 15-3 run that took up most of the third quarter. Buccilla had six points during that stretch, and Sam Jacobs threw in a 3.

A basket by John McCall finished the period and gave the Royals a 55-44 lead heading into the fourth. McCall scored the first point of that quarter on a free throw, and from that point forward, HSE kept its lead between 12 and 16 points. Jacobs added six more points and Dalton Retzner made a dunk.

Buccilla led the Royals with 18 points, while Totton, Jacobs and McCall each scored 11. Buccilla handed out eight assists and collected six rebounds, with Totton pulling five rebounds and making four steals. Jacobs blocked two shots.

Simmons scored 20 points for the Tigers, followed by Williams with 14. Simmons led the rebounding with eight, Charlie Smith collected six and Lucas Prewitt had five. Simmons made six steals and Prewitt had two blocks.

“For the first time all year, we got a team that could play with us that, we punched them in the mouth first, got a big lead, but with good teams, there’s always going to be another run,” said Tigers coach Garrett Winegar. “They’re going to come back. And we didn’t respond to that well. I thought the emotion of the HSE game, of the Mudsock game, got the better of a lot of our guys.”

Southeastern improved to 3-2 and will host Brebeuf Jesuit on Tuesday. Fishers is
2-1 and also plays on Tuesday, traveling to Lawrence North.

The Hamilton County Health Officer and the Hamilton County Health Board have announced the passing of Barry McNulty, Administrator of the Hamilton County Health Department, according to my news-gathering partner, the Hamilton County Reporter.

McNulty started serving as an Environmental Health Specialist on Oct. 2, 1987, and became the department administrator in 1996. He was a Registered Environmental Health Specialist and served Hamilton County  on numerous advisory boards and associations during his tenure.

Mr. McNulty served the county in a leadership position for 33 years.

Hamilton County Reporter

Preparing for the worst and hoping for the best” is the Hamilton County Highway Department’s annual mantra.

Planning for winter operations begins in the spring of each year. Hamilton County coordinates roadway salt procurement for the county as well as all the municipalities within the county. This special salt, distinguished by its green color, is treated to enhance its colder weather melting capability.

“The County Highway Department will use approximately 6,000 tons of salt per winter to treat nearly 1,200 miles of roadway and bridges in the unincorporated areas of the county,” said Highway Director Brad Davis. “All trucks also maintain a capability to dispense liquid de-icing chemicals to assist with combating snow and ice in much colder temperatures when salt is less effective.”

At approximately $93 per ton, the County does all it can to minimize the amount of salt required. Its fleet of snow trucks has electronic ground speed controls calibrated to maintain a predetermined salt application rate regardless of the trucks’ speed. Hamilton County also uses salt brine as part of an anti-icing program to help keep snow and ice from bonding to the pavement, help prevent frost on bridges, and allow for a much easier post storm cleanup.

“The Highway Department should also be commended for the phenomenal job it does in inspecting and maintaining its snow-fighting fleet,” said County Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt. “That fleet includes 14 snow trucks, two V-plows, pickup trucks, brine making equipment, and liquid storage tank pumps. Good maintenance not only extends the life of the equipment, but it ensures nothing breaks down during a snow event.”

The Highway Department is also prepared to maintain a 24-hour operation if necessary. County Councilman Steve Schwartz says additional CDL and non-CDL certified drivers are hired annually to supplement the normal highway staff.

“They may be called upon to drive the large snow trucks when split shifting is required or to take out one of the pickup trucks equipped with snowplows,” Schwartz said. “When things get real tight, Commissioner Heirbrandt and I have been known to lend a hand as well.”

“Snow routes have been reviewed, equipment has been checked, and materials have been stockpiled,” Davis added. “Now let’s hope for a mild winter, but rest well knowing we’re prepared for ‘the worst’.”

(From left) County Councilman Steve Schwartz, Highway Director Brad Davis and County Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt. (Photo provided)

 

 

The Fishers Police Department was among the first group in the nation to receive approval from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) for national use of force policy certification, based on a letter to Fishers residents from Chief Ed Gebhart.

“This three-year certification is part of Presidential Executive Order 13929 to ensure that law enforcement agencies across the country provide transparent, safe, and accountable delivery of services to their communities by prohibiting chokeholds as a use of force technique and by maintaining use of force policies that adhere to all local, state, and federal laws,” Gebhart wrote. ” CALEA has reviewed our policies and found that we are in full compliance with all requirements for federal certification.”

Chief Gebhart, in his letter, writes that the certification is another way for Fishers Police to demonstrate the department’s commitment to serving and protecting the local community.

For more on the Executive Order, use this link.

For details on the Fishers Police Department “Use of Force” policies, use this link.

The City of Fishers, the Indianapolis Airport Authority and JLL Real Estate have been working on commercial development at the Fishers airport property near Allisonville Road and 96th Street.  Kurt Christian of the Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ) reports that a new distribution facility will be coming to the airport complex.

For the details, use this link to access the story.  (Note:  If you are not an IBJ subscriber, you may be limited on the number of stories you may access per month)

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

For the first time in local history, there will be no public swearing-in ceremony this year for newly elected public officials. Due to health concerns over the COVID-19 virus, county officials decided against the usual practice.

Normally there is a formal Courthouse ceremony for all officials winning office in the November election. The activities often draw around 200 family members and friends.

This year, new or re-elected officials will be sworn individually at a location of their choosing or they may go to the county clerk’s office to take their oath. The terms of office for those newly elected begins Jan. 1.

Taking office for new terms locally are: judges Paul Felix, William Hughes, Richard Campbell and David Najjar, County Auditor Robin Mills, County Treasurer Susan Byer, County Surveyor Kenton Ward, County Commissioners Steven Dillinger and Mark Heirbrandt, and County Councilors Brad Beaver, Sue Maki and Steven Nation.

All are Republicans. In addition, there are 14 nonpartisan school board members countywide who will be sworn in their school communities.

The Fishers Health Department is preparing to receive a supply of the COVID vaccine in the early part of January.  In a video update posted Tuesday evening, Fishers Public Health Director Monica Heltz says her staff will be finalizing plans to distribute the vaccine.  Who receives the vaccinations, and in what order, will be decided at the state level.

Fishers remains in the Red category for COVID community transmission with a positivity rate of 16.2%, up dramatically from the previous week.  Hamilton County’s positivity rate is 21.1%, down slightly.

In the past two weeks, there have been 1,037 cases of COVID in Fishers, with a total number of cases at 5,884.  There have been 47 deaths in Fishers as confirmed due to COVID.

The hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU) availability locally has improved a bit, now at 23%.  However, Heltz added that some hospitals are at or near capacity now.

If you need a COVID test from the Fishers Health Department site, you can now get an appointment in 2 days or less, with the results of the test available in 1-5 days.

I have had some connection to teachers most of my adult life.  I have had teachers close to me.  I have relatives currently in the teaching profession.

I have had a special feeling for people choosing the career of fashioning the next generation.  If you think back to your K-12 education days, I am certain several teachers come to mind when reminiscing about that time with a major influence on your life and career choices.

I want to look at two situations with today’s teachers.  First, what is COVID doing with the teaching profession?

I have covered the local Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board for nearly nine years and cannot remember a time like this.  The novel coronavirus has impacted the local teaching staff to such an extent that our classes are being held virtually because there are not enough healthy adults, or not ordered into quarantine for exposure to COVID, to staff the classrooms.  There are not enough substitute teachers to keep the classrooms staffed in person.

I have talked to a number of local teachers and they will all tell you this has been a major challenge for them.  Their work load and stress level have gone through the roof this school year.  It is not just teachers, students and parents have had their share of stress, but the teaching staff is enduring extra stress and work load issues in a profession that is stressful and difficult in the best of circumstances.

So, if we ever have the community celebration I suggested in a previous post on this blog, teachers need to be honored right along with all the others in helping the community survive the pandemic.

I have heard anecdotal evidence that many teachers, nearing their goal of retirement, have chosen to retire early due to the stresses of instructing in the COVID era.  I am also hearing that there are teachers simply leaving the profession for another line of work as the stress levels and work loads mount during COVID.

This is a time I would hope everyone in the local community, parents and others, do something to let our local teaching staff know we care about them.  It could be something small like a note or e-mail of encouragement.  Just let them know how much we, as a community, value their toil.

The second issue relating to teachers is the recent report issued by the Next Level Teacher Compensation Commission.  This group was formed by Governor Holcomb when teacher pay and overall compensation became a major issue at the Statehouse, including a march of teachers from throughout the state one year ago, demonstrating for a better pay plan.  State lawmakers have a major say in how much money local school boards have available to compensate their teaching staffs.

The entire commission report is 182 pages.  If you want to read the entire document, it can be downloaded at this link.

In a nutshell, the report provides suggestions on how the state can create ways for local school boards to save money through efficiencies, in areas such as procuring health insurance coverage and prescription drug benefits.  But the most important recommendation is that state legislators shell out an additional $600 million to compensate the state’s teachers.

The commission found the average teacher salary in the state is about $53,000.  Commission members want that figure to rise, to $60,000.

The Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA) is behind the $600 million in extra funding, but is worried that local school boards could move toward decreasing teachers health insurance benefits under this scenario.  ISTA is also concerned that state lawmakers would enact the cost saving measures and not fund the extra $600 million in the commission report.

Keep in mind that teachers are highly-educated individuals.  Most end up with a masters degree after in the profession a few years.  These teachers can find employment elsewhere, often making much more money than our local school boards can provide.

This commission report compared Indiana’s teacher compensation package to those offered by our surrounding states.  If all the recommendations are enacted, the commission report says the pay recommendation would put Indiana as “the third-highest average salary level in the Midwest.”

We need to thank our teachers and we need to advocate for a better compensation package.  Local communities are often judged by the quality of the public schools.  The HSE Schools, the 4th-largest school district in Indiana based on student population, has a quality reputation.

The only way that reputation can be maintained and enhanced is through providing a quality community for students, parents and teachers….and compensating teachers reasonably.

Every teacher I have known has said to me, just pay me fairly and I will remain here and remain a teacher.  They don’t want to be the best paid in the state necessarily, they just want a wage sufficient to support themselves and their families.

Teachers are so important.  Give them some love as Christmas break is on the way.  Advocate for their fair compensation.  It is the least we can all do.