A retired Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputy died in a two-vehicle collision Tuesday night on Southeastern Parkway, near Isle of Man Boulevard. Fishers Police say James Fetters, 76, from Fishers, died after being transported to an area hospital by Fishers Emergency Service personnel.
According to authorities, shortly before 5pm Tuesday, police responded to a fatal motor vehicle crash involving a silver Ram 1500 pickup truck and a Polaris Sportsman ATV. Officers found both vehicles just off the roadway. The driver of the Ram, Terry Wright, 47, from Greenfield, sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene. Fetters was driving the ATV.
Based on evidence and witness statements, police investigators say the crash occurred when the ATV attempted to cross Southeastern Parkway. This crash remains under investigation. Investigators do not believe alcohol or drugs played a role in this crash.
According to my news gathering partner, the Hamilton County Reporter, Mr. Fetters was a life long resident of Hamilton County and served as a County Sheriff’s Deputy.
I have many friends and relatives who love winter, snow, sledding, on and on. Myself, a trip south always sounds good this time of year, but short of that, I enjoy anything indoors.
The pandemic means social distancing is needed, so what works best this time of year?
Fishers has a view ideas. Below is the listing, as provided by the City of Fishers.
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Black History Month Celebration February is Black History Month, and the City of Fishers has gathered ways you can explore and celebrate Black heritage with your community. From virtual workshops hosted by the Hamilton East Public Library, to online art galleries presented by the Fishers Art Council, to a virtual celebration organized by HSE’s Black Student Union, learn about what’s happening around Fishers at thisisfishers.com/BlackHistoryMonth.Storywalk® Looking for outdoor fun for little ones? Take a hike on Fishers Parks’ StoryWalk®! In partnership with Hamilton East Public Library, each month you can take a self-guided reading hike along a trail in Fishers Park. Visit Billericay Park (12690 Promise Road) all month long to check out This Jazz Man in honor of Black History Month. Learn more at playfishers.com/StoryWalk.
Heart Hike Fishers Parks expands its annual Heart Hike to three locations this February, including the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater (6 Municipal Drive), Heritage Park (10595 Eller Road), and Holland Park (1 Park Drive). Stop by for a self-led scavenger-hunt-style hike to look for pictures of hearts that naturally occur in nature all month long in honor of American Heart Month.
On Saturday, February 13 from 1 to 4 p.m., join Fishers Parks for a socially distant community Heart Hike at Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve (10410 Hague Road) to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Learn more at playfishers.com/HeartHike.
Pop-Up Skatepark
The mobile skatepark returns to the Fishers AgriPark (11171 Florida Road) on Saturday, February 6 and 13 from noon to 2 p.m., 2:15 to 4:15 p.m., and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Bring your skateboard, rollerblades, roller skates, or scooter to meet other skaters or land a new trick. These events are free and open to all ages and experience levels, but registration is required. Learn more at playfishers.com/WinterFun.
Sledding Heritage Park and Flat Fork Creek Park are family favorite sledding hills, with close parking and options for all ages and experience levels. Heritage Park offers a great family-friendly hill that’s perfect for little ones. If you’re feeling adventurous, Flat Fork Creek Park (16141 E. 101st Street) boasts the tallest hill in Hamilton County and offers additional options for older children and adults. Learn more at playfishers.com/WinterFun.
Ritchey Woods Winter Trail Guide Take a virtual winter walk at Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve on the This is Fishers blog to get a sneak peek of the plants and animals you can find on the trails this season. Then, commit to getting outside for a hike in the month of February.
The Art Gallery at City Hall Stop by City Hall (1 Municipal Drive) during the week from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to see pieces from rotating local artists at the Art Gallery at City Hall. February’s exhibits feature Embracing Black Culture, along with Rebecca Robinson’s exhibition in The Alcove upstairs. Masks are required inside City Hall. Learn more and see the virtual Art Gallery at City Hall at fishersartscouncil.org.
Honor a Local Hero Grab your coat and take a walk around the Central Green (1 Municipal Drive) and Nickel Plate District Amphitheater to see the light pole banners honoring local veterans and active duty servicemembers in the Fishers community. Visit fishers.in.us/FishersHonors to meet our local heroes.
Winter Boredom Busters Fishers Ambassador Megan Gamble shares 60 Winter Boredom Busters on the ThisisFishers.com blog. From messy play to experiments and family fun to cooking, these activities will keep kids and families entertained. Learn more on the blog.
Winter Running Trails From parks to trails to neighborhoods all over Fishers, the Fishers Running Club shares their best tips on winter running and favorite spots on the This is Fishers blog.
Fishers Disability Awareness Month Every March, the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability and the City of Fishers celebrate National Disability Awareness Month with a series of special events and programs to bring awareness to what life is like for those with physical and intellectual disabilities. Learn more at fishers.in.us/DisabilityAwareness.More information will be shared soon.
With temperatures forecast to plunge in coming days, it may lift your spirits a bit to know this – summer camp signups in Fishers begin February 8.
The Fishers Parks Department is offering camps for children ages 4-10 to explore their interests, make friends, and shake their summer break boredom. Whether your kid is a backyard adventurer, an all-star athlete, or a scientist-in-training, check out our camp lineup to keep your kids active and learning. Eight camp themes will be spread across eight weeks of camp (June 7 – July 30) at four different locations with full-day and half-day options.
Don’t forget to check out our partner camp with Indy Eleven! Running June 7-11, this camp will introduce kids ages 8-14 to professional soccer and fundamentals of the game.
Learn more about the summer camp offerings at this link.
In Indiana, there is no election the year after a presidential election is held. That normally gives state politicos a chance to catch their collective breaths and perhaps take a little time off.
But this year will feature elections for county party officers. Both Democrats and Republicans will be meeting in Hamilton County to select their party officers on March 6.
Laura Campbell is the current Hamilton County Republican Party Chair. Fred Swift, a columnist for the Hamilton County Reporter and experienced hand at local politics, says Ms. Campbell could see a challenge.
“It seems likely Mrs. Campbell will seek re-election this year. It is possible, but not certain, that a contest may develop for the chairmanship,” Swift wrote in a recent column. “A Fishers faction of the GOP is the most likely to field a candidate if any emerges.”
On the Democratic side, Swift says current party Chair Joe Weingarten is not likely to seek re-election, but there was no speculation on who may run for county officer positions.
A new group, calling themselves “HamCo United,” is running a slate of candidates for the county Democratic Party.
The slate of candidates includes:
Chair – Dayna Colbert, Fishers
Vice Chair – Ronnie Saunders, Westfield
Secretary – Sarah Russell Goddard, Noblesville
Treasurer – Al Moore, Carmel
Democrats in Hamilton County have much to cheer in recent years. There is a Democrat on the Carmel City Council, two Democrats on the Fishers City Council and one Democrat on the Fall Creek Township Board. I have lived in Fishers for nearly 30 years, and any Democrat elected locally is a major step forward. Republicans still control local government, but Democrats are making progress.
It should be noted that Joe Biden carried the cities of Fishers and Carmel in the 2020 election.
“A united party is the best way to move the county forward. The slate represents the four cities in the county as well as a diverse set of experiences and backgrounds,” Colbert said in a HamCo United news release. “I look forward to taking up the mantle and leading the march from purple to blue here in Hamilton County.”
It is expected there will be more candidates coming forward. So there is some political news in a year with no elections in Indiana.
The Fishers City Council faces a number of issues in 2021, including how to address diversity in council appointments to boards and commissions. That, and many other issues, were discussed in a podcast featuring Council President Selina Stoller and Vice President David George.
At the first council session of 2021, Councilwoman Jocelyn Vare proposed changes to the process of selecting council appointees to boards and commissions, saying it would provide a more diverse set of appointments. The measure was defeated in a 7-2 vote, with Vare and fellow Democrat Sam DeLong the only council members voting in favor.
“Councilor Vare’s approach, was, in my opinion, unrealistic and individualistic,” said Stoller in the podcast interview recorded February 1st. “She really didn’t seek to work with other councilors.”
Stoller said she agrees with Vare on a number of points, but the vote on the coming year’s appointments was not the right time. Stoller added that Vare does not appear to understand why some appointees serve on more than one panel.
When asked why he chose not to comment, as did no other councilor, when the proposal was voted down, David George didn’t see a reason to do so. ”I guess now you’re supposed to respond to every single thing at every minute,” George said. The council vice president then detailed his view of how council appointments have been handled in the past.
When asked whether the council should consider a new process for appointments to address diversity, both appeared open to the possibility but had no specific ideas on how that would work.
Councilwoman Vare noted in the January council meeting that 80% of appointments to city boards and commissions are white males.
In other issues addressed in the podcast:
–Neither councilor appeared to favor moving up teachers on the list to receive COVID vaccines
–Both remain supportive of Mayor Scott Fadness’ decision to create a city health department
–Both expect updates to the city’s comprehensive plan
–Neither would commit on how to handle a planned affordable housing community near 141st Street and Cumberland Road
–Both said the council would be involved in the construction of the tunnel underneath 116th Street for the Nickel Plate Trail, which will require re-routing traffic this summer, and expect progress on the Geist Waterfront Park.
You can listen to the entire podcast at the link below.
Registrations are now available for Hoosiers age 65 and over to receive the COVID vaccination. That’s according to an announcement issued Monday morning by the Fishers Health Department. The age requirement had been 70 and over.
The following priority groups are now eligible to schedule an appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine according to the Indiana Dept. of Health:
Individuals 65 years of age and older
Healthcare workers
First responders
To get an appointment to receive the vaccine, call 211 or register at this link.
For more information or assistance, visit fishers.in.us/vaccine or call the Fishers COVID Hotline at 317-595-3211.
According to the Fishers Health Department, you will not have the maximum protection from the virus until at least 1 week after your 2nd dose, and health experts do not yet know when you might be protected from possibly infecting others. It will still be important for you to avoid crowds, wear a mask, social distance and wash your hands regularly.
There are two vaccines currently available, one from Pfizer and the other produced by Moderna. The Fishers Health Department administers the Moderna vaccine at the vaccination site located on 116th Street, just east of Brooks School Road at a former March grocery building.
