Three Fishers residents died in South Carolina in a traffic accident.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness issued the following statement:

Below is a story about the crash posted on the WISH-TV news Web site:

Teenage twins, woman from Fishers killed in South Carolina crash

The past week has revealed some important numbers for the City of Fishers.  I know, there are a ton of numbers associated with our city. But let’s look at two from the past week of important note.

The first number – 98,977 – is the population figure for Fishers per the 2020 census.  Many in Fishers were hoping we would crack the 100,000 mark but missed it by that much.  This means Fishers is the 6th largest city in the state….Carmel is just barely above us with a population of 99,757…a difference of a little less than 800 residents.

The second number is a percentage – 75.1% – the share of the Fishers population fully vaccinated against COVID.  This when the entire state of Indiana is at about a 50% fully COVID vaccinated rate.  City officials have set a goal of vaccinating 85% of the eligible Fishers population.  Mayor Scott Fadness says the city is putting together an outreach program aimed at encouraging people in Fishers to receive the COVID vaccination.

It is difficult to imagine the sheer scale of the numbers that I review as part of my work volunteer news blogging here in Fishers.  Those are just a few that put some items into  perspective.

Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools will require all students and staff to wear masks beginning Monday, August 16 indoors, regardless of vaccination status.  A video released Friday (see above link) provides a message from Superintendent Yvonne Stokes.

“I know this will not make everyone happy, but it is my goal to protect our students and staff and keep our schools open and running,” Dr. Stokes says in the video.

HSE Schools have tracked 80 positive cases in the student population and more than 500 students have been notified as being a close contact, according to Dr. Stokes.

Stokes also says a change is coming on the time frames for quarantines, generally reducing the number of days.

Below is the full statement from Dr. Stokes:

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We have made it through a partial and  first full week of the new school year, and I believe I speak for most for when I say — the return of students to our buildings has given us a renewed sense of purpose and appreciation to work alongside you and your family once again.

I also would like to thank you for your understanding and patience as we ramped up operations following a year without being at full capacity. Last year was tough, and we had hoped this year would be as close to pre-COVID times for our students and staff as possible. Unfortunately, we are still living in a pandemic.

As you know, our community and state are experiencing an increase in COVID-positive cases due the highly contagious, circulating Delta variant. Our schools are not immune to this trend. Since classes began, we have tracked 80 positive cases in our student population and more than 500 students have been notified as being a close contact.

Due to the spike in numbers and the updated guidance from healthcare officials, beginning on Monday, August 16, masks will be required for all students and staff, K through 12, when indoors during the school day, regardless of vaccination status. 

I know this will not make everyone happy, but it is my goal to protect our students and staff and keep our schools open and running.

This change is reflective of what local and state health departments have messaged to schools.

A benefit of universal masking is that it will allow us to limit the number of students and staff quarantined by contact tracing at 3-feet versus at 6-feet in the classroom-setting only.

Another change we are making is reducing the length of quarantine for unvaccinated students and staff. The CDC gives options for reduced quarantine which include:

• 10-day quarantine with return to school on day 11, or
• 7-day quarantine with a return to school on day 8, if a negative PCR test was obtained on day 5, 6 or 7 from date of exposure. (Result must be given to school nurse ​prior to student’s return to school.)

In both circumstances, individuals will need to be symptom-free and will also need to maintain distancing and increase personal hygiene for the full the 14 days.

Please remember, these changes are what we believe will keep our students learning in-person, in their classrooms — and that is our goal.

You can review these updates and more in our Return to In-person Instruction Plan, which can be downloaded from our website.

Road construction projects continue in and around Fishers.  Here is the latest update, as provided by the city:

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A new mixed-use development is coming to Fishers, but this will not be located downtown.  Instead, the project will be located along 106th Street and Kincaid Drive.

The developer says there will be a $52 million investment in the plans, with Tax Increment Financing of $10.1 Million provided by the city.  The proposal will be considered by the Fishers City Council Monday night.

The project calls for 280 residential apartments and 18,600 square feet on the first floor for restaurant, commercial and retail operations.  4,800 square feet will be set aside for a restaurant,  generally located at the south-east corner of 106th Street and Kincaid Boulevard.

As part of the economic development deal with the city, developer Envoy will design and construct the streetscape and other infrastructure improvements.  Envoy has also committed to building a multi-use pedestrian trail around the entire perimeter of Delaware
Park (Kincaid Drive south to Sunlight Drive, east on Sunlight to Lantern Road, north on Lantern to 106th Street, 106th Street west to Kincaid). In addition, the developer will handle a forced right-turn road improvement from Kincaid onto Pearl Street.  Finally, Envoy will construct Pearl Street to city engineering standards.

Numbers provided by the Fishers Health Department show about 18,000 unvaccinated people within the city limits.  Fishers is preparing to reach out to those individuals and provide an opportunity to get the COVID vaccine.

Of those unvaccinated in Fishers, there are two age groups that stand out.  One consists of those between the ages of 20 and 40.  The second group is the youngest, ages 12-15.

Mayor Scott Fadness tells LarryInFishers that his administration is putting together a “robust” program  targeting those yet to receive the shots.  Fadness described the COVID vaccination as a “path to freedom.”

Look for more on this project in the next 30 days.

Hamilton County is ready to take applications from local organizations impacted by COVID.  County government has American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money to distribute and the portal is a way groups in Hamilton County may apply.  If you represent  businesses, nonprofits, or governmental units within Hamilton County, you are eligible to apply.

“This is about much more than simply replacing lost revenue,” said Amy Massillamany, Hamilton County Council President in a county news release.  “It’s about helping the people in our communities.  Sure, it’s about helping to keep the doors open, but by doing so, we are helping our neighbors receive paychecks and healthcare their families are relying on, now more than ever.”

The county has formed an ARPA committee.  The panel created criteria for those applying.  The criteria include groups who:

• Are in good standing concerning state and local taxes, any appropriate professional licensing and/or program (state and federal)
• Are in compliance with any appropriate and applicable local codes and ordinances
• Are locally owned
• Are in good standing with the Indiana Secretary of State
• Endured negative economic impact due to the COVID-19 public health emergency
• Show a decline in overall revenue from 2019
• Can supply a COVID impact statement that illustrates the connection between the negative economic harm and the COVID-19 public health emergency

The committee says it will giver priority to those businesses that are minority, woman or veteran owned and service organizations focused on providing direct, life-sustaining assistance, with a focus toward recovery and sustainability.

To begin the application process, go to the ARPA Committee Web site at this link.

Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board member Suzanne Thomas objected to the wording in meeting minutes  for the July 28th board meeting, but she was the only no vote when the board approved the minutes at Wednesday’s board meeting.  Here is the part of the minutes Ms. Thomas questioned:

“One speaker and several members from the community became unruly
and began shouting. The speaker at the podium ignored repeated requests by the board president to be seated.”

Thomas claimed it was not just the crowd that was unruly.

In another matter before the board, Ms. Thomas objected to paying Child Advocates for diversity training conducted for school district staff members that has already been conducted.  Superintendent Yvonne Stokes says this training is voluntary for staff members and has been offered since 2015.  The only complaint she received about this year’s training was that it would be better held in-person instead of virtually.  Stokes did say she would seek other vendors in addition to Child Advocates for future staff diversity professional education.  The board approved the payment to Child Advocates.

Board member Thomas objected to a proposed school policy referring to the Indiana open Door Law.  The policy language cites the Indiana statute that governs the Open Door Law, but Thomas said she wants a link to the law.  Board member Julie Chambers said the policy committee considered that, but links change all the time, leading the committee to recommend using the same language as in previous policy, but putting several parts of current policy in one place.  There was no vote on the polices concerning board meetings, governance and school transportation policies at Wednesday’s session, but is scheduled for a vote at the August 25th board meeting.

Also at Wednesday’s session, Dr. Stokes apologized for an internal staff document that has been making the rounds on social media.  The document addresses awareness to the staff of monthly observances.  There was no intention to leave out any religious events from this listing and the intent was to be supportive of students.  She apologized for any “angst” this caused in the local community.

Dr. Stokes also said there continues to be a need in the district for more substitute teachers, food service workers and school bus drivers.  Anyone interested in applying should contact the HSE Schools HR Department.

Board President Janet Pritchett announced that Brian Meyer, the school board appointee to the Hamilton East Library Board the past 12 years, has been appointed to another four-year term.  Ms. Pritchett said there were many good and qualified candidates that applied for this appointment and she appreciates the interest of each one.  There were several letters of support from Mr. Meyer’s fellow library board members supporting his re-appointment.  Mr. Meyer has committed to providing an annual update to the school board on the Hamilton East Library.  The Hamilton East Library system runs the Noblesville and Fishers libraries.

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools started the school year with a policy of recommending mask wearing, with no mandate.  At the Wednesday afternoon school board meeting, Superintendent Yvonne Stokes told the board administrators are following the language provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and continue to monitor each school building for COVID cases and exposure.

Dr. Stokes said that if the school district does decide to implement a mask mandate, there will be evidence to justify that decision.  HSE School officials will make adjustments as needed based on the data at hand.

Plenty of e-mails have been flooding Dr. Stokes e-mail account about mask policy with varying views on the issue.   She emphasizes that everyone on her administrative team does care about all children in the school district.

According to Stokes, some HSE students have been in COVID quarantine settings.

“We are aware of the CDC guidance and we are currently deliberating the feasibility of us incorporating shorter quarantine time periods,” Stokes told school board members.

Fishers is beginning to feel the same impact of increased COVID cases seen in the rest of the state.  In a video update, Fishers Health Department Epidemiologist Josh Robinson cited the increase in the primary metrics as the reason for a risk level change.

The department has increased the community risk level from level 1 (green) to level 2 (yellow). The Hamilton County positivity rate is at 11.4%, which puts the county in red, the highest risk category.  The Fishers testing site has a positivity rate of 7.87%, or level orange.  The Fishers case incidence rate is at 19.54 (orange).

The area availability of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) space is in green, the best availability level.  However, local hospitalizations, in general, are increasing, according to Robinson.

The Fishers Health Department has seen a dramatic increase in positivity rates from early July to early August, with biggest increase in the age group under 12, the sector not eligible for the vaccine. But Robinson adds that the increase in positive cases is being seen in other age groups as well.

Robinson warns the current trends point to the strong possibility Fishers may move the community risk rating level up to level 3 as early as August 17th or 24th.

“There remains a higher level of risk for contracting and transmitting COVID now than what we’ve seen the past few months,” said Robinson.

Over 75% of our eligible (12 & over) population in Fishers has at least one COVID vaccine dose, but still leaves about 18,000 eligible residents unvaccinated.  Also, Robinson says there are about 18,000 people under the age of 12 living in Fishers not yet able to receive a vaccination.

For those reasons, the Fishers Health Department urges the local population to follow CDC guidelines on mask wearing.

If you have any questions or want to setup a vaccination, contact the Fishers Health Department at 317-595-3211.

You can view the latest  video from Josh Robinson at this link.