It is not breaking news to report that local newspapers continue to die on a regular basis in America.  But the biggest news is this – the trend is continuing and getting worse.

A new study released by the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University shows that our nation is losing two local newspapers per week. Since 2005, America has seen one-fourth of local newspapers stop publishing, with a large percentage of those weeklies.  According to the report, the current trend shows one-third of local newspapers will be gone by 2025.

“The lack of reliable local news compounds governance issues, making communities less efficient and prosperous,” according to a recent story posted on axios.com.

Here is more data from the report, as shown in the Axios story:

• The surviving newspapers are a fraction of their former size, and revenues and profits have significantly declined. In 2005, newspaper revenues topped $50 billion — compared to roughly $20 billion today.
• Newspaper employment has fallen by around 70% since 2006, with the most significant cuts (82%) in production and distribution. The number of editorial staffers in local newsrooms dropped 58%.

This demise of reliable, accurate local news reporting “has caught the attention of many nonprofits, community leaders and wealthy individuals,” according to Axios.  “But most communities that lost newspapers haven’t yet received a digital replacement.”

All this brought back some memories of my childhood.  My parents grew-up around Loogootee, Indiana, a city with a current population of around 2,500.  Loogootee is in Martin County and the entire county has a population of just over 10,000.

Our family visited Loogootee many times while growing up.  My father also had a subscription to the Loogootee Tribune, a weekly newspaper that started around the time of the American Civil War.

I was quite sad when learning of the Tribune’s closing.  Publisher at that time, Larry Hembree, published a final edition in March of 2019.

When beginning my radio broadcasting career in the early 1970s, I was named sports director of a small radio station in Johnson County.  My dad was so proud of me, he sent a message to the Tribune and the news of my promotion was carried on the front page of the next edition.

One of my dad’s brothers, who also grew up in Loogootee, wrote a lengthy letter to the paper, and the Tribune printed the whole thing, unedited.

It was that kind of weekly, filled with nothing but news about Loogootee and people with ties to Loogootee.

As a kid, I was an avid reader of all newspapers in our household and always read the entire Tribune front to back.  After all, I would almost always find a name of someone related to me.

Loogootee no longer has a newspaper and starting up any kind of news operations is difficult and expensive.  Based on that Northwestern University report, print media ad sales continue to decline while online ad revenue has remained relatively flat since 2017.  So, the prospect of ad revenue creating a profitable business is not promising.

I suppose that’s the reason so many people thank me for what I do.  As a retiree, I have the time to do the reporting, writing and podcasting, doing my best in covering local news on this blog.  If I were in business to make a profit, my prospects would be grim.

It is time to find a way to make local news profitable as a business.  I do not pretend to have any answers, but let’s get some heads together and figure this out.

The Fishers Arts Council is settling into its new location for monthly art exhibits.  In July, the exhibit will once again be a the Hamilton County Community Foundation building at 11810 Technology Drive, next to the Fieldhouse.  Be aware, construction continues in Technology Drive and it remains a one-way street.  The art display started July 1 and continues through July 28.

The “Second Friday” reception is set for July 8th from 6-8pm. The Hamilton County Artists’ Association (HCAA) artists are part of the 2022 Season of Art presented by the Fishers Arts Council in cooperation with Hamilton County Community Foundation. Jeena Siela, Community Leadership Officer said, “We are excited to have the Fishers Arts Council share the work of the HCAA artists. HCAA reflects the talent in Hamilton County and the pride we share.”

In all, there will be 35 paintings on exhibit in the galleries, and, as always, the art is for sale. The gallery is open 9 am to 5 pm weekdays. During the reception on July 8th, there will be music provided by David and Pamela Ackerman along with snacks, water, beer and wine.

“It’s always fun having the members of HCAA join us in the summer for their annual exhibit. Many of their members love demonstrating their skills and have participated with us for years at various events and exhibits,” said Les Reinhardt, Executive Director of Fishers Art Council. The Hamilton County Artists’ Association (HCAA) operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit run by volunteers, and stands as the original and only juried fine arts organization in Hamilton County, Indiana. The membership consists of over 65 Hamilton County artists, who have been juried into the HCAA, as well as Supporting Members from across Indiana.

Watch for week day lane restrictions on Olio Road between Geist Reservoir and Haven Cove Lane, During most of July.  There are details on that and all the other ongoing road projects in the area in the listing below, provided by the City of Fishers.

==========

STATE ROAD 37 AND 146TH STREET
All left-turn lanes are currently restricted on SR 37 and on 146th Street with traffic moved to the interior lanes. Thru traffic and right turns on SR 37 and 146th Street will remain open. Drivers are encouraged to seek alternate routes for all left turn access. View an alternate route map here.  

STATE ROAD 37 AND 131ST/135TH STREET
135th Street, east of SR 37, is currently closed as work progresses on the project. This closure will be in place until early July. SR 37 will remain open both northbound and southbound and allow right in/right out access at 131st Street. View the detour map here.

Please drive with caution through this area. To learn more about the State Road 37 Improvement Project and sign up to receive text updates, visit 37Thrives.com.

The inside lane of the Technology Drive is currently closed to traffic to allow for construction of new pavement in the inside lane.  One-way traffic will be in place in the outside lane as shown here.  Access to all businesses will be maintained during the construction.

The intersection at Southeastern Pky. & Cyntheanne Road is currently closed for roundabout construction and is anticipated to reopen by the end of July. View the detour map here.  Schoolhouse 7 Café will remain open for business during construction. View how to access their business here. 

Beginning on or after Tuesday, July 5, Olio Road between Geist Reservoir and Haven Cove Lane, the first road south of the Geist Reservoir Bridge, may have daily lane restrictions for the reconfiguration and installation of access to Geist Waterfront Park and the Marina. These lane restrictions will occur between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday thru Friday. The estimated completion date is August 1, 2022.  

Beginning on Tuesday, July 5 through Friday, July 15, the outside eastbound lane of 116th Street, just after the Nickel Plate Trail bridge, will be restricted between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. for work on the FIB building. Arrow boards will be in place.

Beginning on Tuesday, July 5, Comcast will have daily lane restrictions in place on westbound 116th Street between Cameron Drive and Allisonville Road and northbound Allisonville Road between 116th Street to the Kroger signal for overhead work. Restrictions will be in place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

ADA ramp and curb reconstruction has started taking place in Charleston Crossing, Fishers Point, Lantern Overlook, and Sunblest as part of the 2022 Resurfacing Project. Homeowners will be notified via door hangers prior to any curb reconstruction near their home. After ADA ramp and curb reconstruction is completed, those areas will be restored with topsoil and seed. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to water the seed for the seed to germinate. Prior to road resurfacing, residents will be notified via street signage for street parking restrictions.

The Fishers Department of Fire and Emergency Services has a new Operations Chief.  It was announced Friday morning that Mayor Scott Fadness has appointed Charlie Fadale to the job.

Fadale replaces Robin Nicoson who is retiring from the department.

“Chief Fadale exemplifies our core values of honesty, integrity, professionalism, and accountability,” said Fishers Fire Chief Steve Orusa in a department news release.

Chief Fadale is a 34-year career firefighter, most recently serving as Division Chief of Safety and Training for Fishers Fire and Emergency Services for the past 10 years. He retired from the Indianapolis Fire Department in 2012, serving his last four years with IFD as Chief of Training. His prior assignments include Lieutenant on IFD Ladder 6 and Chief of Safety and Training for the former Washington Township (Marion County) Fire Department before the departments merged.

We have seen him for a long time as executive director of the Fishers YMCA, and now Jake Reardon McSoley will be seen regularly around the city’s municipal complex.  The city announced Friday morning that Reardon McSoley will be leaving his post at the YMCA and serve as Director of Recreation and Wellness for the city.

“My administration has been very focused on growing our business community, diversifying our tax base, and creating a sustainable economy for the last several years,” remarked Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness in a city news release. “We’re looking ahead to the next chapter of Fishers and my vision centers around building a culture of health within our city – one that embraces recreation, wellbeing, and wellness. Jake’s longstanding leadership in Fishers lays a perfect foundation for these efforts and I’m excited to continue to move Fishers forward with his experience.”

Reardon McSoley will have the position of a department head within the city organization chart and will report directly to Mayor Fadness.

“There is something special about serving the Fishers community, a place that my own family calls home,” said Reardon McSoley. “In this new role, I have the chance to expand my purview and serve many of the same individuals in a way I hope to be more impactful,” said Reardon McSoley. “I can’t wait to reconnect with residents in this new capacity as we build a culture of health and strengthen the community to further drive Fishers’ vibrancy.”

His wife Jennifer was an unsuccessful candidate for Hamilton Southeastern School Board in the 2018 election.  Their family has resided in Fishers for 16 years.