Supporting teachers and politics have come together and created a controversy within Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools.

It all started with a news release issued Wednesday morning from a local organization, Fishers One, accusing HSE Board Member Sarah Parks-Reese with social media messages on her school board Facebook account,  encouraging people to buy car magnets going to a fund supporting HSE Teachers, when the money was going to a political action committee for the local group HSEqual.

Ms. Parks-Reese responds that HSEqual has committed and publicly stated that all proceeds from the sale of these car magnets will be donated by the HSEqual Political Action Committee (PAC) to the HSE Foundation to help fund additional teacher grant opportunities.  “I honestly can’t think of a better way to support our teachers with both visual and financial support,” said Parks-Reese.

For those that may be “uncomfortable” with using the HSEqual PAC as a conduit to support HSE teachers, Parks-Reese says it “is not in my ability to regulate or control.  There is no law or policy that prohibits any group from fundraising in the name of teachers, nor is there a law that specifies what financial conduit that group can or cannot use.”

As to using her HSE Facebook page to encourage purchases of the car magnets, Parks-Reese contends that doing so “does not violate Indiana Code or HSE District policy and for any group to claim or infer that I was being dishonest or disingenuous in my post is a personal attack.”

Fishers One, in its Wednesday release, described HSEqual as “a far-left leaning organization.”  Jaimie Cairnes of HSEqual responds,”HSEqual is not a far anything organization. We are an organization committed to supporting equity in our schools.”

Ms.Cairnes says HSEqual used the PAC as a conduit to support teachers because it easier to process payments.  She adds that the HSEqual PAC will be announcing a contribution to the group supporting the upcoming school referendum, the Advance HSE PAC.  So far, Fishers One has not supported the upcoming operating referendum for HSE Schools.

Fishers Police apprehended four juveniles in connection with a string of vehicle break-ins at the Napleton KIA of Fishers parking lot located at 13417 Britton Park Road. The incident occurred in the early hours Sunday, prompting a response from law enforcement.

Officers were dispatched to the scene around 5:00 am after receiving alerts from the Napleton KIA security video monitoring system, which had captured footage of several individuals breaking into parked vehicles. Upon arrival, officers observed one suspect fleeing on foot across the property. Simultaneously, a black 2014 Kia Soul exited the parking lot, catching the attention of the law enforcement team.

A perimeter was swiftly established as officers initiated a search for the fleeing suspect. Despite deploying a K-9 unit and a drone to assist in the search efforts, the suspect managed to evade capture. In a parallel development, other officers spotted the stolen black Kia Soul fleeing the scene, prompting a pursuit that led onto SR 37.

The pursuit came to an abrupt end near the SR 37/I-69 interchange, as the suspect vehicle crashed, allowing four individuals to flee on foot. The driver of the stolen vehicle was swiftly apprehended, while Fishers and Noblesville Police Departments collaborated to set up a perimeter and locate the remaining suspects. The assistance of a Noblesville K-9 unit proved instrumental in locating three of the suspects hiding in a trash dumpster.

All four suspects, identified as juveniles, were taken into custody, and the investigation into the incident is ongoing. The stolen black Kia Soul was traced back to a residence in Indianapolis, adding another layer to the unfolding story. In total, officers identified six damaged vehicles in the Napleton KIA parking lot, with two vehicles having smashed windows and five showing signs of interior damage, including harm to the steering column and ignition switch.

One juvenile suspect, 16, faces a number of charges, including Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle, Resisting Law Enforcement – Fleeing, Unauthorized Entry of a Motor Vehicle,  Auto Theft, Criminal Mischief and Operating a Motor Vehicle Without Ever Receiving a License.  Two juveniles, 14, and one age 15, are charged with Resisting Law Enforcement – Fleeing, Unauthorized Entry of a Motor Vehicle, Auto Theft and Criminal Mischief.    

Fishers Police Department is urging anyone with additional information regarding this incident to come forward, as they continue their investigation into the vehicle break-ins.

Storms are possible (slight risk) in southern Hamilton County early Monday morning.  That’s the word from Hamilton County Emergency Management in a message sent around 2:30om Sunday.

Below is the full text of that statement:

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We continue to monitor the latest forecast and model runs for this evening’s severe weather potential. There is a slight risk of severe weather for the county’s southern half. The main threats are damaging winds and heavy rainfall producing localized flooding. The timing for the most intense weather in Hamilton County is estimated to be between midnight and 3:00 a.m.

For more information on emergency preparedness, visit www.ready.gov.

Both Fishers and Noblesville are moving ahead with plans for events centers anchored by minor league sports teams…Fishers with Indy Fuel hockey and Noblesville with Mad Ants basketball.  In a story appearing on the front page of the Sunday, August 6, edition of the Indianapolis Star, reporter John Tuohy checks with people behind the Fishers and Noblesville facilities, plus several independent experts, on how the facilities may fare in today’s market.

All appear to agree that the sports teams will only be a part of the income stream coming to support these venues, that other events, particularly music concerts, will provide the remainder of the revenue.  The question is whether the Indianapolis metro market can support all the facilities we have, plus two more.

Tuohy points out that neither Fishers nor Noblesville conducted an economic feasibility study prior to committing to their respective facilities.  But, the City of Fort Wayne did conduct such a study.

The Fort Wayne report found a new facility for the Mad Ants downtown would only attract about 10 events a year, since most bands would prefer to book the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne instead.  The Mad Ants have been playing in the Coliseum, drawing an average of 2,485 fans per game.

Tuohy quotes Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen and Leonard Bonacci, regional director of stadiums for ASM Global (they will book events for the Fishers Events Center) saying each facility should be able to book enough dates to keep the venues busy.

Also quoted in the piece are independent experts such as Walter Franco, principal at Victus Advisors… Mark Rosentraub, director of the Center for Sports Venues & Real Estate Development at the University of Michigan…Roger Noll, a Stanford University professor emeritus in economics…and Randy Brown, former general manager of the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

The experts speculate on the type of acts that may appear in the Fishers facility, including John Mellencamp, Goo Goo Dolls, Chicago, Styx, Alabama and Brad Paisley.

You can read the entire story by using this link  (NOTE: You may have difficulty accessing this story if you are not a subscriber of the IndyStar….online subscriptions are very inexpensive…subscribe to your local media!)

The map above and information below is from the Hamilton County Highway Department on the progress at 146th Street & Allisonville Road:

Another long list of road projects in and around Fishers,  Below is the full listing, as provided by the City of Fishers:

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To learn more about the State Road 37 Improvement Project and sign up to receive text updates, visit 37Thrives.com. 

STATE ROAD 37 AND 141ST STREET
A pre-construction phase at SR 37 & 141st Street is currently in place. During this phase, 141st Street will be a Right-In-Right-Out (RIRO) traffic configuration. 
This is not the permanent configuration. This will allow for traffic to flow more freely along SR 37 until the next phases of construction can be activated. This will eliminate backups along SR 37 that have caused dangerous stops to the free flow traffic and backups on the 146th Street interchange. Again, this is not the permanent configuration for 141st Street. The full timeline for the 141st Street interchange will be provided after project bids are accepted in the Spring 2024. View detour routes here. 

View how to merge safely onto Northbound SR 37 from 141st Street here and onto Southbound SR 37 from 141st Street here. To navigate the merge, remember:

• Use the accel lane to gain speed, not stop
• Use your mirrors and pay attention
• Look for a gap in SR 37 traffic and safely merge

To learn more about the Clear Path Improvement Project and sign up to receive text and email updates, visit clearpath465.com 

I-465 & I-69
Drivers will see an increase in construction along the I-69 corridor in the coming months. This work will focus on reconfiguring the interchange at I-465 and I-69. New ramps will provide direct movements from eastbound I-465 and northbound I-465 to northbound I-69. Binford Blvd. will also be reconstructed to separate local traffic from traffic entering and exiting I-69 and I-465. Access to I-69 from Binford Blvd. will remain open. 

The ramp from I-69 North to 82nd Street and the ramp from 82nd Street to I-69 North is currently closed through late 2023. For detour routes and additional project information, visit clearpath465.com 

To learn more about the Nickel Plate Trail, view the Capital Project Dashboard here.

NICKEL PLATE TRAIL
The City of Fishers is working on the completion of the Fishers portion of the Nickel Plate Trail between Hague Road and 106th Street. The installation of pedestrian rail is currently taking place and pedestrian flashers are not operative at this time.

There are daily lane closures currently on Cumberland Road, just south of 126th Street for sanitary and water line work. The northbound right turn lane and the southbound passing blister will be closed.

Phase 2A traffic restrictions are currently in effect. These restrictions eliminate left turn movements from 146th Street onto Allisonville Road and reopen to two through lanes on eastbound and westbound 146th Street. 

Please be advised, beginning on or after Tuesday, July 25 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., 146th Street between Herriman Blvd. and Allisonville Road within the existing construction limits, will be under a lane restriction for the installation of a barrier wall and centerline delineator repairs.  

Please use extreme caution while driving through this construction zone. Flaggers will be present when lane or shoulder restrictions are necessary. 

For additional project information, visit the 146th St. & Allisonville Rd. Project Page here.

There is a sanitary sewer project currently taking place at Metro Airport at 106th Street & Allisonville Road. There are times where lane restrictions may be in place on Allisonville Road. Please use caution in this area.

Parents are finding most student fees are gone, but Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools had to do some work when the state’s funding fell short.  Also, HSE is placing a tax referendum on the November election ballot.

For more on that, and much more, here is my podcast for the start of the school year, with my guests Schools Superintendent Dr. Yvonne Stokes, Assistant Superintendent Matt Kegley and Chief Financial Officer Katy Dowling.

One year ago, Hamilton Southeastern Schools decided to have a Before The Bell celebration to mark the start of the school year.  It was such a success, the school district brought the event back this year, and the perfect weather contributed to a large crowd Thursday evening at the Nickel Plate Amphitheater.

Many persons of note were on hand, including Mayor Scott Fadness, Schools Superintendent Yvonne Stokes and School Board President Dawn Lang.

The first day of school for students is Wednesday, August 9.

Here are a few photos from Before The Bell.

I recall one conversation with Hatem Mekky…it was the day he became an American citizen.  He left his native Egypt years ago and was so thrilled to officially become a citizen here, it was my pleasure to congratulate him on that special occasion.

Mr. Mekky has been the the Assistant Director of Engineering for the City of Fishers, and will now become the Director of Engineering for the city.  One of his most important duties in recent years has been overseeing the construction of the State Road 37 reconstruction.

Mekky replaces Jason Taylor, who is leaving for a position in the private sector.

The city news release announcing Mr. Mekky’s appointment lists several upcoming projects under his department, including  roundabout redesign at 96th Street and Allisonville Road, a new roundabout at 116th Street and Allisonville Road; the Nickel Plate Trail; the SR37 corridor project; roundabout improvements at Olio Road and Southeastern Parkway; and the widening of Cumberland Road as well as 136th Street.

“Hatem has played a pivotal role in the engineering department’s success on improving the city’s transportation infrastructure for residents and the general public,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness in the news release. “I look forward to working with him as we continue to reinvest in our infrastructure to grow the quality of life here in Fishers.”

Prior to his position at the City of Fishers, Mekky was a Project Manager at American Structurepoint for 12 years where he worked on and designed multiple high-profile projects, including the Ohio River bridges, Super 70, U.S. 31 Kokomo bypass, I-69 Expansion Phase 1 Segment 1 and Lanesville Connector (Peter J. Schickel Way). He was also a member of the SR37 design team.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead our exceptional team with a vision for collaboration and innovation that will shape the future of our city,” said Mekky. “I look forward to building proactive infrastructure that will serve this community for years to come.”

A graduate of Southern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Mekky earned his master’s degree in civil engineering from University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. He has held his Indiana Professional Engineering License since 2009.