There will be a few year-end stories on this blog as 2023 comes to a close. My first attempt is to juggle the numbers on my LarryInFishers.com local Fishers news blog and try to understand which stories posted on the blog were read the most during this year.
This can get a bit complicated. First, I posted many stories on some issues. Second, a number of people check my blog in general, not linking to individual stories, and there is no good way to track which stories get the most attention from those readers.
However, I took the data I have and made an attempt to determine which local issues where read the most by you, the people reading my blog.
Also, remember this is just a data analysis of which stories are most popular. I will be posting what I think are the most important Fishers stories in 2023 later on.
So, with all that in mind, here are the 5 most-read stories on this blog, as best I can determine from the data available to me.
5. HAND Breaks Ground
The Fishers City Council narrowly approved a rezone allowing affordable housing to be constructed at Cumberland Road and 141st Street, Cumberland Cottages, on the far north end of Fishers. Some of the 11 units will be market rate, others affordable. The Noblesville-based nonprofit HAND is constructing the project. It is expected to be complete in 2024.
4. Bastian Solutions coming north of 141st Street
Just to the east of Cumberland Cottages on 141st Street, Noblesville plans a major economic development project right on the border with Fishers, near Promise Road. A large facility will be constructed by a firm named Bastian, which is a supplier to Toyota. Residents south of 141st Street on the Fishers side, particularly residents of the Sedona Woods neighborhood, have voiced concerns about how Bastian will impact their homes, traffic and other issues.
3. Fishers Community Center plans revealed
A Fishers Community Center has been in the works for some time. The city asked for comments from residents and they received plenty of feedback. The complex is to be built at 121st Street and Hoosier Road. Construction is expected to begin in 2024.
2. The Hamilton Southeastern School Board
There were so many stories posted related to the school board I wrapped them all into one here. There was a lot of news generated by this governmental body. Just a few of the news items posted related to the successful funding referendum, the resignation of Superintendent Yvonne Stokes after reaching a separation agreement with the board, the decision to satisfy a commitment for a community forum on selection of a new superintendent with a 30-person focus group, removal of the microaggression language in the student handbook and the handling of a large mental health grant.
1 The Hamilton East Library Board
It was not just my blog, media outlets throughout central Indiana gave this story plenty of coverage, including the Indianapolis Star. A new board majority voted to spend at least $300,000 reviewing all the books in the young adult section for possible reshelving into the adult collection. This effort would take a great deal of time, along with the price tag. When author John Green objected to one of his books being moved to the adult section, it made national and even international news. With new appointments and some resignations, the board majority has shifted and the project of reviewing the young adult book collection ended recently.
Again, this listing is based on data of how many people chose to read these specific stories. You may notice the local city election did not make the cut. I will be writing about that story and many more with my annual list of the biggest local news stories, as a reporter following Fishers news for all of 2023, in the coming days.
Once again, thanks for reading.