Eric Pethtel’s history with the municipality of Fishers goes back a long way, 34 years to be exact. He has led the Fishers City Department of Public Works (DPW) for entire ten years Scott Fadness has been mayor of this city.
When Mayor Fadness opened his State of the City address Wednesday, the first item on the agenda was the announcement that Eric Pethtel is retiring. He has battled cancer for the past few years, and spoke openly about it last year in a podcast with the mayor and myself (listen at this link).
Eric was unable to attend the mayor’s speech because of cancer treatments, but Fadness recounted a recent conversation with his DPW Director as Pethtel pondered retirement. Pethtel’s biggest concern, according to the mayor, was that people would forget his long service to this community once he is out of the spotlight.
Scott Fadness decided to take care of that concern. The mayor announced that the Fishers City Public Works Complex will be named the Eric B. Pethtel Public Works Complex to honor his long history of service to Fishers.
The announcement drew spirited applause from the crowd attending the Chamber of Commerce luncheon. It is a deserved honor to Eric Pethtel for his long devotion to creating Fishers as a special place to live. I wish Eric all the best in his battle with cancer.
Mayor Fadness takes the stage for the State of the City address
As Fishers Mayor Fadness looked out on the One Zone Chamber luncheon crowd, he was clearly pleased to have a venue like the Fishers Event Center capable is hosting such an event. The mayor had been working for years to put together a deal to build such a facility that has only been open since November but has already seen 172,000 people attend what the facility has to offer.
Fadness was a bit sentimental in looking back over the ten years of his time as the first and only mayor Fishers has ever had. He went through a long list of accomplishments and laid out numbers. Of all the data he presented, he was clearly proud of comparing Fishers with the 10 most populous cities in Indiana, and Fishers has the lowest property tax rate in that grouping.
Corey Lewis, Chief Executive Officer and President of INCOG, a Fishers based life science operation, joined Fadness on the stage and discussed how the city has grown the life sciences. INCOG’s neighbor along Cumberland Road, near 121st Street, the Italian firm Stevanato, was mentioned as a big development for Fishers.
The mayor began looking forward, and announced Target is set to build another store in Fishers. The Target along 116th Street & I-69 is normally quite busy, so there will soon be a new Target next to IU Health, in the area of I-69 and exit 210.
A new development on the way in the area of the Event Center is the Crossing, with residential, retail and restaurants on the way.
The city will be adding to the current AgriPark, located on the east end of Fishers, with a second AgriPark planned for the city’s west side. The mayor teased that the city is working with the Indianapolis Zoo on the AgriPark projects, with more to come later.
The mayor once again praised Launch Fishers, a co-working center that started when he was town manager back in 2012. Many startup businesses have hatched in Launch and have grown & prospered as a result. Fadness announced the platform Plug and Play will be partnering with Launch, paving the way for startups to make connections with other parts of the economy, such as clients, corporate reverse pitch events, workshops and mentor sessions.
In his final remarks, Mayor Fadness reflected on the good times the past ten years, the ribbon-cutting ceremonies, the press releases on a new development in Fishers, …but tempered those remarks with memories of COVID, political unrest, cultural wars and tragedies that have happened to those in the Fishers community.
“I stand here today, very clear-eyed about what’s before us, but I do believe, to my core, that, collectively, we can seize any opportunity before us, and we can tackle any challenge that confronts us, as long as we do it collectively, together,” Fadness said in his closing remarks.
Tables were sold out for the Chamber of Commerce luncheon
After two tough home losses to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits Friday and Saturday, the Indy Fuel bounced back, traveling north on I-69 to defeat the Fort Wayne Komets 3-1. A tense, back-and-forth battle saw the teams enter the third period tied, but Kyle Maksimovich’s game-winner propelled the Fuel to victory.
The opening period featured a series of penalties but no goals as both teams tested each other’s special teams units.
Fort Wayne wasted no time in the second period, striking just 13 seconds in on the power play as Jack Gorniak gave the Komets a 1-0 lead. Indy, however, responded at 5:42 when Nathan Burke netted a power play goal, assisted by Maksimovich and Kevin Lombardi, to tie the game at 1-1.
The Fuel faced more adversity as goaltender Ben Gaudreau was assessed a roughing penalty for an altercation with Kirill Tyutyayev. Despite the penalty, Indy’s defense held firm, and both teams exchanged chances without further scoring.
Indy took control early in the third period when Maksimovich found the net just 1:12 in, assisted by Bilek and Bryan Lemos, to give the Fuel a 2-1 lead. Both teams kept their composure until 12:56, when a slashing call on Justin Taylor gave Indy a crucial power play, though they were unable to extend their lead.
With just under four minutes remaining, Ty Farmer took a cross-checking penalty, giving Fort Wayne a power play opportunity. The Komets were unable to break through Indy’s penalty kill unit. Lemos sealed the win with an empty-net goal, his second point of the night, securing a 3-1 victory for the Fuel.
As the final minute approached, tempers flared, leading to a series of fights and over 50 penalty minutes being assessed between both teams. Once order was restored, Indy closed out the game, finishing with a 33-30 edge in shots.
The Fuel stand in third place among teams of the Western Conference Central Division, with a record of 18 wins, 17 losses, 3 overtime losses of 2 shootout losses, for a total of 41 points. They trail the 4th place Bloomington Bison by 2 points.
Indy starts a five game homestand Friday against the Wheeling Nailers, 7pm, at the Fishers Events Center.
Fuel face-off against Greenville to start the second period
Every now and then, we all have a bad night. The Indy Fuel encountered such a night Saturday, losing for a second straight night to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, 5-2. The score makes it look better for the Fuel than the contest was, with Indy scoring 2 quick goals in the final minute.
It took exactly 43 seconds for the Swamp Rabbits to score their first goal of the game, with Carter Savoie notching the score. It took about 3 minutes for Tate Singleton to score, the first of his 3-goal hat trick, his second in two nights. That had the score at 2-0 in the first period.
Bryce Brodzinski put the third goal on the scoreboard for Greenville, giving the visiting team a 3-0 lead to end Period 1.
The second period found plenty of fisticuffs and penalties, but no scoring. This is one of the few hockey games I have covered where I literally lost track of all the penalties called by the officiating crew. That is a reflection on how physical the play was for both teams, with pushing and fighting a regular occurrence
Singleton tallied two goals in the third period, nailing down the hat trick. The score was 5-0 with less than a minute to go and it appeared Greenville was on the way to a shutout win. Then the Fuel found the back of the net twice in the closing seconds, as Nick Grima and Nathan Burke broke the shutout, making the final score a bit more respectful for the home team.
It was Blackhawks night and there was a sellout crowd at the Fishers Event Center of 6.633.
The Fuel travel to Fort Wayne Sunday for a 5pm start time. They return home Friday, February 7, facing the Wheeling Nailers. The Friday matchup is the first of a 5-game homestand as the Fuel try to turn things around in a season just more than half over.
A man was arrested early Saturday morning after allegedly firing shots at an occupied vehicle in Fishers.
According to the Fishers Police Department, officers responded to reports of gunfire near the 11600 block of Exit 5 Parkway just before 3:40 a.m. on February 1, 2025. The victim, an employee of a local bar, told dispatchers that a white Ford F-150, driven by the suspect, was still heading eastbound on 116th Street. Officers quickly located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop, taking the driver, Ronald Leach, 40, of Brazil, Indiana, into custody without incident.
Police say their investigation revealed the shooting followed an earlier altercation at a local bar. Leach had been asked to leave the establishment and later returned, arguing with an employee over the whereabouts of his driver’s license. After the employee left work, he spotted Leach’s vehicle at a stoplight. As the victim drove in the opposite direction, gunfire erupted near the intersection of 116th Street and Exit 5 Parkway. The victim was unharmed, but his vehicle sustained damage to the rear driver’s side from the gunfire.
Authorities say Leach displayed signs of intoxication at the time of his arrest. A handgun was allegedly found in plain view inside his vehicle and collected as evidence.
Leach was transported to the Hamilton County Jail and faces multiple charges, including:
Criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon (Level 6 felony)
Pointing a firearm at another person (Level 6 felony)
Operating a vehicle while intoxicated with prior convictions (Level 6 felony)
The Fishers Police Department continues to investigate the incident. Authorities urge anyone with additional information to contact law enforcement.
Watch for lane restrictions on Southeastern Parkway February 3-10 allowing for utility work in the area of 113th Street. There are also lane restrictions coming for the new roundabout at 96th Street & Allisonville Road.
Here is the road construction report for the work week beginning Monday, February 3, as provided by the City of Fishers:
When the Indy Fuel were down 4-1 in the third period, things were looking grim for the home team. However, the Fuel put 2 goals into the net later in the final period and were down only 1 goal late in period 3.
In the end, the Fuel could not overcome the Greenville Swamp Rabbit’s Tate Singleton, scoring a hat trick, his third goal coming early in period 3. When the score was 4-3, in favor of Greenville, with under a minute remaining in Period 3, The Fuel pulled goaltender Ben Gaudreau but it was not enough. 4-3 was the final score with the Fuel on the short end.
Bryan Lemos notched a short-handed goal in Period 1 for the first Fuel scoring. But Singleton scored his first goal in the first stanza for Greenville, along with a goal from Colton Young. At the end of the first period Greenville held a 2-1 lead.
Singleton’s second goal came in Period 2, extending the Swamp Rabbits’ lead to 3-1.
The Fuel faced a major challenge in Period 3 when penalties gave Greenville a 5-3 player advantage, but the Fuel successfully killed it off.
There were plenty of penalties on both sides as tempers began to flare more as the contest moved along. The crowd of more than 6.000 walked away disappointed on Wrestling Night. But the Fuel did come back late in the contest to make a game of it.
These same two teams will face each other again Saturday night, again at the Fishers Event Center, 7pm, for Blackhawks night.
IU Health and the City of Fishers have entered into a contractual agreement allowing the health care operation sponsorships of city facilities and events. This agreement will pay the city more than $7 million over the 15-year life of this pact.
IU Health will gain sponsorships of:
Fishers AgriPark
Fishers Community Center (currently under construction)
Nickel Plate Trail
Spark! Fishers 5K
Fishers Farmers Market
The contract was officially approved at the Tuesday morning meeting of the Board of Works and Public Safety. The pact allows IU Health, in exchange for the annual payments, to be the exclusive healthcare sponsor for these facilities and events, and will be designated as the “Official Health and Wellness Partner” tied to those city assets.
In addition, IU Health will be allowed signage, advertising on social media for the city events and activities listed, and the right to provide limited programming and activation at the Community Center.
The city’s payment for the first year of the agreement will be $250,000, increasing each year until it reaches more than $620,000 in year 15. There are provisions to continue the contract past the 15 year period.
Jake Reardon McSoley, Director of Recreation and Wellness for the city, told board members the first 5 years of this revenue will be utilized to fund the initial operations of the Community Center, but starting in year 6, can be tapped to pay for additional programs.
Below is the payment schedule, as listed in the contract:
A major child exploitation investigation has led to the arrest of four individuals in Morristown and Greenfield, Indiana. The Hamilton County Metro Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, headquartered at the Fishers Police Department, announced the arrests following an extensive investigation prompted by CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Morristown Arrest: On January 29, 2025, ICAC Task Force officers arrested Erik Scot Reed of Morristown, IN, on multiple felony charges related to child exploitation and possession of child pornography. Reed faces:
Five counts of Child Exploitation (Level 4 felony)
Two counts of Child Exploitation (Level 5 felony)
Five counts of Possession of Child Pornography (Level 5 felony)
Six counts of Possession of Child Pornography (Level 6 felony)
Detectives executed search warrants on Reed’s social media accounts, allegedly uncovering numerous files containing child sexual exploitation material. Following the issuance of an arrest warrant for 18 felony charges, Reed was taken into custody and transported to the Shelby County Jail.
Greenfield Arrests: On January 30, 2025, ICAC Task Force officers served arrest warrants on three individuals in Greenfield, IN, resulting in additional felony charges.
Stephanie Reeves faces a total of 26 felony charges, including:
Sexual Misconduct with a Minor (Level 4 and Level 5 felonies)
Incest (Level 4 felony)
Bestiality (Level 6 felony)
Child Exploitation (Level 4, Level 5, and Level 6 felonies)
Dissemination of Matter Harmful to Minors (Level 6 felony)
Child Solicitation (Level 5 felony)
Vicarious Sexual Gratification (Level 4 felony)
Attempted Possession of Child Pornography (Level 6 felony)
Anthony Strahl was arrested on eight felony charges, including:
Vicarious Sexual Gratification (Level 4 felony)
Aiding Sexual Misconduct with a Minor (Level 4 felony)
Aiding Bestiality (Level 6 felony)
Child Exploitation (Level 5 and Level 6 felonies)
April Brown was arrested on six felony charges, including:
Bestiality (Level 6 felony)
Aiding Bestiality (Level 6 felony)
ICAC Task Force detectives served search warrants on social media accounts and multiple residences in Greenfield, where they allegedly uncovered extensive child sexual exploitation material. The three suspects were taken into custody and transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Task Force and Investigation Details: The Hamilton County Metro ICAC Task Force is a specialized unit focused on internet crimes against children. It includes detectives from Fishers, Greenfield, Carmel, Westfield, Noblesville, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, and the Department of Homeland Security. The task force investigates child exploitation cases in Hamilton, Hancock, Madison, and Tipton counties.
Authorities urge anyone with information related to internet crimes against children to report tips to law enforcement or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
This investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming as the task force continues its work.
One issue that has arisen while I was out of town last week is the long-running issue of how local income tax proceeds are divided between the cities of Fishers and Carmel. The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis Business Journal and just this week, Current in Fishers, have all written stories about a bill being shepherded through the Indiana Senate by Kyle Walker, representing Fishers and Lawrence.
Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness has argued for many years that Carmel gets more than its fair share in dividing-up the local income tax pie. Leila Kheiry, Editor of Current in Fishers, cites recent numbers in her story, showing Carmel will receive nearly $77 million in income taxes in 2025, compared to $42.5 million for Fishers. Considering Fishers and Carmel have about the same population number, that is a large discrepancy.
A recent effort by state lawmakers to fix this and send more money Fishers’ way was struck down as unconstitutional by a Marion County judge.
Senator Walker is proposing a bill that would send more income tax cash to Fishers, but plans to amend the bill once on the Senate floor to send more funds Carmel’s way. As one would expect, Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam opposes the bill. Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness supports the measure.
Since Current Publishing has no paywall, you can read reporter Kheiry’s story at this link.
