After several months of changes to the architectural plans for a proposed Atwell Hotel, just west of Minden Drive and south of Erlen Drive in the Saxony area of Fishers, the Planned Unit Development (PUD) Committee denied those plans in a 5-0 vote Wednesday evening.

Neighbors in the area have opposed this hotel plan from the start.  The Saxony Community Association submitted a letter in opposition to the hotel.

An attorney representing the developer of the proposed Atwell Hotel indicated an appeal to the Plan Commission would be filed if the proposal failed, which it did later in the meeting.

This meeting was originally scheduled to be held in the City Hall Theater, but a problem with the heating system forced the session to be held in a much smaller conference room in City Hall.  Due to the size of the crowd, mostly those residing the the Saxony neighborhood attending the  meeting, an overflow room was provided with a video and audio feed of the meeting.

The committee approved two other architectural plans presented.  One was for a proposed fuel station and small convenience store for the neighborhood Walmart near 131st Street.  The other was a building for Everwise Credit Union at 12330 Olio Road.

After a long 15-game road trip to start the season, the Indy Fuel hockey team is set to start their home season in the brand new Fishers Event Center.  I talked with Joe Zollo, Director of Digital Marketing for the Fuel, about the home opener and much more in the podcast linked below.

When Fishers Fire Chief Steve Orusa announced his intention to retire at the end of calendar year 2024, Mayor Scott Fadness took his time in appointing his replacement.  The mayor announced his choice Tuesday afternoon.

The mayor’s office announced Battalion Chief Ky Ragsdale as the next Chief of the Fishers Fire and Emergency Services (FFES), effective January 24, 2025. Ragsdale is a fire service professional with more than 20 years of experience with FFES.  

“Ky is a dedicated public safety professional who cares deeply about the Fishers community,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness in a city news release. “The leadership Battalion Chief Ragsdale will bring to the department comes at an exciting time for the city, as the community continues to grow and evolve. His experience and commitment to service ensures that Fishers Fire and Emergency Services will continue to be a pillar of safety and reliability for all residents.”

Ragsdale is a third-generation firefighter, going back to his late grandfather, who served as fire chief in West Lafayette, and his late father, who served as assistant chief. 

“Serving the Fishers community is an honor, and I look forward to working with the men and women of Fishers Fire and Emergency Services to continue pushing the envelope to remain a national leader as a department,” said Ragsdale. “I am dedicated to giving my best to the department and the Fishers community. Chief Orusa is leaving behind a legacy that developed our department to meet any challenge and protect those we serve and I’m dedicated to serving each day to deliver the results of that effort.”

Ragsdale holds a Bachelor of Management degree and is a U.S. Navy veteran. Currently serving as Battalion Chief, Ragsdale is incident commander during emergency situations, oversees departmental operations, spearheaded FFES’ Recruit Academy with more than 70 firefighters, and has served on specialized response teams including HAZMAT and Dive Rescue.

“Battalion Chief Ky Ragsdale has the knowledge, skill, ability, wisdom, and experience to lead Fishers Fire and Emergency Services into the future,” said FFES Chief Steven Orusa. “He is the perfect choice to be our new fire chief.”

The transition should be seamless, with Ragsdale taking over command as Chief on January 24, 2025, the date of current Chief Steven Orusa’s retirement.

If you talk with someone that has been through the Fishers Citizens Academy, they will all say the same thing – it was a special experience and each would recommend it to anyone.

Fishers is now taking registrations for the spring, 2025 class through December 13.

Watch a video at this link.

Register using this link.

The Tuesday after Thanksgiving is now a tradition….it is a day to support the charities of your choice.

There are so many worthy nonprofit groups in and around the Fishers area, I will not dare to recommend one or more organizations for you to support today.  I would only ask that you take the time to choose one or  more of the many groups doing great work in Fishers and make a contribution.

It is a great way to support your local community.

As someone that has produced local Fishers podcasts since 2016, all you need do is check the most popular podcasts nationally and you will find crime podcasts in the top listings.  Now, a well-know crime podcast is hitting the road and coming to Fishers.

Fans of the wildly popular Crime Junkie podcast have a reason to rejoice: co-hosts Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat are bringing their compelling storytelling to the stage with an 18-city live tour. The Crime Junkie: Life Rule #10 tour, named for the podcast’s cheeky motto “It’s never a mannequin,” promises an unforgettable evening of true crime intrigue and entertainment.

The tour will include a stop at the Fishers Event Center in Fishers, Indiana, on Thursday, March 6, 2025. This live event will feature a chilling unsolved homicide case, freshly unearthed by Crime Junkie‘s production company, audiochuck. With original investigative reporting and Flowers’ and Prawat’s signature delivery, attendees will be drawn into a gripping, edge-of-your-seat experience.

Tickets for the general public go on sale Friday, December 6, at 10 a.m. local time. Fans eager for an early edge can access pre-sales through the Crime Junkie Fan Club or Patreon starting Monday, December 2, at 10 a.m. local time. Additional pre-sale opportunities for verified fans begin Tuesday, December 3.

Ashley Flowers, Crime Junkie’s creator and host, shared her excitement about the tour. “We’ve always wanted to connect with our fans in a deeper way, and taking a case live is the ultimate opportunity. This isn’t just a podcast episode—it’s a fully immersive experience.”

Recommended for mature audiences, the tour will also offer attendees exclusive Crime Junkie merchandise available for purchase at each venue.

Fans are encouraged to act fast to secure their tickets as the podcast’s massive following is expected to make this one of the year’s hottest tickets. And as always, remember the Crime Junkie mantra: Be Weird. Be Rude. Stay Alive.

The charitable arm of the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools, the HSE Education Foundation, just announced a big fund raising event featuring famed comic Jeff Foxworthy at the Fishers Event Center.  He talks about that, and much more, in this podcast.

Legendary comedian Jeff Foxworthy will take the stage at the newly opened Fishers Event Center on Friday, February 21, 2025, for the inaugural Hamilton Southeastern Education Foundation (HSEF) Legacy Celebration.

Tickets for the highly anticipated event go on sale Friday, December 6, at 10 a.m. via FishersEventCenter.com. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will directly support the staff and students of Hamilton Southeastern Schools, furthering HSEF’s mission of enhancing educational opportunities in the community.

Known as one of America’s most successful comedians, Jeff Foxworthy has earned widespread acclaim throughout his storied career. A multiple Grammy nominee and the bestselling comedy-recording artist in history, Foxworthy is celebrated for his relatable humor that draws from everyday family life and human nature. Often compared to the wit of Mark Twain, his comedic style resonates with audiences of all ages.

Foxworthy rose to prominence through the famed Blue Collar Comedy Tour and has since expanded his repertoire to include hosting popular television programs like Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? and What’s It Worth?. He also co-created SiriusXM’s Jeff and Larry’s Comedy Roundup, the hit party game Relative Insanity, and an outdoor lifestyle brand, Foxworthy Outdoors.

The HSEF Legacy Celebration promises an evening of entertainment and community impact, making it an ideal way to showcase the new Fishers Event Center, a state-of-the-art venue.

Fans are encouraged to secure their tickets early and prepare for an evening of laughter, storytelling, and giving back. For more information on the event, visit FishersEventCenter.com. To learn more about Jeff Foxworthy and his work, visit jefffoxworthy.com.

The announcement that the Andretti Global racing team would be building its new headquarters in Fishers was big indeed.  The building will be home to the many racing series where Andretti competes.

One open question has been whether Andretti would have a team in the Formula 1 series, the biggest in the world.  Michael Andretti had been lobbying the powers-that-be in F1 to allow his racing team into the series.

Just to let you know, I did cover the month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the 1980s, taking vacation time from my regular job to cover practice and qualifying for a radio station.  The people involved in Indy Car racing at that time always told me the people at Formula 1 were, simply put, different.  Not a good or bad different, but they were known to handle their sport in a different way.

I am no expert on Formula 1 racing and the politics involved in running that sport, so I read many journalists that have knowledge of F1.  It appears, based on that reporting, that the decision-makers at Formula 1 took a personal dislike to Michael Andretti.  I have no idea why, but based on the reporting I have seen, Formula 1 made it clear to anyone  willing to listen that if General Motors wants to enter a team in F1, that is fine, but not with a racing team headed by Michael Andretti.

Several weeks ago, it was announced that Michael would be stepping aside from his leadership role at Andretti Global, and his business partner Dan Towriss will be leading the operation going forward.  It appears Michael Andretti took one for the team, knowing his exit would be the only way Formula 1 would allow Andretti Global to partner with General Motors’ Cadillac division and  be a part of Formula 1 beginning in 2026.

This is a  local Fishers story because the Andretti operation in Fishers will now include the Formula 1 racing unit, no small expansion.  This is good news for Andretti Global and Fishers.  It just seems unfair Michael cannot be a part of it.

If you drive along 96th Street near the airport, you have likely seen the construction continuing on the Andretti project.  It will be major addition to the economic growth of Fishers.  It will be a destination.

Andretti will continue to have a team in IndyCar and many other racing series, as has been the case for many years.  But the GM Cadillac team run by Andretti Global will be something important to watch as they enter Formula 1 competition in 2026.