You may recall a robbery at the Fishers Taco Bell on Allisonville Road June 30th of this year.  Fishers Police announced Monday additional arrests and charges connected with that situation.  Three men, all from Indianapolis, have been charged with several counts each.

Under arrest are Fredrick Nance, Terrell Caudle and Devanta Hilliard.  Nance and Caudle are currently being held on $1 million bonds in Hamilton County. Hilliard is being held in  Marion County and is awaiting transfer to Hamilton County in connection with this case.

Fishers Police credit partners in these arrests, including the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force,  IMPD Covert Robbery, IMPD SWAT, and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force.

Here are the charges each face:

Fredrick Nance:

1. 1. Robbery
   2. Intimidation
   3. Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury
   4. Theft
   5. Auto Theft
   6. Pointing A Firearm at Another
   7. Criminal Confinement While Armed With A Deadly Weapon
   8. Resisting Law Enforcement
   9. Resisting Law Enforcement Using a Vehicle
   10. Criminal Recklessness Using a Deadly Weapon
   11. Kidnapping While Armed with A Deadly Weapon
   12. Possession Of a Machine Gun
3. Terrell Caudle:
   1. Burglary with a Deadly Weapon
   2. Pointing a Firearm at Another
   3. Intimidation: Threaten in retaliation for a prior lawful act AND def. draws or uses a deadly weapon
   4. Criminal Confinement AND while armed with a deadly weapon.
   5. Kidnapping while armed with a deadly weapon.
   6. Armed Robbery: Taking property by force or threatening the use of force while armed with a deadly weapon.
   7. Burglary with a deadly weapon

Davonta Hilliard

1. Burglary with a deadly weapon
2. Armed Robbery- Taking property by putting someone in fear while armed with a deadly weapon.
3. Armed Robbery- Taking property by putting someone in fear while armed with a deadly weapon.
4. Kidnapping while armed with a deadly weapon
5. Kidnapping while armed with a deadly weapon
6. Criminal Confinement while armed with a deadly weapon
7.  Criminal Confinement while armed with a deadly weapon
8.  Intimidation: Where def. draws or uses a deadly weapon
9.  Intimidation: Where def. draws or uses a deadly weapon
10.  Intimidation: Where def. draws or uses a deadly weapon
11.  Intimidation: Where def. draws or uses a deadly weapon
12. Possession of a Machine Gun
13. Pointing a Firearm at Another
14. Pointing a Firearm at Another
15. Pointing a Firearm at Another
16. Pointing a Firearm at Another
17. Theft where value of property is between $750 & $50k.
18. Theft where value of property is between $750 & $50k.
19. Theft where value of property is between $750 & $50k.
20. Theft where value of property is between $750 & $50k.
21. Theft where value of property is between $750 & $50k.
22. Auto Theft-Theft of entire motor vehicle.
23. Battery

Tom Killian has led the Hamilton County Community Foundation since 2017.  In this podcast, he discusses what the foundation is doing in its philanthropic work.

Fishers has a very important public hearing at 9am, Tuesday, August 13, in the City Hall Auditorium.  The issue under discussion has a history going back 2013, when Fishers was a town.

In 2013, Town Councilor David George raised the issue of the town contracting a rate for all town residents, providing a way to save money for residents with one municipal contract.  The then-Town-Manager Scott Fadness had his staff go through the legal procedure of taking bids

The town held a public hearing in 2013 to take comments on the proposed best contract offer, in the opinion of the town, from Republic.  Let’s just say the comments were not positive.

I recently had dinner with Scott Fulton, and friend and fellow journalist.  I could not cover that 2013 public hearing so I had Scott cover it for me.  He couldn’t believe it when I told him Fishers was once again looking to have a city contract for trash collection services.  The public backlash was so severe, Scott never imagined Fishers would consider one public trash contract again.

Fast forward to 2023.  At the end of a routine City Council meeting, Councilor David Giffel raised the possibility of a city-wide trash collection contract to save residents money in fees.  Scott Fadness, John Weingardt and Pete Peterson were all involved in town government during 2013.  Fadness was town manager, Weingardt & Peterson were members of the 7-member town council.  They all remembered the huge public blowback in 2013.

David Giffel was unsuccessful in his re-election campaign for another term on the Council, but the City of Fishers began the process of accepting bids at the start of 2024.  Bids were filed, negotiations were held, and the city announced the bids, finding Republic to be the best of the 3 proposals received.

The next step in the process is the 9am public hearing August 13, before the Fishers Board of Public Works and Safety.  The board consists of three members…Mayor Scott Fadness and his 2 appointees, Jeff Lantz & Jason Meyer.

That board will listen to public comments and will likely send the item to the City Council.  Thus, the public hearing August 13 is a key step in this process.

I am already seeing rumblings of discontent online about the Republic bid.  Tom Britt, owner of the local publishing operation Towne Post, argues in a recent post that Fishers Republic contract will “result in Fishers residents having to pay the highest trash rates in Hamilton County.”

There is at least one Homeowners Association (HOA) that plans to testify at the public hearing that they have negotiated a lower rate than the city would in 2025 with the proposed Republic contract.

A Board of Works member asked the mayor at a recent meeting about perhaps negotiating some better terms.  The mayor had a few remarks to make.

First, his view is that Republic is taking a huge risk with the contract, which extends out to 10 years.  There is no provision for Republic to raise rates if fuel costs skyrocket anytime during that 10-year pact.

He also argued that some HOAs may have a few more years of lower rates than the city’s Republic contract, but those same HOAs may be shocked at the rates offered in any new contract.  Fadness says the HOAs will still save money in the long-run during the city’s deal with Republic.

If the Board of Works sends this contract proposal to the City Council, that body will have the final say.

I have no idea how this trash collection contract will end up, but it appears Fishers is in for some more public controversy by the time this is all said and done.

The city has more information on this trash issue at this link.

Another busy week of road construction in the Fishers area during the coming week.  The roundabout at 126th Street & Southeastern Parkway is now open but the city warns it is still an active construction zone. Also, watch for street closures, including for the Woofstock fund-raiser benefiting the local Humane Society August 10.

Below is the listing for the work week starting Monday, August 12, as provided by the City of Fishers:

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Continue reading Fishers Road Construction Report for the work week starting August 12 →

When I arrived about 30 minutes prior to the Fishers Plan Commission meeting Wednesday night, the Planned Unit Development (PUD) Committee meeting was still in session.  That was unusual.  What was also unusual for a PUD Committee session was the presence of a large crowd.

The panel was considering a proposal by IHG Hotels to construct a new hotel line from the chain, Atwell Suites, in the Saxony neighborhood.  Committee members had told IHG the design of the project was not one that would fit well into the Saxony area.

Once IHG had presented its newest proposal, it was clear, based on the comments by the committee members, there were at least 3 of the 5-member committee prepared to vote no.  That led to massive applause by the people in the audience.

City Councilor Pete Peterson, also a member of the PUD Committee, suggested that IHG be given another chance to change the plans based on committee member comments.  He moved for a continuance, and that motion was passed unanimously.

Daniel Bradley of the Indianapolis Business Journal has a very good story digging into the details of all this.  You can find the story at this link, but you may need to be a subscriber to access this story online.

The Fishers Events Center will open for business during November of this year.  That is just a few months away.

The Events Center is sponsoring a Job Fair Thursday, August 29, 9am-noon, at Launch Fishers.  It is highly recommended that you register in advance at this link.

Jobs available include – Ticket Sellers, Guest Services Coordinators, Premium Staff Concert Runners, Ice Crew, Zamboni Drivers, Operations Crew, Cooks, Bartenders, Suite Attendants, Dish Washers, Suite Runners, as well as Food & Beverage Leads.

Fishers Event Center staff and hiring managers will be available in person at the career fair.

How should staff at Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools communicate with students?  The district’s Policy Committee reviewed proposed new school policies governing these communications Thursday morning, with a myriad electronic platforms available to staff and students.

Deputy Superintendent Matt Kegley told the committee the district has been grappling with such communications, particularly athletes.  Coaches, club sponsors, and teacher assignment reminders are examples of such communications done electronically.  Kegley cites the implementation of Parent Square as a way to do so within the school district’s systems.

Director of Educational Technology Jeff Harrison told the committee the idea is to limit staff-student communications within technology under the purview of HSE Schools.  Student Square is a part of Parent Square, allowing students to use the same system.  The system has been in use for 2 years and Harrison says users find it an easy system to navigate.   Parent Square can be inspected by school officials at any time.

Parent Square also has a language translation feature, for those where English is not the first language of the parent.

The proposed policy states it is not acceptable to like, follow, friend, personally text or utilize e-mail on personal social media accounts when staff communicates with students, according to Harrison.  The policy change would not impact athletes until the spring sports season, allowing coaches to move to the Parent Square system.

Kegley and Hamilton Southeastern Education Association President Abby Taylor agreed that teachers are generally very supportive of this proposed policy.  Kegley says this policy would protect teachers when a message is not perceived the way it was intended, the entire conversation can be reviewed.

Board member Sarah Donsbach asked about using electronic media when a student is being recruited, or wants to be recruited by a university. Harrison said coaches showcasing their athletes to college recruiters should not use personal accounts.

There was a lengthy discussion about how Facebook accounts that are not private can allow students to follow a teacher’s personal Facebook account without the teacher’s knowledge, which would be a violation of this proposed policy.  Teachers would need to review their Facebook followers now and in the future, if not a private account.

Taylor said ISTA does not recommend that teachers identify themselves as teachers on personal social media accounts.  Taylor added that staff needs a detailed review and explanation of how this policy will be implemented once adopted by the board.

This proposed policy will be presented at the August 14 school board meeting for discussion, but no vote is expected at that time.

The Fishers Plan Commission voted unanimously to send a favorable recommendation to the City Council for the proposed 80,000 square foot Meijer grocery at Southeastern Parkway and Cyntheanne Road.

Local developer Corby Thompson provided some history on that plot of land where Meijer wants to locate the store, with the bottom line that this land was considered commercial going back to 2006 when Fishers was a town.

There were 9 speakers during the public hearing, with 7 voicing opposition to the proposal, 2 expressing support.  City Councilors Pete Peterson and Selina Stoller, both also members of the Plan Commission, argued that this land has been considered commercial for some time, agreeing with Mr. Thompson’s analysis.  Concerns raised by nearby residents about additional traffic is something that always comes with development, according to Peterson.

7 of the 11 Plan Commission members were present for the Wednesday night session.  All 7 present voted for the favorable recommendation to the Council.

One speaker during the public hearing said the HyVee Grocery planned for Fishers was not going to happen.  City Councilor Brad DeReamer, also a Plan Commission member, said HyVee still plans to construct a grocery in Fishers.

The Fishers Art Center is launching an extensive lineup of art classes and workshops this fall, catering to both adults and children. Located in the newly established facility within Fishers City Hall at 1 Municipal Drive, the center boasts over 100 multi-week classes and 30 one-time “Make It Take It” (MITI) workshops, all taught by professional artists from around central Indiana.

“If you are curious or creative, want to learn something new or build on your skills, we have something for you,” says Mark  Williams, president of the art center. “Amazing art experiences for all ages are now available, and not far from home.”

The Fishers Art Center is a collaborative effort between the City of Fishers and the Indy Art Center. The facility features 1,200 square feet of exhibition space, three art studios, and a flexible theater designed for performances, meetings, events, and classes. Adult classes range from beginner to advanced levels in various disciplines, including drawing, painting, clay, digital art, and printmaking.

The center also offers unique opportunities for parents and young children to create art together. Classes such as “Little Big Art: Messy Art” and “Art & Stories” cater to children as young as 2 years old. Older children, aged 4-14, can explore a variety of art forms, from clay to digital art. High school students have the opportunity to join “Teen Institute” classes, focusing on more advanced techniques and projects.

The MITI workshops provide a creative outlet in a shorter format. Notable sessions include the “Paint Your Pet!” painting class, “Clay Play Wheel” on the pottery wheel, and “Digital Art on the iPad.”

In addition to classes, the center offers private lessons, programs for homeschooled children, one-day Fall Break Camps for ages 6-14, and team-building workshops. Information on all available classes can be found at fishersartcenter.org.

For those interested in art appreciation rather than creation, the center hosts ongoing exhibitions. Currently, Kurt Vonnegut’s “Balderdash” is on display until August 18. Beginning September 3, the center will feature “Interwoven,” showcasing the works of sculptors Austen Brantley from Detroit and Susan Tennant from Indianapolis. The gallery is open on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with free admission to exhibitions.

While classes require a fee, tuition assistance is available for those in need. For more information, visit fishersartcenter.org.