The Indy Fuel concluded a grueling week with a Sunday afternoon road matchup against the Iowa Heartlanders, falling 2-1 after a tightly contested game marked by a dramatic third period and a valiant late effort.

First Period:
The opening frame started sluggishly, with both teams managing just three shots apiece through the early minutes. The deadlock broke at 10:51 when Iowa’s Ryan Miotto capitalized off a faceoff, giving the Heartlanders a 1-0 lead.

The Fuel had a chance to respond shortly after when Iowa’s Dakota Raabe was called for cross-checking, but Iowa’s penalty kill stifled the opportunity. Late-period penalties were a recurring theme, as Indy’s Colin Bilek served consecutive minors, but the Fuel’s penalty kill unit held firm. A too-many-men penalty against Indy at 19:33 carried over into the second period, with shots tied at 9-9.

Second Period:
The intensity ramped up in the middle frame, highlighted by a spirited fight between Chris Cameron of the Fuel and Nico Blachman of the Heartlanders.

Midway through the period, Iowa struck again—this time shorthanded. Yuki Miura capitalized on a Fuel turnover during a penalty kill, doubling the Heartlanders’ lead to 2-0. Indy found life at 14:42 when Kevin Lombardi broke the shutout with a snapshot set up by Cam Hausinger and Kyle Maksimovich.

Despite outshooting Iowa 18-15 through two periods, the Fuel faced a tough challenge heading into the final frame.

Third Period:
The final 20 minutes showcased the Heartlanders’ resilience and the Fuel’s determination. Early in the period, Indy found themselves on the penalty kill again after a Ty Farmer slashing call. Goaltender Ben Gaudreau delivered a strong performance to keep his team within reach, turning aside numerous quality chances from Iowa.

The tension peaked at 15:51 when Blachman received a game misconduct for inciting, leaving the Fuel shorthanded once more. Iowa’s Will Calverley then took a late roughing penalty, granting Indy a power play and a final chance to tie the game.

With Gaudreau pulled for an extra attacker, the Fuel applied heavy pressure in the closing minutes. Despite their efforts, the Heartlanders held on for a narrow 2-1 victory, fueled by strong defense and timely goaltending.

Key Takeaways:

• Star of the Game: Yuki Miura’s shorthanded goal proved to be the game-winner in a tightly contested affair.
• Standout Performance: Ben Gaudreau’s steady presence in net gave Indy a chance to mount a comeback, stopping 23 of 25 shots.
• What’s Next: The Fuel will regroup and look to bounce back as they return to the Fishers Event Center for a midweek clash against the Toledo Walleye.

There is a long history with top elected officials providing the state of government at just about all levels.

The most famous is the presidential State of the Union address, but it was not always a speech.  George Washington addressed the Congress for the first State of the Union address.  But our next president, Thomas Jefferson, thought the Washington oral presentation too “kingly” for a republic, according to historians.  Therefore, Jefferson sent a written State of the Union message.

There was no oral State of the Union address for 112 years, until Woodrow Wilson revived the spoken word in the 1913 State of the Union.  The invention of radio, and later television, brought the annual presidential address into the homes of any American choosing to listen or watch, beginning with Calvin Coolidge, live on the radio, in 1923.

It is now commonplace for top elected officials to provide an oral address on the state of government.  Indiana governors have made the State of the State address an annual event.  The Hamilton County Commissioners hold an annual State of the County speech.

In Fishers, it started as a State of the Town address provided by the President of the Fishers Town Council at a local Chamber of Commerce luncheon.  That tradition continued when Fishers transitioned from a town to a city in 2015.  Scott Fadness, as the only mayor Fishers has ever had, provided the State of the City address.

It has just been announced that Mayor Fadness will provide his latest State of the City address at the One Zone Chamber of Commerce luncheon February 5.  In the past, the Forum Credit Union Event Center has often been the site for this occasion, but the luncheon has sold out quickly and not everyone wanting to attend could do so due to space limitations.  There was a time Fadness’ speech was held in Noblesville with more room available, but the ribbing from our neighbors to the north was a bit annoying.

Now, the new Fishers Event Center is the site for the 2015 Fishers State of the City address.  It is still a Chamber luncheon, but one would anticipate there will be enough room for all wishing to pay the luncheon fee and attend.

The only question now is, what does Mayor Fadness plan to talk about?

The Indy Fuel fell to the Iowa Heartlanders 4-1 on Saturday night in Coralville, Iowa, after struggling to overcome Iowa’s offensive pressure and early momentum. The loss marks the Fuel’s sixth game this season where they’ve been outshot by an opponent, with Iowa finishing ahead 26-22 in shots on goal.

First Period: Iowa Strikes Early

The Heartlanders set the tone just 56 seconds into the game when captain Yuki Miura netted his eighth goal of the season, assisted by teammates Raabe and Miotto. A moment of controversy followed when officials reviewed a delayed high-stick penalty involving Indy’s Ryan Gagnier but determined that Lombardi’s stick hit his own teammate, clearing Iowa of wrongdoing.

Indy caught a break later in the period as Iowa’s Matthew Sop’s shot hit the crossbar, avoiding a deeper deficit. The frame ended with tensions rising but no penalties assessed, and the teams tied with seven shots each.

Second Period: Iowa Builds Their Lead

Iowa wasted no time extending their lead in the second period, with Miotto scoring just 25 seconds in, assisted once again by Raabe. The choppy period saw numerous stoppages for icing and offsides, stalling the Fuel’s offensive rhythm.

Indy defenseman Chris Cameron had several solid scoring opportunities but couldn’t convert. Tempers flared late in the period when Ty Farmer and Iowa’s Will Calverley attempted to drop the gloves but were separated by officials, earning both roughing penalties. The teams remained even in shots at 16 apiece heading into the final frame.

Third Period: Fuel Rally Falls Short

The Fuel showed resilience in the third period, taking advantage of a delay of game penalty against Iowa to score their lone goal. Nathan Burke ended his scoring drought with a power-play goal at 15:33, assisted by Bryan Lemos and Kyle Maksimovich. It was Burke’s fifth goal of the season and first since November 27.

Indy’s hopes for a comeback were dampened by a double-minor high-sticking penalty to Cam Hausinger, though the Fuel successfully killed the penalty to keep the score within reach. Despite their efforts to equalize, the Heartlanders sealed the game late in the period with two goals—Zach Dubinsky’s at 18:32 and Sop’s empty-netter with Miura tallying his third point of the night.

The loss drops Indy to a challenging position as they prepare for another clash with the Heartlanders on Sunday afternoon.

Even with snow on the ground, that isn’t stopping some road projects from continuing in our local area, although some have been slowed or delayed.  The change in the lane configuration for the 146th Street project at Allisonville Road has been delayed by the weather.

Here is the full listing, as provided by the City of Fishers:

Continue reading Road construction update for the week starting Monday, January 13 →

The Indy Fuel couldn’t overcome an early deficit Friday night, falling 4-1 to the Wheeling Nailers at the Fishers Event Center. The loss marks the conclusion of a two-game set between the teams this week.

First Period: Early Struggles

The Fuel came out firing but found themselves trailing early despite outshooting the Nailers 9-6 in the opening frame. Wheeling’s Kyle Jackson opened the scoring at 5:26 with a precise finish. Matthew Quercia doubled the lead less than four minutes later, giving the visitors a 2-0 cushion.

A late penalty against Ty Farmer for holding tested the Fuel’s penalty kill, but they held firm to keep the game within reach heading into the intermission.

Second Period: A Glimmer of Hope

The middle frame brought physicality and frustration for the Fuel. At 4:55, Indy’s Cam Hausinger dropped the gloves with Wheeling’s Dakota Seaman but earned a slashing penalty, putting the Nailers on the power play. Quercia capitalized, netting his second goal of the night at 6:54 to extend Wheeling’s lead to 3-0.

Indy finally broke through at 15:39, as Colin Bilek buried his tenth goal of the season with assists from Bryan Lemos and Kyle Maksimovich. The tally provided a spark, but the Fuel couldn’t close the gap further despite outshooting Wheeling 9-7 in the period.

Third Period: Nailers Lock It Down

Early in the third, Indy earned a power play after a high-sticking penalty by Wheeling’s De St. Phalle just 41 seconds in. However, the Nailers’ penalty kill stood strong, neutralizing the opportunity.

With time running out, the Fuel pulled goaltender Ben Gaudreau for an extra attacker, but Wheeling’s Gabe Klassen sealed the game with an empty-net goal at 19:22. Both teams finished the night with 26 shots on goal.

What’s Next

The Fuel (now 15-12-2) will look to rebound as they hit the road for back-to-back games against the Iowa Heartlanders this weekend.  They return to the Fishers Event Center Wednesday, January 15, for the next home contest against the Maine Mariners.

When Fishers began planning for a new City Hall, a new Arts Center was part of the complex.  That Arts Center is up and running and has been for a number of months.

Even with snow on the ground and winter temperatures, now is the time to begin thinking about summer arts camps.  A wide range of programs are available, including Taylor Swift-inspired friendship bracelets, learning to create with 3D printers or designing dinosaurs.

All camps are half-day, so campers can enroll in both a morning and an afternoon camp, making it a full-day of art making. Campers can mix & match their morning and afternoon camps for their own unique experience. Full-day campers have outdoor breaks and time for lunch.

Some of the camps include:

• Beaded jewelry
• Makerspace camp
• Design O’Saurus
• Creative crochet
• Cake art
• Cartoons and characters
• Glass art
• Photography
• Clay
• Art and theater
• Lego stop motion
• Manga illustration

“What sets our camps apart is that all our instructors are trained teaching artists,” said Michelle O’Hollaren, vice president of education and innovation, in a news release. “We have small class sizes, with an instructor and an assistant in every camp. Plus, campers can experience working in mediums that they wouldn’t have the opportunity to in any other camp setting in the greater Indianapolis area.”

Of the 116 total camps, 21 are new this year. Registration opens Jan. 13.

The Indy Arts Center provides classes held at the Fishers Art Center.

For more information, use this link.

Another dose of winter weather is on the way here in Fishers.  The National Weather Service says 2-4 inches of new snow is expected by 1am Saturday.  Hamilton County Emergency Management says our area could see 3-4 inches of snow.

This is much less than our storm that brought 6-8 inches of snow to the Fishers area in the past few days.  However, we could see dicey road conditions during Friday’s evening rush hour.

Here is the text of the Winter Weather Advisory from the National Weather Service office in Indianapolis.

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 2 and 4
  inches with locally higher amounts possible across the southeast
  half of central Indiana.

* WHERE...All of central Indiana.

* WHEN...Until 1 AM EST Saturday.

* IMPACTS...Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will
  likely become slick and hazardous. Plan on slippery road
  conditions. The hazardous conditions will likely impact this
  evening`s commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling. The latest road
conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by
calling 5 1 1.

Be prepared for slippery roads. Slow down and use caution while
driving. If you are going outside, watch your first few steps taken
on stairs, sidewalks, and driveways. These surfaces could be icy and
slippery, increasing your risk of a fall and injury.

The Indy Ignite professional women’s volleyball team is set to open its season before a sellout crowd January 11 at the Fishers Event Center.  You will notice QR codes on the ladies’ uniforms from the Fishers-based firm spokenote.

The Indiana Pacers have already worked with spokenote for QR codes, which allow fans to connect with the team through scanning with their smartphones.

“Indy Ignite’s first season is the perfect opportunity for Spokenote to showcase how our technology can bring fans and teams closer together,” said John Wechsler, Founder and CEO of Spokenote, in a company news release. “We’re proud to be a part of their launch, helping fans access exclusive content that elevates their connection to the team.”

The team has also launched Spokenote-enabled coasters featuring more fan-engaging content. The branded coasters are circulated around Central Indiana and encourage new and existing fans to check out a match.

Sue Maki has been elected president of the Hamilton County Council, replacing outgoing president Amy Massillamany. Brad Beaver and Steve Nation will serve as co-vice presidents. The election of officers, a yearly tradition, took place at the council’s first meeting of 2025.

Maki, who was elected to the council in 2020 and began her term on January 1, 2021, represents the county as an At-Large member. She holds a political science degree from Baldwin Wallace University and an M.B.A. from Anderson University.

Her career includes 18 years in the insurance industry and a tenure as Executive Director of the Hamilton County Leadership Academy, where she helped develop local leaders. For 15 years, Maki served as Manager of Environmental Initiatives & Education for Carmel Utilities, focusing on sustainability and community engagement. She retired in June 2021 to dedicate more time to her County Council responsibilities.

A long-time resident of Hamilton County, Maki and her husband Tom have lived and worked in the area for over 30 years. They have two grown sons.

The Hamilton County Council is the county’s fiscal body, responsible for appropriating funds and adopting the county budget. The newly elected officers will guide the council in addressing key issues and opportunities for the community in the coming year.

Curriculum Coordinator for Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools, Jason Urban, presented a plan to place all four district junior high schools on the same schedule.  Urban has been meeting with building administrators and teachers for several months.  He presented a proposed scheduling plan, but emphasized that may be tweaked before it is finalized.  The plan should be complete by March of this year.  For a look at Jason Urban’s presentation to the school board Wednesday night, use this link.

In another matter before the board, students taking physical education (PE) in summer school will see their fees raised from$160 to $180 this year.  The program has been running a deficit of about $14,000 as of 2024.  The fee increase will not totally cover the deficit, but will reduce the amount to under $2,000.  There was some discussion that there may be fewer families choosing PE in the summer now that the PE requirements are changing with the new state rules on graduation credits needed.