Fishers Police officers arrested 18 individuals for Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) during the month of February, with 34 charges connected to those arrests.

That is according to a social media post from Fishers Police over the weekend.

Police remind motorists there are a number of options to get around if you are impaired.  There are ride sharing services, you can have a designated driver in your group chosen in advance or just call a friend to provide a ride.

“We take the safety of our streets seriously and will continue to work hard to keep our community safe,” according to the FPD social media post.

It was the early 1980s, I cannot be more exact than that.  As morning news anchor and reporter for WCSI Radio in Columbus, Indiana, part of my regular beat was to cover Bartholomew County Government.  One meeting of the County Council was quite controversial.

It was so long ago I cannot remember the exact issue involved, but the council was set to vote on a matter that would adversely impact a relative of one council member.  That council member planned to vote in favor of the measure, but didn’t want his relative to know.

That one council member asked the council president if the vote could be done secretly…in other words, each council member would write their individual votes on a piece of paper, hand the votes to the council president, and he would then announce the result of the vote (8-1, 9-0, for example) but there would be no record of how each council member voted, just a record of the vote result.

The measure passed (don’t recall the vote numbers), no one objected  and the meeting moved on.  When I wrote my story, I quoted language in the open meeting law in place at that time, and noted the manner of voting in this instance did not appear to be consistent with state law.

The local newspaper, The Columbus Republic, decided to press the issue.  The print edition each day, for many consecutive days, had a different story about the “secret vote” by the Bartholomew County Council.  You could say the editorial staff of the Republic made this their own personal crusade.

At the next county council session, the council attorney blasted the newspaper in public.  The Republic reporter sat next to me in these meetings and what she said in response to me will not be quoted here.  It was all finally resolved, as I recall, with a council vote the traditional way, with members on the record.

Why do I bring this up now?  Indianapolis Star reporters Brittany Carloni and Kayla Dwyer published a story, last updated March 1st, about an amendment tacked onto a piece of legislation at the Indiana General Assembly that was supposed to only deal with how local governments should handle disruptions in public meetings.  The amendment was introduced by Representative J.D. Prescott, (R)-Union City,

The Star story says this amendment “would require the public access counselor to only consider the exact text of Indiana’s access laws or applicable court cases when issuing advisory opinions.”

Public Access Counselor Luke Britt did not comment on pending legislation, which is what an official in his position is required to do.  Prescott did not respond to the Star’s request for comment.

But State Senator Aaron Freeman (R) Indianapolis, had a lot to say to the Star journalists.  He accused Britt of of taking “some liberties” in interpreting the state open meetings law.

“I think certainly it’s fair to say there’s been some very liberal interpretations of the statute,” Freeman told the Indianapolis Star.

I only know what my experience has been.  I have never met or spoken with Luke Britt but I have read many of his decisions.  I do not believe former Governor Pence or Governor Holcomb would appoint, then re-appoint, some radical liberal to a job such as Public Access Counselor.

There was a squabble between the local school board and Television Station WTHR’s investigative news team a few years ago.  That case went all the way to the Indiana Supreme Court and WTHR won a unanimous decision by the justices, backing Britt’s advisory opinions.

My experience in reading Mr. Britt’s writing is that he is not liberal or conservative, he is just trying to honestly and fairly interpret a law that doesn’t answer every question that arises.

Britt may have been silent on all this, but the Star quotes a number of what the reporters describe as “government transparency advocates.”  They all agree that Prescott’s amendment, passed in House committee, would gut the Public Access Counselor by limiting any opinions to the exact language in the statute.

I have been in and out of journalism since 1973 and firmly believe watering-down our open meetings law is a very bad idea.  Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail in the end.

The Star story can be accessed at this link, but you may need a subscription

It was an emotional event.  It started with the Outside the Box Choir singing the Celebration song and the energy in the room was vibrant.  At other times, tears were shed, some tears of joy but also sad memories of the past.

It was the Disability Awareness Month kickoff Friday morning at a packed Launch Fishers Theater.  Keynote speaker Stacey Oldham spoke of her personal journey with Multiple Sclerosis.  She was told at age 20 her life expectancy would only span to about age 50.  She has celebrated her 59th birthday and looks forward to a marriage ceremony soon.

Stacey talked not only of her own experiences, but how advances in treatments and medical science in general have created longer life expectancies and a general better quality of life for those dealing with disabilities.

Mayor Scott Fadness, a supporter of city efforts in aiding the disabled, spoke of Fishers as a young city, progressing like a human in the teen years.  Fishers has been undergoing rapid growth for many years, but has some maturing ahead in the future.

City Council President Cecilia Coble was the emcee for the kickoff event.

Stacy Oldham was not only the keynote speaker, she was also recipient of the 2024 Life Without Limits Award.  The Cornerstone Employer Award went to Lauren Hayes of Heartland Church.

HSE Special Education teacher Jillian Mack was presented with the Accessibility Award.  She was surprised that school officials arranged for her 4th grade class to attend the ceremony, and her students chanted “Go, Miss Mack” as she accepted the honor.

Another major theme of the kickoff was how people with disabilities can become productive members of society with just a little accommodation from an employer.

The emotions were strong for the Fishers Disability Awareness Month Kickoff Friday morning.  But that was just the beginning.  For more on what will happen throughout the month of March, use this link.

I have already written extensively about the closure of Allisonville Road at 146th Street for 90 days, but be aware of some water quality work along other sections of Allisonville Road.

Also, be aware of road work along Municipal Drive near the construction site for the new City Hall/Arts Center.  Watch for sidewalk projects in the Windermere neighborhood and trail closures for the planned Heritage Park Bridge.

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

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STATE ROAD 37 IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

To learn more about the State Road 37 Improvement Project and sign up to receive text updates, visit 37Thrives.com. 

STATE ROAD 37 AND 141ST STREET
A pre-construction phase at SR 37 & 141st Street is currently in place. During this phase, 141st Street will be a Right-In-Right-Out (RIRO) traffic configuration. 
This is not the permanent configuration. This will allow for traffic to flow more freely along SR 37 until the next phases of construction can be activated. This will eliminate backups along SR 37 that have caused dangerous stops to the free flow traffic and backups on the 146th Street interchange. Again, this is not the permanent configuration for 141st Street. The full timeline for the 141st Street interchange will be provided after project bids are accepted in the Spring 2024. View detour routes here. 

View how to merge safely onto Northbound SR 37 from 141st Street here and onto Southbound SR 37 from 141st Street here. To navigate the merge, remember:

• Use the accel lane to gain speed, not stop
• Use your mirrors and pay attention
• Look for a gap in SR 37 traffic and safely merge

To learn more about the Clear Path Improvement Project and sign up to receive text and email updates, visit clearpath465.com 

I-465 & I-69
Drivers will see an increase in construction along the I-69 corridor in the coming months. This work will focus on reconfiguring the interchange at I-465 and I-69. New ramps will provide direct movements from eastbound I-465 and northbound I-465 to northbound I-69. Binford Blvd. will also be reconstructed to separate local traffic from traffic entering and exiting I-69 and I-465. Access to I-69 from Binford Blvd. will remain open. 

Crews closed the two ramps at 82nd Street on Monday, January 29. These ramps will remain closed throughout most of 2024.

• Ramp from I-69 South to 82nd Street
• Ramp from 82nd Street to I-69 South

Patrick Mapes, in his first podcast interview with me after officially taking on the HSE Superintendent position, covered a lot of territory and answered a number of questions head-on.  Here are a few issues we discussed.

–Mr. Mapes does not appear inclined to continue the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion position (DEI) that has been vacant since Nataki Pettigrew left.  He believes other members of the school staff can collectively handle the DEI issues.

–He intends to remain in this job 6-7 years, the normal time a superintendent tends to serve one school district.

–He talks about the Role of Deputy Superintendent Matt Kegley.

–Following the cancellation of the Panorama Survey contract about one year ago, Mr. Mapes talks about what survey HSE Schools might use to fulfill the state requirement.

–He talks about keeping Wayne Township within the HSE family.

There is much more in this podcast.  Listen to the entire podcast at the link below:

Hamilton County Highway officials warned us in advance, and now it is here.  Allisonville Road is closed at 146th Street for an estimated 90 days.

Indy area television news crews were doing live reports Friday morning, showing viewers that, yes, as announced, Allisonville Road is closed at that location.

This is part of a major construction project that will create a roundabout at ground level on Allisonville Road and 146th Street will be on an overpass above Allisonville.  There will be ramps to connect 146th Street to Allisonville Road once the work is complete.

Hamilton Southeastern High School student and Gatorade Indiana Volleyball Player of the Year, Lauren Harden, awarded Mudsock Youth Athletics with a $1,000 grant to support its mission of helping youth in Fishers and the Hamilton Southeastern School district stay physically and mentally healthy by giving them an active outlet to play recreational and competitive team sports. For over 35 years, Mudsock Youth Athletics has strived to promote character development, leadership, and physical fitness through its programming.

Sports have seen a double-digit decline over the past decade, largely due to tighter budgets in communities, but young people that participate in sports are found to be happier, healthier, and better students. As part of Gatorade’s commitment to breaking down barriers in sport, every Player of the Year receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner.

“The Gatorade Player of the Year award highlights student-athletes who set an example both on and off the field,” said Kara Darling, Assistant Marketing Manager for Gatorade Player of the Year. “The grants give these athletes a chance to donate to organizations like, Mudsock Youth Athletics, that positively impacts the youth in their own communities.”

All 610 Gatorade State Player of the Year recipients are awarded a grant to donate to a social impact partner of their choosing. To date, Player of the Year winners’ grants have totaled more than $4.9 million across more than 1,900 organizations.

“We have enjoyed watching Lauren’s development as a volleyball player and as a leader in the high school sports community over the past four years,” said Scott Spillman, Executive Director of Mudsock Youth Athletics. “We couldn’t be prouder of Lauren’s award as Gatorade Indiana Volleyball Player of the Year nor can we think of someone more deserving. Her donation will allow us to continue to support and cultivate the children in community by providing physically active outlets including sports like volleyball.”

Harden shared, “without the city of Fishers and organizations such as the Mudsock Youth Athletics, children wouldn’t be able to find their love for sports while also growing as people and learning important skills like leadership, teamwork, and more. I chose Mudsock Youth Athletics as my grant recipient because I know and believe the impact they have on the youth in Fishers and in the Hamilton Southeastern School district is priceless. I know they will use this grant to continue to bring positive change to the community and lead in the youth sports industry. I am proud to say I chose Mudsock Youth Athletics to receive this donation from Gatorade.”

Gatorade has a longstanding history of serving athlete communities and its ambition is to continue doing more to create positive change.

“I am filled with gratitude and blessed to receive such a high honor as being named Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year and even more grateful that with this award, I was able to give back to my community that has given me so much,” said Harden. “I am extremely grateful my parents were so flexible and patient with helping find the right sport for me and always supporting me. Volleyball has taught me leadership, compassion, grit, humility, and so much more.”

To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow the conversation on Twitter #GatoradePOY. For more on Gatorade Player of the Year Community Grants, the Gatorade Player of the Year, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit this link.

The Hamilton East Public Library announces the 2024 HEPL Seed Library will open on Monday, March 4 at the Fishers Library! The Noblesville Library Seed Library will open on Tuesday, March 5.

The Seed Library is open to all Hamilton County residents, who may visit the library to get a maximum of 20 seed packets per library cardholder for the 2024 growing season. The honor system is followed, so there is no need to check in with a staff member unless there are questions. Seeds are not required to be returned, but HEPL does welcome most varieties of harvested seeds to share again with the community.

Seeds are also available for schools, community groups, and nonprofits, whom HEPL loves working with to beautify Fishers and Noblesville! If you’d like to partner with HEPL, please reach out at seedlibrary@hepl.lib.in.us.

“We love hearing about our community’s gardens every year, and we know the Seed Library is very important to library users,” said Julia Welzen, Community Engagement Coordinator at Hamilton East Public Library. “Our hope is that with the HEPL Seed Library, our community will explore how wonderful gardening can be, no matter where they are in their gardening journey.”

There are 145 seed varieties in HEPL’s collection this year, including vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, and even a native grass. The seeds are non-GMO and open-pollinated. Hybrid plants are not included in the collection since the seeds from these plants will not breed true. You’ll find old favorites as well as fresh varieties each year. Plants are labeled by difficulty level so patrons can choose plants that they’ll find the most success with.

New varieties this year include: Homemade Pickles cucumbers, Red Malabar spinach, Anaheim peppers, Greek oregano, summer savory, Long Island Cheese pumpkins, salsify, Amana Orange tomatoes, ageratum (floss flower), annual candytuft, Ohio spiderwort, common ironweed, and much more!

You’ll also see the return of many of your favorites, including zinnias, Suyo Long cucumbers, Moon & Stars watermelons, shishito peppers, Munstead lavender, Genovese basil, Pacific Beauty calendula, Nigella, and Blue False indigo.

HEPL welcomes donated seeds, although is unable to accept varieties like squash and pumpkins that cross-pollinate easily. Visit the Seed Library webpage for a complete list of seeds and growing guides.

Patrick Mapes is now officially the Superintendent of Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools following a unanimous board vote approving his employment contract Wednesday evening.  Also, Board President Juanita Albright announced that Dr. Matt Kegley, who served as interim superintendent since September, will be promoted to the position of Deputy Superintendent.  Dr. Kegley said at the time of Dr. Yvonne Stokes’ resignation that he would apply for the superintendent position, but was not hired by the board.

After the vote, Mapes spoke before the board and described his visits to 16 HSE District buildings the past few days, saying he was “amazed at the instruction that’s taking place.”  He described the teaching staff as very welcoming, and said interactions with students have been “fabulous.”

“I just appreciate the opportunity,” Mapes told the board.  “I see a very strong team of teachers and administrators in the district that I have met so far.”

Mapes served 7 years as superintendent at Perry Township Schools in Marion County.

Before his hiring as HSE Superintendent, Mapes was Vice President of School Academic Operations for Stride Incorporated.