I realize this blog is centered on Fishers, but the new Costco store in Noblesville is just a few blocks from the Fishers city line.  I suspect lots of Fishers people will be shopping there.

I have been a regular at the Castleton Costco, which had been the nearest Costco until Noblesville opened.  I decided to wait a few days, let the Thanksgiving holiday run its course before visiting the newest area Costco.

This is likely true of all warehouse retail operations, but this place is big….very big.  It is also organized much differently compared to the Castleton operation, so it will take some time before I know where to find my regular items.

I went early Monday morning, so the crowds were down, making it easier to get around without playing bumper-carts with the other shoppers.

There has been much anticipation as this Costco was under construction, but the crews were able to get the building completed and ready for the public just before the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons.

I do often shop locally but there are some things only Costco can offer.  Let’s see how the public reacts to the Noblesville version.

The Thanksgiving holiday did put me a bit behind, so here is a reminder from the City of Fishers that there are plenty of opportunities to shop local small businesses in your Christmas shopping adventure this year.

Check out what deals are happening at local businesses around Fishers. Please note that deals may change and city officials  encourage you to check with the business for the latest deals and details. Be sure to follow Fishers on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and follow #ShopFishers to see deals happening at local businesses throughout the season.

The City of Fishers Web site offers a local gift guide at this link.

The Christmas season is upon us so consider local businesses as you shop.

I rarely go several days without a blog post here, but decided to take some time off for the Thanksgiving holiday.  I spent time with family and friends, and hope that you did so as well.

I am always thankful for my family, friends and reasonably good health for a guy my age.  I am always thankful for all of you, the readers of this local Fishers news blog.

When I began the blog in January of 2012, I projected a few local news & government nerds like me would read it, maybe a few hundred readers would come along with time.  I was very wrong.

I will have my largest number of unique visitors to this site in 2023, that is already in the books.  My unique visitor count is well into the tens of thousands.  So, thanks to all of you for reading and letting your friends know about this blog if they might have any interest in Fishers news.

Thanksgiving weekend is normally a slow news time in Fishers, but allow me a couple of items that may be of interest.

First, congratulations to the Fishers High School Marching Tiger Band.  They have returned from the trip to New York City, performing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  Out of about 1,000 schools that apply, 5 are chosen each year.  Macy’s invited the Tigers to march in the 2023 parade.  Their performance on NBC’s coverage was amazing.

The 2023 Macy’s Parade drew 28.5 million viewers for the NBC telecast, a 6 per cent increase in audience size compared to 2022, per the Hollywood Reporter newspaper Web site.

One other item of interest….I posted a story on this blog November 21st about the opening of the Cooper & Cow Steakhouse & Bourbon Lounge in Fishers, in the downtown location that once housed the small plate eatery Louvino.  The new restaurant is slated to open in December, but we don’t have an exact opening date at this time.

Apparently, lots of people are interested in this development,  I had tons of people reading this blog post.  I would expect to see good crowds for Cooper & Cow once it does open its doors.

Allow me to end this post with the closing I have used at the end of my podcasts ever since COVID hit us hard in 2020…..be safe, and be kind!

The weekly road construction report for the Fishers area is out early this week to warn motorists of road closures for the Gobblers Jog & Wishbone 4K events.  Also, on Monday, November 27th, watch for a sidewalk closing on the northeast side of Municipal Drive and 116th Street.  Crews will be installing a new sign for the restaurant using the site that once contained LouVino….the new restaurant set to open in December at that location is Cooper & Cow Steakhouse & Bourbon Lounge.

For all the details, check out the latest road construction report below, as provided by the City of Fishers:

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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. 

In the coming weeks, drivers on WB I-465 can expect to see traffic being shifted onto new pavement between I-69 and Allisonville Road. Traffic will also be shifted onto new pavement for SB I-69 onto WB and SB I-465.

If you frequent the area of 116th Street and Municipal Drive in downtown Fishers, you may have noticed a sign signaling a new restaurant set to open in December, at a location that once housed a small-plate operation.

Cooper & Cow Steakhouse & Bourbon Lounge is to open in December, but no precise opening date was revealed in a news release.  The release says the eatery “pays homage to the skilled craftsmen known as COOPERS, who have shaped the bourbon industry for centuries.”

“It’s exciting to bring Cooper & Cow to our neighbors in Nickel Plate District and surrounding northside area,” says Matt Bauer, General Manager of Cooper & Cow. “This restaurant, which is well aligned with the city’s vision, is another keystone to the growth and development in the Nickel Plate District. We’re looking forward to quickly becoming a community partner.”

Cooper & Cow is owned by Endeavor Restaurant Group in Louisville, Kentucky.

When it was time for community comment at the end of the Monday Fishers City Council meeting, a young man named Skyler Braun stepped up to the microphone.  He recently started an e-mail newsletter (www.FishersDigest.com) focused on Fishers news with a bit of an irreverent bent, aimed at a younger audience.

Skyler wanted to provide results of a poll he conducted among his readers – should the city look into a contract with one trash removal company?  There were 220 responses with 89% saying they want a city-wide trash contract with one company.  The reason provided most often in the comments, according to Skyler, wasn’t cost, it was centered on service issues.

The most common complaint cited was having the trash collection truck miss picking up a resident’s trash.

Mayor Scott Fadness said he has tasked his Chief of Staff, Jordin Alexander, with preparing a work session presentation to the City Council, explaining the steps that must be taken to explore the possibility of such a contract.

Ten years ago, the Town of Fishers went through the process, but public comments were heavily against the idea of a city-wide trash collection contract.  With only two trash collection firms offering service now, it is possible the public mood has changed.

Fadness added that he recently spoke with one Homeowners’ Association (HOA) president that said his neighborhood will pay 45% more to renew their trash collection contract for the same amount of service.

Mike Janes has been a police officer for 23 years, 20 of those with the Fishers Police Department.  The Fishers City Council honored Major Janes Monday night for his 20 years of service to the the city.

“Mike has always been a very honest person through those 20 years of knowing him,” said Police Chief Ed Gebhart.  “He’s always put the agency, the community and the profession first, and his decision-making always exemplified that.”

Janes began as a patrol officer with the Fishers Department in 2003.  He was the first certified paramedic police officer in the Fishers force.

The major is a member of the dive team and now commands that local team.  He teaches “dive” throughout the nation, per Chief Gebhart.

Congratulations in serving the Fishers community the past 20 years, Major Mike Janes!

Fishers Police report there was a shooting in the area of Saxony Beach at about 4:15pm Sunday.  The shooting victim went to a Fishers hospital and was transported to a hospital in Indianapolis.

Police did not disclose the extent of the gunshot wound.

Authorities say this does not appear to be a random act and there are no ongoing threats to the community at this time.  Police describe this as an active investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Smith at 317-595-3331 or smithjp@fishers.in.us

We have a local election in the books with the final results now certified, although the results were clear on election night.  There will be other faces changing in Fishers in addition to the election.

First, the new faces coming to the Fishers City Council.  John DeLucia, former member of the local Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board, will be a new addition to the Council in 2024.  Tiffanie Ditlevson will assume her seat on the Council next year.  Bill Stuart will be a new face at Council meetings next year as well.

Leaving the Council will be Jocelyn Vare, Crystal Neumann and David Giffel.  My guess is that all three will continue to be involved in local civic affairs.

The City Clerk will continue to be Jennifer Kehl.  She has held that office ever since Fishers became a city in 2015.

Dan Henke was unopposed as City Judge and will begin his new term in 2024.

Mayor Scott Fadness was unopposed in both the 2024 primary and general elections.

There are other changes coming to local officials outside the realm of elective office.

Edra Waterman has announced she will be leaving the Director’s job at Hamilton East Libraries (including the libraries in Fishers and Noblesville).  She starts her new job in 2024 leading the Anderson Library.  The Hamilton East Library Board will be charged with hiring a new Director.

Nataki Pettigrew, Inclusion & Equity Officer, will be leaving HSE Schools to take a similar position for Marion County’s Washington Township Schools in 2024.  It will be interesting to see what the school board does with that position with Dr. Pettigrew’s exit.

One of the most important positions still open is that of HSE School Superintendent.  Dr. Yvonne Stokes resigned under a separation agreement with the school board in September. The application process closes soon and the school board, along with a consultant, will sift through the candidates.  It is expected that a new superintendent will be hired in the coming months, but no one knows an exact timeline.

One thing is for certain – there will be new faces in key positions around Fishers in 2024.  What that will mean remains to be seen.

Here is the weekly update on road construction in and around Fishers, as provided by the city staff:

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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. 

In the coming weeks, drivers on WB I-465 can expect to see traffic being shifted onto new pavement between I-69 and Allisonville Road. Traffic will also be shifted onto new pavement for SB I-69 onto WB and SB I-465.