The Indianapolis Star has sponsored a series of all-star games with Indiana seniors pitted against the best high school hoops seniors from Kentucky since 1940.  The 2025 team has been announced and for the second consecutive year, a Fishers High School senior has been named to the team.

The Star announced the team Friday and Tiger Justin Kirby will be a part of the Indiana All-Star squad.

“Justin’s story is 1 of true perseverance & work,” says a social media post by the Fishers basketball account. “He is 1 of the most improved players in Indiana & has earned this. Congrats, Kirb, we are proud of you!”

Keenan Garner represented the Tigers on last year’s all-star team.

For more on the 2025 team, read the Star story at this link.  (Note:  You may not have access to this story unless you are an IndyStar subscriber)

I was unable to attend the April meeting of the Fishers Plan Commission, but Current Publishing reporter Leila Kheiry did post a report online.  It is highly unusual for the Commission to end up with a tie vote on any proposal before that body, but that’s what happened in this case.  It’s all about a proposed residential development off Cumberland Road near Deering Street, just north of 106th Street.

Reporter Keiry has the details in her story available at this link.

It would appear the Cadillac Formula One team set to occupy the new under-construction facility in Fishers is anticipating more visitors.  The developer constructing the F1 building has bought the Springhill Suites hotel next door.

Indianapolis Business Journal reporter Daniel Bradley posted the story on the IBJ Web site Friday morning.  You can read the piece at this link    (Note:  It is likely you will need a subscription to IBJ in order to access this story).

Television station WTHR is reporting an HSE High School student’s car was searched on school grounds as part of a disciplinary investigation and a gun was found by school officials.  A school Resource Officer and Fishers Police were immediately notified.

WTHR cites a message sent to parents by Superintendent Patrick Mapes saying there is no indication this student was preparing to carry out “any act of violence.”

Read the WTHR story at this link.

One of Conner Prairie’s biggest summer offerings is the Symphony on the Prairie.  The lineup for 2025 has been announced, and once again features a wide variety of offerings.

See the item below for more details on tickets, contact the Symphony Box Office phone number, 317-639-4300, Wed – Fri 10 a.m – 5 p.m.

The Indy Fuel battled their way to a crucial 3-2 victory over the Toledo Walleye in a thrilling shootout Tuesday night at the Fishers Event Center.

The Walleye struck first with a late first-period goal by Mitchell Lewandowski, despite being outshot by Indy 10-6. The Fuel responded in the second period when Jarrett Lee capitalized on a power play to tie the game at 1-1. However, Toledo regained the lead on a power-play goal by Cole Gallant, sending Indy into the final period trailing 2-1.

With just under seven minutes left in regulation, Kevin Lynch netted the equalizer on another Fuel power play, sending the game into overtime. Despite several close calls, both teams remained deadlocked, forcing a shootout.

In the four-round shootout, Brandon Hawkins put Toledo ahead early, but Lynch and Cam Hausinger responded with clutch goals for Indy. Goaltender Ben Gaudreau stood tall in the net, sealing the Fuel’s hard-fought 3-2 victory and securing two valuable points in the Central Division standings.

The Fuel will look to build on their momentum when they return to action Saturday, April 5, 7pm, facing the intrastate rival Fort Wayne Komets.

As Central Indiana communities face increasing housing costs, rapid population growth, and evolving workforce needs, HAND Inc. is convening local leaders and experts to discuss innovative solutions at the 2025 Suburban Housing Conference. Scheduled for Wednesday, April 30, at the IMMI Conference Center in Westfield, the event is presented by the Hamilton County Community Foundation.

Now in its 11th year, the conference serves as a critical forum for elected officials, business leaders, nonprofit professionals, and real estate experts to address one of Indiana’s most pressing issues: ensuring suburban housing is accessible and sustainable for all residents. Continue reading Suburban Housing Conference to Tackle Affordability Challenges in Central Indiana →

The Indiana General Assembly is charged with fashioning budgets and enacting laws for our Hoosier state. We face a number of issues with economics, healthcare, taxes and the list goes on and on.

With so many genuine problems facing our state lawmakers, I question why so many of our elected officials are spending so much time and effort on a bill over school board elections.  Indiana is one of more than 40 states that elect our school board members in nonpartisan elections.

The Indiana Senate has passed a bill transforming our nonpartisan school boards into partisan political contests.  The Indiana House spent a good amount of time Monday debating a similar bill that ended up passing by a vote of 54-40.

According to reporting from Aleksandra Appleton of Chalkbeat Indiana,  the Senate measure calls for school board elections to be run like any other partisan election, with candidates running in primary elections.  Here is Ms. Appleton’s summary of the more complex House bill:

“The bill passed by the House on Monday gives school board candidates the option to state a party affiliation, identify as independent, or remain nonpartisan in general elections. It creates mechanisms for county parties to challenge an affiliation, and provides that a straight ticket vote does not apply to school board offices. It also provides raises to school board members.”

With the two proposed laws differing as they do, a conference committee would likely need to come up with a final version, unless the Senate just goes along with the House measure.  The pay raise for school board members in the House bill would bring it up from the current $2,000 per year maximum to a sum not to exceed 10% of the lowest starting teacher salary in that district.

As I have written before, having covered tons of school board elections going back to the 1970s, I just do not see any problem with nonpartisan school board elections.  Keeping party politics out of school board elections has worked well here and in most of the nation.  What exactly are we trying to fix here?

Although it appears some version of partisan school board elections is on the way, it is not a totally done deal.  Indiana legislators have been known to kill a proposed law at this stage of the game.

This law would prevent federal employees and private operation employees, with the businesses receiving substantial federal funding, from running in Indiana school board elections under the federal Hatch Act.  As long the elections are nonpartisan, those citizens may run for office.

Partisan school board elections create problems rather than solving them. Lawmakers should focus on real issues that affect Hoosiers’ daily lives.

The Hamilton Southeastern school year is quickly coming to a close, with spring break just around the corner. Families can begin their travels on Friday, April 4, as students start their break. Classes resume on Monday, April 14.

After spring break, students will have approximately six weeks of classes before the 2024-2025 school year ends. There will be no school on Monday, May 26, in observance of Memorial Day. The school year concludes with the final days of classes on Tuesday, May 27, and Wednesday, May 28.

This will mark the first graduation ceremonies held at the new Fishers Event Center. Fishers High School seniors will graduate on Wednesday, June 4, followed by Hamilton Southeastern High School’s ceremony on Thursday, June 5.

Book lovers and aspiring writers will have an exciting opportunity to connect with local authors at the Hamilton East Public Library’s (HEPL) 2025 Local Author Fair. The free, open-house-style event will take place on Saturday, April 12, from 1:00 – 4:00 PM at the FORUM Events Center (11313 USA Pkwy, Fishers, Indiana).

Nearly 70 authors and literary organizations from Fishers, Noblesville, Carmel, Westfield, Cicero, Indianapolis, Greenwood, Anderson, Crawfordsville, and beyond will be present. Attendees can meet authors, purchase books, and have them signed. The event will also feature giveaways, including book bundles and other prizes.

Returning for a second year, story times and short readings by participating authors will be held in a room adjacent to the exhibit space throughout the afternoon.

“Hamilton East Public Library is excited for the return of this annual event showcasing the talent of local authors,” said Danielle Acton, HEPL Adult Program Coordinator. “Our service area within Hamilton County, and Indiana at large, has many gifted writers, some of whom have self-published and others who have launched their works through traditional publishing houses. The Local Author Fair provides a unique opportunity to engage directly with nearly 70 authors and literary organizations as you support local storytelling. During the event, you can purchase books for yourself or as gifts, network with other authors, ask them about their writing inspiration or process, and learn more about their journey to publishing.”

In addition to the fair, HEPL is offering four free writing workshops on the morning of April 12 from 9:30-11 AM at the Fishers Library (5 Municipal Dr.). These workshops require registration due to limited space and will cover various aspects of writing and publishing:

• Writing Great Dialogue with Michelle McGill-Vargas
• Get Published, Not Scammed with Myra Levine
• Reasons to Write with Dr. Leah “Riwo” Leach
• Creative Writing and Illustrating for Kids with Professor Watermelon and Mister Smart

Aspiring writers and literature enthusiasts are encouraged to take advantage of this one-of-a-kind opportunity to engage with Indiana’s literary community. For more details and to register for the workshops, visit this link.