HAMILTON COUNTY Hamilton County’s Hometown Newspaper www.ReadTheReporter.com REPORTER Facebook.com/HamiltonCountyReporter TodAy’S Weather Wednesday, April 14, 2021 Today: Partly to mostly sunny. Tonight: Partly cloudy. Arcadia | Atlanta | Cicero | Sheridan Carmel | Fishers | Noblesville | Westfield NEWS GATHERING Like & PARTNER Follow us! HIGH: 59 LOW: 36 News in Brief Samantha DeLong resigning County Quick Hits By FRED SWIFT from Fishers City Council ReadTheReporter.com By LARRY LANNAN DeLong says she is not Final figures on the official 2020 U.S. LarryInFishers.com looking forward to leaving the Census have not been released yet, but are council. expected in the next couple of months, a Samantha DeLong is one "It’s been a great pleasure year and a half after the nationwide count of only two Democrats serving working with the council and began. Hamilton County has an estimated on the Fishers City Council, but for the North Central District," population of 338,011, up from the 2010 her husband's new DeLong told Larry- total of 274,560. With the increase, the job will take her fam- InFishers. "I am very county should be entitled to 10 state repre- ily out of state, mean- sad to be leaving." sentatives and five state senators. ing DeLong will re- Being a council * * * sign her council seat member was compli- Indiana Department of Environmental effective April 30. cated during her ten- Management's periodic soil borings continue As a result, new ure with the COVID to downtown Noblesville. The latest was last Hamilton County pandemic, not al- week in the 800 block of Logan Street. The Democratic Chair lowing her the op- testing has been ongoing in an attempt to Dayna Colbert will portunity to interact learn whether there is groundwater contam- convene a caucus of DeLong personally with con- ination which had been suspected two years party precinct offi- stituents. One thing ago. A report should be made public soon. cials to elect DeLong's succes- she would like to see in the fu- * * * sor on the city council. Colbert ture is diversity among the city An official state historical marker will tells LarryInFishers there are council members. be erected April 20 in Noblesville memori- already people interested in "I think we need more di- alizing Norman Norell, a nationally known running for DeLong's council versity on the council," DeLong fashion designer. Norell was born Norman seat. Potential candidates have said. "I hope whoever fills my Levinson in 1900 in a house along South until 3 p.m. on April 22 to file seat can bring that.” 8th Street near the site where the marker their paperwork. "I look forward to collabo- will be located, according to County His- “Councilor DeLong is some- rating with the new Democrat- torian David Heighway. Operating profes- one who wanted to get involved ic member of the Fishers City sionally as Norell, Levinson was a leading in politics to make her commu- Council to make government Map provided by City of Fishers This map highlights Fishers’ North Central District. designer in New York for half a century. nity even better,” Colbert said. more transparent and accessi- * * * “During her campaign, she put ble for residents, create policies shared appreciation of Council- cil member will be announced U.S. Senator Todd Young will address in the hard work of talking to that improve diversity, equity or DeLong’s service to the City soon, according to Colbert. the Indiana High School Republicans at her constituents, and has served and inclusion, and represent of Fishers and her constituents With COVID to consider, local the organization's Presidents' Day Dinner admirably on the city council. Fishers citizen’s interests above of the North Central district." Democrats are looking at all on May 21 in Carmel. The Carmel High We wish her the best, and look all," said Jocelyn Vare, the oth- The date and time of the options on how to conduct the School Republicans club will host at the forward to welcoming our next er Democrat on the city coun- party caucus to elect the new caucus meeting, including hav- 502 East Event Center with activities be- City Councilor.” cil. "I join my colleagues in our North Central District coun- ing it outdoors. ginning at 5:30 p.m. * * * Applications are still being accepted by the Hamilton County Emergency Rental NHS students headed to “Jazz Superbowl” Assistance Program. The program offers The REPORTER the virtual competition, based help with rent and utility costs for residents Noblesville Schools an- in New York City and hosted by unable to pay bills due to the COVID-19 nounced Monday that it has jazz legend Wynton Marsalis. pandemic. The program runs through Dec. been named a 2021 Best Com- The national music edu- 31. Information on requirements is avail- munity for Music Education cation recognition highlights able by calling (317) 618-3125. winner by the National Asso- school districts for their out- ciation of Music Merchants standing efforts by teachers, (NAMM) Foundation. This is administrators, parents, stu- the sixth consecutive year No- dents and community leaders Monon Greenway blesville has earned the honor. in embracing music education Highlighting the district’s as a part of the core school cur- tunnel in Carmel strength in music, the Nobles- riculum. ville High School Jazz 1 class Noblesville Schools is one to close soon for was recently accepted into the of an exclusive group of dis- highly selective “Essentially tricts to have received the honor mural installation Ellington” jazz competition, for six consecutive years. The REPORTER also known as the “Jazz Su- Districts were selected On or after April 19, the Monon perbowl.” based on music funding, staff- Greenway tunnel under City Cen- NHS earned a spot given ing of highly qualified music Photo provided by Noblesville Schools ter Drive/126th Street will be closed. to only 15 schools across the teachers, commitment to stan- Noblesville High Schools jazz 1 class students are part During this time, Monon Greenway United States and Canada. This dards, and access to music in- of an elite group participating in this year’s virtual “Jazz traffic will be detoured west to 3rd -Av June, students will perform in struction. Superbowl” competition hosted by Wynton Marsalis. enue Southwest. The closure is estimated to last five to six weeks, with the Monon Green- way reopening in time for the Interna- This month’s Council Minutes with Ken Alexander tional Making Cities Livable Confer- COLUMNIST As I write about this month’s why I would get involved in politics is the lack of people interested in ence starting on June 8. This closure County Council meeting, I am re- and I respond the same way: I ran for serving on our appointed commit- will allow CCPR to perform mainte- minded of my day last Wednesday, County Council because I was tired tee positions. We still are seeking nance on the tunnel including power which started early in the morning of the decades of the same elected a Sheridan resident to participate washing, crack repair, hole patching, with business meetings in down- officials, the constant bickering that in the Sheridan Economic Devel- and painting with anti-graffiti primer. town Indianapolis and was non- seems to dominate all politics and opment Commission. Additionally, Following the completion of regu- stop through the Council meeting to show that you can have an active we had two appointees that have lar maintenance, students from Carm- that night. career and give back to your com- not turned in the required appointee el High School will paint a mural with Like many of you, my family munity. While it can be demanding, information. The appointee for the a whimsical music theme, playing off was on Spring Break last week, but it is also very rewarding. Hamilton County Soil and Water the world-class music performed at KEN ALEXANDER I cut our trip short to get back for Our meeting agenda this month the Center for the Performing Arts. County Councilman Council. My friends often question was light. One ongoing problem See Alexander . Page 2 Noblesville firefighters respond to two resident fires Photos provided by Noblesville Fire Department On Saturday, the Noblesville Fire Department (NFD) responded to two residence fires. At 10:24 a.m., crews were dispatched to 9561 Belmar Court. The first crews to arrive were met with heavy smoke outside the building. Firefighters were able to quickly enter the home and extinguish the fire. There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters. The second fire was dispatched at 6:37 p.m. Crews responded to 9973 Waterside Drive and were met with smoke and flames in the residence. Using what firefighters called an aggressive interior attack, crews were able to quickly bring this fire under control and limit the fire damage to the kitchen area. Two civilians were transported to Riverview Hospital for possible smoke inhalation. NFD reminds residents to check your smoke detector batteries. 2 News & Views Alexander from Page 1 Conservation District these opportunities and cre- serving on a board or com- These "Additional Appro- the Emergency Rental As- the way we look at things backed out due to family ating term limits to allow mission, please reach out to priations” are a common sistance Program that she and being transparent with and work commitments. It new people to get involved. me at the email below. agenda item that handle em- was leading on behalf of the debate over the issues. highlights the need to get This is a measure that I con- You will see the term ployee classification chang- the county. This $10 million In the first few years of my more people interested in tinue to advocate.