TODAY’S WEATHER Thursday, July 13, 2017 Today: Periods of showers and thunderstorms. Tonight: Periods of showers Sheridan, Noblesville, Cicero, Arcadia, and thunderstorms. NEWS GATHERING LIKE & Atlanta, Carmel, Fishers, Westfield PARTNER FOllOW US! HIGH: 89 LOW: 72 Two county expansions in the works By FRED SWIFT County Commis- sioners have taken steps to proceed with two major county facil- ity expansion projects. An agreement has been signed with Meyer Najem Con- struction Company for construction management services on a major addition to the County Government Photo provided by 4th Hawk Consulting and Judicial Center. Wednesday morning saw a ribbon-cutting ceremony at for the newly installed produce section at Sheridan’s Dollar The multi-million dollar expansion of General, 3888 State Road 47. Click on the photo above to go to our website for video coverage and more photos the 25-year old building will provide more from the ribbon-cutting. space for courtrooms, offices and storage. The addition will be built to the west side of the existing structure and contain around One step out of Sheridan’s ‘food desert’ 100,000 square feet under roof. County officials had known since the By STU CLAMPITT “I think this is a big deal for Sheridan,” the surrounding community,” Snyder said. original building was built in 1992 that ex- The Reporter Hamilton County Commissioner Mark “I had to drive at least 20 minutes in any pansion would eventually be needed and Heirbrandt told The Reporter. “I’m excited direction to get produce.” it was designed so that an addition could Since the last grocery store in Sheridan to see this happen. I’m excited to Purdue Extension Communi- be made. Preliminary design drawings last closed two years ago, the town has been see Dollar General step up to the ty Wellness Coordinator Gloria year show an architecturally pleasing new called a “food desert” by many. Residents plate and help out this commu- Del Greco was credited by many west front for the facility. had to travel to Westfield or Noblesville to nity. I love seeing the elected of- as being the force behind this The agreement with Meyer Najem call buy fresh produce. Until now. ficials and community members project. for a fee not to exceed $80,000 for pre-con- Wednesday morning saw a ribbon-cut- who have come out here to help According to Snyder, “This struction documents. Assuming the project ting ceremony for the newly installed pro- support this.” project came together with Glo- is funded by the County Council the agree- duce section at Sheridan’s Dollar General, According to Dollar Gen- ria Del Greco. She came in after ment will be amended for additional work. 3888 State Road 47. Community members eral Manager James Snyder, the IGA closed here and Sher- No date has been set for bidding the proj- and leaders were on hand to celebrate fresh it took almost a year to get the idan had become a food desert. ect estimated to cost around $23 million. fruits and vegetables returning to town. project coordi- Del Greco There was no “This is of awesome importance be- nated and reach fresh produce, See Fred . Page 2 cause [Dollar General] stepping forward to Wednesday’s “This is like ‘Hallelujah’ for the community.” no meats. In here fill that gap—the ‘food desert’ as we call ribbon-cutting. we had some it—has been tremendous,” said State Rep. “The communi- — Gloria Del Greco things to supple- Tony Cook (R- Cicero). “We appreciate it ty’s really been ment that but we Alaska fun here. You can see on Facebook social me- raving about it. We got it just last Thursday didn’t have the fresh produce.” I have been dia is just lit up with people and hopeful- and it took less than a day and a half for it Sheridan Columnist fortunate to ly they will turn out and support the area. to sell out,” Snyder said. “It was just that Town Council President David Kinkead travel quite a It’s a great opportunity to fill the void and popular and fast-moving. I’m glad Dollar agreed that Del Greco was the person most bit due to play- hopefully the community can rally behind General has stepped up and tried to help responsible for this project. “Gloria Del ing both golf it. And hopefully they might see some ex- out this community here.” Greco is the ramrod. She’s really worked and basketball pansion with this.” Snyder, like other Sheridan residents, hard at this,” Kinkead said. in college and Other community leaders present at the has faced hardship since the last grocery Del Greco said she was excited by the then being in- ribbon-cutting agreed that this was an im- store closed. “I have been in the same situ- volved in the portant day for the town. ation as everybody else that lives here or in See Food Desert . Page 2 car business as an adult. How- ever, I have never been to COURTNEY COX COLE Fishers Controller accepts position at Mind Trust Alaska. My By LARRY LANNAN city. The town had The news release from the Mind Trust mom had the www.LarryInFishers.com an elected clerk-trea- says Gutierrez will be involved in facility awesome idea of having our entire family surer. Under the city and financing strategies for the nonprofit go to Alaska on a cruise. This is a fantastic The City of Fish- arrangement, the organization. experience. We started in Vancouver and ers is losing its con- mayor’s office took “Oscar’s unique professional back- then we are going to several places in Alas- troller, but the Mind over that responsibil- ground and unwavering belief in the po- ka before returning to Vancouver. Trust is gaining a new ity and Scott Fadness tential of all children make him an ideal fit I have never been on a cruise that has Senior Director of Fa- appointed Gutierrez for this critical leadership role. We could cool weather but also has an amazing cilities and Finance. as the city’s first con- not be more excited for Oscar to lend his amount of sunshine. One of my favorite Oscar Gutierrez will troller. considerable expertise to fuel the growth things is to meet people from all over the start his new job soon One of Oscar’s Gutierrez of high-quality schools in Indianapolis by world. There are no phones — well you with the Mind Trust, biggest accomplishments during his ten- advancing innovative facility solutions.” could have phones but it would be a huge an organization supporting charter schools. ure in the controller’s office was gaining said Brandon Brown, The Mind Trust’s charge. Thus, it is sometimes a bit of a Gutierrez took over as city controller the AAA debt rating for the city, which re- Senior Vice President of Education Inno- challenge to “find each other”. You quickly as Fishers transitioned from a town to a duced the costs of borrowing. vation, in the news release. realize how lucky we are to have modern communication. Sometimes it is awkward to go to break- fast, lunch, or dinner with strangers. At first, David Ferris named National Teaching Award finalist I was not real big on doing this; however, I The REPORTER improvement of math- connected to real-world learning,” said Jeff am growing to like it because you can learn so much. If you want to do this, there is one Noblesville Schools announced today ematics and science Bryant, Noblesville High School principal. dining room where you can go and they will that Noblesville High School math teach- education. Indiana “He’s exceptionally deserving of this rec- seat you with whomever just sat there. er David Ferris has been named a 2016-17 finalists underwent a ognition and we’re thankful to claim him I quickly realized that life is a “small Indiana state finalist for the national Presi- rigorous application as one of our own.” world”. The very first morning I somehow dential Award for Excellence in Mathemat- process and were se- Ferris will be honored at an Indiana managed to get split up from our group ics and Science Teaching. Ferris is one of lected by a state com- Department of Education luncheon this fall so I decided to just have breakfast at this only four math teachers in the state selected mittee for their out- and has a chance win a trip to Washington restaurant. At the time, I did not realize for the prestigious honor. standing qualifications D.C., special professional development op- that I would be seated with “total strang- The Presidential Awards are the na- “Dave is a master portunities, and $10,000 if named a nation- ers”; however, it turned out to be a great tion's highest honors for teachers of mathe- teacher and AP train- Ferris al award winner. experience. It turns out these people were matics and science. Award recipients serve er who is respected locally and nationally Ferris was also recently chosen as a as models for their colleagues, inspiration for his ability to generate excitement for 2017 teacher of the year for Noblesville to their communities and leaders in the math through creative, hands-on activities Schools. See Courtney . Page 2 2 News FRED FOOD DESERT from Page 1 from Page 1 The council will then vote on funding. jail building with includes the sheriff's Money is not regarded as a major prob- department offices and the 911 commu- lem since the county holds major cash nications center, was built to house 296 reserves.