December first was a Monday in 1958, and as the clock made its slow journey to dismissal time that afternoon, the elementary school’s students were getting antsy. There were 1,600 of them crammed into the school that month, reflecting the peak years of the Baby Boom. Sometime around 2:20, a small fire of unknown origin … Read more
The answer to that question might surprise a lot of people. It’s zero. Aren’t any registered Democrats, either. That’s because Indiana law doesn’t call for registering voters by their preferred political party. You might believe you’re a Registered Republican, but it’s true only in your mind, because there’s really no such thing here in Hoosierland. … Read more
If you use social media chatter group posts as a gauge, one of the biggest frustrations of Hendricks County residents involves anything to do with roads. Why doesn’t Avon do something about that horrible traffic on 36? Can’t Plainfield adjust the timing on those stoplights on 40? How come roads always get built or expanded … Read more
When I became a school board member, I shared the attitude I’m sure many of you have about school athletics – that the emphasis and support school leaders grant it should instead be redirected toward academics. Full disclosure: I’ve never been an athlete. In fact, I was the kid who was always picked last, and … Read more
Whenever longtime Plainfield Town Manager Rich Carlucci would call his Avon counterpart, Tom Klein, he’d ask how things were going “up there in North Plainfield.” While the athletes from each town’s high school may be fierce rivals, the two managers simply enjoyed ribbing each other. They also shared mutual respect and a willingness to help … Read more
Have you ever stopped to think what would have happened if the basketball world didn’t come to an agreement that the rim has to be exactly 10 feet above the floor? A coach lucky enough to start giants might set the basket at 12 feet, knowing their opponents would struggle to grab rebounds. There’s a … Read more
Whether as a participant or an observer, I’ve taken part in any number of ceremonies and events over the decades. The one that touched my heart the most was when I was lucky enough to witness a naturalization ceremony at Union Station in Indianapolis. I was there to watch our high school’s We The People … Read more
Many people don’t realize there’s a profound difference between ignorance and stupidity. Ignorance is when you’ve never had access to a particular piece of knowledge, so you’re not to blame for not knowing it. But stupidity … that’s when you do (or should) know better, so you make yourself look like a complete idiot. Take … Read more
Of all the nonsense that pops up on local social media chatter pages, one of the most dependable appears every time someone intends to convert open land into some kind of development. An announcement that the town’s (or county’s) plan commission will meet to discuss the proposed project appears … and current residents instantly lose … Read more
One of the most misunderstood areas of local government revolves around the concept of economic development. Residents seem to believe that their town (or county) council is in charge of deciding which restaurants, stores, and other employers will open their doors locally. It’s as though they believe there’s a menu local officials order from. “Yes, … Read more