Current in Carmel

Concerns over CRC's finances expected to be resolved Monday

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:40:00 -0700

The City Council has repeatedly expressed its concerns over the Carmel Redevelopment Commission's management of its finances. Come Monday those concerns are expected to be resolved.

CFD: Change smoke detector batteries

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:36:00 -0700

As the time change approaches on Sunday, March 14^th, the Carmel Fire Department wants to remind residents to make another change that could save their lives – changing the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

Communities nationwide witness tragic home fire deaths each year. Approximately every 3 hours a home fire death occurs somewhere in the nation and 80 percent of those occur in homes without working smoke alarms. Non-working smoke alarms rob residents of the protective benefits home safety devices were designed to provide. The most commonly cited cause of non-working smoke alarms: worn or missing batteries.

Changing smoke alarm batteries at least once a year is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce these tragic deaths and injuries. In fact, working smoke alarms nearly cut in half the risk of dying in a home fire. Additionally, the International Association of Fire Chiefs recommends replacing our smoke alarms every ten years.

Students can see Vereen for free

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 08:21:00 -0700

A last minute financial gift by an anonymous donor on Thursday will allow parents to bring their children in grades K-12 to see Ben Vereen at Carmel High School free of charge this Sunday. College students can get half-price admission. Vereen will appear at Carmel High School’s 1,445-seat Dale E. Graham Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 7, 2010. The Broadway performance/lecture is a fundraiser for Carmel Community Players.
Students high school age and under can receive a free ticket to “An Evening with Ben Vereen” if accompanied by a paying adult. There is a limit of two free student tickets per adult. College students can purchase any ticket at half price with a valid student ID. These tickets can be purchased by calling the Carmel Community Playhouse at Clay Terrace box office at 317-815-9387. Tickets will also be available at the door. Student tickets cannot be ordered online. For more information, visit www.carmelplayers.org.

131st St. to be named Main throughout

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:59:00 -0700

The City of Carmel announced last week that 131st Street will be renamed Main Street for all residents and businesses with Carmel mailing addresses. Currently, sections of this roadway are referred to as Main Street while, in other areas, it is called 131st Street. According to the city’s release on the renaming, the change is occurring to help alleviate confusion for travelers and new residents as well as create a central reference point for cross-city navigation.

City Attorney explains secrecy in CHS investigation

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:37:00 -0700

City Attorney Douglas Haney released the following information in order to help the community and media understand why the City of Carmel is sharing only general information about the alleged incidents involving Carmel High School students at this time. Haney has given an overview of what can happen if too much information is shared about the specifics of the alleged incidents during the investigation.

City Council members still seeking more data on CRC's finances

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:17:00 -0700

For weeks, the City Council has been questioning the Carmel Redevelopment Commission’s management of finances. Some answers were provided on Monday night but questions still remain.
Mayor Jim Brainard and the CRC have repeatedly stated that no residential taxes will be used to fund the $150 million Center for the Performing Arts. During the council’s March 1 meeting, Loren Matthes, a partner with the city’s financial consultant H.J. Umbaugh and Associates, again presented information on the city’s tax increment financing (TIF) revenue. Matthes presented the same information during the Feb. 17 meeting of the CRC, but on Monday night more questions arose.

Sharp to propose hiring of consultant on redistricting

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:09:00 -0700

City Council president Rick Sharp said last Friday that he anticipated the Council to hire a consultant early this week to aid with the redistricting process, pending the Council's approval at its March 1 meeting.
Sharp said he initiated contact with Carmel-based firm Wabash Scientific, which has experience dealing with redistricting. Sharp said the services of this consultant are necessary to help make the redistricting process more transparent to the public and to keep the Council “at arm's length,” preventing any chances of politics interfering. With races for council seats on the horizon, Sharp said bringing in a third party would be good for both sides.

CPD releases statement regarding school bus investigation

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:40:00 -0700

The Carmel Police Department released the following statement regarding the ongoing investigation of assault allegations involving Carmel High School basketball players:
The City of Carmel and Carmel Police Department wish to assure the community that they are working diligently to properly investigate the allegations involving Carmel High School students. This investigation is being taken very seriously and the Police Department is doing everything possible to protect the rights of the child victims involved.
Michael Fogarty, Carmel’s Chief of Police, today announced that five investigators have been assigned to investigate the matter. These investigators are in the process of interviewing more than 60 potential witnesses. Fogarty emphasized that the allegations are serious and cautioned that the department’s investigation will be thorough and careful.

116th and Keystone to close March 3

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 12:53:00 -0700

Beginning on or after March 3rd, construction crews will close 116th Street at Keystone Parkway for approximately 15 days, weather permitting. The closure will allow crews to finish removing the temporary pavement used to maintain four lanes of Keystone traffic throughout 116th Street’s construction. Cross traffic at 116th Street will be closed and motorists are asked to follow posted detour routes for this short period (please note that utility work on Westfield Boulevard will stop during this period allowing Range Line Road/Westfield Boulevard to be included in these detour routes). Four lanes of traffic will be maintained on Keystone Parkway under the 116th Street bridge during the closure period.
A detour map is shown in this article.

Four CHS basketball players removed from team; police receive another assault complaint

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:25:00 -0700

Today it was confirmed that four players on the Carmel High School varsity basketball team have been removed from the team in connection with recent allegations of assault against other students. The team's roster will be updated before its final regular season game tonight against Brebeuf Jesuit.
The Carmel Police Department released word Thursday night that it had received another complaint of alleged assault on Feb. 22. The incident, according to the release, occurred on Jan. 8, but this information was discovered while the police were investigating the incident that occurred on the school bus on Jan. 22.
The release states that the victim, a 17-year-old white male claimed he was assaulted at the school by other students and that this incident is currently under investigation.