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Carmel in brief — October 6, 2026

Noblesville Creates names award winners

Hamilton County advances Hazel Dell Parkway bridge replacement; approves $1.179M CDBG award and recovery contract

At a Sept. 28 Hamilton County Commissioners meeting, officials reviewed bids for preliminary engineering and design of a total replacement for the Hazel Dell Parkway bridge (collapsed Aug. 15) and approved a 2026 Community Development Block Grant award of $1,179,216 and a federal recovery contract with Tidal Basin Group.

Late Harvest Kitchen gives time & space to help fight food insecurity

Everybody wants a little taste of Westfield

Hamilton County moves toward Hazel Dell Parkway bridge replacement; approves $1,179,216 CDBG award

At a Sept. 28 meeting, Hamilton County opened bids from DLZ, United Consulting Engineering Inc. and USI Consultants, Inc. for preliminary engineering to replace the Hazel Dell Parkway bridge that collapsed Aug. 15. Commissioners approved a 2026 CDBG award of $1,179,216 and a Tidal Basin Group contract (up to $10,000); the highway department will review engineering bids Oct. 8.

Noblesville Schools facing potential cuts, possible closure if referendum is not approved

Westfield sushi restaurant Chiba permanently closes Park Street location amid Park Street construction

Chiba announced on 2026-09-29 that it is permanently closing its Park Street restaurant in Westfield after about 10 years. Owner Keith Dusko cited ongoing Park Street construction and said the Chiba brand may continue elsewhere, but provided no details.

Carmel fire chief eager to lead new state office

Carmel Clay Schools ends 30-year athletic-training tie with Ascension St. Vincent, hires Riverview Health at $300K/year

On Sept. 23, 2026, the Carmel Clay Schools board voted unanimously to end a 30-year athletic-training partnership with Ascension St. Vincent and instead contract Riverview Health (part of Parkview Health Systems) for $300,000 annually under a five-year agreement with 3–4% annual increases.

Everwise opens Olio Road branch in Fishers, its sixth full-service Hamilton County location

Everwise Credit Union celebrated the Sept. 21, 2026, grand opening of a new full-service branch at 12330 Olio Rd. in Fishers, its sixth full-service location in Hamilton County and 20th in the Greater Indianapolis area, featuring a prototype layout, Interactive Teller Machines and a self-service coin machine.

Winning $2.2M lottery ticket sold in Carmel

Tipton Community School Corp. awarded $86,000 from Indiana Secured School Safety Grant

Tipton Community School Corporation announced on Oct. 1, 2026 that it received an $86,000 award through Indiana’s Secured School Safety Grant program to fund security personnel, vulnerability assessments and updated safety technology; Carroll and Tipton county districts received more than $186,000 in this round.

Carmel SCORE mentor helps Lafayette’s Wildcat Creek Winery move from losses to $5,000/month

Since buying Wildcat Creek Winery in 2025, owner and winemaker Nyssa Craton has worked with Carmel SCORE mentor Richard Ellison on inventory, sales and marketing; the winery is now "making $5,000 per month" and Ellison says monthly sales have risen 20% compared with 2025.

KeyBank taps Drue Anderson to lead Retail Banking

Braun extends gas tax suspension; farmers permitted to use off-road diesel during harvest

On Sept. 30, 2026 Gov. Mike Braun renewed Indiana’s statewide energy emergency and extended suspension of the state Gasoline Use Tax and Gasoline Excise Tax. The renewal takes effect Oct. 6, 2026 and keeps those taxes suspended through Nov. 4, 2026; the announcement also lifts special‑fuel restrictions so farmers may use dyed diesel for farm activities.

Special Olympics Indiana moves 2027 Polar Plunge showcase from Eagle Creek to SKYLAKE Adventures in Sheridan

Special Olympics Indiana will stage its 2027 Polar Plunge season showcase at SKYLAKE Adventures in Sheridan, moving the signature fundraiser from Eagle Creek Park. The season runs across more than 20 events from January through March 2027; additional schedule and registration details will be announced soon.

HAND celebrates completion of Home Place Duets duplexes in Carmel

Clancy’s Hospitality opens The Pretender hi‑fi restaurant on Noblesville square

The Pretender, a music‑forward restaurant from Clancy’s Hospitality, opened at the end of July 2026 at 818 Logan St. on Noblesville’s downtown square. The venue pairs chef‑driven food and cocktails with an analog, vinyl‑focused listening experience and regular DJ sets.

Westfield sushi restaurant Chiba permanently closes Park Street location after about 10 years

Westfield sushi restaurant Chiba announced on Sept. 29, 2026, that it is permanently closing its Park Street location after roughly a decade. Owner Keith Dusko said the Park Street site is ending but indicated the Chiba brand may continue elsewhere; the restaurant opened in 2017.

Fishers community events – October 2026

Hamilton County employers urged to train tech staff to override AI as job openings top 1,000

A Sept. 30, 2026 letter to The Reporter advised Hamilton County employers to give technical workers supervised practice in supervising and overriding AI outputs, noting Indiana Career Connect showed more than 1,000 advertised local computer and mathematical openings on Sept. 24 and citing an IBM September study on the importance of that skill.

“Avant Guard” takes top honors

Meijer opens 75,000‑sq‑ft grocery in Fishers, donates $15,000 to local nonprofits

Meijer opened a 75,000-square-foot Meijer Grocery at 15700 Southeastern Parkway in Fishers on Sept. 30, 2026, its second Indiana grocery store. The location offers full grocery and pharmacy services, delivery and pickup, and Meijer reported presenting $15,000 to Fishers Youth Initiative and Good Samaritan Network.