Dustin Dixon is the right leader for Hamilton County. His integrity, character, and commitment to public service are unmatched. He has built strong relationships within the community and among his peers, and his extensive background in law enforcement has prepared him to lead the Sheriff’s Office with professionalism and accountability. I strongly believe his leadership will serve the citizens of Hamilton County well.
Former Hamilton County Sheriff and Retired Indiana State Police Superintendent
Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen
COMMUNITY
County residents warn of contractors taking their money, failing to do work
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
Tanya Gilbert is well aware of the prevalence of online scams. So, when she needed a deck railing installed at a home she rents out, she took steps to ensure the contractors who responded to her Nextdoor post about the project were legitimate.
Two of them took her money and failed to do the work, anyway, she said, consecutively.
Now, the Carmel resident is speaking out to alert others of the lengths some bad actors will go to appear trustworthy online.
“I’m a little embarrassed to share, but I also know this can happen to anyone,” Gilbert said. “I’ve got my ducks in a row. I’ve got three university degrees. I’m a smart, responsible person, and it’s like I got slapped in the face and then kicked in the face.”
Gilbert, 42, reported both contractors to the Carmel Police Department, and as of April 13 charges had been filed against one of them. CPD said the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office is reviewing the other case to determine if charges will be filed.
CONFIRMED AND TRUSTED?
Gilbert began communicating with Anthony Golden, owner of Golden Scape Logistics, in November 2025 when he sent her a message through Nextdoor expressing interest in installing the rail.
Golden had created a Nextdoor profile page for his business, which the neighborhood social networking site verified as “confirmed and trusted.” However, Golden Scape Logistics does not appear as a registered business through the Indiana Secretary of State’s online portal. After weeks of texts back and forth about the project, Gilbert paid Golden $300 up front, approximately half the project cost, to begin the work. However, Golden continually failed to show up and offered excuses for the delays, ranging from a flat tire to fog keeping his kids out of school, according to Gilbert. Soon, Gilbert told Golden she no longer wanted to work with him and requested her money back. He didn’t return it, so Gilbert filed a complaint with CPD. In March, the Hamilton County
Prosecutor’s Office charged Golden with fraud and theft. The warrant for his arrest remains active.
What Gilbert didn’t know at the time was that she wasn’t Golden’s only alleged victim. The same day he was supposed to begin the project at her rental home, Westfield police filed a separate case against him.
In that case, Golden is accused of accepting nearly $6,000 up front from two neighbors who hired him through Nextdoor to construct a fence between their properties, according to court documents. He allegedly made several excuses after failing to show up multiple times and didn’t refund the payment.
As a result, Golden is facing eight additional felony charges. A warrant for his arrest in the Westfield case also remains active.
Golden did not respond to requests for comment. Nextdoor did not respond to multiple requests for an interview about how it vets contractors or handles complaints about them.
‘MUCH MORE CONNIVING’
After moving on from Golden, Gilbert was on the clock to get the railing project done before a tenant moved in, but she wanted to avoid becoming the victim of another scam.
So, she felt reassured when another contractor who responded on Nextdoor discussed the project with her through FaceTime video chat, sent photos of his workshop and said he used Cash App, a payment app that made refunds easy if something went wrong.
“I told him I just got scammed,” Gilbert said. “He name-dropped a couple of people that we both knew. He was much more conniving and good at get-
ting my trust.”
Current is not naming the contractor because criminal charges have not been filed.
After Gilbert paid the contractor $373 up front for supplies, she began noticing a familiar pattern of delays and excuses. So, she went into the app to ask for a refund but received a message that her request was denied.
Gilbert didn’t receive any of her funds back until April 14, when the contractor sent her $100 and said he intended to return the rest. He told her he’d been having issues with the payment app.
The partial refund came less than half an hour after Current left a voicemail with the contractor seeking comment for this story (Gilbert said she also reached out to him around the same time to request repayment again). He did not return Current’s message.
Gilbert reported the contractor to the police, but as of April 13, charges had not been filed. After receiving the partial refund, she told Current she feels the contractor wants to make amends and isn’t convinced he was attempting to scam her.
PREVENTIVE STEPS
Online scams are prevalent, but there are several steps one can take to minimize becoming a victim of contractor fraud.
According to the Better Business Bureau, a nonprofit that provides business ratings and tracks scams, red flags include requests for full payment or large deposits up front (especially in cash, gift cards, wire transfers or payment apps), high-pressure tactics, refusal to provide a written estimate and an inability or unwillingness to show proof of licensing or insurance.
The BBB recommends researching its Business Directory to find reputable local contractors, reviewing previous work (in person, when possible), asking for references and getting multiple quotes for a project.
Those who have been victimized by a scam are encouraged to report it to local law enforcement and the BBB Scam Tracker, save as many related documents and photos as possible and monitor bank and credit accounts if personal or financial information has been shared.
About us
Founded Jan. 29, 2008, at Noblesville, IN Vol. XIX, No. 14
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The third contractor Tanya Gilbert hired to install a deck railing completed the work and did a ‘great job,’ she said. (Photo courtesy of Tanya Gilbert)
SUNDAY, MAY 3
2026 | NOON – 5 PM
Come celebrate our partnership with sister city, Kawachinagano, Japan Food
West Fork Whiskey Co. property sold
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
The West Fork Whiskey Co. property at 10 E. 191st St. in Westfield has been sold to Fishers-based Stick & Hack, a self-described “sports entertainment and hospitality company” that will move into the building.
The restaurant will remain open during the transition.
West Fork Whiskey Co. announced the sale on social media April 20 and posted the following statement on its Facebook page:
“After many great years in Westfield, we’re entering a new chapter. West Fork has entered into an agreement for the sale of our hospitality and real estate assets in Westfield, with closing expected in the next 45-60 days. To our Westfield community, guests, fans, and supporters: thank you.”
Stick & Hack was founded by Adam Grubb, who is part of its ownership group.
“Stick & Hack is a local brand. It’s my brand,” Grubb said. “It started in 2019 as a media brand. So, it’s seen a couple different variations. And then a couple years ago, we landed on this kind of sports entertainment complex.”
Grubb is part of a partnership that includes Matt Schlueter and Matt Whitlow, owners of Parks Place Pub in Fishers and Ryan Geltz, partner at Stick & Hack Entertainment.
Stick & Hack’s original location is in Fishers and it plans to open another in Broad Ripple.
Grubb said Stick & Hack Grand Park
will be a 35,000-square-foot complex with two restaurants and three bars. The event center on-site will remain open and will be expanded. There will be indoor and outdoor entertainment options.
“(Sitck & Hack has) Lucky Putt, which is kind of if Top Golf and PuttPutt had a baby,” Grubb said. “We’ll have that indoors. We’ll have golf sims, racing sims, bocce ball, shuffleboard, ping-pong and plans for an outdoor space.”
Grubb said the proximity to Grand Park was appealing.
“It’s a once-in-a lifetime kind of location, right across the street from Grand Park,” Grubb said. “I’m a traveling sports parent, and I know what our weekends are like. To have something like that right across the street from where my kids are playing would be incredible.”
Grubb said Stick & Hack Grand Park will be unveiled in phases after the business closes on the property. The goal is to be fully functional by fall or early winter.
For more, visit stickandhack.com/
No Gimmicks, Just Growth
West Fork Whiskey Co. property at 10 E. 191st St. has been sold to Stick & Hack Grand Park, which calls itself a “sports entertainment and hospitality company.” (File photo)
Grubb
FRIDAY - SUNDAY | MAY 1–3
CELEBRATE THE CONCLUSION OF THE PARADE OF HOMES WITH A BEHIND THE SCENES PREVIEW OF HOME-A-RAMA! The 2026 McComb Pella Window & Door Home-A-Rama will be held at Wild Air, the newest community in Zionsville, this September. Get a sneak peek of behind the scenes builds of some of the top builders in Central Indiana.
Represented with three 500 Festival Princesses
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
Westfield residents Cameron Noe, Melanie Guiterrez and Hannah Pensyl are among the 33 college-aged women chosen for the 500 Festival Princess program.
Noe is a 2024 Westfield High graduate and a sophomore at Ball State University. She said being part of the program allows her share her story of dealing with adversity and spread her message of hope.
“In middle school, I faced a lot of bullying,” Noe said. “In eighth grade, I had a sexual as sault experience, and so it kind of set me off my rails, and I was bullied a lot for the years to come. I didn’t have a lot of friends, and I was re ally struggling with my mental health.”
Noe said she coped by getting in volved in organizations at WHS. Her mother, Wendy, was diagnosed with breast cancer around the same time a close friend died. Noe had a hard time coping until she arrived at Ball State and started receiving support.
“The mission that I try to spread is that you’re not alone,” said Noe, whose mother is the CEO of Dove Recovery House for Women and is now can cer-free. “You won’t stay in the darkest moments forever. Things will always get better. And so I really try and spread that mission and just get people talking about mental health.”
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the 500 Festival JPMorgan Chase 500 Kids’ Day, which is set for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 9 at Monument Circle in Indianapolis.
Pensyl, a 2022 WHS graduate, graduated from Purdue University last year with a degree in biomedical health sciences. She is enrolled in Indiana University School of Dentistry in Indianapolis and is in the first year of a four-year program. She has been active with several social and charitable organizations,
Each 500 Princess has a mentor. Gutierrez’s mentor is Brandi Davis-Handy, president of AES Indiana. Noe’s mentor is Ty Spisak, founder of Ty Spisak Marketing & Communications. And Pensyl’s mentor is J.J. Nelson, executive director of Indiana for Carmel-based Delta Dental.
Westfield Farmers Market to begin May 7 — The Westfield Farmers Market, which takes place at Grand Junction Plaza on Thursdays, is scheduled to begin May 7. The market, which takes place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., is scheduled through the spring and summer to Sept. 3. Each market offers seasonal fruits and vegetables, pasture-raised meats, fresh-cut flowers, baked goods, specialty food vendors, handcrafted items, and rotating food trucks. Guests can also enjoy live music, themed market days, and kids activities throughout the season. For more visit westfieldin.gov/433/ Westfield-Farmers-Market
What You’ll Learn
Budgeting & Timeline Expectations
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COMMUNITY
Grand Park Zoning District plan presented to APC
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
During a special presentation to the Westfield Advisory Plan Commission during its April 20 workshop meeting, City of Westfield officials presented their plan for the Grand Park Zoning District. The plans are expected to provide a roadmap for the already approved Grand Park District.
The Grand Park Zoning District seeks to “create a standard zoning district to replace case-by-case PUDs in the Grand Park District,” according to a presentation during the APC meeting. A shorter summary of the plan also was presented during the April 20 Redevelopment Commission meeting, which was conducted prior to the APC meeting.
According to the plan, there will be North and South areas of the Grand Park Zoning District, with 186th Street as the dividing line. According to the presentation, the zoning district would provide “predictable” zoning standards, faster project review, consistent vision across multiple projects and development partners and fewer zoning requests.
The regulating plan that is part of the zoning district proposal would establish height, massing and pavement rules, permitted land uses, anchors and public spaces and street design and parking. It would all be centered on 8.3 million square feet of planned development.
“We will be bringing the rest of this
development together as a single zoning proposal via Grand Park District zoning, and it will be centered around our regulating plan,” Westfield Executive Chief of Economic and Community Development Jenell Fairman said during the RDC meeting. “A regulating plan is a different concept than what we have used traditionally.”
The plan includes 3.4 million square feet of residential space; 2.8 million square feet of parking space; 575,000 square feet of office space; 544,000 square feet of sports and recreation space; 506,000 square feet of retail space; and 394,703 square feet of hotel space within the Grand Park District.
Moreover, 3,784 residential units and 7,144 parking spaces are planned.
The North area would have development south of the Grand Park Events Center and include the Champions Way Linear Park, a green space along a planned boulevard west of Grand Park Boulevard. A 10,000-seat stadium is planned at 186th Street.
The North area also would include east and west canal boulevards and a hotel and conference center.
The South area would have a continuation of the Champions Way Linear Park, which would end at Grand Park Pond, which would feature retail, housing and the already-approved ice facility.
The plan will go before the Westfield City Council June 22 for final consideration.
A canal, which would be part of the South area in the Grand Park District, is shown in an artist’s rendering. (Screenshot from Westfield APC agenda packet)
Veteran Who Served Our Country Leader Focused on Public Safety Strong Community Relationships
Proven to Deliver for Hamilton County
Endorsed by 4 FOPs Endorsed by 3 Hamilton County Mayors
• Sue Finkam, Carmel Mayor
• Scott Fadness, Fishers Mayor
• Chris Jensen, Noblesville Mayor
Endorsed by Doug Carter, Retired Indiana State Police Superintendent and Hamilton County Sheriff
Q&A: Meet the Ind. Senate 21 Democratic candidates
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
Kirsten Root and Joe Kazlas are running for the Democratic nomination for the Indiana Senate District 21 seat. The incumbent is Republican Jim Buck, who has served in the Senate since 2008.
Root and Kazlas answered the following questions from Current. For full responses, see youarecurrent.com.
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR STATE SENATE?
Kazlas: To represent everyday people. I want to bring common sense and common decency back to state government by reflecting the views of the taxpayers in this district.
Root: My work in social services has shown me how government policies affect people’s everyday lives. Through that work, I’ve seen that hard work alone doesn’t always lead to success when systems are not designed to support people. I will focus on policies that strengthen communities, especially rural communities, rather than prioritizing corporate interests.
WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM YOUR OPPONENTS?
Kazlas: I am a proud Navy veteran. My service does distinguish my views and allows me to better understand and empathize with veterans, their families. I am a working-class person from a working-class family. I am a UAW member, which helps me relate to people that work to support their families.
Root: What sets me apart is my background and my approach to leadership. Since starting this campaign, I’ve spent more time listening than talking because I know leadership starts with understanding people’s lived experiences. I carry the core social work values — accountability, dignity, and service — into everything I do.
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP THREE CAMPAIGN ISSUES?
Kazlas: Change. We need to break the cycle of one-party control and provide a
voter focused representative.
Fiscal responsibility. We need to do a much better job of stewardship over the people’s money.
Common sense and decency. We need to return to a government that represents everyday people, not special interests or lobbyists.
Root: My top three priorities are ensuring affordable health care for everyone, strengthening community safety, and expanding freedom and opportunity for all Hoosiers.
WHAT DO YOU MOST WANT VOTERS TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?
Kazlas: That I am just like them. Middle class, Hoosier proud, family oriented and working hard for my family and community. I always say I am just an average Joe.
Root: I can’t promise I will have the answer to every question, but I can promise to listen. I will seek out experts, review evidence, and use facts to guide my decisions. Empathy is one of my greatest strengths, paired with resilience and curiosity. Those qualities guide how I approach leadership and public service.
SENATE ENROLLED ACT 1 (2025) CHANGED PROPERTY AND LOCAL INCOME TAXES, RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT A 2028 ‘FISCAL CLIFF.’ HOW WILL YOU NAVIGATE THESE BUDGET CHALLENGES, AND WOULD YOU SUPPORT AMENDING THE LAW?
Kazlas: I would support amendments that will return more tax money to local units and public school corporations. Our cities cannot survive under SEA1, so we need immediate relief for local units
Root: Leadership requires honesty and the courage to admit when something isn’t working. The Indiana legislature made a mistake with SEA1, and it should be revisited. I support amending the law to reduce excessive business personal property exemptions, restore fiscal flexibility for local governments, and ensure stable funding for public schools and essential services.
Kazlas Root
COMMUNITY
Q&A: Meet the Senate 21 Republican candidates
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
Incumbent Jim Buck and challenger Tracey Powell are running for the Republican nomination for the Indiana Senate District 21 seat. Buck has served in the Senate since 2008. Powell is a Tipton County commissioner. The primary is May 5.
Buck and Powell answered the following questions from Current. For full responses, visit youarecurrent. com.
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR STATE SENATE?
Buck: To continue Indiana’s growth and fiscal responsibility through a continued balanced budget; to insure that we have a skilled, well-trained and educated workforce; to make sure Indiana continues to pay cash for our infrastructure; to make sure local government remains closest to the people; to protect the sanctity of property rights; and to faithfully protect our Second Amendment.
Powell: District 21 deserves fresh, conservative leadership that actually puts Hoosier families first. I’m a chiropractor, a small business owner, a family man, and a Tipton County Commissioner. I know the challenges Hoosier families face because I face them too. After 30 years, it’s time for new energy, new ideas, and to give government back to the people of Indiana.
WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM YOUR OPPONENT?
Buck: I am currently serving as the state senator for District 21. I was the recent national chairman and am a current board member of the conservative legislative organization, The American Legislative Exchange Council. I have served as chairman of various committees in the House and Senate, currently serving as chairman of Local Government and Majority Floor Leader Emeritus in the Senate.
Powell: I am not a career politician. I’ve spent my life as a working man who loves giving back to this community. I serve as a county commissioner and was honored to receive the Legislative Service Award for my work on behalf of Hoosiers.
WHAT
ARE YOUR TOP THREE CAMPAIGN ISSUES?
Buck: Continuing to lower taxes through a balanced budget; Education priority by having a well-trained and educated workforce for employers and entrepreneurs; and property rights.
Powell: Public safety, improving our schools, and lowering taxes.
WHAT DO YOU MOST WANT VOTERS TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?
Buck: I have been married to Judy Buck for 42 years, and we have raised 5 daughters. I have undergraduate and graduate degrees in business administration; I hold a journeyman tool and die mold maker classification; I hold an Indiana real estate broker’s license; I am Vice President of We Care Board and a Rotarian; I am a small farmer.
Powell: I know what it’s like to work like you do. I’m a son of God, a husband, a father and grandfather, a chiropractor, a small business owner, and a Tipton County Commissioner. I support the second amendment and was given an AQ rating by the NRA, the highest rating possible.
SENATE ENROLLED ACT 1 (2025) CHANGED PROPERTY AND LOCAL INCOME TAXES, RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT A 2028 ‘FISCAL CLIFF.’ HOW WILL YOU NAVIGATE THESE BUDGET CHALLENGES, AND WOULD YOU SUPPORT AMENDING THE LAW?
Buck: As Senate Bill 1 was enacted, it placed an undue burden on my specific district. I voted no primarily because one size for all 92 counties does not fit all. Senate Bill 1 did not take into account the various taxation and revenue streams that would receive a shortfall.
Powell: I support the goal of Senate Enrolled Act 1 — delivering real property tax relief to Hoosier families, seniors and veterans. But I’ve also heard the concerns about a potential 2028 fiscal cliff and they’re valid. If elected, my approach is simple: don’t wait for a crisis.
Buck Powell
SCAN ME
Dems host town hall
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
The Hamilton County Democratic Party presented a town hall April 17 at Clay Middle School in Carmel that featured candidates for the Indiana House of Representatives District 29 race and Indiana Senate District 21 and District 29 races.
Hamilton County Democratic Party Chairman Josh Lowry was the moderator. Between 75 and 100 people attended.
Lowry asked eight questions of each candidate. Each had two minutes to answer. Most of the questions were the same for each race. The primary is May 5.
SENATE DISTRICT 21
The Democratic candidates are Kokomo resident Joe Kazlas and Sheridan resident Kirsten Root. Republican Jim Buck is the incumbent. Senate District 21 includes Westfield.
Kazlas, an auto worker, touted his working-class background.
“I work at the Chrysler plant in Kokomo,” Kazlas said. “I’m a member of
(UAW Local) 685. I pay my dues every month and I’m a team leader on the engine block line.”
Root recently earned her master’s degree in social work.
“Public service should actually be about service,” Root said. “It shouldn’t just be about corporate money or who is in charge right at that moment.”
The candidates were asked what bill they would write if they could only write one.
“If I could enable a law into existence, it would be to deal with the labor ramifications of AI,” Kazlas said. “The way I see forward in the next 10 to 15 years, AI is going to be eating a lot of our lunches.”
“If I had a magic wand, it would be (to enact) the voice of the people act. It would do four things,” Root said. “The first would be that it would create a fully funded election system. Next, we would legalize ranked-choice voting. Third, we would impose strict protections against wealth influencing public office. The last thing it would do would establish term limits for all state and local offices.”
Awards nominations open — The Indiana Manufacturers Association is accepting nominations through April 30 for the 2026 Manufacturing Excellence Awards, which honor Indiana companies and individuals for outstanding work, exceptional contributions and impact on the future of manufacturing in Indiana. The awards are open to all manufacturers in Indiana. Anyone may nominate an individual/company active in Indiana’s manufacturing industry, and self-nomination is encouraged. For more, visit indianamfg.com/2026-manufacturing-excellence-awards.
Democratic Party candidates for Indiana Senate District 21 Kirsten Root, left, and Joe Kazlas, middle, receive a question from moderator Josh Lowry during the Hamilton County Democratic Party Town Hall April 17 at Clay Middle School. (Photo by Todd Golden)
Hurdles no obstacle for Hamilton Southeastern senior
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
About a month after competing in the 300-meter hurdles for the first time, Hamilton Southeastern High School senior Chloe Senefeld had instant success.
Senefeld placed second in the 300 hurdles at last year’s IHSAA girls state track and field meet.
Now, she is ready for an equally impressive encore as a senior.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what I can accomplish in the 300 hurdles this year now that I have much more experience,” Senefeld said. “I was so new to hurdling last year, so I feel like I will improve a lot this season. I have trained so much and been working with my coach since the summer. I’m also excited for both our 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams. I think we have a lot of potential in both and are even looking to break school records.”
Senefeld’s goal is to break the state record in the 300 hurdles.
“This would require a big (personal record), but I don’t think it’s necessarily out of reach,” she said. “The record is
ATHLETE
OF THE WEEK
MEET CHLOE SENEFELD
Favorite athlete: Sydney
McLaughlin-Levrone
Favorite vacation spot: Turks and Caicos
Favorite subjects: Anatomy and psychology
Favorite movie: “Deadpool & Wolverine”
41.36 (seconds), and I ran 42.62 last year. However, that 42-second run was only my sixth time ever running the 300 hurdles. So, I believe this season, after all the work I’ve put in, this is an attainable goal.”
Royals girls track and field coach Julie Alano said Senefeld developed quickly.
“If a strong sprinter is willing, it’s better to learn the hurdles later because then you have the strength and speed to do well in them,” she said. “She was able to take that 400 and 200 training and just transfer right over to the 300 hurdles.”
Senefeld is now working on the 100 hurdles, which she didn’t compete in last season because she hadn’t developed the proper form for the higher hurdles.
“The 300s are 3 inches lower and don’t
necessarily require the precise form that the 100s do, at least not when you’re starting out,” she said.
Senefeld ran the 400 hurdles in 2025 at the Nike Outdoors Nationals, her first time running.
“She just missed All-American. She was ninth and the top eight are All-Americans,” Alano said.
Alano said Senefeld is very coachable.
“She leads by example and does everything we ask her to do,” Alano said. “She’s usually the last one here because she is still working out in the weight room or somewhere — she is always trying to get better.”
Senefeld committed to the University of Iowa in late October 2025.
“I absolutely loved the coaching there,” she said. “All the coaches are extremely qualified and have a ton of experience. I also feel like Iowa is more of a hurdle-focused school compared to some others I visited. The head coach is also the hurdle coach, which I love since my high school head coach, Coach Alano, is also my hurdle coach. She really sets the standard high for my future coaching.”
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Hamilton Southeastern High School senior Chloe Senefeld is a top hurdler.
(Photo by Mike Kepner Photography)
COMMUNITY
Census discussed at town hall
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
Westfield Mayor Scott Willis hosted his second quarterly town hall of the year April 16 at the Westfield Washington Public Library. The city’s special census was among his topics.
The census is ongoing, and the third phase is expected to begin soon.
“Why is (the census) important? (Census data) is worth about $2 million a year, your tax paying dollars coming back to Westfield,” Willis told an audience of approximately 100 people. “(The state of Indiana) thinks our population is 49,500. We have GIS data saying we’re close to 75,000. That’s a significant gap, and the tax dollar (difference) at 25,000 (fewer) people, population, local income, (represents) tax revenue not coming to Westfield. So, if you value our roads and infrastructures and all the things we’re trying to do, we need this census data.”
The census also is important in Westfield’s transition to second-class city status on Jan. 1, 2028. At that time, the council will increase from seven members to nine, with a new Sixth District member and one at-large member. He said redistricting will be necessary, but the process probably can’t begin until the census figures are tallied sometime by November.
Willis said the city planned to consult a legal expert to weigh options for redistricting.
“We’re not sure legally what we can
and can’t do,” Willis said. “We’re kind of in a pickle, because we don’t want to redistrict without new data, but we may not have a choice, because by Dec. 1, those districts have to be set because the new election cycle starts. Candidates have to have the ability to run, and if we don’t know what the districts are, they can’t run. So legally, we’re under the gun here. We’ve got time right now, but the timelines they’re sharing with us are starting to make me very nervous.”
Willis also noted infrastructure projects, including road work and downtown development that will start soon. Willis noted the Park Street improvements that are scheduled to begin in May. He said the eventual plan is for Park Street to be closed on weekends to be converted into a pedestrian space with fire pits, picnic tables and live music. Willis said there are interested parties that would open new restaurants on Park Street. He declined to name the parties.
OBITUARY
Robert James Mercer 12-4-1944 – 4-11-2026
Robert James Mercer, 81, of Westfield, Indiana, passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family. Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, he was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fonnie and Theda Mercer, and his brother, Wayne Mercer. He is survived by his beloved wife, Helen Mercer; his brothers, Charlie Mercer (Betty) and Dennis Mercer (Sandy); his sister-inlaw, Pat Mercer; and his children, Anthony “Tony” Mercer, Tamara “Tami” Medsker, and Joanna Wesling. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, and bonus grandchildren who held a special place
BENCH. BUILT FOR THIS
in his heart.
Bob was a proud retiree of Chrysler and was known for his larger-than-life personality.
He never met a stranger and loved conversation, especially trying to stump his son with random trivia. He enjoyed riding his HarleyDavidson Trike, especially with his youngest daughter, and shared a love of animals with his family. He will be remembered for his warmth, humor, and the way he made others feel welcome.
A celebration of life will be held May 3rd at noon at 9306 East 700 North, Wilkinson, Indiana.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the ASPCA in his memory.
Entire Career Practicing Every Area of Law Superior Court 4 Handles. Trampas Whalin for Hamilton County Superior Court 4 Judge
Proven Courtroom Experience in Family, Civil and Criminal Law
Committed to Safe Communities and Justice for All
Served as Judge Pro Tempore in most Hamilton County Courts
Respected Leader in our Community
OBITUARY
Ethan James Prom 5-7-2000 – 4-12-2026
On Sunday, April 12, 2026, Ethan James Prom was taken from us far too soon in a tragic house fire at the age of 25, leaving behind a family and community who will miss him dearly. He was born on May 7, 2000, in Burnsville, MN, and grew up in Westfield, IN, where he lived for over 15 years.
Ethan was a truly caring and empathetic young man, known for his quick wit, his strong work ethic, and his ability to light up any room he walked into. His love for family and friends was at the center of everything he did. He cherished the time he spent hanging out with his siblings, often sharing his love of nature through videos he delighted in passing along to them. He had a keen interest in current events and was known for the long, engaging conversations he shared with his grandmother, “TG” Jules. Among his most beloved companions were his dog, Sir Walter Scott, and his cat, Nezuko, who perished alongside him.
Ethan had a naturally creative spirit. He loved building and inventing things, was exceptionally good at drawing, and was
passionate about music and was a self-taught guitarist. He had a deep love of nature, and his family fondly remembers his fanatic love and knowledge of dinosaurs. He enjoyed the freedom he found longboarding and had a refined taste for bourbon—a passion he and his mother, Molly, lovingly shared. He was also an avid gamer with a wide and devoted circle of friends in the gaming community. He was a guild master in Black Desert Online, his favorite game, and also enjoyed Crimson Desert and Pokémon Go. Beyond gaming, Ethan was an enthusiastic anime fan, with a particular love for Dragon Ball Z, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, and KonoSuba.
Ethan is survived by his mother, Molly; his father, Eric; his sisters, Sophia, Simone, and Dhavia; his brother, Declan; his grandparents, Jules Prom and GarDel and Patty Prom; and his great-grandparents, Jill and Larry Christiansen, Ann Helm, and LaDel Prom and Bob Castelluccio, along with extended family and a wide circle of cherished friends. He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Larry Helm and Sandy and Stephen Rodenbarger, and his great-grandparents, Dennis Dohm, Harold Helm, and Garfield Prom.
Westfield Mayor Scott Willis speaks during his April 16 town hall at the Westfield Washington Public Library. (Photo by Todd Golden)
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Sheriff candidates: Same party, different priorities
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
Two Republicans with lengthy careers in local law enforcement are vying to become the next sheriff of Hamilton County.
Although there are many similarities between John Lowes and Dustin Dixon, they took different paths to their current roles in the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and offer competing views on top priorities for the agency. Lowes places more emphasis on addressing national issues at the local level, while Dixon stresses community partnerships.
Local leaders have taken notice. Lowes has been endorsed by Hamilton County Sheriff Dennis Quakenbush, who is leaving office because of term limits, and Westfield Mayor Scott Willis and Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita. Dixon has endorsements from Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam, Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen and the police unions representing the four largest cities in the county.
Lowes and Dixon will face off in the May 5 Republican primary. The winner is on track to become the next sheriff, as no other candidates in any other parties have entered the race.
Lowes joined HCSO as chief deputy in 2019 after the newly elected Quakenbush recruited him from the Westfield Police Department, where he had worked for 19 years.
His work at HCSO includes overseeing day-to-day operations and managing a $34 million budget.
“The executive level experience really sets me apart (from Dixon), because that’s something that he doesn’t have at the agency,” Lowes said.
Dixon, a U.S. Army veteran, joined HCSO in 2002 and worked his way through the ranks to become a lieutenant. During that time, he said he’s “done virtually every job (the) agency has” and built relationships with officials across the county.
“Really getting to know the people and the concerns and the needs and their issues regarding public safety is something you can’t learn in an office
in seven years,” Dixon said. “It’s something that has to be built by 25 years of frontline experience.”
Both men said under their leadership, HCSO would continue to partner with U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement efforts in the county. But there are differences in their motivations.
For Dixon, it’s primarily a matter of following Indiana code.
“The state legislature changed the law in the last year or two to where essentially all county sheriffs are now required to honor any detainer from (ICE),” Dixon said. “We’re certainly going to follow the law.”
Lowes lists securing the U.S. border among his campaign platforms on his website. Although Indiana isn’t a border state, Lowes said communities throughout the nation are impacted by people in the U.S. illegally and that Hamilton County has seen an increase in this area in recent years.
“We have to enforce the law,” Lowes said. “In communities that don’t support ICE, we see that it seems like things are falling apart. So, when a federal agent — whether it’s ICE or FBI or whatever it is — requests help, we have to be ready to assist them.”
Lowe’s said he supports continuing recent efforts to address and support HCSO employees’ mental and physical health. He also wants to continue to look for ways to protect taxpayer dollars.
“Leadership matters, and how we run the department really determines whether it becomes (financially) bloated, or are we able to look for efficiencies,” Lowes said, adding that HCSO has spent below its budget in recent years.
Dixon said he supports resuming HCSO training alongside law enforcement officials in the county’s smaller northern towns, a practice he said ended during Quakenbush’s tenure. He also would like to dedicate an officer to managing active arrest warrants, create units to focus on traffic enforcement and patrolling county waterways.
“We don’t even own a watercraft to be able to patrol those areas,” Dixon said. “We have to borrow a good citizen’s boat or wait on DNR.”
Dixon Lowes
City provides substance abuse grant to WWS
news@youarecurrent.com
The City of Westfield has approved a $25,000 grant to Westfield Washington Schools to support evidence-based substance use prevention and early intervention programming for students at risk of substance misuse.
The funding comes from the city’s restricted Opioid Settlement Fund and represents the first use of those dollars in Westfield.
“Addiction is a vicious disease, and the best time to combat it is before it begins,” Mayor Scott Willis stated. “Westfield Washington Schools and my administration are aligned in our desire to promote a healthier, safer community, and that starts with protecting our young people so they can live life to the fullest.”
The grant will fund the Prime for Life program, a curriculum designed to reduce high-risk alcohol and drug use behaviors, educate students on substance use risks and encourage healthier decision-making.
“Partnering with the city on this program was an easy ‘yes,’” WWS Superintendent John Atha stated. “The evidence-backed nature of the curriculum and the community-connecting elements inherent in this program mean we will be able to equip our students with potentially lifesaving knowledge, resources, and confidence.”
The funds do not come from the city’s general fund. All funding fully aligns with opioid settlement requirements and has been reviewed by legal counsel, according to officials. The grant includes reporting and accountability measures to ensure responsible use of funds.
Meet the 5th District Democratic candidates
Compiled by Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
Seven Democrats are vying to represent Indiana’s 5th Congressional District. Republican Victoria Spartz of Noblesville is the incumbent.
The candidates are Tara Nelson, a business transformation and technology director from Carmel; J.D. Ford, a Carmel resident and District 29 state senator; Steven “Avit” Avitabile, a chiropractor and small business owner from Carmel; Dylan McKenna, a Westfield resident who works in sales; Deborah Pickett, a Carmel resident and community activist; Jackson Bailey Franklin, a Muncie resident who serves in the U.S. Army; and Phil Goss, who unsuccessfully ran for the 3rd District seat in 2024 (multiple attempts by Current to contact Goss were unsuccessful).
The primary election is May 5.
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR THIS OFFICE?
Nelson: I’m concerned about the direction of our country. The divide between the billionaires and struggling families continues to grow while civil liberties are challenged and Congress fails to respond. We need leadership that defends constitutional rights, protects communities and restores fairness and accountability.
Ford: Indiana deserves an experienced leader who will fight for Hoosiers. They deserve a leader who knows how to stand up to this administration, understands accountability and will push to make life more affordable for working Hoosiers. During my eight years as a state senator, I have shown that I understand the needs of Hoosiers and can get things done.
Avitabile: I’m running because everything costs more, and working families are getting squeezed while
the system rewards those at the top. I’m not a career politician — I’m running to make life more affordable and deliver real results.
McKenna: I am running for Congress because Victoria Spartz has forfeited her Article 1 authority to President Trump and has violated her oath to protect and defend the Constitution. She has surrendered the power the voters gave her over appropriations and waging war. She is simply not doing her job.
Pickett: I am running to fight for my constituents who have had their lives upended by the Trump administration. Our Constitution, rights, democratic institutions and government have all been attacked and degraded. I want to bring integrity, competence and experience to Congress and make our government better for my constituents.
Franklin: I believe the people of Indiana deserve representation from someone who will unapologetically fight for their rights. While working on the ambulance, I have had to take veterans home to die because they refuse to put their own families into medical bankruptcy, which is the nation’s leading cause of bankruptcy. This is a uniquely American problem, and it is time we fix it.
HOW WILL YOU ENSURE FEDERAL POLICIES SERVE DISTRICT 5?
Nelson: As a lifelong Hoosier raised in rural Lafayette and now living in Carmel, I understand the needs of both suburban and rural communities. I will listen to constituents, maintain an open-door approach and ensure federal policies reflect the priorities and voices of all District 5 residents.
Ford: Every community deserves reliable infrastructure and economic independence. Whether it’s high-speed
Continued on Page 19
Nelson
Ford
Avitabile
Pickett
Franklin
McKenna
COMMUNITY
internet for rural areas or sustainable roadways for growing suburbs, federal investment can help provide resources for local leaders to drive their own economies. I’ll ensure tax dollars stay in Indiana, empowering our communities to make their own decisions.
Avitabile: By listening first and focusing on shared challenges — cost of living, health care access, and economic opportunity. Different communities, same goal: policies that make life more affordable and support local growth.
McKenna: Buyers, builders and farmers are all feeling the sting of Trump’s tariffs. The cost of materials has skyrocketed from Albany to Carmel to Kokomo. I will vote to end those tariffs, reclaim that power from the president and put it back in Congress where it belongs.
Pickett: My constituents want to live in thriving communities with well-paying jobs, great schools, well-maintained infrastructure and an environment free from pollutants. Well-designed federal policies serve all by protecting their rights, keeping them safe, giving them control over their lives, encouraging smart decisions and providing critical support where needed.
Franklin: While these areas share some priorities, they also face their own distinct challenges. Therefore our approach is rooted in practical solutions, local input and equitable investments. As a federal representative, my job is to secure and shape federal funding opportunities for my fellow Americans. We need to focus on investing in education, healthcare access and job growth for all areas. The most important thing I believe I can do for the Fifth District is listen.
HOW WILL YOU ADDRESS THE NATIONAL DEBT WHILE MAINTAINING ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND NATIONAL SECURITY?
Nelson: We’re witnessing unprecedented federal corruption. My first step on the deficit is reclaiming taxpayer money wasted by the administration, from massive discretionary outlays and
questionable deals to excessive agency spending and luxury travel. We must stop radical executive-branch spending, hold officials accountable and recover funds for taxpayers.
Ford: We must return the “power of the purse” to Congress and end unchecked spending. Rep. Victoria Spartz just voted for a war costing Americans $1 billion per day. We can protect national security while ensuring those tax dollars stay home to lower energy, health care and grocery prices for Hoosiers.
Avitabile: We need responsible budgeting — cutting waste, ending unnecessary spending and closing tax loopholes that cost billions. We can protect essential services and national security while being smarter about how we spend.
McKenna: Two simple ways. First, stop starting wars that no one wants. It is expensive and makes us more vulnerable. Second, simply collect the taxes that people owe. If we just enforced the current tax code with no changes, we would bring in about $700 billion per year.
Pickett: We start by helping Americans understand how the debt impacts them. It requires immigration reform and tax reform to include closing tax loopholes. It requires steady, competent leadership that understands businesses and communities need stability, clear regulations, good government and all kinds of labor skills to innovate and grow.
Franklin: In short we need to stop funneling all of our money to the wealthiest few on the planet, and we need to take care of the needs of the rest of us. We are also spending way too much money on the military, more than our top allies combined. And it’s not going to soldiers like me, it’s going to private military contracting companies that lobby our politicians to give them more government contracts. We need to invest back here at home and not feeding our tax money to the military industrial complex.
For more questions, visit youarecurrent.com
DISPATCH
Continued from Page 18 Sensory-friendly petting zoo set for Westfield — Bierman Autism Centers is bringing a real working farm to children with autism and their families. Spring On The Farm takes place from 10 a.m. to noon May 2 at Bierman Autism Center at 16414 Southpark Dr.. The petting zoo will feature a mini horse, a calf, fluffy alpacas, goats, sheep and more. The event is free.
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Your journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. From building robots in the garage to leading the choir to state finals, you have always followed your own path with courage and curiosity. It feels like only yesterday we were dropping you off for your first day of school, and now we stand in awe of the visionary young leader you’ve become. As you head off to study Engineering this fall, know that your home team is behind you forever. You have the heart of a lion, the mind of an innovator, and a spirit that lights up every room. The sky isn’t the limit—it’s just the beginning. We love you more than words can say!”
5th District Democrats participate in forum
By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com
Hundreds of community members packed the Fishers Arts Center theater April 15 for a 5th Congressional District Democrat Candidates Forum presented by the Indiana Democratic Party.
All seven Democratic candidates, Tara Nelson, J.D. Ford, Steven “Avit” Avitabile, Dylan McKenna, Deborah Pickett, Jackson Bailey Franklin and Phil Goss, attended.
The primary election is May 5. The winner will face Republican incumbent Victoria Spartz or Republican Scott A. King in the general election. All candidates said they would support the Democratic primary winner, with many wanting to see Spartz defeated.
“I absolutely support my fellow Democrat colleagues here,” said Pickett, a Carmel resident. “I see so many fabulous Democrats that are out there running for office. We will prevail in November.”
nation.
A significant topic in Hamilton County has been the actions of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Some residents have been concerned following reports of a U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement office set to open near I-465 and U.S. 31. Many candidates support the abolishment of ICE, while others say border security is needed, but not in the way it is being enforced. Avitable said ICE has overstepped its bounds to the point where they have “poisoned themselves.”
CHEERS TO, PRESLEY ROSS CLASS OF 2026
We are so incredibly proud of the woman you’ve become. From your first day of kindergarten to walking across the stage, it’s been a joy to watch you grow. We can’t wait to see what you achieve at Purdue! Love, Mom, Dad, and Sarah. SCAN HERE
During the forum, community members wrote questions on notecards, which were then presented to candidates by moderators Dr. Laura Merriwether Wilson and Robin Winston. Questions touched on health care; women’s reproductive rights; labor; ethics and campaign finances; immigration enforcement; and affordability and energy costs.
All candidates said they support protecting women’s reproductive rights. Westfield resident McKenna said more needs to be done to keep the government out of individual health care decisions.
“What I would do even to go further would be to introduce programs or enhance programs that give young mothers the support they need so they don’t feel like pregnancy is the end of their professional life or personal life so that maybe they don’t choose abortion in the first place,” McKenna said.
“I would be in favor of abolishing ice and re-establishing a new agency in its place,” Avitable said. “If we do have people that are here illegally that are criminals, yes, I want them gone, but I don’t want mass, roving gangs of armed thugs posing as law enforcement on the streets.”
Campaign finances were also a topic of discussion. Goss, a Noblesville resident, said campaign finance is what keeps politics going, but he wants to get rid of the Citizens United decision. He said transparency regarding financial disclosure must change.
Ad Deadline: May 18, 2026
Date: May 26, 2026
Candidates also discussed their strategies to ensure Indiana receives its fair share of federal investment, and described specific steps they would take to promote the creation of high wage union jobs in the fifth district. Franklin, a Muncie resident and former combat medic, said he believes everyone has the right to unionize, and living wages should be at least $25 an hour across the
“Other countries have done this — where there’s online, instant verification of who does what with what monies,” Goss said. “We tend to be stuck in this country, in some old analog system, where it’s filed once every quarter. This should be real time.”
Carmel resident and District 29 State Sen. J.D. Ford said his platform is based on affordability, accountability and the people. Ford supports helping residents with rising utility costs, saying he’s already taken action.
Early voting is underway at select locations.
From left, 5th District Democratic candidates Steven “Avit” Avitable; J.D. Ford; Jackson Franklin; Phil Goss; Dylan McKenna; Tara Nelson; and Deborah Pickett at the April 15 forum. (Photos by Jessica Todd)
Rendering of a mural that will be painted on the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District building at 1721 Pleasant St., in Noblesville.
(Rendering from meeting documents)
Commissioners OK mural, 2027 meeting dates
By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com
During their April 13 meeting, the Hamilton County Commissioners approved new software for the Hamilton County Emergency Management Department, a mural for the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District building and an exception for seasonal work hours for the Hamilton County Parks Department.
Meeting dates and times for 2027 also have been set. The first meeting of each month will be held at 1 p.m., and the second meeting of each month will be held at 12:15 p.m. Meeting dates are Jan. 11; Jan. 25; Feb. 8; Feb. 22; March 8; March 22.; April 12; April 26; May 10; May 24; June 14; June 28; July 12; July 26; Aug 9; Aug. 13; Sept. 13; Sept. 27; Oct. 11; Oct. 25; Nov. 8; Nov. 22; Dec. 6; and Dec. 20.
The next commissioners meeting is at 1 p.m. April 27 at the Hamilton County Judicial Center.
WHAT HAPPENED: The commissioners approved an addendum to terms of services from the Hamilton County Emergency Management Department for GovWorx, Inc.
WHAT IT MEANS: GovWorx, Inc., is a new testing software that will be implemented for new hires for communications.
WHAT’S NEXT: Dispatchers, specifically, will be put through a new series of tests during the hiring process. Instead of taking a standard test, the
new software allows them to do real-life interfacing and work directly in systems closely resembling what they would be if they were a communications dispatcher.
WHAT HAPPENED: The commissioners approved a mural for the side of the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District building.
WHAT IT MEANS: The new mural will showcase the department’s new logo and colors. It will be four panels, hand-painted and tie in wildlife, water quality, community involvement and urban conservation.
WHAT HAPPENED: The commissioners approved an exception for seasonal work hours for the Hamilton County Parks Department.
WHAT IT MEANS: Because of staff shortages, the exception allows parttime, seasonal employees of the parks and recreation department to exceed 29 work hours per week or 129 hours per month for the 2026 summer season. Normal work hours, for those considered seasonal part time, will be 37.5 hours per week for those working with events, programs, campground or maintenance.
WHAT’S NEXT:The employment period will be approximately mid-April to October. No part-time employee will work more than 1,500 hours in 2026.
big trees now!
Training program launched
news@currentinfishers.com
Invest Hamilton County recently announced a new workforce training program to help individuals in recovery gain and retain meaningful employment.
Offered monthly at Ivy Tech Hamilton County, Rise and Reskill provides eight hours of classroom instruction over two days, with curriculum developed by Ivy Tech. Candidates are referred through a recovery house or other partner organization, with a goal of leaving the program with a workready resume, tools to find employment and access to services that support longterm success.
Rise and Reskill operates under IHC’s InvestOnward initiative, which provides career development, skills training and wraparound services. According to the announcement, steady employment can reduce recidivism rates from 52 percent to below 20 percent, underscoring the connection between career stability and recovery outcomes.
“What we’re seeing through our InvestOnward initiatives is that when you
build the path to vitality for people to walk, the first step gets easier,” stated Mike Thibideau, president and CEO of Invest Hamilton County. “The results in Hamilton County speak for themselves — purpose and employment change outcomes. Rise and Reskill takes what we’ve learned and puts it into action for people in recovery who are ready to take that step.”
Classes are set for the first Tuesday and Thursday of each month, starting at 5:30 p.m.
For more, visit investhamiltoncounty.com/investonward.
The first Rise and Reskill class completed the new program in early March. (Photo courtesy of Ivy Tech Hamilton County)
TENUOUS TEE TIME
Civic leaders confident 2026 LIV Golf event still on
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
On April 15, alarm bells went off in the offices of Visit Hamilton County as reports that the LIV Golf Tour, which has a stop at Westfield’s Club at Chatham Hills golf course, might fold.
“On (April 15) if you had asked me what does the preparation for this year’s event) mean? Man, that would have been up in the air,” Visit Hamilton County President and CEO Karen Radcliff said.
But LIV Golf still conducted its Mexico City event April 16-19. LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil said in TV interviews that the organization was funded through the end of this year.
But questions about the future of LIV remain, including whether the Aug. 20-23 LIV Golf Indianapolis event will be played. Current reached out to LIV Golf about the event but did not receive a response. Representatives from the Club at Chatham Hills also did not respond to an interview request.
City and county leaders have not been told the tournament won’t be played, but they are working under the assumption that the comment O’Neil made about LIV funding holds true and that the event will go on as scheduled.
Westfield Mayor Scott Willis said during an April 16 town hall that he believes LIV Golf Indianapolis is on for 2026 but it’s future is murky.
“We’ve not heard anything other than the fact that they’ll be here,” Willis said. “Could it change? Possibly. It’s a crazy world we’re in right now. (2026) will be our last, probably, go around. There’s been some rumblings of another one in 2027. I really don’t think that’s going to happen.”
Founded in 2020, LIV Golf is bankrolled by the Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund of the Saudi Arabian government. According to the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute, the PIF is worth $900 billion, the eighth-largest sovereign fund in the world.
With PIF backing, LIV Golf was able to sustain financial losses, including
paying exorbitant salaries to pro golfers like Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm. Golf Digest reported that the PIF has invested $5 billion in the series without appreciable gain. Low television ratings have also hurt LIV.
Recent media reports indicate that PIF has changed its investment strategy to focus on domestic investment instead of global sports ventures. The Athletic reported April 15 that the PIF would pull its funding from LIV Golf.
O’Neil said during a TNT TV interview from the LIV event in Mexico that
Fans watch the 2025 LIV Golf Tournament at the Club at Chatham Hills in Westfield. The 2026 event is expected to go on despite reports that LIV might lose its primary source of funding. (File photo)
the LIV was funded through the rest of the season. The clip was later deleted from TNT’s social media sites, but O’Neil made similar assurances in a different TV interview.
The potential loss of LIV would be a blow for Westfield as it was one of its most prominent events in its desire to leverage sports for community exposure. LIV Golf has been a prominent part of Westfield’s marketing. The LIV brand is included on welcome signs into the city.
Moreover, attendance at the tour-
LIV TIMELINE
January 2020 — The format for LIV Golf is proposed. The Public Investment Fund, the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund, is revealed as a primary backer of LIV.
March 2022 — LIV Golf Investments announces an 8-event series for 2022.
June 2022 — Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau are among the PGA Tour players who join LIV Golf. Players who defect from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf are told they cannot play both tours.
June 2023 — The Public Investment Fund, the PGA Tour, and the DP World end all litigation and announce the intention to form a new entity to serve the best interests of pro golf.
November 2024 — The LIV Golf Indianapolis event to be held at the Club at Chatham Hills is announced for the 2025 LIV Golf schedule.
June 2025 — The PGA announces that negotiations with LIV have stalled.
August 2025 — LIV Golf Indianapolis takes place at the Club at Chatham Hills. It also announces its intention to return to Westfield in 2026.
November 2025 — LIV announces that it will change to a four-day format from its original three-day concept.
April 2026 — Speculation about the future of LIV begins as the Public Investment Fund announces its intention to focus on domestic investment.
nament and its local economic impact exceeded expectations when the inaugural event was held in August 2025, according to the city. In a Linked In post from February, the City of Westfield estimated that 60,000 attended the treeday event in 2025. Westfield had a 23.9 percent increase in overnight trips and a 26.3 percent increase in total visitor nights from 2024 to 2025.
The Hamilton County Sports Authority estimated that the local economic impact was $23.6 million, with 70 percent of the money spent by out-of-town visitors.
The city’s Linked-In post also states that, “LIV Golf generated more than $245 million in estimated media and broadcast exposure tied to Westfield. With nearly 426,000 Sunday viewers, the event positioned Westfield as a nationally competitive host community.”
Willis said the city isn’t changing plans for this year’s tournament.
“We’re not taking any effort off the gas,” he said, noting there would be no financial loss for the city if the tournament was canceled.
The city made an initial bid of $500,000 in 2025 to attract the tournament.
“All of the incentives that we applied to that tournament were last year. When they signed up for another year, the city has no financial commitments to LIV,” Willis said. “When they come into town, they’re going to be paying for security, public works, roadblocks, so it generates revenue for us, but we won’t lose anything if LIV pulls out.”
If the tournament is played, Radcliff said it will serve its purpose to give Hamilton County exposure.
“I feel that the event is going to go on, if everything is happening like what they’re saying it is,” Radcliff said. “It feels like the event is going to be just as successful as it was last year and we’re certainly going to make sure that you know what we can do to help lead that forward.”
ON THE COVER: Local officials expect LIV
Golf Indianapolis to return to the Club at Chatham Hills in Westfield this year. (File photo)
Group helps cancer patients
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
Indianapolis psychologist John Gallagher began leading prostate cancer support groups about 13 years ago — coinciding almost exactly with the first time he was diagnosed with the disease at age 56.
He had been negotiating a con tract to provide support groups through an Indianapolis urology center, and the day before he signed that contract, he received his diagnosis. Since then, he said, he received treatment, went into remission and then was diagnosed three more times, but he’s now been “squeaky clean” — as far as prostate cancer goes — for about a decade.
Gallagher’s contract with the urology center ended, but his commitment to helping others didn’t. He now leads support groups for men with prostate cancer through the nonprofit Cancer Support Community Indiana, with meetings twice monthly at the center’s north Indy facility, 5150 W 71st St., and at Gallagher’s south side office, with virtual attendance available for those who can’t make it in person.
Gallagher said his personal experience and his ability to research have helped him facilitate the support groups over the years, as well as understanding how men process something as devastating as a cancer diagnosis.
“What happens in a support group with a bunch of guys is different from the stereotype about support groups,”
he said. “Men do not come to a support group for people to be sympathetic with them. Men are information-seeking, problem-solving animals, and the very useful thing that is consistently appreciated by my guys (is) they learn about treatment options that they were never going to hear from their physician.”
Gallagher said that over the years, he and others in his groups spent a lot of time researching those options and compiled a list of 14 primary approaches.
“We don’t give medical advice, obviously, but what we do is we present a composite of information that pretty much amounts to one-time, one-stop shopping for about everything you might need to know about prostate cancer if you’re embarking on making a decision,” he said.
One of the 14 options is a non-FDA-approved immunological treatment available in Greece that Gallagher credits with eliminating the aggressive form of prostate cancer he had been battling. He added that lifestyle factors can improve outcomes for all types of cancer risks. Those factors include diet, exercise, stress management and social support. And although his support groups are less about feelings than similar groups, he said the men who join value the sense of community.
Anyone interested in joining Gallagher’s support group can call Cancer Support Community Indiana at 317-257-1505 or email info@cancersupportindy.org for details.
Foundation receives $1.6M
news@currentnoblesville.com
The Riverview Health Foundation recently received a $1.6 million gift from the estate of Tom and Soni Sheehan through the Thomas P. Sheehan Trust to support the expansion and renovation of the Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit at Riverview Health’s Noblesville hospital.
The funding is the largest single gift in the foundation’s 50-year history.
According to hospital officials, Tom and Soni Sheehan were supporters of the Riverview Health Foundation for
more than two decades. Tom served on the foundation’s board of directors for several years, including as board chair from 2004 to 2006. The Sheehan family’s philanthropic impact at Riverview Health also includes support for the Women’s Pavilion and the creation of the Sheehan Chapel.
Hospital officials said the $1.6 million gift will enhance Riverview Health’s ability to serve patients by supporting modernized spaces, advanced equipment and program enhancements that promote recovery, independence and improved outcomes.
Soni and Tom Sheehan
Commentary by Larry Greene
This Carmel home was expanded with a light-filled sunroom addition, creating a seamless transition to the outdoors while enhancing everyday living and entertaining space.
THE BLUEPRINT
• Added sunroom to extend living space and improve indoor-outdoor connection.
• Clean-lined ceiling with recessed lighting for a seamless, cohesive look.
• Large windows maximize views and bring in abundant daylight.
• Stone fireplace creates a warm, central focal point.
• Neutral palette and layered textures for a timeless, cohesive feel.
• Direct access from the kitchen to the backyard for effortless entertaining and relaxation.
Larry Greene is the owner of Worthington Design & Remodeling (formerly Case). You may email him at lgreene@worthingtonindy. com or visit worthingtonindy.com for more remodeling inspiration and advice.
Carmel home gets sunny addition
Etheridge brings ‘Rise’ tour to Palladium
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
It always invigorates Melissa Etheridge to share her music with an audience.
“Having this new album that seems to be received so well, I’m able to do these new songs, so it makes for a new show,” she said. “I was able to rethink some of the older songs, put them together differently and it makes for a new show that me and the band are really enjoying doing.”
Etheridge will perform at 7:30 p.m. May 3 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. She also performed in Carmel in 2018.
Etheridge’s album “Rise” was released in late March. It marked the first time working with Grammy-winning producer Shooter Jennings, son of the late Waylon Jennings.
“I was very, very happy to work with him,” Etheridge said. “It had been about seven or eight years since I did a full studio album on my own of new material. I really wanted to do something different, new, and I really wanted to look at the artists who were making country rock, outlaw country and Americana and all that, all those genres that I’ve always thought were just rock ‘n’ roll. But (Jennings) was just a name that kept coming up and, boy, he was so wonderful. I loved working with him.”
Etheridge, 64, said her new song “Matches” is unique.
“I’ve never allowed myself to kind of write a song with that kind of feel,” she said. “It kind of just rolls along, and it’s a memory that brings us into right now. The last verse I love because it’s now, ‘I’m rolling down the road, pulling into your town,’ and whenever I sing that, the people in the audience, they go nuts and it’s a really fun song to do.”
Etheridge co-wrote a song with Chris Stapleton called “The Other Side of Blue.”
“I first wanted to write with him
because I appreciate and respect his music, his art and him as a person,” she said. “I’ve always felt that he’s got this great presence in music right now and is such a great talent.”
Etheridge, who is based in Los Angeles, said she met Stapleton in Nashville.
“I had never met him before, and we wrote it very easily and quickly,” she said. “He was just very open, very creative. I think he’s an amazing writer. Then after we wrote it, I said, ‘Chris, I really think the world should hear the two of us sing together,’ and so we decided to do it as a duet. I’m just very pleased and very grateful.”
Etheridge said she hasn’t performed the song on the tour yet, but might sing it solo on the tour.
The song deals with navigating grief and finding hope. Etheridge’s son, Beckett, died from causes related to his opioid addiction at age 21 in 2020.
Etheridge said writing that song
Melissa Etheridge will perform May 3 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. (Photo courtesy of Primary Wave Music)
and “Call You” provided some comfort.
“Presenting that to an audience, I realize I’m not alone in that (grief), unfortunately,” she said. “It feels very cathartic. It’s a great thing to get off my mind.”
Etheridge has been performing about seven songs from “Rise’ on the tour that began in March
“I do five or six hit songs,” she said. “I do a couple of deeper tracks, so there’s eight of my old songs.”
Some of Etheridge’s biggest hits are “I Want to Come Over,” “Come to My Window,” “I’m the Only One” and “Like the Way I Do.”
Although she wasn’t selected, Etheridge was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the first time in February.
“It was nice to be thought about and in the room with everyone,” she said. For more, visit thecenterpresents. org.
‘SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN’
“Singin’ in the Rain” runs through May 23 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards. com.
FEINSTEIN’S CABARET
“Now That’s Funny: Brian Hicks” is set for April 30, followed by Tim Wright & Steel Petals at Feinstein’s in Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.
‘BROTHERS GRIMM’
The Point Theater presents “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon” May 1-3 at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel. For more, visit thepointtheater.org.
‘RISE’
Melissa Etheridge will perform a concert in support of her latest album “Rise” at 7:30 p.m. May 3 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
‘SUNSET BOULEVARD’
Actors Theatre of Indiana presents “Sunset Boulevard” through May 10 at the Studio Theater at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit atistage.org.
‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’
Civic Theatre presents “Fiddler on the Roof” through May 9 at The Tarkington at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit civictheatre.org.
ELO EXPERIENCE
The Electric Light Orchestra Experience featuring Evil Woman — The American ELO will perform at 8 p.m. May 2 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
ENTERTAINMENT
Actor back in familiar opera role in ‘Figaro’
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Rafael Porto is very familiar with “The Marriage of Figaro.”
“It’s one of my favorites. It’s timeless and really fun to do,” he said.
Porto will perform in the famous opera for the sixth time in Indianapolis Opera’s May 1-3 production at The Toby Theater at Newfields in Indianapolis.
tober 2025. They sing in the Lyric Opera in Chicago, one of three full-time opera choruses in the nation.
Porto performed in the same production in 2025 at Northern Lights Music Festival in Minnesota.
Porto, who grew up in Indianapolis and graduated from Ben Davis High School, portrays Don Bartolo for the fifth time. He was cast as Figaro once.
“I love the comedic elements of the role,” he said. “I think (Bartolo) is a guy who is not trying to be funny. The comedy comes from him thinking he has everything figured out and knows how to work the system, and he doesn’t realize he’s getting played like a fiddle. The fun side is he thinks he’s quite serious and brilliant.”
Porto said the comedy comes from the audience seeing the plan he and Marcellina have is falling apart.
Porto’s wife, Cara Collins, plays Marcellina. The couple were married in Oc-
“We also had the same director (A. Scott Parry) and the same Figaro (Jason Cox) and Countess (Rebecca Krynski Cox) in this production,” Porto said. “It will be very fun to do it with them again because that’s more of a rarity. It’s a really good group of people with good chemistry.”
The first time Porto appeared with Indianapolis Opera as a chorus member was at Butler University, and then his first principal role was in “Madame Butterfly” in 2011.
“It’s been a company that’s just been a part of my life for my whole artistic journey,” said Porto, who earned his bachelor’s degree at Butler and master’s degree at Indiana University.
Porto has been a freelance performaner for several years.
“It’s always nice to come back to Indiana because that was a place that gave me a lot of chances when I was starting up,” he said.
For more, visit indyopera.org.
Comedy shows added — Two comedians, Michael Blaustein and Becky Robinson, have been announced for the 2026-27 season at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts. Michael Blaustein’s “The Taste Me Tour – The Final Leg” is set for 7 p.m. Sept. 24. Robinson’s :”The Beasts in Me Tour” is set for 8 p.m. Oct. 9. Both shows will be at the Payne & Mencias Palladium. Tickets are on sale at thecenterpresents.org.
Billy Strings rescheduled — The Billy Strings concerts originally scheduled for April 24-26 at the Fishers Event Center have been rescheduled to August 6-8 Ticket holders should retain their tickets as they will be honored for the rescheduled dates.
Porto
May 1 & 2 at PM May at PM
I hate the 70s
Commentary by Dick Wolfsie
Last month, I celebrated my 79th birthday. My wife Mary Ellen and son tried to find me the perfect gift. But I am a very difficult person to shop for. I know this because my mother started telling me this when I was 3 years old.
To help them, I Googled “Gifts for men in their 80s.” I still have a year to go, but I wanted to give my family a good start on the next decade.
Here was the first recommendation: “The gift should convey to the celebrant that he is still loved, respected and appreciated.”
I don’t want to be a celebrant. It’s bad enough that many consider me an
Another suggestion: “Why not a collage of stamps from that person’s birth year? Can you think of a better present?” Yes. How about a gift certificate for my next colonoscopy? By the way, a postage stamp in 1947 cost 3 cents, which was expensive at the time. That’s why my father didn’t want to send out my birth announcements.
I’m surprised Starbucks never thought of this. It seems tasteless, but it’s nothing compared to their scones.
I Googled a list for those who said their final goodbyes on March 5.
• Jay Silverheels (Tonto on the “Lone Ranger”)
• Patsy Cline (Country singer)
• William Powell (Movie star)
I’d suggest they add dictator Joseph Stalin, who also died on March 5. Anything to brighten up that mug.
Just before my birthday, Mary Ellen and I went to Cracker Barrel for dinner. I saw her eyeing one of those little books on the gift rack that features statistics from the year you were born. The stand starts with 2005 at the top, and the years work their way down the rack. By the time she reached 1947, she was on her knees. This is a marketing mistake. When you are a senior, everything you want to buy should be at eye level. If CVS stocked Depends on the lower shelf, they’d never sell a single package.
Mary Ellen ended up giving me a coffee mug: TO MY FAVORITE SEPTUAGENARIAN
Then there also were several ideas for personalized coffee mugs: “What about an eye-catching cup with a list of all the famous people born on their birthday?” I thought that sounded like a good idea, so I did a little research about March 5 on AI. Amazing how many notables share my birth date:
• Tang Gonghong (Chinese weightlifter)
• Jef Eygel (Belgian basketball player)
• Olusegun Obasanjo (former president of Nigeria)
But how long will that priceless gift last before someone swipes it?
Here’s another hint: “A coffee mug decorated with the names of famous people who died on your birth date.”
I don’t like being in my 70s. It certainly doesn’t sound as much fun as being a sexagenarian.
is an author, columnist and speaker. Contact him at wolfsie@aol.com.
COLUMNIST ON THE WEB
This week’s commentary by Current Publishing essayist Terry Anker may be read at youarecurrent.com.
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Dick Wolfsie
The Tobias Theater at SHOW SPONSOR
14. Florida city
15. Kinky coiffure
16. Start to an “udderly” ridiculous riddle
19. Typical Westfield HS student
20. Negative prefix
21. Too big for one’s britches?
23. Off-Broadway award
25. Colts’ QB stat
27. Keen
29. I-69 roadside assistance org.
30. NHS subj.
31. Jazz Kitchen instrument
32. A Kardashian
34. Unconscious condition
36. Take a timeout
37. Part 2 of the riddle
40. Mafia boss
43. Tesla’s Musk
44. Customary
48. Be too generous at a garage sale
50. Eiteljorg Museum tribe
52. Pacers’ current org.
53. James Whitcomb Riley works
54. Cigar residue
55. “The King and I” setting
56. USN rank
57. Pencil filler
59. Defeat decisively
61. Riddle’s answer
66. Grandson of Adam and Eve
67. God of Islam
68. ___ King Cole
69. Rajah’s wife
70. Personal records
71. Org.
DOWN
1. Clay Terrace shoe store letters
2. “Go Greyhounds!”
3. Three-dimensional
4. Lymph ___
5. Easily identifiable
6. ___ ‘n’ cheese
7. Become swollen
8. [Boring!]
9. Cruel person
10. ET’s craft
11. Abundant
12. Recital pieces
17. Purgatory Golf Club
peg
18. “Hogan’s Heroes” setting
22. Send a brief message
23. Zionsville street between Cedar and Pine
24. Scrooge’s cry
26. Politely
28. Apt rhyme of “courts”
30. Red or Dead
31. B-plus beater at Butler
33. Scents
35. Yoko ___
38. Cups, saucers, sugar bowl, etc.
39. Coloration
40. Geist inlet
41. One who rights old wrongs
42. ___ non grata
45. Bringing together
46. Pacers’ former org.
47. Hasty escape
49. First female Speaker of the House
51. Larynx locale
54. “Skyfall” singer
55. Tom Wood offering, briefly
58. “Moby-Dick” captain
60. ___ and aahs
62. Freight weight
63. Columbus Crew org.
64. Fishers Farmers Market corn unit
65. Some Indy 500 drivers’ sponsorship letters ANSWERS ON PAGE 31
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FENCE MAKES
Endorsed by the men and women who protect our community. Dustin is the first Sheriff candidate to ever be endorsed by all four
of
The Hamilton County Fraternal Order of Police 103 has overwhelmingly voted to support Dustin Dixon for the next Sheriff of Hamilton County. His steadfast support and leadership will guide our Law Enforcement Officers into the future, providing integrity and focus.
- Hamilton County Fraternal Order of Police 103
As your next Sheriff, Dustin Dixon will keep our families safe by:
✔ Focusing resources on violent offenders to keep dangerous criminals off our streets
✔ Recruiting, retaining, and properly equipping officers to strengthen the department
✔ Increasing visible patrols in parks, trails, and recreational areas to protect families and visitors
✔ Strengthening coordination with local law enforcement and community leaders
✔ Expanding technology to improve efficiency, response times, and effectiveness
✔ Ensuring taxpayer dollars are used responsibly and prioritized for public safety
