INDIANA’S PREMIER CELLULAR THERAPY TRANSPLANT PROGRAM
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Franciscan Health IBMT is the only program in Indiana to surpass national expectations for one-year survival rates for stem cell transplants, earning a +1 rating, a rare national recognition ranked among top transplant centers in the country.
DARREN BOSTON darren@townepost.com (317) 716-8812
(317) 496-3599
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LAUGHS + LESSONS
LOCAL VETERAN & RETIRED OFFICER FINDS HEALING & PURPOSE THROUGH WRITING & COMEDY
Writer / Melissa Gibson Photographer / Amy Payne
Hendricks County residents have likely run into Pete Fleck over the years — even if they didn’t know it. He served in the U.S. Army for 24 years before becoming a police officer, primarily with the Brownsburg Police Department, beginning in 1990.
He loves being involved in the community, serving with the Brownsburg police and fire department’s summer youth program, teaching self-defense classes and working with men in addiction recovery.
That’s perhaps why the pandemic — and the response to it — hit him so hard.
“I was in public relations with the police department at the time, and when we were locked down, I really went into a state of depression,” Fleck says. “I think I drank for four days, my career was under fire, I wasn’t able to visit with family. On the fifth day, I woke up and was furious with myself. I’m never going to have time like this again, so I might as well make the most of it. I dumped the booze and began a strict, regimented schedule.”
The schedule consisted of piano lessons, playing chess, practicing Spanish, writing comedy and plenty of reading. His stand-up comedy routines span from G-rated to R, and he tries to mold them for the audience and environment.
Fleck has put guests at wedding receptions
in stitches, and he’s provided a moment of laughter for inmates at the Marion County Jail, to name a few.
“Most of my humor is projected at myself. I don’t use F-bombs because I consider that to be lazy,” Fleck says. “I like giving people something to laugh about today.” The other unexpected thing Fleck picked up during the pandemic was writing.
“I started writing a story that was beautiful and powerful, and I was just in a writing frenzy,” he says. “When I was finished, I gave it to my harshest critic — my buddy who absolutely hates fiction. After he read it, he said, ‘We’ve got to find you an editor.’ He gets all of my books first (there are three to date), and he has such great input. When I sent him my third book, he said, ‘This might be the greatest thing you’ve ever written.’”
“Caged” was self-published in fall 2023. It’s about a Nevada deputy called to the scene of a fatal accident and the struggles he has with handling the tragedies he often sees, a young woman and her son leaving an abusive relationship, and a young man struggling with a lifetime of bad decisions.
When their lives merge, the main characters are faced with tough choices that could make or break them.
“I used my own experience in part,” Fleck says. “I once worked two fatality accidents in Brownsburg in one afternoon, but I also knew this was a troubling time for a lot of people, and I wanted to write something uplifting.”
His second novel is titled “Angel Templar,” about a former Army Ranger medic coming to grips with the violence he’s seen over the years and finding himself in an activeshooter situation.
“Before They Were Monsters” came next, and instead of an action/drama/romance plot, Fleck went with a dark suspense thriller. He plans to publish his fourth — a coming-of-age story — in 2026.
“I’ve been absolutely loving it,” he says. “When I was writing my second book, I chose to retire from the police department. I
Orthopedic Urgent Care directly from the specialistsit doesn’t get better than that. And because life happens after hours, we accept walk-ins with no appointment necessary and provide extended hours for evenings and weekends.
There’s plenty of positive feedback. Fleck has been told, “You’re now my favorite author,” and he once bet a young woman at a vendor fair that if she didn’t like his book in the first few chapters, she could return it for free.
An hour later, she returned with her money for the book after reading just two chapters.
It’s that kind of response that prompts Fleck to continue down the path of writing and publishing. He knows he’s making a difference in more ways than one.
Fleck is still teaching a philosophy class at the Marion County Jail. He’s still working with men in addiction recovery, and he’s finding a way to process his career and personal experiences by connecting with readers.
“The writing brings me peace,” he says. “I’m able to take dark moments of my life and bring them into an awesome piece of fiction. People love it, and they relate to it.
I can picture myself writing until the day I die. I’ve got a file of future book ideas. There are at least 20, with a series I want to do too.”
Fleck’s novels are available on Amazon, or you can find him at his next book event by liking him on Facebook or emailing petefleck922@outlook.com.
OCTOBER CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Solutions
ACROSS
1. Inquiry
7. Emotional eruption
8. Lowest female voices
10. Moderation
12. Disgraces
14. Be sullen
16. Resign
17. Clearly expressed
20. Overstate
23. Brown pigment
24. Cosmetic pencil
25. UK & Eire, The British ...
DOWN
1. Fluid units
2. Unruly protest
3. Refuse heap
4. Terminate
5. Say correct way
6. Flash (of lightning)
9. Dingy
11. Drools
13. Negligent
15. Darts
16. Waits in line
18. Pinches (nose)
19. Once more
21. Fishing spool
22. Morays
80-acre preserve full of oak, hickory, maple, black walnut and tulip poplar trees explodes with color in the autumn. It boasts two trails that loop through the park.
The half-mile blue trail is perfect for both young and old, as it is shorter and easy to navigate. The red trail is 1.2 miles long and a little more challenging. Visitors can easily walk the red and blue trails for a pleasant 1.7-mile hike under a canopy of brilliant autumn leaves.
Located on County Road 100 South, just east of Dan Jones Road, you can park behind the Avon Light and Life Free Methodist Church, 8264 E. County Road 100 South in Avon, next to the softball diamond. Once there, walk southeast across the grass toward the road, and you’ll run right into the entrance to Burnett Woods.
Echo Hollow Nature Park
Echo Hollow — formerly Sodalis Nature Park — sits just south of I-70 in Plainfield and serves as an ecological wonder, largely untouched due to the small creatures that inhabit it. As such, the variety of trees seems limitless, providing all the autumn hues one could imagine.
Following the completion last November of its first added amenity, the Lake Loop Trail, the park now includes 310 acres with more than five miles of trails of varying lengths, mostly surrounded by beautiful trees.
It also boasts a 5.5-acre pond, so the fall colors are doubled as the trees reflect off the water. You can do some catch-and-release fishing from the ADA-accessible pier or have lunch under the large pavilion in the picnic area.
More Options
Those are my favorite spots in Hendricks County to see fall color, but the list doesn’t end there.
Other public places you should also check out include:
Avon Town Hall Park (Avon)
Washington Township Park (Avon)
W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park (Avon)
Arbuckle Acres Park (Brownsburg)
Natural Valley Ranch (Brownsburg)
Williams Park (Brownsburg)
Ellis Park (Danville)
Vandalia Trail (Plainfield, Amo and Coatesville)
Hummel Park (Plainfield)
Beyond Color
While you are out and about searching for beautiful fall color, make sure to visit Beasley’s Orchard in Danville. A true fall destination, the farm boasts tons of family fun, including apple cannons, a corn maze, hayrides to the pumpkin patch, apple u-pick, a Barnyard Bonanza family area and much more.
And don’t leave without touring their Civil War-era barn and trying their award-winning apple cider or cider slushies. They have also introduced a line of hard cider in cans that adults can purchase.
Find More Online
There is so much more to see and do in Hendricks County this fall that I couldn’t cover it all. So, make sure to visit our website at VisitHendricksCounty.com/Fall to find all our fall festivals or to plan a perfect personalized fall getaway.
We’ve put together various two-day fall itineraries and other trip ideas to help you find the autumn adventures that fit your interests.
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Byron H., patient
Women IN BUSINESS MONTH
Visit our team of exceptional Eye Care experts led by a team of women Optometrists and the most friendly staff. We specialize in dry eye, ocular disease, difficult contact lens fits, glasses, and any eye care need you have. Our focus is family oriented and we want you to feel a part of it.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe offers fresh, made-to-order smoothies, bowls, wraps, sandwiches, & flatbreads that instantly boost your mood. Andi Baker & Suzanne Joseph are proud owners of their two cafes in Avon & Greenwood that have continued to deliver the community freshness, speedy service, & a friendly, welcoming environment! Coming this Fall, they will open their third cafe in Speedway. Dine in, order ahead online, or make a quick trip through one of our drive-throughs.
We specialize in the comprehensive treatment of orthopedic and pelvic health for people of all ages. Visit our website and schedule an appointment today!
Also located inside Julie Lee Physical Therapy is Studio Forty, offering yoga and Pilates Reformer fitness classes! Sign up for a class at www.julieleept.com/studioforty.
We provide routine and specialty optometry services, and happily welcome new patients! Woman owned since 2012, founded in 1961. Call or text us at 317-839-2368
Submit Your Events!
1, 8, 15, 22
WILD WEDNESDAYS
Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, 10267 US Highway 136. Want to go fast? Want to see how your vehicle compares to others? Wild Wednesdays are open to all makes and models. Just bring your favorite car.
2-5
JIM GAFFIGAN:
BARELY ALIVE TOUR
Clowes Memorial Hall of Butler University, 4602 Sunset Avenue
7 p.m. (Oct. 4 show at 5 p.m.)
Jim Gaffigan is a seventime Grammy nominated comedian, actor, writer, producer, two-time New York Times best-selling author, three-time Emmy winning top touring performer.
4 6TH ANNUAL HENDRICKS COUNTY INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
Plainfield, Indiana
11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Save the Date! The 6th Annual Hendricks County International Festival is happening on Saturday, October 4, 2025, in Plainfield, Indiana!
GERMANFEST 2025
Athenaeum Indy, 401 E Michigan St. Noon-6 p.m.
Get ready to raise your steins and join us at the Athenaeum’s 17th annual GermanFest, the best Haus party in Indy!
HARVEST TIME HAYRIDES
Avon Town Hall Park, 6570 E Highway 36 4-8 p.m.
HENDRICKS COUNTY HISTORIC ROAD RALLY
Hendricks County Museum, 170 S. Washington St. 9-11:30 a.m.
The Hendricks County Historical Museum will host a road rally, leading participants through the county to visit spots that early settlers in Hendricks County walked, set up business and farmed.
HENDRICKS COUNTY INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
The Shops at Perry Crossing, 2499 Perry Crossing Way 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
INDIANAPOLIS BALLET - SLEEPING BEAUTY
Hendricks Live!, 200 W Main St. 2 p.m.
5
INDIANAPOLIS
COLTS VS. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 South Capitol Avenue. 1 p.m.
Flex Schedule: Please be aware that there are certain games that are subject to flexible scheduling and the date and time of those games may be changed from what is currently reflected.
7
NATIONAL
NIGHT OUT 2025 BROWNSBURG ARBUCKLE PARK
5-7:30 p.m.
Save the date! National Night Out 2025 will be Tuesday, October 7, 2025 5:00-7:30 p.m. at Arbuckle Acres. Meet our Officers & Personnel while enjoying Free Food, Free Entertainment and Fun!
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT WITH PPD
Hummel Park, 1500 South Center Street 5-7:30 p.m.
SHELTER TO SERVICE
PLAINFIELD OFFICER TRANSFORMS
RESCUED DOGS INTO POLICE K9S
It’s safe to say Senior Canine Handler for the Plainfield Police Department Rob Prichard and K9 Jocko have been instrumental in advancing police and community partnerships. The two have routinely participated in Make-A-Wish days with children diagnosed with a critical illness, volunteered at the local animal shelter, and partnered with businesses and schools.
Most recently, Prichard has found a new way to work with dogs — and help police departments across the country in the process.
K9s are trained to track criminals, locate drugs, find children and elderly individuals who are lost, and serve as a de-escalation tool.
“We are way more likely to apprehend someone quicker and safer if a K9 is present,” Prichard says. “They know this dog will bite, though they often don’t have to, and it keeps everyone safer — both the officers and the suspect. They are fantastic to have on a police force.”
Most police departments would say the
Writer / Melissa Gibson Photographer / Amy Payne
K9 program within their department is invaluable. However, a trained K9 can cost upward of $15,000, and many departments simply can’t afford one. Thanks to a new program led by Prichard, that’s all about to change.
“I liked dogs before I got Jocko, but he really made me fall in love with dogs,” he says. “We started volunteering at the animal shelter, and I noticed the world often looks at dogs in a shelter like you can’t work with them. They don’t have the same bloodline or lineage of police working dogs. I was working with these dogs and started thinking, maybe everybody has these guys wrong.”
He says not all of the dogs could undergo the training, but some, Prichard felt, were perfectly capable.
“They often have horrible backstories,” he says. “They’ve been beaten and neglected, but they’re still willing to give people a chance — and most people go through their lives never finding that kind of redemption or a second chance.”
A stray Malinois, Echo, came to the shelter nearly frozen to death.
Prichard says many would label him “too much.” He was large and full of energy, but Prichard saw something different.
“I started training him every day and saw that Echo was born to do this,” Prichard says. “He’s a super sweet dog, too. After training Echo with his current handler, he’s gone on to serve with the Plainfield Police Department. In fact, he was recently a part of one of the largest drug seizures in the department’s history.”
He did it again with Newt, a boxer mix and victim of animal cruelty. The K9 and her handler serve at Plainfield High School and were just awarded the Giraffe Award, given to people (or dogs) who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.
With two success stories under his belt, Prichard decided to move forward on a bigger scale.
He created the nonprofit program Redemption Ranch.
“We have a wonderful veterinarian partner, and I’m training the dogs alongside the new handler for free and giving the police department the dog for
free,” Prichard says. “To date, 13 dogs have gone through our program. These dogs now have a home and a family, and our communities are safer.”
Those 13 K9s have gone to police departments across the state, from Tipton to Madison and towns in between.
Their next class will include dogs and handlers headed to Tennessee and Kansas, with more to come.
Prichard says in addition to providing police departments with a much-needed asset, he hopes communities will look at their animal shelter when they’re ready for a new four-legged member of the family.
“Everyone wins here,” he says. “The department wins, the dogs win, the taxpayers win. I hope people will walk into their local shelter and you’ll see what I’m talking about. They know you’ve pulled them from a shelter. They’ll show you gratitude for a lifetime. These dogs are not beyond reach. If you take them and genuinely care for them, spend time with them and invest in them, it’s worth it.”
Right now, Redemption Ranch is
operating out of Prichard’s home, but with the support of the community and volunteers, he hopes to eventually open a permanent training facility.
“We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and operate solely off donations. No one on our board gets paid. I don’t get paid for this,” Prichard adds. “We’re currently operating on a caseby-case basis. We get the order for a police department, and I go out and scout one dog at a time. But eventually, I hope we can grab the dogs as they come through and maybe have multiple trainers and sites across the country. It’s going to take the volunteers, the funds and the awareness to make it happen.”
It also can’t be done without the law enforcement agencies interested in the service. Interested parties can apply at redemptionranchk9.com. Each course is 160 hours of training completed in three weeks on average.
Custom Closets, Garage Cabinets, Home Offices, Laundries, Pantries, Wall Beds, and more!
Rob Prichard
LIGHTING THE WAY
LEADERSHIP HENDRICKS COUNTY EXPANDS PROGRAMS TO INSPIRE COMMUNITY GROWTH & CONNECTION
Writer / Melissa Gibson
Leadership Hendricks County (LHC) has been giving county residents and employees the leadership tools they need to grow professionally, serve their communities and take on effective leadership roles since 1993.
They’re still going strong and have recently expanded offerings for those interested in planting roots in Hendricks County.
“We kicked off a rejuvenation to the programs in January,” says Jana Morrison, LHC Executive Director. “Our LHC emblem has four corners to it: Ignite,
Ember, Spark and Flame. So, we have our community leaders program (Ignite), our youth leadership program (Spark), recognizing our alumni and the awesome things they are doing (Flame), and our leadership development program (Ember).”
The Ignite Community Leaders Program is gearing up for a new cohort. Applications opened Sept. 1 and will close Nov. 1.
and explore local opportunities.
The program shares the inner workings of the county with residents and employees who can use the information to make connections, impact their communities
“Our goal is to help people not assume what is happening in our community but to really know,” Morrison says. “We often hear participants say, ‘I had no idea we had a work release program in our
Ember Leadership 2025
county,’ or many don’t know we have a phenomenal drug court here.”
Curriculum for the 12 program days throughout the year includes an opening retreat, closing retreat, team capstone project day and nine days out in the community. Participants learn about the Hendricks County judicial system, education, county government, infrastructure and resources, business and industry, economic development, agriculture, diverse perspectives and health and human services.
“We have a group that meets after every program to make sure we’re still meeting relevant topics,” Morrison adds. “For example, we used to have all of our superintendents join us for the education day, but we also wanted to hear from the school board, so we’ve changed the panel up a little bit to hear different perspectives. On our judicial system day, all of our Hendricks County judges come to lunch with us, and we’re able to ask questions and learn a little more about that area of our county.”
The class of 28 to 30 will participate in team-building days and, after learning more about the challenges and needs in the county, will break off into smaller groups to create a capstone project to truly grab hold of the leadership skills needed.
“We aren’t looking for the perfect project,” Morrison says. “Sometimes it’s a learning experience. One group wanted to have more trails in Hendricks County. They did the research and came back and said a one-mile trail is going to cost around $1M. So now they’re looking at how to apply for grants, etc.”
The 2025 class worked on projects such as education and promotion of the Aware Program — a sticker used to alert law enforcement of a person with a disability. Another group created a scavenger hunt for families to learn more about places in the county that aren’t well known.
Successful projects over the years have
Spark YLHC
Jana leading a class
Ignite Community Leaders 2025
included the Hendricks County Food Pantry Coalition and the VoteHC website, which shares voting and election information for county residents. Ember Leadership Academy is the newest program at LHC and aims to strengthen those in the workforce through one meeting per month for five months.
“We tried to do some one-off events with this, and I think many were not as invested or it was easier to forget about registering,” Morrison says. “We created this program because we believe in not only getting people engaged in the community but having a good culture in your working environment.”
Participants learn more about communication, emotional intelligence, decision-making, vision and strategic thinking, and adaptability and resilience.
“The first program included a
phenomenal panel for decision-making,” Morrison adds. “They talked about decisions made in the workforce and often not doing what you want to do but what is best for the company overall. Dr. Michelle Fenoughty, president and CEO of Hendricks Regional Health, came in to talk about adaptability and resilience during the pandemic. I think overall, it was very successful.”
Applications for the Ember program open Feb. 1 and close April 1. They accept approximately 30 participants.
Over the years, they’ve extended their programming to youth and alumni, too. The Spark Youth Leadership program includes youth entering grade 10 from across the county to learn more about supporting others, self-management, awareness, excellence and how to motivate others.
They also visit Hendricks County industries and services, meet and network with adult leaders, and learn more about volunteer opportunities in order to make an impact in their community.
Finally, Flame recognizes all the interesting and inspiring things the LHC alumni are doing.
“We have more than 700 alumni after 33 years of the program,” Morrison says. “It’s always interesting to see what people are doing and how they have progressed. We want to know where they are now. It’s great to be able to inspire the passion we see at LHC and that ripple effect, as participants learn about our county and then pass it on to friends, co-workers and neighbors. It makes us a stronger community.”
Touring MADE in Plainfield
