Archive for February 2023
Lawmakers Pass Bill to Let Utilities Charge Consumers Earlier for New Building Projects
By Casey Smith Indiana House lawmakers advanced a bill Monday that could encourage more natural gas in the state and allow utilities to charge ratepayers for a plant before it ever goes online. House Bill 1421 would allow utilities to use a financing option known as Construction Work in Progress, or CWIP, in which customers…
Read MoreIndiana Senators Consider Bill to Criminalize Protesting Outside of Private Homes
By Casey Smith and Whitney Downard Indiana lawmakers are trying to find the line between protecting privacy in Hoosiers’ homes while respecting the First Amendment right to free speech and assembly. Senate Bill 348 would create a new crime — residential harassment — if someone pickets or protests outside a person’s dwelling. It would require…
Read MoreNew Kiosk Offers Help to Hamilton County Residents Facing Eviction
Hamilton County residents facing eviction or housing instability now have a free legal resource at their fingertips. A new desktop computer, scanner, and printer with access to IndianaLegalHelp.org were installed in the court’s Legal Self-Help Center last week. “In Indiana, housing evictions are considered a civil matter,” said Court Administrator Jill Acklin, “Which means individuals…
Read More02-08-23
Westfield Play Director Enjoys Luxury of Venue, Start to Finish
Ian Hauer is a local playwright, actor and director. He’s been fortunate to do it all. And while Hauer is currently directing his 14th full-length play, it’s his first time to have access to a theater space from start to finish. Hauer, 32, Noblesville, is a first-time guest director for Main Street Productions for “Night…
Read MoreDaily Almanac: Feb. 8, 2023
Sunrise/Sunset: RISE: 7:45 a.m.SET: 6:11 p.m. High/Low Temperatures: HIGH: 50 °FLOW: 32 °F Today is…: • Boy Scouts Day• Opera Day• Propose Day What Happened On This Day: • 1887 The Dawes Act authorizes the President of the United States to survey Native American tribal land and divide it into individual allotments• 1946 The People’s…
Read MoreHamilton County Lawmakers Invite Local Students to Page at Statehouse
Hamilton County lawmakers are inviting local students to spend a day serving as a House page at the Indiana Statehouse during the 2023 legislative session. According to House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers), Hoosier students ages 13 to 18 can sign up to page, and assist lawmakers and staff with daily duties while touring the governor’s…
Read MoreA New Truth or Tall Tale Quiz
As you know, I get most of the historical information for this column by poking around in the old newspapers. I’ve found they tend to provide the most accurate accounts of whatever I’m researching, especially if they’re contemporary to the subject matter. However, even the newspapers don’t always get their facts straight. That’s why it’s…
Read MorePatricia (Pat) Garrett Rooney
July 7, 1936-February 4, 2023 Patricia (Pat) Garrett Rooney, 86, entered heaven on February 4, 2023. Pat – also affectionately known as “Mrs. Pat” – was best known for never meeting a stranger. She loved meeting new people, learning everything about them, and connecting them with others. She’s recognized for her incredible advocacy of others,…
Read MoreRachel Eveleth (Wood) Merrill
January 17, 1950-February 6, 2023 Rachel Eveleth (Wood) Merrill, 73, entered heaven on February 6, 2023. Known for her infectious smile and bubbly personality, Rachel loved to serve her community and was an avid genealogist and historian. She was passionate about her hometown of Westfield, IN and was so proud of her parents’ commitment to…
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