Fire Station 92

Station 92 fire fighters gather after completing training drills last month outside a vacant area residence. Shift C members include (from left): Rob Demlow, Chad Hiner, John Shanks, James Taylor and Neil Sullivan.

It’s no accident that the local red bricked Fishers Fire Station 92, perched on the corner of 116th Street and Brooks School Road, resembles an old-fashioned schoolhouse. Not only does it serve as home away from home for its resident firefighters, but when it was built in 1992, its exterior features were specifically designed to blend in with the adjoining Fall Creek Township Offices, which are all built around a preserved one-room schoolhouse that once welcomed young students through its doors as far back as the late 1800s.

And while rich in history (there are even rumors of a resident ghost named Joe), the station is the hub for three crews of firefighters who spend their days training for and responding to emergency situations not only in the Geist area, but wherever duty calls.

Just as doctors or lawyers are known for their particular areas of expertise, so are fire stations. Station 92 is known as a water rescue house, which is vital for a community with such a large reservoir as one of its main attractions, not to mention all the retention ponds that dot the landscape.

The exterior of Fishers Fire Department Station 92, also known as "The Rock," at 116th St. and Brooks School Rd., was designed to compliment the preserved one-room school house (directly on the corner), which is part of the Fall Creek Township Offices.

Three separate shifts (A, B and C), consisting of six “spots” each, make up the dedicated and highly-trained companies that rotate in and out of the facility, each working 24-hour shifts every third day. Each shift is typically made up of a chauffeur (the driver of the fire engine), an officer and two back steps (firefighters that ride backwards in the engine). The other two spots are filled with an EMT and a paramedic. At least two on each shift are certified divers, ensuring that no matter when an emergency situation occurs, if it involves water in any way, the station is prepared to handle it.

“We pride ourselves on what we can offer the people of this area,” says Lt. Jay Manship, Shift B. “We have a diverse group of firefighters at our station with amazing talent. For example, some of our divers are also swift water instructed, which means they’re capable of river rescues, and dealing with flooding, particularly with heavy flows.”

Station 92 firefighters are equipped with scuba and dive gear that are transported in the Tactical 92 Dive/Rescue Support Truck, above. Shown here are members of Shift B, including (from left): Bobby Schlageter, Jay Manship, Patrick Keith, and 18-year-old Explorer Chris Sheridan.

Divers receive extensive training through the Fishers Fire Department, as well as through training programs like the Indiana River Rescue School in South Bend, Indiana, where they obtain additional certification and go through rigorous training from the banks of the St. Joseph River. The Geist Reservoir itself also serves as the perfect training location during the warmer months, where divers can practice techniques and hone water rescue skills.

“We probably receive about a half-dozen emergency dive calls a year,” says diver Neil Sullivan, Shift C, who is also trained as a paramedic. “In order to stay certified, we make at least eight dives per year, plus we perform regular specialty dives, like deep dives, dives to a submerged vehicle, or through ice.”

Fellow shift diver Chad Hiner has also added additional skills to his personal resume, and not only serves as a medic for the Tactical Rescue Team, but also for the Fishers Police Department SWAT team. Hiner is qualified to administer a multitude of functions, including advanced life support and medications while responding to emergency situations. And although he doesn’t respond to SWAT Team calls while on duty as a firefighter, he does participate with the specialized unit during his days off.

A vacant residence serves as prime training ground for area fire fighters. Additional drills and training exercises will eventually serve to level the current structure to the ground.

“The local police and fire departments have a great relationship in Fishers,” Hiner says. “I enjoy being a part of both departments, and I really appreciate how they both are so great with community involvement and public education.”

From a firefighter’s perspective, another defining feature of the Geist area is its residential diversity, with a significant increase over the past several years in the amount of senior living communities, as well as in townhome and apartment developments. But perhaps one of the most well known distinctions of the reservoir area is the massive homes that line its shores. This in itself presents unique challenges when it comes to fighting fires.

While an average home in another neighborhood might be a one- or two-story structure with three bedrooms, the Geist homes that directly surround the reservoir area are custom, multiple-level designs, often covering 6,000 square feet or more. This type of home calls for a different firefighting approach.

“When we get a call on such a large home, we treat it like a commercial building versus a residence,” says Manship. “With a smaller home, we can usually determine just by looking at the windows and the layout of the building where the bedrooms, bathrooms and living areas are,” he explains. But with larger homes, it’s difficult to anticipate where inhabitants might be located.

“You’re also looking at massive individual rooms, with some closet spaces measuring even larger than a standard bedroom,” Manship says. This means that when a crew is initially sent in to “do a sweep,” which means to thoroughly search rooms for victims, more firefighters and time are needed in order to make sure the rooms are clear. There are also usually more challenging areas to reach, like higher attic spaces, which can present ideal conditions for fire.

“We definitely have to approach larger homes a little differently,” says Manship. “But that’s one of the things that makes our job unique. It’s never boring.”

So what’s it like to be a firefighter at Station 92? To echo Manship’s words, it’s never boring. In fact, playing pranks on each other and ribbing fellow shift members is an everyday occurrence. Not to mention the occasional reference to Joe, the resident ghost. Although no current shift members would go on record as being “believers,” former shift members report unexplained lights being turned on and off, or doors opening and closing for no apparent reason. It all adds to the uniqueness and mystique of the station and its history.

“This station definitely represents a home away from home,” says Manship. “Sometimes it’s hard because when you’re away from your own home and immediate family for hours at a time, you miss special events and celebrations,” he says. “But when you spend so much time with the guys on your shift, you also get to know each other very well, and you learn to rely on them and trust them … it makes it easier to deal with.”

“As far as the residents in our community, I think we are definitely acknowledged here a little more than in other towns,” says Rob Demlow, Shift C diver. “We have lots of parents and family members that come to the firehouse to visit. We definitely feel respected and appreciated here.”

Demlow says that the crew members particularly enjoy the visits from families during the annual Fire Prevention Week. “Parents usually end up learning just as much as the kids do, and they definitely have a good time,” he says.

“The people in this area have been wonderful,” adds Hiner. “When kids come up to give us high-fives, or when the people that we’ve helped come up to say thank you, we love it. Our station gets so many deliveries of cookies and goodies, or cards and letters of appreciation … it feels like family here.”

If you’d like to know more about Station 92, including its engines and capabilities, visit www.fishers.in.us. Click on the Government tab, and then the Fire Department link.

At the Fishers location, YMCA members will have immediate access to the new 3,900 square-foot St.Vincent facility. The outpatient location will include licensed therapists who will provide orthopedic care, sport-specific rehabilitation, neurological and general rehabilitation. The YMCA wellness area, which includes the gymnasium and pool, will also be available for patients of St.Vincent Physical Therapy.

In June 2009, St.Vincent Health and YMCA of Greater Indianapolis announced a unique partnership to benefit the health and wellness of community residents. Both organizations have a longstanding history of addressing the mind, body and spirit of adults and children, and are open to identifying additional opportunities to expand their programs and services to support the community’s health and wellness needs.

To contact St.Vincent Rehabilitation Therapies, call (317) 338-LIVE (5483) or log onto rehab.stvincent.org.

All the enchanting characters are here:  Wilbur played by Fishers residents Andy Raab, (the young Wilbur) and Cory Ruddel, (the older Wilbur), who desperately wants to avoid the butcher. Fern (played by Fishers resident Gabrielle McAree), a girl who understands what the animals say to each other; Templeton, (played by Anderson resident Wes Miller) the gluttonous rat who can occasionally be talked into a good deed; the Zuckerman family; the Arables; and most of all, the extraordinary spider, Charlotte (played by Indianapolis resident Gabrielle Baker), who proves to be “a true friend and a good writer.”

Determined to save Wilbur, Charlotte begins her campaign with the “miracle” of her web in which she writes, “some pig.”  It’s the beginning of a victorious campaign which ultimately ends with the now-safe Wilbur doing what is most important to Charlotte.  This is a beautiful, knowing play about friendship that will give the audience an evening of enchantment.

Charlotte’s Web performances run every weekend from Friday, October 10 through Sunday, October 26, at The Artists’ Studio in Fishers. Friday and Saturday evening performances begin at 7:30 pm. Saturday matinee performances begin at 2 pm, and Sunday matinee performances begin at 5 pm. Adult admission is $15 and admission for children 12 and under is $11, with special discounts for groups of ten or more and senior citizens. To reserve your tickets to Charlotte’s Web contact The Artists’ Studio at 317-594-5070 or go to www.artists-studio.com.

The Artists’ Studio is located in Fishers at 12810 Ford Drive, behind the Ford dealership at 126th Street and State Road 37.

With over $815,000 raised, opportunities are still available for companies and individuals to contribute to the campaign with recognition opportunities ranging from scoreboard signs to metal plaques or engraved bricks on a donor wall. The campaign goal is to cover as much as possible of the estimated $1.7 million cost with donations. An updated donor form is also available on the district web site (www.hse.k12.in.us) with a link under “Hot Topics.” Companies interested in corporate sponsorship options should contact one of the athletic director offices at FHS (915-4296) or HSEHS (594-4196).

Dedication of Clarian Health Field and Reynolds Tigers Stadium will be this Friday evening before Fishers High School’s first home game that begins at 7 p.m.

“We’re looking at using the Nickel Plate Line, from Noblesville to downtown Indianapolis, and some version of rail or bus transit,” notes MPO Manager Mike Dearing. “But we need to hear from the public on what they’d prefer and what trade-offs they’re willing to make. That’s why these meetings are so important.”

Northeast Corridor Transit Public Meetings
• Monday, June 16 (‘Brown Bag’ Open House)
• Indiana Historical Society, 450 W. Ohio St., Indianapolis
• Doors/Exhibits open at 11:45 AM, Presentation/Q & A from 12:15 – 1:30 PM

• Tuesday, June 17
• Glick Junior Achievement Center, 7435 N. Keystone Ave., Indianapolis
• Doors/Exhibits open at 6 PM, Presentation/Q & A from 6:30 – 8 PM

• Wednesday, June 18
• Fishers Town Hall, 1 Municipal Dr., Fishers
• Doors/Exhibits open at 7 PM, Presentation/Q & A from 7:30 – 9 PM

• Tuesday, June 24
• Indianapolis Central Library, 40 E. St. Clair St., Indianapolis
• Doors/Exhibits open at 6 PM, Presentation/Q & A from 6:30 – 8 PM

Currently, the MPO and meeting co-host CIRTA are also addressing stakeholder groups located within the corridor (Call 327-5136 or 327-7585 to schedule a presentation.) As implementing agency, CIRTA will see the recommendation through Draft Environmental Impact Study, Preliminary Engineering and funding identification if approved by the IRTC later this year.

For more information, contact:
Joe Whitman, APR, Indy MPO, 627-1614, whitman@netdirect.net
John Bartholomew, City of Indianapolis, 327-6709, jbarthol@indygov.org

Fishers Junior High English teacher Tony Sturgeon was selected as the HSE District Teacher of the Year and will represent the corporation in the state-wide competition for Indiana Teacher of the Year. He will submit a portfolio later in the summer and the state honor is announced in the fall.

Sturgeon was selected from individual building winners including the following:
Karin Foster, Brooks School Elementary
Pam Tharp, Cumberland Road Elementary
Emily Tracy, Durbin Elementary
Maria Ging, Fall Creek Elementary
Marilyn Stewart, Fishers Elementary
Aimee Bastin, Geist Elementary
Laura Moos, Harrison Parkway Elementary
Andrew Foreman, Hoosier Road Elementary
Julie McKinney, Lantern Road Elementary
Donna Maple, New Britton Elementary
Heidi Rogers, Sand Creek Elementary
Mike Hufty, Fall Creek Intermediate
Julia Seville, Sand Creek Intermediate
Susan Torrence, Riverside School
Lori Trulock, HSE Junior High
Terri Thompson-Mejias, Fishers High School
Cathy Glick, HSE High School

In addition, the district honored ten retiring employees:
Beth Backus, HSE Junior High
Carolyn Brittsan, Hoosier Road Elementary
Pam Cutcliff, Riverside School
Martha Dafnos, Riverside School
Cindy Gemmer, HSE High School
Marjorie Kimes, Fishers Elementary
Donna Maple, New Britton Elementary
Carlabeth Mathias, Hoosier Road Elementary
Mary Ann Verkamp, HSE High School
Elaine Whitman, Hoosier Road Elementary

• Fishers Rotary Club – Cale Allen, Kyle Jackson
• Riverview Memorial Foundation, Dr. & Mrs. Malcolm Bray Scholarship – Alexander Smith
• Central Indiana Community Foundation, Legacy Fund Community Scholarship  – Sara Lorenz, Sabrina Prodhan
• Central Indiana Community Foundation, Mexican Scholarship Fund – Rosa Xochitlatoa
• Cumberland Road Elementary Senior Scholarship – Sarah Kiel
• Fishers Freedom Festival, Ken Wright Memorial Scholarship – Emily Wang
• Fishers High School Alumni Association – Anna Bockelman
• Hamilton County Choral Club (Silvernotes) – Grace Morgan
• Fishers Chamber of Commerce – Alyson Donica, Andrea Selking
• Knights of Columbus, Carolyn Kirincich Memorial Scholarship – Adam Sopoci, Patrick Axon, Kayla Brooke, Jamie Cavanaugh, Jeffrey Gorgol
• Hamilton Memorial Scholarship – Michele Finger

Academy of Finance:

• USA Funds – Shannon Beatty
• USA Funds – Joey Christoff
• Deloitte LLP – Kyle Jackson
• Fishers Station Kiwanis Scholarship, Kent Riley Memorial Scholarship – Sabrina Prodhan, Kathryn Gonzalez
• Hamilton Southeastern Education Association – Sarah Kiel
• Fishers Sister Cities Association – Shannon Beatty
• HSE Schools Foundation Endowment Scholarship – Cale Allen, Ryan Harris, Megan Roof, Andrea Selking, Emily Thomas

HSE Schools Foundation Scholarships:

• Fishers Dental Alliance – Alexandra Doak
• Richard H. Crosser Memorial – Cale Allen, Ryan Harris
• Dr. Charles Leonard – Sarah Kiel
• FORUM Credit Union – Shannon Beatty
• The Bank of New York – Cale Allen
• Skillman Corporation – Michael Dunn
• City Securities Corporation – Andrea Selking
• Hamilton Southeastern Utilities – Zachary Wallace
• HSE Foundation, Dollars for Scholars – Gretchen Ahlers, Cale Allen, Alyssa Arnett, Alex Barrett, Anna Bockleman, Kayla Brooke, Alana Bruggner, Emily Case, Joey Christoff, Dayna Crawley, Brice Davis, Matt Dodds, Alyson Donica, Michael Dunn, Mohamed Dwairdori, Kristina Faudree, Jamie Fiddler, Rebecca Granger, Jessica Hagan, Ryan Harris, Bailey Hoberty, Mary Holihen, Katie Hoover, Sarah Kiel, Joel Kinsey, Brian Lahti, Felicia Lahti, Nate Ligon, John Long, Siri Lundberg, Taylor MacFarlane, Lanial Madden, Kelsey Millares, Katie Poisel, Emily Pritchett, Abbigail Randolph, Katie Reed, Zach Rogers, Megan Roof, Zach Rothhauser, Justin Schuessler, Andrea Selking, Ross Shafer, Alex Smith, Adam Sopoci, Stephanie Spichiger, Rachel Stone, Steven Sturgis, Laura Tease, Katelin Terpening, Emily Thomas, Sarah Thomas, Kelli Thornburg, Zach Wallace, Emily Wang, Courtney Weiler, Melanie Wicks, Lauren Wilderson, Stephanie Wohrle

• Fishers Tri-Kappa Scholarship – Cale Allen, Claire Kappes, Brian Lahti, Corey Rudell, Steven Sturgis
• Fishers High School Tigers S.T.R.I.P.E.S., Perfect Attendance Award – Steven Bergman, Ho Chi Cheng, Alexandra Doak, Kathryn Kleber, Hobey Tam, Kaitlyn Thompson, Emily Wang
• The Ball State Cardinal Quiz Bowl Scholarship – Coady Owens and Alex Barrett
• Hoosier Scholars – Emily Thomas, Emily Wang, Yuji Xie
• National Merit Scholars – Mary Holihen, Kurt Kellogg, Katherine Poisel, Emily Wang, Chris Womble, Yuji Xie
• Walton Family Foundation Scholarship – Hobey Tam
• Sam Walton Community Scholarship – Sara Lorenz

Department Awards:

• Agriculture – Jacklyn Barber
• Athletics – Patrick Newton, Stephanie Burtch, Zachary Wallace, Rudy Longman, Erik Johnson, Faisal Akbar, Kristen Kluempers, Mihai Iancu,              Sara Ling, Katherine Reed, Rebecca Granger
• Business – Nicholas Kapsalis
• English – Jacklyn Barber
• Journalism – Ross Shafer
• Math – Emily Wang
• Performing Arts – Coady Owens
• Physical Education – Joel Kinsey
• Science – Hobey Tam
• Social Studies – Benjamin Gurin
• Visual Arts – Sarah El-Rahaiby
• World Language – French, Anna Beagle; German, Christina Koenig; Spanish,  Emily Neitzel; Japanese, Sabrina Prodhan

Mattie Mitchel took it a step or two further. He had his father give him a “Mr. Beresford” haircut and created an ID badge with his principal’s photocopied image on it. Beresford, principal of Riverside since its opening two years ago, will be supervisor of student services at the Administration Center next year.

Dressed just like Mr. B., Riverside students gathered around their Principal Michael Beresford include Zack Witt, Kalab Gulley, Connor Sorrell, Zack Curtis, Katie Roberts, Nick Curtis, (Beresford), Mattie Mitchel, Maggie Morrissey (front), Chris Elliott (behind), Cari Vogt, Matt Butler and Luka Skudrzik.

The top 25 seniors at Fishers High School recognized their most influential teachers during a recent awards ceremony.  Each senior gave a tribute about his/her honored educator and presented a plaque of appreciation as part of the school’s Top 100 Awards night.

“It was an incredible evening hearing these seniors—our academic leaders—speak about the teachers who helped them become the exceptional students they are,” said Jason Urban, Fishers High School principal.

Those honored included teachers the seniors had as elementary, junior high and high school students.  Several teachers were recognized by more than one student.

“What makes Senora Mejias stand out to me as the most influential teacher I’ve had isn’t just the energy and fun she brought to her class every day for three years, but the way she genuinely cares about and encourages her students—both in and out of class.  Senora Mejias has influenced me because she always has a smile, a positive outlook and open ears to listen,” Emily Neitzel said of Terri Thompson-Mejias.

Katherine Poisel said this about teacher Elizabeth Thomas: “Mrs. Thomas is genuinely concerned with how well students retain information not just the test scores.  She is committed to continuing her education and utilizes relevant and memorable anecdotes in her teaching.  She has inspired me to be a better, more inquisitive student.”

“Ms. Bailey exemplifies all the qualities that a student wants in a teacher:  compassion, kindness, intellect, expertise in her subject and being an excellent listener to the needs of her students,” Patrick Newton said of teacher Elizabeth Bailey.  “Ms. Bailey gives her students the greatest gift imaginable—to be an enlightened American citizen and to be a good person.”

The educators honored this year are Elizabeth Bailey, Lisa Blamey, Sandra Burns, Judi Corbit, Lori Cornell, John Drozd, Mike Fassold, Matt Harrod, Shannon Jones, Marcia Kellogg, Tracey Kelly, Kathy Schemine, Elizabeth Thomas, Terri Thompson-Mejias, Dave Turner, Nana Vaughn, Jeffrey Wilkins, and Tom Younts.

This year’s top 25 seniors are Patrick Axon, Jacklyn Barber, Shannon Beatty, Carla Black, Kelsey Bonfils, Alexandra Doak, Alyson Donica, Sara Friedline, Mary Holihen, Mihai Iancu, Kurt Kellogg, Kathryn Kleber, Christina Koenig, Sara Lorenz, Emily Neitzel, Patrick Newton, Parth Patel, Katherine Poisel, Hobey Tam, Emily Thomas, Zachary Wallace, David Wan, Emily Wang, Christopher Womble, and Yuji Xie.

Top 25 students and teacher they honored – (Front row)) Tracey Kelly, Elizabeth Bailey, David Turner,  John Drozd, Tom Younts, Lori Cornell, (Row 2) Nana Vaughn, Matt Harrod, Kathryn Kleber, Terri Thompson-Mejias, Jackie Barber, Alyson Donica, Emily Thomas, Chris Womble, Emily Wang, Hoby Tam, Kelsey Bonfils, Parth Patel, Alexandra Doak, Emily Neitzel, Judi Corbit, Elizabeth Thomas, Lisa Blamey, (Row 3) Mary Holihen, Katherine Poisel, Patrick Newton, Patrick Axon, Mahai Iancu, Yuji Xie, Shannon Beatty, David Wan, Sara Friedline.