IndyStar.com: Communities
Indiana's leading news source for all the top stories, local news, sports and weather.
Boone County looking into wind farm health fears
The Boone County Health Department is looking into claims that two proposed wind farms could have a negative effect on residents’ health, but experts disagree on the validity of the allegations. Sharon Adams, the head of the Health...
Easter Seals gives nod to Downtown holiday cherub icon
A traditional Downtown Indianapolis holiday icon will dominate a local fundraising campaign this season. The charity group Easter Seals Crossroads raises money during the holidays by selling an ornament in the shape of a local icon, and this...
Indiana prison stops serving lunch three days a week
Civil rights groups, lawmakers critical of program at Plainfield eliminating midday meal 3 days a week The inmates at Plainfield Correctional Facility can’t be accused of getting a free lunch. Or any lunch at all. At least on some days. The...
Lawrence Twp. students learn some swift ballroom steps
Elementary school children need to be challenged and given a chance to succeed, say leaders at Lawrence Township’s Winding Ridge Elementary School. And that’s the idea behind a dance contest — just like the ones the youngsters see...
Speedway makeover begins
Launch of redevelopment aims to make racing mecca more inviting For longtime residents such as Ed Frazier, Thursday was a historic day in Speedway. In front of a backdrop of workers, government and business leaders from Speedway and Marion County...
Number of H1N1 cases is declining, Indiana health officials say
State is still receiving vaccine; area counties set additional clinics Although six Indiana residents died last week from H1N1 influenza, state health officials say they continue to see encouraging signs that the disease is on the wane. The six...
Duncan says U.S. has chance to reform education system
Indiana educators applaud many of his ideas but fear political, bureaucratic hurdles U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan told educators at a conference Thursday in Indianapolis that too many adults — in classrooms, communities and state...
Woman found slain in Eastside home
Police are investigating the death of a woman killed at an Eastside home Wednesday. Medics found Deneisha Watford, 28, on the floor of a home in the 1800 block of Bauer Road about 11:30 p.m., according to an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police...
Conner Prairie reports that revenue is up
Fishers — Conner Prairie Living History Museum is reporting increases in revenue. Attendance through Nov. 1 this year was 90,952, an 11 percent increase from the same period last year, said spokeswoman Angela Tuell. At $366,338, 2009 general...
Carmel council alters fireworks, noise law
Carmel — City residents can continue to legally set off fireworks on New Year’s Eve and other holidays — but only during specific times. The Carmel City Council passed an ordinance this week to amend the city law regarding noise...
Commuter bus times and stops to change
Fishers and Carmel workers who use IndyGo’s commuter buses will soon see changes, including new stops in Downtown Indianapolis and an adjusted schedule. Starting Dec. 1, stops for the Fishers route will be added on Illinois Street at 10th...
Saturday market is 1st of planned events
Greenfield — The Hancock Harvest Council will host a winter market Saturday, and it hopes to have such an event the first and third Saturday of each month through April. The market will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hancock County 4-H...
Indiana regulators OK heating assistance
Consumer advocates said they were encouraged by state regulators’ decision Thursday to allow Indiana utilities to reinstate heating assistance programs. But the next step is up to the utilities, and their cost to participate is going up. The...
Corrections chief back at work a day after his arrest
NEW CASTLE, Ind. — A day after his arrest on racketeering and ghost employment charges, a retired Indiana State Police detective was back at work Thursday as director of Henry County Community Corrections program. Douglas Sheets, 57, is accused...
Purdue will limit smoking on campus
Lighting up will be allowed only in designated areas beginning July 1, 2010 WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Finding a spot to light up at Purdue University won’t be too easy starting next year. Officials announced Thursday the campus will become...
Fire severely damages Bloomington office building
Bloomington — Bloomington firefighters say a blaze has left an office building nearly a total loss. The fire broke out shortly after 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Eastplex building near College Mall in Bloomington. Fire Chief Roger Kerr said the...
Man to serve 10 days in jail after killing 2 girls with car
South Bend — A Northern Indiana man who admitted having marijuana in his system when his car fatally struck two young girls will spend 10 days in jail. St. Joseph Superior Court Judge Richard McCormick sentenced Leroy Hoover, 56, to 60 days in...
Forum to discuss Sheridan school building's future
SHERIDAN — Adams Township Trustee Linda Williams wants taxpayers’ input on how Adams Elementary School will be used in the future. She’s organizing a community meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at Sheridan Community Center to talk about...
Musicians, jugglers to join Santa in Carmel holiday lighting event
CARMEL — Carmel’s holiday lights will be lit amidst music, jugglers, and a visit from Santa during the city’s annual “Holiday on the Square” event this weekend. The festival will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday at...
Planetarium's light show to highlight holidays
CARMEL — The Carmel High School Planetarium and Carmel High School Astronomy Club will present two showings of the Season of Light Saturday night at the Planetarium. Forty-minute shows will begin at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Cost is $4 for adults and...
Man charged in September killing
Police on Thursday arrested an Indianapolis man in a Northwestside shooting that left one man dead and two others injured. Jose Lozano, 31, was held without bond in the Marion County Jail on a warrant for murder and attempted murder in the Sept. 19...
Man accused of robbing home after warming baby bottle
An 18-year-old man who reportedly heated a bottle for a crying baby during a home invasion and robbery last week was charged Thursday, police said. Robert Coleman, Indianapolis, was taken into custody Tuesday at Arlington High School, said Sgt. Paul...
Eastside death ruled a homicide
Police are investigating the death of a woman who was killed at an Eastside home Wednesday. Medics found Deneisha Watford, 28, on the floor of a home in the 1800 block of Bauer Road at about 11:30 p.m., according to an Indianapolis Metropolitan...
Carmel counselor wins writing contest at first-time workshop
Carmel’s Kathy Henry is the winner of a writing contest that had 40 participants penning how an event at Forest Park changed their life. Henry, 45, chose to write a fictional piece about how she wanted to buy at an auction one of the beautiful...
Carmel Celtic fiddler to perform benefit for Humane Society
When Celtic fiddler Emily Ann Thompson asked Hedgehog Music Showcase owner Bob Foster if she could put on a fundraiser to help pets that have fallen victim to the economy, he was more than willing to let her take center stage. Thompson, 32, Carmel,...
Palin signs books for 1,000 at store
6:12 p.m. — Kind and generous People who met former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin tonight at a Noblesville Borders, to get her autograph on her new book, came from the bookstore beaming about her kindness and generosity. Starstruck, they said the...
Carmel's holiday festivities to "light up" this weekend
Carmel’s holiday lights will be lit amidst music, jugglers, and a visit from Santa during the city’s annual “Holiday on the Square” event this weekend. The festival will be held form 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Carmel Civic Square, according to a...
Best-band region team includes three from Plainfield
Three Plainfield Community Middle School students were selected to play in the Indiana Bandmasters Association All-Region Honor Band. Alyssa Bayar, Nathan Mormino and Joe Shepherd will be among 112 students from 32 area schools who will perform with...
Boone Co. plans 4 vaccination clinics
Boone County will hold four H1N1 clinics over the next month, but as in the past, there won’t be enough vaccine for everyone. The Health Department will hold its next free H1N1 clinic at the Boone County 4-H Fairgrounds from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov....
Hamilton County adds 4 H1N1 vaccination clinics
The Hamilton County Health Department has added four more dates to its H1N1 vaccination clinic schedule. The clinics, which have been scheduled for late November and early December, still will be open only to those who fall into one of the high-risk...
