Erika Malone 0:00

This week I'm Beyond the Headlines. Clark Pleasant returns for a new school year. Big changes are planned for two of Franklin's recreational offerings. Former KFC to soon become Chipotle, and a rare Bumblebee is found in profounder. From the Daily Journal, this is Beyond the Headlines, a local news podcast focused on story shaping Johnson County. Today is his last day. We're filming on Friday, and it's his last day of his internship. So we're gonna miss him very much. Um he was very helpful to us uh these past two months. But yeah, how are you feeling about that?

SPEAKER_00 0:55

Pretty good. Um, I don't know. It's just like a lot of time has just flown by, and like I've been here for two months, and um it's just crazy because uh I didn't think nine weeks would go so fast. So like uh this has become a part of my routine. Um and I've never done anything this big over the summer, so it's like just insane to me. And I've gotten so much experience from it, and I've met so many cool people and I've done just so much that I didn't think I would do. So honestly, it's honestly it's really sad for me to go. Yeah. It's really sad, but I'm kinda ready to sleep in a little bit.

Erika Malone 1:33

Uh yeah, of course. Get back to your, you know, waking up at eleven, things like that, you know. We keep you we keep you busy. We kept you busy this these past like two months um with the fair and school starting back up, which uh, you know, we'll kind of get into that. Clark Pleasant um went back uh on Wednesday and uh you were there taking pictures that morning.

SPEAKER_00 1:56

I was, yeah. I um I went right before the buses came in, and um I the new with the new construction it was just really different because I didn't really know how to navigate it, and a lot of the students didn't know how to navigate it either, so it was just a lot of people trying to find figure out how to get to that new um academic wing. Yeah. And you kind of have to cross through um uh the original building. Um so even me go like graduating from there, I didn't even know how to get to it and I didn't know how to traverse it. Um so that was definitely a really new experience, but uh I got to uh terrorize my sister. Um did you see her there with standing outside um because they had like a line of students uh needing like schedule stuff. She was like, bro.

Erika Malone 2:50

And she was like, what are you doing here?

SPEAKER_00 2:52

I took some pictures. She was like, bro.

Erika Malone 2:56

That's so funny. Well, they did start school uh, you know, this past week with some major changes. Um, and like you said, their new three-story academic wing, um, which includes 66 classrooms, updated science labs, collaborative learning spaces, and a new natatorium, um, giving students and teachers access to modernized facilities. And this is just the first completed phase of their five-phase project, which is like $235 million, you know, expansion and renovation project. And this is the largest capital project in the district's history. Um, and I'm sure going through that, uh, you know, all the construction and stuff you said was uh was kind of difficult. Um, so I talked to Superintendent uh Tim Edsel, and he was just asking families to be patient, you know, with traffic congestion, you know, changing traffic patterns that's caused by this ongoing construction.

SPEAKER_00 3:51

So I remember the construction from when I went there, and I mean it in uh some parts uh it is heavily under construction, even more so. Like I uh they have the new cafeteria space as well, um, which we'll talk about later, but uh they have the original one completely blocked off and uh it's like very, very under construction. Oh wow.

Erika Malone 4:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 4:19

And so that was jarring. But I mean, what else is a part of this expansion?

Erika Malone 4:24

Yeah, so uh they're all kind of working on the different phases uh simultaneously, simultaneously in a way. Um phase two, uh expected to be largely complete by the end of the school year, which that includes a new fine arts wing. Um, and it's gonna be renovated to see a thousand people rather than um their previous one, which only seated up like less than 500, um, and a larger cafeteria, which you know you kind of talked about. We saw some pictures actually on social media of like branded uh tables and things like that. So um, and this is gonna reduce the number of lunch periods that they have from five to three, um, which increases instructional time. So that's great. Um, and then other projects underway include uh the 29 million plus JC Bank Fieldhouse that's gonna have new basketball courts, an indoor track, weight room, and the wrestling center. And um district leaders say this expansion, it's designed to accommodate future growth as new housing developments continue to be developed in the area as well.

SPEAKER_00 5:27

I definitely think this is really good just from going there. Um I definitely think this growth is really good because I remember um some hallways in the original building were just really tight. They were very narrow. I mean, there was like the uh transition um hallways where you would walk to go outside to go to the north building. Um I mean they were just so tight and like there was just you you kind of had to walk single file line and um just seeing the like academic building um having these wide hallways and having big staircases is honestly very refreshing because I really think that's what they needed. Yeah um and so um this new building has so much space and um there's also just a lot of space for students to hang out and stuff like that.

Erika Malone 6:18

And of course, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:20

The it's weird not having uh performing arts uh or like a um a stage or anything um or an auditorium because uh show choir my sisters in show choir, they don't have a stage. Uh you know, people in theater don't have a stage, so um I'm glad that the new ones underway and it looks huge uh because it's right where it's actually right where the old cafeteria was gonna be.

Erika Malone 6:52

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_00 6:52

Um so they're kind of like building more off of that and making it bigger. So um I'm very excited to for what that looks like. Yeah. What else is new this school year?

Erika Malone 7:01

Yeah, so uh students are also adjusting to uh some new law changes as well. Um Indiana's new bell-to-bell cell phone ban, which now requires devices to be put away throughout the school day rather than allowing use during lunch and passing periods. So that's a big one that we've talked about um a few times. And Superintendent Ed Sell said the district supports this policy, believing it will improve classroom engagement and reduce distractions as well. And they're also launching two new educational opportunities this year, uh the Whiteland Community Virtual School, um, which provides uh, you know, an online learning option for some students that need an alternate uh setting to learn. And then also uh a new JROTC program, uh, which is developed in partnership with IU Bloomington and focused on leadership, citizenship, and a new graduation pathway. That one's like it's not necessarily like military focused, but for those that you know who have maybe gone through ROTC, you know, you have your um military uniforms and things like that. So, but I it's more of like a civic-minded uh program.

SPEAKER_00 8:13

Yeah, I think that's really good. Um I didn't even really even know about that, but um, I think that's really good. Um, same thing with the virtual school as well, just having that other option is uh really good for students. Um and the cell phone ban is pretty huge.

Erika Malone 8:29

Yeah. So it's it's not much different than what they've had before, but like, you know, it's like like I said, it was mainly they were allowed to have their phones out during um passing period and lunch periods, but now students have to keep it in their backpack all day. Yeah. So it might it might be a little bit uh harder for you know, like older, like high school students who maybe like seniors who are so used to having their phones, you know, throughout those three years, and now this final year they're like, wait, I can't have my phone out during lunch.

SPEAKER_00 8:58

So also like um a senior being told off to get off their phone, I guess was like I've been through like four years of this thing. So uh incoming freshmen probably a problem. Probably a problem.

Erika Malone 9:16

Yeah, so we'll see.

SPEAKER_00 9:18

Is there anything uh district leaders are keeping in mind as the school year starts?

Erika Malone 9:22

Yeah, so uh the district is also monitoring um the financial impact of Indian's recent property tax reform, SCA1, as we know it, um, which could uh reduce local revenue for schools and to address potential funding losses, voters are actually going to see a tax levy referendum renewal uh on the November ballot. I wrote about this a few months ago. The proposal would continue local operating support at a lightly slower rate than the current referendum. Um, and if you want to learn more about what that is, you can find that story in uh on our website. Uh, but despite growth in construction dominating, you know, kind of uh the headlines, the district leaders say this uh their biggest priorities remain improving iLearn scores, increasing their graduation rates, and keeping students on track through uh the state's graduation pathways.

SPEAKER_00 10:12

So I think that's really cool.

Erika Malone 10:13

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Well, we're gonna take a quick break and be right back. Want your business to reach our listeners in Johnson County and beyond, reach out to the Daily Journal by calling 317-736-2730 to ask about our advertising opportunities. And we're back, and uh, we have some more news for you, some uh new road construction. So, Nathan, you want to talk a little bit about that?

SPEAKER_00 10:40

Sure. So there's a roundabout plan for Honey Creek and Tracy Roads. Uh Greenwood is planning a new single-lane roundabout at the intersection of Penny Creek Road and Smokey Row Road and Tracy Road. Uh the roundabout will be similar in design to the existing roundabout at West Stone's Crossing Road and Saddle Club Road. Um, the project is still in early planning stages and is expected to stay several years before construction begins. The Greenwood Board of Public Works recently approved hiring BS Engineering to design the roundabout. City officials estimate the project will cost about $3 million and could be ready for construction in roughly two years, depending on uh right-of-way acquisitions and utility relocations.

Erika Malone 11:19

Oh, okay, gotcha. I mean, uh, we're seeing a lot of roundabouts pop up uh around the county too. So why are officials putting a roundabout there?

SPEAKER_00 11:26

Yeah, so Greenwood officials say the project is part of a broader effort to address uh increasing traffic as the city continues to grow. Uh traffic in the corridor has increased as drivers look for alternatives to State Road 135 and US 31, and the city has already added several roundabouts farther north to improve traffic route movement. Two proposed housing developments near the intersection are expected to add even more traffic in the future. One proposed development to uh the Grand Communities LLC, an affiliate of Fisher Homes, would bring 49 high-end homes on 33 acres with expected home prices between six hundred thousand dollars and eight hundred thousand dollars.

Erika Malone 12:08

Those are some expensive homes. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 12:10

Approval of the housing development included conditions such as road improvements, trail construction, acceleration, and deceleration lanes in coordination with the city on feature roundabouts. City officials are already discussing the project with green communities being beat because the roundabout's footprint footprint could affect the proposed subdivision.

Erika Malone 12:30

Oh, gotcha. Okay, are there any other issues officials are keeping an eye out for?

SPEAKER_00 12:34

Well, one key challenge is the electrical substation located near the intersection. Uh because the city wants to avoid impacting the substation, the roundabout may need to be shifted northwest potentially onto land for development. Officials have not yet had similar discussions with developers of another proposed housing development on the opposite side of Roky Smoky Row Road. Uh the next steps include finalizing the contract with VS Engineering and reviewing initial design concepts intended to limit property acquisition needs and utility relocations.

Erika Malone 13:06

Gotcha. Interesting. So yeah, we'll keep uh keep following that and see what see what happens there.

SPEAKER_00 13:11

Yeah. Well, what story is up next?

Erika Malone 13:14

Well, there's um some new plans for Scott Park and uh the aquatic center in Franklin. They're expanding. So uh some plans were shown at the city council's July 20th uh meeting for updates to Scott Park and the Franklin Family Aquatic Center, dramatically expanding recreation opportunities and hopes for attracting visitors to the city. Uh and starting with Scott Park, this uh park will actually grow from five acres to roughly 40 acres through acquisition of approximately 35 additional acres. The expanded park will become a regional sports campus featuring seven youth baseball fields, one larger baseball and softball diamond, one or two full-size soccer fields, and 12 pickleball courts and three basketball courts as well.

SPEAKER_00 14:01

That's the pickleball courts are needed.

Erika Malone 14:03

That's a lot of pickleball courts.

SPEAKER_00 14:04

Yes. Well, I mean, they're already gonna be full because no matter how much pickleball courts you put into anywhere, it's just gonna be they're gonna be packed. They're gonna be packed.

Erika Malone 14:12

It's the it's the new rage. It is so uh these fields will use artificial turf and lighting, allowing for more games and uh reduce maintenance costs as well. City leaders hope the complex will attract travel sports tournaments, bringing more customers to local hotels, restaurants, and businesses. A new roundabout on Commerce Drive will serve as the park entrance and help manage event traffic, and parking will increase dramatically as well from 120 spaces to more than 900 spaces. Yeah, that's a lot.

SPEAKER_00 14:44

Um, I know we've talked about sports a lot, but what else are they adding?

Erika Malone 14:47

Yeah, so additional amenities include uh a large playground, a splash pad, and shelter houses. Three fishing piers will be added to the retention pond behind Lowe's as well. The greenway trail will be extended throughout uh through the park, improving pedestrian access and connectivity, and plans also include security upgrades such as camera system and flock cameras.

SPEAKER_00 15:09

Well, there's a lot of plans for the park, and especially uh having more spaces as well as um all of those uh fields and courts, um, and specifically the pickleball courts because um just more space for people to get active, you know. Um, but uh what about the aquatic center?

Erika Malone 15:27

Yeah, so the Franklin uh aquatic center pool is about 40 years old, so it's getting up there in age, and it's prompting uh major renovation and expansion rather than replacement. New attractions will include a wave pool, a bowl slide, a new body slide, a ninja challenge course, rentable shelters and cabanas, and refurbishments to the existing water slide. The wave pool sounds fun.

SPEAKER_00 15:51

Yeah, well, the ninja challenge course sounds awesome. Yeah, that's awesome.

Erika Malone 15:56

As well. Yeah, the current zero depth pool will be converted into a larger splash play area, while part of the main pool will become a new zero depth entry area. The facility's diving boards and diving well will be removed and replaced with a ninja course because officials say the diving well is costly to maintain and serves only a few people at a time. Um, I think they also mentioned that the diving boards are also kind of dangerous. People have like accidents on those as well. Uh the current park maintenance facility will be relocated as well, creating an additional 112 parking spaces and more than double doubling available parking. A road between the aquatic center and province park will be closed and converted into a trail to improve pedestrian safety and reduce summer traffic congestion as well.

SPEAKER_00 16:45

This is very exciting because this is a lot of new stuff. Yeah, not only for the park, but also the aquatic center as well.

Erika Malone 16:52

And just the town.

SPEAKER_00 16:53

Yeah. Yeah. Um, but when will all this be opening?

Erika Malone 16:57

Well, Scotts Park's existing areas would begin construction in summer of 2027 and reopen by spring of 2028. The aquatic center, it's gonna remain open for the 2027 season with renovations targeted for completion before the start of 2028. Uh, project costs are estimated at $35 million for Scott Park and $15 million for the Aquatic Center, and about $39.5 million is expected to be financed through bonds. The Franklin Redevelopment Commission is contributing more than six million dollars toward engineering and infrastructure costs, while the city is contributing five million from its CEDIT fund.

unknown 17:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:40

I am very excited about that. Um I have only seen a little bit of the uh uh aquatic center. Um, and I'm not sure if I've been to Scott Park um a lot, but um I mean the aquatic center already is pretty big on its own.

Erika Malone 17:56

I mean the wave pool already kind of sold me.

SPEAKER_00 17:58

That's that is pretty good.

Erika Malone 17:59

I went uh I went in a wave pool recently and I forgot like how much fun it is.

SPEAKER_00 18:04

It is. I've never been to no, I don't go to aquatic parks like super often. Um I used to when I was a kid, because we'd go uh for vacations, but like I don't go to Freedom Springs really. I don't go to like any aquatic park really.

Erika Malone 18:20

It's a lot um if you've been to the beach, then it's a lot I would say it's a lot accurate. It's tamer than what like actual beach waves are in my experience.

SPEAKER_00 18:32

Is it a consistent like level or is does it like go up over time and then well it's different.

Erika Malone 18:39

The ones I've been to, um I've been to ones where the waves are different, like you know, uh intensity, I guess. And then there's ones where it's just a constant like level of intensity of waves and stuff, and it's more just like I don't know, it's like fun to just like jump over, like swim over or things like that. So people enjoy it.

SPEAKER_00 19:02

It's probably like really calming. So you can kind of just sit there. It sounds just very like if there's like a consistent level of waves, you can kind of just sit there. Oh, yeah.

Erika Malone 19:13

If you're like in the shallow part, then the waves just kind of like brush up on you, and yeah, you can just relax. It's nice. Yeah. Yeah. Well, we're gonna take a break and be right back. Like listening to this podcast, you can help support it. Subscribe to the daily journal and at subscribe.dailyjournal.net to support your local newspaper and this podcast. Your support helps make everything we do possible. We're back with our round table and uh we're still doing some fair news, and the Johnson County Fair wrapped up uh the 4-H livestock auction Friday night. And throughout the evening, 4-H members led their animals through the auction ring while family and friends celebrated award-winning livestock embidders competed to support local youth, which um if you don't know what a livestock auction is, it can be a little sad because uh a lot of these animals are uh kind of bitted off to go to um maybe a slaughterhouse or different things. So, but that's just kind of the way it is. Um so but the auction also serves as a fundraiser for 4-age participants with proceeds often going towards college savings, future livestock projects, and reinvesting in their agricultural programs. Um and for many of these participants, auction night is bittersweet because it means saying goodbye to animals they've cared uh for daily, uh, or even for months, actually. And despite the sadness, veteran exhibitors emphasize that learning responsibility, perseverance, and how to handle difficult moments is part of the 4-H experience. Cole Shireman, he's 14, said showing sheep has taught him discipline and attention to detail, explaining how presentation and showmanship can impact auction prices, actually. And longtime exhibitor uh Eliza Tharp uh participated in her final livestock auction after a decade in 4-H and reflected on the friendships, confidence, and life skills the program provided. Tharp encouraged other young people to get involved in the fair, saying the experience helps participants grow socially and personally.

SPEAKER_00 21:18

I really do commend every 4-H'er that, you know, whatever whatever they do, um uh especially for like animals, uh it's just amazing.

Erika Malone 21:31

They work very hard.

SPEAKER_00 21:32

Yeah, well, and it's very young kids too, and um just being able to show an animal, um, just like with the, you know, master show and stuff, uh just being able to show off an animal like that and um even like a horse or uh a cow or some cattle or um a goat or anything, you know, these animals are pretty hard to deal with. Um like goats jumping and stuff or uh uh sheep jumping too and so like um I really do commend uh like very young 4 H'ers and 4 Hers in general who have uh done um stuff like that.

Erika Malone 22:16

Just learning how to persevere through kind of tough moments like that, especially if an animal doesn't want to cooperate.

SPEAKER_00 22:21

Yeah being able to like treat them every day.

Erika Malone 22:24

Mm-hmm. Yeah. So good luck um you know good luck to all the 4-H'ers out there. So and it was uh it was fun to watch uh throughout that whole week. So yeah well uh what else do we got?

SPEAKER_00 22:36

Yeah a rare bumblebee was just recently found a rare American bumblebee has been discovered at Bentley Woods at Glaciers and Nature Preserve near Chivalgar. And uh the bee was the bee was spotted by Max Girk, a stewardship specialist with the Central uh Indiana Land Trust and a passionate advocate for native bee conservation. Interesting. The discovery came during a bee survey being conducted by the Central Indiana Land Trust to better understand what pollinator species live within the preserve uh remarkably Girk spotted the bee before the team had even finished setting up its survey equipment. The American bumblebee was once uh one of the most common bumblebee species in North America uh since the 1990s however its population has declined by an estimated 89% due to factors including habitat loss, uh pesticide use, urban development and climate change. Interesting 89% is a large is a large percentage and especially for it being named the American bumblebee and being so endangered is insane. Yeah and it being so rare. Conservationalists say finding uh even a single American bumblebee is significant because sightings have become so uncommon. Bentley Woods diverse mix of uh native prairie and forest habitat likely helps support rare pollinators by providing abundant flowering plants and food resources. Although researchers found only one American bumblebee during the survey they say documenting its presence is an important contribution to statewide uh conservation efforts. The bee sighting has been reported to Indiana's Heritage Data Center which tracks threatened endangered and rare species. Researchers say the discovery shows how long-term land protection and habitat res restoration can help support struggling wildlife populations. The new record provides valuable location data that could help scientists better understand where the American bumblebee still survives.

Erika Malone 24:37

That's so awesome yeah and nice to have a rare bumblebee um you know in our county too as well yeah well we have some uh some more exciting news um maybe some some might uh consider it bittersweet because we are saying goodbye to the saucy nugs sign yeah um as uh the former KFC is going to be turning into a Chipotle so a Chipotle Mexican grill is officially coming to Franklin and taking over the former KFC building at 2401 North Morton Street and despite skepticism on local social media City Records uh and Chipotle officials have confirmed the restaurant is planning to open in 2027. Uh Chipotle received a remodel permit in May and construction is now underway um if you've driven by there on 31 you uh you will see it. Uh TMG construction management based in Noblesville is serving as the contractor for the remodel and Chipotle says Franklin fits its strategy of expanding into communities where it can serve its menu of made to order burritos, bowls, tacos, and quesadillas I personally really like Chipotle um and I'm excited for this to come actually um despite the construction the building sign still displays the old saucy nug sign. They still have not taken it down yet lettering from uh KOC which has remained in place through storms and two years of vacancies. So it's it's been through some stuff and it's still up there. I feel like I always see it and I'm never like conscious about it just saying the same thing over and over again because I just see it and I'm like oh I um so living in Graywood and driving down here for work every day I pass that sign every single day and it just it makes me all every single time and I'm gonna be sad if they take that down. I feel like Chipotle needs to carry on the tradition of I don't know calling it saucy tacos or something like that.

SPEAKER_00 26:30

Yeah they just and they need to keep that up forever.

Erika Malone 26:33

Yeah absolutely um this new restaurant um is also gonna add to Franklin's uh growing fast casual Mexican food market and Chipotle will join Qdoba on North Morton Street and the locally owned Maze Grill downtown as well. Yeah so more stuff and uh again uh let's we can all uh say rest in peace to the saucy nug sign. Yes so but thank you all so much for tuning into this episode of Beyond the Headlines and let us know what you would like to hear by submitting your thoughts to newstips at dailyjournal.net and follow us wherever you get podcasts and leave review. Thank you Nathan for uh coming on the podcast with me multiple times and it's just been a pleasure having you as our intern uh we're gonna miss you.

SPEAKER_00 27:17

Yeah so very very fun this is my first uh this will be my first podcast experience ever so always think about this and just remember it's a very very fun time.

Erika Malone 27:28

Well good it was uh it was glad to have you with us so uh thank you guys and we hope you tune in next time see you guys