News in Carmel
Hamilton County Commissioners review bids, OK agreement, contract
Bids are in for preliminary engineering and design services for the Hazel Dell Parkway bridge over Blue Woods Creek following last month’s historic flooding. The bids were reviewed at the Sept. 28 Hamilton County Commissioners meeting, where the commissioners also approved the…
Carmel fire chief eager to lead new state office
Carmel Fire Department Chief Joel Thacker wasn’t looking to change jobs. But after learning about a new office within a state agency he used to lead, he felt he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to help start it up. The Carmel resident has been named the director of the Office of…
Ford campaign fires back after Spartz questions Carmel headquarters over delinquent taxes
U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz’s re-election campaign is calling on Democratic challenger J.D. Ford to explain how his campaign came to use a Carmel property that is scheduled for Hamilton County’s Oct. 8 tax sale. The Ford campaign responded that it has no role in its landlord’s tax…
Spartz campaign questions Ford’s Carmel headquarters over delinquent property taxes
U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz’s re-election campaign is calling on Democratic challenger J.D. Ford to explain how his campaign came to use a Carmel property that is scheduled for Hamilton County’s Oct. 8 tax sale. The property at 610 N. Rangeline Road serves as Ford’s campaign…
Meet the candidates for Hamilton County Commissioner District 1
Incumbent Hamilton County Commissioner Christine Altman, a Republican, is facing a challenge in the general election for the District 1 seat from Ti’Gre McNear, a Democrat. Altman, 71, who has served on the commission for more than 20 years, is an attorney and co-founder of the…
Meet the candidates running for Indiana House District 39
Incumbent State Rep. Danny Lopez, a Republican, is facing Lindsay Gramlich, a Democrat, for the District 39 seat in the Nov. 3 general election. The district includes parts of Carmel and Westfield. Lopez, 46, who was first elected in 2024, is founder and president of Vincam…
Carmel in brief — September 29, 2026
Mayor appointed vice chair – Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam will begin serving as the vice chair of the Mayors Alliance to End Childhood Hunger beginning in January 2027. She will serve alongside Mayor Alyia Gaskins of Alexandria, Virginia, who was appointed chair. The alliance works to…
Judge rules Carmel won’t have to pay legal fees for short-term rental owner
The City of Carmel will not have to pay legal fees for the owner of a short-term rental property it sued in September 2025. Hamilton County Judge David Najjar ruled Sept. 15 that Carmel’s lawsuit against XF Property Group and request to dismiss it in March didn’t come “anywhere…
Carmel Fire Chief Joel Thacker to depart
Carmel Fire Department Chief Joel Thacker will depart from his position effective Friday, Oct. 23, with Deputy Chief Lucas Ray stepping in as interim chief. “Chief Thacker has provided dedication...
Carmel fire chief named director of state cybersecurity office
Carmel Fire Department Chief Joel Thacker has been named the director of the newly established Office of Cybersecurity within the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. His last day with CFD will be Oct. 23. Thacker served as director of the Indiana Department of Homeland…
Carmel Christkindlmarkt investigation report released
Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam acted within her authority in replacing a majority of the Carmel Christkindlmarkt Inc. board in late 2024 but made inaccurate public statements when explaining why, according to a report by law firm Dentons Bingham Greenebaum. Finkam, however, claimed in a…
QA: Meet the candidates running for House District 32
Incumbent Democrat State Rep. Victoria Garcia-Wilburn is facing Republican Paul Nix in the Nov. 3 general election race for House District 32, which includes parts of Carmel, Fishers and north Indianapolis. Garcia-Wilburn, who was elected to the position in 2022, is an associate…