Good morning, Fort Wayne - Here’s your Update
— Jenny Sumangid & Jordan Bechtel
The Fort Wayne Update
🌤 Today’s Weather
Wednesday, February 11
Hi – 34° Low – 20° | 🌤 Partly Cloudy → 🌙 Cloudy
Wednesday brings a partly cloudy day with a high of 34°F and NW winds at 10–15 mph—perfect for staying active outside without the harsh chill. Nighttime turns overcast with a low near 20°F, NW winds 5–10 mph, and a waning crescent moon overhead, setting a quiet, wintry mood for the evening.
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📰 Top Stories In Fort Wayne
Heating For Livestock Sparked Fire That Spread Across 2 Barns South Of Fort Wayne
• Firefighters responded Monday to a fire on the 9300 block of South Anthony Boulevard that involved two barns.
• Officials said supplemental heating for livestock likely ignited a small barn, which then spread to a larger barn before crews arrived.
• Many animals were evacuated but not all escaped, and no firefighter injuries were reported.
→ Read more from WANE
Residents Raise Concerns Over Proposed QuikTrip on Fort Wayne’s North Side
• The Fort Wayne Plan Commission discussed a proposal to build a QuikTrip gas station near Northrop High School.
• Opponents said existing traffic and student pedestrian safety would be worsened by the development.
• Residents have launched a petition with more than 100 signatures ahead of a vote set for Feb. 16 at 5:30 p.m.
→ Read more from WPTA
Long-Term Lane Restriction Planned on Bluffton Road
• A long-term lane restriction will begin Wednesday on southbound Bluffton Road between Engle and Old Trail Roads.
• Crews will be installing a gas line, and the work could last through May.
• A detour will route drivers from Engle Road to Ardmore Avenue to Lower Huntington Road.
→ Read more from WPTA
Brightpoint Receives Grant to Help Uninsured Families Get Coverage
• Brightpoint received a $5,000 grant from the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation.
• The funding will be used to hire additional staff to help families navigate health insurance options.
• Leaders said the assistance will focus on guiding people through Medicaid and other Indiana public health insurance programs.
• For a link to services offered at Brightpoint, click here.
→ Read more from WPTA
Street Chef Eddie Ribel Found Dead at 55
• Fort Wayne Police found Eddie Ribel Sunday morning inside his converted school bus after a wellness check request.
• His sister said the death appeared to be caused by a heart attack but had not yet been confirmed by medical examiners.
• Ribel was known for his food truck, a 2023 mayoral bid, and frequent appearances at city council meetings.
→ Read more from WANE
Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission Backs Sweetwater Expansion Plans
• The Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission approved an economic development agreement to support Sweetwater’s local expansion.
• The plan uses tax increment financing to fund about $6.2 million in infrastructure improvements tied to a warehouse expansion.
• The project is expected to create 75 temporary construction jobs and allow Sweetwater to add about 300 new jobs.
→ Read more from WPTA
Fort Wayne Police Academy Welcomes 70th Class of Recruits
• Dozens of recruits began training Monday as the Fort Wayne Police Department’s 70th academy class.
• Police Chief PJ Smith spoke to recruits, reflecting on his own first day of training 43 years ago.
• The new class marks a milestone in the department’s ongoing recruitment and training efforts.
→ Read more from WPTA
Local Bike Shop Owner Plans New Homeless Service Center
• Mike Ackels, owner of 469 Cycle Shop, plans a Fort Wayne facility offering showers, laundry, free clothes, and mail services for the homeless.
• The center will be run by Clothes for Joes volunteers and aims to help people gain independence and employment.
• Ackels is seeking building and rezoning permits and hopes to open the facility this spring.
→ Read more from WANE
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🦅 One National Story
Air Canada Halts Flights to Cuba Amid Fuel Shortages
• The airline will operate empty flights southbound to return about 3,000 passengers home.
• Commercial jet fuel is expected to be unavailable at Cuban airports starting Feb. 10, according to NOTAM advisories.
• Other Canadian carriers are adjusting schedules or maintaining limited service while monitoring the situation.
Why it matters here:
Travel disruptions could affect Canadians planning winter vacations and highlight broader energy and economic challenges in Cuba.
📆 Whats Happening In Fort Wayne
🎨 Arts
Annual Fine Art Competition
8:00 am–5:00 pm @ Clark Gallery at Honeywell Center, 275 W. Market St., Wabash — Free
Not Talking Out of School: The Hector & Carol Garcia Retrospective
8:00 am–9:00 pm @ PFW Visual Arts Building, 2101 E. Coliseum Blvd., Fort Wayne — Free
Portraits of Lives Affected by Incarceration
9:00 am–9:00 pm @ ACPL Jeffrey R. Krull Gallery, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne — Free
Mimesis: The Natural World of Glass
10:00 am–6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art, 311 E. Main St., Fort Wayne — $8–$10
Kablam!: The Impact of Cartoons and Comics on Art
10:00 am–6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art, 311 E. Main St., Fort Wayne — $8–$10
A Life Reflected in Glass
10:00 am–6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art, 311 E. Main St., Fort Wayne — $8–$10
The Spellbound Spirit: Photographs by Kirsty Mitchell
10:00 am–6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art, 311 E. Main St., Fort Wayne — $8–$10
Art From the Heart
10:00 am–6:00 pm @ Orchard Gallery of Fine Art, 6312 Covington Rd., Fort Wayne — Free
Fiber Collage & Functional Works
10:00 am–6:00 pm @ Orchard Gallery of Fine Art, 6312 Covington Rd., Fort Wayne — Free
Creative Resistance
12:00 pm–5:00 pm @ First Presbyterian Gallery, 300 W. Wayne St., Fort Wayne — Free
For the Love of Art
12:00 pm–5:00 pm @ Ruth Koomler Art Gallery, 1107 Broadway, Fort Wayne — Free
🎷Music
PFW Jazz Festival (Jazz)
9:00 am–5:00 pm @ PFW Auer Performance Hall, 2101 E. Coliseum Blvd., Fort Wayne — $5–$7
David Nevue (Variety)
12:00 pm @ Sweetwater Sound, 5501 US 30 W., Fort Wayne — Free
Chris Worth (Variety)
2:00 pm @ Park Place Senior Living, 4411 Park Place Dr., Fort Wayne — Free
Fort Wayne Philharmonic: Gems in Miniature (Chamber)
7:00 pm @ The Clyde Theatre, 1808 Bluffton Rd., Fort Wayne
Three Rivers Big Band (Jazz)
7:00 pm @ The Club Room at The Clyde, 1806 Bluffton Rd., Fort Wayne — Free
🏒 Recreation
Headwaters Ice Rink
4:00 pm–9:00 pm @ Headwaters Park, 333 S. Clinton St., Fort Wayne — $7
🎉 Festivals & Gatherings
Komets Night: Meet the Players
5:30–7:00 pm @ The Fairfield, 510 Fairfield Ave., Fort Wayne — Free
🎭 Comedy
Open Mic Night
7:00 pm @ Summit City Comedy Club, 5535 St. Joe Rd., Fort Wayne — Free
Why We Still Don’t Miss the 1890 Census Much: Part 2 w/ Sara Cochran
7:00 pm @ Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center — Free
🎤 Karaoke
Hellcat Trivia
6:00–9:00 pm @ Chapman’s Brewing at Electric Works, 1660 Broadway, Fort Wayne — Free
Deer Park Karaoke
9:00 pm @ Deer Park Irish Pub, 1530 Leesburg Rd., Fort Wayne — Free
🗓️ Komet’s Schedule
Fri, Feb 13th 🏒
Indy Fuel @ Fort Wayne — 7:35 PM EST
Sat, Feb 14th 🏒
Fort Wayne @ Indy Fuel — 7:00 PM EST
Sun, Feb 15th 🏒
Fort Wayne @ Toledo Walleye — 5:15 PM EST
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Thanks for reading. Together, we’re making Fort Wayne an even better place to live.
— The Fort Wayne Update
