Fort Wayne Update June 18th

Good morning, Fort Wayne - Here’s your Update

— Jenny Sumangid & Jordan Bechtel
The Fort Wayne Update

Thursday, June 18
Hi – 76° Low – 56° | 🌦 Scattered Showers → ⛅ Partly Cloudy
A cooler day with scattered showers and breezy southwest winds keeping temperatures near a comfortable 76°F. While periods of rain are possible, there will also be breaks in the clouds, and the UV index remains very high when sunshine emerges. Conditions improve during the evening as skies become partly cloudy and temperatures drop to around 56°F, making for a much cooler and more pleasant night.

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Fort Wayne International Airport Seeks Artists For Baggage Claim Art Installation
• The Fort Wayne Airport Authority is seeking artists to create a large-scale three-dimensional artwork for the new baggage claim area at the east terminal.
• The authority has committed $200,000 for the installation, which will transform a blank wall and ceiling space after five years of construction.
• Artists can submit qualifications through the airport’s website, with full proposals due by July 17 at 4 p.m.
→ Read more from WPTA

Fort Wayne Holds Ribbon Cutting To Open Bluffton Road Bridge
• City leaders held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday to officially mark the opening of the Bluffton Road Bridge in Fort Wayne.
• Traffic had already been flowing across the rebuilt bridge since April after years of construction on the project.
• The $8 million-plus project included wider trails, an ADA crossing, improved lighting, and other safety upgrades funded mostly by a federal grant.
→ Read more from WPTA

Indiana Lawmakers Support Bid For 122nd Fighter Wing To House F-35A Aircraft
• Indiana’s congressional delegation sent a letter supporting basing F-35A fighter jets at the 122nd Fighter Wing in Fort Wayne.
• The request was led by Sens. Todd Young and Jim Banks and included multiple Indiana representatives across party lines.
• Lawmakers highlighted the unit’s recent conversion success to F-16s and strong staffing and retention levels as reasons it could support the upgrade.
→ Read more from WANE

Flock Presents To Fort Wayne City Council, 2027 Contract Decision Looms
• Flock Safety presented its automatic license plate reader technology to Fort Wayne City Council as members consider whether to renew the city’s contract for 2027.
• Supporters said the cameras have helped solve serious crimes, including the 2023 killing of Kroger employee Perla Nieto.
• Opponents raised concerns about privacy and surveillance, while council members said they will review the new information before a vote expected in July.
→ Read more from WANE

Sweetwater Wants To Hear Fort Wayne Make Noise
• Sweetwater and Sweetwater Studios are accepting applications for the second annual We Make Noise songwriting and production camp for women.
• About 20 artists will be selected to write, produce, and pitch original songs directly to recording artist Rozzi during the event from Aug. 16 to 18.
• The program costs $500 per person, includes meals and creative resources, offers scholarship opportunities, and has an application deadline of June 21.
→ Read more from WANE

Fort Wayne City Councilman Scott Myers Charged With OWI, Now In Rehab
• Fort Wayne City Councilman Scott Myers was arrested June 3 in Jasper County and charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person.
• Court records state Myers was pulled over for allegedly driving left of center and traveling 85 mph in a 55 mph zone.
• Myers said he entered rehabilitation immediately after the incident and enrolled in the Indiana State Medical Association’s physician monitoring program.
→ Read more from WANE

Parkview, Cincinnati Children’s Finalize Pediatric Care Agreement
• Parkview Health and Cincinnati Children’s finalized a joint operating agreement to expand pediatric emergency, inpatient, and specialty care in northeast Indiana.
• The partnership aims to reduce patient transfers and travel burdens by combining Parkview’s existing pediatric services with Cincinnati Children’s expertise.
• The agreement includes plans for a dedicated pediatric emergency department at Parkview Regional Medical Center in 2027 and is expected to create new clinical and support jobs.
→ Read more from WANE

Reconstruction Continues At Old Fort
• Reconstruction work is ongoing at the Historic Old Fort in downtown Fort Wayne, where the entire site has been dismantled and rebuilt piece by piece.
• Some structures built about 50 years ago required replacement because they had fallen into disrepair and were becoming unsafe.
• Volunteers have completed much of the work to reduce costs, and the fort is expected to reopen by July 4.
→ Read more from WPTA

NACS Superintendent Announces Retirement After 38 Years In Education
• Northwest Allen County Schools Superintendent Wayne Barker announced he will retire effective June 30, 2027.
• Barker said the early announcement is intended to give the school board time to plan and find a replacement.
• Barker has worked in education for 38 years, including five years as superintendent after starting his career as a business teacher at Carroll High School.
→ Read more from WANE

Buyamba Sandwich Company Donates $122K In Three Years To Charity
• Buyamba Sandwich Company has donated $122,963 to charity since opening in 2023, with funds split between Ray of Hope Medical Missions and Empowerment International.
• Owner Rebecca Ghent opened the sandwich shop to provide stable funding for Ray of Hope, which operates a birthing center in Buyamba, Uganda.
• The business directs owner profits and employee tips toward charitable causes, with the Ray of Hope birthing center now fully funded through the donations.
→ Read more from WANE

*Heating & Cooling Solutions for Homes and Businesses 🏢🏡
• Blazing Heat HVAC delivers professional HVAC services for both residential and commercial properties throughout Fort Wayne.
• The company specializes in installations, replacements, repairs, and maintenance designed to keep indoor spaces comfortable year round.
• Every project receives personalized attention, quality workmanship, and dependable customer support.
• Their commitment to honest service and lasting results has made them a trusted choice in the community.
→ Call 260-797-1850 or visit their website to schedule a consultation or service appointment.

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US Officials Reveal Details Of Draft Iran Agreement Ahead Of Friday Signing
• Senior U.S. officials shared details of a draft memorandum that includes limited sanctions relief and a 60 day period of toll free passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
• The proposed agreement would allow Iran to resume unrestricted oil sales while opening a two-month window for negotiations over its nuclear program.
• The draft includes provisions related to Lebanon's territorial integrity, but Israel has not agreed to withdraw from areas it controls in Lebanon.

Why it matters here:
Any agreement that restores oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz could help stabilize fuel prices and reduce pressure on global supply chains that affect local costs.

→ Get the full national breakdown from our team at The Nova

Not Talking Out of School: The Hector & Carol Garcia Retrospective
8:00 am – 9:00 pm @ PFW Visual Arts Building — Free

2026 Summer Selections
8:00 am – 9:00 pm @ PFW Visual Arts Gallery — Free

Austin Beale
9:00 am – 3:00 pm @ Dash-In — Free

Workers Behind the Wheels Gallery
9:00 am – 5:00 pm @ Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum — $10–$15

Fort Wayne Artists Guild 48th Annual Ventures in Creativity
9:00 am – 5:00 pm @ USF Rolland Art Center — Free

Kim Lanoue: Pastel Paintings
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ The Orchard Gallery of Fine Art — Free

Color In Motion
10:00 am – 8:00 pm @ Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory — $1–$7

Julie Wall: Grounded In Light
10:00 am – 8:00 pm @ Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory — $1–$7

The Art of Ezra Tucker
10:00 am – 8:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art — $8–$10

Chuck Sperry: Archetypes
10:00 am – 8:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art — $8–$10

The Fashion of Art Deco: Lifestyle in the Jazz Age
10:00 am – 8:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art — $8–$10

Artlink Members Showcase
10:00 am – 8:00 pm @ Artlink — Free

American Regionalism & Images of the Heartland
10:00 am – 8:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art — $8–$10

Hey, Hera
11:30 am – 1:30 pm @ Freimann Square — Free

Joe Justice
4:00 pm – 7:00 pm @ Riverside Gardens Park — Free

Chris Worth
5:00 pm @ Monument Pizza Pub — Free

Sunset Musica Duo
5:30 pm @ Honeywell Center Carpenter Plaza — Free

Rylie Lynn Band
5:30 pm @ Ossian Health Communities — Free

Mr. Jones
5:30 pm @ Vinland Reserve Winery — Free

Country Heritage Open Mic Night w/Chris Hambrick
6:00 pm @ Country Heritage Winery — Free

Stone Bluezz
6:00 pm @ Headwaters Park — $6

Bob Thompson
6:00 pm @ Sylvan Cellars — No Cover

OK Boomer Band
6:05 pm @ Parkview Field — $9–$21

Teresa Long
6:30 pm @ Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory — $1

The DeeBees
7:00 pm @ Barrel & Blaze Main Street — Free

Joe Hess Band
7:00 pm @ The Club Room at The Clyde — Free

Sweetwater Jazz Jam
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm @ Sweetwater Sound — Free

Mad Anthony Open Mic Night w/Mike Conley
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm @ Mad Anthony Brewing Co. — Free

Journey
8:00 pm @ Memorial Coliseum — Admission Varies

Dave Pagan’s Love Jams
8:00 pm @ Wrigley Field Bar & Grill — No Cover

Sunglasses at Night
8:00 pm @ Headwaters Park — $6

Whoa, Man!
8:00 pm @ Whitley County Courthouse Square — Free

Tronic Thursdays
10:00 pm @ O'Sullivan's — No Cover

Lunch on the Square
11:30 am – 1:30 pm @ Freimann Square — Free

BBQ Ribfest: Day 1
11:30 am – 11:00 pm @ Headwaters Park — $5–$30

Old Settlers’ Days: Day 3
1:00 pm – 10:30 pm @ Whitley County Courthouse Square — Free

Ossian Freedom Festival
5:30 pm @ Ossian Health Communities — Free

A Family Tree Maker Users Group
2:15 pm @ Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center — Free

Leo-Cedarville Farmers Market
4:00 pm – 7:00 pm @ Riverside Gardens Park — Free

Craig Robinson
7:00 pm @ Summit City Comedy Club — $53.99–$69.99

Comedy Open Mic (18+)
7:30 pm @ Draft Taproom — Free

Carousel
7:00 pm @ Wagon Wheel Theatre — $25–$55

Latch String Karaoke w/Stacy Heather
10:00 pm @ Latch String Bar & Grill — Free

Hawkins Karaoke Night w/DJ Jay Mars
10:00 pm @ Hawkins House of Fish — Free

Latch String Karaoke w/Freeway
10:00 pm @ Latch String Bar & Grill — Free

Thu, June 18th⚾
TinCaps vs. South Bend — 7:05 PM EDT

Fri, June 19th⚾
TinCaps vs. South Bend — 7:05 PM EDT

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— The Fort Wayne Update