Fort Wayne Update March 11th

Good morning, Fort Wayne - Here’s your Update

— Jenny Sumangid & Jordan Bechtel
The Fort Wayne Update

Wednesday, March 11
Hi – 64° Low – 28° | 🌧 Rain & Storms → 🌨 Wintry Mix Possible
A stormy and changing day ahead with cloudy skies and periods of rain, along with the potential for heavier downpours. Temperatures start near 64°F in the morning but will fall sharply to around 45°F as colder air moves in. NW winds at 10–20 mph will add a chilly feel through the afternoon. Tonight turns much colder with mostly cloudy skies and a low near 28°F, and a wintry mix may develop as NNW winds continue at 10–20 mph under the last quarter moon.

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Headwaters Church Tenant to House Single Moms and Families in Need
• New Mercies Ministries is renovating a historic building on Headwaters Church campus to create “Empower Restoration,” a shelter for mothers and children.
• The first floor will include seven sleeping rooms, two living rooms, a kids’ play area, kitchen, dining area, and staff offices, with move-ins expected in January.
• After completing the first floor, the second floor may host an additional ten families, bringing total shelter capacity to 17.
• You can pledge money or sign up to tour of the building on the New Mercies website.
→ Read more from WANE

Sephora to Open New Store at Jefferson Pointe
• The standalone Sephora will be located between Talbots and J. Jill at Jefferson Pointe Shopping Center.
• The store will offer a broader selection of cosmetics compared to existing Sephora at Kohl’s locations in Fort Wayne.
• No official opening date has been announced yet.
→ Read more from WANE

New VR-Focused Arcade Opens in Fort Wayne
• Mystic Arcade has opened at 4224 Coldwater Road, near Glenbrook Square mall, in the former Pier 1 Imports building.
• The arcade features classic cabinets, racing and rhythm games, claw machines, and VR attractions like bumper cars and rollercoaster simulators.
• Players use a Mystic Arcade play card starting at $10 for 40 credits, with prices varying by attraction.
→ Read more from WPTA

Snider High School Briefly Locked Down After Threatening Call
• Snider High School went on a 20-minute lockout Tuesday morning after a threatening phone call was received.
• Police and FWCS security staff quickly responded, and students and staff followed established safety procedures.
• Glenwood Park Elementary and Lane Middle School enacted a “Secure Procedure” as a precaution during the incident.
→ Read more from WPTA

Months-Long Closure Planned for Paulding Road Near Kettler Park
• W Paulding Road will close between Fairfield and Hoagland Avenues starting Monday, March 16, for construction.
• A detour route from Fairfield to W Tillman to Lafayette will be posted for drivers.
• The closure is expected to remain in effect through early August.
→ Read more from WPTA

Master Planning Underway for North River Development
• Fort Wayne’s Redevelopment Commission approved PB Development as the master planner for the 29-acre North River District.
• A total of $350,000 has been allotted for master planning, funded by the city and the Allen County Fort Wayne Capital Improvement Board.
• The plan will cover public infrastructure, housing, commercial uses, recreation, green spaces, and continue planning for the 160,000-square-foot North River Fieldhouse.
→ Read more from WANE

Surack Enterprises Reveals Plans for Scottish Rite Renovation
• The 100-year-old Scottish Rite venue at 431 W Berry St. will undergo renovations supported by an $8 million TIF and property tax abatements.
• Upgrades include ADA accessibility, new seating, restrooms, VIP lounge, backstage spaces, stage rigging, AV systems, and building systems improvements.
• The revitalized 1,700-seat venue aims to host 88–100 shows annually, with an expected $3 million economic impact and 7–10 full-time plus 50 part-time staff.
→ Read more from WANE

KANSAS and 38 Special to perform at Foellinger Theatre
• The concert is scheduled for Friday, July 10 at Foellinger Theatre in Fort Wayne.
• KANSAS will perform hits like “Carry on Wayward Son” and “Dust in the Wind.”
• General tickets go on sale March 13 at 10 a.m., with a pre-sale available March 12 using code MAMMOTH here.
→ Read more from WPTA

Indiana DHS issues tips for Severe Weather Preparedness Week
• Residents should use multiple alert sources, including cell phones and battery-powered radios.
• Safe shelter locations include basements or lowest interior rooms, avoiding overpasses when traveling.
• Emergency kits should contain flashlights, medications, important documents, food, and water.
• More information on preparing for tornadoes and severe weather is available at getprepared.in.gov.
→ Read more from WPTA

*Less Stress, More SOLD! ✅
Sam Snyder makes buying or selling your home a breeze
• With over 150 successful deals, Sam knows how to handle every detail from start to finish.
• Offers waived admin fees ($500–$1000) for smoother transitions.
• Fort Wayne local with deep community and bank referrals, so your move is handled professionally and personally.

→ Call 260-466-2595 or visit his website to experience a stress-free move.

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Severe Weather Outbreak Threatens 20+ States with Tornadoes
• Hundreds of severe storms are expected from the Plains to the Appalachians and Gulf Coast through midweek.
• Major metro areas at risk include Chicago, Dallas, Oklahoma City, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Cleveland, and Kansas City, Missouri.
• Nighttime tornadoes, damaging winds, hail, and flash flooding are possible, and residents are urged to monitor alerts and prepare shelters.

Why it matters here:
Local communities could experience dangerous storms and travel disruptions from heavy weather this week.

→ 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 Annual Juried Student Exhibition
8:00 am – 9:00 pm @ PFW Visual Arts Gallery — Free

Portraits of Lives Affected by Incarceration
9:00 am – 9:00 pm @ ACPL Jeffrey R. Krull Gallery — Free

The Spellbound Spirit: Photographs by Kirsty Mitchell
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art — $8 – $10

A Life Reflected in Glass
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art — $8 – $10

Squares
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ The Orchard Gallery of Fine Art — Free

Mezzotint & The Power of Darkness
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art — $8 – $10

2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Award Winners
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art — $8 – $10

Art Will Set You Free: Portraits of Lives Affected by Incarceration
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm @ First Presbyterian Gallery — Free

Art Madness
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm @ Virginia Stoner Huguenard Art Gallery — Free

Fort Wayne Philharmonic: Musical Mornings w/ West Central Winds
10:00 am @ Crescendo Coffee & More — Free

Chris Hambrick (Power Pop)
12:00 pm @ Sweetwater Sound — Free

Joe Justice (Variety)
2:00 pm @ St. Anne Retirement Home — Free

The DeeBees (Oldies)
6:30 pm @ Club Paradise — Free

Three Rivers Big Band (Jazz)
7:00 pm @ The Club Room at The Clyde — Free

Board Games & Brews
6:00 pm @ Union Street Market — Free

Hellcat Trivia
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm @ Chapman’s Brewing at Electric Works — Free

Deer Park Karaoke
9:00 pm @ Deer Park Irish Pub — Free

Bootlegger’s Saloon Karaoke w/ KC Ramone
9:00 pm @ Bootlegger’s Saloon — Free

Open Mic Night
7:00 pm @ Summit City Comedy Club — Free

Wed, Mar 11th 🏒
Remedy Live Mental Health Awareness Night
Iowa Heartlanders @ Fort Wayne— 7:35 PM EDT

Fri, Mar 13th 🏒
Fort Wayne @ Indy Fuel— 7:00 PM EDT

Sat, Mar 14th🏒
Fort Wayne @ Bloomington Bison— 7:00 PM EDT

Sun, Mar 15th🏒
Indy Fuel @ Fort Wayne— 5:05 PM EDT

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— The Fort Wayne Update