Friday, October 17
Hi – 72° Low – 54° | 🌤 Increasing Clouds → ☁️ Cloudy
A pleasant start with some morning sun before clouds build through the afternoon, reaching a high near 72°F with a steady south breeze. Tonight stays overcast and mild with a low around 54°F hinting at a possible change in the weather ahead.

☕ Dutch Bros Coffee Brewing Location On Illinois Road

🔥 Fort Wayne Opens “Hope Through Heat” Applications

🚧 Thomas Road Faces Month-Long Closure Near Jefferson Pointe

🐟 Rainbow Trout To Be Stocked In Fort Wayne And Huntington

⛪ Sacred Places Fund Awards $2.4 Million To Historic Churches

🚧 Major Improvements Planned For Illinois Road

🏀 East Noble Replaces Boys’ Basketball Coach Amid Misconduct Allegations

🐾 FWACC Warns Animal Abuse Could Indicate Domestic Violence

🚸 Two Kids Struck After Driver Ignores School Bus Stop Arm

⚽ Homestead, Leo, and Blackhawk Christian Boys Soccer Advance to Regional Championship

☕ Dutch Bros Coffee is set to open on Fort Wayne’s southwest side at 4911 Illinois Road, between Taco Bell and Drive & Shine, according to public planning documents. The current multi-tenant building will be demolished to make way for a 986-square-foot shop, expected to be completed by May 1, 2026. Known for creative drinks like the Caramel Pumpkin Brulee Breve, this will be Fort Wayne’s first Dutch Bros location. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🔥 The City of Fort Wayne has launched the “Hope Through Heat” program to help homeowners replace broken or unsafe heating systems. To qualify, residents must live within city limits, own their home, and earn below 50% of the Area Median Income (about $45,000 for a family of four). Funding is limited and applications are processed first-come, first-served. Call 260-427-8585 to apply. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🚧 Thomas Road in southwest Fort Wayne will close from Bass Road to Illinois Road from Oct. 27 to Nov. 28 for general improvements, according to the Allen County Highway Department. The closure begins about 500 feet south of Bass, affecting access to Orchard Crossing—home to Target, Hobby Lobby, and other stores—as well as Westside Animal Hospital and Lowe’s. Drivers should use Illinois Road entrances during the closure. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🐟 The Indiana Department of Natural Resources will stock rainbow trout on Friday in Shoaff Park Pond and Spy Run Creek in Franke Park (300 each), and in Huntington’s Memorial Park north pond (200). Fishing opens after 1 p.m. Friday, with trout averaging 8–10 inches long. Anglers need a valid fishing license with a trout stamp, and the limit is five trout per person. Read more from WANE 15 here.

⛪ Indiana Landmarks awarded $2.4 million in grants to 14 historic congregations statewide through the Sacred Places Indiana Fund, supported by Lilly Endowment Inc. The program helps churches with major restoration needs, emphasizing both community service and preservation. Fort Wayne’s Bethlehem Lutheran Church received $66,350 to restore its 1929 bell tower and chimney. Other recipients include churches in Indianapolis, South Bend, Evansville, and Valparaiso, with projects ranging from roof repairs to accessibility upgrades. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🚧 A $9 million plan to resurface and widen Illinois Road from I-69 to West Jefferson was presented to Fort Wayne City Council. The project includes offset turn lanes, a 10-foot multi-use trail, new curbs, stormwater upgrades, ADA ramps, and park benches. If approved, work would be done by late 2027. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🏀 East Noble School Corporation has replaced former basketball coach and assistant athletic director Brandon Durnell following misconduct allegations involving inappropriate messages. Durnell was placed on administrative leave September 26 and later terminated after an internal review was turned over to law enforcement. Edward Bentley, a Trine University assistant coach and military veteran, will serve as the new head coach effective October 16. Brent Cox has been hired as assistant coach. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🐾 During National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control (FWACC) is reminding residents that animal abuse can be a warning sign of domestic violence. In 2024, FWACC investigated 123 animal cruelty cases, with 17 involving suspected blunt force trauma. Officials urge the public to report abuse anonymously, noting it could save both animals and people. Those caught abusing animals to intimidate others can face a level 6 felony. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🚸 Two children were hit by a vehicle after getting off a school bus on Buell Drive, just east of Fairfield Avenue, around 4:15 p.m. Wednesday. Police said the bus’s stop arm was extended when the driver passed and struck the kids. Both children were checked by paramedics and escaped serious injuries. The driver stayed on scene, and police plan to increase patrols in the neighborhood. Read more from WANE 15 here.

Home insurance costs are rising fast, up nearly 40% nationwide in just the past few years. With premiums changing constantly, sticking with the same provider could mean overpaying by hundreds of dollars. Shopping around and comparing multiple insurers can help lock in better rates without losing the protection your home needs. Check out Money’s home insurance tool to shop around and see if you can save.

Shop around

Enjoying the newsletter? Forward it to a someone in the Fort! 👇

⚽ Three northeast Indiana boys soccer teams; Homestead (3A), Leo (2A), and Blackhawk Christian (1A) have advanced to Saturday’s regional championship round after semifinal wins. Homestead rallied past No. 2 Carroll, 3–1, in extra time with key goals from Grady Wilkins and Dinari Beasley. Leo edged Bishop Luers in a dramatic penalty shootout, thanks to a game-winning kick from Jackson Gerig. Blackhawk Christian dominated Argos, 5–0, led by James Neebes with two goals and an assist. Read more from WANE 15 here.