Wednesday, September 17
Hi – 87° Low – 56° | 🌤 Mostly Sunny → 🌙 Clear
Plenty of sunshine with a few passing clouds, reaching a warm 87°F with a light NE breeze. A great day for outdoor activities without it feeling too hot. Tonight cools to a crisp 56°F under clear skies, perfect for a peaceful evening walk or some stargazing.

🍎 Kiwanis Apple Dumpling Booth at Johnny Appleseed Festival

🎸 Guitar Legends to Rock Fort Wayne at Sweetwater’s GuitarFest

🏙️ First Residents Move Into The Elex at Electric Works

🛹 Remembering Tony Hawk’s Visit to Fort Wayne 20 Years Ago

⚡Google Data Center Seeks More Generators, Fuel

🚔 FWPD Serves Warrant After Reported Shooting

🚨 Police: Driver in High-Speed Chase Had Homicide Victim in the Backseat

🗳 Allen County Approves Voting Centers, Awaits State Decision

🏈 Team of the Week: South Side Archers Girls Flag Football

🍎 The Fort Wayne Downtown Kiwanis Club is seeking volunteers for its Apple Dumpling Booth at the Johnny Appleseed Festival, Sept. 20–21. Shifts run Saturday 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m. and 2–6 p.m., and Sunday 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m. and 1–5 p.m. Proceeds benefit projects for kids and families, with a focus this year on youth mental health and Riley Hospital Mental Health Hubs. Volunteers must follow dress guidelines, and the event goes on rain or shine. Read more from Volunteer Fort Wayne here.

🎸 Sweetwater’s GuitarFest hits Fort Wayne Saturday, Sept. 27, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on its campus. The free, family-friendly event will feature booths from top brands like Gibson and Fender, major artists including PhilX, Yvette Young, and Ariel Posen, plus iconic Rock & Roll Hall of Fame gear like Slash’s Appetite for Destruction prototype and Nita Strauss’s Ibanez. Attendees can meet artists, shop deals, and enter a $2,500 giveaway. Registration is open here.

🏙️ Electric Works has started welcoming residents to The Elex, a new 296-unit mixed-use residential development. Apartments are available for general leasing, with some reserved for residents 55+ and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The project includes a parking garage, community spaces, and a food hall, with a fitness and wellness center set to open in 2026. Leaders say The Elex addresses Indiana’s housing needs, as more than 44% of renter households in Allen County are cost-burdened. Read more from WFFT here.

🛹 In 2003, the Tony Hawk Foundation now The Skatepark Project is awarded a $25,000 grant to help build Lawton Skatepark in Fort Wayne. Two years later, Tony Hawk, along with Bob Burnquist, Ryan Sheckler, and Bam Margera, visited the park during a “Secret Skatepark Tour” promoting Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland. The event drew huge crowds despite being meant as a surprise. Hawk recalled fans thanking him for the donation and the excitement that filled the park. A documentary captured the visit, showing Fort Wayne landmarks and how quickly word spread by flip phones and word of mouth. The Skatepark Project has also supported skateparks in Decatur, Fairmount, LaGrange, Celina (OH), and Van Wert (OH). Read more from WANE 15 here.

⚡ Hatchworks, LLC, the builder of the $2 billion Fort Wayne Google data center, has applied to expand backup diesel generators nearly fivefold. The proposal seeks 179 generators and tanks holding more than 1 million gallons of diesel fuel, compared to 36 approved last year. The Citizens Action Coalition raised concerns about pollution and noise impacts, urging public comment to IDEM before October 4. IDEM will decide whether to issue or deny the permit. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🚔 A heavy police presence was seen Monday afternoon on West State Boulevard near Wells Street after a reported early morning shooting. The Fort Wayne Police Department said officers were serving a search warrant in connection to the incident, which was reported shortly before 1:30 a.m. in the 2300 block of Cortland Avenue. State Boulevard was shut down for a time but has since reopened. No additional details have been confirmed. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🚨 Police said Tuesday the driver in Monday’s high-speed chase from Fort Wayne to Churubusco is also a homicide suspect. A victim was found in the back seat after the 20-minute pursuit ended. The case began around 1:30 a.m. when callers reported a man shot and put into a car on Cortland Avenue. Evidence was later found on West State Boulevard. The chase ended near SR 205 and Madden Road, where the driver was arrested after refusing to exit the car and appeared to have shot himself. The coroner will release the victim’s identity later. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🗳The Allen County Election Board has approved a plan to replace the county’s 110 precinct-based polling locations with 53 voting centers, where any registered voter can cast a ballot. The move aims to reduce confusion and wait times while cutting costs. The original plan called for 39 centers, but after public feedback in August, the number was increased to 53. The proposal now goes to the state for final approval, with the system expected to be in place for the 2026 elections. A full list of proposed locations is available on the Election Board website.

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🏈 Girls flag football is on the rise in Indiana, and South Side High School is leading the charge. The Archers, last year’s inaugural City Champions, are off to a 4-0 start this season, including a statement win at Warren Central and shutouts against local rivals. Defensive captains Sa’Mayah Coleman and Amaiya Shetler have anchored a stingy defense, while sisters Bry’lee and Bri’Tanya Diedrich-Williams power the offense. South Side now looks ahead to a much-anticipated rematch against Snider, scheduled for 10 a.m. at Jack Weikert Stadium. Read more from WANE 15 here.