Fort Wayne
Today
Thursday, October 16th, 2025
Good morning, Fort Wayne. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 16th of October.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ The Embassy Theatre announced that Tommy Smith and Mary Jo Hardiman have been nominated for the Foellinger Foundation Leadership Awards in recognition of their nonprofit service—Smith served as board chair from 2019 to 2025 while Hardiman is noted for her pandemic leadership and work with the Middle Waves music festival. Award winners will be announced on January 22, 2026, with the Board Member Award including a $25,000 grant and the Staff Leadership Award providing a $3,000 professional development grant. WFFT-TV
- ➤ The 14th Annual Wings Etc. Toys for Tots Softball Tournament will be held on November 1 and 2 at the CCAC Sports Complex in Warsaw — teams pay a $200 fee and donate a new toy to benefit a charity that raised a record $32K last year. The event features men’s and coed competitions along with a Home Run Derby, Ugly Sweater Christmas Draft Tournament and Local Heroes Tournament — registration will close once 23 teams per division are entered. WFFT-TV
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Academy Sports + Outdoors will open its first store in Fort Wayne in November at the former Kittle's Furniture location on East Coliseum Boulevard, creating 60 new local jobs. WFFT-TV
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Fort Wayne's Hobnobben Film Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary from October 23-26 at the Cinema Center and Dance Collective studios — a virtual festival will run through November 11 to reach more viewers. 21Alive
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ The Indiana Department of Environmental Management is reviewing a permit application to upgrade the Three Rivers Filtration Plant by replacing aging systems to ensure safe drinking water—residents and stakeholders can submit comments until November 9. WFFT-TV
- ➤ American Electric Power has requested state regulators to allow temporarily filling nearly an acre of protected wetlands in Fort Wayne to build an access road for new transmission poles that will power Google's forthcoming data center—company officials said the wetlands will be restored after construction. State regulators are accepting public comments until October 31. WOWO
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ The Indiana Department of Transportation said that beginning Tuesday, Oct. 21, crews will open a new loop ramp connecting westbound U.S. 24 to southbound I-469—temporarily closing the eastbound on-ramp for paving. Drivers are advised to use the loop ramps while traffic patterns adjust. 21Alive
- ➤ Allen County's Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously approved a request to raise the light pole heights at the new Fort Wayne Football Club stadium on Bass Road; Design Collaborative proposed increasing the poles from 40 feet to 82 feet and installing enclosed LED lights that will provide 125 foot-candles on the field—ensuring clear visibility for players, fans, and TV broadcasts ahead of the planned opening in March 2026. WFFT-TV
- ➤ Fort Wayne Mayor Sharon Tucker announced today that 10 organizations received micro-grants up to $10,000 to help prevent youth violence—grant winners include Hooley Family Farms, The Bloom Project, and Building Queens Mentoring, Inc. Recipients will get half of their funds upfront and work with the city to set goals before receiving the rest, with the program funded from interest on American Rescue Plan Act dollars and approved by the city council without taxpayer funds. The Journal Gazette
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Concordia Lutheran High School senior Ariella Rivera was named one of two Indiana nominees for the NFL Latino Youth Honor—she was nominated by coach Scott Storm for her leadership on and off the field. Rivera also leads the JROTC Color Guard and volunteers locally—she received VIP sideline recognition at a Colts game and awaits final selections at the NFL Honors awards show. WOWO
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Tommy Emmanuel Live Concert
7:30-9:30 p.m. — Clyde Theatre — Starting at $35 — Experience Grammy-winning guitarist Tommy Emmanuel as he mesmerizes with his virtuosic guitar skills and engaging performance.
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Fright Night Silent Film: The Phantom Of The Opera
7-8:30 p.m. — Embassy Theatre — $10 general admission, free for members and under 12 or seniors — Experience the classic silent horror film with live organ accompaniment.
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River City Rat Race
2-6 p.m. — Historic Old Fort — Registration fees apply — Experience one of the most scenic 10K races through the autumn parks and riverfront of downtown Fort Wayne.
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Eric Johnson Live Performance
8:00-9:30 PM — Clyde Theatre — Starting at $29.50 — Experience the legendary guitar virtuoso Eric Johnson and his eclectic musical styles across genres.
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Making Strides of Fort Wayne
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — Parkview Field — Free entry — Celebrate courage and hope in the fight against breast cancer with the Northeast Indiana community.
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Mamacitas & Mimosas
11 AM – 2 PM — The Ari Creative Event Studio — Check for costs — Indulge in authentic Mexican brunch flavors while enjoying a vibrant community atmosphere.
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Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons vs. Ball State Cardinals
7-11 p.m. — Hilliard Gates Sports Center — VIP tickets available — Experience premium amenities and enjoy college basketball excitement.
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PMP Certification Training in Fort Wayne
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Fort Wayne, IN — Early Bird Pricing Available — Gain comprehensive CAPM certification training with expert-led interactive sessions and valuable resources.
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Fort Wayne Philharmonic: Holst and Mozart
7-8:30 p.m. — Clyde Theatre — Dinner and drinks available — Experience a delightful evening of classical music with Holst, Ravel, and Mozart in a relaxed atmosphere.
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Old Fort Cluster Dog Show
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. — Allen County War Memorial Coliseum — Entry details not specified — Experience the excitement of breed judging and obedience at this annual dog show.
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