2000 - the book African Americans in Fort Wayne: The First 200 Years written by Dodie Marie Miller is published. A book review New Fort Wayne African-American history book an interesting look at people who had impact on city was written by Betty E. Stein published March 9, 2013 in
The News-Sentinel newspaper.
2000, October 5 - police officer Bradley Matteson was killed in an automobile accident by a tractor trailer running a red light after 19 years service, the fifth police office killed while serving with the Fort Wayne police department. From Fallen officer added to national memorial by Rod Hissong published May 14, 2013 formerly on CBS WANE-TV NewsChannel 15. On the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Best comment: "By 2005 or so, it will become clear that the Internet's impact on the economy has been no greater than the fax machine's." - Paul Krugman 1998 (Nobel Prize winning economist)
2001, September 11 - the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center in New York city were destroyed when four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by the militant Islamic extremist network al-Qaeda against the United States.
The September 11, 2001, Documentary Project captures the reactions, eyewitness accounts, and diverse opinions of Americans and others in the months that followed the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and United Airlines Flight 93. Patriotism and unity mixed with sadness, anger, and insecurity are common themes expressed in this online presentation of almost 200 audio and video interviews, 45 graphic items, and 21 written narratives. https://www.911memorial.org/.
Today, we pause to honor the lives lost and the heroes who emerged on that fateful day in 2001. Let us never forget the resilience, unity, and strength that defines our nation. #NeverForget#September11#UnitedWeStand
2002 - In northern Indiana the original 219 telephone area code from 1948 was split into three area codes - 219 stayed for the western side of northern Indiana, 574 in the center, and 260 for the east. See map on Indiana - Area Code History on telecom.com.
2002 - emerald ash borer beetles were found in Michigan and within a few years killed most of the 1,000s of local ash trees in Fort Wayne.
2003 - Historic St. Paul Parish Catholic Church, 416 W. Washington Blvd., founded in 1865, closed and was later razed.
2003, February 8 - The Champ, The Greatest of All Time boxer Mohammad Ali appeared at a Komets hockey game at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum where he helped raise over $15,000 for two local children's charities fighting life-threatening diseases through The Three Rivers Literacy Alliance and Camp Watcha-Wanna-Do of Northern Indiana.
2003, May 8 - Nancy Christy a 1971 Snider High School graduate becomes the first female million dollar winner in the United States on the television show Who Wants to be a Millionaire hosted by Meredith Vieira.
Indiana passed legislation requiring voters to provide a government issued photo ID. In 2008 the US Supreme Court upheld the law. (Econ, 5/3/08, p.40)
There was a measles outbreak among school children in Indiana. In 2006 the CDC attributed it to home-schooled children whose parents avoided vaccinations out of safety concern. The outbreak was later traced to a 17-year-old girl who had traveled to Romania without getting vaccinated.
(WSJ, 8/3/06, p.A1)(SFC, 12/22/06, p.A18)
2006
2006, February 5 - Trai Essex wins his first Super Bowl XL ring with the Pittsburgh Steelers football team.
2006, April 2 - Indiana goes on DST - Daylight Savings Time, leaving only Arizonia as the last state to not change time twice a year. Read Time In Indiana on Wikipedia for details.
2007 - the Fort Wayne Developmental Center also known since 1890 as Fort Wayne State School, Indiana School for Feeble Minded Youth, and Asylum for Feeble Minded Children closed.
2007 - Aardvark Paper Drinking Straws, based in Fort Wayne, continues to produce the majority of the paper drinking straws used in the United States. . From a January 3, 2023 post by The History Center on Facebook.
2007, September 8 - the Basketball Hall of Fame debuts a presentation highlighting Fort Wayne as the birthplace of the NBA, National Basketball Association. See our Fred Zollner and Zollner Pistons section.
2007, December - the worst recession since the Great Depression starts towards the end of President George Bush's second term, ending in June 2009. Psychologically the recession lasted a lot longer well into 2013. From The recession has ended, psychologically speaking a Scripps Howard editorial May 2, 2013 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
2008, September - first Key to the Fort awarded to Charles Redd, inspiration for the award came from the governor’s Sagamore of the Wabash honor. ... a hand-forged replica of the iron key that was used at the actual Fort Wayne in the days of Anthony Wayne. It is set on a base of wood from the original St. Vincent’s Church at Wallen and Old Auburn roads.
2008, September 1 - the last Fort Wayne Wizardsbaseball game was played at Memorial Stadium where they lost 0-3 against the Great Lakes Loons.
2008, October 25 - Palin Campaign Speech in Fort Wayne, Indiana Governor Sarah Palin spoke at a campaign rally held in the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Is on C-SPANN..
2008, December 19 - ice Storm knocked out electrical power in Fort Wayne in many locations for 4 days and longer as trees and branches fell around northeast Indiana. See National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office photos.
The storm left over 100,000 Allen County homes and businesses without power, forcing some people to seek temporary shelters for a few days until crews restored power.
2009, April 28 - Club Olympia Pool was filled in. It opened March 21, 1963 as one of only 4 Olympic size pools in Indiana. 1968 Olympic Gold medalist swimmer Sharon Wichman practiced at Club O.
2009, June 26
To honor the achievements and contributions of Native Americans to the United States, and for other purposes. H.J.Res.40 - Native American Heritage Day Act of 2009 Public Law No: 111-33. at Congress.gov. Designated: the Friday following Thanksgiving of each year as Native American Heritage Day will underscore the government-to-government relationship between the United States and Native American governments;
(9) designation of Native American Heritage Day will encourage public elementary and secondary schools in the United States to enhance understanding of Native Americans by providing curricula and classroom instruction focusing on the achievements and contributions of Native Americans to the Nation; and
(10) the Friday immediately succeeding Thanksgiving Day of each year would be an appropriate day to designate as Native American Heritage Day.
SEC. 3. HONORING NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE IN THE UNITED STATES. Congress encourages the people of the United States, as well as Federal, State, and local governments, and interested groups and organizations to honor Native Americans, with activities relating to--
(1) appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities to observe Native American Heritage Day;
(2) the historical status of Native American tribal governments as well as the present day status of Native Americans;
(3) the cultures, traditions, and languages of Native Americans; and
(4) the rich Native American cultural legacy that all Americans enjoy today. Approved June 26, 2009.
This tombstone, cut to resemble a U.S. flag waving in the wind, marks the resting place of Robert Heft. Heft came up with the current 50-star flag design for a high school project in the late '50s, earning a B- for his efforts. His grade was later changed to an A when it became the national flag of the United States on this day in 1960.
Heft's memorial page: Robert G. Heft
photo: Rodney Wakeman
Flag Day is an opportunity to learn about our 50-star US flag and the man from Saginaw behind its design. This video was made in 2019 for Independence Day. But Flag Day is equally appropriate to honor Bob Heft's contribution to our country's history. Happy Flag Day!
#NeverForget #September11 #UnitedWeStand