Latest news with #RodRoberson
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
City cuts ribbon on streetscape project
ELKHART — A newly completed $8 million streetscape project at Indiana Toll Road Exit 92 is an important improvement to one of the key entryways to the community, city officials say. Officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony – using a thin metal ribbon – for the project Monday in front of the Cracker Barrel off Cassopolis Street. The area around the Toll Plaza includes a new green space, micro park, sidewalks and signage. While the project serves as an important piece for the quality of place part of the city's Aspire plan, it also serves as an economic development project, Development Services Director Mike Huber said. 'We're hoping to attract more folks to be intrigued by what they see from the design as they go into the toll road and want to check out the community and learn more about the community and drive additional revenue and business for all of the hospitality businesses,' Huber said. The city estimates there are 1.86 million annual total vehicle trips through the Exit 92 ramps. It is also estimated that there are 10.2 million total vehicle trips on the Indiana Toll Road annually, the city said. The streetscape project will change perceptions about the city to the millions of vehicles that drive on the toll road, Huber said. The project will also enhance pedestrian safety in the corridor, primarily for employees of hospitality businesses on Exit 92, he said. Mayor Rod Roberson said the project is important to how others see the community and how the community sees itself. 'Based on our growth and based on the visibility we have as a community, the way that we populate these areas and the way that we create the kind of relationship that these structures, this park, the structure on the bridge itself, it is so important to how Elkhart is seen and how it's lived,' Roberson said. Roberson said when he was first elected in 2019, the streetscape project was one of the first projects brought to him. The project will attract new visitors and make residents proud of their city, he said.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
1 dead, 11 injured in northern Indiana shooting, police say
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — One person died and 11 others were injured in a shooting in northern Indiana early Sunday, police say. It happened just after 1 a.m. in the area of West Garfield Avenue and Benham Avenue in Elkhart, which is about 16 miles east of South Bend. The Elkhart Police Department was called to the area after people reported shots fired. Twelve people were either taken by ambulance or showed up to area hospitals with gunshot wounds. One of them died, . Though his name and age haven't been released, the city's mayor says he was a father. 'For him to lose his life on Father's Day is a travesty,' said Mayor Rod Roberson in a Sunday news conference. 'This is a senseless act of gun violence that we know is way too prevalent in our country and way too prevalent in our city.' Of the other 11 people who were shot, detectives say some have gone through surgeries and others have been released from the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Roberson called for an end to violence in Elkhart. 'We have to understand this is not acceptable and it should be not a part of our everyday life,' he said. EPD said initial investigation shows multiple people were firing shots. It's not clear what led up to the shooting but police are investigating. Police did note during the news conference there were many people there at the time. They believe some were innocent bystanders. 'There were numerous people there,' a spokesperson for EPD said. 'Some people were not involved at all potentially with what was going on, just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.' Investigators haven't said anything about any possible suspects. Anyone with information should call the EPD Homicide unit at 574.295.2825 or Michiana Crime Stoppers at (7867) Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Ekhart Mayor Rod Roberson says 'city is heartbroken' by deadly mass shooting June 15
In a statement released Sunday afternoon, June 15, Elkhart Mayor Rod Roberson extended his condolences to families of the person killed and the 11 people wounded in a mass shooting that occurred early Sunday morning. "My heart aches for our community," he said. "Once again, our beloved city has been tragically stricken by senseless gun violence." In an earlier press release, the Elkhart Police Department said multiple people fired handguns in the West Garfield Avenue/Benham Avenue area of Elkhart early Sunday morning. Police received a call of shots fired in the 300 block of West Garfield at about 1:11 a.m. June 15. Twelve people were either taken to area hospitals or showed up on their own, said police, who were said to be processing evidence in a large area between the 200 and 400 blocks of West Garfield. Some of the injured have already been treated and released, according to the first press release. "The pain and ripple effects of this devastating event will undoubtedly be felt deeply across our entire community for a long time," Roberson said in his statement. "Our city is heartbroken, and I, personally, am devastated by this profound loss and trauma." The mayor also praised the city's first responders "for their immediate and courageous actions. Their swift efforts in the face of such a horrific scene undoubtedly saved many more lives, and their dedication is truly commendable." Elkhart also was the scene of a mass shooting Jan. 27 at the Martin's Super Market on East Jackson Boulevard. In that incident, Juan M. Sanchez, 54, who had moved to Elkhart from Illinois in April 2024, shot and killed a store employee, Annasue Rocha, 19, and a store customer, Benjamin S. Jeffrey, 49. Two Elkhart Police officers, Corporal Paul Vandenburg and Patrolman Ethan Pasternak, were also injured when Sanchez shot at them after they confronted Sanchez outside the store. The officers returned fire, killing Sanchez. They were released from the hospital after being treated for their injuries, and the Elkhart County Prosecutor's office ruled their use of deadly forced justified. The Elkhart County Homicide Unit has taken over the investigation, police said, asking anyone with information, video, photos or eyewitness accounts about the June 15 shootings to call the homicide unit at 574-295-2825 or Crime Stoppers at 574-288-STOP. Tribune staff writer Cory Havens contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Elkhart mass shooting leaves 1 dead and 11 wounded
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rhapsody returns to Island Park
ELKHART — The City of Elkhart Parks and Recreation Department has invited the community to celebrate 45 years of art, music and local flavor at the Rhapsody Arts & Music Festival on Friday and Saturday, June 13-14, at Island Park. This free, family-friendly festival features live music all weekend, an artist market, food and drink vendors, a beer garden and a full schedule of fun for all ages. New this year: the weekend kicks off with a ribbon-cutting for Island Park's new playground at 4 p.m. on Friday, June 13. Families are invited to join city officials and celebrate this exciting upgrade to one of Elkhart's most popular parks. 'Quality of place is at the heart of the vision for this city. By offering activities for all ages, we're ensuring that every family and resident can participate in the togetherness that makes our community strong,' Mayor Rod Roberson said. Festival hours Friday, June 13 – noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 14 – 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Live music Friday, June 13: 5 p.m. – Clark the Juggler (family entertainment) 6 p.m. – The Midtown Madmen (throwback rock n' roll) 8 p.m. – HAIR (80s hair band tribute) Saturday, June 14: 10 a.m. – Cambrae (jazz-pop singer/songwriter) Noon. – Sugar Lime Blue (Americana fusion) 2 p.m. – F.O.G. (bluegrass) 4 p.m. – Hildaland (Appalachian-Scottish fusion) 6 p.m. – Betty B and the Ropewalkers (swing & jazz) 8 p.m. – Mr Z (classic rock) Additional activities Family Zone open Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Lundquist-Bicentennial Park, featuring art demonstrations by the Elkhart Art League, games, and performances by Clark the Juggler, Kevin the Magician, Potawatomi Zoo and Elkhart Martial Arts. Artisan and Food Vendors – Over 80 regional vendors will be onsite with handmade goods and festival fare. Beer Garden sponsored by Cam's Catering. Electro-Fishing Demonstrations by City Aquatic Biologist Daragh Deegan on Saturday. This event is made possible in part by the charitable contributions of Jayco and Borden Waste-Away Group. More details are available at
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Weston Park celebrates new playground
ELKHART — Weston Park Neighborhood is marking a new chapter in its history with the celebration of a new playground. The park had a playground for 30 years before the new one was put in, said Jamison Czarnecki, superintendent of the parks and recreation department. It has been a long time coming, he said. 'This one's a pretty fun one because I've seen this neighborhood evolve over the last few weeks,' Czarnecki said to a large crowd of people at the celebration Thursday. 'I've come by here and we see some kids every now and then and we see some people hanging out, but the last few weeks you guys have showed up in numbers. Every day there's more than 10 kids on this playground.' A park is only as good as the people who are using it, Czarnecki said. The parks and recreation department saved $330,000 by using a gametime grant, he said. Located at the corner of Cedar and North Michigan streets, the park was the former site of Weston School. The celebration included a ribbon-cutting ceremony, tree planting, free Kona Ice and hot dogs for the first 100 attendees. It's part of a larger city-wide effort to upgrade half a dozen parks across the city. This neighborhood is one of the most dense in the city, Mayor Rod Roberson said. Having strong parks close to home is important for the growth, stability and relationship between neighbors and the city, he said. 'We want to continue to build relationships in our parks because that's how I grew up,' Roberson said. 'I grew up with parks being in my back yard and my front yard and making sure the friends I had in my neighborhood were my friends because of the things we did inside of our parks. This was a park we had a plan for during our Aspire plan.'
