🌱 Why Elkhart County’s prosecutor wants stricter rules for repeat offenders

Hi Elkhart! We have the latest buzz right here. Let's keep you in the loop and get this morning started right! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Why Elkhart County’s prosecutor wants stricter rules for repeat offenders
• Did you see this blue Toyota RAV4 in Elkhart County?
• How a new regional arts plan could boost Elkhart’s creative scene

Also on today's calendar: Elkhart Farmers Market Indoors and 5 more events.

Today's riddle: What did one tuna say to the other after getting caught stealing files from work? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Snow at times in the morning, with a high of 26 and low of 18 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Friday: Cloudy and cold with flurries, temps: high: 27, low: 9.
• Saturday: Frigid with a little snow, with a high of 13 and low of 11 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Elkhart County prosecutor pushes for court reform (wsbt.com) — Elkhart County’s prosecutor is pressing Indiana lawmakers in Indianapolis for tougher rules to keep repeat violent offenders from bonding out before trial, citing a recent deadly case tied to Elkhart County. She’s calling for mandatory minimum sentences on violent or repeat felonies and new statutes aimed at improving public safety before the General Assembly’s upcoming session.
   

2. Police seek driver after hit-and-run crash in Elkhart County (wsbt.com) — Police are looking for the driver of a blue Toyota RAV4 after a Tuesday night hit-and-run at County Roads 7 and 4 in Elkhart County, north of the Toll Road. Investigators say the SUV ran a stop sign in the rain, struck another vehicle, and its occupants fled, leaving a passenger in the second car with a possible broken arm.
   

3. Northern Indiana RDA adopts regional arts and culture plan (wvpe.org) — Elkhart is now part of a new regional arts and culture strategy that could unlock state and Lilly Endowment funding for local artists, venues, and festivals. The plan targets facilities upgrades, artist support, public art, and tourism links across the South Bend–Elkhart region, helping local organizations strengthen their own pitches for future funding.
   

4. 3 more Indiana duck flocks lost to avian influenza (wattagnet.com) — Elkhart County has lost a commercial duck flock of about 5,200 birds to highly pathogenic avian influenza, alongside similar outbreaks in LaGrange and Noble counties. Statewide, Indiana has seen 64 commercial poultry flocks hit in 2025, with about 8.6 million birds lost, heavily impacting duck operations.
   

📸 Around Elkhart

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Elkhart

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Friday December 12

• Premier Arts: The Gift – A New Musical
  The Lerner Theatre, 410 S Main St, Elkhart
  7:30 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday December 11

• EHS Winter Celebration (Symphony, Wind Ensemble, Chamber Choir, Golden Chorale)
  Auditorium, Elkhart High School , 2608 California Rd , Elkhart
  7:00 pm

Saturday December 13

• Elkhart Farmers Market Indoors
  High Dive Pavilion , 500 E Beardsley Ave , Elkhart
  9:00 am
• Triumph Dealer Holiday Party: Elkhart Triumph
  Elkhart Triumph , 3130 Northview Dr , Elkhart
  10:00 am
• Music in the Stacks
  Elkhart Public Library - Downtown , 300 S 2nd St , Elkhart
  1:00 pm
• 101 Dalmatians Youth Edition
  The Lerner Theatre , 410 S Main St , Elkhart
  2:00 pm

Wednesday December 17

• Newborn/Safety/CPR - EGH 2025
  Elkhart General Hospital , 600 East Boulevard , Elkhart
  6:00 pm

Thursday December 18

• Beardsley - Polar Express Holiday Celebration
  Beardsley Elementary School , 1027 McPherson St , Elkhart
  5:30 pm

📣 Elkhart Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 11

• EHS Winter Celebration (Symphony, Wind Ensemble, Chamber Choir, Golden Chorale)
  Auditorium, Elkhart High School , 2608 California Rd , Elkhart
  7:00 pm

Friday December 12

• Preschool Danny Go Christmas
  Elkhart Public Library - Dunlap branch , 58485 Co Rd 13 , Elkhart
  10:00 am
• The North American Beaver
  Ox Bow Park , 23033 Co Rd 45 , Goshen
  5:00 pm
• Holiday Hoorah!
  Elkhart Environmental Center , 1717 E Lusher Ave , Elkhart
  5:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Life is a mystery only when we worry, even if what happens around us makes it all a little blurry, when we center our thoughts in peaceful harmony, we can ascertain truth, see dangers to avoid and reveal the path to purpose, not fury!
  Remember, we can't move on until we let go, something pulling us forward will not be fully attained until we let go of what is holding us back! (Nextdoor South Shore)
• room for rent in a shared condo..
  room has new floor and new paint, u have use of kitchen, living and dining room and your own bathroom, u pay half of the electric $750 a month (Nextdoor Woodwind)

• Long John Silver's, LLC posted a job opening for Team Member in Elkhart. Apply here.
• Laborup posted a job opening for Continuous Improvement Manager in Elkhart. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Elkhart here.

Ok Elkhart! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I could get canned for this!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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