2017

Crawl space inhabitants are pushing their luck. Photo by: Nancy Carlson

Carlson February 10, 2017

John Carlson: Time for Ban on Raccoons

By: John Carlson— I don’t believe in ghosts, much, but I do believe in raccoons. If I ever doubted raccoons exist – which, of course, I didn’t – proof of them has become irrefutable of late, since a whole family of the pesky varmints has apparently moved under our house. It all started with an occasional bump in the night. “What’s that?” Nan would ask. Naturally, being a world-class chicken, my first thought would be that somebody built our house…

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St. Lawrence Catholic School.

Education February 9, 2017

Saint Lawrence Catholic School To Hold Open House on Sunday

By: Rob Frey, Principal— Saint Lawrence Catholic School will be hosting an Open House on Sunday, February 12, from 1 to 3 PM. Families interested in learning about our high-achieving K through 5 school will have the opportunity to take a tour and visit with the principal and teachers. We welcome all families who value faith, service and quality academics, you don’t have to be Catholic to attend. Scholarship and financial aid options will be discussed as well. Our school is located…

File photo

Education February 9, 2017

BY5’s Nature Play Coalition Wants More Families to Play Outside

By: Melissa Rose— Muncie, IN—Last summer, over 600 people participated in Delaware County’s first-ever Nature Play Days, a state-wide event run by Indiana Children and Nature Network and facilitated locally by Muncie & Delaware County BY5. The event, which offered forty-two separate activities for families to get outside and play, received positive attention from families and partners around the community. Now the Nature Play Coalition—that’s the planning arm of BY5’s Nature Play Days—is working to encourage outdoor play during winter…

Muncie Campus on Cowan Road.

Education February 9, 2017

Students to Get Free FAFSA Filing Help at College Goal Sunday

Indianapolis, IN – Financial aid professionals will be volunteering at Ivy Tech Community College’s Muncie Cowan Road and Anderson 60th Street Campus locations as well as the John Jay Center for Learning in Portland. These locations are among the 39 sites in Indiana to help college-bound students and their families open the door to financial aid during College Goal Sunday. The event is set for Sunday, February 12 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time. The free program assists Indiana students in filing the Free…

Students in the School of Music have been rehearsing several  times a week for the school's Feb. 26 performance at the Palladium in  Carmel. Photo courtesy of Ball State University School of Music

Education, Entertainment February 8, 2017

Ball State School of Music to Perform Masterworks Concert at The Palladium

By: BSU News— MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State University’s School of Music will make its debut at the Palladium at The Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel, Indiana, at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26. Ryan Hourigan, the school’s director, said Masterworks concert at the Palladium is the largest ever performed by Ball State students. It will feature the school’s symphony orchestra, wind ensemble, and a 200-plus-member choir in collaboration with the Indianapolis Children’s Choir. “Some of our best faculty and students…

Photo by: Susan Fisher

Non-Profit February 8, 2017

Maring-Hunt Community Gardens Meeting on Feb 8th

Muncie, IN—Wednesday February 8th from 5:00pm-7:00pm, Maring-Hunt Public Library will be hosting a Community Participatory Planning Event concerning the expansion of the Maring-Hunt Community Gardens. This project will include an outdoor pavilion space for community use and engagement. Neighbors, community members, along with Ball State architecture students will be coming together to present, share, and cultivate ideas. All are welcome to attend and participate. Light refreshments will be provided. Maring-Hunt Public Library will be partnering with Ball State University on…

“The Par 3 Chili Boys” pose with visitors from Haiti. L-R Mark Flodder, Assene Guibert (Library Manager in Haiti), Ray Conley, Rev. Pedro Gaguerre (Pastor at St. Michael’s in Haiti) and Wes Russell. The name of their chili was “Computer Crash.” (Turns out that one of their secret ingredients was Spam.) Photo by: Carole Clohessy

Non-Profit February 8, 2017

Local Chili Cook-Off to Benefit Children in Haiti

By: Mike Clohessy— Muncie, IN—The Haiti Library Foundation, Inc. based out of Muncie is hosting its 7th Annual Chili Cook-Off Challenge on Saturday, February 11th.  The event will take place at the Knights of Columbus Hall—2600 W. Purdue Ave in Muncie. The annual event pits 12 cooking teams comprised of primarily local businesses and organizations. The teams compete against one another in various categories: Best Chili (as determined by a panel of judges) People’s Choice (as voted on by all attendees)…

IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Health February 7, 2017

IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital Receives “Healthgrades” Award for Clinical Excellence

Muncie, IN—IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital has been selected as one of 258 hospitals nationwide as a 2017 recipient of the Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence by Healthgrades. “Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence are hospitals rated in the top 5% in the nation with the lowest risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates across at least 21 of 32 common conditions and procedures. Patients treated in hospitals receiving the Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence Award have, on average, a lower risk…

Anuraag Kandala. Photo provided.

Business February 7, 2017

Manufacturing Technologies Engineer Anuraag Kandala Joins DANNAR Team

MUNCIE, IN – After nearly three years of courtship, DD DANNAR, LLC, (DANNAR) is proud to announce Anuraag Kandala has joined the DANNAR Mobile Power Station® (MPS) team as a Manufacturing Technologies Engineer. Anuraag recently relocated to Muncie from Athens, Georgia, where he was a Manufacturing Systems Engineer with Caterpillar, Inc. Anuraag will be responsible for the design and structure of the Mobile Power Station production line, instituting best practices from the heavy equipment industry, as well as implementing continuous improvement…

Tanya Malak

Business February 6, 2017

MutualBank Promotes Tanya Malak to Manager of Winchester Financial Center

By: Teresa Wright— Tanya Malak has been promoted to Financial Center Manager at the Winchester MutualBank Financial Center. Previously as Service Manager, she made significant impact while delivering exceptional customer service to new and existing customers in Winchester and surrounding communities. Including her twelve years of employment at Mutual, Tanya’s management experience and customer service excellence continue to be an asset to Mutual clients. She says, “Our customers have always come first and that will continue. Our team strives to help…