2021

IU Health Ball Memorial, Blackford and Jay Hospitals Receive Grant from IU Health Foundation

By IU Health Foundation— Indianapolis, IN—The IU Health Foundation has granted $603,279 for 31 health-related projects across the state as part of an effort to make Indiana one of the nation’s healthiest states.    “Regional grants empower IU Health team members to improve the health of individuals, communities and our state,” said Crystal Hinson Miller, IU Health Foundation president and IU Health chief philanthropy officer. “Grants leverage the power of philanthropy and honor donors’ intentions by ensuring that dollars contributed locally…

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George Insurance Group ‘Redefines Typical’ Blending Secure Virtual Access with Personal Attention

By Kate Elliott— Editor’s note: Shafer Leadership Academy and the Muncie Downtown Development Partnership are partnering on this six part series to highlight innovative leaders who are redefining typical during these extraordinary times.   Muncie, IN — George Insurance Group’s promise is to “overwhelm families and businesses with customer service, responsiveness and a personal touch that you have never seen.” “Our new tagline is ‘where relationships are built …,’ and we live out that model every day by working hard with our clients to be more…


MITS Announces New Route 17 To the Justice Center

By Amanda Price— Muncie, IN—Muncie Indiana Transit System (MITS) will begin a new route to the Delaware County Justice & Rehabilitation Center on Monday February 1st, 2021. The new route will run Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  The new route closely resembles the current Route 12: Ivy Tech.  Route 17 will pull in on the West side of the transfer station and take High to Adams to Liberty to Hoyt to 26th to Tillotson.  It will…


RACER Trust, City of Muncie Agree to Terms on Purchase of Former GM Property

City Intends to Seek Utility-Scale Solar Development for 53-Acre Parcel By Bill Callen—     Muncie, IN- RACER Trust and the City of Muncie today announced they have reached an agreement for the city to purchase the 53-acre main parcel of RACER’s former General Motors property located at 1200 W. 8th St. The city intends to build a solar field on the property with up to 24.6 million kWh of generating capacity.  “RACER has worked closely with leaders in the…


Camp Crosley YMCA Partners With Fellowship Missions to  House the Homeless

By Kristen McConnell— North Webster, IN— Camp Crosley YMCA will continue a partnership that began during the early stages of the pandemic with local non-profit Fellowship Missions to shelter and feed the homeless population in Kosciusko County. While 2020 provided many challenges for the overnight camp, it was effortless to partner with Fellowship Missions and serve a different demographic than ever before. The partnership has grown and will continue to serve the economically disadvantaged through 2021. Mark Battig, Executive Director of…


Muncie Action Plan 2020 Task Force 5 Update

By: Marta Moody, Chairman Task Force 5— Muncie, IN – the Muncie Action Plan spent 2020 preparing for the City of Muncie’s next strategic investment planning process in combination with an update to the Delaware County comprehensive plan. The last large-scale MAP planning took place in 2009 and although two updates have been completed since, it is time to re-visit the document with another large-scale engagement effort whereby residents help create a new vision for Muncie’s growth and investment. Representatives from the Delaware-Muncie Metropolitan Plan…


First Merchants Names Company Veteran Jeff Parsons as New Muncie Market President

By First Merchants— Muncie, IN– First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ – FRME) has announced Jeff Parsons as its new president for the company’s Muncie market. Parsons will oversee all market operations and build upon the company’s recent growth and success in the city it has called home for more than 125 years. Parsons joined First Merchants Bank in 1989 and has served in various operational and customer relationship roles. He currently leads a team of commercial banking professionals focused on providing financial…


Aw Yeah Comics ‘Redefines Typical’ With Curbside Delivery and Online Sales via Facebook Live

By Kate Elliott— Editor’s note: Shafer Leadership Academy and the Muncie Downtown Development Partnership are partnering on this six part series to highlight innovative leaders who are redefining typical during these extraordinary times.   Muncie, IN — Hundreds of comic junkies join Christina Blanch on Facebook Live a few times each week as the store owner walks through Muncie’s Aw Yeah Comics — juggling her phone as she calls out titles and various toys for sale. She pauses to write down names when followers “claim” the…


‘Giants, Dragons, & Unicorns: The World of Mythic Creatures’ Now Open at Minnetrista

By Katy Maggart— Muncie, IN— Stories of mythical beings have been with us for thousands of years. These legends, which were sometimes inspired by fossils or living animals, continue to inspire us today. Opening at Minnetrista on January 23, Giants, Dragons & Unicorns: The World of Mythic Creatures traces the natural and cultural roots of some of the world’s most enduring mythic creatures. Organized by the American Museum of Natural History in New York, Giants, Dragons & Unicorns: The World…


Muncie Area Youth for Christ Announces Daniel Ivy as New Juvenile Justice Ministry Director 

 By Hope Lehman— Muncie, IN—The partnership between Muncie Area Youth for Christ (YFC) and the Muncie Youth Opportunity Center (YOC) continues a program that rolled out in late 2019, called the Juvenile Justice Ministry (JJM), but with new leadership. The program seeks to engage young people in juvenile institutions. This strategy helps young people acquire and develop a way of living; taught by Jesus Christ, balancing the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of life. These valued relationships are sustained…