Articles by Mike Rhodes

Photo provided by the City of Muncie.

Government May 12, 2023

City View Groundbreaking Announced for May 17

By Michele Owen— MUNCIE, IN—City View Homes, a city-led effort to revitalize vacant lots and provide new housing stock, has been making steady progress since it was first announced in 2021. The original project involved building 48 new residences, in a combination of town homes and single-family houses. The project was then expanded with City View 2, which would transform 37 lots owned by the Muncie Redevelopment Commission into single family homes. Many of the properties, which are primarily located…

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The Northwest bank branch on W. Jackson Street in Muncie is pictured. Photo by Mike Rhodes

Business May 12, 2023

Northwest Bank Ranked Among the World’s Best Banks in 2023 By Forbes

By Northwest— COLUMBUS, Ohio – Northwest Bank, a full-service financial institution offering a complete line of business and personal banking products, has been recognized by Forbes as one of the “World’s Best Banks” for 2023. Ranked 60th in the United States, this recognition marks the fourth consecutive year that Northwest has made the list. The Forbes’ World’s Best Banks listing is determined by a customer survey ranking financial institutions by key satisfaction factors including trust, digital services, customer services and…

Photo courtesy of Heart of Indiana United Way

Non-Profit May 11, 2023

Heart of Indiana United Way Announces 2023 Celebration Award Winners

By Kim Williams— Delaware County, IN – Heart of Indiana United Way announces the winners of its 2023 Celebration Awards. The organization’s annual awards event highlights and thanks businesses and individuals who helped make a big impact over the past year through donations, volunteerism, advocacy, and partnerships. This year’s 11 award winners were announced through a short video released on May 4 and can be viewed on the Heart of Indiana United Way’s Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube pages. “We wanted…

Image provided by Ball Brothers Foundation

Education May 9, 2023

West View Elementary’s Kira Zick Receives Ball Brothers Foundation’s Excellence in Teaching Award 

 By Ball Brothers Foundation— MUNCIE, IN —Every child can learn. That is one of Kira Zick’s most strongly held beliefs. She knows there’s a way to reach every student, and in her third and fourth grade Spanish/English dual language classroom, she challenges herself to figure out how. She believes a positive environment is the best foundation for learning.    “It is essential that the learning environment is safe, positive, encouraging, well-managed, as well as diverse. Every student deserves to be…

Government May 9, 2023

Today is Fentanyl Awareness Day

By U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana— What is Fentanyl? Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for pain relief and anesthetic. It is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal, depending on a person’s body size, tolerance, and past usage. 6 out of 10 illegal fentanyl tablets sold…

Photo by storyblocks

Government May 9, 2023

Letter Carriers Annual Food Drive Is This Saturday

Leave a bag of food by your mailbox By Dee McKinsey— MUNCIE, IN—This Saturday, May 13, is the 31st annual Letter Carrier Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive when postal workers gather bags of food from homes on their delivery route. The annual drive is held this time of year when food supplies may be diminished unlike the holidays when the public is more aware of the need. Postal patrons are encouraged to leave non-perishable items such as pasta, cereal, oatmeal,…

Cornerstone Center for the Arts is located at 520 E. Washington Street in Muncie. Photo by Mike Rhodes

Entertainment May 9, 2023

Bracelet Making Workshop at Cornerstone

By Dee McKinsey— MUNCIE, IN– Local artist Debra Gindhart Dragoo is holding a bracelet making workshop in time for Mother’s Day at Cornerstone Center for the Arts, 520 East Main St. The workshop is scheduled for 6-7:30 p.m., Thursday, May 11, on Cornerstone’s third floor.  All supplies will be provided. The cost is $20 for participants age 12 years to adult. Dragoo says the workshop will allow participants to make arm candy and blingy bracelets. She will have slider jewel…

Composite provided by the Ball Brothers Foundation.

Non-Profit May 8, 2023

Ball Brothers Foundation is Committed to Muncie and Place-Based Grantmaking

A perspective piece by Jud Fisher—  MUNCIE, IN—Change doesn’t happen overnight. Change takes time and determination from an entire community. This belief is alive and well in Muncie. The positive changes we’ve witnessed over the past century are due to the collective effort of countless dedicated people who were passionate about improving the place they called home. Through world wars, pandemics, economic depression, and the ups-and-downs common to many manufacturing-oriented Midwest cities, Muncie has never given up hope for a…

Southside businesses gather at Rosebud Coffee House every other month to learn and connect with each other. The 8twelve Coalition sponsors these breakfasts, which often include a speaker.

Non-Profit May 8, 2023

8twelve Business Breakfast Brings Southside Businesses, Nonprofits to the Table

By Jenna Bertsch— MUNCIE, IN—Every other month, southside business and nonprofit leaders gather at Rosebud Coffee House to discuss the community, learn about resources, and connect about operating in Muncie. The 8twelve Coalition started these 7 a.m. gatherings — fueled by coffee and hearty breakfast options — to connect businesses with each other and the city they serve. 8twelve Director Jena Ashby said, “knowing people and being known” is essential to building community. These meetings, she added, create synergy among…

Photo provided by Ball State University.

Education May 5, 2023

Ball State Board of Trustees Reappoints Jim Lowe to Muncie Community Schools Board

By Ball State Marketing and Communications— MUNCIE, IN – The Ball State University Board of Trustees, in its final meeting of the 2022-23 academic year, on Friday reappointed Jim Lowe to the Muncie Community Schools (MCS) Board of Trustees. As part of its historic partnership with MCS, which began in July 2018 to provide excellent public education to every student in Muncie, the University appointed a seven-member governing board for the school district. Five members are appointed by the Ball…