Articles by Mike Rhodes

City splash parks get high marks by neighborhood youth. Photo courtesy City of Muncie.

Non-Profit January 19, 2022

Muncie Action Plan’s Task Force 4: Creating Attractive & Desirable Places

By Gretchen Cheesman— MUNCIE, Ind.– The Muncie Action Plan (MAP) spent much of 2021 in partnership with representatives from the Delaware-Muncie Metropolitan Plan Commission and NEXT Muncie surveying Muncie’s citizens and working with the urban planning firm czb in the development of the new Strategic Investment Plan for the City of Muncie. The last large-scale MAP planning took place in 2009 and although two updates have been completed since, we are excited to put into place the newest large-scale engagement effort where Muncie’s residents…

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Photo by Abby Hines

Business January 19, 2022

Intersection, Whitinger Strategic Services Merge, Join Accutech Family of Brands

By Melissa Jones— MUNCIE, Ind. — Two of East Central Indiana’s premier marketing and branding agencies, Intersection and Whitinger Strategic Services, have merged, combining the talents of both teams and growing their services and portfolio. Intersection and Whitinger were two of the most awarded agencies in the region. Intersection took home six international Hermes Creative Awards in 2021, and Whitinger stole the show at the 2020 American Advertising Awards (ADDYs) of East Central Indiana. The merger, effective October 1, 2021, was…

Wes-Del High School Senior Averie Jamison.

Education January 18, 2022

Averie Jamison—Member of Pridemark Construction’s ‘Future Leaders of America’ Series

By Stacey A. Shannon— MUNCIE, Ind.—Editor’s note: The Future Leaders of America series on MuncieJournal.com profiles high school seniors who display leadership qualities in their school and the community. The series is brought to you by Pridemark Construction. Wes-Del High School senior Averie Jamison maintains a busy schedule. She stays focused on what’s important and prioritizes to keep up with schoolwork, extracurricular activities and competitive dancing. But she wouldn’t have it any other way. Jamison said her parents have given…

Khylan Kennedy and Grissom Elementary School Interim Principal Randy McCracken.

Education January 18, 2022

134 Local Students Receive Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Citizenship Awards

By Andy Klotz— MUNCIE, Ind. – Behind his black mask, Grissom Elementary School fifth grader Khylan Kennedy beemed with pride after receiving his Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Citizenship Award from Interim Principal Randy McCracken. He had no idea he was even up for an award. “The students are nominated by teachers and other school leaders, so it’s always wonderful to see their reactions to this recognition they were never anticipating,” Muncie Community Schools Diversity Director Rhonda Ward said….

Beth Kroehler and Gary Bartling, MPL Employees. Photo by Noelle Sherrell, Muncie Public Library

Non-Profit January 18, 2022

Two Long-Time Muncie Public Library Employees Set To Retire

By Susan Fisher, Muncie Public Library— MUNCIE, Ind.—Muncie Public Library (MPL) has announced the upcoming retirement of two long-time employees: Gary Bartling, Facilities Manager, and Beth Kroehler, Library Assistant Director. Bartling has been at MPL since 1972. He was 16 years-old and working as a newspaper delivery boy when one of his customers, Ermal Johnson, an MPL librarian, suggested  he should apply for a route driver position at the library. He did and was hired. That part-time job became his…

Ball State's Multicultural Center. Photo provided.

Education, We Fly January 16, 2022

Ball State’s Unity Week 2022 Offers Free Social, Cultural, Educational Events For All

By Ball State Marketing & Communications— MUNCIE, Ind.—Ball State University’s Multicultural Center has announced the schedule of events for Unity Week 2022, which kicks off on Jan. 17—the official observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Unity Week is a popular on-campus celebration dedicated to unifying the Ball State community through enlightened social, cultural, and educational events. All events are free and open to students, faculty, staff, community members, and media members. “Unity Week aims to educate and…

What’s in a name and number? A dynamic new me? Naaaah. Photo by Nancy Carlson.

Carlson January 14, 2022

John Carlson: Trying to Live Up to #56

By John Carlson— Last Sunday’s overwhelmingly putrid Indianapolis Colts performance notwithstanding, I still kind of, sort of, in a manner of speaking, like them, but I’m not a guy who owns an inordinate amount of franchise swag. Let’s see now … I’ve got a Colts ball cap, blue with a white horseshoe on it. I bought a Colts sun hat a few years back, too, but graciously gave it to Nancy when I realized it made me look like a…

The Community Foundation awarded more than $3.75 million in grants to organizations serving Muncie and Delaware County. Grants awarded in five broad areas; arts and culture, community betterment, economic development, education, and human services.  Home Savers of Delaware County was one of many organizations to receive funding this year. Home Savers provides urgent home repairs and accessibility modifications to low-income homeowners in Delaware County, like the ramp and stairs pictured.

Non-Profit January 14, 2022

The Community Foundation Granted a Total of $3.75 Million in 2021

By Kallie Sulanke— MUNCIE, Ind.—The Community Foundation is pleased to announce that $3,763,453 was granted to enhance the quality of life in Muncie and Delaware County in 2021. Most grants are awarded through permanently endowed funds that benefit our community today and always. Through the Quarterly Competitive grants program, non-profit organizations were awarded $995,402 in highly competitive grants. Grants address the broad needs of Muncie and Delaware County in the areas of arts and culture, community betterment, economic development, education,…

State Rep. Sue Errington (D-Muncie).

Government January 14, 2022

State Representative Sue Errington Authors Legislation to Provide Age-Appropriate Sexual Health Education

By Troi Watts, Press Secretary— INDIANAPOLIS – State Rep. Sue Errington (D-Muncie) has introduced House Bill (HB) 1047, which would require state-accredited schools to provide age-appropriate, medically- and scientifically-accurate sexual health education to their students, for consideration in the 2022 Legislative Session. Errington, a former school teacher and former Public Policy Director for Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky, offered a similar bill last session, but it was not granted a hearing in the House Committee on Education. Errington remains…

Crews with Indiana Michigan Power assist in the power restoration efforts following Hurricane Ida. Photo provided.

Business January 13, 2022

Indiana Michigan Power Honored with Emergency Response Award

By Corey Ohlenkamp— I&M crews traveled more than 2,000 miles to help restore power in Louisiana following Hurricane Ida FORT WAYNE. Ind.– Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) was announced as a recipient of an Edison Electric Institute (EEI) Emergency Response Award for assisting Entergy in restoring power to their customers in,and near, New Orleans following Hurricane Ida. Presented to EEI member companies, the Emergency Response Awards recognize recovery and assistance efforts of electric companies following service disruptionscaused by extreme weather or…