Articles by Mike Rhodes

Nonprofit Support Network and Shafer Leadership Academy Announce Joint Programming for 2023

By Carly Acree King, Relationship & Resource Director— MUNCIE, IN—Nonprofits serving or located in Muncie-Delaware County will have access to expanded educational programming in 2023 thanks to a collaboration between Nonprofit Support Network and Shafer Leadership Academy. Launched in the fall of 2022, Nonprofit Essentials is designed to address a gap in the training resources available to nonprofits in the east central Indiana region. This collaboration comes after almost two years of work between the organizations as Shafer Leadership Academy was instrumental in the creation of Nonprofit Support Network and currently serves on the organization’s steering committee. “The program will continue…

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Brian Statz Selected to Lead Minnetrista Museum and Gardens in Muncie, IN

By Katy Maggart— MUNCIE, IN – Minnetrista Museum & Gardens is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Statz as its new President & CEO. Chosen after a nationwide search, Statz will assume his new role on January 3, 2023. He will take over from current President & CEO, Betty Brewer, who will retire at the end of 2022 after more than seventeen years of service. Statz served as Vice President of Operations at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis for more than a decade, a position he took after four years as the museum’s General Counsel. As VP of Operations, Statz oversaw…


MuncieJournal.com’s Most Viewed Stories of 2022

By Mike Rhodes, Editor-in-Chief, MuncieJournal.com— MUNCIE, IN—Every year around this time we share Muncie Journal’s Top 10 most viewed stories of the year.  In 2019, an article about the polar vortex took the top spot. Amazingly, our most viewed story in 2021 was NOT about COVID-19. It was about the big fireworks display downtown. You’ll find the Top 10 most viewed stories for 2022 below. Just scroll down this page to view the story and its ranking. Click on each story to read it as originally published. Stories are ranked utilizing Google Analytics data measured from January 1, 2022 to December 8,…


Yorktown Chamber of Commerce Presents Annual Awards

By Matt Howell— YORKTOWN, IN – The Yorktown Chamber Awards Lunch was held on Tuesday, December 13th at Westminster Village in the Legacy Room. The award recipients were: Lifetime Achievement Award: Steve and MaryAnn Stroeh Community Impact Award: Amy Carroll-Spangler, Christiana Mann, Kat Blankenbaker Outstanding Contribution to Education: Taryn McKnight Spirit of Small Business: Farmhouse Creative Excellence in Public Service: Kris Thornburg The new 2023 officers for the Yorktown Chamber were also installed: President: Kat Blankenbaker of Viking Realty Vice President: Mark Goodpaster of Apex Benefits Secretary: Erin Ailstock of Westminster Village Treasurer: Kristi Ingram of Northwest Bank Outgoing officers for Yorktown…


Sophie Campbell—Member of Pridemark Construction’s ‘Future Leaders of America’ Series

By Stacey Shannon— MUNCIE, Ind.—Editor’s note: The Future Leaders of America series profiles high school seniors who display leadership qualities in their school and the community. The series is brought to you by Pridemark Construction. Performing is the pastime of Delta High School senior Sophie Campbell. She’s been in school productions since her freshman year, a member of the Delta Troopers theater group for two years, a member of the school choir and in seven productions at the Muncie Civic Theater. The two shows that stick out most to Campbell are “Elf” last year at the Muncie Civic Theater and…


2023 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Recipients from Delaware County Announced

By Kallie Sulanke— MUNCIE, IN – The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County is pleased to announce the 2023 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship recipients are Dray Caldwell, Yorktown High School, and Brynn Wright, Cowan Jr./Sr. High School. Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides for full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and required equipment for four years of undergraduate study on a full-time basis leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. Lilly Endowment Inc. created the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship…


Free Concert by AHB Central Indiana Flute Choir on Dec 17th

By Katherine Huggler— MUNCIE, IN—The next performance from the Central Indiana Flute Choir, part of America’s Hometown Band, is set for 2 pm on Saturday afternoon, December 17th. This event is Free and open to the public. The venue is the Fine Arts Center of Heritage Hall School, located at 6401 W River Road, Muncie, IN – across from Grace Baptist Church. Parking on-site is free also. This unique presentation of seasonal music favorites comes from the choir’s flutes-of-many-sizes that produce the full range of ‘choir voices’ – from high soprano to low bass. Their assemblage of tiny, small, medium,…


Indiana & Michigan Tips for Holiday Decorating

By Corey Ohlenkamp— MUNCIE, IN—With the holiday’s here, it’s time to gorge on food and decorate the house. Rushing into decorating to keep up with Clark Griswold, however, can make things hazardous for both you and your wallet. Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) wants to provide everyone with energy efficient holiday decoration ideas and safety reminders to get into the holiday spirit. “Indiana Michigan Power is dedicated to making your holidays bright, efficient and safe whether it’s small display in the yard or going full ‘Christmas Vacation.’ It’s always important to review safety procedures when decorating is part of your holiday tradition.”…


Documentary Film Celebrates History, Future of The White River in Muncie

By Jud Fisher— MUNCIE, IN—Over 100 community members from across East Central Indiana joined Ball Brothers Foundation, Indiana Humanities, and The Nature Conservancy for a screening of documentaries on December 6, 2022 at Muncie Civic Theatre. The evening featured the premiere of The Nature Conservancy’s new mini-documentary about the White River. The mini-documentary was produced by Seth Harden (TNC) with videography and direction by lifelong Hoosier and filmmaker, Ben Massie of Flatland Films. The stunning imagery in the mini-documentary is paired with a rich narrative that tells the story of the White River and hopes for the river’s future. The…


Funders Forum Collaborative Helps Magnify Generational Impact of Homeownership

By Kallie Sulanke— MUNCIE, IN – Public, private, and corporate foundations, along with service club funders in Delaware County, have come together to pool knowledge, experiences, and resources to collectively impact homeownership in the community. The Funders Forum Collaborative awarded $66,000 to two Delaware County organizations to support programs that combine education opportunities with quality, affordable housing. Examining the intersection of their shared grantmaking focus area – education – and supporting the priorities identified by the community through the Together DM process, the Funders Forum Collaborative embraced an opportunity to strengthen homeownership through financial literacy, estate planning education, and home…