Articles by Mike Rhodes

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Business February 28, 2025

Hillcroft Services to Present 7th Bi-Annual Shop & Share Vendor Market

By Hayley Williams— MUNCIE, IN—Hillcroft Services is excited to announce the 7th Bi-Annual Shop & Share Vendor Market, taking place on Saturday, March 8th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will be held indoors at our location at 501 West Air Park Drive, Muncie, IN, ensuring an enjoyable experience for attendees, rain or shine. With 105 local vendors participating, this market offers a unique shopping opportunity, featuring a diverse range of products, including handcrafted items, boutique clothing, signs,…

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Aerial of Muncie City Hall in downtown Muncie. Photo by Mike Rhodes.

Government February 27, 2025

City of Muncie Withdraws Annexation Ordinance 29-24 for Portions of Farmington Neighborhood

By Amber Greene— MUNCIE, IN – The City of Muncie has announced that it will be withdrawing Annexation Ordinance 29-24, which pertained to portions of the Farmington neighborhood. This decision will be formalized during the City Council meeting scheduled for March 3rd, where the ordinance will be officially removed from the agenda. At the request of the administration, Councilman Jeff Green, who sponsored the ordinance, will motion for its withdrawal. Mayor Dan Ridenour shared his thoughts, noting, “Sometimes, when you’re…

Madden is pictured with his friends and student helpers. From L to R: Wyatt Turner, Callahan Shanayda, James Hofmann, Madden Moore, Aaron Buehler, Callie Jones, and Maylee Moore. Photo provided.

Education February 26, 2025

Yorktown Student Has a Passion to Feed Those in Need

By Stacey A. Shannon— YORKTOWN, IN—When Madden Moore was 12, he lost his wallet. That one seemingly trivial act had a spiral effect that has impacted numerous residents of Delaware County and beyond. The now 16-year-old sophomore at Yorktown High School said his mom posted on her Facebook page about his lost wallet wondering if anyone had come across it. The response overwhelmed his family as people started giving money to replace what he had lost. “I ended up with…

Kallie Sulanke

Non-Profit February 26, 2025

Muncie Resident Kallie Sulanke Named to Mutz Philanthropic Leadership Institute

By Foundation staff— MUNCIE, IN— Kallie Sulanke of The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County has been selected as a member of the 2025 class of the Mutz Philanthropic Leadership Institute. Launched by Indiana Philanthropy Alliance in 2021, the Mutz Institute provides a leadership training experience to skill-up professionals serving in board and executive roles at foundations, corporations and social impact organizations across Indiana. Sulanke, a Muncie resident, completed a competitive application process to gain one of 24 spots…

Artwork by Tom Stader

Entertainment February 25, 2025

March First Thursday at Cornerstone Center for the Arts

By Debra Gindhart Dragoo— MUNCIE, IN—The March first Thursday will feature artistic works by Tom Stader. Tom Stader is a contemporary arts elder whose work reflects both a deep connection to the local landscape and a lifetime of artistic devotion. His paintings capture the spirit of the land, whether through sweeping vistas, intimate natural details, or the changing moods of the seasons. His brushwork is expressive, his palette rich with the vibrant colors of our region and beyond. His compositions…

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Business February 25, 2025

Payment Assistance Options From Indiana Michigan Power

By Kara Stevenson— FORT WAYNE—At Indiana Michigan Power (I&M), our customers are the center of what we do each day. From ensuring reliable power to serving local organizations in our communities, we believe our work is impactful. We also believe in providing resources that ensure our customers have comfort and security where it is needed most – at home. We recognize that financial hardships happen, and sometimes you need a little extra support paying your bill. I&M offers several payment…

Cornfed Roller Derby photo by Matt Ruddick.

Entertainment February 25, 2025

Cornfed Roller Derby Faces Off Against Chicago-Style Roller Derby in Season 12 Home Bout

By Debra Roberts— Muncie, IN – Cornfed Roller Derby (CFRD) is set to host its second home bout of Season 12 on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Delaware County Fairgrounds Memorial Building. The high-energy doubleheader will feature two matchups as the Cornfed All-Stars take on Chicago-Style Roller Derby’s A Team, followed by the Cornfed Killer Kernels battling Chicago-Style’s B Team. Doors open at 4 p.m., with the first game kicking off at 5 p.m. Tickets are available for $12…

Education February 24, 2025

Muncie Central Alumni Association Awards $4,250 in Grants to High School

By Sheryl Swingley— MUNCIE, IN—The Muncie Central High School Alumni Association has awarded four teachers, a guidance counselor and an administrator at Muncie Central $4,250 in grants for 2025. Since 1998, the alumni association has awarded nearly $45,000 to cover the cost of materials needed by educators at Muncie Central. Normally, $2,000 in grants is awarded each year, but the alumni board voted at its January 2025 meeting to more than double the amount of money to be awarded this…

Tenisha Harris, MPL Connection Corner Manager, meets with Pastor Rosalind Morris, Shaffer Chapel AME Church, and Sara McKinley, Carnegie Library Manager and MPL Archivist, to discuss the digital collection project. Photo by Spenser Querry, Webmaster & Social Media Specialist, Muncie Public Library.

Business February 23, 2025

New Digital Collection at Carnegie Library Documents Shaffer Chapel Museum

By Susan Fisher, PR Supervisor at Muncie Public Library— MUNCIE, IN—February is Black History Month and those who want to learn more about local, Black history can visit the Shaffer AME Church Chapel Museum or discover the newly created digital collection of the Shaffer Chapel Museum artifacts recently archived through a partnership between Muncie Public Library (MPL) and Shaffer Chapel. The Indiana Historical Bureau and The Delaware County Historical Alliance installed a plaque at Shaffer Chapel in 1996 to recognize…

Indiana Statehouse photo provided by Lydia Kirschner

Government, Health February 22, 2025

SB2 Puts Thousands at Risk: Tell Lawmakers to Protect Medicaid

By Heart of Indiana United Way Board of Directors— MUNCIE, IN—At Heart of Indiana United Way, we are committed to building stronger, healthier communities where every individual and family has the opportunity to thrive. Indiana Senate Bill 2 (SB2), known as the Medicaid Matters bill, threatens that mission by putting thousands of Hoosiers at risk of losing their healthcare, including working families, children, andvulnerable populations who rely on Medicaid and the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP). If passed, SB2 could strip…