Articles by Mike Rhodes

An example of a digital smart meter installed at a Muncie residence. File photo by Mike Rhodes

Business November 18, 2021

Good News: Indiana and Michigan Power to Reduce Residential Rates by 5%

By Tracy Warner— FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Indiana Michigan Power (I&M), an American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) company, has filed with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) a rate settlement agreement that will reduce base rates for Hoosier residential customers while enhancing reliability. Under the settlement, I&M will reduce its base rates for Indiana residential customers by about 5% over two phases, with a slight decrease of about 1% in May 2022 and an additional, larger decrease in January 2023….

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The Winners of the 2021 Muncie Mayor’s Arts Awards. Photo by Cat + Matt Creative.

Non-Profit November 18, 2021

Announcing the Winners of the 2021 Muncie Mayor’s Arts Awards

By Carl Schafer and Erin Williams— MUNCIE, Ind.—The Muncie Arts and Culture Council, in conjunction with the City of Muncie, celebrated the 4th biennial Mayor’s Arts Awards on Friday, Nov. 12, at Sursa Performance Hall on the Ball State University campus. If you missed the ceremony, it will be broadcast on Saturday, Dec. 11, at 8 p.m. on Ball State PBS. More information at www.ballstatepbs.org. The Mayor’s Arts Awards are the most prestigious honors given by the city to individual…

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

Government November 16, 2021

City of Muncie Awards $2 Million To Local Non-Profits Through American Rescue Plan Grants

By Jeff Robinson, President of Muncie City Council, District 2— MUNCIE, Ind.—Seventy-four non-profits applied for grant dollars earmarked to help those organizations and their clients who were hardest hit by COVID-19. In total, $2 million of the City of Muncie’s American Recovery Plan funding of $31.7 million will be awarded to help the non-profit sector and the people they serve. District 2 Councilman and City Council President Jeff Robinson and Heart of Indiana United Way’s President & CEO, Jenni Marsh…

Photo provided

Business November 15, 2021

Minnetrista Opens New Exhibit Titled ‘Nature’s Blueprints: Biomimicry in Art and Design’

By Katy Maggart— MUNCIE, Ind.—In an age of complex environmental challenges, why not look to the ingenuity of nature for solutions? The forms, patterns, and processes found in the natural world—refined by 3.8 billion years of evolution—can inspire our design of everything from clothing to skyscrapers. This approach to innovation, called biomimicry, is becoming increasingly popular. Nature’s Blueprints: Biomimicry in Art and Design opens Saturday, November 13 at Minnetrista. The exhibition Nature’s Blueprints: Biomimicry in Art and Design brings together art…

67th Class of the Academy for Community Leadership .

Non-Profit November 15, 2021

67th Class of the Academy for Community Leadership Recognizes Recent Graduates

By Brenda Brumfield— MUNCIE, Ind.— The 67th Class of the Academy for Community Leadership recognized 21 new graduates at a breakfast event on Thursday, November 11, 2021. “Each year the Academy for Community Leadership program is offered by the Chamber, in collaboration with Ball State University, to expose upcoming leaders in the community to various topics and people to help broaden their understanding of our community,” said co-coordinator Brenda Brumfield, Communications Director at the Chamber. This year students learned more about…

Grateful Rescue founder Pamela Terhune holds "Piper", one of 15 dogs rescued from an evicted backyard breeder. Photo provided.

Non-Profit November 15, 2021

Grateful Rescue and Sanctuary Saves 15 Dogs From Backyard Breeder

By Pamela Terhune— MUNCIE, IN—Grateful Rescue and Sanctuary is asking for donations and assistance from the public after saving 15 dogs from a backyard breeding eviction. “When these precious dogs arrived at our facility, they were scared and unsocialized.   We’re currently spending time with each one, making sure they are getting the proper veterinary care, food and behavior training”, said Pamela Terhune, founder of Grateful Rescue. The dogs include two Huskies, a Chocolate Labrador, two Bernese Mountain Dog mixes and a…

Education November 14, 2021

S.T.E.P. (Skilled Trades Education Program) Applications Now OPEN

By Barbara Schafer— MUNCIE, Ind.—ecoREHAB’s highly popular S.T.E.P. program is now taking applications through November 19th. In partnership with Eastern Indiana Works and Ball State University, S.T.E.P. will provide training in the basic skills needed for a career in the construction industry. This ​free​ eighteen week program will be a combination of classroom and onsite training focused on carpentry, electrical, HVAC, masonry, and plumbing. Sessions will also be presented on proper workplace behavior and interview skills. The scheduled ​start date…

There’s nothing like a family selfie to mark the end of a long journey. Photo by Nancy Carlson

Carlson November 12, 2021

John Carlson: Historic Skyline Drive’s a Trip

By John Carlson— “Road trip!” If you remember, that was the clarion call which sent the guys of Delta Tau Chi en route to some comedic mayhem in the movie “Animal House.” A similar need to hit the road recently sent Nancy,  Jersey the Wonder Dog, and me on our way to Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive, motoring along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This whimsical journey proved educational, mostly in a good way. It was “mostly” because…

U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.)

Government November 11, 2021

U.S. Senator Todd Young’s Remarks on Veterans Day

By U.S. Senator from Indiana Todd Young— INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.—In the town of Hartsville, in Bartholomew County, not more than 60 miles south of here, there is a small red headstone in a Baptist cemetery. It reads simply: B.W. Mitchell 1816-1868. Below that, it mentions the 27th Indiana volunteer infantry in letters so small they strain the eye. Corporal Barton Warren Mitchell was a 45 year old railroad worker from Putnam County who joined the Union Army at the onset of…

Ball State graduate Scott Jones provided this photo of his family. Scott's father was a veteran.

Government November 11, 2021

Investing in Our Veterans Through the ‘Next Level Veterans Initiative’

By Dr. Kimberly Roop, Medicaid Plan President for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Indiana— As a U.S. Air Force veteran, I had the privilege of serving with men and women who put personal priorities aside to serve and protect our country. As I saw first-hand, our service members are trained to do more with less. We make sacrifices and step in front of harm’s way when duty calls and pack up personal belongings on command. We are trained…