Articles by Mike Rhodes

Muncie Community Schools was one of eight public school districts to receive funding through the K-12 School Technology Resilience Initiative. Student connectivity was addressed through grant funding to MCS.

Non-Profit January 13, 2021

Grants Support K-12 School Technology Resilience

By Kallie Sulanke— Muncie, Ind. – Eight local K-12 public schools in Delaware County received a total of $182,000 in the third phase of the K-12 School Technology Resilience Initiative. The initiative supports longer-term and equitable solutions for technology resilience for students and schools. The initiative kicked off in June with the support of the Funders Forum Collaborative, a group of funders across Delaware County convened by The Community Foundation. “The need for equitable technology solutions was exacerbated by the…

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White River as viewed from Hidden Canal Nature Preserve. Photo by Red-tail Land Conservancy

Non-Profit January 12, 2021

New Nature Preserve Protects the White River and Indiana History

By Kelley V Phillips— Muncie, IN—Muncie-based Red-tail Land Conservancy, located at 125 E. Charles St., Suite 200, Muncie,  has announced the establishment of Hidden Canal Nature Preserve, a 50-acre forest in Anderson, IN. Located on the White River across from Mounds State Park, this preserve creates a protected corridor along the river for local and migrating wildlife. It also preserves remnants of a significant historic canal from being disturbed by growing urban surroundings. Now under the ownership of Red-tail Land…

Instagram photo composite by Susan Volbrecht

Non-Profit January 11, 2021

Muncie Action Plan 2020 Task Force 3 Update

By: Susan Volbrecht, Chairman Task Force 3— Muncie, IN – the Muncie Action Plan spent 2020 preparing for the City of Muncie’s next strategic investment planning process in combination with an update to the Delaware County comprehensive plan. The last large-scale MAP planning took place in 2009 and although two updates have been completed since, it is time to re-visit the document with another large-scale engagement effort whereby residents help create a new vision for Muncie’s growth and investment. Representatives from the Delaware-Muncie Metropolitan Plan…

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

Government, Non-Profit January 11, 2021

Shafer Leadership Academy Hosts Ethics Training for City of Muncie

By Kate Elliott— Muncie, IN—In early December, Muncie City Council members unanimously approved the first resolution Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour brought before them. Resolution 1-20 stipulates that all city government department appointees and supervisors participate in comprehensive ethics training, and all city employees engage in annual ethics training as a condition of their continued employment. Ridenour said the resolution reflected his campaign promise for a more ethical and transparent city government. To facilitate ethics training, Ridenour turned to Shafer Leadership…

Like so many organizations, Boys & Girls Clubs of Muncie had to make changes in 2020. Many club members and their families have turned to the Boys & Girls Clubs for care, enrichment, and elearning support.

Non-Profit January 9, 2021

Community Foundation Grants $3.6 Million To Enhance Quality of Life In Muncie and Delaware County in 2020

By Kallie Sulanke, Community Engagement Officer— Muncie, IN—The Community Foundation is pleased to announce that $3,633,622 was granted to enhance the quality of life in Muncie and Delaware County in 2020. Most grants are awarded through permanently endowed funds that benefit our community today and always. Through the Quarterly Competitive grants program, nonprofit organizations were awarded $971,600 in highly competitive grants. Grants address the broad needs of Muncie and Delaware County in the areas of arts and culture, community betterment,…

Pictured left to right inside the market are: Owner Mike Martin, Cory Gipson and Grace Longfellow, one of the first employees who will be hired with the grant. (Masks removed for photo only.) Photo by Mike Rhodes

Business, Non-Profit January 8, 2021

Main Street America and The Hartford Award $15,000 Grant to Mike Martin’s ‘Common Market’ in Muncie

By Main Street America— Muncie, IN— Main Street America and The Hartford are pleased to announce the second-round recipients of the HartBeat of Main Street Grant Program. Grants of $5,000 – $15,000 have been awarded to 31 brick-and-mortar small businesses across the country. Funds will help these businesses respond and adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic and help to revitalize historic downtown commercial districts. Muncie Community Market LLC/ Common Market in Muncie was awarded $15,000. The Common Market is located at…

Assorted karate belts are purple, brown and blue, the same colors as bruises. Photo by Nancy Carlson

Carlson January 8, 2021

John Carlson: Waxing On About Karate

By John Carlson— Because Nancy and I have highly refined tastes in televised entertainment, we tend to be drawn to more upscale programming that features the very best in art, science and drama. You know, like “Cobra Kai.” OK, just kidding. “Cobra Kai” isn’t upscale. It’s more like way, way, way downscale, a Netflix karate show that’s a sequel to the movie “The Karate Kid.” Remember it? That was the one featuring Daniel-san as a high school punching bag, and…

This illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion.

Health January 7, 2021

Delaware County Weekly COVID-19 Update, January 7th

Editor’s note: The following COVID-19 update is brought to you through a collaboration of healthcare partners including Delaware County Health Department, Delaware County Emergency Management Agency, Delaware County Office of Information, and other major healthcare providers. Delaware County weekly COVID-19 updates are released every Thursday and include information from the Indiana State Department of Health county metrics dashboard, which is updated every Wednesday afternoon. Muncie, IN—Coming off the holiday season, Delaware County is ranked orange on the Indiana State Department…

Scholarship applications are now available for scholarships administered by The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County at 2021scholarships.com. File photo

Education, Non-Profit January 7, 2021

Scholarship Applications are Now Available

By Kallie Sulanke, Community Engagement Officer— Muncie, IN—Delaware County high school seniors and current college students can apply for scholarships now through March 1. The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County manages more than 50 scholarships. Scholarship awards totaling more than $200,000 benefit students each year. Students should visit THIS LINK to begin their application. WHO CAN APPLY? Requirements vary from scholarship to scholarship. Most scholarships offered are available for high school seniors in Delaware County, Ind. Some scholarships are…

A Piper Mirage preparing for passenger boarding at Muncie Aviation Company. Photo provided.

Business January 6, 2021

Muncie Aviation Company Acquires Des Moines Flying Service

By Muncie Aviation— Muncie, IN– Muncie Aviation Company (MAC) announced today the acquisition of Des Moines Flying Service (DMFS), a step that merges two of the longest-standing Business and General Aviation sales and service centers in the world. The transaction was completed on January 1st, 2021. BCC Advisers of Des Moines assisted with this transaction. Established in 1939 by Howard Gregory, DMFS has evolved into one of the largest general aviation sales and service outlets worldwide. DMFS is an Authorized HondaJet…