Articles by Mike Rhodes

Senator Todd Young Announces Nominees for United States Service Academies

By Senator Young Press Office— INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) has announced his nominations for U.S. service academy appointments. Applications were received from 106 high school students, and a select group was interviewed by an advisory board chosen by Senator Young. In total, 47 exemplary young men and women from across Indiana received a nomination from Senator Young. A nomination does not guarantee admission to a service academy, but is required in order to be considered. Nominees are chosen based on personal merit. Criteria considered include evidence of character, leadership, academic excellence, physical aptitude, and extracurricular activities. “I had…

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Community Foundation Awards $75K to Seven Non-Profit Organizations

By Kallie Sulanke— MUNCIE, Ind.—The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, Inc. awarded $75,118 to seven non-profit organizations during the final Quarterly Competitive Grant cycle of 2021. The Community Foundation’s purpose is to improve the quality of life in Muncie and Delaware County for this generation and generations to come. Quarterly Competitive Grants fund projects for which there is a demonstrable community benefit in one of the following areas of interest: arts and culture, human services, economic development, education, and community betterment. The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, Inc. is a publicly supported philanthropic institution governed by…


Women in Business Unlimited Announces 2021 ATHENA Award Recipients

By Amy Leffingwell— MUNCIE, Ind. – Women in Business Unlimited (WIBU) announced the recipients of its prestigious ATHENA Awards at its annual ATHENA Awards Luncheon. The ATHENA Leadership Award, ATHENA Young Professional Award, and WIBU Lifetime Achievement Award were presented. The ATHENA Leadership Awards are internationally recognized awards which WIBU has been pleased to present for twenty-two years. The nominations were submitted to a panel of judges outside of Delaware County to be evaluated and scored with a provided ATHENA recipient criteria form. Jenni Marsh received the 2021 ATHENA Leadership Award. The ATHENA Leadership Award honors individuals who strive toward the…


John Carlson: Advancements In Snack Science

By John Carlson— So I’m making one of my rare visits to The Fickle Peach when my pal Willow tosses me what looks like a pack of microwaveable popcorn. “Thanks,” I say. I don’t say it very sincerely, though, wishing he’d tossed me a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken instead. But then I glance at the package a second time, my eyes locking on the word “chicharrones,” and say “Thanks!” again. This time, however, tears of gratitude are cascading down my face and off my chin, and I sound more like a drowning man addressing somebody who just tossed him…


Muncie Police Department Receives $375K Grant To Hire More Officers

By Nathan Sloan, Muncie Chief of Police— MUNCIE, Ind.—The Muncie Police Department is pleased to announce that the Department of Justice, through the COPS Hiring Program (CHP), has selected our agency to receive a grant in the amount of $375,000.00. The funds are to be used to hire three new officers beyond what our current budget allows, with a focus on community oriented policing and crime reduction. The funding is intended to cover the new officer’s entry-level salary, benefits, and other costs. We have been continuously recruiting, but the Muncie Police Department is not fully staffed at this time. Once…


Kick Off the Holiday Season with The Enchanted Luminaria Walk at Minnetrista

By Katy Maggart— MUNCIE, Ind.—There is no better way to kick off the holiday season than with your family and friends at the Enchanted Luminaria Walk at Minnetrista, on December 3 & 4 from 5–9 p.m. each night. “Enchanted Luminaria Walk is one of my favorite events to work here at Minnetrista,” said Associate Director of Experience & Education, Ashley Mann. “It’s our gift to the community and there are so many amazing opportunities for family fun and memory making. The excitement and joy is palpable. It is a great way to kick off the holiday season.” With family and…


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. At the same time, I&M will continue to increase its investments for enhancing reliability by upgrading aging infrastructure in Indiana….


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 artists, teachers, non-profit organizations, and patrons of the arts. The selection is made by the Awards Committee, a rotating cohort…


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 recruited a diverse committee for the ARP Non-Profit Awards Committee. There were representatives of the LGBTQ+ and Black Indigenous People…


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 and design with environmental science using artifacts, artworks and photography, as well as interactive learning stations. Biomimicry is not a…