Articles by Mike Rhodes

Muncie Public Library Becomes Smoke and Tobacco Free

Non-Profit November 12, 2020

Muncie Public Library Becomes Smoke and Tobacco Free

By Susan Fisher— Muncie, IN—Beginning November 19, 2020, Muncie Public Library (MPL) will move from its no smoking policy to a more comprehensive smoke and tobacco free policy for all of its facilities. “Our Board of Trustees approved this policy in January of this year,” said MPL Director Akilah S. Nosakhere. “We planned to implement it in early spring, but the plans were sidetracked by the COVID-19 pandemic.” The new policy moves MPL from no smoking within 25 feet of…

Read More
BSU Researcher: Certain Groups ‘Masked Up’ More than Others During Early Days of Pandemic

Health November 12, 2020

BSU Researcher: Certain Groups ‘Masked Up’ More than Others During Early Days of Pandemic

By Ball State Marketing and Communications— Muncie, IN– During the early stages of the pandemic, some people were more likely to wear masks than others, says a Ball State University researcher. A survey of 838 adults found that the people most likely to mask up were women, older adults, African-Americans, Hispanics, and low-income employees forced to work outside the home, said Diana Saiki, a Ball State fashion merchandising professor. Saiki was part of a team of researchers that conducted the largest…

Ball Brothers Foundation Awards Over Million in Grants to Support Education, Workforce Development, and More 

Non-Profit November 12, 2020

Ball Brothers Foundation Awards Over $6 Million in Grants to Support Education, Workforce Development, and More 

By Melissa Jones— Muncie, IN— In its final round of grants for the year, Ball Brothers Foundation awarded more than $6 million to local nonprofits, schools, workforce development organizations and other entities, demonstrating the foundation’s commitment to helping local organizations adapt to new circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as preserving and improving the community’s quality of life well into the future.  While Ball Brothers Foundation has awarded numerous COVID-19 emergency/crisis grants—totaling nearly $500,000 to date—throughout the year, this…

Classroom Connections of ECI Donates 45,300 Masks to Local Schools

Education November 11, 2020

Classroom Connections of ECI Donates 45,300 Masks to Local Schools

By Joanna Robertson— Muncie, IN—Classroom Connections of ECI has been selected as the regional hub to distribute a Midwest portion of JOANN’s nationwide donation of 1.8 million masks to pre-K—12th grade schools in partnership with the Kids In Need Foundation. “Our longtime corporate partner JOANN’s, who donates tens of thousands of dollars in arts and craft products annually, will be playing an active role in ensuring the health and safely of regional teachers and students we serve,” said Stacy Wheeler,…

CenterPoint Energy Foundation Awards 0,000 to Muncie Habitat for Humanity

Non-Profit November 10, 2020

CenterPoint Energy Foundation Awards $300,000 to Muncie Habitat for Humanity

By Eileen Oaks Molter— Muncie, IN—The CenterPoint Energy Foundation recently awarded $300,000 to Muncie Habitat for Humanity over the next three years in order to help serve 88 families (approximately 220 people) in Muncie, Indiana. This investment supports Muncie Habitat’s housing program, which includes the construction or rehab of entire homes for purchase by families who partner with Habitat, as well as home repairs, so that current homeowners can continue to live safely in their own homes. “We are thrilled…

Community Foundation To Celebrate ‘GivingTuesday’ With Technology Resilience Grants

Non-Profit November 10, 2020

Community Foundation To Celebrate ‘GivingTuesday’ With Technology Resilience Grants

By Kallie Sulanke— Muncie, IN—The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County is responding to meet the needs of local students by raising funds to support technology resilience in local K-12 schools. GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement, unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and their world. GivingTuesday will kick off the generosity season this year by inspiring people to give back on December 1, 2020, and throughout the year. In response to the COVID-19…

First Merchants to Acquire Hoosier Trust Company

Business November 9, 2020

First Merchants to Acquire Hoosier Trust Company

Indianapolis-based trust and investment management firm holds $300 million in assets— Muncie, IN – First Merchants has announced that it will acquire Indianapolis-based Hoosier Trust Company. Established in 2001, Hoosier Trust Company provides trust and investment management services to clients in Central Indiana. The company’s employees have a combined service of more than 75 years in the industry and work exclusively to serve the financial and fiduciary needs of their clients in tight alignment with their legal and tax advisors….

IU Health Hosts Virtual Statewide Hiring Event to Fill Critical Roles

Health November 9, 2020

IU Health Hosts Virtual Statewide Hiring Event to Fill Critical Roles

By IU Health— Muncie, IN – Indiana University Health, the state’s largest health care provider, is hosting a virtual statewide hiring event with an aim to fill open nursing and medical assistant roles. The hiring event runs Nov. 9–11, with interview opportunities available from 8 am–4 pm each day. All interviews are virtual, and positions are available at IU Health hospitals and facilities across the state. IU Health has openings for a range of positions, with a special focus on…

Safe Haven Baby Box Installed at Muncie Fire Station #1

Government November 9, 2020

Safe Haven Baby Box Installed at Muncie Fire Station #1

By City of Muncie Communications— Muncie, IN—In less than 5 years, the Safe Haven Baby Boxes organization has made great strides in accomplishing its primary goal of raising awareness of the Safe Haven Law and eliminating illegal infant abandonment. On Saturday, November 7th, that mission was celebrated as the 50th Safe Haven Baby Box in the nation went live in Muncie, Indiana. Two babies that were surrendered under Indiana’s Safe Haven Law were in attendance at the event along with…

John Carlson: Virtual Lesson = Real Food

Carlson November 6, 2020

John Carlson: Virtual Lesson = Real Food

By John Carlson— Ball State University’s Emens Auditorium has always been great at providing entertainment. But burritos? Not so much. That changed recently, though. Perhaps to remind folks it’s riding out the pandemic’s deleterious effects along with the rest of us, Emens brought “Food Network Star” personality Jyll Everman to Muncie, virtually, for a free on-line cooking class. Nancy and I being a study in contrasts, we were buzzed about this, it being one of the few interests we share….