Articles by Mike Rhodes

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 Commission, Muncie Action Plan board of directors and NEXT Muncie participated in a selection process that included a nation-wide Request…

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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 Academy, a Muncie non-profit that provides people of all ages, backgrounds and interests access to the tools necessary to develop…


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, economic development, education, and human services. The Community Foundation received more than $1.3 million in requests this year. A committee of…


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 900 W 8th Street (8th and Hoyt Ave) “As small businesses continue to face enormous challenges in the wake of…


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 his Japanese-American karate instructor, Mister Miyagi, as his mentor and protector. Plus there was a gang of smart-ass, teenage martial-artists-in-training,…


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 of Health’s county metrics map. Orange is the second-to-worst score a county can receive, indicating moderate to high level of community…


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 also available for current college students. These vary based on student major and enrollment. HOW DO I APPLY? Apply for…


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 Dealer, and notably has been an Authorized Piper Aircraft Dealer for over 75 years. Collectively DMFS has sold and supported…


Muncie Journal’s Most Viewed Stories of 2020

By Mike Rhodes, Editor-in-chief, MuncieJournal.com— Muncie, IN—Every year around this time we share Muncie Journal’s Top 10 most viewed stories of the year.  Last year, an article about the polar vortex took the top spot. Amazingly, our most viewed story in 2020 was NOT about COVID-19. It was about fireworks! You’ll find the rest of our most viewed stories for 2020 below. You can click on any story headline to review the initial story and the date it was published. (When you click on a story below, you can hit your back button to return to this page.) Stories are ranked utilizing…


TeenWorks Now Accepting Applications for Summer Jobs

By Kari Wissel, Muncie Regional Director— Muncie, IN—Know a teen looking for their first summer job? TeenWorks, a non-profit working to empower teens to achieve excellence in career, college, and community, is now accepting applications for the 2021 Summer Program. This program will run June 16ththrough July 23rd and is a great opportunity for students to gain experience, acquire new skills, and build their resumes. Students hired by TeenWorks earn $8 an hour working for one of our community worksite partners doing grounds work, gardening, or beautification projects. Additionally, students attend weekly professional development sessions focused on financial literacy, interviewing skills,…