Articles by Mike Rhodes

United Way Surpasses Campaign Goal, Again

By: Juli Metzger— Muncie, IN—The United Way of Delaware County, for the second consecutive year and against all odds, surpassed its campaign goal, raising $1.44 million. The continued success signals the community’s embrace of the bold goal to end generational poverty here. Nearly half of Delaware County households live in poverty or are one crisis away from it. It’s often a vicious generational cycle. These working families face obstacles in reaching health, education, and financial stability. To conquer generational poverty,…

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Meet Nate Jones, Candidate For Mayor Of Muncie

By: Nate Jones— My name is Nate Jones and I am running for Mayor of Muncie. I was born and raised right here in Muncie and I love my hometown. I am raising my children here in this city and want a future for them to be proud of. In 2004, I graduated from Muncie Central High School. I joined the Indiana Army National Guard in 2007. In 2009, I was deployed to Afghanistan where I helped eradicate terrorists from…


Third Motivate Our Minds Celebrity Spelling Bee Set For Feb. 21

By: Michelle Kinsey— Muncie, IN – Who are the best adult spellers around? Find out on Feb. 21 when the MOM Celebrity Spelling Bee takes the stage at Cornerstone Center for the Arts. Celebrity teams will battle it out – word for word – beginning at 6 p.m. in the Legacy Room of Cornerstone, 520 E. Main St. A pre-event reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. Teams will be competing for the prestigious traveling MOM Celebrity Spelling Bee trophy. First…


Local Community Centers Benefit Muncie Residents Of All Ages

By Mike Rhodes, Editor-in-Chief— Muncie, IN—Muncie is fortunate to have several community centers that benefit residents of all ages. These unique facilities provide a safe haven for kids and deliver life-changing programs and services to local residents. Muncie-Delaware County Senior Citizens Center The Muncie-Delaware County Senior Citizens Center is located at 2517 W. 8th Street in Muncie. The center is located in the former Forest Park elementary school. Judy Elton is executive director of the center. Elton says that 500-700 people typically attend…


Muncie Civic Theatre Receives Grant From Indiana Youth Institute

By: Lauren Littlefield— Indianapolis, IN— The Indiana Youth Institute (“IYI”) today announced the Muncie Civic Theatre in Delaware County, Indiana and Carey Services in Grant County, Indiana have been awarded organizational coaching and funding to improve operational efficiencies and enhance the overall impact they make in young people’s lives. “Both of these outstanding organizations provide young people with opportunities to learn new skills, challenge their limits, and grow into more engaged community members here in Indiana,” said Indiana Youth Institute CEO Tami Silverman….


Seahawks QB Russell Wilson Taps Recent BSU Grad to Design His Cleats

By: Nick Werner— Muncie, IN—First Sydney Noland screamed. Then she cried. “I’m sure my downstairs neighbor thought I was out of my mind,” she wrote on her blog. Noland’17, was not out of her mind, but she was overwhelmed with emotion after receiving a text message from a colleague who worked for the Seattle Seahawks. “Guess what? Russell Wilson chose you to design his cleats.” The star quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks drafted Noland,to create a design on his shoes…


John Carlson: Going Nowhere Fast

By: John Carlson— Yielding to abject feelings of guilt and shame about my woeful physical condition, on New Year’s Day I began riding my stationary bike. This was pretty much a new experience, having only ridden my stationary bike twice since getting it for Christmas. By that, I mean Christmas of 1987. In the decades since then, the only exercise it had provided me was hauling it from the basement of whatever house we were moving out of to the…


Horizon Convention Center Hosts Indiana Communities Institute

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, IN—Ball State’s Indiana Communities Institute held its 37th Annual Economic Development Course at the Horizon Convention Center, January 13-18th. The Indiana Communities Institute addresses the modern challenges of economic development through community-based strategies for sustainable growth.  The institute’s efforts focus on strengthening communities throughout Indiana, and serves as a model for university economic development efforts across the nation. The institute is focused on improving the quality of life in communities through its Primacy of Place initiative. Their week-long Indiana Economic…


Applications For 2019 David Sursa Leadership Award Now Available

By: Kallie Sulanke, Community Engagement Officer— Muncie, IN—The Community Foundation is pleased to announce that nominations are being accepted for the annual David Sursa Leadership Award. The award rewards, recognizes and encourages extraordinary leadership by a non-profit board member in Delaware County. Standing behind the belief that every community benefits from leaders who understand local issues and are able to visualize and promote positivity, The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, Inc. established the David Sursa Leadership Award in honor…


First Merchants Corporation Announces Record 2018 Earnings Per Share

By: First Merchants— Muncie, IN—First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ – FRME) has reported fourth quarter 2018 net income of $41.7 million, an increase of 71 percent, compared to $24.4 million during the same period in 2017. Earnings per share for the period totaled a record $.85 per share, an increase of 73 percent, compared to the fourth quarter of 2017 result of $.49 per share. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2018 totaled $159.1 million, compared to $96.1 million…