Articles by Mike Rhodes

Early shoppers are pictured outside the new Fresh Thyme Farmers Market at 7am, May 17th. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Business May 17, 2018

Fresh Thyme Opens to Enthusiastic Muncie Crowd

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, IN—The new Fresh Thyme Farmers Market opened at 7am today, and Muncie residents were ready and waiting as early as 11pm the night before. The first 250 shoppers (aged 18 and older) in line on Grand Opening morning  received a free bag of groceries, marking the official start of a four-day celebration with live music, kids activities, food sampling, beer tastings and more. Greg Johnson is the Director of Operations for the Central Region. Greg said…

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Ball State University Board of Trustees are pictured during the vote to pass the new resolution to appoint a new school board for MCS. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Education, We Fly May 17, 2018

Community Comes Together As Ball State Takes Historic Step For Muncie Community Schools

By: Ball State University— Muncie, IN — The Ball State University Board of Trustees passed a resolution today to accept the responsibility to appoint a new school board to manage the Muncie Community Schools (“MCS”). The community is already showing its support by collaborating with Ball State to help MCS thrive. Rick Hall, chair of the Board of Trustees, noted that this is the first time a public university has assumed such a responsibility for local public schools. “Ball State…

2017 Film School students with certificates and the MPL Digital Mentors. Photo by: Loren McClain, Muncie Public Library

Non-Profit May 16, 2018

Sign Up for Free Summer Film School At MPL

By: Susan Fisher— Muncie, IN—Teens in grades 8-12 are invited to learn more about videography and editing using state of the art equipment at the 2018 Summer Film School at Muncie Public Library (MPL). This free program provides three weeks of hands-on production experience and classes related to film production. Students will not only get to discover the filmmaking process but by the end, each will have six completed video projects for their professional portfolio. “The students will have cameras…

Muncie Family Block Party will take place this Saturday May 19, 2018 from 11 – 3 pm. Photo by: graphic stock

Non-Profit May 15, 2018

Systems of Care Partners Hosting 1st Muncie Family Block Party On May 19th

By: Carrie Bale— Muncie, IN—The Delaware County Systems of Care Partners aka “Caring Partners of Delaware County” will be hosting the 1st annual Muncie Family Block Party this Saturday May 19, 2018 from 11 – 3 pm.  The first Family Block Party will take place in the park located directly behind the Muncie Housing Authority main offices located at 409 E. 1st Street.  The block party will have FREE food, FREE entertainment, FREE activities and FREE resources for families.  Included…

Whitinger & Company Member/Owner T.J. Bush. Photo provided.

Business May 15, 2018

Whitinger & Company Member/Owner Receives Emerging Leader Award

By: Sheena Peters— Muncie, IN— Regional public accounting and advisory firm, Whitinger & Company, is pleased to announce that Member/Owner T.J. Bush received the Emerging Leader Award from the Paul W. Parkison Department of Accounting at Ball State University. Each spring the Paul W. Parkison Department of Accounting hosts its Alumni Awards Dinner. The event provides an excellent opportunity to recognize the accomplishments of some of its most distinguished alumni. This year, members of the Department’s Advisory Council selected T.J. Bush…

Photo by: Steve Lindell

Education May 14, 2018

HB 1315 Passes House and Senate in Special Session Vote

By: Ball State University President Geoffrey S. Mearns— Muncie, IN—Earlier today, the General Assembly passed HB 1315, the legislation that provides our University with the opportunity to appoint a new school board to manage the Muncie Community Schools (“MCS”). The legislation passed by substantial margins in both chambers, and I anticipate that Governor Holcomb will promptly sign the bill into law. Now, our Board of Trustees must meet to consider whether our University should accept this significant responsibility. A special…

Child and mother at a food pantry. File photo.

Non-Profit May 13, 2018

The Salvation Army and Meijer Partner to Provide Hunger Relief

By: Lieutenant Jonathan Taube, Salvation Army— Muncie, IN—The Salvation Army is proud to announce a partnership with Meijer this spring season to provide much-needed hunger relief to local families through the Grand Rapids, Michigan-based retailer’s customer-driven food pantry donation program, Simply Give. “Our food pantry can see up to 60 families a day visit us for assistance,” said Lt. Jonathan Taube of The Salvation Army of Muncie. “Many of them feel an extra strain in the summer without the help…

A stalk of broccolini, slightly worse for wear. Photo by: Nancy Carlson

Carlson May 11, 2018

John Carlson: That’s Brocco-What?

By: John Carlson— These are exciting days for vegetables. For example, when Nancy and I recently enjoyed dinner at an out-of-county restaurant, our waitress lowered the plates before us, then began apologizing. “I’m so sorry, but that green thing isn’t a broccoli stalk like I told you,” she admitted, sheepishly. “It’s broccolini.” Now, had she failed to mention that, I’d have figured it was simply broccoli that had grown up malnourished in a poor neighborhood, then scooted it to the…

Aerial photo of Muncie and Delaware County by Michael Wolfe

Opinion May 10, 2018

Opinion: Tips to Attract Business Investment to Your Community

By: Quint Studer for the Muncie Journal— Pensacola, FL—Cities across America have been vying for the privilege of hosting Amazon’s $5 billion second headquarters, which is expected to bring with it up to 50,000 high-paying jobs. Back in January the online retailer selected 20 finalists from a list of more than 200 cites that applied. And, as the Wall Street Journal, cities that didn’t make the short list—among them Detroit, Cincinnati, and Sacramento—are rushing to make changes based on Amazon’s…

Grace Belangee, Zoe Brubaker, Evy Halbert (top row); Karson Koontz, Jennifer Martin, Korbin Zvokel (bottom row)

Education May 10, 2018

Community Foundation Announces More 2018 Scholarship Recipients

By: Kallie Sulanke, Community Engagement Officer— Congratulations to the following graduates: Grace Belangee, a senior at Delta High School, is the recipient of the 2018 Delaware Community Schools Memorial Scholarship. Belangee plans to attend Butler University, where she will study health sciences and pre-optometry. She is the daughter of Brian and Ali Belangee. Zoe Brubaker, a senior at Daleville Jr./Sr. High School, is the recipient of the 2018 Kathleen Rozelle-Camplin Scholarship. Brubaker, daughter of Christy Brubaker, plans to attend Indiana…