Articles by Mike Rhodes

Sue Errington is pictured by her seat in the House chamber. Photo by Mike Rhodes

Education, Government July 11, 2024

Errington Congratulates ‘Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship Awardees’

By Emily Reuben, Press Secretary— INDIANAPOLIS—In a recent release, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education announced that 300 student scholarships have been awarded through the 2024-2025 Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship. Each year, this scholarship is given to high-achieving high school and college students pursuing a career in education. The scholarship can be renewed for up to $10,000 annually for four academic years under the agreement that these students will teach for five years at an eligible Indiana school. For…

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Education, Government July 11, 2024

City Renews Funding for Muncie Community Schools ‘City Connects’ Program

By Michele Owen— MUNCIE, IN—For the past three years, Muncie Community Schools’ City Connects program has become an integral part of helping students succeed in school. As a result, the city of Muncie is renewing its financial commitment to the initiative, providing $100,000 for each of the next three years. The city’s investment will enable the school district to employ family navigators in six of its nine schools. Family navigators are the lynchpins of the program. They assess the strengths…

Illustration courtesy of Walmart.com

Business July 11, 2024

Hoosier Entrepreneurs Invited to Pitch Their Products for a Spot on Walmart or Sam’s Club Shelves

Walmart’s Open Call Provides Business owners the Opportunity to become Walmart suppliers and reach millions of new customers with their U.S.-made products. By Lauren Schregardus, on behalf of Walmart— INDIANAPOLIS – Walmart is now accepting applications for its 11th annual Open Call event, inviting small business owners and entrepreneurs across the U.S. to apply for the opportunity to pitch their products to be sold on Walmart or Sam’s Club shelves or on Walmart.com and SamsClub.com. Applications are open until July 15, 2024. Open Call is…

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Non-Profit July 10, 2024

Boys & Girls Clubs of Muncie Announces New Southside Middle School Site

By Robby Tompkins, Director of Resource Development— MUNCIE, IN—The Boys & Girls Clubs of Muncie, in partnership with Muncie Community Schools and the George and Frances Ball Foundation, has established a new site at Southside Middle School to provide access to exceptional after-school programming for more students and families on the south side of Muncie. This new Southside Middle School Site will play a pivotal role in helping teens reach their full potential and to envision a bright future. This…

The Naptown Hepcats will open for the Dave Bennet Quartet on Thursday at Canan Commons. Photo provided

Entertainment July 8, 2024

IRONMAN Triathlon Brings Music, Games, and More for Runners and Spectators in Muncie

By Michele Owen— MUNCIE, IN—On Saturday, July 13, IRONMAN 70.3 returns to Muncie, celebrating its 45th anniversary. The race, once named the Muncie Endurathon, is one of the Midwest’s most popular triathlons, and the oldest 70.3 distance race in the continental US. In 2022, the Muncie race was voted the number one participant experience in all of the US, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Canada. Nearly 1,000 athletes will compete in the long-distance triathlon, which begins with a 1.2-mile swim in…

The soup crawl is always a popular event downtown. Photo provided

Entertainment July 5, 2024

PrimeTrust and Second Harvest Food Bank Team Up and Announce 12th Annual Soup Crawl

By Ben Polk— MUNCIE, IN—Soup Crawl is a delicious and heartwarming event benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana. Held in downtown Muncie on Thursday, October 3rd from 5pm to 8pm, the 12th annual Soup Crawl features a variety of soups from local restaurants, all for a good cause. “Last year, despite the rain, we had an incredible turnout and saw the Emily Kimbrough Museum take home the Vicky Copley People’s Choice Award. It was a close race,…

From the Hall of Fame archives: 1950-1951 Muncie Central State Champions

Non-Profit June 27, 2024

Delaware County Athletic Hall of Fame to Induct 13

By Doug Zaleski— MUNCIE, IN— The Delaware County Athletic Hall of Fame has elected 13 new members who will be honored in July in its 2024 class. Ty’Ronda Benning, Ben Botts, Zachary Ervin, Rob Fisher, Hayley (Hall) Garard, Jeremy Hazelbaker, Kasin (Spay) Hoke, Kimberly Kuzma, Taylor Morey, Christopher Overholt, George Taylor, Logan Young and Megan (Allen) Zelasko will be inducted July 20 at the Ball State Alumni Center. Tom Childs will be honored at the banquet as this year’s James…

Flowers flourish at the front of a home on the Garden Walk. Photo provided

Entertainment June 27, 2024

Garden Walk 2024 is Coming July 13

By Laurie Lunsford— MUNCIE, IN—Karen Ford is enthusiastically waiting for Saturday, July 13th  9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  There will be 6 beautiful gardens throughout the city that will be open for view at the annual Master Gardener Garden Walk.  Karen, along with Master Gardener members, coordinates this community event which is open to everyone. Diversity abounds.  There are small gardens and large open gardens.  You can find them in different parts of town, from downtown Muncie to Heekin Park…

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Non-Profit June 26, 2024

Capital Projects in Downtown Muncie and Beyond Share in $4M Awarded by Ball Brothers Foundation 

By Jud Fisher—  MUNCIE, IN—Ball Brothers Foundation, one of Indiana’s oldest and largest family foundations, awarded 33 grants totaling over $4 million in its first funding round of the year. Among the grants are funding for several organizations with long historical ties to the Ball family that are undertaking transformative capital projects: Ball State University, Camp Crosley (YMCA of Muncie), and the YWCA Central Indiana. A $2,500,000 grant awarded to the Ball State University Foundation will support the construction of…

As part of the grant, ecoREHAB will restore the facade of "The Yard” in The Old West End in Muncie. Photo provided

Non-Profit June 26, 2024

ecoREHAB of Muncie Receives $123,000 Lowe’s Hometowns Grant, Benefitting Local Community

By Jason Haney— MUNCIE, IN—Muncie, Indiana -based ecoREHAB of Muncie has proudly been selected as part of the 2024 Lowe’s Hometowns program, a five-year, $100 million commitment to rebuild and revitalize community spaces nationwide. Since launching in 2022, the signature grant program has renovated 149 community centers, affordable housing facilities, shelters and food pantries; refurbished 15 first responder and veteran/military family facilities; and built and improved 54 community gardens, parks and playgrounds – among many other impactful projects. As one…