Articles by Mike Rhodes

Bosma Appoints Members to ISTEP Review Panel

STATEHOUSE  – House Speaker Brian C. Bosma (R-­Indianapolis) today announced his appointments to a new panel charged with recommending a replacement for the ISTEP test. Under a new law, the state’s troubled ISTEP test will be phased out by July 1, 2017, and a 23­ member panel, a majority of whom are educators, will recommend a new, standardized test. “The ISTEP test is a seriously damaged brand and has become an ongoing source of frustration among our students, educators and…

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Paint the Park Day to Bring Color to McCulloch Park

By: Rebecca Parker— Whitely Community Council, The Muncie Parks Department, and Muncie Delaware Clean and Beautiful invite you to paint the town pastel on May 14th during Paint the Park Day at McCulloch Park. This exciting beautification event, part of Whitely’s Year of Color, seeks to pull the gorgeous candy colors of the Centennial Place apartments out into the rest of the Whitely neighborhood and McCulloch Park. The event will begin at 9am and continue until at least 5pm. During…


Ivy Tech Completes VITA Program for 2016

Muncie, Ind. – Ivy Tech Community College East Central Region recently concluded their 9th annual Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for this tax season. Ivy Tech Community College’s VITA program offers free federal and state income tax return preparation and e-filing for students, faculty, staff, and lower income general public taxpayers. VITA program volunteers prepared over 90 tax returns at the Muncie and Anderson campus locations resulting in over $168,000 and $16,000 in federal and state tax refunds respectively. Additionally,…


Muncie Community Schools Announce Upcoming Ceremonies

By: Ana Pichardo— Adult Education Graduation Ceremomy Thursday, May 12, 2016 beginning at 7pm Muncie Central High School Auditorium Adult learners who have participated in the Muncie Community Schools Adult Education program will be earning HSE Certificates and high school diplomas during the commencement program.  The speeches and stories of these students are always inspiring and interesting. Career & Technical Education Awards Program Thursday, May 19, 2016, beginning at 7:00 PM Muncie Area Career Center Gymnasium MACC students from eleven high…


John Carlson: Reflections on “A Father’s Love for His Child”

By: John Carlson— It’s amazing how sometimes, when you least expect it, you have an encounter that makes you think about the truly important things in life, or in my case, just flat out humbles you. It happened to me Friday night when Nan and I went to see Mary Poppins at Muncie Civic Theatre. It was a wonderful show, a smash by all who worked so hard to put it on, and a tribute to the play’s director, Laura Williamson, who happens to…


Susan G. Komen® Central Indiana announces 2016 Community Impact Grant Recipients

INDIANAPOLIS – Susan G. Komen® Central Indiana is awarding a total of $832,677 in Community Impact Grants to 15 breast health programs in its 41-county service area. Delaware County will benefit from funding provided to Cancer Services of East Central Indiana, Inc – Little Red Door and Interlocal Community Action Program (ICAP) during Komen Central Indiana’s 2016-2017 grant cycle, which began in April. These programs will use Komen grant dollars to provide comprehensive breast care for low-income women in the…


Dr. Steven Baule Update on Muncie Community Schools Fiscal Situation

By: Dr. Steven Baule, Superintendent of Muncie Community Schools— Dear MCS Stakeholders, I feel it is appropriate to take a few minutes to provide all stakeholders with an update regarding the corporation’s fiscal situation. In some ways, I understand this seems like old news. The Muncie Community Schools have been in a cost containment cycle for the better part of two decades according to many staff members who have worked here throughout that time. However, the key difference is that there is…


Pretreatment Program Continues to Protect Muncie’s White River from Industrial Pollutants

By: Rick Conrad— The Muncie Sanitary District’s Bureau of Water Quality recently received the results of an Indiana Department of Environmental Management periodic audit of its industrial pretreatment program. Muncie’s program, headed by Director Rick Conrad, is the local water quality testing and enforcement agency responsible for ensuring industries treat their potentially toxic wastewater before it can reach the White River or its tributaries. Since the establishment of this program by John Craddock in 1972, the Bureau of Water Quality’s…


Cornerstone to Offer Eight Week Classes This Summer

Muncie, IN—Cornerstone Center for the Arts will offer a series of classes this summer for youth, families and adults in a wide variety of areas. The Summer Eight Week Class Session begins the week of June 6th and continues through July 29th. Cornerstone’s class fees are affordable, one-time payments that cover the full eight weeks of class. Areas of interest include: visual arts, theatre, dance, fitness, and music. Children and families classes include: Early Ballet I & II, Early Ballet…


Muncie Mall’s New Mall Walker Program Begins May 3rd

Muncie, In —Muncie Mall, East Central Indiana’s family-friendly shopping destination, will launch the Mall Walker Program on Tuesday, May 3rd  to support the healthy lifestyles of Muncie residents. This initiative, sponsored by Waters Edge Village, will feature monthly breakfasts, early access to Muncie Mall and added amenities. “We’re proud to provide this new program for our loyal customers to enjoy,” said Amanda Stickann, marketing director at Muncie Mall. “Muncie Mall is the place for residents to stay active while shopping,…