Articles by Mike Rhodes

Kayla Kreigh. Photo provided.

Business November 22, 2016

Kayla Kreigh Promoted to Loan Counselor for MutualBank in Muncie

Muncie, In – MutualBank announces the promotion of Kayla Kreigh to Loan Counselor. Previously, Kayla served as a teller, followed by Loan Service Specialist. In her new role as Loan Counselor, Kayla will provide consumer and mortgage lending assistance as well as superior customer service and problem solving. Her recent completion of the Indiana Bankers Association Mortgage Lending training program ensures her preparedness. This, along with her personal promise to deliver a positive and lasting impact on customers’ loan decisions, will…

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Photo of new park bench made from recycled bottle caps donated by MutualBank. Photo provided.

Education November 22, 2016

Southside Middle School’s Panther Pantry Sends 9 Days of Food with 160 Students for Thanksgiving Break

By: Ana Pichardo— Muncie, IN—On Friday, November 18th, 160 Southside students were able to take home enough food to last through the end of Thanksgiving Break. Students registered for the program normally receive one bag of food every Friday to last the weekend. Debra Huston, the instructional assistant who leads this initiative, and her team work extra hard before school breaks to ensure students have enough food until they return to school. “A year ago this week, when we opened…

Jason Young receives McDonald’s Activities Count (MAC) grant. Photo provided.

Business November 22, 2016

Northside Middle School Teacher Jason Young Receives McDonald’s MAC Grant

By: Ana Pichardo— Muncie, IN —On November 15th, Northside Middle School sixth grade reading teacher Jason Young was awarded a McDonald’s $500 Make Activities Count (MAC) grant. Tuesday morning, Director of Operations for the Muncie area Ken Phillips, General Manager of the Chadam Lane store Amy Rogers, and Northside Principal Jackie Samuels surprised Young and his class with an oversized check and the news that he received the grant. With this grant, Young’s students will participate in service learning projects….

Kayla Evans is pictured inside ASG's new offices located at 3301 W. Purdue Ave. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Business November 22, 2016

Alliance for Strategic Growth, Inc. Announces Employer Engagement and Corporate Services Team

By: Lyndsey Hellems— Muncie, IN—Alliance for Strategic Growth, Inc. (ASG, Inc.), a leader in workforce development innovation, announced its Employer Engagement and Corporate Services Team today. Denny Cochran is appointed to Manager of Employer Engagement. Cochran will manage ASG, Inc. employer engagement initiatives that align real-time employer-demand data with existing and new customer services and programs to expeditiously meet high-wage workforce demand. Cochran previously served in executive leadership roles in both the public and private sectors. Tod Howard is appointed…

Photo provided.

Non-Profit November 21, 2016

Dollison receives WIBU Lifetime Achievement Award-Metzger, Jarrett, YWCA are ATHENA Recipients

By: Angie Rogers-Howell— At its annual Catalyst for Empowering Women Symposium and ATHENA Awards Luncheon, Muncie’s Women in Business Unlimited (WIBU) presented three ATHENA Leadership Awards and one WIBU Lifetime Achievement Award. The ATHENA Leadership Awards are a nationally-recognized award which WIBU has been pleased to present for over fifteen years. From a pool of twenty-three nominees, the ATHENA judges had the unenviable task of choosing the 2016 ATHENA Award Recipients. Juli Metzger, a Ball State University instructor, Coordinator for…

File photo.

Non-Profit November 21, 2016

Cornerstone to Offer Half Price Gift Certificates

By: Jessie Irwin— Support the arts in Downtown Muncie for Small Business Saturday by purchasing class gift certificates from Cornerstone Center for the Arts. Cornerstone will offer $50 class gift certificates for just $25 in celebration of the holiday shopping season beginning on Friday, November 25 through Saturday, November 26. Gift certificates are good towards the fees of any Cornerstone group classes including: dance, visual arts, music, martial arts, theatre, and fitness. These may not be used to pay for…

1530 East 1st Street. Photo provided.

Government November 21, 2016

Muncie Continues Fight Against Blight

By: Dr. Terry Whitt Bailey— Muncie, IN – Muncie officials gathered last week at the site of a blighted property at 1530 East 1st Street, commencing the city’s official launch of Indiana’s Hardest Hit Fund Blight Elimination Program (BEP). Statewide, the program has made a total of $75 million in blight elimination funds available to reduce foreclosures through stabilization of residential property values. Last week’s demolition was the beginning of Muncie’s effort to fight blight with these funds, taken from…

Newly named Muncie Police Department Chief Joe Winkle answers questions at a news conference at City Hall. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Government November 18, 2016

Mayor Dennis Tyler Appoints Joe Winkle as Police Chief for the City of Muncie

MUNCIE, IN – Mayor Dennis Tyler announced the appointment of Joe Winkle as Police Chief for the City of Muncie in a news conference held Friday November 18, 2016. The appointment will take effect upon Joe’s official resignation as current director for the Emergency Communications Center/911 and his appointment of a new director. Until that time, Deputy Police Chief, Mark Vollmar, will oversee day to day operations. Joe is a 34 year police veteran and served as Police Chief from…

Here’s a demonstration of the crass way to hold a fork. Photo by: Nancy Carlson

Carlson November 18, 2016

John Carlson: Rethinking the Whole Cutlery Thing

By: John Carlson— Among the many effects of aging I seem to discover almost daily, one is the way arthritis in your hands affects your ability to properly hold cutlery. Take my spoon (please). Not that long ago, I could easily wield it in a manner that would warm the heart of Miss Manners. And why not? I have been eating for 66 years. But now? Now I have to hold my spoon with the loutish, inelegant grip exemplified by…