Articles by Mike Rhodes

2013 Day of Action. Photo provided.

Non-Profit September 3, 2015

United Way Day of Action—Being a Nonprofit for Your Nonprofit

By: Kelsey Crist— Day of Action is a day-long event where volunteers from around Delaware County come together to serve partnering nonprofits. This day is a chance for people to give back to the community through volunteerism. Work at the agencies helps the volunteers better understand community needs, and the local not-for-profits that help fulfill them. “It takes the whole community working together to achieve greatness. Day of Action is one big day of celebrating the community pulling together. The…

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Joe Mumpower and his Scarlet Macaw are frequent entertainers at Starbucks.

Entertainment September 3, 2015

Joe Mumpower’s Intriguing Bird Entertains Muncie Shoppers

By: Mike Rhodes— Meet Joe Mumpower and his bird, “Polly.” (If you haven’t already.) Joe and his unusual bird are very popular around some Muncie establishments. If you’ve ever been to Starbucks on S. Tillotson Ave, Rural King, the Muncie Mission or a number of variety stores around Muncie, you may have seen Joe Mumpower and his bird, “Polly.” Polly, a male bird, is a Scarlet Macaw. Joe is retired from Ball State, having been a residence hall director for 30 years…

An audio engineer operating a digital audio mixing board is shown in this provided photo.

Education, Entertainment September 2, 2015

FREE Central Indiana Audio Student Workshop to be Held at Ball State on Sept. 12

By: Gail Werner— The Central Indiana section of the Audio Engineering Society will host its fourth annual Central Indiana Audio Student Workshop on Sept. 12 at Ball State’s Sursa Hall. The event is free. The workshop will let audio students and professionals network and improve their skills through interactive demonstrations, lectures and panel discussions. Special emphasis will be given to career opportunities and essential skills that students and professionals need to succeed in the 21st century. Keynoting the event will…

“MutualBank’s 125th Anniversary Celebration included the BetterLife Awards Celebration where MutualBank honored the top 125 finalists for the BetterLife Award. The top 17 winners received money to designate to a non-profit of their choice.

Business September 1, 2015

ICBA Announces MutualBank as Top 10 Winner for Community Bank Marketing Campaign

Washington, D.C. (Sept. 1, 2015)— The Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA)  announced the winners of its Marketing Contest, sponsored by Marquis, which highlights the entries judged top 10 for the nation’s best community bank marketing campaigns. MutualBank was featured on this list. “ICBA’s Marketing Contest highlights the stellar creative campaigns that community banks build to strategically promote their products and services,” ICBA Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Chris Lorence said. “Effective marketing and communications reinforce their highly…

Ivy Tech Campus on Cowan Road, Muncie

Education September 1, 2015

Ivy Tech Community College to Offer Express Enrollment Registration Events in Muncie

By: Shawn Carmichael— Ivy Tech Community College East Central region will be offering Express Enrollment events every Thursday in September at their Muncie Cowan Road location, in the Express Enrollment Center. Express Enrollment offers prospective students a “one-stop” experience in the enrollment process and does not require an appointment. Muncie Campus Express Enrollment Center September 3, 10, 17, and 24 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. 4301 South Cowan Road During the events, students will work alongside staff who will assist…

Photo by: Project Leadership

Misc, Non-Profit August 30, 2015

Ice League Expanding to Include Girls Next Season

By: Kaye Harrell— An innovative sports league that leverages students’ love of sports while promoting stellar academics, is expanding in its second season to include middle school girls. The Inner City Educational (ICE) League is operated by Project Leadership with the Ball Brothers Foundation as the League’s founding partner. The League completed its first baskeball season in March 2015 and is designed to motivate participants to be strong student athletes as they move toward high school and post-secondary educations. The…

Scott Truex, Photo provided.

Business, Non-Profit August 28, 2015

Cintas Initiative Appoints Scott Truex as Director of Facility and Program Development

By: John Fallon, PhD— Muncie’s effort to revitalize and repurpose the former Cintas building received an important boost this week.  John Fallon, Executive Director of Sustainable Muncie Corporation, announced the appointment of Scott Truex as the organization’s Director of Facility and Program Development. Truex, a faculty member in Ball State University’s Department of Urban Planning, has extensive experience in working with communities throughout Indiana to revitalize themselves and develop their potential. Truex also serves as Co-Director of the Sustainable Communities…

Jim Kissling Co-President of AutoFarm Group, LLC is pictured in the Middletown showroom. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Business August 27, 2015

AutoFarm McCrocklin Ford Moving to Daleville

By: Tammy Rimer— The Daleville Planning and Zoning Board and the Daleville Town Council approved the request to rezone 11.3 acres from residential to commercial use for the new AutoFarm Ford Dealership. The new AutoFarm Ford dealership will be adjacent to the existing Sam Pierce Chevrolet dealership. In 2014 the AutoFarm Group formed a partnership with the McCrocklin Ford & Mobility Dealership creating AutoFarm McCrocklin Ford. The goal of this union was to provide significant expansion opportunities for the dealership….

Child and mother at a food pantry. File photo.

Non-Profit August 26, 2015

Second Harvest Food Bank to Observe “Hunger Action Month” in September

By: Karen McTague— Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana, a member of the Feeding America® nationwide network of food banks, will observe Hunger Action MonthTM – a nationwide initiative designed to mobilize the public to take action on the issue of hunger and join the movement to help end hunger. Hunger advocates from East Central Indiana and across the country are working together this September to shine a light on the issue of hunger and the 1 in…

Artist rendering. Firm plans are still in the works.

Business, Non-Profit August 25, 2015

Cintas Project Board of Directors Announced

By: John Fallon PhD— One of Muncie’s newest nonprofit organizations has appointed a variety of community leaders to its Board of Directors. Sustainable Muncie Corporation announced this week that its 13-member governing group is complete. Michael Wolfe, Vice President and CTO at Ontario Systems, is the Board President and other officers include Vice President Todd Donati, Treasurer Sherri Contos and Secretary Kirsten Smith. Donati is the Executive Director of the Muncie Redevelopment Commission, Contos is the Executive Director of the Muncie…