Articles by Mike Rhodes

Listen: MCS Superintendent Steve Baule Clarifies Inaccurate Reports About Compensation

MCS Superintendent Steve Baule was interviewed live by WLBC’s Steve Lindell this morning. You can listen to the entire interview below. Steve Baule discusses the MCS financial situation, sale of the Administration Building to Ball State, information about the Muncie Fieldhouse, and clarifies recent inaccurate news reports about staff and administrative compensation. Hear Steve Baule in his own words.   Recent Positive Stories About Muncie Community Schools You Can Find On Muncie Journal.com Muncie Central Senior Attends Youth Leadership Program with the FBI…

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John Carlson: Gramps’ Rifle Brings a Fine Old Guy to Mind

By: John Carlson— My wife recently helped my sister clean out my father’s house up near Cleveland. In doing so, at my request, she also brought me my Grandpa Smith’s old rifle, which had been stored in Dad’s gun cabinet for years. In asking Nan to do this, I was asking a lot, because she hates guns. Nevertheless, I had spent countless boyhood hours coveting that firearm back when it was tucked away in my grandfather’s basement, and still wanted…


Cornerstone’s Fall Twelve Week Classes Announced

By: Jesse Irwin— Cornerstone Center for the Arts will offer a series of classes this fall for youth, families and adults in a wide variety of areas. The Fall Twelve Week Class Session begins the week of September 12 and continues through December 10. Cornerstone’s class fees are affordable, one-time payments that cover the full twelve weeks of class. Areas of interest include: visual arts, martial arts, theatre, dance, fitness, creative writing, and music. Children and family classes include: Early…


Muncie Makers Market Celebrates National Farmers Market Week

By: Miss Moth Danner— Muncie, IN—National Farmers Market Week is August 7-13, 2016. In celebration, the Muncie Makers Market is joining the Old West End Neighborhood Association (OWENA) for a day of fun on Saturday, August 13th. From 8am-1pm, the OWENA will bring their annual Rummage Bazaar to Downtown Muncie, with antiques, rummage of all sorts, and hot food aplenty. Also starting at 8am, and running all day to 7pm, visitors with have the opportunity to stock up on fresh…


MCS Transition Summer School Program Improves Elementary Retention Rates

By: Ana Pichardo— Muncie, IN— When MCS noticed an upward trend in the number of kindergarten and first grade children being retained over a four year period, the district saw a critical need to implement a Transition Summer School program. During the spring of 2016, elementary principals, Eric Grim and Kara Miller, began planning for the three week program housed at South View Elementary School. The program included children from each elementary school. Of the 115 children that were recommended, 66…


Sustainable Muncie Corp. Names Full-time Executive Director

By: Michael Wolfe— Muncie, IN—Sustainable Muncie Corp. has hired Ashlee Bane as its Executive Director. Bane will take on the full­-time role of Executive Director for the organization, which is working to complete the initial buildout and launch of Madjax Muncie Maker Force at the corner of Madison and Jackson streets on the near east side of downtown Muncie. Bane was formerly the Executive Director at the YMCA and is a downtown resident herself. Bane states, “The projects in place,…


Universal Breakfast Program is Piloted Within the Muncie Community Schools

By: Ana Pichardo— Muncie, IN—In an effort to encourage students to eat breakfast, MCS in collaboration with Chartwells, is piloting a Universal Breakfast program at Grissom, Longfellow and Sutton Elementary Schools and Southside Middle School. The first day saw 400 students participating with 689 during the second day. This nearly 60% increase is a good indicator that the breakfast program will be a success. At the other eight schools, the number of students eating breakfast was 718. Stephanie Bond, Resident…


BY5 Offers Free “Dive In” Swim Event at Tuhey Pool on August 9th

By: Carrie Bale— Muncie, IN –Families, children and community members are invited to come to a “Dive In” FREE swim event to show your support for increase access to High Quality Pre-K opportunities for more children in Delaware County and in Indiana. Come join us for FREE at Tuhey pool on August 9, 2016 from  4 – 8pm.  Free novelty ice cream will be available from Baskin Robbins while supplies last.  BY5, as the leading voice for raising awareness about…


The Ducks Are Back in Town

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, IN—So, there you are, driving down the road minding your own business. Being a good driver, you’re watching your speed and not exceeding the posted 35mph speed limit. Suddenly, your peripheral vision alerts you to a flash of something big, bright and intensely yellow. You immediately apply your brakes and slow way down in an attempt to better view one of Muncie’s most unusual seasonal sights… A giant inflatable duck on the side of the road. The Muncie Journal and WLBC’s…


John Carlson: Young Chefs Learn Cooking and More

By: John Carlson— MUNCIE, IN – Cracking eggs and laughing nervously, three girls crowded around a stainless steel bowl in the tight confines of Inside Out’s Community Kitchen, using the cup-like halves of broken shells to separate the yellow yolks from the syrupy whites. Nearby, other youngsters hacked aromatic strips of crisply fried bacon into bits. Just across the gleaming food-prep table, meanwhile, other kids expertly scooped bright green chunks of fresh avocado into a bowl, and chopped luscious ripe…