Articles by Mike Rhodes

The Spherion team celebrates their third year of operation in Muncie, IN

Business September 4, 2015

Spherion Staffing Celebrates 3 years in Muncie

By: Janel Schwartz— Spherion is a locally owned, staffing company serving the talent and job search needs of East Central Indiana. Building on 26 years of industry experience, local owner Janel Schwartz and her team of staffing professionals take great care in matching the right candidate, to the right career opportunity. As of September, 2015 they have placed 449 people in local job positions. These new opportunities include short term, long term, temporary-to-hire, and direct hire positions. The Spherion team specializes…

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WIPB-TV "Be My Neighbor Day."

Entertainment, Non-Profit September 3, 2015

WIPB-TV Be My Neighbor Day Set for September 12

By: Michelle Kinsey— WIPB-TV will have its first Be My Neighbor Day, Saturday, September 12 from 1–4 p.m. at Canan Commons in downtown Muncie. Based on the popular PBS KIDS animated program, “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” and with a nod to the classic “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” this FREE family event will focus on the importance of being a good neighbor. Be My Neighbor Day events include: A neighborhood map guide to visit booths where the Muncie community’s great neighbors “live.” Participate in…

DWNTWN: The Next Muncie. Film is below on this page.

Business, Entertainment, Non-Profit September 3, 2015

WATCH: Muncie Downtown Development Partnership Premieres Film DWNTWN: The Next Muncie

By: Shelley Shekell— Muncie Downtown Development Partnership (MDDP) is premiering its follow-up video to the 2012 hit, DWNTWN: The Original Muncie. The second film, DWNTWN: The Next Muncie, follows three stories: a dancer trying to make a name for herself, a young couple beginning a life together as they move into their first apartment, and the staff of ProjectiOne working hard in their fabrication studio, contributing to the much talked about maker movement. In 2012, the DWNTWN Muncie campaign began as…

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…

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…