Articles by Mike Rhodes

Photo provided

Education May 3, 2024

West View’s Kelly Agnew Receives Armstrong Teacher Educator Award

By Andy Klotz— MUNCIE, IN– West View Elementary School’s Kelly Agnew has been named an Indiana University Armstrong Teacher Educator Award winner, one of only 12 recipients throughout the state. The 4thgrade teacher will work with IU faculty and undergraduates over the next year to help aspiring educators hone their skills and prepare them for a classroom of their own. “This is an unexpected honor and I’m excited to be part of this accomplished cohort of teachers,” she said. “It’s…

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Visitors experience a presentation at the Charles W. Brown planetarium on the campus of Ball State University. Photo provided by BSU

Business May 2, 2024

Charles W. Brown Planetarium May-July 2024 Free Show Schedule

By Planetarium staff— All planetarium programs are free of charge, cash donations are accepted at the door. No tickets or reservations are required for public planetarium shows. www.bsu.edu/planetarium May – June Our Night Sky Fridays: May 17, & June 14, 21 at 5 p.m. People often peer into the darkness of the night sky and wonder, “what is out there?” Seemingly dark regions of space are actually filled with nebulae, star clusters, and other galaxies. Come learn how to navigate…

Aerial photo of Praire Creek Reservoir by Michael Wolfe

Government May 2, 2024

City of Muncie Receives Over $266,000 to Expand Prairie Creek Trail

By Michele Owen— MUNCIE, IN—On Tuesday, April 30, the City of Muncie received notice of a $266,000 grant award from Indiana Trails Program to complete the third phase of trail expansions at Prairie Creek. This grant will allow the City and its partners to continue to fill the vision of a trail connecting the Cardinal Greenway to the North Shore Campground as detailed in the 2007 Prairie Creek Master Plan. The first two phases were completed in 2013 and 2016,…

Photo by Matt Howell

Non-Profit May 1, 2024

Empowering Land Banks: How They Can Help Cities Tackle Blight and Save Taxpayers Money

By Ro Selvey— MUNCIE, IN—Land banks are nonprofit organizations that play a vital role in revitalizing communities by helping to transform vacant and abandoned properties into vibrant assets. While in many cases land banks operate independently, cities can significantly enhance their impact by providing financial support. In 2017, the city of Muncie took a proactive step by establishing an ordinance supporting the creation of a land bank, thanks to the support of the Muncie City Council. This move demonstrates the…

The current state of construction of the crisis center as photographed on May 1, 2024. Photo by Mike Rhodes

Business, Government May 1, 2024

Meridian Health Services to Provide Staff and Programming for Muncie Crisis Center

By Office of the Mayor, IU Health, and Meridian Health Services— MUNCIE, IN—The Muncie Crisis Center, which is currently in construction on the southwest side of town, will provide mental health and addiction services to individuals in crisis. Conceptually developed by a multi-disciplinary community team, the center is intended to provide a continuum of services for those in need including assessments for outpatient services and emergency care as needed, while reducing strain on the Emergency Room and Police Department. IU…

Cornerstone Center for the Arts is located at 520 E. Washington Street in Muncie. Photo by Mike Rhodes

Non-Profit April 30, 2024

May is National Historic Preservation Month, Help Preserve Cornerstone Center for the Arts

By Cornerstone board of directors— MUNCIE, IN—2024 is off to a great start for Cornerstone Center for the Arts. We began the year by announcing that CCA successfully raised $22,000 at the end of last year, during our December fundraiser. We also secured during the first quarter $50,000 in grant funding alone. The community’s generous support has put us on the right track. However, we know our work is not over. In honor of May being National Historic Preservation Month,…

Boyce is locally owned and operated. Pictured above is the Boyce ownership group. L:R—Casey Stanley, President; Jason Harrington, CEO; Ron Fauquher, Board Member; and Jay Moorman, Chief Customer Officer.

Business April 30, 2024

Boyce Systems Marks Milestone with 150 Indiana Schools Adopting Cloud-Based ERP

By Casey Stanley— MUNCIE, IN— Boyce, a leading provider of cloud-based financial solutions, announced today that more than 150 Indiana public school systems have implemented its Boyce Cloud software. This marks a significant step in enhancing financial management within educational institutions through innovative technology. This year alone, two of Indiana’s top 20 largest school districts are in the process of implementing Boyce Cloud, underscoring its commitment to top-tier educational finance optimization. Boyce expects both customers to convert to the cloud-based…

LaShanta Vaughn. Photo provided.

Business April 30, 2024

Visit Muncie Announces LaShanta Vaughn as Executive Director

By Visit Muncie, Inc.— MUNCIE, IN—The Board of Directors of Visit Muncie, Incorporated, formerly and more widely known as The Muncie Visitors Bureau, proudly announces the hiring of LaShanta Vaughn as its Executive Director.  Vaughn stepped into the role April 22. For the last five years, she held positions of Sales Manager and then Director of Sales at the Horizon Convention Center in Muncie.  “We could not be happier to have LaShanta leading our county’s tourism efforts,” said Jarod Walls,…

Dan Wolfert, new Program Officer at Ball Brothers Foundation.

Non-Profit April 29, 2024

Ball Brothers Foundation Welcomes New Program Officer Dan Wolfert

By Jud Fisher— MUNCIE, IN— Ball Brothers Foundation is pleased to announce that Dan Wolfert will join the Foundation’s team as a new Program Officer. His role with the foundation begins June 3. “We are excited to welcome Dan to the Ball Brothers Foundation team,” said Jud Fisher, the foundation’s president and chief executive officer. “Dan’s hiring concluded a national search of highly qualified candidates. We were impressed by his understanding of the area in which we operate, his local…

Kia of Muncie dealership located at 6732 W Hometown Blvd in Muncie. Photo provided

Business April 29, 2024

Kia of Muncie Honored as Exclusive Member of Kia America’s President’s Club

Local Dealer Chris Hutton Recognized for Exceptional Customer Service and Sales Success  By John Weis— MUNCIE, IN — Chris Hutton and his dealership, Kia of Muncie, have been named by Kia America as one of only 50 dealerships in the United States to earn a spot in the brand’s prestigious 2023 President’s Club. Selected from the nationwide network of nearly 800 retailers, the Kia President’s Club recognizes dealers that have achieved the highest overall sales volume and provided outstanding customer…