Business

By: Mike Rhodes— Did you know that one of Indiana’s most prestigious and renowned camera stores is located in downtown Muncie? Jacks Camera Shop is located at 300 E. Main Street, and has an extensive line of cameras, flash units, camera accessories, picture frames, lighting gear, camera bags, tripods/mounts, DSLR/smartphone microphones, SD cards, used photo equipment and more. Take a look at some of their used equipment and pricing in the photos below. Any of the products below would make great gifts or stocking stuffers. Plus, they have the most knowledgable, friendly photo staff you’ll find anywhere! Today’s digital cameras are light-years away from the…

By: Mike Rhodes— If you are looking for a destination restaurant, instead of heading south to Indy, why not try going a few miles north instead? Try heading to Grains & Grill in Fairmount, IN. They have a well deserved reputation for having very good food. Joanie and Barry Howard are the owners. Kevin Grider is the chef, and he has a knack for coming up with extremely unique touches and flavor combinations that make Grains & Grill a highly desireable destination restaurant. “I’ve been to Grains & Grill several times getting many different things on the menu and there hasn’t…

MUNCIE, Ind. — RACER Trust has sold approximately 1.2 acres of a 66.5-acre industrial property in Muncie to M&M Bus Co., Inc., a local school bus contractor that has leased the paved lot for bus parking since 1988. The lot is located at the intersection of South Elliott and West 7th streets, directly east of the main portion of the RACER Trust property. In January 2016, RACER Trust completed the sale of approximately six acres on the south side of West 8th Street, immediately south of the main property, to Ross Community Center. “M&M Bus has long been a part of the Muncie…

Muncie, IN– The accounting firm of Estep-Doctor & Company has announced the hiring of Michelle Skeen, CPA, and Jacob Eiler to their professional staff.  Skeen has over 27 years of private and public accounting experience, plus tax management roles with CNO Financial, Marsh, and other Indiana organizations.  She will manage the firm’s Anderson office. Jacob Eiler is a staff accountant in the Muncie office.  Eiler held tax and staff accounting positions in Indianapolis prior to joining Estep-Doctor & Company.  Eiler has passed the CPA examination and will receive his certification in December 2017. Established in 1979, Estep-Doctor & Company employs 11…

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 help each loan recipient to live a better life. Customers can contact or meet with Kayla at the Muncie Main…

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. Young aims to create 100 “bark bags” for families who adopt rescue animals. The bags will include treats, toys, and…

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 to Manager of Employer Engagement. Howard will manage ASG, Inc. employer engagement initiatives that align real-time employer-demand data with existing…

By: Jamie Faulkner— ALBANY, IN – MutualBank announces the promotion of Melissa Morris to Financial Center Manager and Administrative Officer. Melissa has been part of the MutualBank team more than 17 years, beginning as a teller, and was recently promoted from her role as Service Manager. In her new role, she will support the growth of the financial center and the development of existing and new bank relationships, whether lending, investment-related or otherwise. Melissa is an Albany native and a 2002 graduate from Ball State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. Active in her community, she is a…

Downtown Muncie’s Newest Campaign Says ‘Thank You’ to Those Who Live, Work, and Play Here MUNCIE, Ind. – Meet the Originals is the latest campaign from DWNTWN Muncie and Muncie Downtown Development Partnership (MDDP). The campaign aims to instill pride in those who live, work, and play in the area. Every day, unique and diverse people, ‘Originals,’ contribute to the success of the area by creating a special culture and a welcoming environment. They do this by supporting one another, whether that be through personal relationships or supporting local businesses to help the area thrive. “I think it is so important…