Government

By State of Indiana Press Office— INDIANAPOLIS – Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, the Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC) and Indiana’s First Dog Henry are searching for adorable dogs in great locations across the state through the Visit Indiana Cutest Dog Photo Contest. “I encourage all Hoosiers to make memories with your pup just like I do with my dog, Luna Lovegood (AKA Bubby),” Crouch said. “Show off your furry friends enjoying the beauty of Indiana whether that’s at one of our incredible state parks, miles of trails or countless pet-friendly destinations.” A different winner will be selected every week for one year….

By Colby Gray, Program Manager, Delaware County Soil & Water Conservation District— DELAWARE COUNTY, IN—Learn about techniques in land stewardship and conservation practices from farmers who are on the leading edge of innovation at The Regenerative Agriculture Journey: Stories from East Central Indiana and Beyond. Organized by the Soil & Water Conservation Districts of Delaware and Blackford counties, the FREE education day is Aug. 25 at the Delaware County Farm Bureau, 6100 IN-67 N, Muncie, IN 47303. Regenerative agriculture involves adopting research-based conservation practices that promote soil health and biodiversity, while producing nutrient-dense crops profitably. The event runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Attendees will hear…

By Miles Hill, Delaware County Family Recovery Court Program Coordinator— MUNCIE, IN—On Tuesday, August 9, 2022, the Delaware County Family Recovery Court will honor the latest group of program graduates. The graduates will add six to the program’s total graduate count of 16. Delaware County Family Recovery Court was established in July 2019, and has since been involved with over 25 families since then. The court operates under Circuit Court 2 with Judge Kimberly Dowling and Juvenile Magistrate Amanda Yonally presiding. The participants have open Department of Child Services cases where parental substance use was an issue. A multi-disciplinary team…

By Michelle Owen—  MUNCIE, IN—As construction work continues at the site of the former Storer Elementary, builders and future homeowners can begin to make plans. After a unanimous vote at the July 21st Muncie Redevelopment Commission meeting, 22 building lots at the future Storer Estates will be put up for bid to individuals and/or builders. Buyers will not be able to begin construction until the groundwork at the site is complete, but interested parties can secure a prime building site and plan for construction as early as winter. The Storer Estates subdivision will include 34 single family homes, a dry…

By Marni Lemons— Will also launch Indiana 988 phone line for crisis response on Saturday. INDIANAPOLIS–The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction is providing new funding to help build and support projects in Indiana to improve mental health services for Hoosiers. This includes funding appropriated by the Indiana General Assembly in House Enrolled Act 1001, and additional funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act and other sources. DMHA is working with partners in the private sector, the health care system and community and philanthropic organizations to provide grassroots support and funding alongside DMHA’s statewide…

By Michele Owen, Communications Director, City of Muncie— MUNCIE, IN—When the phone rings at City Hall, there’s no telling who’s on the line. It could be a simple question, a profanity-laden tirade, or a grieving widow unsure where to turn. For executive assistant Shareen Wagley and receptionist Lindsay Fink, the protocol is the same – answer the phone and try to help. In the first three weeks of June alone, the mayor’s office received 2,763 phone calls, for a total of 110 hours and 47 minutes on the phone. According to Wagley, about half of those calls are redirected to…

By Michele Owen, Director of Communications, City of Muncie— MUNCIE, IN—On Thursday, June 30th, the zoning board approved a variance for the addition of two cul-de-sacs and 17 additional lots in Copperfield Commons. A project of Partuck Corporation, the Commons has developed 40 building sites near McGalliard and Morrison. 21 homes have already been built and sold on these lots. Developer Richard Case hopes to complete a new recreation area and the cul-de-sacs by 2023. Case has been collaborating with Councilman Aaron Clark, City Engineer Adam Leach, and the Mayor and Deputy Mayor since 2020 to expand the number of lots. The…

By Colby Gray— DELAWARE COUNTY, IN—Rural property owners in Blackford and Delaware counties can more easily start implementing conservation practices on their land with help from a free program offered through the local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). The program is called “First Steps” and involves one-on-one consultation with a local conservation representative. The SWCD representative helps the property owner identify conservation goals for the property by collecting, analyzing, and discussing environmental variables such as soil types, topographical information, and drainage. The resulting plan identifies and maps possible improvements across the landscape, as well as the state and federal…