Government

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, and included 2.6 miles of ADA accessible trail. Now, the trail expansion will connect the trail from the northern end…

By Keith Roysdon— DELAWARE COUNTY, IN– Some of the most-needed road paving jobs in Delaware County are on tap for 2024. The roads will be repaved thanks to a $1.5 million Community Crossings grant from the state of Indiana. “We were awarded everything we asked for. This really will help stretch our local paving dollars,” said Angela Moyer, project director of Delaware County’s Engineering Department. “We’re very appreciative.” In addition to roads paved with grant funding, Delaware County also has plans to pave an additional 60 lane miles and chip/seal 130 lane miles of road. In the past eight years Delaware…

By Michele Owen— MUNCIE, IN—On Thursday, the City of Muncie announced the appointment of Joshua Taulbee as the new director of Muncie Animal Care and Services (MACS). Taulbee is a lifelong resident of Muncie, graduated from Ball State in 2015, and has worked for Delaware County for the last 7 years. He serves in multiple board positions, and has a strong background in budget and project management. “I’m passionate about serving my community,” commented Taulbee. His primary goals include building a comprehensive understanding of each role within MACS, developing stronger working relationships with other shelters and animal rescues within the…

April is child abuse prevention month By Eric M. Hoffman, Prosecuting Attorney— MUNCIE, IN—In his New York Times best seller, A Child Called It, author Dave Peltzer said that “childhood should be carefree, playing in the sun; not living a nightmare in the darkness of the soul.”Unfortunately, we know all too well that doesn’t always happen. A report issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services noted that in the Federal Fiscal Year 2022 in the United States, approximately 559,000 children became victims of child abuse. This is a national rate of 7.7 victims per 1,000 children in…

By Amanda Schreiber, Press Secretary— STATEHOUSE—Delaware County communities can roll forward with road and bridge projects thanks to a recent boost in state funding supported by State Reps. J.D. Prescott (R-Union City) and Elizabeth Rowray (R-Yorktown). A total of 252 communities across the state will receive over $207 million through Indiana’s Community Crossings Matching Grant Program. Funds can be used for road and bridge preservation, road reconstruction, intersection improvements and other items. “Quality roads and bridges are critical to keeping our residents, businesses and economy moving forward,” Prescott said. “We can now give the green light on much-needed maintenance and…

By Indiana Department of Homeland Security Press Office— INDIANAPOLIS—In just a matter of days, people across the state will be pausing to take a look at the sky to witness the Total Solar Eclipse. It truly is a once-in-a-lifetime event. On average, a total solar eclipse occurs on a given spot on the planet only once about every 375 years. Portions of Indiana will not be in the path of totality for a total solar eclipse again until 2099. Indiana is within a one-day drive from 70 percent of the country’s population, making the Hoosier state a target destination. Hundreds of…

Sites will connect residents with recovery options By IDHS Office of Public Affairs— INDIANAPOLIS—The Indiana Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Small Business Administration will co-host Disaster Loan Outreach Centers for residents who were impacted by the March 14 tornadoes in Delaware and Randolph counties. A Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) is a specific location where residents who suffered damage from the storm can ask questions related to their recovery and receive one-on-one assistance connecting with relevant resources. Locations have been established in Selma in Delaware County and Winchester in Randolph County, where much of the tornado damage occurred….