Business

First Merchants Corp Announces 32 Percent Increase in 1st Quarter Earnings

By: Clare Leonard— Muncie, IN—First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ – FRME) has reported first quarter 2018 net income of $36.7 million, an increase of 58 percent, compared to $23.2 million during the same period in 2017. Earnings per share for the period totaled $.74 per share, an increase of 32 percent, compared to the first quarter of 2017 result of $.56 per share. The increase in net income was driven by several factors including strong core banking performance, two acquisitions that…

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Beasley & Gilkison: Understanding Paternity Concepts

By: Benjamin J. Freeman, Attorney at Law—       Muncie, IN—In Indiana, a child born to married parents is, by law, the child of both the mother and the father. However, when a child is born to unmarried parents, paternity, the identity of the child’s father, may be in doubt. Paternity law answers the questions of determining the father of a child, how unmarried parents will raise a child, custody, child support and parenting time. The mother of a…


Fresh Thyme to Celebrate Muncie Store Grand Opening on May 17th

Specialty Grocer Invites Local Residents to Participate in 4 Days of Giveaways, Live Music and More! By: Anthony Filomena— Downers Grove, IL – Fresh Thyme Farmers Market®, a growing Midwest specialty grocer focused on healthy, organic products and groceries, announced today the company’s 14th Indiana store will open on Thursday, May 17 at 7:00 a.m. in Muncie, IN – 505 W. McGalliard Road. The first 250 shoppers (aged 18 and older) in line on Grand Opening morning will receive a free bag of…


AAF ECI Holds 2018 American Advertising Awards

By: The American Advertising Federation of East Central Indiana— Muncie, IN—The American Advertising Federation of East Central Indiana (AAF ECI) held its annual awards gala, the American Advertising Awards (ADDYs), on March 2, 2018. The gala honored advertising and creative excellence and was held at the Horizon Convention Center in Muncie, Ind. (See category winners below.) This year’s entries included local and regional television spots, as well as digital and print entries created in 2017 by advertising agencies, businesses, individuals and…


Coldwell Banker Lunsford Announces 2017 Sales Award Recipients

By: April Lemen— Muncie, IN – Mike Lunsford, President and Susan Miller, VP of Sales, from Coldwell Banker Lunsford awarded the following agents with national designations: Coldwell Banker Lunsford as an office was awarded the International President’s Circle Office, one of the highest honors given to Coldwell Banker® Offices. Steve Slavin & Ryan Kramer led the local market in sales and units. Steve Slavin, who sold over $20M in total volume & Ryan Kramer, who sold 166 total units, both…


Jud Construction Celebrating 50 Years

By: Conny Knight— Muncie, IN—Jud Construction is celebrating 50 years in business serving East-Central Indiana.  Jud Motsenbocker started the construction company in Muncie on April 5, 1968 and enjoys driving down the streets of his hometown and seeing houses and offices that he has built or remodeled.  The company located at 5105 W. Bradburn Drive is now into its second generation as Jud’s son, Mike Motsenbocker, purchased the company from his father in 2006. Jud fondly recalls that he was…


Gordy Fine Art & Framing To Introduce Rosie Sampley At First Thursday

By: Carl Schafer— Muncie, IN—Gordy Fine Art & Framing will introduce Rosie Sampley as the newest member of our team, Thursday April 5, 5 – 8 pm.    Barbara and Carl Schafer are pleased to showcase our strong experienced team at Gordy Fine Art & Framing Company who work directly with customers to meet a variety of framing needs. The newest member to the team is Rosie Sampley.  Many will remember Rosie as the owner from 1996 until 2013 of Rosie’s…


The Innovation Connector: Part Of An Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, IN—In February of 2012, author Victor Hwang published a book titled: The Rainforest: The Secret to Building the Next Silicon Valley. The book relates innovation in business and entrepreneurship to random propagations of life in the rainforest. It also happens to be one of Ted Baker’s favorite books. Ted is the executive director of the Innovation Connector in Muncie. “If you fly over a rainforest, pretty much all you see is the tops of the trees,” said Ted….


Whitinger Strategic Services Earns Multiple Awards for Creative Excellence

By: Sheena Peters— Muncie, IN—Whitinger Strategic Services’ design work was recognized at the 2018 East Central Indiana American Advertising Awards Ceremony. The company was honored with three Gold Addy Awards and one Silver Addy. Strategic Services was well represented in multiple categories this year. The first Addy Award of the evening was presented to Whitinger Strategic in the category Sales & Marketing Promotion for their work for Kiddo Keepsakes. In the fall of 2017, WSS completed a full identity and branding…


Horizon Convention Center Hosts 2018 FCCLA State Conference

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, IN— The  Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)  2018 State Leadership Conference was held at the Horizon Convention Center on March 8-10 in downtown Muncie. Over 1,000 student members from across Indiana attended the conference. Family, Career and Community Leaders of America is a non-profit national career and technical student organization for young men and women in Family and Consumer Sciences education in public and private school systems. The FCCLA organization helps students explore…