Sharon McShurley at Muncie Free Press - Delaware County Indiana | News and Information
Congressman Luke Messer hears two things; Balance the budget, Don't ban our guns
By Rick Yencer
Former Mayor Sharon McShurley listens to Congressman Luke Messer.
MUNCIE, IN - Coffee with new Congressman Luke Messer turned out to be a partisan affair with predictable positions on balancing the federal budget and gun control.
Messer, a Republican, stopped by Bruner's, Wick's Pies in Winchester and a coffee shop in New Castle, as part of finding his constituency and what's on their minds.
In two weeks, Messer has criticized President Barack Obama for seeking an assault weapons ban, assailed Congress for raising taxes, supported school choice, and blamed outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the State Department for making mistakes that led to the attacks in Benghazi and resulted in the deaths of four State Department workers.
On Thursday, the crowd was decidedly partisan with former Mayor Sharon McShurley, Will Statom, local Republican Party chairman, Delaware County commissioner Sherry Riggin, Delaware County Council member Scott Alexander and other party loyalists like Tom Bennington, Pete Drumm, Matt Wagley and Frank Gilkinson.
Trees are coming down along White River
Army Corps of Engineers wants action to protect against flooding
By Rick Yencer
MUNCIE, IN - The white Xs on those trees along White River near Tuhey Pool mark death for those and other vegetation to protect the river levee and prevent flooding to nearby property and people.
It was ironic that the Army Corps of Engineers decided during last summer's drought to inspect the 75 year old levee for maintenance and repair after former Mayor Sharon McShurley and her Muncie Sanitary District boss Tom Bennington did little to comply with a 2009 inspection.
Now Muncie faces the federal government no longer certifying the levee as operational which would make it difficult and impossible for property owners to get flood insurance. The federal government has been working with the sanitary district in recent months to get trees removed and flood equipment fixed to improve the levee's condition and protect against erosion and flooding.
Last summer, the district hired Indianapolis engineers DLZ to handle recertifying the levee at an expense not to exceed $350,000. That cost to out of town engineers does not include the hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of work facing city property owners and utility customers.
Indiana Republican convention projects money and power
By Rick Yencer
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - That big Harley Davidson that Gov. Mitch Daniels rode in and the bright red pickup that Republican gubernatorial hopeful Mike Pence drove illustrated the power and money at the Indiana Republican Convention on Saturday.
Republicans bring the circus to BSU
By Rick Yencer
MUNCIE, IN Mike Thomas was standing like a guardian outside the Republican 6th Congressional debate Tuesday night at Ball State University.
Thomas, a BSU graduate, was handing out flyers and preaching that Ron Paul, a Republican congressman and so called father of the Tea Party, would win the party nomination for president that is all but locked up by billionaire and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.
Tyler partners with downtown Muncie
By Rick Yencer
MUNCIE, IN - Mayor Dennis Tyler partnered with downtown development on Wednesday, restoring funding just in time for Muncie Gras on Saturday.
Muncie Downtown Development is back in business under the helm of Vicki Veach, former Muncie Visitors Bureau director who brought the Academy of Model Aeronautics and its multi-million dollar membership to town.
Burt Whiteley Fund restored
By Rick Yencer
MUNCIE, IN - The Burt Whiteley Fund was established to beautify parks and provide playground equipment at a time Muncie only had McCulloch, Heekin and a new Tuhey Pool.
20th Century Flats
By Rick Yencer
MUNCIE, IN - Scot Boyce showed off his latest work in downtown Muncie on Wednesday, spending about $500,000 to restore the 20th Century Flats that had been a victim of fire and neglect.
That 911 deal
By Rick Yencer
MUNCIE, IN - Imagine Mayor Dennis Tyler's surprise when he found a signed 911 agreement on his desk left by outgoing Mayor Sharon McShurley.
McShurley apparently changed her mind and changed the agreement signed by Delaware County Commissioners last week, continuing the farce of a lawsuit and mediation over running 911 emergency communications.
Tyler is 29th Muncie mayor
By Rick Yencer
MUNCIE, IN - Mayor Dennis Tyler was anxious, eager and confident as he became Muncie's 29th mayor in front of more than 300 people on New Year's Day.
"We will be a people's administration," said Tyler, standing besides his wife, Vickie.
Our top story tonight
By Rick Yencer
MUNCIE, IN - The top story of the year in Muncie is about tragedy and loss felt by a wife and three young children.
There's no question that the death of Scott Davis, 40, trying to fight the fire at Tabernacle of Praise on June 15 impacted more people, besides his wife, Raeanne, and three children, Jake, Emma and Myron, more than any other story in Muncie 2011.
