City searching for a baseball team
Also, Duke celebrates Lineworker Appreciation Day; Markland to close April 23; Marion students to visit IU Kokomo
The City of Kokomo is accepting proposals for the lease and/or management of Kokomo Municipal Stadium, a premier downtown venue built for baseball and community entertainment. The City invites qualified organizations to submit proposals to bring a full-time baseball team—professional, collegiate, or amateur—to Kokomo, with a focus on summer collegiate wooden bat leagues.
Mayor Tyler Moore commented on the announcement, stating, "We are excited to welcome proposals from baseball teams that share our vision for Kokomo Municipal Stadium. This is a unique opportunity to enhance our community's engagement with both sports and entertainment, and we look forward to seeing innovative ideas that will bring vibrancy and excitement to Kokomo."
Two types of proposals are being considered:
Baseball Use Only – For a team to operate and play full-time in Kokomo Municipal Stadium.
Comprehensive Use – For a team to operate and play full-time, and also manage all non-baseball events, programming, and overall stadium operations.
The City is especially interested in proposals that emphasize local engagement and community value, including:
Full-time summer baseball programming.
Partnerships with local schools, universities, and youth athletic organizations.
Concessions, catering, and merchandising services.
A variety of non-baseball events such as concerts, movie nights, and community competitions.
The Request for Proposals (RFP) is official as of April 16, 2025. Proposals must be submitted by May 21, 2025, at 10 a.m. The City will consider all proposals and make its selection by June 11, 2025. An approval recommendation will be made by June 18, 2025, and contract finalization is expected to be complete by July 31, 2025.
Interested parties must submit one original signed proposal, five copies, and a digital version on a thumb drive in a sealed package clearly marked:
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
CITY OF KOKOMO BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY
KOKOMO MUNICIPAL STADIUM LEASE/USE.
All proposals will be opened publicly during the regular Board of Works and Public Safety meeting on May 21, 2025, at 10 a.m.
For additional information or questions regarding the RFP, please contact Torrey Roe, Director of Kokomo Parks & Recreation, at troe@cityofkokomo.org. Answers to submitted questions will be made publicly available on the City’s website.
A copy of the RFP is available on the City’s website at the following link:
https://www.cityofkokomo.org/departments/development/kokomo_municipal_stadium_rfp.php
The Guardians of the Grid: Duke Energy celebrates National Lineworker Appreciation Day
On April 18, Duke Energy celebrates National Lineworker Appreciation Day – a day to recognize the service, commitment, and sacrifices of lineworkers; team members who are critical to ensuring customers have access to safe and reliable electricity.
Lineworkers provide an invaluable service to communities. Among the first to respond after storms to help ensure public safety, they frequently work in challenging conditions including extreme weather and heights to restore power and keep the lights on.
“Our customers live and work in some of the most vibrant, fastest-growing areas of the country,” said Scott Batson, senior vice president and chief power grid officer. “Duke Energy can efficiently meet current and future energy needs in large part due to our trusted line teams’ commitment to safety and excellence, and we value their work immensely.”
Lineworkers support the growth of industries and businesses in Duke Energy’s service areas in Indiana by helping build and expand power infrastructure. Line technicians install new power lines, transformers, and other equipment to reliably accommodate growth. This work is increasingly important as communities continue to grow and new and existing businesses expand.
In Indiana, lineworkers recently restored power to nearly 100,000 customers affected by storms and flooding during the first week of April.
“It’s a rewarding job and a purposeful job when you can get the lights back on for customers,” said Chase Nickell, journeyman lineworker for Duke Energy Indiana. “My kids don’t always want me to leave, but when people are out of power, they understand, and they are proud of their dad.”
In total, more than 10,000 Duke Energy and contract lineworkers, including substation and relay technicians, make up Duke Energy’s lineworker team in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest. Substation technicians manage energy distribution at substations, while relay technicians test electrical equipment to ensure reliable power distribution.
Since 2020, the Duke Energy Foundation has committed more than $3.3 million in grant funding to support lineworker programs and participants across its service territories.
The demand for lineworkers continues to grow as Duke Energy engages in more grid and infrastructure improvement projects. The company works with and recruits from 22 community college lineworker training programs throughout its service areas.
Markland to close April 23
Markland Avenue will be closed beginning Wednesday April 23, 2025, until Saturday April 26, 2025, between Berkley Road and Dixon Road for milling, repaving, and guard rail installation as part of the previous culvert replacement project.
If you have any questions regarding the project, please call Don Cree at 765-456-7468 or dcree@cityofkokomo.org .
Marion students to visit IU Kokomo
Middle school students from Marion will get an inside look at college life, at Indiana University Kokomo’s free Ignite Your Future camp June 9-13.
Brandi Keith, adjunct professor of sociology and student success, said incoming sixth and seventh graders from the Marion Community Schools will participate in on campus activities June 9-12, followed by a field trip in their community on June 13. Their goal is for students to start thinking about college early, so they can take the classes they need in high school to be prepared.
“For many of them, college is not on their radar,” she said. “We’re hoping to plant that seed so when they do start thinking about it, it’s not completely out of the realm of possibility for them. They are going to see what college is like, how to get there, and career paths available.”
While it is open to all Marion middle schoolers, the camp is especially focused on welcoming and supporting students who may be the first in their family to go to college, who may qualify for the 21st Century Scholars program, or who come from groups that haven’t always had equal access to higher education.
Marion will provide bus transportation for students daily, and breakfast and lunch will be provided. Students will participate in multiple hands-on activities each day with IU Kokomo faculty, and each group will include a Marion teacher and an IU Kokomo student.
Keith hopes that by offering a positive experience, students will consider coming back when they are ready to begin college.
“I hope they have fun, and I hope they learn something,” she said. “I hope they make some connections with our students and our community and our school, so they’re going to be thinking about us when they are thinking about colleges.”
Family members may register students through the Marion Community Schools, or at go.iu.edu/8t6K.
IU Kokomo students who want to serve as ambassadors during the camp may apply on Handshake through the Career Center.
Ignite Your Future is made possible through generous funding from the Lilly Endowment’s Indiana Youth Programs on Campus Initiative.
Education is KEY at Indiana University Kokomo.