Articles by Mike Rhodes

Health May 19, 2026

Community Celebrates Opening of IU Health Pediatric Rehabilitation Outdoor Space

By Courtney Schmoll— MUNCIE, IN—Patients, community members, caregivers, donors, team members and leaders gathered May 12 to celebrate the opening of the IU Health Pediatric Rehabilitation Outdoor Space at Ball Memorial Hospital. The event brought smiles, applause and a shared sense of pride as attendees marked a milestone for children and families in east central Indiana. The adaptive playground expands access to care for children receiving services through System Health Solutions (SHS) Pediatric Rehabilitation, offering a safe outdoor environment where therapy and play come together. “This space represents what happens when a community comes together around children and families,” says Brad…

Business May 19, 2026

READI Funding Supports Property Acquisition in Downtown Yorktown

By Caitlin Hancock, ECIRP— YORKTOWN, IN— Since 2014, the Yorktown Redevelopment Commission has been diligently working to redevelop, revitalize and grow its downtown core. With a substantial portion of the work complete, the Town has now set its sights on completing the next phase of redevelopment, which includes the assembly and redevelopment of a half-square block located between Vine, Market, and adjacent to Canal. Before the READI planning process, the Town owned five of the six parcels that comprise the half-square block. Through a $238,250 READI investment, the ECIRP, IEDC, and Town of Yorktown Redevelopment Commission were successfully able to…

Entertainment May 19, 2026

Free Programs During May–June at the Charles W. Brown Planetarium at Ball State University

By Dayna Thompson, Planetarium Director— MUNCIE, IN—All planetarium programs are free of charge, cash donations are accepted at the door. No tickets or reservations are required for these public planetarium shows. www.bsu.edu/planetarium One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure Fridays, May 22 and June 12, 26 at 5:00 p.m. Saturdays, May 23 and June 13, 27 at 3:30 p.m. Take an imaginary trip from Sesame Street to the moon, find shapes in the sky and find the North Star in this cross-cultural adventure with Big Bird, Elmo, and their friend Hu Hu Zhu from China. Perfect for families and groups with…

Entertainment May 19, 2026

Memorial Day Grilling Tips from Woof Boom Radio’s Steve Lindell

By Steve Lindell— MUNCIE, IN—Memorial Day is always one of the most popular “grilling” holidays on the calendar. I consider grilling an art form, not a “task.” Grilling outside is something that I have grown to love, especially in recent years, as my wife Nancy shows SO much appreciation for the efforts. It is a way for us to be outside, with nature, and the tastes created at the end of the process always make the whole family smile. Another part of my enjoyment is the tremendous variations and experimentations that are always in play. In a word: it’s “FUN.”…

Education May 18, 2026

Cradle to Career Muncie Lifted as National Example

By Juli Metzger— MUNCIE, IN—A community-wide effort to improve student success in Muncie is gaining national attention after being highlighted in the 2025 StriveTogether Annual Report for its measurable gains in early literacy and high school graduation rates. The report spotlights Cradle to Career Muncie, a cross-sector partnership that has aligned schools, nonprofits, higher education institutions, faith organizations and local leaders around a shared goal: improving educational outcomes and expanding economic opportunity for children and families across Delaware County. The initiative is being led by the George and Frances Ball Foundation, serving as the backbone organization for the community-wide effort….

Education May 18, 2026

AAUW Now Accepting Donations of Books, Puzzles, CDs, and DVDs for Annual Sale

By Sheryl Swingley— MUNCIE, IN—Donations of new and gently used books, puzzles, DVDs and CDs (music and books) will be accepted for the American Association of University Women – Muncie Branch Used Book Sale starting at 8 a.m. Monday, May 18, at the Ball State University Alumni Center, 2800 W. Bethel Ave. “The community has been very supportive of our sale for more than 45 years,” said Sheryl Swingley, president of AAUW– Muncie Branch. “We look forward to seeing what residents donate this year for purchase by the public.” Carts will be available to unload books at the front door…

Non-Profit May 15, 2026

Local Robotics Team Celebrates 20th Season with World Championship Appearance

By PhyXTGears Media Team— EAST CENTRAL INDIANA—After an impressive performance at the Indiana State Championship, FRC Team 1720, also known as the PhyXTGears, recently competed at the FIRST World Championship in Houston, Texas. FIRST stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, and its mission is to inspire K-12 students to pursue careers in science, technology, and engineering. FRC, or FIRST Robotics Competition, is the largest-scale program FIRST offers. This program gives high school students a chance to gain real-world, hands-on experience with engineering and technology concepts. PhyXTGears also celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, which made the…

Non-Profit May 15, 2026

The Community Foundation’s David Sursa Leadership Award 2026 Finalists Announced

By Kallie Sulanke— MUNCIE, IN—The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County recognizes the following finalists for the 2026 David Sursa Leadership Award: Jeffrey Heavilon, Exchange Club of Muncie; Kourtney McCauliff, Cornerstone Center for the Arts; Jeff Tingler, Grow Market; Douglas White, Jackie L. Michael Foundation; and Katherine White, Animal Rescue Fund. The David Sursa Leadership Award was established in memory of the Foundation’s first board leader. As the inaugural President, David Sursa blazed the trail for The Community Foundation. His visionary leadership contributed significantly to the Foundation’s success and the generous support it has provided to our community. The…

Education May 13, 2026

Muncie Central, Muncie Police Partnership Prepares Students for Careers in Public Safety

By Andy Klotz— MUNCIE, IN—Salem Wilt wants to be a criminal psychologist. The Muncie Central junior is interested in psychology and in law, so she believes criminal psychology could be the best of both worlds. Becoming a criminal psychologist will take a lot of effort and specialized training, but Wilt is already ahead of many of her peers. She just completed Next Gen Academy, Muncie Central’s eight-week program about careers in public safety, social services and leadership. “It’s really different,” Wilt said. “I’ve never been in a class like this, so it’s a new thing for me. We talk about…

Non-Profit May 13, 2026

Grantee Spotlight: Shafer Leadership Academy Strengthening How Organizations Grow People

By Jud Fisher, President/CEO, Ball Brothers Foundation— MUNCIE, IN—Organizations of all types face a challenge that rarely shows up on a balance sheet: building strong leadership. They need people who can not only do the job, but also communicate clearly, navigate conflict, motivate others, and guide organizations through change. For almost two decades, Shafer Leadership Academy in Muncie has been working to help individuals grow into those skills while strengthening the organizations and communities they serve. Ball Brothers Foundation has been among the long-standing supporters of the organization’s growth and reach. Over the years, the foundation has provided a mix…

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