Articles by Mike Rhodes

Indiana Humanities Seeks Submissions for 2024 Indiana Eclipse Poetry Contest

By Anna Bowman— INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana Humanities is looking to select an official poet for the April 8, 2024 eclipse, an event that will not happen again until 2044. Indiana is one of only a handful of states that are in the path of totality for the eclipse, and Hoosier poets everywhere are invited to submit an original poem inspired by this event. The poet who submits a poem that best reflects the significance of the eclipse will receive a cash prize of $500, the opportunity to read the poem during an eclipse watch party in Indianapolis and have their work featured…

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Reps for ICPE to Address Status of Education in Indiana at AAUW and League of Women Voters Joint Meeting

By Sheryl Swingley— MUNCIE, IN—Two representatives of the Indiana Coalition for Public Education will be the guest speakers for a joint meeting of the Muncie branch of the American Association of University Women and the League of Women Voters of Muncie-Delaware County. The meeting is open to the public. The meeting will start at 10 a.m. and wrap up no later than noon on Saturday, Jan. 27, at Motivate Our Minds, 2023 E. Highland Ave., Muncie. The topic of the discussion is “The State of Public Education in the 2024 Indiana Legislative Session.” One topic to be discussed will be…


Muncie Action Plan Task Force 2 Review

By Susan Volbrecht – MUNCIE, IN – As the Muncie Action Plan (MAP) closes out the year, we would like to share MAP’s efforts to improve quality of life in Muncie and Delaware County as we approach our Annual Community Meeting on Wednesday, January 31st at 6:00 p.m. The public is invited to join MAP at Minnetrista’s Indiana Room to hear from each of our four task forces as they share the work completed during 2023. This is the second of four reports from our task force leaders. Muncie Action Plan Task Force 2 is focused on Making Walnut Street…


Hoosiers’ Stances on Marijuana, Abortion Highlighted in 2023 Hoosier Survey Results

By Ball State University Communications— MUNCIE, Indiana – Results from the 2023 Hoosier Survey show year-over-year consistency in Indiana residents’ thoughts on pressing social issues such as marijuana use and abortion. The Bowen Center for Public Affairs at Ball State University has released the first of three rounds of results from the 2023 Hoosier Survey, the center’s annual non-partisan public policy study. The results represent the pulse of the state regarding the most pressing issues facing Indiana residents. Results about questions regarding Hoosier approval ratings for President Joe Biden and Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, election integrity, tax spending, and more…


Gaston Resident and Marian University Senior Brylee Koontz Awarded Orr Fellowship

Koontz is one of only 78 students to be offered Orr Fellowships, out of 916 total applicants from 60+ universities. By Amy Hanna, Borshoff— INDIANAPOLIS– Marian University senior Brylee Koontz has been awarded the prestigious and highly competitive Orr Fellowship. A Gaston resident, Koontz is one of only 78 top-tier college seniors selected as Orr Fellows for the Class of 2024. Two other Marian University students were also awarded Orr Fellowships. Orr Fellowship, one of Indiana’s most celebrated non-profit talent programs, is a two-year post-graduate program that places high-achieving college seniors nationwide in full-time, paid positions at dynamic companies in…


Ball State’s Multicultural Center Announces Unity Week 2024 Events

Events to Celebrate and Promote Diversity, Inclusiveness. By Ball State Marketing and Communications— MUNCIE, IN – Ball State University’s Multicultural Center has announced the schedule of events for its annual Unity Week, which kicks off on Monday, Jan. 15—the official observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday this year. “Unity Week aims to challenge perspectives on matters of diversity, inclusivity, and solidarity in an evolving social climate,” said Gabrielle Lloyd, ‘18, director of the Multicultural Center. “We want to offer students, faculty, staff, and community members an opportunity to learn, reflect, and engage in open dialogue about their…


Indiana American Water Urges Customers to Prepare for Cold Weather

By Indiana American Water— GREENWOOD, IN—With dangerously cold temperatures forecasted for the Hoosier state over the next several days, Indiana American Water is urging customers to act now to secure homes and businesses against freezing pipes. “With much colder temperatures in the forecast, we are encouraging customers to act now to protect their plumbing system against the extreme cold,” said Indiana American Water President Matt Prine. “Failing to protect your plumbing from cold temperatures can be disruptive and very costly. When ice expands inside pipes, it creates tremendous pressure that can crack and burst them, leaving homeowners with a costly…


Muncie Piano Teacher Featured on Popular Podcast

By Kristin Graham— MUNCIE, IN—Christina Whitlock has been teaching piano in Muncie, Indiana, since she was 14 years old. She was a piano student herself at the time, and when the only piano teacher around town had a full schedule, the local music store asked if she would start teaching. And so she has, for the last 25 years. On January 2, Christina’s spotlight got a little bigger as she was featured on a new podcast called What It’s Like To Be… hosted by New York Times best selling author, Dan Heath. Christine earned a Bachelors of Music degree in…


Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County Awards $3.8 Million in 2023

By Kallie Sulanke— MUNCIE, IN – The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County awarded $3,802,620 in grants and scholarships utilizing various strategies to enhance the quality of life for the residents of Delaware County, Ind. Most grants are awarded through permanently endowed funds that benefit our community today and always. Through the Community Grants Program, nonprofit organizations were awarded $1,537,921 in a highly competitive year. Grants are awarded to address the broad needs of Muncie and Delaware County in arts and culture, community betterment, economic development, education, and human services. A full list of grants awarded through the Community…


Kaiden Bond—Member of Pridemark Construction’s ‘Future Leaders of America’ Series

Editor’s note: The Future Leaders of America series profiles high school seniors who display leadership qualities in their school and the community. The series is brought to you by Pridemark Construction. By Stacey Shannon— MUNCIE, IN—Delta High School senior Kaiden Bond has become a role model both on and off the field. At school, classmates know him as a member of the basketball and football teams. Outside of school, youngsters look up to him in his volunteer work with Concrete Rose, a non-profit organization to encourage youth empowerment and leadership. Bond takes his roles seriously and behaves accordingly.  “Younger people…