Articles by Mike Rhodes

Accepting the award last month in Indianapolis on behalf of ECIHRA (l to r): Madelyn Heskett, Secretary; Kourtney McCauliff, President; James Mitchell, President-Elect

Non-Profit September 7, 2022

ECIHRA Announces Award, Upcoming Programs

By ECIHRA— MUNCIE, IN – The East Central Indiana Human Resources Association (ECIHRA) received an important recognition at the recent state-wide HR Indiana Conference, held August 29 through August 31 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The award for “Highest Increase in SHRM-Certified Members” reflects the organization’s commitment to helping local human resources professionals grow and develop, both personally and professionally. “We were pleasantly surprised to receive this honor and to be recognized in front of 1,500 of our peers from across the state,”…

Read More
Photo provided by the YMCA

Education September 7, 2022

Mitchell Early Childhood and Family Center Maintains Their National Accreditation

By Sophie Bohanon— MUNCIE, IN—The Mitchell Early Childhood and Family Center received re- accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Mitchell is 1 of 7 programs in the Muncie community that are nationally accredited by the NAEYC. Janette Stanley, the Director of Youth Development at Mitchell, says, “The reason this accreditation is so important is because we support high quality education and promote professionalism in the field. Thanks toNAEYC, we can utilize their resources for…

Naloxone Vending Machine

Health September 7, 2022

IU Health Ball Receives Naloxone Vending Machine, Part of State Effort to Curb Drug Epidemic

By Courtney Schmoll— MUNCIE, IN – IU Health Ball is happy to announce that one of Indiana’s newest naloxone vending machines will soon be placed in the emergency department waiting area. The machine is one of 19 to be placed statewide and will soon be available for use by the public. Gov. Eric J. Holcomb first announced the initiative in December 2021. “There is no single solution to ending this epidemic that has taken the lives of thousands of Hoosiers,”…

One in five Americans experience a mental health condition or concern in a given year. Photo by storyblocks

Health September 6, 2022

September is National Recovery Month for Mental Illness and Addiction

By Dr. Kimberly Roop, Medicaid Plan President for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield— INDIANAPOLIS, IN—One in five Americans experiences a mental health condition in a given year, yet 56% of those individuals do not receive treatment. Many have co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder. Addressing the array of care and service options from prevention and screening to early intervention and treatment for mental health and substance use disorders leads to higher quality of care and advancement of health equity….

Canoe group volunteers pose with their haul of trash rescued from the White River at the 2017 clean-up event.

Non-Profit September 5, 2022

Annual White River Clean-up: September 17, 8 am-Noon at Muncie’s Westside Park

By MDCB— MUNCIE, IN—Since 2006, Muncie-Delaware Clean & Beautiful and the Muncie Sanitary District have organized over 4,900 volunteers to remove 150,000 pounds of trash (including over 950 tires) from the White River. Join them this September as that tradition of stewardship continues. Check-in is at Muncie’s Westside Park at 8 am. Volunteers can travel on foot or by canoe and will be transported to and from different points along the river. Crew leaders are especially needed this year. Crew…

Muncie artists Dan Woodson and Tom Woodson teamed up with John Kelty, Avon Waters and Curt Stanfield to paint 100 paintings of more than 20 major waterways and bring attention to the conservation needs of Indiana's 65,000 miles streams, rivers and tributaries. Photo provided

Non-Profit September 3, 2022

Muncie Artists Included in Traveling Exhibition and Hardcover Book

By Juli Metzger— MUNCIE, IN—In October, Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites  will host the first in a series of art exhibits by five Hoosier painters who, along with three conservation essayists, have also produced a nearly 230-page hardcover book: “Indiana Waterways: The Art of Conservation.” The book includes 100 paintings of Indiana Waterways, and three essays on waterways conservation. Ten presentations on conservation also are planned across the state. The art exhibit opens on Oct. 16. A limited-edition book,…

Laura Geesy, MPL employee, with one of the new RFID checkout units. Photo by Susan Fisher

Non-Profit September 2, 2022

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month

By Susan Fisher, Public Relations Supervisor, Muncie Public Library— MUNCIE, IN—September is Library Card Sign-up Month, a time when the American Library Association (ALA) joins Muncie Public Library (MPL) and libraries across the country to remind everyone that signing up for a library card is the first step on the path to academic success and lifelong learning. Since 1987, Library Card Sign-up Month is celebrated each September to coincide with the beginning of the school year. A library card can be…

Indiana Statehouse photo provided by Lydia Kirschner

Education, Government September 1, 2022

Delaware County Lawmakers Invite Local College Students to Apply for Paid Statehouse Internship

By Braden Dunlap— STATEHOUSE– Delaware County legislators invite local college students and recent graduates of all majors to apply for a paid internship with Indiana House Republicans. State Rep. Elizabeth Rowray (R-Yorktown) said House interns will be paid $800 bi-weekly as they work at the Indiana Statehouse in downtown Indianapolis during the 2023 legislative session, which kicks off in January and concludes at the end of April. She said internships are available in several departments and are open to college…

T.J. Bush. Photo provided

Business September 1, 2022

Whitinger & Company Announces Managing Member

By Richard Crist— MUNCIE, IN– Whitinger & Company is proud to announce that T.J. Bush, CPA, CFP®, has been named the firm’s Managing Member. He was unanimously elected by the Whitinger Member/Owners at their recent annual meeting. His term will begin on September 1, 2022, at the conclusion of current Managing Member Linn Crull’s term. T.J. specializes in tax consulting and compliance services for businesses, individuals, estates, and trusts. In addition to being a technical resource for clients and staff,…

Computer rendering of new playground equipment. Photo provided

Non-Profit August 31, 2022

Delaware County Neighborhood Raises $120,000 for New Playground Equipment

By Kate H. Elliott— DELAWARE COUNTY, IN—Linda and Stan Geidel have lived through 30 years of lemonade stands, bike rides and garage sales in the Country Village-Creekwood neighborhood north of Muncie. Over the years, they watched the once shiny but small playground transform from a family gathering spot to an aged, abandoned eyesore. The couple made a donation to kick off a campaign to purchase and install a new, larger structure. It’s a gift, Geidel said, for families to enjoy the…