Articles by Mike Rhodes

Shekinah McNeil and Martin Luther King Dream Team members. Photo provided

Education June 27, 2022

Muncie Central’s Shekinah McNeil, MaKaiya Lowe Receive ‘I Have a Dream’ Scholarships

By Andy Klotz— MUNCIE, Ind. – Muncie Central High School graduates Shekinah McNeil and MaKaiya Lowe have been selected as this year’s recipients of the “I Have a Dream” Community Collaborative Scholarship presented by Muncie Community Schools in partnership with Muncie Black Expo, the MLK JR. Dream Team and Muncie NAACP. The winners were selected based on activities and honors that address the mission of the sponsoring organizations, grade point average, financial need, references and an essay that answers the…

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Business June 27, 2022

AEP Foundation Gifts $250,000 to Muncie Children’s Museum to Fund Expansion of Discovery Park

By Intersection— MUNCIE, Ind. – The American Electric Power (AEP) Foundation made an impactful donation when the Muncie Children’s Museum’s newest exhibit, Discovery Park, opened in 2017. Once again, they are generously supporting the expansion of the exhibit, with Indiana Michigan Power, a subsidiary of American Electric Power, giving a $250,000 grant from the American Electric Power Foundation to the museum’s “More to Explore” capital campaign. “Supporting this expansion by the Muncie Children’s Museum helps encourage an interest in learning…

Emma-Mae Newman. Photo provided

Education June 24, 2022

How the 21st Century Scholar Program Helped One Woman Achieve Success

By Kate Elliott— Eighth-grade students must enroll by June 30th, to qualify for the 21st Century tuition scholarship. See more at end of article. MUNCIE, Ind.—On nights when her home was without heat, Emma-Mae Newman fell asleep under a pile of blankets, dreaming of becoming a 21st Century Scholar like her older siblings. She saw them and other income-eligible Hoosiers navigate four years of college without debt. “The program changed my life,” said Newman, a Muncie native. “It helped me move…

The Bluebird. Photo provided

Government June 24, 2022

New ‘Indiana Arts and Culture Passport Program’ Launches

By Amy Howell, Director of Tourism, Marketing and Communications — INDIANAPOLIS – Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC) and Indiana Arts Commission (IAC), with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, are teaming up to launch the Indiana Arts and Culture Passport. “From music venues and theaters, to museums and more, communities across Indiana are using art as a way to come together and build a sense of place,” Crouch said. “All of these attractions reflect the values of residents…

Orchestra Indiana. File photo

Entertainment June 24, 2022

Orchestra Indiana to Perform at Yorktown’s ‘Civic Green’ on July 4th

By Orchestra Indiana— MUNCIE, IN – Orchestra Indiana has announced details of a FREE concert to take place on the Fourth of July at Yorktown’s Civic Green. Conducted by Kermit Poling, the patriotic program celebrating the American Independence Day will feature music of John Philip Sousa, George Gershwin, and John Williams, performances by vocal soloists Natalie Cordone and Keron Jackson, and will conclude with a fireworks display. The concert begins at 8pm and will last approximately two hours.  Orchestra Indiana…

Entertainment June 24, 2022

‘Celebrating the Other Side of the Struggle’ Comes to Cornerstone

By Dee McKinsey—  June 28 Program is Free and Open to the Public MUNCIE, Ind. – Real Black Excellence will sponsor a program entitled Celebrating the Other Side of the Struggle from 7-8 p.m., Tuesday, June 28, at Cornerstone Center for the Arts, 520 E. Main St. The Church or God Academy, Greenville, Ohio, will perform spoken word, music and drama. The program “tells the story of American history from the perspective of Europeans,” according to program sponsors, and exams…

L-R: Amanda Reninger and Peggy Cenova are pictured inside Amanda's bakery and shop in downtown Muncie. Photo provided

Business June 23, 2022

Amanda Reninger Receives ‘Woman-Owned Business of the Year’ Award

By Christy Ragle and Morgan Weaver— MUNCIE, Ind.—Amanda Reninger spent the first 27 years of her life studying music and holds three music degrees in opera and classical singing, including two from Ball State University. Reninger’s recent high note is landing the “Woman-Owned Business of the Year” award from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) for her business, Sea Salt & Cinnamon. “Studying music has taught me so many valuable skills that translate well to business,” she noted. “I always say,…

A scene around a portion of the White River. Photo provided

Non-Profit June 22, 2022

How We Can All Help Preserve the White River, and Why It Matters

By Jud Fisher— MUNCIE, Ind.—Everything starts somewhere.  For the White River, it’s in a farmer’s field in Randolph County just south of Winchester. The river winds its way through farms, woodlands, industrial sites, small towns, and even big cities, eventually feeding into other rivers that take the waters to the Mississippi River. This long journey is amazing in itself, but the story of how the White River got to where it is today—how it journeyed from being a once industrially…

From the Beeman Collection. Photo provided.

Entertainment June 22, 2022

What Women Have Worn Tells Stories

By Sheryl Swingley— MUNCIE, Ind.—“Essay and Ensembles: What Muncie Women Wore Making History” will be the presentation at the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center, 400 W. Minnetrista Blvd., from 2-3 p.m. Thursday, June 23. The program is FREE but requires a reservation. To make a reservation, call the E.B. Ball Center at 765-285-8975 and leave a message. The presenter for the program is Melissa Gentry, supervisor for the Geographic Information Science Research and Map Collection at Ball State University’s…

Kayla Patterson is pictured on right. Photo provided

Non-Profit June 21, 2022

FCA’s Kayla Patterson Crowned Miss Indiana’s Outstanding Teen

By Jeff Mosier— MUNCIE, Ind.—Fellowship of Christian Athletes of East Central Indiana is very proud to announce that on June 18, 2022, one of our key student worship leaders, Kayla Patterson, a recent graduate of Monroe Central High school, was crowned Miss Indiana’s Outstanding teen (Miss Teen Indiana.) Each contestant is required to name their platform organization. Kayla chose to represent FCA in both last year’s and this year’s competition. She played guitar and sang a worship song as her featured…