Articles by Mike Rhodes

Education March 15, 2026

Muncie Burris Student Leo Furlong Wins Third Straight Ball State PBS Regional Spelling Bee

By Ashley Mann, Ball State PBS — MUNCIE, Indiana — For a third straight year, Leo Furlong, a seventh grader at Burris Laboratory Middle School, is the champion of the Ball State PBS Regional Spelling Bee. At this year’s competition, held March 7 at Sursa Performance Hall, Mr. Furlong correctly spelled “collegiality” to secure the regional title and earn a return trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The 2026 Ball State PBS Regional Spelling Bee featured 35 spellers from 35 local schools and lasted nine rounds. Tavimbanashe Anele Matangi of Eastbrook Middle School finished as runner-up. Felicia Gray, assistant lecturer…

Non-Profit March 13, 2026

Muncie Arts and Culture Council Celebrates 15 Years of Impact, Partnership, and Public Art in Muncie

By Tania Said— MUNCIE, IN — The Muncie Arts and Culture Council (MuncieArts) is proud to celebrate 15 years of championing creativity, collaboration, and community in Muncie and Delaware County. Incorporated on June 8, 2011, MuncieArts has grown from a grassroots initiative into the City of Muncie’s official arts partner, working at the intersection of artists, nonprofits, local government, and neighborhoods to strengthen quality of life. Through public art, partnerships, and artist support, the organization advances economic growth, sustainable communities, and health and wellness through the arts. “The Muncie Arts and Culture Council’s anniversary is a tribute to the incredible…

Education March 12, 2026

North View Elementary Counselor Recognized for Impact on Students

By Andy Klotz— MUNCIE, IN—It’s been 15 years since Hannah Schutte and Connie Devers-White have connected. It’s been 20 years since Schutte was a student in Devers-White’s fourth grade classroom in Selma. Still, after all these years, Schutte has not forgotten Devers-White and the way her favorite teacher helped her through some very difficult times in her youth. “I was asked why teachers and counselors are so important, and it’s because you never know what kids are going through,” Schutte said. “Sometimes teachers and counselors see the kids more than their parents do, and they fill their cup with what…

Entertainment March 12, 2026

Ball State University Department of Theatre and Dance to Present ‘CATS,’ March 20–22 at Emens Auditorium

By Ball State Communications– MUNCIE, Indiana — Ball State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance will present CATS March 20–21 at 7:30 p.m. and March 22 at 2:30 p.m. in Emens Auditorium. Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster, at the Emens Box Office (1800 W. Riverside Ave.), or by phone at 765-285-1539. With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot, CATSis directed and choreographed by Anne Beck, assistant professor of musical theatre and tap dance at Ball State, with musical direction by Michael Rafter, associate professor of musical theatre. On one special night…

Non-Profit March 11, 2026

George and Frances Ball Foundation Kicks Off 2026 With Major Next-Generation Investments

By Kelsey Harrington— MUNCIE, IN—The George and Frances Ball Foundation awarded more than $300,000 to a variety of community organizations and initiatives across Muncie and Delaware County during the first quarter competitive grantmaking cycle. Many of these grants had one thing in common: they represent strategic investments in the future of important organizations in the community. As the backbone organization of Cradle to Career Muncie, the George and Frances Ball Foundation has spent six years convening cross-sector partners aligned to common goals like increasing high school graduation rates and ensuring that young people graduate high school prepared for college and…

Entertainment March 10, 2026

Minnetrista Welcomes Joshua Harris-Till for Community Conversations Series

By Brea Cunningham— MUNCIE, IN—Minnetrista Museum & Gardens, will welcome Joshua Harris-Till for a series of community-centered programs March 14–16, 2026, offering meaningful opportunities for reflection, conversation, and connection inspired by the exhibition Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley: Let the World See. As a cousin of Emmett Till, Harris-Till brings a deeply personal perspective to one of the most pivotal stories in American civil rights history. Through storytelling, guided discussion, and interactive community engagement, he will share his family’s lived experience while exploring how the legacy of Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley continues to shape conversations about justice, memory, and…

Non-Profit March 9, 2026

Ball Brothers Foundation Celebrates 100th Anniversary in 2026, Announces Updated Grantmaking Focus Areas

By Jud Fisher, President/CEO, Ball Brothers Foundation— MUNCIE, IN — Ball Brothers Foundation is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026, placing it among the state—and the nation’s—oldest grantmaking foundations. The foundation was formed in 1926 to continue the philanthropic legacy of the five Ball brothers and their families, who established Ball Brothers Manufacturing Company in Muncie to produce cans, bottles, and jars. Created to exist in perpetuity, Ball Brothers Foundation has supported countless initiatives over the past 100 years that have strengthened Muncie, Delaware County, East Central Indiana, and the state of Indiana. Ball Brothers Foundation will mark its centennial…

Government March 5, 2026

City of Muncie and Delaware County Present ‘State of the Community’ at Horizon Convention Center

By Amber Greene— MUNCIE, IN — On Thursday, March 5th, Mayor Dan Ridenour and County Commissioner Stephen Brand jointly delivered a State of the Community presentation outlining recent accomplishments, ongoing partnerships, and a shared vision focused on growth, public safety, infrastructure investment, and responsible governance. The event emphasized the importance of collaboration between the city and county governments in delivering efficient services and advancing initiatives that benefit residents throughout the community. The Mayor and Commissioner highlighted continued cooperation on key projects, including public safety services, planning and development efforts, infrastructure improvements, and community investments. Joint initiatives have strengthened coordination across…

Education March 5, 2026

MCS, Muncie Highlighted Nationally as Place Where Partnerships Help Students Thrive

By Andy Klotz— INDIANAPOLIS – Rising early literacy proficiency rates, improved attendance rates and above average graduation rates are just a few of the reasons Muncie Community Schools (MCS) has been placed in the national spotlight by StriveTogether, a network of local communities across the country working to help young people get on a path to economic mobility. StriveTogether, based in Cincinnati, leads this network in order to reverse the trend of declining economic mobility of children. With only half of today’s young people expected to make more money than their parents – less than that for children of color…

Entertainment March 4, 2026

Muncie Artist Kevin Campbell’s Puzzle Project is on Display at Gordy Fine Art and Framing

By Carl Schafer, Co-Owner, Gordy Fine Art and Framing— MUNCIE, IN—Kevin Campbell’s monumental and ever-evolving Puzzle Project is currently on view at Gordy Fine Art & Framing Company through March 28. The exhibition features several groupings from the large work, along with a composite image illustrating what the entire Puzzle Project would look like if fully assembled. The expansive composition now includes nearly 3,000 individual pieces and would measure approximately 44’ x 48’ if fully assembled. Campbell began the Puzzle Project in 1994 with the intention of creating a single work of art that could grow indefinitely. By joining sheets…

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