Articles by Mike Rhodes

John Carlson: When Disappointment Hits

By John Carlson— I can still remember the day thirty years ago that Nancy and I took our kids to a popular amusement park, but when we arrived it was closed. In an instant, what had been a deliriously happy carload of Carlsons completely changed. Between the high-decibel caterwauling, pitiful sobbing and the uncontrollable blubbering, it was enough to drive a parent nuts. Finally, Nancy had all she could take. “Will you please shut up!” she yelled. But I’ll never…

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Final Enrollment for Spring Session at Cornerstone Center for the Arts Is January 30th

By Dee McKinsey— MUNCIE, Ind.—Final registration for the Spring Semester at Cornerstone Center for the Arts is Jan.  30. Classes begin Monday, Jan. 31 and continue until April 22. Cornerstone is more than 60 classes both in-person and virtually in the categories of visual arts, dance, movement, literature, martial arts, and wellness arts. Cornerstone also is offering some new classes: Virtual Classes Adult History of Dance I Adult History of Musical Theatre I In-Person Classes Adult Acting I Adult Improv…


Muncie Arts and Culture Council Receives Grant From National Endowment For the Arts

By Muncie Arts and Culture Council— MUNCIE, Ind.—The Muncie Arts and Culture Council is one of 15 Indiana non-profit arts organizations and cultural programming providers to receive a 2022 Arts Project grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. MuncieArts received a matching $30,000 Arts Project Grant to support its PlySpace Residency Program. The funds will be used to bring 12 visiting artists to Muncie to work collaboratively with non-profit organizations, schools, and community groups on special community-focused projects. “These National Endowment…


IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital Nurse Practitioner Named National Scholar in Pediatric Program

By Courtney Schmoll— MUNCIE, Ind.—Across the country, almost 10 percent of all 911 calls involve children. But within each local emergency department or emergency medical services agency, that can amount to seeing just a handful of children a month—meeting providers are not always well-versed in the specialized care that ill and injured kids require. A federally funded program, Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Innovation and Improvement Center is working to change that through quality improvement methodology and a systems-level…


Muncie Action Plan’s Task Force 4: Creating Attractive & Desirable Places

By Gretchen Cheesman— MUNCIE, Ind.– The Muncie Action Plan (MAP) spent much of 2021 in partnership with representatives from the Delaware-Muncie Metropolitan Plan Commission and NEXT Muncie surveying Muncie’s citizens and working with the urban planning firm czb in the development of the new Strategic Investment Plan for the City of Muncie. The last large-scale MAP planning took place in 2009 and although two updates have been completed since, we are excited to put into place the newest large-scale engagement effort where Muncie’s residents…


Intersection, Whitinger Strategic Services Merge, Join Accutech Family of Brands

By Melissa Jones— MUNCIE, Ind. — Two of East Central Indiana’s premier marketing and branding agencies, Intersection and Whitinger Strategic Services, have merged, combining the talents of both teams and growing their services and portfolio. Intersection and Whitinger were two of the most awarded agencies in the region. Intersection took home six international Hermes Creative Awards in 2021, and Whitinger stole the show at the 2020 American Advertising Awards (ADDYs) of East Central Indiana. The merger, effective October 1, 2021, was…


Averie Jamison—Member of Pridemark Construction’s ‘Future Leaders of America’ Series

By Stacey A. Shannon— MUNCIE, Ind.—Editor’s note: The Future Leaders of America series on MuncieJournal.com profiles high school seniors who display leadership qualities in their school and the community. The series is brought to you by Pridemark Construction. Wes-Del High School senior Averie Jamison maintains a busy schedule. She stays focused on what’s important and prioritizes to keep up with schoolwork, extracurricular activities and competitive dancing. But she wouldn’t have it any other way. Jamison said her parents have given…


134 Local Students Receive Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Citizenship Awards

By Andy Klotz— MUNCIE, Ind. – Behind his black mask, Grissom Elementary School fifth grader Khylan Kennedy beemed with pride after receiving his Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Citizenship Award from Interim Principal Randy McCracken. He had no idea he was even up for an award. “The students are nominated by teachers and other school leaders, so it’s always wonderful to see their reactions to this recognition they were never anticipating,” Muncie Community Schools Diversity Director Rhonda Ward said….


Two Long-Time Muncie Public Library Employees Set To Retire

By Susan Fisher, Muncie Public Library— MUNCIE, Ind.—Muncie Public Library (MPL) has announced the upcoming retirement of two long-time employees: Gary Bartling, Facilities Manager, and Beth Kroehler, Library Assistant Director. Bartling has been at MPL since 1972. He was 16 years-old and working as a newspaper delivery boy when one of his customers, Ermal Johnson, an MPL librarian, suggested  he should apply for a route driver position at the library. He did and was hired. That part-time job became his…


Ball State’s Unity Week 2022 Offers Free Social, Cultural, Educational Events For All

By Ball State Marketing & Communications— MUNCIE, Ind.—Ball State University’s Multicultural Center has announced the schedule of events for Unity Week 2022, which kicks off on Jan. 17—the official observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Unity Week is a popular on-campus celebration dedicated to unifying the Ball State community through enlightened social, cultural, and educational events. All events are free and open to students, faculty, staff, community members, and media members. “Unity Week aims to educate and…