Articles by Mike Rhodes

'The Human Library: Unpacking Bias in the Workplace' will take place on November 11th. Photo provided

Non-Profit November 4, 2021

Shafer Leadership Academy to Host Coffee Talk Titled ‘The Human Library: Unpacking Bias in the Workplace’

By Kate Elliott— MUNCIE, Ind.—Charlize Jamieson sat in the pews of College Avenue United Methodist Church a few months ago and heard the pastor say from the podium: “Transgender individuals are not God’s mistake; They are God’s miracle.” “I couldn’t believe what I was hearing,” said Jamieson, who grew up and has lived 45-plus years in Muncie. “People would consider you ‘different’ based on your hair style or favorite movie, so to hear this unflinching acceptance of trans and other…

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Working on asphalting a local road.

Government November 4, 2021

State Grants Give Green Light for Local Road Improvements

By Braden Dunlap, Press Secretary— STATEHOUSE – Delaware County communities will receive more than $1 million in state matching grants to steer toward much-needed road improvement projects, according to local legislators. State Rep. Elizabeth Rowray (R-Yorktown) said 218 towns, cities and counties throughout Indiana received a combined total of over $101 million through the Community Crossings Matching Grant program. The Indiana Department of Transportation oversees and distributes these grants twice each year. “Upgrading our roads and bridges is critical to our economy,”…

A participant in the Maker Mondays screen printing workshop is adding final touches to her t-shirt design. Photo by: Kyra Zylstra

Non-Profit November 3, 2021

Learn New Skills at ‘Maker Mondays’ at Madjax

By Madeleine Mills-Craig— MUNCIE, Ind. – Ready to learn a new skill, get out in the community or explore different fields? Maker Mondays is the place for you! Meet your friends and family at Madjax to explore new activities through our programmed events. From bookbinding to beer brewing, there are new and exciting things to explore.  “We are very excited about growing the diversity of opportunities for people to explore new trades, learn a new skill, and share their maker…

White River Lofts illustration.

Business November 2, 2021

White River Lofts Ribbon Cutting, Tours and More on November 4th

By Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce— MUNCIE, Ind.—The City of Muncie is pleased to announce the ribbon cutting ceremony for the White River Lofts project on Thursday, November 4th at 4:00 p.m. at the White River Lofts. The event runs until 8:00 that night and will include opportunities to tour the apartments and to inquire about leasing options. Located at 400 West Washington Street, the new development features 55 luxury apartments, and 2,000 square feet of commercial space. Amenities include:…

Cornerstone's Arts Camp. File photo

Entertainment November 2, 2021

Cornerstone Center for the Arts To Host Fall Festival on November 19th

By Dee Mckinsey— MUNCIE, Ind. – Cornerstone Center for the Arts, 520 E. Main St., will host a celebration of the end of fall classes with a Fall Festival, Friday, Nov. 19 from 5-8 p.m. with tours and demonstrations. Performances beginning at 7 p.m. The celebration is FREE and open to the public. Everyone is welcome. Student art will be exhibited, and there will be artwork for sale to benefit Cornerstone. “The Fall Festival is a chance for our students…

The ATHENA awards. Photo provided.

Non-Profit November 1, 2021

WIBU Announces Nominees for ATHENA Professional Leadership Award

By Dorica Watson, WIBU Vice President— MUNCIE, IN—Women In Business Unlimited, (WIBU) is pleased to announce that Jena Ashby, Jenni Marsh, Jennifer Proud Mearns, Laura Janney, Leslie Draper, Dr, Melinda Messineo, Dr. Mia Johnson and Tara Allread are the eight nominees for our 2021 ATHENA Professional Leadership Award. Nominees for this award: • Demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession • Provide valuable service to improve the quality of life for others in their community • Actively…

Emergency management personnel are pictured during a drone training session. The DJI drone (circled) is hovering just above the ground. Photo provided

Non-Profit October 31, 2021

BBF Grants Fund Purchase of Drones and Training—Essential Tools for Law Enforcement

By Juli Metzger—  MUNCIE, Ind. – Mark Carter was tired. But it was a good tired. He’d spent several days in a kind of show-and-tell with Randolph County first-graders, teaching them about unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), why they are important to public safety efforts, and how to operate them. “They were given information about UAV safety, specifically how high a drone can legally fly, line of sight, and flying over the top of people,” Carter explained. He was a guest…

There’s nothing like Halloween to remind yourself you’re a coward. Photo by Mike Rhodes

Carlson October 30, 2021

John Carlson: Me? Afraid of Monsters? Uh…

By John Carlson— First came “The Mummy’s Ghost.” At the time I didn’t realize it, but for me that movie made Halloween the addictively exciting event so many of us enjoy. A horror genre classic shot in black-and-white and starring the legendary Lon Chaney, “The Mummy’s Ghost” was playing on my buddy Kenny’s TV one crisp October night. Or should I say, the end of the movie was playing on Kenny’s TV one crisp October night? But the movie had…

Habitat for Humanity's new office building at 1424 S. Hoyt Avenue, Muncie. Photo by Matt Howell

Non-Profit October 29, 2021

Muncie Habitat for Humanity is Kicking Off Its First-Ever Building Campaign Called ‘A Home for Habitat’

By Eileen Oaks— MUNCIE, Ind.—Muncie Habitat for Humanity has purchased a new office building and is raising funds to cover the remodeling costs and purchase price. Thanks to local foundations, businesses, and supporters, the building campaign has already successfully raised $781,000 to ensure a bright future and continued growth of Muncie Habitat! ‘A Home for Habitat’ campaign will be raising $900,000 in gifts and pledges before the end of the 2021 calendar year. “Our building campaign team, co-chaired with Beth…

Heather Williams and Jud Fisher. Photo by Abigail Hines

Non-Profit October 28, 2021

ecoREHAB’s Heather Williams Recognized With 2021 Fisher Governance Award

By Melissa Jones— MUNCIE, Ind. — Ball Brothers Foundation presented its annual Fisher Governance Award this year to Heather Williams, former board president of ecoREHAB. Williams was recognized with the award at Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce’s 127th Annual Meeting Celebration on Oct. 28. The John W. and Janice B. Fisher Governance Award annually honors a non-profit board member in Delaware County for exemplary leadership, integrity, responsibility, and accountability. “Heather Williams’s leadership of ecoREHAB does not follow the traditional constructs…