Articles by Mike Rhodes

Ashley Ford with President Mearns. Photo provided.

We Fly September 29, 2021

Ball State University Launches Podcast Hosted by President Geoffrey S. Mearns

By Ball State Marketing & Communications— MUNCIE, Ind.  – Ball State University has launched a new monthly podcast, “Our Call to Beneficence,” hosted by President Geoffrey S. Mearns. The podcast features conversations with graduates and friends of Ball State who embody the spirit of Beneficence—as represented by the campus statue that is the icon of the University—through their professional success and personal service. “One of the best parts of my job is that, virtually every day, I get to meet…

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Aerial of Muncie City Hall in downtown Muncie. Photo by Mike Rhodes.

Government September 28, 2021

City of Muncie ‘American Rescue Plan’ Grants Deadline for Non-Profits is Sept 30th

By Jeff Robinson, President, Muncie City Council—  MUNCIE, Ind.—The September 30th deadline for local non-profits to apply for grant dollars earmarked to help those organizations and their clients who were hardest hit by COVID-19 is fast approaching. In total, $2 million of the City of Muncie’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding of $31.7 million was set aside specifically to help the nonprofit sector. Applications are available on the City’s website and must be submitted by September 30th, 2021. Jeff Robinson,…

Photo provided

Government September 27, 2021

Delaware County to Host Double Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for New Trails

By Melissa Jones— DELAWARE COUNTY, Indiana — The Delaware County Redevelopment Commission invites the public to a double ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 29, celebrating the official opening of two recent trail projects. The ribbon-cutting event will start at 10 a.m. at the Star Bank at 3300 N. Everbrook Lane to commemorate the Morrison/McGalliard Trail Sidewalk. The Morrison/McGalliard project added 1.5 miles of trails and sidewalks to the northwest business corridor of Muncie, helping to safely connect residents and Ball…

Madjax, located at Madison and Jackson streets in downtown Muncie.

Entertainment September 27, 2021

PlySpace to Host ‘Open Studios’ at MadJax for ArtsWalk

By Sarah Shaffer— MUNCIE, Ind.—PlySpace, the artist in residence program of the Muncie Arts and Culture Council (MuncieArts) will be hosting Open Studios on the second floor of Madjax during October ArtsWalk on Thursday, October 7, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. Stop by and get to know the fall PlySpace residents, Adam Stacey, Makenzie Goodman, Lyzette Wanzer and Camila Ortiz. Each will be on hand to talk about work and their upcoming projects in Muncie. Adam Stacey and Makenzie Goodman, based…

How beautiful is a s’more? This tasted as good as it looked. Photo by Nancy Carlson.

Carlson September 25, 2021

John Carlson: The Art of Making S’mores

By John Carlson— Recently, I ate a s’more. Granted, there are probably thousands of campers and other such folks out there who eat hundreds of s’mores every year, but I’m not one of them. In fact, I’ve only had a handful of s’mores in my whole life, my second-to-previous one being beyond my memory. But I have to tell you, that most recent s’more was darned tasty. So when Nancy announced we were going to make s’mores, I got excited….

Jeff Carrigan, owner of Mancino's Sweet Shop. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Government September 24, 2021

City of Muncie Distributes $3.11 Million to 189 Local Businesses

By Tony Sandleben— MUNCIE, Ind. – The Restaurant and the Small Business/Tourism committees have selected the businesses that will be receiving grants from Muncie’s American Rescue Plan (ARP). Mayor Ridenour and the City of Muncie have worked to award 189 businesses and restaurants $3.11 million which will all go out once the businesses selected complete the federally required paperwork. The restaurant committee has selected and sent checks to 43 restaurants. Those are: Sea Salt & Cinnamon, Elm Street Brewing Company, Roots,…

Lana Shoults is pictured in the surgical classroom. Photo provided

Education September 23, 2021

Modern Technology for a Modern Classroom

By Lesley DeVoss— MUNCIE, Ind – Historically, colleges utilized cadavers to teach students about human anatomy, systems, and illnesses. Cadavers came with a unique set of issues. They require refrigerated storage units, each cadaver can only provide insight into its own unique physical structure, and they can only be autopsied once. With technology, these issues are a thing of the past. Ivy Tech Community College Muncie-Henry County’s students now have access to an Anatomage Table, which houses hundreds of digital…

The Maxon Foundation Fund at The Community Foundation awards $84K to nine organizations, including Motivate Our Minds (pictured), who will use the funds to provide quality academic instruction to children in our community.

Non-Profit September 23, 2021

Nine Delaware County Non-Profits Receive $84k From Maxon Foundation Fund

By Kallie Sulanke— MUNCIE, Ind.—The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, Inc. has awarded $84,348.05 to nine non-profit organizations from the Maxon Foundation Fund. The Maxon Corporation, an international industrial heating manufacturer, was locally owned and operated from 1916 through 2008. Today it operates as part of Honeywell Corporation. From its beginning, Maxon Corporation and its leaders built a culture of giving back to the community. In 1986,  the Maxon Foundation was created as the charitable arm of the…

Jenny DeVoe is pictured with Casey Stanley at the United Way's "Voices (Re)United" concert in downtown Muncie. Photo by Mike Rhodes

Entertainment September 22, 2021

Jennie DeVoe to Perform at Cornerstone Center for the Arts On October 8th

By Dee McKinsey— MUNCIE, Ind. —Jennie DeVoe brings her unique brand of humor, story-telling and blues to the Cornerstone Center for the Arts, 520 West Main Street on Friday, Oct. 8, in a fundraiser for the Muncie Senior Citizens Center and Home Savers of Delaware County. The Indianapolis-based DeVoe performs through the Midwest presenting original songs to enthusiastic audiences. The performance begins at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased through PayPal,…

A 2019 Robert P. Bell Grant to Beth Buehler supported a classroom activity aimed to increase grit in students while introducing geometric vocabulary and the concept of algorithms through solving Rubix cubes (pictured). This quarter Beth Buehler received a $559 Bell Grant aimed at self-exploration and self-regulation through a group reading series, journaling, and sensory activities.

Education, Non-Profit September 21, 2021

Teachers Awarded $4,706 for Creative and Innovative Classroom Projects

By Kallie Sulanke— MUNCIE, Ind. —Ten local teachers will receive $4,706.80 in Robert P. Bell Education Grants from The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, Inc. Across the county, thousands of students benefit from Bell Education Grants each year. Awards of up to $600 are available through the Bell Grants program. Teachers in public and private K-12 schools in Delaware County, Ind., are invited to apply for this competitive funding throughout the school year to enhance learning in their classrooms. Teachers…