Articles by Mike Rhodes

Charles W. Brown Planetarium Spring 2025 Free Show Schedule

By Planetarium staff— MUNCIE, IN—Journey through space and time at free public programs in Indiana’s largest planetarium. All regularly scheduled planetarium programs are free of charge; cash donations are accepted at the door. No tickets or reservations are required for public planetarium shows except for our annual “Astronomy SLAM!” Check out the showtimes below, and visit the Charles W. Brown Planetarium website for more information. Interested in scheduling an educational visit to the planetarium? Request a planetarium visit for your group. January…

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A Year of Progress For Muncie Action Plan’s Task Force 2: Advocating for Downtown Muncie

By JP Hall— MUNCIE, IN—As the Muncie Action Plan (MAP) wraps up another productive year, we are excited to reflect on our efforts to enhance the quality of life in Muncie and Delaware County. As we gear up for our Annual Community Meeting on Wednesday, January 29th, at 6:00 p.m., we invite the public to join us in the Multi-purpose Room at Ivy Tech. Each of our four task forces will present their accomplishments and progress throughout 2024 during this gathering. This…


Three Ball State Leaders Honored by Governor with Sagamore of the Wabash Awards

By BSU Communications— MUNCIE, Indiana — Three prominent leaders from Ball State University—Rick Hall, chair of the Board of Trustees; Mike McDaniel, board secretary; and President Geoffrey S. Mearns—this week were awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash, one of Indiana’s highest civilian honors, by Gov. Eric J. Holcomb. The Sagamore of the Wabash, created during the term of Gov. Ralph Gates (1945–49), recognizes individuals for their distinguished service to the state or significant contributions to its heritage. Recipients have included…


Muncie Central High School Launches eSports Team

Bearcats will play first competitive events this month By Andy Klotz, APR, MCS Chief Communications Officer— MUNCIE, IN – Zach Houser has been “gaming” competitively since he was 13 years old. Now, the third-year Latin and English teacher at Muncie Central High School is about to make history as the first coach of the school’s eSports team. “I have a really deep personal passion for eSports,” Houser said. “It’s a way I’ve met a lot of my friends. It’s just…


Beginners Guide to Grant Writing Workshop on January 16th and January 30th.

By Anna King-Cross— MUNCIE, IN—The East Central Indiana Regional Planning District would like to invite you to attend our upcoming training session on the grant writing process. It will take place on January 16, 2025, and January 30, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Academy of Model Aeronautics Conference Room, 5161 E. Memorial Drive. Muncie, IN 47302. The workshop costs $225, which includes all materials and lunch on both days. The training will focus on drafting and…


Abe Arthur—Member of Pridemark Construction’s ‘Future Leaders of America’ Series

Editor’s note: The Future Leaders of America series profiles high school seniors who display leadership qualities in their school and the community. The series is brought to you by Pridemark Construction. By Stacey Shannon— MUNCIE, IN—Attending the same school from kindergarten through 12th grade is bound to create strong emotions of either love or hate. Burris Laboratory School senior Abe Arthur falls into the love category. “The Burris community just feels like my family,” he said. “It’s all my friends…


Ball State Professor Leverages Artificial Intelligence to Predict Student Performance and Boost Success

By Hesham Allam, PhD, MBA/MIS — MUNCIE, IN—At Ball State University, cutting-edge technology is transforming the classroom experience. A local professor is using artificial intelligence (AI) to predict student grades and improve learning outcomes, offering a glimpse into the future of education. By analyzing early semester data such as quizzes, attendance, and class discussions, the AI system provides a detailed view of how students are likely to perform in the course. “The AI gives us a powerful tool to identify…


Meeting Brings Partners Together to Discuss Next Steps for Cardinal Greenway Expansion

By Jud Fisher, President/CEO, Ball Brothers Foundation and Angie Pool, CEO, Cardinal Greenways— MUNCIE, IN—Leaders and partners from East Central Indiana gathered last month in Grant County to discuss the next phases of a Cardinal Greenway extension project. Representatives from Cardinal Greenways, Taylor University, Ball Brothers Foundation, East Central Indiana Regional Partnership, and FlatLand Resources participated in the meeting, which included a tour of Taylor University and key sites in Gas City. The tour offered an opportunity to assess current…


Snow Shoveling Tips to Protect Your Heart

By Tim Harms, American Heart Association— INDIANAPOLIS – With snow predicted to fall across large portions of Indiana this weekend, the American Heart Association encourages Hoosiers to protect their hearts while shoveling snow and to seek immediate treatment if they experience any signs or symptoms of a heart attack. Research shows that many people may face an increased risk of a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest after shoveling heavy snow. “Shoveling snow can be a very vigorous activity, and…


Muncie Action Plan’s Annual Community Meeting to Take Place on January 29th

By Kylene Swackhamer— MUNCIE, IN—As the Muncie Action Plan (MAP) wraps up another productive year, we are excited to reflect on our efforts to enhance the quality of life in Muncie and Delaware County. As we gear up for our Annual Report to the Community on Wednesday, January 29th, at 6:00 p.m., we invite the public to join us in the Multi-purpose Room at Ivy Tech. During this gathering, each of our four task forces will present their accomplishments and progress throughout…