Articles by Mike Rhodes

Ivy Tech Invites Community to ‘Welcome Back Sock Hop’

By  Lesley DeVoss— MUNCIE, IN—Let’s all go to the hop! Ivy Tech Muncie-Henry County is welcoming students back with a welcome back sock hop and the community is invited to join in the festivities. Sponsored by Thrive Credit Union, the sock hop will feature local band, Chameleon Bros., family-friendly activities such as caricatures, airbrush tattoos, inflatable axe throwing, free food, costume contests, and more. The event will take place on the first day of classes, August 22nd, from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the John and Janice Fisher Building with vendors on Charles and Franklin Streets. Pick up free meal…

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July 29th is National ‘System Administrator’ Appreciation Day

By Mike Rhodes, Editor-in-Chief, MuncieJournal.com— MUNCIE, IN— Now in its 23rd year, today is System Administrator Appreciation Day in the United States. If your company has one, you probably already know what a System Administrator is. If you don’t here’s a good description from Wikipedia: A system administrator, or sysadmin, or admin is a person who is responsible for the upkeep, configuration, and reliable operation of computer systems, especially multi-user computers, such as servers. The system administrator seeks to ensure that the uptime, performance, resources, and security of the computers they manage meet the needs of the users, without exceeding…


Husband and Wife Team to Have Art Show at Cornerstone

By Dee McKinsey— Opening Coincides with Muncie’s First Thursday Event MUNCIE, IN– Leon and Laura Crosby will open their joint art show, Thursday, Aug. 4 at Cornerstone Center for the Arts, 520 E. Main Street. They will host a reception from 5-8 p.m. at Cornerstone. The Crosbys have collaborated on this collection to create paintings inspired by fantasy lore and fairy tales. The two incorporate acrylic pouring techniques and form achieved through utilization of paint, marker, and resin to create whimsical pieces that capture the imagination. The audience may recognize some favorite characters and nods to stories from childhood in…


IU Health Ball Receives National Recognition From U.S. News and World Report

By IU Health— IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital recognized as ‘high performing’ for kidney failure, COPD, diabetes, heart attack, heart failure and stroke. INDIANAPOLIS — U.S. News & World Report has released its 2022-2023 ‘Best Hospitals’ rankings that include Indiana University Health Medical Center among the nation’s top adult hospitals for the 25th consecutive year. IU Health Medical Center remains the No. 1-ranked hospital in Indiana and Indianapolis and the only nationally ranked adult hospital in the state. U.S. News evaluated more than 4,500 medical centers nationwide in 35 specialties, procedures and conditions to create its rankings. For 2022-2023, IU…


James McMurtry to Headline Free Concert at Muncie’s Canan Commons

By Rick Zeigler— MUNCIE, IN—Acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter James McMurtry and his band will be performing a FREE outdoor concert as part of the 2022 Muncie Three Trails Music Series. The concert will take place at 7:00 PM on Saturday, July 30th at Canan Commons (500 S. Walnut St.) in the heart of downtown Muncie, IN. Muncie native Mike Martin and the Beautiful Mess will open the show. More than 30 years after his debut release, the critically acclaimed Too Long in the Wasteland, co-produced by John Mellencamp, James McMurtry has become what’s known as a songwriter’s songwriter, someone whose facility…


Sursa American Organ Competition to Take Place September 9-11

By Stephen C. Price, D.Mus.— MUNCIE, IN– Six of the country’s top young organists will perform in the Sursa American Organ Competition on the Ball State University campus September 9-11. The musicians will perform on a Goulding & Wood organ in Sursa Performance Hall. All events throughout the competition are free and open to the public. The final round will be held on Sunday, September 11, from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., and audience members can listen to the organists and vote for their favorite player. “We’re proud to host this competition of world-class musicians for the fourth time,” said Stephen Price,…


Get No Cost COVID-19 Test Kits and/or Vaccinations at Open Door Health Services

By Suzanne Clem— Muncie, IN – Community members have the opportunity to receive no-cost COVID-19 test kits, as well as no-cost Covid vaccination this week at Open Door Health Services. Free at-home test kits will be distributed Wednesday, July 27 and Thursday, July 28 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at Open Door’s administrative site, located at 220 S. Walnut St. in Muncie. The public is invited to pick up a supply for homes, workplaces, or civic organizations. Free Covid vaccinations, including boosters, are available Thursday, July 28 from 2-5 p.m. at Open Door’s downtown Muncie health center, located at 333 S. Madison…


Students Can Combat Inflation by Attending Ivy Tech

By Jennifer Gasiorek— MUNCIE, IN– Pursuing a certificate or degree can be affordable and lead to a great career. Americans need options to maximize their earning potential while saving money to obtain the skills to be workforce ready. Inflation is at a 40 year high and Hoosiers are feeling the pinch of rising costs of gas, groceries, healthcare, and utilities. These rapidly rising costs of living are negatively impacting local families, especially students. Attending Ivy Tech Community College is an option that makes sense. Ivy Tech Muncie-Henry County is uniquely navigating these issues by offering a structured schedule along with…


The Clubhouse @Accutech is Newest Downtown Muncie Entertainment and Dining Venue

By Scott Smalstig, Director of Community Growth for Accutech— MUNCIE, IN — The Clubhouse @Accutech, a family entertainment and restaurant venue, has opened in downtown Muncie, on the first floor of the Accutech building on South Walnut Street. Adam Unger, President of Accutech, a leading software company for the wealth management industry, says it’s all part of a bigger vision. “My view of philanthropy is to create jobs, improve quality of place and instill pride in our city,” says Unger. “The Clubhouse is our first spin-off business that we think will do just that. We’ve been very intentional about our vision….


The Frye Family Band to Perform Free Concert on July 31st

By Linda DeHaven— MUNCIE, IN—The Frye Family Band will present a concert at The Garden at Main St., 801 E. Main St., Muncie, IN on July 31, at 6 pm. “Inspiring, encouraging, entertaining” – these are just a few words frequently used to describe the Frye Family Band. From their tight harmonies and light-hearted toe-tapping songs, to those which will stir your soul, the Frye Family Band shares their music and message with admirable transparency and relentless hope. Tom Frye is a consummate musician and song writer with a passion for God. Frye said, “I memorized Psalm 67 in college and…