Articles by Mike Rhodes

Photo by Amanda Kishel featuring Jennifer Stanley as Donna.

Entertainment July 2, 2021

‘Mamma Mia!,’ Here We Go Again

By Michelle Kinsey— Muncie, IN – The pandemic stopped the music, but not for long. Muncie Civic Theatre planned to unleash its inner “Dancing Queen” in April 2020 with the much-anticipated musical “Mamma Mia!” The musical, which features the hits of 70s Swedish supergroup ABBA, tells the funny, sunny, heart-warming story of a young woman’s search for her birth father before she takes a trip down the aisle on a Greek isle. Songs include “Dancing Queen,” “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!,” “The…

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Qiana and her kids. Photo provided

Education July 2, 2021

Muncie Central High School Students Earned Degrees From Ivy Tech Community College

By Jennifer Gasiorek— Muncie, IN– Muncie Central High School offers the Early College dual credit program in partnership with Ivy Tech Community College. Sixty-four 2021 Muncie Central graduates earned enough credits to transfer at the sophomore or junior level to a four-year college of their choice, saving local students thousands of dollars as they prepare for their future. Through the program, graduates earned an associate’s degree in general studies or their state transfer general elective core (STEGC) from Ivy Tech…

Health care gets pretty sticky when you are wearing these things. Photo by Nancy Carlson

Carlson July 1, 2021

John Carlson: Rehab’s a Hairy Situation

By John Carlson— So it’s come to this: three sticky little round things per session. If you’ve ever had a heart EKG, you are familiar with them.  They’re the flat gluey suckers used to stick those wired doohickeys – as they are commonly referred to by those of us intimately familiar with advanced medical terminology – to your skin. Make that, to the hairs of your skin. Wearing those things is a fact of life down in cardiac rehab. Cardiac…

(L): Reverend Dr. Ronald Naylor is pictured receiving the award with (R): Terry Pence, Vice President of Operations for IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital and Chairman of the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Photo by Matt Howell

Business June 30, 2021

Reverend Dr. Ronald Naylor Receives Chamber’s 2021 Legacy Gala Award

By Brenda Brumfield— Muncie, IN—The Muncie-Delaware County Legacy Gala Award celebration was held the evening of June 30th, at the Horizon Convention Center and honored The Reverend Doctor Ronald Naylor. Among those who paid tribute to the legacy of Rev. Naylor were Laura Williamson, Executive Director of the Muncie Civic Theatre; John Foster, an Elder at First Presbyterian Church; Dr. Saber Bahrami, American Health Network; Van Smith retired CEO of Ontario Corporation and past Chairman of the U.S. Chamber of…

TThe Muncie Symphony Orchestra.

Entertainment June 29, 2021

Muncie Symphony Orchestra to Host Free Fourth of July Concert

By Seth Stegall— Yorktown, IN — The community is invited to celebrate the Fourth of July as Muncie Symphony Orchestra pays tribute to America in a free outdoor concert during Yorktown’s holiday celebrations at Civic Green. Patriotic Pops, presented by LifeStream Services, will feature several classic songs, including “America the Beautiful” and “1812 Overture,” with selected fanfares and marches that celebrate America’s history and heritage. Along with the instrumental selections, there will be a vocal section of the concert. Immediately following…

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

Business June 29, 2021

East Central Indiana to Apply for up to $50 Million in READI Grant Funds

By ECIRP— MUNCIE, Indiana – The East Central Indiana Regional Partnership (ECIRP) will apply for the state’s Regional Economic Acceleration Development Initiative (READI) program, which could result in up to $50 million in local funding. The region includes seven East Central Indiana counties – Blackford, Delaware, Grant, Henry, Jay, Randolph and Wayne. READI, which was announced in May by Indiana Gov. Eric J. Holcomb and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), is an initiative that is dedicating $500 million in…

Photo provided by Muncie Action Plan

Non-Profit June 28, 2021

MAP Offers FREE Dinner and Discussion With Special Guest, Derek Peterson on June 29th

By Christina Ziuchkovski— Muncie, IN—How do you measure love? Depending on who you ask, there are countless answers to this question. Derek Peterson, founder of Web of Support, measures love based on the amount of support a person feels and can correlate that to their success. The Web of Support is a local mentoring initiative that uses a relational approach to help youth and adults identify, expand, and strengthen their own support systems. The Web of Support provides a practical…

Artist rendering of new development.

Business, Health June 28, 2021

New $6.8 Million Medical Office Development Coming to Delaware County

By Keith Roysdon— DELAWARE COUNTY, Indiana – New medical offices – and a substantial investment in the community – are coming to Delaware County. The Delaware County commissioners and Optum – a multi-state healthcare company that includes longtime local provider American Health Network – announced a new multi-million dollar development in northwest Muncie. Optum will open new medical offices offering new services in a new facility adjacent to the current American Health Network offices on Morrison Road north of McGalliard…

Amy Wyse and Brian Gallagher.

We Fly June 28, 2021

Governor Appoints Student Amy Wyse to Ball State’s Board of Trustees

By BSU Communications and Marketing— Muncie, IN – Indiana Gov. Eric J. Holcomb has appointed Amy Wyse as the new student representative on the Ball State University Board of Trustees. Gov. Holcomb also announced that current trustee Brian Gallagher was reappointed to a four-year term, which is effective through 2024. Ms. Wyse will serve a two-year term through 2023. “Ms. Wyse is an outstanding student, and she clearly has a passion for Ball State and for making an impact on…

The Town of Yorktown Endowment Fund annually supports grants for projects benefiting resident of Yorktown. This year grants were awarded to the Yorktown / Mt. Pleasant Township Historical Alliance and the Yorktown Band Boosters Association.

Non-Profit June 28, 2021

Yorktown Non-Profits Receive $3,500 in Grant Funding From Yorktown Endowment Fund

By Kallie Sulanke— Muncie, Ind. – The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, Inc., through the Town of Yorktown Endowment Fund, is awarding $3,500 in grants to two organizations serving the Yorktown community. The Yorktown / Mt. Pleasant Township Historical Alliance has been awarded $2,500. The Historical Alliance is working toward a safer and more attractive facility. This grant will support carpet replacement. The Yorktown Band Boosters Association has been awarded $1,000. The grant will be used to purchase…