Articles by Mike Rhodes

Grateful Rescue founder Pamela Terhune holds "Piper", one of 15 dogs rescued from an evicted backyard breeder. Photo provided.

Non-Profit November 15, 2021

Grateful Rescue and Sanctuary Saves 15 Dogs From Backyard Breeder

By Pamela Terhune— MUNCIE, IN—Grateful Rescue and Sanctuary is asking for donations and assistance from the public after saving 15 dogs from a backyard breeding eviction. “When these precious dogs arrived at our facility, they were scared and unsocialized.   We’re currently spending time with each one, making sure they are getting the proper veterinary care, food and behavior training”, said Pamela Terhune, founder of Grateful Rescue. The dogs include two Huskies, a Chocolate Labrador, two Bernese Mountain Dog mixes and a…

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Education November 14, 2021

S.T.E.P. (Skilled Trades Education Program) Applications Now OPEN

By Barbara Schafer— MUNCIE, Ind.—ecoREHAB’s highly popular S.T.E.P. program is now taking applications through November 19th. In partnership with Eastern Indiana Works and Ball State University, S.T.E.P. will provide training in the basic skills needed for a career in the construction industry. This ​free​ eighteen week program will be a combination of classroom and onsite training focused on carpentry, electrical, HVAC, masonry, and plumbing. Sessions will also be presented on proper workplace behavior and interview skills. The scheduled ​start date…

There’s nothing like a family selfie to mark the end of a long journey. Photo by Nancy Carlson

Carlson November 12, 2021

John Carlson: Historic Skyline Drive’s a Trip

By John Carlson— “Road trip!” If you remember, that was the clarion call which sent the guys of Delta Tau Chi en route to some comedic mayhem in the movie “Animal House.” A similar need to hit the road recently sent Nancy,  Jersey the Wonder Dog, and me on our way to Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive, motoring along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This whimsical journey proved educational, mostly in a good way. It was “mostly” because…

U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.)

Government November 11, 2021

U.S. Senator Todd Young’s Remarks on Veterans Day

By U.S. Senator from Indiana Todd Young— INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.—In the town of Hartsville, in Bartholomew County, not more than 60 miles south of here, there is a small red headstone in a Baptist cemetery. It reads simply: B.W. Mitchell 1816-1868. Below that, it mentions the 27th Indiana volunteer infantry in letters so small they strain the eye. Corporal Barton Warren Mitchell was a 45 year old railroad worker from Putnam County who joined the Union Army at the onset of…

Ball State graduate Scott Jones provided this photo of his family. Scott's father was a veteran.

Government November 11, 2021

Investing in Our Veterans Through the ‘Next Level Veterans Initiative’

By Dr. Kimberly Roop, Medicaid Plan President for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Indiana— As a U.S. Air Force veteran, I had the privilege of serving with men and women who put personal priorities aside to serve and protect our country. As I saw first-hand, our service members are trained to do more with less. We make sacrifices and step in front of harm’s way when duty calls and pack up personal belongings on command. We are trained…

Wes Del High School senior Zack Todd—member of Pridemark Construction's 'Future Leaders of America' series.

Education November 10, 2021

Zack Todd—Member of Pridemark Construction’s ‘Future Leaders of America’ Series

By Stacey A. Shannon— MUNCIE, Ind.—Editor’s note: The Future Leaders of America series on MuncieJournal.com profiles high school seniors who display leadership qualities in their school and the community. The series is brought to you by Pridemark Construction. Sports are a big part of Wes Del High School senior’s Zack Todd’s life. He plays both basketball and baseball, is part of the Athletic Leadership Council and is part of the Future Christian Athletes of America. But Todd isn’t all about…

The winners of the 2017 Mayor's Arts Awards presented at Cornerstone Center for the Arts. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Non-Profit November 10, 2021

Celebrate the Arts at the Mayor’s Arts Awards, Nov. 12th

By Sarah Shaffer, Muncie Arts & Culture Council— MUNCIE, IN—The Muncie Arts and Culture Council (MuncieArts), in conjunction with the City of Muncie, will celebrate the 4th biennial Mayor’s Arts Awards on Friday, Nov. 12, at Sursa Performance Hall on the Ball State University campus. The Mayor’s Arts Awards are the most prestigious honors given by the city to individual artists, teachers, non-profit organizations, and patrons of the arts. Awardees will be honored during the 7:30 p.m. ceremony and a community reception will follow in the lobby. Both events are…

A metal sword lays on a brown table. Photo by Jonathan Kemper on Unsplash

Entertainment November 9, 2021

World Record Holding Sword Swallower Coming to Muncie’s Civic Theater

By Mikey Skoglund—  MUNCIE, Ind.—A world record holding sword swallower is coming to Muncie. Dan Meyer, who is originally from Indiana, is one of the world’s only sword swallowers. Dan will be at the Muncie Civic Theatre on November 21st as part of The Jar Community Church’s Anxiety Island series. Dan has been on dozens of television shows such as America’s Got Talent, Entertainment Tonight, Jimmy Kimmel Live, ESPN’s First Take, The Today Show, MTV, CMT, USA Network and many…

Ribbon-cutting of the new Menard Training Facility and Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute. Photo by Mike Rhodes

We Fly November 9, 2021

Ball State Opens New Menard Training Facility and Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute

By Mike Rhodes, Editor-in-Chief— MUNCIE, Ind.—At a Ball State ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday, the Menard Training Facility and Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute was introduced to the public. The new program and facility was made possible by major gifts of grant funding from the Charles Koch Foundation and the Menard Family. Ball State President Jeffrey Mearns said, “The Charles Koch Foundation and the Menard family understand the value of entrepreneurship and the way entrepreneurs drive innovation, creativity and prosperity.” Additional speakers at the ribbon-cutting…

Photo provided by Ivy Tech Community College.

Education November 9, 2021

Ivy Tech Begins ‘Plan Ahead Get Ahead’ Initiative

By Lesley Devoss— MUNCIE, Ind. – When students plan ahead, they get ahead. At Ivy Tech Community College Muncie-Henry County, the Plan Ahead Get Ahead initiative is being utilized to support students and help them move forward through their academic journey. Students who were registered for fall 2021 and registered for the spring semester by October 19, 2021 were entered to free a class for the spring term. For the Muncie-Henry County Campus, this student was Chelsey Porter. Porter is…