Articles by Mike Rhodes

Vivian V. Conley

Non-Profit July 7, 2021

Nominate Local Women for Women’s Equality Day

By WaTasha Barnes Griffin— Muncie, IN — The Muncie-Delaware County Coalition of Women’s organizations is once again seeking nominations of local women to honor during the 29th Annual Women’s Equality Day Program. The Coalition invites nominations of women who have made a significant contribution in the arts, education, religion, business, politics, environment, and social or community service by improving the quality of life in our community, according to a press release. Other categories will also be considered. Six women will be honored…

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Caleb preparing for his 2nd attempt at the Snatch

Education July 4, 2021

Local Youth Competes at USA National Weightlifting Competition

By Ryan Hunter— Muncie, IN—On June 26th, local Delta Middle School student, Caleb Hunter, competed at the Nike 2021 National Youth Weightlifting Championship in Detroit. Caleb is a member of the Muncie Weightlifting Club and Youth Sports Performance Program at Muncie CrossFit at the Arsenal. He earned a spot at the national competition by lifting a qualifying total weight in the Snatch and Clean & Jerk in early May. These two lifts can be seen at the Tokyo Olympics this…

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…

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…