Articles by Mike Rhodes

Delaware County officials ceremoniously broke ground on a new trail along McGalliard Road on Thursday, May 13, 2021. Photo by Intersection

Government May 15, 2021

Delaware County Adding New Trail for Recreation, Safety

By Keith Roysdon— Delaware County, IN – People who walk, run or bike on Delaware County’s trails enjoy their recreational opportunities, but also their convenience for access to retail stores, restaurants and other businesses. They appreciate the added safety factor, since trails act as sidewalks along busy streets and roads. And now the Delaware County commissioners are adding even more trail mileage in one of the area’s most traffic-intensive business districts. The county has announced 1.5 miles of new trail…

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Pictured L-R: North View Principal Heidi White, Meg Jercha, MCS CEO Dr. Lee Ann Kwiatkowski.

Education May 14, 2021

Meg Jercha, Isaac Denniston Named MCS Teachers of the Year

By Andy Klotz— Muncie, IN– Muncie Community Schools’ has named Megan Jercha and Isaac Denniston as its Teachers of the Year for the 2020-21 school year. Jercha, a 4th grade teacher at North View Elementary, is the district’s primary Teacher of the Year (grades K-5) while Denniston, a Choir teacher at Northside Middle School, is its secondary Teacher of the Year (grades 6-12). MCS administrators selected Jercha for her dedication and leadership as she helped develop curriculum while building a…

It’s truly amazing, the impact a teacher can have on your future. Photo by Nancy Carlson

Carlson May 14, 2021

John Carlson: Some Late Love For Teachers

By John Carlson— Recently I became aware that I had failed to observe Teacher Appreciation Week. Now, as we all know, these are days when darned near everything has an Appreciation Week, and many of them seem pretty iffy. Paper Clips Appreciation Week. Cicada Killer Insect Spray Appreciation Week, which is probably in the works. And somewhere out there is surely a week called Broccoli Appreciation Week, which I choose not to celebrate. But Teacher Appreciation Week is another matter…

Photo provided

Entertainment May 14, 2021

Minnetrista Announces Free Community Event: ‘Garden Fair’

By Minnetrista— Muncie, IN—Garden Fair, a free two-day community event, will be returning to Minnetrista in 2021. Garden Fair is the ultimate destination for gardeners of any experience level. On Saturday, June 5, from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday, June 6 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. stop by the Garden Fair to visit a wide variety of vendors offering beautiful plants, landscaping tools, and more. Visitors will get a jump start on their summer planting and plans,…

Club kids make a presentation during the Great Futures Start With Us virtual event on April 22.

Non-Profit May 14, 2021

More Than $37,000 Raised for Boys and Girls Clubs of Muncie Summer Camp

By Qiana Clemens, Marketing Committee, Boys & Girls Clubs of Muncie— Muncie, IN—The Boys & Girls Clubs of Muncie would like to thank the generous donors and sponsors of this year’s Great Futures Start With Us event, presented by Magna Powertrain. The virtual event, held on Thursday, April 22, raised more than $37,000. In true Boys & Girls Clubs innovative fashion, the fundraising event shifted to a solely virtual event enabling the Clubs to increase the net amount raised for…

United Way’s Denise King, Director of Resource Development delivers diaper collection boxes. Photo provided

Non-Profit May 13, 2021

United Way Community Diaper Drive Kicks Off

By Holly Juip— Muncie, IN – United Way of Delaware, Henry and Randolph Counties is kicking off its first Community Diaper Drive. The Diaper Drive will run through June 4. The Community Diaper Drive is a community-wide donation effort, done in partnership with local businesses and organizations, to stock local baby pantries with diapers for struggling families. This year, the Community Diaper Drive will also take place in Henry, Randolph, Madison and Fayette counties. Diapers are one of the most expensive…

From left to right; top to bottom: Colin Ashby, Hudson Bouw, Olivia Close, Natalie Moulton, Emma Vivian White, and Aleah Wright.

Education, Non-Profit May 13, 2021

Community Foundation Announces More 2021 Scholarship Recipients 

By Kallie Sulanke— Congratulations to the following graduates – Colin Ashby, a senior at Cowan Jr./Sr. High School, is the recipient of the E.K. Keesling Memorial Scholarship and the Nicholas Brooks Sherfy Memorial Scholarship. Colin plans to attend Ivy Tech Community College for general studies. He is the son of Shannon and Jena Ashby. Hudson Bouw, a senior at Yorktown High School, is the recipient of the Carolyn A. Lucas Scholarship. Hudson plans to attend Taylor University to study mathematics….

Pictured L-R: Qiana Clemens, Wayne Johnson, Michelle Hill.

Education May 13, 2021

Ivy Tech’s Wi-Fi Initiative For Change

By Lesley DeVoss— Muncie, IN – Ivy Tech Community College Muncie-Henry County Foundation is launching the Community Wi-Fi Initiative. Through unrestricted donations provided by the Marianne Glick and Mike Woods COVID-19 match dollars, they are able to assist students with Wi-Fi-internet access points at Earthstone Terrace, a public housing complex on the southside of Muncie. With the help of Ivy Tech Muncie’s IT and the Muncie Housing Authority’s IT departments, Ivy Tech has established a router-hub in the complex office…

Awarding of the Susie Burns Memorial Scholarship. Photo provided

Non-Profit May 13, 2021

Winners of Young Artist Exhibition Announced

By Claire Yazel— Hosted by Cornerstone Center for the Arts in partnership with PrimeTrust Federal Credit Union Muncie, IN – The fifth annual Young Artist Exhibition took place on Thursday, May 6, at Cornerstone Center for the Arts. The winners and their families were invited to a private award ceremony in the Cornerstone auditorium where they received their prizes. The exhibition received over 200 submissions from students across Delaware County in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, all…

Aerial image of the IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital campus. Photo provided

Health May 12, 2021

Hospital Emergency Room vs Primary Care Physician, ‘When to Go Where’ and Why

By Courtney Schmoll— Muncie, IN – The emergency department at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital has been extremely busy. To help ensure that our patients are receiving the best care possible, we encourage you to use this general guideline to determine whether you should go to your doctor’s office versus the emergency room. How do I know if my illness requires emergency medicine or a primary care visit? The emergency room is designed for treating and ruling out life-threatening, true medical…