Articles by Mike Rhodes

2021 Muncie Pride to Kick Off During June Arts Walk

By Amy Leffingwell— Muncie, IN—The second annual Muncie Pride will kick off on Thursday, June 3rd at Cornerstone Park with a proclamation from Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour. This will be the first Pride event in a series of monthly events starting with the kick off in June (the official Pride month) and continuing all the way to Queer History Month in October. Four scholarships will be awarded to local students whose essays will be read by a panel of judges. This…

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DWNTWN Muncie’s Annual Brink of Summer ArtsWalk, Flower Hour Events to Return June 3rd 

 By Melissa Jones— Muncie, IN — The annual Brink of Summer ArtsWalk—which was canceled last year due to the pandemic—returns June 3 from 5–8 p.m. The free community event throughout DWNTWN celebrates the arts culture in Muncie, featuring local artisans performing their craft, YART (a yard sale for art) and art exhibits and galleries.  Canan Commons will feature live music and performances from Masterworks Chorale, Muncie Ballet Studio, America’s Hometown Band Jazz Ensemble and Jacob Smith Ensemble.  New this year,…


John Carlson: Tales of a Teenager at War

By John Carlson— Dick Courtney was a man of great stature, not just physically, but also as measured by friendliness, kindness and humor. That’s a rare combination. I got to know Courtney years ago, following the publication of his book “Normandy to the Bulge: An American Infantry GI in Europe During World War II.” Being a guy who sometimes hangs with writers, I had met a couple Greatest Generation war veterans from hereabouts who had also written war memoirs. There…


YMCA Board Votes to Move Forward With New Facility on Muncie Central Campus

By Kristen McConnell— Muncie, IN,— The YMCA of Muncie Board of Directors voted this morning to pursue a new downtown facility located at Muncie Central High School (MCHS). Board members approved an internal site selection committee’s recommendation for the project between the YMCA and Muncie Community Schools (MCS). The organizations will now collaborate to finalize a letter of intent and formal memorandum of understanding. YMCA President, Chad Zaucha, stated the project deepens the existing partnership with the school and will…


Project Sybertooth: Ball Brothers Foundation Funds Program to Enhance Cybercrimes Training

By Melissa Jones— Muncie, IN — As technology grows, so too does the threat of cyber attacks on the community. “Cybercrimes are the crime of the future. It’s so rapidly evolving, and we see how it can really have such a detrimental effect on our community,” said Jim Duckham, chief of the Ball State University Police Department. “Someone can be in another part of the world and be committing a crime that impacts our community.” In an effort to proactively…


DWNTWN Muncie to Host Events Every Weekend This Summer

By Melissa Jones— Muncie, IN — This summer, visitors to DWNTWN Muncie will find something new and exciting to do every weekend. Now through August, DWNTWN WKNDS will offer new events each week, including live music, movies and more. “After a year of postponed events, we’re excited to once again welcome back a diverse range of programs, brought to you by either Downtown Development, downtown area businesses or other organizations—every single weekend,” said Vicki Veach, executive director of Muncie Downtown…


Yorktown High School Ranked As One of Indiana’s Best High Schools

By Emme Hembree, student writer/journalist, Yorktown High School— Yorktown, IN—Yorktown High School ranked #23 as one of Indiana’s best high schools, according to US News & World Report. To Yorktown Community Schools superintendent Greg Hinshaw, one of Yorktown’s biggest strengths is the advanced placement (AP) course turnout. “The reality is, AP tends to score higher on a measure of school-wide effectiveness in high schools just like ours. We are working on creating a college transfer core out of our 27…


Shea Johnson Hits Hole-in-One During Annual Hillcroft Golf Scramble

By Dan Wolfert— Muncie, IN—There’s a good chance Tim Beaty was looking down from high above during the 17th Annual Hillcroft Services Golf Scramble, held at The Players Club at Woodland Trails in Yorktown a few weeks back. He must have absolutely loved what he saw watching hole No. 13. Tim, affectionately known as Timbo to many, heartbreakingly lost his brave battle with COVID- 19 this past September at the age of 63. He participated in many different services at…


Global Packaging Manufacturer Selects Muncie as Second U.S. Plant Location

By Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance— Muncie, IN—Global packaging manufacturer CANPACK announced today it will build its second U.S.-based, state-of-the-art aluminum beverage can body manufacturing plant in Muncie, creating over time approximately 345 high-paying, local jobs by 2023. The proposed project, which represents a $380 million investment in Delaware County and the State of Indiana with the potential to expand to 425 jobs and $490 million by 2025, will be located on 139 acres of land on the southwest corner…


‘A Can is Never Just a Can’—WATCH

By Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance— Muncie, IN—Global packaging manufacturer CANPACK announced today it will build its second U.S.-based, state-of-the-art aluminum beverage can body manufacturing plant in Muncie, creating over time approximately 345 high-paying, local jobs by 2023. The proposed project, which represents a $380 million investment in Delaware County and the State of Indiana with the potential to expand to 425 jobs and $490 million by 2025, will be located on 139 acres of land on the southwest corner…