Articles by Mike Rhodes

Jeannie Hamblin Fox, co-chair for 2020 fundraising campaign for United Way of Delaware, Henry and Randolph Counties, poses as “Rosie the Riveter.” Fox is site director for the Ivy Tech Henry County campus.

Non-Profit September 2, 2020

United Way’s 2020 Day of Caring Goes Virtual

By Juli Metzger— Muncie, IN—Friday, Sept. 11, 2020 is United Way’s Day of Caring. Traditionally on this day, individuals from around the community gather to serve partnering non-profits by completing volunteer projects. This year, to ensure the safety of volunteers and our non-profit partners, Day of Caring volunteers will continue to make an impact for struggling, working families through virtual advocacy opportunities. Prior to the pandemic, ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed) data showed that 43% of our communities’ households are under…

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This illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion.

Health September 2, 2020

Delaware County Weekly COVID-19 Updates, September 1

Editor’s note: The following COVID-19 update is brought to you through a collaboration of healthcare partners including Delaware County Health Department, Delaware County Emergency Management Agency, Delaware County Office of Information, and other major healthcare providers. Muncie, IN—Last week (Aug. 19–26), Delaware County dropped to a 3.8% positive testing rate for COVID-19. This rate is considerably lower than the previous two weeks, which had ranged from 6.2–8.2%. The CDC recommends positive testing rates should be well under 5% for at…

Scott Smalstig is pictured giving a group tour of Meridian's Maternal Treatment Program. File Photo

Health August 31, 2020

Meridian and WLBC To Host Virtual Fundraiser For Maternal Treatment Program on Sept 3rd

By Scott Smalstig— Muncie, IN—Join Meridian Health Services and 104.1 HD1 WLBC the evening of Thursday, September 3 for a unique, virtual Rialzo-style fundraiser, celebrating Meridian’s Maternal Treatment Program, which serves addicted mothers and their newborn babies. The program provides specialized care and support for drug-addicted mothers and their babies born suffering from withdrawal. Meridian’s goal is to reduce substance use, abuse and addiction among mothers and pregnant women while keeping these mothers close to their babies as they are…

Family First Indoor RV and Boat Storage, the Shaffers’  new, built-from-the-ground-up business in Albany. Photo provided

Business August 31, 2020

New Indoor RV Storage Business in Delaware County Emphasizes ‘Family First’

By Delaware County Redevelopment Commission— DELAWARE COUNTY, Indiana – When Joshua and Sarah Shaffer looked for a place to store their new RV for the winter, they couldn’t find one within a two-hour drive. So they decided to build a facility for indoor recreational vehicle storage, right in their home town of Albany, Indiana. Family First Indoor RV and Boat Storage, the Shaffers’  new, built-from-the-ground-up business, opens at 1090 W. Walnut Street – along Indiana 67 in the town of…

Aerial view of the water quality plant. Photo provided

Government, Health August 31, 2020

Bureau of Water Quality to Start Testing Wastewater for Covid-19

By Rick Conrad— Muncie, IN—The Muncie Sanitary District’s Bureau of Water Quality (BWQ) recently began participating in a project designed to help aid the community’s response to Covid-19. Sampling for the presence of coronavirus in wastewaters has emerged as a powerful tool for the early detection of outbreaks. One of the greatest challenges in controlling the spread of this virus has been the lag time between when an infected person becomes contagious versus when they become aware they are infected. With…

Jim Williams, the recipient of the 2020 David Sursa Leadership Award, poses with Kelly K. Shrock, president of The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County. Photo provided

Non-Profit August 29, 2020

Jim Williams Named 2020 Recipient of The Community Foundation’s David Sursa Leadership Award

By: Kallie Sulanke— Muncie, IN—The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, Inc. has announced that Jim Williams has been awarded the 2020 David Sursa Leadership Award to recognize his dedicated service to Muncie Community Schools. Williams was nominated by Muncie Community Schools and Ball State University for his service on the Muncie Community School Board since 2018. He assumed this role shortly after the Ball State University and Muncie Community Schools partnership was approved by the Indiana State Legislature….

Sitting at the little interstate park called The Idle is more than a passing fancy. Photo by: Katie Carlson

Carlson August 28, 2020

John Carlson: Passing Cars, Passing Time

By John Carlson— There are certain beliefs and mannerisms most residents of Central Indiana are thought to share. We’re all Hoosiers. Most of us are devotees of Peyton Manning, high school basketball and breaded tenderloins. Plus, we believe when we die, we’ll be welcomed to heaven by angelic hosts singing Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” while handing us free 16-inch Pizza King Royal Feast pizzas for all of eternity. In keeping with that belief, we’re obviously not the sort of highfalutin snobs…

Mitch Isaacs, Executive Director for Shafer Leadership Academy

Non-Profit August 27, 2020

Shafer Leadership Academy’s Mitch Isaacs to Lead Indiana Leadership Association

By Arrick Garringer— Muncie, IN—Mitch Isaacs, Executive Director for Shafer Leadership Academy, was recently installed as the President of Indiana Leadership Association (ILA). ILA facilitates best practices of leadership in and for the good of Indiana communities. ILA is made up of individual members and organizational members. According to Isaacs, “ILA connects our members through regional events and an annual statewide conference. Most counties in the state have some type of leadership academy. ILA’s job is to provide information, partnership,…

John C. Barlow will be the new MSD District Administrator.

Government August 27, 2020

Muncie Sanitary District Names New District Administrator

By Stephen Brand, MSD Board President— Muncie, IN—The Muncie Sanitary District (MSD) Board of Directors has named a new District Administrator to fill the interim position that has been held for the last year by Board Member Bill Smith. John C. Barlow will be the new MSD District Administrator. The Board of Directors has the authority to hire this position and conducted a search for a candidate that would be able to lead the District into the future and knows…

This illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion.

Health August 25, 2020

Delaware County Weekly COVID-19 Update: August 25th

Editor’s note: The following COVID-19 update is brought to you through a collaboration of healthcare partners including the Delaware County Health Department, Delaware County Emergency Management Agency, Delaware County Office of Information, and other major healthcare providers. Cases and Deaths Last week (Aug. 14–21), Delaware County reported 81 new positive cases of COVID-19 and 2 new deaths, bringing Delaware County’s total numbers to 862 positive cases and 53 deaths since March 2020. While deaths went up (compared with 0 deaths…