Articles by Mike Rhodes

Sadly, playing a mini-saxophone will probably be much harder than you think. Photo by Nancy Carlson

Carlson August 21, 2020

John Carlson: Too ‘Saxy’ For My Talent

By John Carlson— There was a time in my early adulthood when I fancied myself a future singer-songwriter, someone on the order of Gordon Lightfoot or Paul Simon. Then one day, the hard truth dawned on me: In my noble, artistic quest to become a sensitive, idealistic, highly paid professional troubadour whom women pelted on stage with their underwear, I’d bought and sold five guitars without managing to learn a single chord. Plus the noise erupting from my mouth whenever…

Read More
Whitely Community Council will purchase a commercial refrigerator which will allow them to provide additional perishable goods during the Whitely Neighborhood Pantry. Photo provided

Non-Profit August 19, 2020

Community Foundation Grants Additional $8,000 in Recovery Funding to Community Organizations

By Kallie Sulanke— Muncie, IN—The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, Inc. awarded an additional $8,000 to four nonprofit organizations to support emergency response and recovery efforts related to the COVID-19 crisis. Community Foundation staff continue to connect with and listen to the plans, challenges, and needs of a variety of vital community organizations across Delaware County. Decisions for this sixth round of response funding were made to come along side these vital community organizations with identified needs related to community recovery related to the Coronavirus Pandemic. This is the sixth round of response funding including…

be Hunt, a manufacturing engineer at Magna Powertrain is pictured during a Youtube video where he describes his work at Magna Powertrain.

Education August 19, 2020

‘I Am The Future of Work’ Campaign Connects Students to STEM Careers

By Kyra Zylstra— Muncie, IN—I AM THE FUTURE OF WORK, a career profiles campaign, connects students and job searchers with an up-close and personal look at careers in technology and advanced manufacturing. This pilot project of the Future of Work initiative also provides next steps for continuing education and job prospects. Through the first series of videos, employees from Muncie-based Magna Powertrain and Yorktown-based Mursix Corporation highlight their job duties and the educational requirements needed to have a career in…

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 18, 2020

Delaware County Weekly COVID-19 Updates

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 Delaware County is experiencing a considerably high rate of positive COVID-19 tests. Last week’s tests (August 5–12) resulted in an 8.2% positive testing rate; the CDC suggests that this number should be well under 5%. As of Friday, August 14,…

Photo provided

Non-Profit August 18, 2020

Muncie Pride Festival to be a Virtual Event

By Amy Leffingwell— Muncie, IN—Due to safety concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Muncie Pride will be a virtual event rather than being held at Canan Commons, as originally planned. The six-day event will take place September 14ththrough the 19thfrom 7:00 -9:00 p.m. each night. “While we are disappointed, this will not be an in-person event. Safety is paramount for participants and attendees,” said Steven Knipp, Pride executive director. “Doing a virtual event is a challenge, but Muncie Pride plans to…

Optimus Primary was officially formed in 2016. Photo provided

Health, Non-Profit August 18, 2020

‘The Future of Medicine’: Local Partnership Enhances Muncie as One of The State’s Leading Medical Hubs 

By: Melissa Jones— MUNCIE, IN — According to Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Delaware County has the fourth-highest number of primary care physicians per capita in the state—a ranking that should mean the county is one of the healthiest. But it’s not.  Of Indiana’s 92 counties, Delaware County ranks 85th. So where’s the disconnect?  Even with Indiana’s fourth-highest primary care physicians per capita, the county has just one primary care physician per 1,030 patients. In fact, the United States as a…

Photo provided

Government August 17, 2020

Delaware County Attracts Growth-Minded Company to Repurpose Empty Industrial Building

DELAWARE COUNTY, Indiana – In another move to create jobs and revenue and reclaim an empty industrial site, the Delaware County (Indiana) commissioners have announced that a closed machine shop in the town of Albany has been purchased by an Illinois company that will relocate its headquarters there. Pinson Manufacturing Company (PMC) will use the 82,000-square-foot former Littler Diecast building in Albany, installing equipment to begin creating products, jobs and tax revenue. PMC will perform CNC (computer controlled) milling and…

Photo provided

Non-Profit August 17, 2020

Muncie Competes For National Civic League Honors

By Erin Moore, BSU Office of Community Engagement— Muncie, IN—All Muncie residents are invited to watch local advocates share our city’s story with the National Civic League for their 2020 All-America City Award at 12:45 pm EST on Monday, August 17. The performance will be livestreamed and available to the broader community from the League’s website and Facebook page. The All-America City Award is the National Civic League’s flagship program. Started in 1949, the program honors ten U.S. communities each…

Vivian V. Conley

Non-Profit August 15, 2020

Six Women To Be Honored At Women’s Equality Day Program

By: WaTasha Barnes Griffin— MUNCIE, IN — The Coalition of Women’s Organizations will have its annual Women’s Equality Day program at 5 p.m. on Aug. 26th. The celebration will honor six local women who have made significant contributions to the community. The program will be a live virtual event.   The year 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing and protecting women’s constitutional right to vote. The passage marked the largest expansion of democracy in the history of our country. This event will…

Pandemic-grown tomatoes look normal, but word is they’re, um, “special.” Photo by: Nancy Carlson

Carlson August 14, 2020

John Carlson: Words With Tomatoes

By: John Carlson— You know the coronavirus pandemic is getting to you when you start talking to tomatoes. It’s even worse when they begin talking back. In my life now, I am pretty much at that point. Oh sure, I talk to Nancy some. “Hi, B******,” I’ll say, using our embarrassing pet name for each other, which if I revealed it here she would quit cooking my suppers. “Hi, B******,” she’ll respond in kind. OK! OK! We call each other…