Articles by Mike Rhodes

Ivy Tech Muncie-Henry County – Beyond the Degree

By Lesley Devoss— Muncie, IN – Ivy Tech Community College is passionate about student success. Many students have gone on to do great things with their associate degrees and certificates. Brian Wehrle is one such student. He shared why he made the decision to attend Ivy Tech Muncie-Henry County as well as how his associate degree in Advanced Automation and Robotics Technology (AART) helped him earn a position with Amazon. “I chose Ivy Tech Muncie due to it being close…

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Community Partnerships Bring Vaccines to Muncie Southside

By Lorri Markum, Meridian Health Services— Muncie, IN—Meridian Health Services and Urban Light Community Church provided opportunities for people in the community to receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Associate Pastor Maria Wilson, MSW along with Senior Pastor Andrew Draper, Ph.D. both of Urban Light, are passionate about their congregation and the surrounding community. Wilson and Lisa Suttle, Regional Vice President of Clinical Services for Meridian, work together on Mobilizing Muncie’s Healthcare sub-committee and wanted to fulfill the need to…


Delaware County COVID-19 Update, April 1st

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. Delaware County weekly COVID-19 updates are released every Thursday and include information from the Indiana State Department of Health county metrics dashboard, which is updated every Wednesday afternoon.  “I am excited to see the eligibility be completely opened this week to all Indiana residents…


John Carlson: In Spiral-Cuts, What Goes Around…

By John Carlson— Yeah, OK, sure, I get it.  The 21st Century is a time of marvelous achievement, what with all the electronic advancements and stuff. But there’s an even more remarkable advancement, one in a totally different field of endeavor, that too often we take for granted. Spiral-cut ham. Now, before continuing, I regret starting off any piece of writing with references to modern advancements, be they in the fields of personal communications or meat. Anymore, “the latest exciting…


Anderson University and Ball State University Announce Engineering Partnership

By Anderson University and Ball State University Marketing and Communications— Anderson, IN — Anderson University (AU) and Ball State University (BSU) are proud to announce a new partnership, through which students will have the opportunity to earn a dual degree. BSU students will study either astronomy or physics from BSU alongside one of AU’s ABET-accredited engineering programs — computer, electrical, or mechanical — housed within the AU School of Science and Engineering. The partnership program is designed to take five years…


How Muncie Symphony Orchestra’s New Executive Director Plans to Transform the Community

By Melissa Jones— Muncie, IN — Music has the power to unify, said Scott Watkins. As the new executive director of the Muncie Symphony Orchestra, Watkins plans to do just that: bring the community together through music. “There’s something about the beauty and the truth in music—when it comes together, it creates something very powerful,” Watkins said. “Music has the power to unify, it really does. It goes straight to the heart; people feel it, and they’re a part of…


Ball State University Dedicates Ginn Woods as Nature Preserve

By BSU Marketing and Communications— Muncie, IN – Ball State University’s Board of Trustees approved a proposal during Friday’s meeting to dedicate Ginn Woods as a state nature preserve. President Geoffrey S. Mearns will sign the proposal and send the application to the Indiana Natural Resources Commission for approval on May 18. Owned and maintained by Ball State, Ginn Woods is Indiana’s second-largest protected old-growth forest. The land is 161 acres and is the largest and highest quality woodland in…


Cancelled: United Way to Celebrate Campaign With Outdoor Concert on April 1st

Editor’s note: Due to the forecasted cold weather on April 1, United Way of Delaware, Henry and Randolph Counties has decided to postpone their Celebration event. The concert has been rescheduled and will now take place on Saturday, May 15th at 3:30pm at Canan Commons. By Juli Metzger— Muncie, IN—United Way of Delaware, Henry and Randolph Counties invites its donors, partners, and other community stakeholders to join them in celebrating a remarkable fundraising campaign on April 1 – in conjunction with…


Thriving Not Surviving: Muncie Neighborhoods Are THRIVING During the Pandemic

By Heather Williams, Task Force 2 Leader, Muncie Action Plan—   Muncie, IN—For many, the 2020 I.D.E.A. Conference was the last large in-person event they attended prior to the COVID-19 lock-down that shifted community building work over the last year. This year marked the 6th Annual I.D.E.A. Conference, which was held on Saturday, March 6th at Pruis Hall on Ball State’s Campus. This year’s event was held in-person as well as broadcasted live via Muncie Action Plan’s Facebook page. The…


Delaware County COVID-19 Update, March 25th

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. Delaware County weekly COVID-19 updates are released every Thursday and include information from the Indiana State Department of Health county metrics dashboard, which is updated every Wednesday afternoon. Earlier this week, Gov. Eric Holcomb announced that all Indiana residents aged 16 and older will…