Articles by Mike Rhodes

Muncie Civic’s ‘Wizard of Oz’ Cast Includes YOU

By Michelle Kinsey— Muncie, IN—Follow the Yellow Brick Road – or Walnut Street – to Muncie Civic Theatre’s production of The Wizard of Oz June 17-20 at Canan Commons in downtown Muncie. The family fun – which will include food trucks, a hot air balloon and a book giveaway – will begin each evening at 7.pm This is a “Wizard of Oz” production like none other, according to director Bridget Duggleby. “I like the challenge of taking a well-known story and finding ways to surprise the audience,” she said before letting us in on just a few of her plans….

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Delaware County Family Recovery Court to Celebrate Program Graduates

By Miles Hill, Delaware County CASA, Staff Advocate— Muncie, IN—On Tuesday, June 22, 2021, the Delaware County Family Recovery Court will honor the two most recent participants to complete the program with a graduation ceremony. The graduates will add two to the program’s total graduate count of six. The Delaware County Family Recovery Court has been helping families who have been affected by substance use disorder since July 2019. The court operates under Circuit Court 2 with Judge Kimberly Dowling and Juvenile Magistrate Amanda Yonally presiding. The participants have open Department of Child Services cases where parental substance use was an…


Free Books for Children and Teens at Weekend ‘Wizard of Oz’ Performances

By Akilah Nosakhere and  Susan Fisher from Muncie Public Library, Brittany Covert and Bridget Duggleby from Muncie Civic Theatre, and Stacy Wheeler from Classroom Connections of ECI— Muncie, IN—Muncie Civic Theatre (MCT) is partnering with Muncie Public Library and Classroom Connections of East Central Indiana to distribute free books at upcoming performances of The Wizard of Oz at Canan Commons in downtown Muncie. Classroom Connections of ECI (formerly the Back To School Teachers Store) recently received tens of thousands of new books to give to children in our community under their Books Kids Keep Program. “Children’s book distributions and ownership…


Community Foundation Announces More 2021 Scholarship Recipients

By Kallie Sulanke— Congratulations to the following scholarship recipients – Marcus Lane Logan, a senior at Wapahani High School, is the recipient of the Sue Harris Unsung Hero Scholarship. Marcus plans to attend Ball State University to study environmental science. He is the son of Mark and Billie Logan. Nevaeh Orr, a student at Ball State University, is the recipient of the Patricia K. and Franklyn D. Brinkman, Sr. Nursing Scholarship. Nevaeh is studying nursing. Da’Marion Walker, a senior at Muncie Central High School, is the recipient of the Robert L. Thompson Scholarship. Da’Marion plans to attend Anderson University to…


21st Century Scholarship Deadline Is June 30th for Delaware County Students

By Project Leadership— Muncie, IN—Just two weeks remain for Delaware County students to enroll in a state program that can help them pay for college. And help is available to get enrolled. Project Leadership works each year to enroll Delaware County students into the state of Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars program. The Scholars program started in 1990 and is an early- college promise program designed to help ensure that every Indiana student can afford the opportunity provided by a college education. Eligible students who maintain the Scholar Pledge to Excellence in school and life receive a scholarship for up to four…


MSO Puts On Blockbuster Beatles Concert At Canan Commons

By John Carlson— Muncie, IN—For hundreds and hundreds of Muncie folks, making their way to Canan Commons Saturday evening was like time-traveling back to a magical era when all you needed was love and you got by with a little help from your friends. These fans weren’t hearing the Beatles exactly, but they were hearing the next best thing via the Fab Four tribute band Classical Mystery Tour, accompanied by our very own Muncie Symphony Orchestra. How was the concert? Extraordinary, and it would have drawn a sellout crowd had tickets been for sale, but they weren’t. It was FREE….


Accutech Systems Experiences Significant Growth, Expected To Move Downtown July 6th

By Accutech— Muncie, IN – Accutech Systems, a trust and wealth management technology company, has announced its continued momentum in 2021 with 23% year-over-year (YoY) revenue growth, 20 new employees — a 20% increase in its employee base — and 10% growth in customer count. The results were fueled by record revenue increases from the company’s SaaS (software as a service) wealth management platform, Cheetah Wealth Management™, which grew over 20% YoY, and its two new software solutions, Opendigital and Insights, which launched in 2020. Accutech delivers innovative trust and wealth management solutions with exceptional, personalized service to more than…


Nominations Open for 2021 ‘Mayor’s Arts Awards’

Editor’s note: Nominations are now closed.  By Michelle Kinsey— Muncie, IN—The Muncie Arts and Culture Council (MACC), in collaboration with the City of Muncie, is pleased to announce it is accepting nominations for the 2021 Mayor’s Arts Awards. The Mayor’s Arts Awards recognizes the contributions to the cultural community by all visual, performing, and culinary artists, musicians, writers, poets, rappers, directors, producers, craftspeople, arts educators, arts patrons, arts professionals and volunteers, as well as organizations, institutions, government agencies, corporations, and businesses who work in or for the arts primarily benefiting the residents of Muncie. The goal of this program is…


John Carlson: Me Gamble? Not a Chance

By John Carlson— I take great pride in the fact I don’t gamble. In noting this, I’m not setting myself up as “holier-than-thou.” Throughout my life, I have spent considerable time, effort and money in the dogged pursuit of questionable behavior. It’s just that, as far as I can remember, gambling is the only vice I haven’t wholeheartedly embraced at one time or another, and I’m pretty happy about that. Everybody should have at least one vice they don’t adore, right? This adverse reaction to gambling came to me honestly. My Dad only gambled once. That was the first time…


Cardinal 5K Run/Walk: Register Today!

By Angie Pool— Muncie, IN—The Cardinal Greenway is kicking off their Cardinal Summer series of events with the Cardinal 5K Run/Walk Saturday, June 26. It will be offered in both Muncie and Marion. The Muncie edition will be a timed, competitive race that will start and finish at the Wysor St. Depot (700 E. Wysor St.) and include the Hughes Nature Preserve, new Kitselman Bridge and trailhead, John Craddock Wetlands Nature Preserve, Cardinal and White River Greenways. Marion will offer a family friendly, fun run/walk that will travel from the Marion Depot (510 W. 10th St.) to the Miller Ave….