Articles by Mike Rhodes

Reach out to people and offer help. Social distancing should also help reinvest in and recreate social bonds. Photo by: Story blocks

We Fly March 21, 2020

Social Distancing Tips: 15 Ways to Stay Both Sane and Safe

By: Ball State Marketing & Communications— Muncie, IN– Practicing social distancing to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic may sound scary or impossible to do, but there are ways to appropriately handle the process, says Jagdish Khubchandani, a health science professor at Ball State University. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued guidelines to limit the spread of COVID-19 that include recommendations for social distancing—a term epidemiologists use to refer to a conscious effort to reduce close contact between people and hopefully…

Read More
For convenient reading, you can’t beat a nice small book. Photo by: Nancy Carlson

Carlson March 20, 2020

John Carlson: Do Reading And Computers Mix?

By: John Carlson— The more reading I do on computers, the more I appreciate books. Not that, under certain certain circumstances, I don’t appreciate some electronic gizmos as well, you understand. Nancy and I both carry around Kindles. Mine is stuffed with so many e-books, if they had actual pages and covers I’d have to wear a truss. For example, in book form, writer Ron Chernow’s hardcover, best-selling biography of Union general and former president Ulysses S. Grant weighs in…

Photo by Mike Rhodes

Government March 19, 2020

Muncie Named a 2020 Finalist For ‘All America City Award’

By: National Civic League— Denver, CO—The City of Muncie has been named a finalist for the All-America City award presented by the National Civic League. The All America-City award recognizes communities that leverage civic engagement, collaboration, inclusiveness and innovation to successfully address local issues. Each of the finalist communities demonstrated civic engagement practices that are inspirational, inclusive and promising in their ability to unite members of the community to collectively and collaboratively help solve our country’s most pressing and complex…

A wife’s plan for a birthday gift is greeted with, “Say what?” Photo by: Nancy Carlson

Carlson March 13, 2020

John Carlson: ‘Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Hear Ye!’

By: John Carlson— I already know what Nancy is buying me later this year for my seventieth birthday. Hearing aids. It’s not that I want hearing aids. Nor do I need hearing aids. Do we have occasional problems communicating verbally? Sure we do. And does she keep blaming this on what she considers my woeful hearing? Sure she does. But as I keep reminding her, I have trouble hearing her because the older she gets, the less distinctly she pronounces…

Juli A. Metzger, a board member for the Indiana Youth Institute, representing Delaware County is pictured presenting at the State of the Child conference. Photo provided

Non-Profit March 13, 2020

‘State of the Child’ Conference Overview

By: Juli Metzger— Muncie, IN—There is progress to report in the latest available statistics that measure trends among Indiana’s youth, experts said at the recent Indiana Youth Institute State of the Child in Muncie. Cigarette use among Indiana’s youngest is on the decline, and the number of children in working-poor households is going down, for example. The number of high-quality early childhood programs is on the rise, statewide. But statistics also show that vaping is on the rise among young people…

City Hall. File photo.

Government March 12, 2020

City of Muncie Takes Precautions for Coronavirus

By: Jase Crehan, Director of Communications, City of Muncie— At the Advice of the Delaware County Health Department, the City of Muncie Will Be Enacting Procedures to Limit Potential Exposure to COVID-19. Public Procedures At the direction of Jammie Bane, the administrator of the Delaware County Health Department, the City of Muncie will be taking precautions to help protect the health of its citizens and employees. Our goal is to limit exposure of COVID-19; these precautions, in no way, should…

Geoff Hutchinson. Photo provided

We Fly March 12, 2020

Ball State Graduate on Front Lines in Battle Against Coronavirus

By: Marc Ransford— Muncie, IN—From 2014 to 2016, Ball State University graduate Geoff Hutchinson was a Peace Corps volunteer, teaching chemistry in Mozambique. There, he saw the burdens caused by infectious diseases and pledged to do something to help. The 2014 Ball State graduate is fulfilling that promise. Today, Hutchinson is on the front lines in the battle against the coronavirus, working around the clock with scientists at a research center operated by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) outside of Washington, D.C As…

The White Spot laundry is located at 417 N. Reserve Street, Muncie, IN 47303. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Non-Profit March 12, 2020

‘Laundry Love’ Event To Bring Neighbors Together On Saturday

By: Nancy Carlson— Muncie, IN—Riverside/Normal City Neighborhood Association (RNC), in partnership with Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, will hold its 2nd annual LAUNDRY LOVE event this Saturday, March 14th  from 8 am to Noon. With a grant from Thrivent, the Healthy Community Alliance partners will provide a $10 roll of quarters to the first 25 families who come into the White Spot Coin Laundromat, the only one in the RNC neighborhood. Brian Schrieve, the White Spot’s owner, said “Clean clothes are like…

A new Habitat for Humanity home in the process of being constructed. File photo

Non-Profit March 11, 2020

Greater Muncie Habitat for Humanity Receives $100,000 Contribution

By: Jaime Faulkner— Muncie, IN—Greater Muncie Habitat for Humanity humbly celebrates receiving $100,000 from the MutualBank Charitable Foundation in 2020. The donation comes on the heels of the unexpected passing of the MutualBank Charitable Foundation President and MutualBank President and COO, Pat Botts, in October 2019. Dave Heeter, the newly named President of the MutualBank Charitable Foundation, says, “The Foundation board unanimously voted in favor of this contribution as a tangible means of honoring Pat. Pat was an integral part…

Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour. Photo by Mike Rhodes

Government March 10, 2020

Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour Gives His First State Of The City Address; ‘Better and Brighter Days Are Ahead’

By: Mike Rhodes, Editor-in-Chief, MuncieJournal.com— Muncie, IN—”Do not fret. Better and brighter days are ahead for Muncie.” That was a recurring theme during Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour’s first State of the City address held on Saturday, March 7th in the Community Room of the Ivy Tech Fisher building in downtown Muncie. The Community Room was almost at capacity as Mayor Ridenour gave a 2 hour presentation of his administration’s first 67 days in office. “Muncie will be reborn,” he said….