Articles by Mike Rhodes

Gordy Fine Art & Framing Company ‘Redefines Typical’ as a Leader in Custom Framing, Photo Printing, and Sale Gallery

By Kate Elliott— Editor’s note: Shafer Leadership Academy and the Muncie Downtown Development Partnership are partnering on this six part series to highlight innovative leaders who are redefining typical during these extraordinary times.   Muncie, IN — Scroll through the Facebook page for Gordy Fine Art & Framing Company. You’ll see 93-year-old Bob Shears, grinning at a custom map of his WWII tour of duty that Gordy framed and shipped to his Las Vegas home. You’ll watch a black frame transform into a silver one. You’ll see Easel Monster, host of a YouTube educational comedy, pop into the shop. Or you’ll see the pottery and paintings of…

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Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour Implements COVID-19 Programs to Help Muncie Residents

By Mike Rhodes, Editor-in-chief— Muncie IN – Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour recently implemented two new programs that provided COVID related assistance to Muncie residents. Funds for the programs were provided through the federal CARES-ACT to assist with COVID-related hardships. The two programs were: “The Mayor’s Masks for Muncie Project” and “The Tenant Assistance Program.” Dustin Clark is the city’s director of special projects and is overseeing the mask project which provides FREE masks to businesses, individuals, organizations, and neighborhoods who have a need for them. “We started out providing masks for the city and then moved on to anyone who…


Snow Shoveling Tips to Protect Your Heart

By Tim Harms, American Heart Association— Indianapolis, IN – With snow on the ground across large portions of Indiana this weekend, the American Heart Association encourages Hoosiers to protect their hearts while shoveling snow and to seek immediate treatment if they experience any signs or symptoms of a heart attack. “Shoveling snow can be a very vigorous activity, and you’re basically doing it ‘in a freezer,’” says Dr. William Gill, a cardiologist who is president of the American Heart Association board of directors in Indianapolis. “Those conditions can very quickly lead to stress on the heart.”  To help make snow removal…


The Black Community Should Consider Taking the Vaccine. I Did.

Editor’s note: Across the country there are certain populations that resist the idea of getting vaccinated for COVID-19. This article aims to address that issue, specifically for the black population in Muncie.  By WaTasha Barnes Griffin— So I did a thing. I got the COVID-19  vaccine dose #1.  Me. Well educated, informed, afraid, and adamant that I would not. It took me a minute. Black and Brown folks distrust of the vaccination is fueled by a history of mistrust. BIPOC have legitimate reasons. Disparities in treatment received in the healthcare system, systemic racism, actions and experiments used to deceive us (Tuskegee),…


The YMCA of Muncie to Expand Anti-Hunger Fight

By Kristen McConnell— Muncie, IN—Beginning February 12, the YMCA of Muncie will offer food distribution at the Downtown Y to provide healthy meals for children 18 and under over the weekend. The YMCA of Muncie received a waiver from the USDA to provide meals in bulk to sustain children over the weekend when they will not have access to nutritious meals at school. Recipients will be provided with three dinners and three snacks to ensure no child is hungry.  “The YMCA does many wonderful things for families in our community, and this is another great example,” MCS Director of Public…


John Carlson: Do NOT Get Choked Up!

By John Carlson— I never anticipated it, but in my latter years, I have become something of an expert on the Heimlich Maneuver. Not giving it. Getting it. I’ve been on the receiving end twice, maybe three times, which seems pretty funny. You’d think a guy would remember exactly how many times he has faced the possibility of choking to death. Contributing to my confusion, however, is the fact that each time, my circumstances have remained remarkably the same, so they tend to run together. Specifically, I’ve been home, seated at the small kitchen bar where my wife and I…


Delaware County Weekly COVID-19 Update, January 28th

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. Governor Eric Holcomb announced this week changes to gathering limitations throughout Indiana. Currently, counties that are scored red are limited to no more than 25 people, orange counties to no more than 50 and so on….


IU Health Ball Memorial, Blackford and Jay Hospitals Receive Grant from IU Health Foundation

By IU Health Foundation— Indianapolis, IN—The IU Health Foundation has granted $603,279 for 31 health-related projects across the state as part of an effort to make Indiana one of the nation’s healthiest states.    “Regional grants empower IU Health team members to improve the health of individuals, communities and our state,” said Crystal Hinson Miller, IU Health Foundation president and IU Health chief philanthropy officer. “Grants leverage the power of philanthropy and honor donors’ intentions by ensuring that dollars contributed locally fund local needs.” The awards were made in partnership with local philanthropy councils supporting IU Health and range from $1,900 to $200,000. Projects were selected for their potential to impact the Foundation’s funding priorities of People,…


George Insurance Group ‘Redefines Typical’ Blending Secure Virtual Access with Personal Attention

By Kate Elliott— Editor’s note: Shafer Leadership Academy and the Muncie Downtown Development Partnership are partnering on this six part series to highlight innovative leaders who are redefining typical during these extraordinary times.   Muncie, IN — George Insurance Group’s promise is to “overwhelm families and businesses with customer service, responsiveness and a personal touch that you have never seen.” “Our new tagline is ‘where relationships are built …,’ and we live out that model every day by working hard with our clients to be more than just their insurance provider.  We strive to know our clients.  The more we learn about a person, the stronger…


MITS Announces New Route 17 To the Justice Center

By Amanda Price— Muncie, IN—Muncie Indiana Transit System (MITS) will begin a new route to the Delaware County Justice & Rehabilitation Center on Monday February 1st, 2021. The new route will run Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  The new route closely resembles the current Route 12: Ivy Tech.  Route 17 will pull in on the West side of the transfer station and take High to Adams to Liberty to Hoyt to 26th to Tillotson.  It will pull into the new Justice Center and drop off/pick up in front of the facility before exiting back onto South…