Articles by Mike Rhodes

Pictured standing in front of the new delivery truck are: (L-R) Dale Lindley, Muncie Mission Board Member; Dr. Carl Siler, Muncie Mission Board Member; Frank Baldwin, President and CEO at Muncie Mission; Toby Thomas, President and COO at Indiana Michigan Power; Rob Keisling, Community Affairs Manager at American Electric Power; Martin Hillery, Muncie Mission Board Member. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Non-Profit March 6, 2020

AEP Foundation Grant Enables Muncie Mission to Better Serve Community

By: Bob Scott— Muncie, IN – A grant from the AEP Foundation has enabled the Muncie Mission to buy a new delivery truck that will enhance the agency’s ability to pick up donated food, furniture, appliances, recyclables and more. Toby Thomas, President and Chief Operating Officer of Indiana Michigan Power (I&M), presented the grant Friday to Frank Baldwin, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Muncie Mission. Thomas and Baldwin helped load the new truck with items to be delivered…

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U.S. Senator Todd Young is pictured presenting to members of the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce and guests. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Government March 6, 2020

U.S. Senator Todd Young Statement On First Coronavirus Case in Indiana

By: Press@Young.Senate.Gov— Indianapolis, IN– U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) released the following statement regarding the confirmed coronavirus case in Indiana: “As of this morning, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) has confirmed the first Hoosier case of coronavirus. Under the leadership of Governor Holcomb, the state, in coordination with our medical community, was prepared and ready to respond. To further help our state and local governments in the days to come, I voted to pass $7.7 billion in emergency supplemental…

Ingest this sauce, and you’ll breathe flames like a dragon. Photo by: Nancy Carlson

Carlson March 6, 2020

John Carlson: Grab The Fire Extinguisher!

By: John Carlson— Even in these divisive times, if there is one thing I think most Americans can agree upon it’s this: There’s no such thing as too much horseradish. This basic premise was reinforced for me the other day when, prior to downing the delicious glob of deli baked beans I had spooned from a two-pound plastic container onto my dinner plate, I forked on a healthy dollop of fresh horseradish. Then I mixed them together. One taste and…

Photo courtesy of Ball State Athletics

Education March 6, 2020

Legendary ‘Voice of the Cardinals’ Morry Mannies Passes Away

By: Michael Clark, BSU Athletics— Muncie, IN – Morry Mannies, who served as the radio “Voice of the Cardinals” for 56 years, has passed away at the age of 81. Mannies began his career with Ball State Athletics as an 18-year old on Sept. 1, 1956, when he got behind the microphone to call the Ball State football season opener against Hanover. His final broadcast came on March 5, 2012, when the men’s basketball squad took on Western Michigan in…

Photo provided

Business March 5, 2020

Pazols Jewelers Celebrates 100 Years In Downtown Muncie

By: Amy Leffingwell— Muncie, IN –  Downtown staple Pazols Jewelers celebrates 100 years in downtown Muncie this year. Founder Harry Pazol had been a jewelry salesman in Detroit, Cleveland, Toledo, and Pittsburgh in the early 1900s, but got tired of travelling and decided he’d like to settle down and raise a family. In 1920 the Harriott Jewelry Store in downtown Muncie was for sale, so Harry bought the business and opened the Harry D. Pazol Jewelry Store. In the 1930’s…

Leonora Carrington (British, 1917-2011)Tuesday (State II)Martes (estado II), 1987Lithograph/Litografía Collection of Dr. ZapantaColección del Dr. Zapanta © 2019 Leonora Carrington / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Entertainment March 4, 2020

Curator of ‘Mexican Modernity’ Exhibition to Speak at Ball State’s Owsley Museum

By: Ball State Marketing & Communications— Muncie, IN – Dr. Gregorio Luke, curator of “Mexican Modernity: 20th-Century Paintings from the Zapanta Collection” at the David Owsley Museum of Art, will give a free, public talk at 6 p.m. March 12 at DOMA. A 5 p.m. reception precedes the talk, and the exhibition will remain open until 8 p.m. for those who wish to enjoy an informed viewing following the lecture. Dr. Luke is the former director of the Museum of Latin…

School champions are seated and ready to spell at the 2019 WIPB-TV Spelling Bee. Photo provided

Education March 4, 2020

WIPB-TV Spelling Bee is March 7th at Sursa Performance Hall

By: Michelle Kinsey— Muncie, IN– Fifty-five spellers are scheduled to compete in the fifth WIPB Spelling Bee, set for 9 a.m. Saturday, March 7, in Sursa Performance Hall, on the campus of Ball State University. Family, friends and fans are invited to attend the competition. Admission is free. Students will compete from schools in Delaware, Blackford, Jay, Randolph, Madison and Henry counties. The Ball State University Teachers College has generously contributed the funds to cover the Scripps fees for all…

People attending the 2019 Indiana Women of Achievement Awards dinner gather at the Ball State Alumni Center to celebrate the contributions of the award recipients. Photo provided

We Fly March 3, 2020

Ball State to Honor Indiana Women of Achievement on March 25

By: Melissa Kraman— Muncie, IN — Ball State University will honor six leaders as Indiana Women of Achievement on Wednesday, March 25, with a panel presentation and dinner. Recognized for their excellence in education, research, and women’s advocacy, these women have enhanced the lives and learning experiences of many and continue to inspire through their admirable work. A panel discussion, “Empowering Women: A Conversation with Indiana Women of Achievement,” will be held at 3 p.m. in L.A. Pittenger Student Center, Room 301….

Photo provided

Entertainment March 3, 2020

St. Patrick’s Day Parade To Be Held In Downtown Muncie

By: Cheryl Crowder— Muncie, IN—The 35th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held Saturday March 14th beginning at 6:00p.m.  Line-up will begin at 4:30 pm at Muncie Central Field house parking lot. The parade will proceed south on Walnut Street to Charles St. and return via Mulberry St. Political entries: $75 Business and Personal entry: $50 Non-profit organizations: $25 There will be a $25 discount for any entry that provides live music. Parade entry forms can be downloaded from…

MPD officers are pictured during a recent "Sovereign Citizens" training session. Photo courtesy of MPD

Government February 29, 2020

Muncie Police Department Significantly Increases Training Opportunities for Officers

By: Mike Rhodes, Editor-in-Chief— Muncie, IN—Imagine this scenario for a moment… YOU are a police officer dispatched to a home where a woman alleges a man is trying to break into the back of her home. Upon arrival at the home, YOU make your way to the backyard. A woman in her late thirties, dressed in only a beach towel, approaches YOU and says the man is around the side of the house, just past a large outdoor hot tub….