Articles by Mike Rhodes

An aerial view of downtown Muncie. Photo by: Intersection

DWNTWN July 22, 2019

DWNTWN Muncie, Explore The Original

Muncie, IN—MuncieJournal.com is proud to bring you this new special section about DWNTWN Muncie, presented by the Muncie Downtown Development Partnership. Below you will find 20 different stories about downtown Muncie businesses and organizations. This page is where you enter to visit the DWNTWN special section. The content below is available 24/7 on your PC, tablet or Smartphone. Everything included in the DWNTWN Muncie, Explore The Original special section launches from this page, so you’ll need to scroll down to view it all. (Just like you…

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Ball State University commencement. File photo.

We Fly July 21, 2019

Ball State Commencement Speaker Urges New Grads To Fly

By: Marc Ransford— Muncie, IN – Ball State University commencement speaker Sharon Paulson told new graduates participating in ceremonies at Worthen Arena that they were now a more distinguished group as a result of their hard-earned degrees. Dr. Paulson, now an emerita faculty member, joined the Department of Educational Psychology at Ball State in 1991, and served as the department’s chair from 2011-2017. “You are now among only 33 percent of adults in the U.S. who hold a college degree,”…

The Ross Community Center is located at 1110 W 10th St, Muncie, IN 47302. Photo provided

Non-Profit July 19, 2019

Ross Center To Host International Festival Fundraiser In September

By: Molly Flodder— Muncie, IN—The Ross Community Center, Inc. (RCCI) southwest of downtown Muncie, is a tribute to the past and a pivotal element of Muncie’s future. Its metamorphosis in the past five years and plans for the future make it a crown jewel in the line-up of bright happenings along the South Central and Thomas Park-Avondale neighborhoods that surround a stretch of Memorial Drive. In the mid-20th century, the area was inhabited by factory workers in a town booming with…

Smoke enshrouds the scene during a cannon demonstration. Photo by: Nancy Carlson

Carlson July 19, 2019

John Carlson: Visit To A Deadly Time…

By: John Carlson— When traveling back in time to Shiloh, a modern SUV has it all over hoofing your way there, or even sailing down the wide Tennessee River in steam-driven paddle-wheelers like thousands of Union troops did in 1862. Your air is coolly conditioned, for one thing, and the roads are smooth and true. They lead you past barbecue joints billowing fragrant smoke, and beautiful blue-roofed schools seemingly built in the middle of nowhere. It’s also worth noting, the…

Summer Rehab Games medals are pictured. Photo provided

Health July 18, 2019

Senior Communities Holds Senior Rehab Games

By: Bethel Pointe Health & Rehabilitation Center— Muncie, IN—Staying active is important for many reasons. It can give you the energy to help maintain your independence as a senior and also help to keep in check the symptoms of any illnesses. It’s also good for your memory, mood and mind. Bethel Pointe Health and Rehab is committed to this truth and recently sent a team of residents to participate in the Summer Rehab Games. Over 120 seniors across the state of Indiana…

(L to R) Kelly Shrock – Muncie Rotary President, Matt Howell – 2019 recipient of the Merrill Greene Award, and Dale Basham – Immediate-Past District 6560 Governor. Photo provided

Non-Profit July 17, 2019

Matt Howell Receives 2019 Merrill Greene Award From Muncie Rotary Club

By: Tom Farris— Muncie, IN – Matt Howell, member of the Muncie Rotary Club, received the Merrill Greene Award for 2019.  The award honors Merrill Greene, CPA, long-time Muncie Rotarian and volunteer who served as Club treasurer for over two decades.  The award recognizes a member for their outstanding volunteer efforts for the Club and the community. Howell is Vice President of Farmhouse Creative and active in Rotary projects and served as Public Image Chair for Rotary District 6560 for…

Muncie Altrusa Foundation board members pose as they close out their 2018-2019 year. Muncie Altrusa Foundation is the charitable arm of Altrusa International of Muncie, IN Inc. Photo provided

Non-Profit July 17, 2019

New Digital Arts Studio To Feature Workshop By Disney Animator

By: Sarah Shaffer— Muncie, IN—Cornerstone Center for the Arts is excited to announce the grand opening of the Muncie Altrusa Foundation Beulah Frogge Digital Arts Studio on Saturday, August 24 with a stop motion animation workshop led by Disney artist and animator Brad Condie.  This workshop is free and open to the public, but does require pre-registration. The grand opening will offer two 2 hour stop-motion animation workshops focusing on the art and principles of animation as well as how…

Illustration provided by the Charles W. Brown planetarium.

Entertainment July 16, 2019

Charles W. Brown Planetarium to Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11 Mission

By: Dayna Thompson— Muncie, IN—Come celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission – the spaceflight that first landed humans on the Moon at the Charles W. Brown Planetarium on the campus of Ball State University. Saturday, July 20th at 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. The historic Apollo lunar landing on July 20, 1969 paved the way for future space exploration and opened the door to boundless curiosity and discovery. We will be premiering a new program, “Destination Mars: The…

A MITS Bus travels an available route. Photo provided.

Entertainment July 16, 2019

MITS to Extend Route 3 Hours For Transportation To Delaware County Fair On July 18th and 19th

By: Amanda Price— Muncie, IN—The Muncie Indiana Transit System (MITS) board of directors and staff have agreed to extend the hours of Route #3 in order for community members to use public transportation to get to the Delaware County Fair. The Northwest Plaza route (#3) will run until 8:40 p.m. on Thursday, July 18th and Friday, July 19th. On these two days, 7 of MITS’ 14 routes will run past 8:00 p.m. Route #3 will make its final stop at…

Guests peer into FiFi's nooks and crannies today at the Delaware County Airport. Photo by: John Carlson

Entertainment July 15, 2019

B-29 Named ‘FiFi’ Arrives At Delaware County Airport

By: John Carlson— Muncie, IN—A big, beautiful lady made a dramatic arrival at the Delaware County Airport on Monday, and was soon swamped by suitors longing to meet and touch her. Her name is FiFi, and she’s a B-29. She’s owned by the Commemorative Air Force, and one of only two Boeing Superfortresses flying in the world today. A single glance was all it took to know that, after a rocky upbringing, things were different now. For seventeen years she…