Articles by Mike Rhodes

Education June 24, 2020

Ball State Faculty and Students Win Regional Emmy® Awards

By: Marc Ransford— Muncie, IN – Ball State University faculty and students received two Regional Emmy® Awards and seven Student Production Awards during the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) Lower Great Lakes Emmy Awards on June 20, conducted virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic. Sports Link, Ball State’s digital sports production program, was honored in seven student production award categories. Ball State received the following production awards: College Long Form — Non-Fiction — “Why It Matters: A Tale of Two Cities,” Garrett Looker, Michael Robb, Madeline Grosh, Eric Pritchett, and Justin Brown. College Sports — “Football Leadership, ” Sports Link:…

Entertainment June 24, 2020

Final Friday: ‘Bridges and Borders’ with the David Owsley Museum of Art

By: Rachel Buckmaster— Muncie, IN – Muncie’s creative community will be celebrated with the David Owsley Museum of Art’s first ever online Final Friday event on Friday, June 26 from 7 – 9 p.m.. Final Friday: BRIDGES & BORDERS will feature a variety of distinctive local voices, as emcees C.S. Hendershot and Michael Mares introduce PechaKucha speed talks on Facebook Live. Following the presentations, DJ Jannell will provide music and video collages inspired by summer and celebrating art and community. Scheduled presenters include Jessica Calderwood, artist; Ana De Brea, architect; Destiny Donati, student activist; Joanna Haun, museum historian; Peggy Lewis,…

Non-Profit June 23, 2020

George and Frances Ball Foundation Awards 2nd Allocation of Funds to Muncie Community Schools

Muncie Community Schools Expands Preschools to all Elementary Buildings, and Project Lead the Way STEM Curriculum at all Muncie Community School Buildings with Support from the George and Frances Ball Foundation By: Thomas J. Kinghorn— Muncie, IN—The George and Frances Ball Foundation awarded the second allocation of a $1 million, 3-year commitment to the Ball State University—Muncie Community Schools partnership. The first year’s grant supported summer professional development for teachers, introduction of Project Lead the Way curriculum in 4 schools, and revision of English Language Arts and Mathematics curricular maps. One key element of the second year’s grant, and one…

First Merchants Announces .4 Billion Community Benefits Plan

Business June 23, 2020

First Merchants Announces $1.4 Billion Community Benefits Plan

By: First Merchants— Muncie, IN – First Merchants has announced a $1.4 billion community investment plan with the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) and its community-based members and partners. The collaborative initiative began with a needs assessment in September 2019 and was finalized earlier this month. The commitment, which extends through 2025, includes mortgage, small business and community development investments and lending. Philanthropic funding is a primary focus as well and will be funneled to low- and moderate-income communities across First Merchants’ regional market areas in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Michigan. “The $1.4 billion Community Benefits Agreement accelerates First Merchants’ leadership…

Southside Middle School Getting New 0,000 Fitness Center

Education June 22, 2020

Southside Middle School Getting New $100,000 Fitness Center

By: Andy Klotz— Muncie, Ind. – A new $100,000 DON’T QUIT! Fitness Center is coming to Southside Middle School this fall. The school is one of just three across Indiana receiving the state-of-the-art equipment as a gift from The National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils (NFGFC), chaired by fitness icon Jake Steinfeld, and in partnership with Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb. “This is fabulous!” Muncie Community Schools Director of Public Education and CEO Lee Ann Kwiatkowski said. “Health and fitness is tremendously important for the overall well-being of our students, and this incredible gift will have a positive impact on…

‘United & Ignited’ Campaign Raises ,250 for DWNTWN Businesses

Non-Profit June 19, 2020

‘United & Ignited’ Campaign Raises $14,250 for DWNTWN Businesses

By: Muncie Downtown Development Partnership— Muncie, IN—We are excited to announce that with Muncie Downtown Development support and contributions from the community, the “United & Ignited” campaign raised $14,250 for the DWNTWN Small Business Relief Grant. Nineteen businesses qualified and will be able to use the funds to offset loss of revenue due to COVID 19. We are grateful to all of you who contributed, shared information and went to bat for our DWNTWN businesses. You really are why DWNTWN is a special place! We will be resuming outdoor events beginning in August, subject to any changes in Governor Holcomb’s safety guidelines: Moonlight Movies-…

Carlson June 19, 2020

John Carlson: The Stuff of Nature…

By: John Carlson— Gazing out a window into our side yard the other day, Nancy said something I’d never heard her say in thirty-eight years of marriage. “I just saw a duck walk by.” Having been rousted from my easy chair by this startling announcement, I looked, too. Sure enough, there among the chunks of stale wheat bread Nancy had pitched out on our lawn, Mrs. Mallard was casually waddling around like she owned the place. It just further reinforced the truth of something that strikes me as ironic: Perilous times that can be difficult, harmful and even deadly for…

Government June 19, 2020

Judge Confirms Muncie City Engineer a Seat on Muncie Sanitary District Board

By: City of Muncie Communications— Muncie, IN—In his ruling on June 18th, Special Judge Haviza confirmed that Muncie City Civil Engineer, Brian Stephens-Hotopp, who was appointed by newly elected Mayor, Dan Ridenour at the start of the year, is entitled to serve as a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Muncie Sanitary District by virtue of his office. This court ruling ends a long delay as Hotopp was denied his seat by the current board during the January 15, 2020 meeting, the first meeting of 2020. “I am very pleased that Brian can now serve on the MSD…

Education June 19, 2020

Ivy Tech Community College Offering 10,000 Participants Free Classes and Trainings

By: Ivy Tech Community College— INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Ivy Tech Community College has announced it is offering free classes and trainings for 10,000 participants. The College is elevating its commitment to Hoosiers impacted by COVID-19 experiencing unemployment, reduced hours, and/or furloughs across the state. Participants may take more than one class or training in a range of relevant high-demand areas. Hoosiers can get detailed information about the classes and trainings, and register for free, by visiting www.ivytech.edu/10kclasses. Many of the classes and trainings will be offered so that the participant can start and finish on their own timeline, with no…

Positivity June 19, 2020

Juneteenth is a Holiday We Should All Recognize

Editor’s Note: Today Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb issued a proclamation celebrating Juneteenth as an opportunity to reflect, rejoice and plan for a brighter future. By: Paul Brown— Today is Juneteenth—a holiday of which far too many of us are unaware. This celebration of freedom (the name is short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day in 1865 that news of Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation reached slaves in Texas. In a couple weeks we’ll celebrate America’s Independence Day, but Juneteenth stands as a reminder for us that freedom did not come to all on America’s soil on July 4, 1776. We should all…

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