Articles by Mike Rhodes

Shanghai Ballet To Perform at Emens Auditorium January 24th

By: Tara Kenney— Muncie, IN—Emens Auditorium will play host to the Shanghai Ballet stage show on January 24 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at Emens box office, by phone at 765-285-1539, or online at Ticketmaster.com. Organized in 1979, the Shanghai Ballet is one of the world’s predominant ballet companies, bringing the unique glamour of Chinese dance to the international stage. The White-Haired Girl, an award-winning classical Chinese ballet created in the 20th century, brought instant fame to the Company…

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Upcoming Events at the Charles W. Brown Planetarium

Charles W. Brown Planetarium Spring 2020 (Jan. – April) Free Show Schedule www.bsu.edu/planetarium Undiscovered Worlds: The Search Beyond Our Sun Fridays: Jan. 10, 17, 24 at 6:30pm Saturdays: Jan. 11, 18, 25 at 6:30pm and 8pm Come explore a timeless question: Do other planets like Earth exist? Within the past few decades, astronomers have discovered thousands of planets orbiting other stars. Travel to distant stars, fly up to exotic planets, and imagine them up close in the planetarium. Experience how science is…


Former Spelman College President To Speak At Ball State In Honor of MLK Jr. Day, Unity Week

By: Ball State Marketing and Communications— Muncie, IN–Dr. Beverly Tatum, president emerita of Spelman College, will visit Ball State University on January 21 to as part of the campus’s MLK Jr. Day and Unity Week observances. “A Conversation with Dr. Beverly Tatum” begins at 7:30 p.m. in Pruis Hall. The event, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by Ball State’s Excellence in Leadership, Housing and Residence Life, Multicultural Center, Office of Inclusive Excellence, Online and Distance…


Entries Now Open for the 2020 American Advertising Awards

By: Allison Robbins—  Muncie, IN—The East Central Indiana club of the American Advertising Federation has opened entries for the 2020 American Advertising Awards. Entries are open now through Jan. 31; all submitted work must have first appeared between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 of 2019. “The American Advertising Awards is one of the industry’s largest creative competitions, attracting nearly 35,000 professional and student entries each year through local club competitions,” the national organization’s website says. “The mission of the American…


Muncie Action Plan Task Force 3: Strengthening Pride and Image

By: Roni Johnson, Chairman Task Force 3— Muncie, IN—The Muncie Action Plan spent 2019 working to address the issues identified by the community during the MAP3 planning process. MAP’s five task forces have focused their efforts on Linking Learning, Health, and Prosperity (TF1), Fostering Collaboration (TF2), Strengthening Muncie’s Pride and Image (TF3), Creating Attractive and Desirable Places (TF4), and Managing Community Resources (TF5). As we start a brand-new year, we would like to share our successes as we approach our Annual Community…


Delaware County’s Abbigail Sprong Top 10 Finalist in 2020 Indiana State Fair Queen Pageant

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, IN— Abbigail Sprong, the 2019 Delaware County Fair Queen, made the Top 10 in the 2020 Miss Indiana State Fair Queen Pageant held at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis over the weekend. Claudia Duncan, Miss Vanderburgh County, was crowned the 62nd Indiana State Fair Queen. Miss Indiana State Fair 2020 was selected over 83 other contestants after three days of judging. The Indiana State Fair Queen plays a key role in promoting the Indiana State Fair…


Shafer Leadership Academy Names Jeff Robinson Director of Development

By: Shafer Leadership Academy— Muncie, Ind. — Muncie non-profit Shafer Leadership Academy served 3,000 more participants in 2019 than in 2015. That’s a 900% growth in the people, organizations and communities it empowers with personal and professional leadership skills. “Growth without direction, however, is unwise,” said SLA Executive Director Mitch Isaacs. To support the organization’s expansion, SLA has hired Jeff Robinson as its first director of development. The Muncie native — responsible for growing SLA’s partner base across East Central Indiana —…


Muncie Central’s Shoka Griffin II Playing in International Bowl XI Jan. 14

By: Juli Metzger— Muncie, IN—Muncie Central High School sophomore running back Shoka Griffin II will play for the elite USA Football Under-16 Select Team at International Bowl XI later this month at the home field of the Dallas Cowboys. He is one of just 52 student athletes nationwide selected and one of two selected from Indiana. Eli Frei of Westfield also was named to the same team. “This is an outstanding achievement,” said Aaron Ingram, senior manager of football/national teams in Griffin’s…


John Carlson: Turning The Tables

By: John Carlson— Music-wise, this Christmas was really “groovy” for me. What you might even call “boss.” I received a trip back through time via some cool old records, including a couple featuring that troubadour/minstrel kid you keep hearing about named Bobby Dylan. Another featured some far-out cats from the Los Angeles music scene who call themselves – get this – Buffalo Springfield! And there was another from a chick singer named Linda Ronstadt, who I predict is going places….


Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour Sworn In Along With Other New City Administration Appointments

By: MuncieJournal.com staff— Muncie, IN—On Saturday, December 28, Dan Ridenour was sworn in as the new Mayor for the City of Muncie, at ceremonies held in the auditorium of Muncie Central High School. Ridenour was sworn in by John Feick, Delaware County Circuit Court 4 Judge while surrounded by family and friends. On January, 1, 2020 at Muncie City Hall, new Mayor Dan Ridenour swore in appointed employees for his new administration. The ceremony was not required, but many of the officials…