Articles by Mike Rhodes

Young Artist Winners to Perform with Muncie Symphony on Saturday

By: Jennifer Johnson— Muncie, IN—Join the Muncie Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, October 12, at 7:30 p.m. in Emens Auditorium for an engaging concert with selections chosen by our MSO audience. This “Audience Choice” concert will also feature the winners of the 2019 MSO Young Artist Competition.  “This is probably our most eclectic concert of the season with all repertoire chosen by audience ballot. Our young artist winners will certainly impress,” said Artistic Director and Conductor, Douglas Droste. Maya Kilburn, winner…

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John Carlson: Angling For A Catch

By: John Carlson— If you don’t think big-water fishing requires a strong stomach, you’ve never stared into a recycled potato-salad container full of chopped up squid parts, the whole mess topped by a doleful, accusatory squid eye resting like a cherry on a sundae. That’s a sight to make a non-angler like yours truly want to throw up, or at least throw up his hands and tell the squid, “Hey! Don’t look at me, fella! I didn’t do it!” My…


Bethel Pointe Health And Rehab Wins National Award

By: Reid McDowell— Muncie, IN—Its efforts to improve collaboration with post-acute providers helped Bethel Pointe, a skilled nursing facility in Muncie, IN, win Gold in the Safety category in the Skilled Care track of the McKnight’s Excellence in Technology Awards competition. Since safety is a cornerstone of excellent care, the community was looking for ways to improve in that area. It chose Olio for a collaboration platform that allows health systems, physicians and post-acute providers to communicate and connect in…


Muncie Civic Kicks Off Autumn With ‘Habit’-Forming Musical

By: Michelle Kinsey— Muncie, IN—These sisters certainly have their act together. Civic will present “Sister Act” on its Mainstage Oct. 11-12, 18-20, and 24-26. Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows will begin at 7:30 p.m. and the Sunday matinee will begin at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $17 for groups of 10 or more, and $15 for students and children. For tickets or more information, go to www.munciecivic.org or call (765) 288-PLAY. Based on the hit 1992 film starring…


Protecting Yourself From Medicare Fraud

By: Hannah Dunckel, LifeStream Services— Muncie, IN—It’s a few weeks before Medicare Open Enrollment. You answer the phone and the caller says, “We’re issuing new Medicare cards before open enrollment. Before we can send you your new card, we need you to confirm your Medicare number.” This sounds legitimate, right? If you answered YES to this question, you would be wrong. Unfortunately, Medicare Fraud is one of the most prevalent scams targeting older adults over the age of 65. Medicare fraud happens…


Bringing a Positive Outlook to the Community Is a Personal Choice

By: Steve Lindell, General Manager, MuncieJournal.com, and host of WLBC’s Wake up Crew— Muncie, IN—Radio, when done well, is alive and thriving. I am so proud to work for Woof Boom Radio. Our core values are directed at helping listeners and businesses thrive, and to that end I have long since adopted a personal policy structure that fits directly into that mold. “We Use our Voice to Build your Community” is more than a phrase – It is WLBC / Woof…


Meet Dan Ridenour, Candidate for Mayor of Muncie

By: Dan Ridenour — My name is Dan Ridenour and I am running for Mayor of Muncie. I, like many of you, have been embarrassed by the negative publicity that Muncie has encountered in the last several years. As your next mayor, I intend to create an honest, open and transparent city government. This new style of government will be a focus for me as Mayor of Muncie. Below are twenty of my priorities in no particular order: 1. We will…


New Breed Of Company Executives Takes On United Way Cause

By: Juli Metzger— Muncie, IN—A record number of early and mid-career professionals – 26 – are this year’s foot soldiers in the fundraising campaign for United Way of Delaware and Henry Counties. The Loaned Executives or “LEs” make one-on-one calls on the community’s top executives and their staffs, telling the United Way story. It is designed to be a sophisticated program for oftentimes young professionals, who learn the latest tools and techniques in sales and promotion, and a home-grown pool…


Family-Owned Townsend Corporation Serves The Muncie Community And Beyond

By: Stacey A. Shannon— Muncie, IN—Back in 1945, Gary Townsend’s father and uncle returned home to Muncie from World War II and started Townsend Tree Service. Since then, the business has grown to what is now The Townsend Corporation, which has about 2,200 employees in over 30 states. Headquartered in Muncie at 1015 W. Jackson Street, Townsend Corporation’s core business is working with electric utility companies to clear trees and vegetation away from power lines. According to John Roselle, Director…


Ball State Creating Training Program to Boost Regional Economic Development

By: Marc Ransford— Muncie, IN– Ball State University is creating a training program to boost the skills of regional economic development leaders in six Midwestern states. The Indiana Communities Institute (ICI), which operates in the Miller College of Business at Ball State, has received $885,000 from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) for a three-year program to develop and deliver an educational series in the six states served by the EDA’s Chicago office. These states are Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan,…