Articles by Mike Rhodes

Officers enjoy a free lunch provided by the Ball State Federal Credit Union held at the university police department. Photo provided

Business March 25, 2019

Ball State Federal Credit Union Thanks Campus Police Dept With Pizza Party

By: Chrissy Stefani— Muncie, Indiana – Ball State Federal Credit Union, a full service financial institution with a main office, student center branch, and ATM locations to serve members in Muncie and Yorktown, provided a free pizza party for the Ball State University Campus Police Department.  In the spirit of service, the lunch is a small way to say thank you to them for their hard work and dedication to our community. The credit union brought a variety of Greek’s specialty…

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The weekly Jake Sewell Podcast features long-form interviews with members of the local community.

Business March 25, 2019

Muncie Journal Is Topic Of Latest “Jake Sewell Podcast”

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, IN—Jake Sewell has always enjoyed listening to long-form audio podcasts. He likes them so much, he decided to create one of his own. So, in January of 2019, he released his first episode of  “The Jake Sewell Podcast.” In creating his podcast, Sewell had a few goals he wanted to achieve. “I wanted to help out the community,” he said. “I wanted to spotlight individuals, or business owners, or others who may have overcome significant life challenges—…

A youngster attending the farm festival meets a duck. Photo by: Nancy Carlson

Carlson March 23, 2019

John Carlson: Fun Down On The Farm

By: John Carlson— Last week, Nancy and I went to the Delaware County Farm Festival. It’s an annual, two-day event that is near and dear to our hearts, because we actually met at the farm festival back 1880. No, wait. I mean 1980. Itjustseems  like a hundred-and-thirty-nine years ago. I’m not going to tell you this year we had to fight countless numbers of fanatical farm festival fans to get in, because we didn’t. Still, for a city slicker born-and-raised,…

2018 IVCI medalists are pictured. Photo by: Denis Ryan Kelly Jr.

Entertainment March 23, 2019

Top International Violin Medalists to Perform with Muncie Symphony

By: Jennifer Johnson— Muncie, IN—The Muncie Symphony Orchestra and The International Violin Competition of Indianapolis (IVCI) will join forces this Saturday, March 23, at 7:30 p.m. in Emens Auditorium. In celebration of the MSO’s 70th Season, the concert will feature the gold, silver, and bronze medalists of this prestigious international violin competition as well as Muncie’s own Youth Symphony Orchestra of East Central Indiana.  “For the first time, all three International Violin Competition of Indianapolis medal winners will perform together in…

A scene from the Ice League boy's championship game. Photo provided.

Non-Profit March 22, 2019

ICE League Awards 2 Champions, 3 MVPs, and $6,000 in Scholarships

By: Tammy Pearson— Muncie, IN—Twelve ICE League Academic All-Stars earned $6,000 in scholarships Thursday, surrounded by their League teammates, coaches, fans, family, and friends at the fifth annual ICE League championship tournament. The foundation of the innovative Inner City Educational League is academics. Students must maintain a 2.5 or higher GPA to fully participate and to be eligible for the season awards. The basketball championship tournament, with the semifinal round on Wednesday, March 20, at Northside Middle School, and the finals on Thursday, March…

"Chamber Champions Award Luncheon" at Horizon Convention Center. Photo provided

Business March 21, 2019

Chamber Of Commerce Presents ‘Chamber Champions Awards’

By: Brenda Brumfield, Director, Community & Government Relations, Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce— Muncie, IN— The Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce honored fifteen of its members for their longevity in, and impact on, the Muncie –Delaware County community at the Chamber Champions Award Luncheon at the Horizon Convention Center on March 20.  Among those included, were six who were celebrating over 100 years of continuous existence. They were: Glad Tidings Church Muncie Community Schools Old National Bank The Knapp Supply…

Pictured L-R: Coach Dom Trapp, Trenton French, Coach Chris Munchel. Photo provided

Non-Profit March 21, 2019

Ice League Teams Advance To Championship Games

By: Micayla Christensen— Muncie, IN—8 ICE League teams walked into Northside Middle School on Wednesday night, anxious and hopeful for the night’s semi-final games. Four teams emerged as winners and will face off in the 2019 ICE League Championship games tonight, March 21, at Muncie Central High School. GIRLS’ DIVISION: Buley Center vs. Ross Center at 6:00 pm. BOYS’ DIVISION: Boys & Girls Club vs. Buley Center at 7:20 pm. The Inner City Educational (ICE) League is a program of Project…

Connor O'Malia, a 2013 Ball State graduate, has unveiled his design for the basketball court that will host the 2019 men’s basketball Final Four in Minneapolis. Photo courtesy of Connor O'Malia.

We Fly March 21, 2019

Ball State Graduate Helps Design 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four Floor

By: Marc Ransford— Indianapolis, IN—On social media, the NCAA unveiled a design for the basketball court that will host the 2019 men’s basketball Final Four in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The design was developed by Connor O’Malia, a 2013 Ball State graduate, who is a designer at Section 127, a full-service creative and marketing agency located in downtown Indianapolis. Section 127 is partnering with the NCAA to provide design work for the organization’s national championships. O’Malia, who graduated from Hamilton Southeastern High…

"Nowhere To Be And All Day To Get There" exhibition by Kevin Titzer. Photo provided

Non-Profit March 20, 2019

PlySpace Fellow Kevin Titzer Exhibition Opening at the PlySpace Gallery

By: Erin Williams— Muncie, IN—As part of the PlySpace 2019 spring programming, the public is invited to explore and interact with an exciting, family-friendly installation and exhibition by PlySpace Resident Fellow, Kevin Titzer. Nowhere To Be And All Day To Get There will open on Thursday, April 4th, from 5 – 8 PM at the PlySpace Gallery (608 E. Main Street), as part of the April First Thursday in downtown Muncie, Indiana. Light refreshments will be served, and the artist will…

Photo provided

Entertainment March 20, 2019

Ball State Opera Theatre To Perform Mozart Classic ‘Don Giovanni’

By: Melissa Kraman— Muncie, IN — The Ball State Opera Theatre will perform Mozart’s acclaimed opera “Don Giovanni” on March 29 at 7:30 p.m. and March 31 at 2 p.m. in Sursa Performance Hall. Twenty-two students in the College of Fine Arts will perform the full opera, a blend of humor, drama, horror, love, and the supernatural. “The ‘mashup’ nature of the story means that it has something for everyone,” Director Jon Truitt said. “We are essentially performing three operas that…