Articles by Mike Rhodes

Gaston Woman Named to 2025 Orr Fellowship Leadership Team

By Megan Custodio— GASTON, IN—Orr Fellowship has appointed its new Fellowship Leadership Team, including Brylee Koontz, a Gaston native and graduate of Marian University, who is the new Director of Continued Learning. She is among eight current Fellows to be named to the organization’s Fellowship Leadership Team for the 2025 term. In this role, Koontz will plan and execute flagship development events; advocate for professional and personal resources; and connect fellows with professional development and networking opportunities in Indianapolis and…

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Live Nation Indiana Hiring for Multiple Positions Ahead of Major Concert Season

Ruoff Music Center, Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park, and Old National Centre all look ahead to big season of live shows By Live Nation— WHAT: Live Nation Indiana is now hiring for multiple positions at its Central Indiana venues including Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park, and Old National Centre (home of the Murat Theatre, Egyptian Room and Deluxe) in downtown Indianapolis. All three venues look forward to a jam-packed calendar of…


Innovation Connector Receives Prestigious International Award

By Ted Baker, CEO and Executive Director of the Innovation Connector— MUNCIE, IN—The Muncie Innovation Connector, Inc., East Central Indiana’s only full-service entrepreneurial support organization, has been honored with the Soft Landings Designation of the Year at the recent International Business Innovation Association (InBIA) Annual Conference in Philadelphia, PA. This distinguished recognition marks the first international award for the Innovation Connector, highlighting its growing impact on global business development. The Soft Landings Designation of the Year is awarded to only…


Annual ‘All Aboard Workshop’ Connects Community Members with Nonprofit Board Opportunities

By Jena Ashby— MUNCIE, IN—Community members from East Central Indiana are invited to attend the annual All Aboard: Board Leadership in Action Workshop on Saturday, May 13, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. in the Community Room at the YWCA of Central Indiana, located at 310 E. Charles Street in downtown Muncie. This free event is made possible by Shafer Leadership Academy, Heart of Indiana United Way and Nonprofit Support Network. Additional programmatic and in-kind support comes from Ball State University’s Office of…


East Central Indiana’s Future Runs Through the White River

By Jud Fisher, President/CEO, Ball Brothers Foundation— MUNCIE, IN—The White River has long been a defining feature of East Central Indiana—its waters wind through our communities, shaping our history, and providing a foundation for future recreation and economic growth. Protecting and enhancing this natural resource is both a responsibility and an opportunity we take seriously at Ball Brothers Foundation. Our region is home to the headwaters of the White River, and the way we care for it has impact far…


Ball State University Announces Spring 2025 Commencement Speaker

By Ball State Communications— MUNCIE, IN — Kayla Davion, a 2017 Ball State University graduate best known for her work on the Broadway stage, will address Ball State’s Class of 2025 at the University’s Spring Commencement ceremony. Ball State will confer approximately 2,800 doctoral, specialist, master’s, and baccalaureate degrees during the University-wide gathering. The event will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 3, in the Quad, followed by individual college celebrations throughout the day at Worthen Arena and Emens Auditorium….


Whitely Community Council Announces $4.5 Million Capital Campaign

Goal to build a stronger, healthier, and more vibrant future for Whitely Neighborhood By Ken Hudson— MUNCIE, IN—For nearly 60 years, the Whitely Community Council has served the Whitely neighborhood and the east side of Muncie, giving neighbors a voice and making the neighborhood a vibrant place to live, work, and learn. A historically African American neighborhood in Muncie, Indiana, Whitely Community Council serves over 2,900 residents. In response to the community’s growing need for better access to educational opportunities,…


Muncie Three Trails Music Series Announces Its 2025 Lineup of FREE Concerts at Canan Commons

By Rick Zeigler— MUNCIE, IN—The Muncie Three Trails Music Series is pleased to officially announce its 2025 lineup. This will be the 12thseason in which the series presents critically acclaimed national recording artists in completely free concerts (no tickets needed). And in 2025, for the first time, there will be seven such concerts, four at Canan Commons in downtown Muncie and three at the Brown Family Amphitheater at Ball State University. All shows begin at 7 PM and are All…


Ball State’s NAfME Chapter Named Collegiate Chapter of the Year

By Ball State University Communications— MUNCIE, IN—The Ball State University chapter of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) was recently named the 2023–2024 Collegiate Chapter of the Year by the Indiana Music Education Association (IMEA). The prestigious honor recognizes the chapter’s outstanding efforts in membership, service, advocacy, and professional development during the 2023–2024 academic year. Although the award was presented in early 2025, it is based on chapter activities completed during the previous academic year. Chapters are selected through…


Ball State University Study Explores Effects of Tax Caps and State Funding Shifts on School Spending

By Ball State Communications— MUNCIE, IN — A new study from Ball State University’s Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) finds that significant changes in Indiana’s school funding policies—including property tax caps, operating referenda, and revisions to the state funding formula—have led to shifts in how school districts across the state spend money, particularly on instruction, administration, and staffing levels. The research, summarized in a new policy brief titled School District Responses to Property Tax Caps, Referenda, and State…