Articles by Mike Rhodes

Attendees from Ontario Systems include (from left to right) -- Jeff Spires, Director, Software Engineering; Troy Sanders, Facilities Specialist; Stephen Hunter, Sr. Technical Project Manager; Darla Brown, Director, Talent Acquisition; Bob Mattax, Manager, Software Engineering; Jenny Johnson, HR Generalist; Joani Scott, Director, Corporate Services; and Jason Harrington, President. Photo by: Ontario Systems

Business January 25, 2019

Ontario Systems and Anderson University Have Partnered to Create an Immersive Career-Prep Program for Tech Students

By: Sean Rogers— Muncie, IN– When business and academia converge, it’s good news for students, employers, and the greater community. East Central Indiana received some good news of its own when Muncie-based Ontario Systems and neighboring Anderson University introduced “The Cube,” an on-campus tech talent incubator designed to prepare students at the School of Science and Engineering for future careers. “We are genuinely excited about this partnership with Anderson University,” said Jason Harrington, President of Ontario Systems. “This is a great opportunity…

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Remember toilets way back in the good old days? Photo by: Nancy Carlson

Carlson January 25, 2019

John Carlson: ‘Raise The Lid, Dude.’

By: John Carlson— The other day while reading about the latest advancements in household technology, this came up. Smart toilets. It shouldn’t have surprised me, I guess. Everything else is smart these days. Smart phones. Smart cars. Smart whatever.  If I wait long enough, maybe there will be smart golf balls that make their way unerringly into the cup, no matter how bad you suck at golf. As a person who has actually teed off on holes where my golf…

The Young Artist Exhibition will take place on Thursday, March 14, 2019. Photo provided.

Non-Profit January 24, 2019

Cornerstone Center for the Arts and PrimeTrust Federal Credit Union Young Artist Exhibition Announced

By: Sarah Shaffer— Muncie, IN—Cornerstone Center for the Arts, in partnership with PrimeTrust Federal Credit Union, will host the Young Artist Exhibition on Thursday, March 14 for school-age children in Delaware County. The show will feature the artwork of students in kindergarten through twelfth grades who reside in or attend school in Delaware County. The public reception on March 14 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. will take place in the Colonnade Room at Cornerstone Center for the Arts with awards being announced…

Photo provided

Education January 24, 2019

Representative For ICPE to Address Status of Education at AAUW Meeting

By: Sheryl Swingley— Muncie, IN—A representative of the Indiana Coalition for Public Education will be the guest speaker for the next American Association of University Women, Muncie Branch, from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 26, at Motivate Our Minds, 2023 E. Highland Ave. The topic of the discussion will be “The State of Public Education in Indiana.” The meeting is open to the public. The ICPE speaker is Tim Skinner, a former three-term member of the Indiana Senate from…

Ball State University Campus. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

We Fly January 23, 2019

3 Ball State Programs Earn Top 25 Rankings In U.S. News & World Report

By: Marc Ransford— Muncie, IN—Three Ball State University online programs finished in the top 25 in national rankings released recently by U.S. News & World Report. Since U.S. News started ranking online programs six years ago, Ball State has always had degrees in the top 25. Those recognized in the 2019 “Best Online Programs” are: 13th – Master of Business Administration (MBA) 13th – Graduate nursing 25th – Bachelor’s degrees Each program improved from its 2018 ranking. The MBA climbed…

Gene Policinski

We Fly January 23, 2019

First Amendment Expert To Speak at Ball State on January 23

By: Sheryl Swingley— Muncie, IN—Veteran journalist Gene Policinski, who is president and chief operating officer of the Freedom Forum Institute in Washington, D.C., will speak at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23, in Cardinal Hall of the Student Center at Ball State University. The title of Policinski’s presentation is “The Real Threats to a Free Press: Bodies, Bytes and Benign Neglect.” Policinski’s presentation is part of Ball State University’s Department of Journalism’s 50th anniversary celebration and the university’s 100th anniversary. Ball…

Pictured L-R: Jeff Mantock, Monte Brown, Steve Kern, Chris Cook, Chad Zaucha. Not pictured Jeffrey Heavilon. Photo provided.

Non-Profit January 21, 2019

YMCA of Muncie Honors Board of Directors For Their Service

By: Kristen McConnell— Muncie, IN— At the November meeting of the YMCA of Muncie’s Board of Directors, five members were honored for their service to the YMCA and our community. Monte Brown has served as a volunteer at the Y since 1988. He has been a continual member of the Camp Crosley Board of Advisors with stints on the Corporate Board. His years of service include a number of accomplishments that have boosted the Y and Camp Crosley to where they…

File photo.

Non-Profit January 20, 2019

Martin Luther King Day Activities and Unity Week Audio

By: Michelle Kinsey— Muncie, IN—For many, January 21 will be a day off from work or school. But organizers of the annual MLK Day say it should be a “day on.” “[It’s] a day that brothers and sisters from all walks of life can stand together to learn from each other, empower each other, to work toward the common goal of peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all,” said WaTasha Barnes Griffin, executive director of the YWCA, Muncie Community Schools…

First Merchants Corporation

Business January 19, 2019

First Merchants Jumps To #2 On Forbes List Of Top U.S. Banks For 2019

By: Chad Mertz— Muncie, IN —Forbes has released its 2019 list of “America’s Best Banks,” and for the second straight year, one of Indiana’s legacy financial institutions sits near the top. First Merchants Bank, the largest financial services holding company in Central Indiana and second largest in the state, was ranked by Forbes as the country’s second best bank. “We are extremely proud of this achievement as it speaks to the financial strength of First Merchants clients and vitality of…

Toby, with Jersey nearby, enjoying his favorite resting place. Photo by: John Carlson

Carlson January 18, 2019

John Carlson: Ya Gotta Love Dogs

By: John Carlson— For a guy raised by God-fearing parents, a 36-year member of Muncie’s Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and a graduate of that Christian college just up the road called Taylor University, I am a decidedly subpar, half-baked believer. Nevertheless, I say my prayers every night, soliciting no shortage of blessings, but also giving thanks for the ones I have. Like dogs. I’m not sure how this particular passage got dropped from the Bible. Nevertheless, I am certain at…