Articles by Mike Rhodes

The Honorable Marianne L. Vorhees is pictured with a young child adopted on National Adoption Day. Photo by: Elizabeth Saylor

Business December 26, 2018

Muncie Journal’s Most Viewed Stories of 2018

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, IN—22 children adopted at the Delaware County Justice Center on National Adoption Day topped Muncie Journal’s most viewed stories list for 2018. The article was written by attorney Rebecca Bruce and continues to be shared by our readers, even today. You’ll find the rest of our most viewed stories for 2018 below. You can click on any story headline to review the initial story and the date it was published. (When you click on a story below, you can hit…

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Muncie Police Department officers out on patrol. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Government December 24, 2018

Muncie Police Officers On Christmas Patrol

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, IN— As mentioned in the Muncie Journal article below, the Muncie Police Department is randomly handing out treats and toys while officers are out on patrol. On Thursday, Muncie Journal followed Brian Campbell & Damon Stovall (Santa) on patrol. They brought Christmas joy to some Muncie kids today. Watch the video below.   Related article below. Muncie Public Safety Officials Bring Holiday Cheer To Local Children

You might think about putting down the smartphone over the holidays. Photo by: Storyblocks

Health December 24, 2018

Want To Be Healthy Over The Holidays? Put Down Your Smartphone.

By: Ball State Marketing and Communications— Muncie, IN—Putting away the smartphone, iPad and other device may be the first step to enjoying a healthier lifestyle during the holidays, says Jagdish Khubchandani, a member of the Global Health Institute at Ball State University and a physiology and health science professor. His study found that excessive technology use and professional stress were predictors for lack of adequate physical activity and a decline in healthy eating. “The increasing use of electronic media has…

Local kids’ Christmas wishes in cards tied to trees. Photo by: Nancy Carlson

Carlson December 23, 2018

John Carlson: Children Need A Special Gift

By: John Carlson— “I like trains.” That was it, one child’s fondest wish, hinted at in a card hanging from an artificial Christmas tree in a Muncie church’s narthex. There was more on his wish list, but not much more. A couple items of clothing. A pair of socks. Maybe a pair of shoes. Other cards on this tree represented additional little kids and their wishes. A Barbie doll. A toy car. A dinosaur. And the simple clothing items like…

Pictured L-R: Cecil Bohanon, Bruce Munson, Jonathan Lamb, Frank Baldwin, Martin Hillery and James Rosema. Photo by: TJ Dudley

Non-Profit December 20, 2018

The Baur Foundation Grants Muncie Mission $175,000 For Housing Program

By: Frank Baldwin— Muncie, IN—The Baur Foundation awards Muncie Mission with a $175,000 grant to continue expanding their transitional housing program. The J. Robert & Joanne N. Baur Foundation granted Muncie Mission Ministries $175,000 to fund the Mission’s expanding transitional housing program, and the development of programming to improve healthy lifestyles and job creation. Muncie Mission has nine transitional living units with another six in development. Transitional housing is available to graduates of the life recovery program offered by the…

Jenna Wachtmann is Program Officer at Ball Brothers Foundation. Photo provided.

Non-Profit December 20, 2018

Indiana Philanthropy Alliance Adds Jenna Wachtmann To Board Of Directors

By: Lissa Silotto— Indianapolis, IN —Indiana Philanthropy Alliance (IPA) has appointed Linda Speed as its new Board Chair and welcomes Stephanie Overbey and Jenna Wachtmann as new members to its Board of Directors. Current Directors becoming officers in 2019 include Theresa Farrington Rhodes, elected as Vice Chair, and Tracy Souza, elected as Secretary. “I value the connection with other grantmakers in our state to learn, collaborate, and make a greater impact through informed grantmaking,” said Speed. “I look forward to ushering in a new era with…

Firefighter Daniel Powell puts together a bag of new toys for a local family inside the Toys For Tots office in Southway Plaza. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Government December 20, 2018

Muncie Public Safety Officials Bring Holiday Cheer To Local Children

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, Indiana—During the holiday season, many of the City of Muncie’s public safety officials kick-into high gear in order to bring a little holiday cheer to underprivileged children around the area. Toys For Tots In early November, the familiar Toys for Tots collection boxes began to spring up inside businesses around town. For 2018, around 65 boxes have been distributed throughout the community. Families who wanted to participate in the Toys for Tots program were first screened by staff at…

Jeff Lang. Photo provided.

Non-Profit December 19, 2018

Edging Close To End of United Way Campaign: We Still Need You…

By: Jeff Lang— Muncie, Indiana—Thanks to the generous support from people like you, United Way of Delaware County is winding up another successful fundraising campaign. We’re not done. Not quite yet. But it’s close and I wanted to say thank you. Like many of you, I have much to be grateful for this holiday season, and one thing is this place I call home. I came to Muncie for a job a few decades ago and I’ve never left. Never…

A portion of Meridian Health Services campus on Tillotson Avenue in Muncie is pictured. File photo by: Mike Rhodes

Health December 19, 2018

Meridian Health Services Welcomes Madison County Community Health Center

By: Lorri Markum—  Muncie, IN — Meridian Health Services is pleased to announce that Madison County Community Health Center will be joining its organization with an anticipated effective date first quarter of 2019.   This collaboration will bring great strengths to each and offer patients access to a broader spectrum of healthcare services that will provide community benefit. Meridian Health Services is a regional, progressive, not-for-profit healthcare system with a gross annual revenue of $137 million.  Meridian specializes in “whole-person” health…

Ball State University Campus. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

We Fly December 18, 2018

Ball State University Developing Incentive-Based Budget

By: Ball State Marketing and Communications— Muncie, Indiana – Ball State University’s Board of Trustees recently discussed implementing a more decentralized, incentive-based approach to budgeting designed to better align the allocation of resources with the priorities of a new strategic plan. “The new model will incentivize all colleges and units to promote student success, stimulate strategic growth, encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, and support academic excellence,” said President Geoffrey S. Mearns. “The current budget model has served us well for many…