Articles by Mike Rhodes

Local Cleaning Service Has A Heart For Muncie

By: Stacey A. Shannon— Muncie, IN—While In & Out Cleaning Services specializes in both residential and commercial cleaning services, the company is focused on building relationships with its customers and being part of the Muncie community. Alex Romoser, a co-owner of the business along with Josh Arthur, said the company has been in business for 15 years and continues to grow. In & Out Cleaning Services, which offers everything from gutter cleaning to window washing to regular cleaning services, offers free price quotes. The 16 employees travel throughout central Indiana. But Muncie is home base. “Our organization just has a…

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Singer Jennie DeVoe Subject Of New Book By Muncie Journal Columnist

By: John Carlson— A native of our city who has become an iconic Hoosier singer-songwriter over the past twenty years is the subject of a new book by Muncie Journal columnist John Carlson. The book is “Jennie DeVoe On The Record: Friends, Music and Elvis Dust.” It is available for $18 from the merchandise table at Jennie’s shows, or online at jenniedevoe.com. (Go to “record shop,” scroll down to “merch” and the book will pop up to order. Or just click here.) Beginning next week, a banner at the top of the main page will automatically direct shoppers to the…


John Carlson: With All Due Respect…

By: John Carlson— A small city of 10,000 people, Wapakoneta sits where Route 33 intersects busy I-75 in southwestern Ohio’s Auglaize County, a place marked by the same gas stations, convenience stores and burger joints as a million others. But pass it on the interstate, especially at night, and the moon-like structure that commands your attention hints why this place is anything but common. Neil Armstrong called it home. That huge full moon, which seems to be rising from the ground, appropriately denotes the Armstrong Air & Space Museum. It’s a wonderful place to visit, a suitable honor for a…


Mitchell Early Childhood and Family Center Open House is August 24th

By: Marc Ransford— Muncie, IN—The YMCA of Muncie and Ball State University are committed to strengthening the Muncie community. Through a joint partnership, the YMCA and Ball State’s Child Study Center will be relocating all child care services to the newly renovated Mitchell Early Childhood and Family Center beginning August 19th.  The community is invited to attend the open house on Saturday August 24th, 2019 from 10am to 12pm. The center is located at 2809 W. Purdue Ave, Muncie, Indiana 47304. “The innovative integration of these two programs will benefit the entire community, particularly in preparing children for kindergarten,” said Ball…


Jim Mansfield Named Winner of 2019 Hoosier Hospitality Award

By: Mike Rhodes, Editor-in-Chief— Muncie, IN—Jim Mansfield, executive director of the Muncie Visitors Bureau was named a winner of the 2019 Hoosier Hospitality Award at ceremonies held earlier today at the Indiana State Fair Wine, Beer, & Spirits Pavilion. Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch presented Mansfield with the award. The Hoosier Hospitality Award is given to Hoosiers that have displayed a high level of service in tourism-related professions at hotels, restaurants, attractions and other destinations in Indiana. Jeff Bryan nominated Mansfield for the award. Mansfield was informed of the award in July via letter by Misty Weisensteiner, executive director of the…


Innovation Connector and TechWise Academy Announce New STEM Classes for Fall

By: Brandon Coppernoll, Co-Founder, TechWise Academy— Muncie, IN—The Innovation Connector is partnering with TechWise Academy to host a new lineup of STEM classes through the Coding Connector starting on August 16. These classes help K-12 students learn computational thinking and computer science through coding and robotics. New classes this Fall feature Sphero robots for elementary students and new coding classes for middle and high school students. Younger students from kindergarten through second grade will have more opportunities to build and learn with LEGO WeDo robots than before. “What is being taught at the Coding Connector is truly the language of…


Ball State University’s 2019 Fan Jam Is Saturday August 17th

By: Ball State Sports— Muncie, IN—Join us for Ball State Athletics 2019 Fall Fan Jam on Saturday, August 17th! Everyone is invited to Scheumann Stadium from 5-7 pm for this FREE community-wide event to kick off the 2019 sports schedule. Don’t miss the fun! Fans will have the opportunity to meet Ball State coaches, student-athletes – including the entire football squad – receive autographs, take home a poster and take part in interactive stations. Community organizations and corporate partners will also be on site providing interactive opportunities and giveaways. Charlie Cardinal along with the Code Red Dance Team and Cheerleaders…


Ludingwood Neighborhood Association Revises Covenants to Remove Racist Language

By: Bob O’Bannon— Muncie, IN—The Ludingwood Neighborhood Association, Inc., accomplished a major milestone last month when it secured the required number of signatures among its residents to eliminate racist language from its covenants. The Ludingwood Neighborhood Association, Inc., (LNA) was formed in December of 2014. One of its first orders of business was to remove language from the original covenants, written when the neighborhood was established in 1946, that prohibited people from “any race other than the caucasian race” from living in the neighborhood. People of non-caucasian races have lived in Ludingwood for many years, but the LNA wanted to…


2019 ATHENA Award Nominations Are Now Open

By: Chrystal Pearson— Muncie, IN—Women in Business Unlimited (WIBU), an organization dedicated to providing networking opportunities for business women of East Central Indiana, would like your help finding and honoring individuals who demonstrate professional excellence, serve their community and actively assists women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills. Do you know an individual who strives toward the highest levels of personal and professional accomplishment?  Who also excels in their chosen field, devotes time and energy within their community and helps forge paths of leadership for other women to follow?  If so, you have the opportunity to honor them…


Muncie Civic Kicks Off 2019-20 Season With ‘Pure Imagination’

By: Michelle Kinsey— Muncie, IN—Muncie Civic Theatre will open its 2019-20 Season with “pure imagination” when “Willy Wonka” takes the main stage on Aug. 16. Performances will be Aug.16-18, 23-25, and 29-31. Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows will begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees will begin at 2:30 p.m. A sensory-friendly performance will be 2:30 p.m. Aug. 17. Tickets are $20 for adults, $17 for groups of 10 or more, and $15 for students and children. The musical, directed by Bridget Duggleby, is a delicious mix of Roald Dahl’s book “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and the 1971 movie…