Articles by Mike Rhodes

First Merchants Corporation

Business October 10, 2018

First Merchants Corporation and MBT Financial Corporation Announce Merger Agreement

By: Chad Mertz— Muncie, IN and Monroe, MI— First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ: FRME) and MBT Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: MBTF) today announced they have executed a definitive agreement whereby MBT Financial Corporation will merge with and into First Merchants Corporation in a 100% stock transaction valued at approximately $290.9 million.  Upon completion of the merger, Monroe Bank & Trust, will merge with and into First Merchants Bank. Headquartered in Monroe, Michigan, MBTF operates 20 banking center locations in the southeastern Michigan…

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Screenshot Courtesy of the Weather Channel.

General October 10, 2018

Hurricane Michael Weather Channel Live Video Stream

  Click this link to view real-time streaming of Hurricane Michael from the Weather Channel.  (If you see a commercial break graphic, just hang tight. When the page opens from the link above, the live stream is about 1/2 way down the page.)          

The ATHENA awards. Photo provided.

Non-Profit October 10, 2018

2018 WIBU ATHENA Nominees Announced

By: Chrystal Pearson— Muncie, IN—Women in Business Unlimited (WIBU), an organization dedicated to providing networking opportunities for women of East Central Indiana, is pleased to announce the Nominees for the 2018 ATHENA Awards. After closing public nominations on September 21st, WIBU received a total of eleven (11) candidates for the internationally recognized awards. Nominations were solicited from the public. In order to remain impartial, the 11 nominations were forwarded to the judging panel for review. Each judge reviews and evaluates each…

Indianapolis International Airport. Photo provided.

Business October 9, 2018

Condé Nast: Indy Airport Is Best Airport in United States

Announcement marks the fifth consecutive year Indy airport awarded with top title INDIANAPOLIS  – Using feedback from nearly half a million travelers, Condé Nast Traveler has named the Indianapolis International Airport (IND) as the Best Airport in the United States for the fifth consecutive year. Condé Nast awarded the title to the Indy airport as part of its 31st Annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey. The survey collected millions of ratings and more than 100,000 comments to help Condé Nast develop…

Edward Gorey, Haunted America, 1990. Watercolor, pen and ink, and pencil on paper. Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, American Paintings and Drawings Purchase Fund, 2015.4.1.© The Edward Gorey Charitable Trust.

Entertainment October 9, 2018

Guest Lecturer to Speak on Artist Edward Gorey at Owsley Museum

By: Rachel Buckmaster— Muncie, IN– The David Owsley Museum of Art (DOMA) presents a public lecture on artist Edward Gorey by the curator of “Gorey’s Worlds,” on view at DOMA through December 21, 2018. On October 11 at 6 p.m., Erin Monroe, the Robert H. Schutz, Jr., Associate Curator of American Paintings and Sculpture at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, Connecticut, will give a richly illustrated talk about the artist and the special exhibition she curated. A…

Photo provided

Business October 9, 2018

Orchard Shop at Minnetrista Having Annual Glass Pumpkin Sale

By: Stephen Mortland— Muncie, IN— On October 27, from 8 a.m.–Noon The Orchard Shop at Minnetrista will be selling decorative glass pumpkins crafted by the experts at the Ball State Glass Guild. These unique seasonal pumpkins are great for friends and family, promising to add a festive fall atmosphere to any home! The pumpkins are for sale at The Orchard Shop throughout the autumn season, but on the morning of October 27 there will be a wide variety available for…

Holly Rowe. Photo provided

Entertainment October 9, 2018

ESPN’s Holly Rowe to Speak on “Working and Living with Passion and Purpose”

By: Michael Clark, Ball State Athletics— Muncie, IN—Ball State University’s College of Communication, Information, and Media, in conjunction with Ball State Athletics, is pleased to announce that ESPN reporter and play-by-play commentator Holly Rowe will visit campus on Monday, Oct. 22. Rowe will speak on Working and Living with Passion and Purpose in Emens Auditorium beginning at 7:30 p.m. The event is part of The David Letterman Distinguished Professional Lecture and Workshop Series. The presentation is FREE and open to…

Team members from IU Health Blackford are pictured. Photo provided.

Health October 9, 2018

IU Health Team Members Give Time For Community Service

By: Dawn Brand Fluhler— Muncie, IN– This year the IU Health Eastern Central Region participated in the 10th annual IU Health Days of Service. On September 7, 14 and 21, 450 IU Health team members from IU Health Ball, IU Health Blackford and IU Health Jay spent more than 1,100 collective hours working on projects. John Disher, community outreach manager for IU Health East Central Region and Ball Memorial Hospital Foundation served as an on-site facilitator for the activities. “The IU…

WJC CEO and Executive Vice President Robert Singer, center, with Seren Fryatt (right) and Alyssa Chassman (left), winners of the NY Pitch for Hope competition. Photo by: Shahar Azran

Positivity October 8, 2018

Former Muncie Woman Seren Fryatt Wins Top Prize in New York

By: Zack Wallens— NEW YORK – The World Jewish Congress and Chelsea Football Club (Chelsea FC) on Thursday held the final competition in the US portion of a global campaign to combat widespread racism, anti-semitism and xenophobia in sports. Former Muncie resident Seren Fryatt, was named as the winner, receiving a $10,000 grant from Chelsea FC and the WJC to turn her dream into reality. The Pitch for Hope competition called on young people ages 18-30 in the United States,…

Ball State University President Geoffrey S. Means addresses 18 high-achieving college students during a luncheon hosted by Indiana’s First Lady Janet Holcomb. Photo provided.

We Fly October 7, 2018

Ball State Awards 18 Students With Full Scholarships

By: Marc Ransford— INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Ball State University presented 18 high-achieving students with full scholarships Thursday, Oct. 4 at the Governor’s Residence during a luncheon hosted by Indiana’s First Lady Janet Holcomb. Named as Centennial Scholars in concurrence with Ball State’s 100th anniversary, these students were selected by the University’s academic colleges and represent a variety of majors. While pursuing different dreams, all have shown a proven commitment to outstanding academic achievement and active community engagement. “We are here…