Articles by Mike Rhodes

Community sponsors, NAACP leadership and Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler are pictured during a ribbon-cutting ceremony kicking-off the NAACP State Convention in Muncie. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Business October 30, 2018

Horizon Convention Center Hosts NAACP State Convention

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, IN—After a 19 year hiatus, the NAACP held its 2018 State Convention in Muncie at the Horizon Convention Center, October 25-27. The last NAACP  State Convention to be held in Muncie was in 1999 at the Roberts Hotel. At a press conference at the Horizon Convention Center, Mayor Dennis Tyler said, “I’m very honored for the State NAACP convention to be here. I think what you’re seeing—with the type of sponsors we have—Muncie is a very…

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Your United Way of Delaware County team. Photo provided

Non-Profit October 30, 2018

Chamber Honors United Way With Education Award

By: Jenni Marsh— Muncie, IN—United Way of Delaware County received the Outstanding Contributions to Education Award last Thursday night at the annual dinner of the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce. United Way was recognized for its focus on early childhood education to end generational poverty. “We are honored to receive this award,” said Jenni Marsh, President and Chief Executive Officer of UWDC. Other winners Thursday included Ivy Tech Community College, awarded with the Community Impact Award. DIY/Group, Inc., who was…

Artist Heather Van Winckle brings a homemade candlepin bowling lane to the Muncie Mall with the PlySpace Residency Program. Photo provided

Non-Profit October 30, 2018

PlySpace Resident Heather Van Winckle Brings Candlepin Bowling to the Muncie Mall

By: Erin Williams, PlySpace Residency Coordinator— Muncie, IN—PlySpace, an artist-in-residence program of the Muncie Arts and Culture Council, completes the Fall 2018 Residency Term with a homemade candlepin bowling alley by resident artist Heather Van Winckle at the Muncie Mall. The bowling project, Main Stream, will be located inside a vacant storefront at the Mall and will be open to the public during select times from October 26th to November 4th, 2018. Main Stream explores the game of bowling as…

Athena Nagel, a Music & Memory volunteer, comforts Gene Hart, a Muncie Alzheimer’s patient, during a therapeutic iPod music session. Photo provided.

Non-Profit October 29, 2018

“Music and Memory” Brings Music Therapy To Nursing Home Residents

By: Dr. Joe Misiewicz— Muncie, IN—A group of Ball State University student volunteers are helping forgotten Hoosiers living in nursing homes by providing them free iPods® and personalized music therapy. The program is called “Music and Memory” and their mission is to bring iPods® and individualized music playlists to the elderly, with special emphasis on those suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s. We believe that personalized digital music can greatly enhance the quality of life for many nursing home residents, especially those with…

Daryl Morrical, MD, FACP, FCCP from Muncie is pictured presenting his seminar titled: "Pulmonary Embolism—Same Old Disease, New Options for Diagnosis and Management." Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Business October 28, 2018

Horizon Convention Center Hosts Indiana Society For Respiratory Care State Conference

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, Indiana— The 44thAnnual Indiana Society for Respiratory Care State Conference (ISRC) was held at the Horizon Convention Center, September 13-14. ISRC is a professional organization that represents Respiratory Therapists in Indiana. The conference offered continuing education opportunities for practitioners who work in the areas of homecare, acute care, neonatal, intensive care, diagnostics, sleep centers and more. The mission of the Indiana Society for Respiratory Care (ISRC) is to provide proactive leadership in the delivery of Respiratory…

The Muncie Symphony Orchestra. Photo provided

Entertainment October 27, 2018

“Symphonic Halloween” to be a Night of Tricks and Treats on Oct 27th

By: Morgan Dean— Muncie, IN—Double, double toil and trouble, musicians play and feature double. The Muncie Symphony Orchestra (MSO) invites you to the spooky “Symphonic Halloween” concert on Saturday, October 27 at 7:30 p.m. in Emens Auditorium. The concert will feature “double” 2018 MSO Young Artist Competition Winners, Abigail Ko (Ladonna Dingledine Junior Division Winner) and Sage Hamm (Steve Dingledine Senior Division Winner). Join us…if you dare! Tickets for Youth (K-12) are just $5; Ball State student tickets are FREE in advance…

Fisher Governance Award winner Leigh Edwards is pictured with Jud Fisher.

Non-Profit October 26, 2018

Leigh Edwards Presented With Fisher Governance Award During Chamber of Commerce Dinner

By: Jud Fisher— Muncie, IN—Leigh Edwards, president of Muncie Civic Theatre’s board of directors, has been selected as the 2018 winner of the John W. and Janice B. Fisher Governance Award. The award, which recognizes the outstanding service of a board member to a Delaware County non-profit organization, was presented at the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner on October 25. Edwards has served on the Theatre’s board since 2010 and has been president for the past three years….

Halloween brings to life some very scary people. Photo provided

Carlson October 26, 2018

John Carlson: Who’s Afraid Of Halloween?

By: John Carlson— A good scare always gives me perverse pleasure. That explains my love for Halloween, with its flying witches, flickering jack o’ lanterns, and moon floating behind ominously scudding clouds. This is even though, at heart, I am a true chicken. My younger sister, Patty? Not so much. Remember back when the movie “The Exorcist” came out? She was in high school then. As long as that movie was in the theaters, her social calendar was booked. She…

A LLC is formed by causing articles of organization to be executed and filed in the records of the Office of the Indiana Secretary of State. Photo by: Storyblocks

Business October 25, 2018

Beasley & Gilkison: Business Organizations—The Versatility of the Limited Liability Company

By: Ben Freeman, Attorney at Law— Muncie, IN—When starting a business, the entrepreneur has several options for organizing a company. Choosing the right type of organization is important. Many small businesses operate as a sole proprietorship or a partnership. These types of organizations are easy to establish and at little or no cost to the entrepreneur. Corporations, on the other hand, can be very complex and require the dedication of time and money to manage properly. The limited liability company…

First Merchants Corporation, 200 E. Jackson Street, Muncie. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Business October 24, 2018

First Merchants Corporation Announces 66% Increase in 3rd Quarter 2018 Earnings Per Share

By: First Merchants Corporation— Muncie, IN—First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ – FRME) has reported third quarter 2018 net income of $41.1 million, an increase of 69 percent, compared to $24.4 million during the same period in 2017.  Earnings per share for the period totaled $.83, an increase of 66 percent, compared to the third quarter of 2017 result of $.50 per share.  Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 totaled $117.4 million, compared to $71.7 million during the…