Articles by Mike Rhodes

Camp Adventure is an outdoor education facility on the southwest side of Muncie. BBF Rapid Grants in 2018 helped to support renovations at the camp as well as a “Challenge Education” course at Camp Adventure for Cowan Community School’s 7th graders. Photo provided.

Non-Profit August 1, 2018

Ball Brothers Foundation Grants Promote Outdoor Learning         

By: Jud Fisher— Muncie, IN—A series of Rapid Grants awarded by Ball Brothers Foundation this spring and summer is supporting efforts to connect learning, nature, and youth. “Recent research suggests that the average American child spends several hours a day in front of digital screens,” shared Jud Fisher, president and chief operating officer of Ball Brothers Foundation in reflecting on grants recently awarded by the private family foundation. “While we certainly recognize the value that this kind of technology can…

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Canan Commons Grates, the site of "the hopes we wear on our backs", a participatory public weaving project by PlySpace Resident Artist Kacie Lyn Martinez.

Entertainment July 31, 2018

PlySpace Resident Artist Kacie Lyn Martinez Outdoor Weaving Project at August First Thursday

By: Erin Williams— Muncie, IN—The Muncie Arts and Culture Council and PlySpace, an artist-in-residence program based in the Emily Kimbrough Historic District in downtown Muncie, Indiana, are excited to announce the second Summer Term Resident Artist, Kacie Lyn Martinez. Martinez is a participatory fiber artist based in Brooklyn, New York whose work generates contemporary weaving projects which combine therapeutic, meditative practice with traditional weaving methods. While in residence at PlySpace throughout the month of August, Martinez will present a public…

Photo by: graphicstock

We Fly July 30, 2018

Ball State To Make Standardized Tests Optional for Admission

By: Marc Ransford— Muncie, IN— Ball State University is making an important change in its admissions process. Ball State will make submitting SAT or ACT scores optional for its next upcoming recruitment class, who will begin their college education in the Fall of 2019. The University is making the change after a deliberative process that began in the Spring of 2017. Ball State is taking this innovative approach to have the flexibility to attract more students who are likely to…

Jonathan Jones. Photo provided.

Non-Profit July 29, 2018

Motivate Our Minds Announces New Executive Director

By: Michelle Kinsey— Muncie, IN –Jonathan Jones has been named the new Executive Director of Motivate Our Minds. “Motivate Our Minds is excited to have Jonathan Jones join the organization as Executive Director,” said Derek  Wilson, MOM board vice president. “He brings quality experience leading similar programs in Indianapolis and exudes professionalism. We can’t wait to see the positive impact he’ll help Motivate Our Minds continue to make in our community.” Before joining Motivate Our Minds, Jones was the Programs…

What’s in the soup? Lotsa hope and not much talent. Photo by: Nancy Carlson

Carlson July 29, 2018

John Carlson: For The Love of Slurping

By: John Carlson— Along with sipping bourbon, playing cutthroat card games of Go Fish, and continuing my quest to find the world’s greatest coleslaw, I have taken on a new hobby. Making soup. Making soup is not an endeavor a man enters into lightly, it turns out. There are a zillion soups out there on grocery store shelves, and I could buy any of them without trouble. But with a couple possible exceptions, none of them would rock my world….

The Campbell Brothers. Photo provided.

Entertainment July 27, 2018

The Campbell Brothers to Headline Free Concert on Saturday At Canan Commons

By: Rick Zeigler— Muncie, IN –Legendary Sacred Steel Gospel group The Campbell Brothers will be performing in a FREE outdoor concert as part of the 2018 Muncie Three Trails Music Series. This concert is sponsored by the Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County and will take place at 7:00 PM on Saturday, July 28th at Canan Commons (500 S. Walnut St.) in the heart of downtown Muncie, IN. The Freetown Village Singers from the Madame Walker Theater in Indianapolis will…

A property owner is pictured after signing on a new tenant. Photo by: graphicstock

Business July 26, 2018

Beasley & Gilkison: The Residential Eviction Process

By: Ben Freeman, Attorney at Law— Muncie, IN—Whether you are a property owner looking to rent out a home or an individual looking for your next place to live, it is important to understand the basics of the residential eviction process. An eviction is the legal process a landlord must take to remove an uncompliant tenant and regain possession of the property. Evictions are governed generally by the Indiana Code. However, each county has different local rules which govern how…

(L-R) Gary Pavlechko and Dom Caristi. Photo provided.

Opinion July 26, 2018

Opinion: How To Find The Best Professors

By: Dom Caristi and Gary Pavlechko— Muncie, IN—We have advice for college students hoping to find the best teachers: Look for professors who believe they can always improve. Student evaluations of teaching have been criticized for years for a variety of shortcomings. “Rate My Professors” also suffers from unreliable data. If there’s one thing we know, it’s that the best college teachers care about their teaching. Most professors would rather mentor hard-working students than bright students. So it is with…

First Merchants Corporation

Business July 26, 2018

First Merchants Corporation Announces 40 Percent Increase in 2nd Quarter Earnings Per Share

By: First Merchants Corporation— Muncie, IN—First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ – FRME) has reported second quarter 2018 net income of $39.6 million, an increase of 64 percent, compared to $24.1 million during the same period in 2017. Earnings per share for the period totaled $.80 per share, an increase of 40 percent, compared to the second quarter of 2017 result of $.57 per share. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2018 totaled $76.3 million, compared to $47.3 million…

Artist rendering—Exterior Downtown North Building. Photo provided.

Education July 25, 2018

Ivy Tech To Host ‘Demo Day’ on August 2nd

By: Jennifer S. Gasiorek, Executive Director of Strategic Communications— Muncie, IN—Ivy Tech Community College is holding a special event to celebrate the new exciting transformation that downtown Muncie will begin to see over the next few months.  On Aug. 2, the community can come say goodbye to the Old Star Press Building at the corner of Main and High streets.  The building is set to be demolished the week of Aug. 6. “We are really excited about Demo Day. We want…