Articles by Mike Rhodes

Kelly Stanley, 2018 recipient of the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce Legacy Award.

Business June 11, 2018

Chamber Names Kelly Stanley Legacy Award Recipient

By: Brenda Brumfield— Muncie, IN—The Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Kelly Stanley will be recognized as the 2018 recipient of the Chamber’s Legacy Award. The Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce’s Legacy Award is presented annually to an individual who has made extraordinary, sustained, and positive contributions to the Muncie-Delaware County community, and who has provided leadership in the development of programs, events, and/or new traditions that promote good will and community pride. “Kelly Stanley has been…

Read More
The updated Muncie Action Plan draft (MAP3) will be presented to the community during Open Houses on Wednesday, June 13th, 2018 from 7 pm - 9 pm at Kennedy Library and Thursday, June 14th, 2018 from 7 pm to 9 pm at Maring-Hunt Library. Photo by: Alex Romoser

Non-Profit June 11, 2018

Community Input Needed During MAP3 Open Houses

By: Alex Romoser— Muncie, IN—A draft of MAP3 will be presented to the community during the second week of June 2018 during two Open Houses on Wednesday, June 13th, 2018 from 7 pm – 9 pm at Kennedy Library and Thursday, June 14th, 2018 from 7 pm to 9 pm at Maring-Hunt Library. MAP is calling all community members to attend one of these Open Houses to prioritize results, select solutions, and give any final input before the draft of…

A prior DCHS annual meeting is pictured. Photo provided.

Non-Profit June 10, 2018

Delaware County Historical Society to Host 2018 Annual Meeting On June 21

By: Chris Flook— Muncie, IN—The Delaware County Historical Society will host its 2018 Annual Meeting on Thursday, June 21 at 6pm. The meeting will be held at Ball State University’s Alumni Center. To celebrate Ball State’s centennial anniversary this year, the DCHS is honored to have Dr. E. Bruce Geelhoed – professor of history at Ball State University give the presentation. Dr. Geelhoed is the author of several books including Charles E. Wilson and Controversy at the Pentagon, 1953 to…

Beneficence, affectionately called “Benny,” is Ball State's institutional icon. She symbolizes the generosity of the five Ball brothers whose land donation to the state of Indiana allowed Ball State to flourish.

Education, We Fly June 9, 2018

Help Shape Ball State’s Next Strategic Plan. Please Take Our Survey

By: Geoffrey S. Mearns— As president of Ball State University, I am pleased to report that our faculty, staff, and students have been hard at work laying the groundwork for our University’s new strategic plan—a plan that will shape the vision for what Ball State will become in our second century. Our strategic planning process, titled “Spreading Our Wings,” got underway earlier this year. Throughout the Spring, we held eight open forums on campus, each focusing on a different strategic…

Festival On The Green. File photo.

Entertainment June 8, 2018

Update: MSO’s ‘Festival On The Green’ Moving Indoors

By: Jennifer Johnson— “Festival on the Green” will move indoors today, June 9th, to the Field Sports Building, which is right next to and connected to Worthen Arena. —Picnics are still encouraged, but no alcohol can be brought into the Field Sports Building. — Public can still bring their lawn chairs, but a few folding chairs will be available in Field Sports. — No sharp objects should be set on the floor. We need to keep the floor protected. —…

Is it a sandstone block? Or could it be a monolith? Photo by: Nancy Carlson

Carlson June 8, 2018

John Carlson: What’s That Doing There?

By: John Carlson— The distinctive monoliths rise from barren soil. Primitive yet precisely planned, they are the labors of a people long since lost to time, gigantic rocks raised in praise of ancient gods and goddesses before whose cosmic countenances men worshipped in awe. Stonehenge? Nah, my backyard. The sandstone blocks began showing up out there when we started planting our butterflies, birds and bees garden. Our long-suffering gardener, Mary Beth Lambert, would pierce the soil with a spade, then…

Mark Davis. Photo provided.

Business June 8, 2018

Jay-Crew Adds Mark Davis To Team As Relationship Manager

By: Sheena Peters— Muncie, IN – The commercial lawn and landscape company Jay-Crew recently announced the addition of Mark Davis to their sales team as a Relationship Manager. Davis will work alongside clients providing them with the resources they need to make informed decisions about enhancing the appearance and condition of their properties. Although born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Mark attended Ball State University and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Resources which helped him gain experience and…

Normal City residents Jen Erickson and her daughter Anika wearing their neighborhood t-shirts while setting up for the June 2nd RNC summer picnic. Photo provided.

Non-Profit June 7, 2018

Funds Available for Neighborhood-Based Projects

By: Heather Williams, Program Manager Building Better Neighborhoods, Ball State University— Muncie, IN is unique among many similar sized communities in the Midwest in that the city is largely broken into neighborhood associations that cover nearly the entire geographic span of the city. If you live within city limits, it’s likely that you live in a neighborhood and there’s a pretty good chance that that neighborhood has an association that meets regularly and is working to constantly improve the area…

Financial fraud is a serious threat to small businesses. Photo by: Graphicstock

Business June 7, 2018

Innovation Connector to Host Anti-Fraud Workshop for Small Businesses

By: Tammy Allen, The Northeast Indiana Innovation Center— Muncie, IN—Each year United States businesses lose over $1 trillion of revenue due to fraudulent accounting practices and embezzlement. Small business owners are invited to attend an anti-fraud workshop to learn 10 No-Cost Ways to Reduce Financial Fraud Risk. “Financial fraud closes companies, eliminates jobs, and damages the perceived integrity of the U.S. market. If we can prevent one company from experiencing this, our workshop will be a huge success,” said Abigail…

Belle Tire representatives present a check to Bridges Community Services. Photo provided.

Business June 6, 2018

Belle Tire Presents $10,000 Donation to Five Muncie Non-Profits

By: Maya Sanches— Muncie,IN – Belle Tire Distributors Inc. has donated $10,000 to five participating non-profits during the  Choose Your Charity Challenge, a contest that took place for two months following the store’s grand opening. The combined $10,000 was distributed among the following organizations: A Better Way, Brightpoint for a Brighter Future Supported Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), Muncie Police Department, Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana and the Youth Opportunity Center. “One of our core values at…