Articles by Mike Rhodes

(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…

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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…

Muncie Journal's Health & Beauty Special Section

Health & Beauty July 25, 2018

Muncie Journal Launches Health & Beauty Special Section

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, IN— Today, Muncie Journal.com launched our “Health & Beauty” special section. Our “Health & Beauty” special section is sponsored by: IU Health/Ball Memorial Hospital and includes articles from local businesses that are good for your health in some way, or help you look and feel your best! Everything included in the “Health & Beauty” special section launches from this page, so you’ll need to scroll down this page to view it all.  (Use the back-button on your browser to cycle through articles…

A story performance from the inaugural A Midsummer Night's Narrative Storytelling Festival. Photo provided.

Non-Profit July 25, 2018

The Facing Project to Hold Second Annual Storytelling Festival at Madjax and Cornerstone Park

By: Amory Orchard— Muncie, IN—On July 28th, The Facing Project will hold its second annual “A Midsummer Night’s Narrative Storytelling Festival” on the theme of Unity. The festival begins at 5 PM and will include a Writers Fair with local authors, a meet and greet with celebrity storytellers and writers, opportunities for attendees to share their own stories through “Humans of Muncie” and an open mic hour, plus much, much more. Music throughout the festival will be provided by Cliff…

Goodbye dear caterpillars, we hardly knew ye...Photo by: Nancy Carlson

Carlson July 21, 2018

John Carlson: Gone But Not Forgotten

By: John Carlson— A backyard garden like ours is supposed to be a place of peace and contemplation, but it isn’t when my wife is taking her caterpillar count. Then things get a trifle tense. Several evenings ago, Nancy found nine caterpillars stuck to a couple of our plants out back. This was cause for celebration. After all, butterflies – which magically spring from caterpillars, if I remember correctly – aren’t nearly as profuse as they once were. Come to…

Rear Adm. Sam Cox (Ret.), Director of Naval History and Heritage Command, right, presents Arthur Leenerman, an Indianapolis survivor, with a certificate of appreciation during the 2018 USS Indianapolis reunion. Photo by: Lindsay A Metler

Government July 21, 2018

Navy Shares Final Crew Accounting at USS Indianapolis Survivors Reunion

By: 2nd Class Lindsay A. Preston, Naval History and Heritage Command, Communication and Outreach Division— Indianapolis, IN– The Director of the Naval History and Heritage Command as well as one of the command’s historians joined the survivors of World War II cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA 35) and their families for a luncheon at the Columbia Club of Indianapolis July 20. As part of the annual reunion of the USS Indianapolis Survivors Organization, Rear Adm. Sam Cox, U.S. Navy (Retired) and Richard…

Judith Barnes second-floor gallery.

Non-Profit July 20, 2018

Judith Barnes Memorial Gallery Opens at Cornerstone Center of the Arts

By: Jessie Fisher— Muncie, IN—Cornerstone Center for the Arts is excited to announce the opening and dedication of the Judith Barnes Memorial Gallery. This is a well-deserved recognition of Muncie Center for the Arts founder Judy Barnes and her vision for Cornerstone Center for the Arts. This renovation of the second-floor west wing includes new flooring, updated lighting, and renovated restrooms. In honor of its namesake, the gallery features two plaques beside a portrait of Judy. One plaque recognizes the…

The cast of 'Positively Pessimistic'. Photo provided.

Entertainment July 19, 2018

Muncie Civic’s New play is ‘Positively Pessimistic’

By: Michelle Kinsey— Muncie, IN – Can an optimist and a pessimist come together to save the world? Sure, or probably not. Find out when “Positively Pessimistic” takes the stage at Muncie Civic Theatre this weekend. Performances will be 7:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 20 and 21, and 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 21 and 22. Adult tickets are $8 and student tickets are $6. For more information, or to get your tickets, call 288-PLAY or go to…

New banners at BSU. Photo provided.

We Fly July 19, 2018

New Look For Ball State’s Scheumann Stadium

By: Kim Rendfeld— Muncie, IN — When Cardinals football fans visit the Ball State campus for the Aug. 30 opening game, they will see Scheumann Stadium, the nearby Alumni Center, and other buildings sporting a new look as part of the university’s Centennial Celebration. Brand new banners, including 80-foot-tall creations at the stadium, were placed on the buildings this week, July 17-18.