Articles by Mike Rhodes

Photo by: graphicstock

Business August 6, 2018

Ball State Economist Says Jobs Report Shows Nation’s Economy in ‘Full Expansion Mode’

By: Marc Ransford— Muncie, IN—Ball State economist Michael Hicks said Friday’s national jobs report shows an economy in full expansion mode. With net growth of 157,000 jobs and revisions of the previous two months of 59,000, job growth continues to exceed growth in the labor force. This pushed the unemployment rate to 3.9 percent, well beneath historical estimates of full employment, he said. The composition of jobs was strong with continued growth across all sectors, Hicks noted. “Wage growth last…

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The back of Storer Elementary. The parking lot will also be removed. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Government August 3, 2018

Mayor Tyler Discusses Storer Elementary Plans With Neighborhood Group

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie IN—Mayor Dennis Tyler met with about 100 residents of the Westbrier neighborhood group on Tuesday to explain and answer questions about the city’s plans for the Storer Elementary property. The meeting was held at Riverside Avenue Baptist Church. Muncie City Council members Brad Polk and Dan Ridenour were also in attendance. The school is scheduled to be demolished by September of 2018. The building and foundation will be removed, according to Mayor Tyler, in addition to…

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Celebrates Community, Economic Impact of Indiana’s Longest Rail-Trail. Photo by: Angie Pool

Non-Profit August 3, 2018

Cardinal Greenway Trail Voted 2018 Rail-Trail Hall of Fame Inductee

By: Patricia Brooks— Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Celebrates Community, Economic Impact of Indiana’s Longest Rail-Trail  Washington, D.C.—Today, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), the nation’s largest trails organization, announced the induction of Indiana’s Cardinal Greenway Trail into the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame. Stretching nearly 62 miles between Marion and Richmond—featuring shaded woods, running rivers, urban centers, small towns and bucolic farmland—the Cardinal Greenway is the longest rail-trail in Indiana. The trail makes up a core segment of an even longer system, the Cardinal Greenways, which…

Doug Krabacher loved the life of a Lake Erie charter captain. Photo by: John Pinckney

Carlson August 3, 2018

John Carlson: A Guy You Don’t Forget

By: John Carlson— There is a world of difference between growing up near big water and being on big water. This came to mind over a couple beers the other day, when my buddy John Pinckney and I began reminiscing about Doug Krabacher. Since Pinckney and his wife, Carol, are landlocked Munsonians like the rest of us, I don’t know the details of how Krabacher, a charter fishing captain on Lake Erie, came into their lives. Come into their lives…

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…

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…