Articles by Mike Rhodes

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb To Speak At Ball State Commencement

We Fly April 18, 2019

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb To Speak At Ball State Commencement

By: Ball State Marketing and Communications— Muncie, IN— Indiana’s top elected official will give the keynote address at Ball State University’s Spring Commencement on May 4, 2019. Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb will speak during the ceremony, which begins at 10 a.m. on the Arts Terrace. About 3,200 Ball State graduates are expected to receive their diplomas. It is the first time an Indiana governor will give an address at Ball State’s Spring Commencement while in office. “We are very grateful to Governor Holcomb for speaking to and inspiring our graduates and their families,” said Ball State President Geoffrey S. Mearns….

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Ball State University Students Examine Addiction Recovery

We Fly April 17, 2019

Ball State University Students Examine Addiction Recovery

By: Juli Metzger— Muncie, IN — Join Ball State University and the Department of Journalism’s Spring Immersive Learning class “Unmasked: Recovery and Redemption” for a Story Walk from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, April 25 at First Merchants Bank Community Room. Students explain how they explored the growing addiction recovery community in Muncie, Delaware County and East Central Indiana and the role churches and faith-based organizations have in helping addicts address the disease. A Story Walk combines student journalists and their sources — some with artifacts from their personal narratives — presenting the project and how stories emerged. Rodney Hackett, a recovering addict for…

Mayor Dennis Tyler Presents Final “State Of The City” Address as Mayor of Muncie

Government April 16, 2019

Mayor Dennis Tyler Presents Final “State Of The City” Address as Mayor of Muncie

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, IN—Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler presented his 2019 State of the City Address at a breakfast held at the Horizon Convention Center on Tuesday, April 16, 2019. The 2019 address was Mayor Tyler’s final one, after he decided not to run for re-election in 2019. “My family and I want to thank you so much for everything you have given us and allowing me the opportunity to serve you,” Tyler said. “It means a lot to me. In some way or another, this community has been a part of my life for 55 years. I appreciate that…

Introducing United Way of Delaware and Henry Counties

Non-Profit April 16, 2019

Introducing United Way of Delaware and Henry Counties

By: Juli Metzger— Muncie, IN—United Way of Delaware County is expanding its service territory to include Henry County and will build a customized impact focus for that community. Beginning immediately, it will operate under the name United Way of Delaware and Henry Counties. Both communities have similar demographics and similar needs. “First, we seek to understand,” said Jenni Marsh, who now is president and CEO of United Way of Delaware and Henry Counties. “We want to listen and learn and together build a strategic impact agenda that is unique to Henry County.” “Whatever funding is raised in Henry County, stays in…

Ball Brothers Foundation Announces Rapid Grants for Facility Maintenance Issues, Planning Efforts, and Youth Programs

Non-Profit April 15, 2019

Ball Brothers Foundation Announces Rapid Grants for Facility Maintenance Issues, Planning Efforts, and Youth Programs

By: Jud Fisher— Muncie, IN—Nearly 20 organizations have received Ball Brothers Foundation funding since the start of the 2019 year through the foundation’s Rapid Grant program. The Rapid Grant program allows the foundation to respond quickly to community needs. Organizations can submit a proposal requesting up to $5,000, and funding approval or denial is typically communicated within one week. Among the organizations receiving funding in early 2019 were those with critical facility maintenance issues. A $3,000 grant allowed United Day Care Center to repair a rooftop heating unit that malfunctioned during the bitterly cold month of January. The center, located…

Local Candy Maker Uses The Same Recipes From The 1920s

Business April 15, 2019

Local Candy Maker Uses The Same Recipes From The 1920s

By: Stacey Shannon— Muncie, IN—While Muncie has changed since Lowery’s Home Made Candies first opened in 1941, the candy-maker itself has stayed very much the same. The family-run business is on its fourth generation of leadership under Charles Joseph, but the recipes and techniques remain the same as they’ve always been. Joseph said stepping into Lowery’s Home Made Candies on West Kilgore Avenue is like taking a step into the past. All candies are made by hand with carefully selected ingredients using the same tools that were used 100 years ago. Lowery’s doesn’t use machines or mixes to make candy….

John Carlson: If My Dogs Were Rich…

Carlson April 14, 2019

John Carlson: If My Dogs Were Rich…

By: John Carlson— When superstar English clothing designer Karl Lagerfeld died recently, he left an estate worth one-hundred-fifty million pounds … … to his cat. Hearing this, I was so flummoxed I could barely think straight. I would NEVER do anything that stupid! This is mostly because I am not what you would call “a cat person.”  Also, I am not what you would call “a person who has any money.” But what if somebody else left one-hundred-fifty million pounds to my dogs? That’d be OK, I guess. “But what would our dogs do with one-hundred-fifty million pounds?” asked Nancy,…

“National Record Store Day” In Muncie Brings Out Hundreds of Vinyl Record Lovers To The Village

Business April 13, 2019

“National Record Store Day” In Muncie Brings Out Hundreds of Vinyl Record Lovers To The Village

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, IN—Saturday, April 13th is National Record Store Day across the globe. You remember vinyl records, right? LP’s? 45’s? Needles and cartridges? Record cleaning fluid? Discwasher? (Manufactured by RCA in Indianapolis back in the day.) Well, all that old technology is now very popular these days. Even with millennials, who grew up listening to mostly compressed digital music files on iTunes and other digital music services. According to Forbes, analog-recorded vinyl record sales are through the roof. In fact, the format has seen 260% growth since 2009. Used. New. Doesn’t matter. Vinyl records are cool again. And…

Delaware Dynamics Breaks Ground For New Facility

Business April 12, 2019

Delaware Dynamics Breaks Ground For New Facility

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, IN—Earlier today, members of Delaware Dynamics, the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, the Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance, government officials and other community leaders gathered to break ground for a new facility at Delaware Dynamics, in downtown Muncie. In opening remarks, Jeff Parsons said, “Each day the Chamber, the Economic Development Alliance and its partners work together with elected officials and stakeholders to advance economic development in our community, and today is no exception.” Delaware Dynamics new facility  will be dedicated to escalating their high-tech capabilities.  The building will house more high-speed mills including another state-of-the-art…

Fest Takes Aim At Autism

Non-Profit April 12, 2019

Fest Takes Aim At Autism

By: John Carlson— Muncie, IN—When the Interlock Autism Awareness Fest is held Saturday, April 27 at the Delaware County Fairgrounds, you can bet Cynthia Hunter will be there. This is not just just because she is on the board of Interlock of East Central Indiana. It’s because she and her husband, Stephen, are the parents of 11-year-old Aaron, a child with autism.  Over these past eleven years, they have learned just how vital the benefits of such an event can be in giving their older son every opportunity for maximizing his life potential. Early in their autism journey, the challenge…