Articles by Mike Rhodes

Emma-Mae Newman. Photo provided.

Non-Profit April 28, 2018

Emma-Mae Newman Receives Project Leadership’s Highest Award

By: Brenda Morehead, Director of Impact, Project Leadership— Muncie, IN—A Burris Laboratory School senior, a mentor, and the Grant County Comprehensive Counseling Coalition were awarded Project Leadership’s highest honors Thursday evening at the annual Red Rubber Ball Celebration at the Marion Ivy Tech campus. The event, in its 11th year, recognized a year of achievements for participants in Project Leadership’s programming, which assists students in their career and college pathways. Emma-Mae Newman, a Burris senior, received the 2018 Delaware County…

Read More
Photo provided.

Entertainment April 28, 2018

Muncie Symphony Orchestra Presents “Season Finale” Saturday, April 28th

By: Morgan Dean— Muncie, IN, – The Muncie Symphony Orchestra concludes their 2017-2018 subscription season this Saturday, April 28, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. in Emens Auditorium. “Season Finale” features the Youth Symphony Orchestra of East Central Indiana, along with 2017 MSO Young Artist Competition winner, pianist Phillip Shou. An informative pre-concert talk with MSO Artistic Director and Conductor, Douglas Droste, and pianist, Phillip Shou, will take place at 6:30 p.m. in Williams Lounge. Refreshments will be offered in the George…

First Merchants Corporation

Business April 27, 2018

First Merchants Corp Announces 32 Percent Increase in 1st Quarter Earnings

By: Clare Leonard— Muncie, IN—First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ – FRME) has reported first quarter 2018 net income of $36.7 million, an increase of 58 percent, compared to $23.2 million during the same period in 2017. Earnings per share for the period totaled $.74 per share, an increase of 32 percent, compared to the first quarter of 2017 result of $.56 per share. The increase in net income was driven by several factors including strong core banking performance, two acquisitions that…

Michael Martin (2nd from left) and his band's music provide a message of hope. Photo provided.

Entertainment April 27, 2018

Mike Martin & The Beautiful Mess to Perform at Elm Street on April 27th

By: Mike Rhodes & FM Music— Muncie, IN—Mike Martin & The Beautiful Mess will perform live at Elm Street Brewery, beginning at 9pm on April 27th. Mike will also be performing his song from the newly released 45 RPM vinyl record, “Take Your Pills.” Mike has been a Muncie fixture for years. Early on, he moved to Muncie from Fairmount, IN after moving back to Indiana from Folly Beach, SC. Mike always enjoyed spending time in Muncie and he thought…

Kilts are more than skirts for guys … supposedly. Photo by: Nancy Carlson

Carlson April 27, 2018

John Carlson: Skirting The Issue

By: John Carlson— Down in Indy recently, I saw a big guy wearing a kilt. I only mention he was a big guy, maybe 6-feet-4 and 250 pounds, because my first thought was to holler, “Nice skirt, sissy!” But one look at him and I knew he’d have pounded me headfirst into the dirt, like I was some newfangled type of mole exterminator. So anyway, this big guy’s skirt – pardon me, kilt – being metal studded and possibly even…

Understanding the concept of paternity is important when involved with a family law paternity action. Photo by: graphicstock

Business April 26, 2018

Beasley & Gilkison: Understanding Paternity Concepts

By: Benjamin J. Freeman, Attorney at Law—       Muncie, IN—In Indiana, a child born to married parents is, by law, the child of both the mother and the father. However, when a child is born to unmarried parents, paternity, the identity of the child’s father, may be in doubt. Paternity law answers the questions of determining the father of a child, how unmarried parents will raise a child, custody, child support and parenting time. The mother of a…

Mayor Dennis Tyler is pictured with Terry Miles, who authored the book, "The Shot Heard Around The Town." Mayor Tyler named Terry an Honorary Deputy Mayor of the City of Muncie. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Government April 25, 2018

Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler Presents 2018 State Of The City Address

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, IN—Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler presented his annual State of the City Address at a breakfast held at the Horizon Convention Center on Wednesday, April 25, 2018. The major theme of the Mayor’s presentation was: “Moving Forward With People, Places, Partnerships and Possibilities.” Kamrein Jackson, Muncie Boys & Girls Club “Youth of the Year” was emcee for the event. Mayor Tyler kicked-off his presentation with a newly produced video featuring the history and positive attributes of Muncie….

Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, 505 W. McGalliard Road, Muncie, IN. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Business April 24, 2018

Fresh Thyme to Celebrate Muncie Store Grand Opening on May 17th

Specialty Grocer Invites Local Residents to Participate in 4 Days of Giveaways, Live Music and More! By: Anthony Filomena— Downers Grove, IL – Fresh Thyme Farmers Market®, a growing Midwest specialty grocer focused on healthy, organic products and groceries, announced today the company’s 14th Indiana store will open on Thursday, May 17 at 7:00 a.m. in Muncie, IN – 505 W. McGalliard Road. The first 250 shoppers (aged 18 and older) in line on Grand Opening morning will receive a free bag of…

PlySpace is a new artist-in-residence program based in the Emily Kimbrough Historic District in downtown Muncie. Photo provided.

Non-Profit April 24, 2018

PlySpace Residency Welcomes Pilot Artists, Announces Community Collaborator Program

By: Erin Williams, PlySpace Residency Coordinator— Muncie, IN—PlySpace is a new artist-in-residence program based in the Emily Kimbrough Historic District in downtown Muncie, Indiana and produced by Muncie Arts and Culture Council. The program is dedicated to offering visual artists, writers, and other creative individuals time and space to investigate and pursue their own practices while also serving as a platform for experimentation and provocation by facilitating collaboration with various Muncie communities. In early April, PlySpace welcomed its first three residents Melissa…

Aerial photo of Muncie and Delaware County by Michael Wolfe

Government April 24, 2018

Governor Holcomb Nominates Delaware County As ‘Opportunity Zone’ For Investment

By: Stephanie Wilson– Indianapolis, IN – Gov. Eric J. Holcomb has submitted Indiana’s 156 Opportunity Zone nominations to the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. The federal Opportunity Zone program was created in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and provides federal capital gains tax incentives to attract private sector investment to low-income urban and rural communities. “This new program provides one more tool to attract investment and help more of our Hoosier communities succeed,” Gov. Holcomb said. The federal initiative…