Articles by Mike Rhodes

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Government September 24, 2024

All Informational Articles About Casting Your Vote in 2024

By Mike Rhodes, Editor-in-Chief, MuncieJournal.com— MUNCIE, IN—In order to make 2024 voter-related articles published to MuncieJournal.com easier to locate, we’ve created this page and added it as a “sticky post” that will stay as a link on the top right list of articles when viewed on a desktop computer. Most have been authored by Sheryl Swingley, who is a retired Ball State University journalism instructor where she taught for more than 28 years. Prior to joining the Ball State faculty,…

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Government September 24, 2024

Voter Registration Status Can Be Checked at VOTE411.org

By Sheryl Swingley— MUNCIE, IN—The deadline to register to vote is 11:59 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7. “The first step in our democracy is to register to vote and then vote because your vote counts,” said Linda Hanson, Indiana League of Women Voters president and spokesperson for the Muncie-Delaware County League. Citizens can check to see if they are registered to vote by going to VOTE411.org. The award-winning site, maintained by the national headquarters of the League of Women Voters and…

Visitors experience a presentation at the Charles W. Brown planetarium on the campus of Ball State University. Photo provided by BSU

Entertainment September 24, 2024

Halloween: ‘Celestial Origins’ Planetarium Show

By Planetarium staff— MUNCIE, IN— Coming to the Charles W. Brown Planetarium at Ball State University: Fridays: Oct. 4, 11, 18 at 6:30 p.m.—Saturdays: Oct. 5, 12, 19 at 6:30 p.m. What do you associate with Halloween? Trick-or-Treating, costumes… astronomy? After all, Halloween is an astronomical holiday.  During this planetarium program you will learn the history of Halloween and how it fits into the seasons as a “cross-quarter day.” We will also explore the night sky and learn what planets,…

Pictured L-R: Grier Backus standing next to the FCA leaders Allen Crouch, Hudson Ewing, and Ruth Sherck. Photo provided

Education September 23, 2024

Delta High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes Huddle to Celebrate National Day of Student Prayer

By Hunter Reed— DELAWARE COUNTY—On Wednesday September 25, 2024 Delta High School’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes will host their annual “See You at the Pole” event to celebrate the National Day of Student Prayer. According to an East Central Indiana Fellowship of Christian Athlete’s press release, the event started back in 1990 with just 10 students gathering to pray and has since become a movement. Although “See You at the Pole” has been happening for 30 years, last year was…

Muncie Sanitary District retired Superintendent of Sanitation Phil Reagon, and current Superintendent Jason Donati accept Governor’s Award from IDEM Assistant Commissioner Bob Lugar and Deputy Assistant Commissioner Carl Wodrich. Pictured from left to right: Bob Lugar, Phil Reagon, Jason Donati, Carl Wodrich.

Business September 23, 2024

Recipients Announced for 2024 Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence: MSD Recognized for New Recycling Program

By Jason Donati— INDIANAPOLIS – On Tuesday, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) awarded the 2024 Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence to seven recipients during the Indiana Partners for Sustainability’s Annual Conference and Tradeshow in Indianapolis. The Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence are Indiana’s most prestigious environmental recognition awards. They are reserved for the most innovative, sustainable, and exemplary programs or projects that positively impact Indiana’s environment and demonstrate measurable environmental, economic, and social benefits. The selection process is…

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Health September 20, 2024

Meridian Health Services to Administer Free Flu Shots at ‘Flu-Lapalooza’

By Lara Sullivan— MUNCIE, IN— Meridian Health Services invites the community to Flu‐Lapalooza, a FREE one‐day flu shot clinic, to be held on Thursday, October 3 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., or until supplies last, at Meridian’s primary medical care and MeridianMD locations throughout the state of Indiana. Each location will be drawing for a chance to WIN a $50 grocery gift card (eligible to participants only). Flu‐Lapalooza ensures convenient access to health care by providing free flu shots…

Elizabeth Catlett, American (1915–2012), Sharecropper, 1965, linocut, AP 17 3/8 x 16 ½ in., © Catlett Mora Family Trust/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY.

Entertainment September 20, 2024

Ball State University’s David Owsley Museum of Art Presents the Art of Elizabeth Catlett

By Ball State Communications— MUNCIE, Indiana – The David Owsley Museum of Art (DOMA) at Ball State University will showcase The Art of Elizabeth Catlett from the Collection of Samella Lewis from Sept. 19–Dec. 20, 2024. The exhibition features works from the collection of Dr. Samella Lewis (1923–2022), a renowned artist, educator, and author who was professor emerita of art history at Scripps College in Claremont, Calif. Dr. Lewis, a student of Ms. Catlett’s in the 1940s, was mentored by…

Screenshot of the Citizens Handbook online version found at https://lwvin.org/citizenshandbook

Government September 20, 2024

League of Women Voters Offers Free ‘Citizens Handbook’ to Empower Voters

By Sheryl Swingley— MUNCIE, IN—The League of Women Voters of Indiana has published a “Citizens Handbook” to help citizens be better informed about their rights and responsibilities in the United States. The free handbook is available online – in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. Copies of the handbook also are available from all Muncie Public Library branches. “Indiana’s voter turnout is concerning and is a major reason for the development of the handbook,” said Linda Hanson, president of the Indiana…

Lathay R. Pegues and Elizabeth Roway are pictured during the panel discussion portion of the program. Photo by Mike Rhodes

Business September 19, 2024

‘Engage East Central Indiana’ Event: Business Leaders Say Economic Development-Wise, ‘Indiana is on Fire’

By Mike Rhodes, Editor-in-Chief, MuncieJournal.com— MUNCIE, IN—Tuesday’s Engage Indiana event in Muncie focused on the unique challenges and distinct opportunities for growth of Muncie and the entire East Central Indiana region. The event was created by the Indianapolis Business Journal, IBJ Media and Inside Indiana Business and was part of their Engage Indiana series, which began in 2016. Nathan Felton, CEO of IBJ Media said Tuesday’s event was the first to be held in East Central Indiana. He said the series…

People on the White River in inflatable tubes.

Non-Profit September 18, 2024

Why We’re Optimistic About the Future of East Central Indiana

By Jud Fisher— MUNCIE, IN—For over a century, East Central Indiana’s identity was rooted in manufacturing—iconic names like Ball and General Motors defined our region. Glass jars, auto batteries, headlamps, and transmissions were the backbone of our economy. However, over the past two decades there’s been a shift away from heavy manufacturing, tasking our region to dig deep to redefine itself. As we look ahead, I’m filled with optimism about the future of Muncie, Delaware County, and all of East…