Articles by Mike Rhodes

Beneficence, affectionately called “Benny,” is Ball State's institutional icon. She symbolizes the generosity of the five Ball brothers whose land donation to the state of Indiana allowed Ball State to flourish.

Education, We Fly June 9, 2018

Help Shape Ball State’s Next Strategic Plan. Please Take Our Survey

By: Geoffrey S. Mearns— As president of Ball State University, I am pleased to report that our faculty, staff, and students have been hard at work laying the groundwork for our University’s new strategic plan—a plan that will shape the vision for what Ball State will become in our second century. Our strategic planning process, titled “Spreading Our Wings,” got underway earlier this year. Throughout the Spring, we held eight open forums on campus, each focusing on a different strategic…

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Festival On The Green. File photo.

Entertainment June 8, 2018

Update: MSO’s ‘Festival On The Green’ Moving Indoors

By: Jennifer Johnson— “Festival on the Green” will move indoors today, June 9th, to the Field Sports Building, which is right next to and connected to Worthen Arena. —Picnics are still encouraged, but no alcohol can be brought into the Field Sports Building. — Public can still bring their lawn chairs, but a few folding chairs will be available in Field Sports. — No sharp objects should be set on the floor. We need to keep the floor protected. —…

Is it a sandstone block? Or could it be a monolith? Photo by: Nancy Carlson

Carlson June 8, 2018

John Carlson: What’s That Doing There?

By: John Carlson— The distinctive monoliths rise from barren soil. Primitive yet precisely planned, they are the labors of a people long since lost to time, gigantic rocks raised in praise of ancient gods and goddesses before whose cosmic countenances men worshipped in awe. Stonehenge? Nah, my backyard. The sandstone blocks began showing up out there when we started planting our butterflies, birds and bees garden. Our long-suffering gardener, Mary Beth Lambert, would pierce the soil with a spade, then…

Mark Davis. Photo provided.

Business June 8, 2018

Jay-Crew Adds Mark Davis To Team As Relationship Manager

By: Sheena Peters— Muncie, IN – The commercial lawn and landscape company Jay-Crew recently announced the addition of Mark Davis to their sales team as a Relationship Manager. Davis will work alongside clients providing them with the resources they need to make informed decisions about enhancing the appearance and condition of their properties. Although born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Mark attended Ball State University and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Resources which helped him gain experience and…

Normal City residents Jen Erickson and her daughter Anika wearing their neighborhood t-shirts while setting up for the June 2nd RNC summer picnic. Photo provided.

Non-Profit June 7, 2018

Funds Available for Neighborhood-Based Projects

By: Heather Williams, Program Manager Building Better Neighborhoods, Ball State University— Muncie, IN is unique among many similar sized communities in the Midwest in that the city is largely broken into neighborhood associations that cover nearly the entire geographic span of the city. If you live within city limits, it’s likely that you live in a neighborhood and there’s a pretty good chance that that neighborhood has an association that meets regularly and is working to constantly improve the area…

Financial fraud is a serious threat to small businesses. Photo by: Graphicstock

Business June 7, 2018

Innovation Connector to Host Anti-Fraud Workshop for Small Businesses

By: Tammy Allen, The Northeast Indiana Innovation Center— Muncie, IN—Each year United States businesses lose over $1 trillion of revenue due to fraudulent accounting practices and embezzlement. Small business owners are invited to attend an anti-fraud workshop to learn 10 No-Cost Ways to Reduce Financial Fraud Risk. “Financial fraud closes companies, eliminates jobs, and damages the perceived integrity of the U.S. market. If we can prevent one company from experiencing this, our workshop will be a huge success,” said Abigail…

Belle Tire representatives present a check to Bridges Community Services. Photo provided.

Business June 6, 2018

Belle Tire Presents $10,000 Donation to Five Muncie Non-Profits

By: Maya Sanches— Muncie,IN – Belle Tire Distributors Inc. has donated $10,000 to five participating non-profits during the  Choose Your Charity Challenge, a contest that took place for two months following the store’s grand opening. The combined $10,000 was distributed among the following organizations: A Better Way, Brightpoint for a Brighter Future Supported Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), Muncie Police Department, Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana and the Youth Opportunity Center. “One of our core values at…

Brennan Baize, Karleen Bogart, Sebastian Brown, Kenny Coleman (top row); Alexis Detrich, Quin Fauquher, Morgan Hershman, Hannah Ridgeway (middle row); Michelle Scanameo, Blair Smith, Jaiden Turner, Joshua Vincent (bottom row)

Education June 6, 2018

More Community Foundation 2018 Scholarship Recipients

By: Kallie Sulanke, Community Engagement Officer— Muncie, IN—Congratulations to the following graduates: Brennan Baize, of Yorktown High School, is the recipient of the Charles W. and Jane (Klipsch) Thomas Scholarship. Baize plans to attend Florida Golf Coast University to study business administration. He is the son of Eric and Laura Baize. Karleen Bogart, of Nuames High School in Davis County, Utah, is a recipient of the Ross Family Autism Scholarship. Bogart plans to attend Weber State University to study geology. She…

D’Anne Burwell discusses how her son’s opioid addiction impacted her family at the Indianapolis stop of the Alliance for a Healthier Indiana’s State of Our Health Road Show in April. Each attendee of the June 13 town hall meeting in Muncie will receive a complimentary copy of Burwell’s book, “Saving Jake: When Addiction Hits Home.” Photo provided.

Health June 5, 2018

Help Shape Hoosier Health at Muncie Town Hall Meeting On June 13th

By: Jennifer Hurtubise— Muncie, IN—Delaware County ranks 85th out of Indiana’s 92 counties in overall health outcomes. Thirty-one percent of the adults living in the county are considered obese, and there are 24.6 drug overdose deaths annually per 100,000 population, compared to the national average of 15.6. Twenty percent of Delaware County’s residents smoke, and the mother smoked during pregnancy in 22.3 percent of births—more than three times the national average of 7.2 percent. These poor health rankings limit the…

Pre-K students are pictured. Photo provided.

Education June 5, 2018

Partnerships KEY to Creating High Quality Preschool in Muncie Community Schools

By: Carrie Bale— Muncie, IN—There is a quote from Helen Keller in which she says,“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much more.” This premise is the foundation of how BY5 has functioned for the previous four years as we work to engage everyone in the community to find a way to make a positive impact for the future of Muncie & Delaware County.  BY5 is working on a community driven strategic plan developed by nearly…