Articles by Mike Rhodes

Photo by: Amanda Kishel: Pictured Dr. Michael Williamson (Blackstache) and Dakota Reed (Peter)

Entertainment April 12, 2018

“Peter and the Starcatcher” At Muncie Civic Theatre

By: Michelle Kinsey— Adventure awaits. “Peter and the Starcatcher” is setting sail this week at Muncie Civic Theatre. This prequel to “Peter Pan” promises swashbuckling stories of adventure, heroes, villains, and quests for treasure. A wildly theatrical adaptation of humor columnist Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson’s best-selling novel, “Peter and the Starcatcher” upends the century-old story of how a miserable orphan comes to be The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up (a.k.a. Peter Pan). The high-seas hijinks find Peter and his…

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Ron Morris, a Ball State history professor, investigates the unheated third floor of the building next to the opera house which was used as a green room, and dressing rooms for opera acts. The performers signed their names all over the space. Photo provided.

Education, We Fly April 12, 2018

Delphi Opera House Recalls Its History With New Exhibit Created By Ball State Students

By: Marc Ransford— Muncie, IN—A group of Ball State University students are working to bring the history of the Delphi Opera House and the Indiana community that surrounds it to life with the creation of an exhibit at the 153-year-old facility. The students created this space by working with historical artifacts found at the site, providing context through historical research and writing, and filming interviews to display within the museum space. The exhibition is being produced by Ball State students…

File photo.

Business April 11, 2018

Coldwell Banker Lunsford Announces 2017 Sales Award Recipients

By: April Lemen— Muncie, IN – Mike Lunsford, President and Susan Miller, VP of Sales, from Coldwell Banker Lunsford awarded the following agents with national designations: Coldwell Banker Lunsford as an office was awarded the International President’s Circle Office, one of the highest honors given to Coldwell Banker® Offices. Steve Slavin & Ryan Kramer led the local market in sales and units. Steve Slavin, who sold over $20M in total volume & Ryan Kramer, who sold 166 total units, both…

Alexandria Koontz, Ball State University junior double major in dance and psychology, gives her South View Elementary School students two thumbs up while instructing them in the weekly dance class that she leads at the school. Koontz and nine other Ball State students each have been assigned to a specific Muncie Community School elementary school and teach about 20 students each week as part of an immersive learning project titled "DANCE! Muncie After-School" at Ball State. Photo provided.

Education, We Fly April 10, 2018

Ball State Students Bring Dance Education to Muncie Community Schools

By: Jillian Wilschke— Muncie, IN — One week it might be salsa, the next it could be jazz, but youngsters at local elementary schools are learning about the art of dancing, thanks to the efforts of students like Ball State University’s Ella Donovan. “My favorite part about the project are moments during class when a child genuinely is excited about what we are learning,” said Donovan, a dance major from Crested Butte, Colorado. “That is when the little ones begin smiling uncontrollably…

Artist rendering—Exterior Downtown North Building. Photo provided.

Education April 6, 2018

Ivy Tech is Redefining Muncie’s Downtown

By: Jennifer S. Gasiorek— Muncie, IN—The Ivy Tech Community College campus in Muncie revealed their building plans at a special unveiling this week.  The event was held at the Patterson building.  Construction plans include renovating the Fisher building’s basement, first and fourth floor, renovating the Cowan Road campus, and building a new building at the Old Star Press Locations. A dynamic renewal of the Muncie campus downtown and at Ivy Tech’s Cowan Road location is aligned with the needs of the…

One thing about pet rats is, there’s no shortage of them. Photo by: graphicstock

Carlson April 6, 2018

John Carlson: Twitchy-Nosed Babies

By: John Carlson— Ever notice how we humans under-appreciate rats? Consider Pizza Rat. Remember him? He was the rat purposefully navigating steps into the New York City subway system on YouTube a while back, hauling home a pristine slice of carry-out pizza. Talk about can-do spirit! That was a rat for whom Make America Great Again was a commitment, not some hackneyed political slogan. We could learn a lot from a rat like that. Then there were the rats recently…

Boys & Girls Clubs of Muncie members participate in a music program at one of its after school programs. Photo provided.

Non-Profit April 5, 2018

Boys & Girls Clubs of Muncie Hosts Open House to Celebrate National Boys & Girls Club Week

By: Brandon Coppernoll— Muncie, IN—The Boys & Girls Clubs of Muncie invites you to join them as they celebrate their 85th Anniversary in the Muncie Community. In honor of this achievement, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Muncie will host a public open house on Wednesday, April 11, 5:15 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. at the South Madison location (1710 South Madison St.). In addition to tours of the facilities, guest will hear from this year’s Youth of the Year and…

Mayor Dennis Tyler is pictured during the proclamation of National Library Week with MPL Director, Akilah Nosakhere (R) and MPL Assistant Director, Beth Kroehler (L) during a brief ceremony this week at City Hall. Photo provided.

Non-Profit April 5, 2018

Visit Your Local Library During National Library Week

By:  Susan Fisher, Muncie Public Library— Muncie, IN—It’s official! Mayor Dennis Tyler issued a proclamation to announce April 8-14, 2018 as National Library Week and presented the proclamation to MPL Director, Akilah Nosakhere and MPL Assistant Director, Beth Kroehler during a brief ceremony this week at City Hall. Muncie Public Library (MPL) invites the public to explore, discover, imagine, and create by visiting any of its four branches during National Library Week for special open house events. “Each branch will…

Jud & Mike Motsenbocker. Photo by: Jared Price.

Business April 5, 2018

Jud Construction Celebrating 50 Years

By: Conny Knight— Muncie, IN—Jud Construction is celebrating 50 years in business serving East-Central Indiana.  Jud Motsenbocker started the construction company in Muncie on April 5, 1968 and enjoys driving down the streets of his hometown and seeing houses and offices that he has built or remodeled.  The company located at 5105 W. Bradburn Drive is now into its second generation as Jud’s son, Mike Motsenbocker, purchased the company from his father in 2006. Jud fondly recalls that he was…

Andre Bormanis. Photo provided.

Entertainment April 5, 2018

Star Trek Writer/Producer, Andre Bormanis to Speak at Emens Auditorium

By: Marc Ransford— Muncie, IN—Science consultant, writer, and co-producer for Star Trek, National Geographic and FOX, Andre Bormanis will be speaking at Emens Auditorium on April 9, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. No ticket is required. Andre Bormanis was born in Chicago, but grew up in Arizona, where the dark night skies encouraged his love of astronomy and space science. He holds a B.S. in Physics, and a M.A. in Science, Technology, and…