Articles by Mike Rhodes

Jason Harrington. Photo provided.

Business December 10, 2017

Ontario Systems Elects Jason Harrington as President

Former Senior Vice President & Chief Revenue Officer to lead all sales, marketing, and operational activities in continuing corporate evolution By: Casey Stanley— Muncie, IN— Ontario Systems, a leading software provider to the healthcare revenue cycle management (RCM), accounts receivable management (ARM) and government (GOV) markets, has elected Jason Harrington as President, succeeding Co-Founder Ron Fauquher who will continue to serve in his capacity as CEO. The shift reflects a natural evolution for the company, which has gained dozens of new…

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Mandy Puckett. Photo provided.

Health December 9, 2017

IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital’s Mandy Puckett Now Board Certified Specialist in Obesity and Weight Management

By: Courtney Thomas—  Muncie, IN– Mandy L. Puckett, M.A., R.D., C.D., Manager of Clinical Nutrition & Weight Management at the IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital Bariatric & Medical Weight Loss Center, recently achieved board certification as a Specialist in Obesity and Weight Management (designated as CSOWM), from the Commission on dietetic Registration, the credentialing agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. In order to become board certified by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), the credentialing agency for the Academy…

Properly employed, ugly sweat pants work like a calorie counter. Photo by: Nancy Carlson

Carlson December 8, 2017

John Carlson: A New Cool Food Tool

By: John Carlson— If you’re like me, engaged in that never-ending fight against flab, you know how handy it can be to keep track of caloric intake by simply jotting down notes recording your food consumption. Feeling a little bloated, but can’t imagine why? Consulting your notes may remind you that, “Oh! No wonder! I forgot I drove through Taco Bell two hours ago for a Burrito Supreme, a Taco Supreme and three Chalupa Combos!” The problem is that this…

Photo provided.

Non-Profit December 7, 2017

Cornerstone’s Fall Celebration To Take Place Dec 10th

By: Sarah Shaffer, Education and Marketing Coordinator—  Muncie, IN—Cornerstone Center for the Arts will conclude its fall class session with its Fall Celebration on Sunday, December 10. This recital will include dance and music performances as well as a student art gallery. The show will begin at 2 p.m. in the E.B. Ball Auditorium followed by light refreshments in the Colonnade Room on the first floor of Cornerstone. The event will continue until 5 p.m. Celebration will highlight the work of this…

By: graphic stock

Entertainment December 7, 2017

Muncie Tractor Supply Company to Host Pet Photos with Santa Event

Muncie, IN  —Tractor Supply Company wants your furry friends to get in the holiday spirit. On Sunday, December 10, from 4 to 6 p.m., the Muncie Tractor Supply is inviting customers to bring their pets to the store for Pet Photos with Santa. A local photographer will be on site during the event taking holiday-themed photos of Santa’s Little Helpers and their owners. The first 25 customers who get a photo taken will also receive a free magnetic picture frame….

Christmas movies often pull on the heartstrings. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Entertainment December 5, 2017

Top holiday Movies Tap Into Sentimentalism According to BSU Film Professor

By: Marc Ransford— Muncie, IN—When it comes to his favorite holiday-themed movies, Ball State film professor Wes Gehring says each is a feel-good, populist film successful in pulling at the heartstrings by creating an illusion that Christmas can be perfect. Gehring’s top five Christmas-themed movies are: “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946) “The Bishop’s Wife” (1947) “Miracle on 34th Street” (1947) “A Christmas Story” (1983) “Elf” (2003) His second five favorites are “The Shop Around the Corner,” “Love Actually,” “Christmas Vacation,” “Holiday…

A story and a dream— an abandoned house in Muncie. Photo by: Omowunmi Lawal, Ball State University

Non-Profit December 4, 2017

First Thursday: Kick-off Event Muncie Land Bank 100 Stories & 100 Dreams

By: Dr. John H. West, Assistant Professor of Urban Planning, BSU— Muncie, IN—Muncie Land Bank is a new non-profit organization focused on the issue of property abandonment, vacancy and blight. It will ease transition from abandonment to reuse by enhancing community engagement, sharing information with the public, and lowering the cost of purchasing or using abandoned properties. Property abandonment in Muncie is a complex problem, with real costs for local residents. It requires a systematic and forceful response. A collaborative project between…

If you could read my screech, love, what a tale the notes would tell...Photo by: Nancy Carlson

Carlson December 1, 2017

John Carlson: Too Late To Be A Troubadour

By: John Carlson— The other day I heard a terrible screeching, kind of like a cat in heat, that made my proverbial skin crawl. Then I realized it was me, singing. This amazed me, because there was a time when my voice was pretty good. Back in high school, for example, I considered joining the choir, but didn’t because I feared it would cut into the 10 minutes a week I devoted to studying. Later, even well into my adult…

A family adoption is finalized on November 17th in the Delaware County Justice Center. Photo by: Jeneca Zody

Government, Positivity November 30, 2017

22 Children Adopted At Delaware County Justice Center on National Adoption Day

By: Rebecca Bruce— Muncie, IN—On Friday, November 17, 2017, a total of 22 children saw their adoptions finalized at the Delaware County Justice Center as part of National Adoption Day.  14 families left the event with smiles on their faces, balloons on the arms of children, and thankful hearts.  The hearings started at 1 p.m. in the Honorable John M. Feick’s courtroom and ended just before 4:30 p.m. in the Honorable Marianne L. Vorhees’ courtroom. The youngest child to be…

Members of the student crew pose with sound professionals on the set of “Amplified: A Conversation with Women in American Film Sound.” Photo by: Laura Huffman

Entertainment November 30, 2017

BSU Student Documentary Brings Conversation About Women in Film To Muncie

By: Carli Scalf— Muncie, IN—This Sunday, Ball State students will be bringing a new conversation about women in film to the community with the premiere of the documentary, “Amplified: A Conversation with Women in American Film Sound.” The event will be held at the AMC Showplace in Muncie at 1 p.m on December 3rd.  It includes a screening of the 30-minute film and discussion from students and faculty on the making of the project. “Amplified” offers a behind-the-scenes perspective on a…