Articles by Mike Rhodes

Dr. Mia D. Johnson

Education December 11, 2017

Ivy Tech Names Johnson as Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs

By: Jennifer Gasiorek— Muncie, Ind.—Ivy Tech Community College has named Dr. Mia D. Johnson as vice chancellor of academic affairs for the Muncie campus and Ivy Tech Henry County location.  Johnson began her career at Ivy Tech in 2008 in the certification and assessment center.  She graduated from Muncie Central and calls Muncie home. She has previously served Ivy Tech as an adjunct professor, registrar for the legacy East Central Region  (Muncie, Marion, Anderson and Henry County), department chair of public and social services, dean…

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Muncie Mission Ministries. Photo provided.

Non-Profit December 11, 2017

Muncie Mission To Host Free Christmas Dinner on December 17th

By: Frank Baldwin— Muncie, IN—The 87th annual Muncie Mission free Christmas dinner for residents and community guests will be Sunday, December 17th.  A Christmas celebration service will begin at 11:30 a.m., dinner will follow at 12-noon.  Everyone is welcome. Last year, 200 Christmas dinners were served at the mission for residents and guests by staff and volunteers.  Additionally, 225 meals were delivered by volunteers to those homebound in Muncie. “Everyone should be able to experience Christmas dinner, but for many…

Madison Smalstig of Yorktown High School and Kelby Stallings of Muncie Central High School have been selected as the recipients of the 2018 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship by The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County.

Education December 10, 2017

Madison Smalstig and Kelby Stallings Are Lilly Endowment Community Scholars

By: Kallie Sulanke, Community Engagement Officer— Muncie, IN—The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, Inc., has selected the recipients of the 2018 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, an award that grants full tuition to any accredited public or private non-profit college or university in Indiana. The Lilly Scholarship also covers fees and provides an annual stipend for required books and equipment. The recipients of the 2018 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship are Madison Smalstig from Yorktown High School and Kelby Stallings…

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…

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…