Articles by Mike Rhodes

The Pinwheel is the symbol for Prevent Child Abuse America. Photo by Matt Howell

Non-Profit April 3, 2018

April is Child Abuse Awareness Month

By: Prevent Child Abuse Council of Delaware County— Muncie, IN—April is Child Abuse Awareness month, a time to recognize that we can each play a part in promoting the social and emotional wellbeing of children and families of our community.  After all, child abuse and neglect is 100% preventable. Every year volunteers and advocates plant pinwheel gardens in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month. At Prevent Child Abuse Council of Delaware County, we know that we can make a positive impact…

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Culinary Arts students present their entry as a judge for the culinary competition listens to their presentation. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Business April 2, 2018

Horizon Convention Center Hosts 2018 FCCLA State Conference

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, IN— The  Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)  2018 State Leadership Conference was held at the Horizon Convention Center on March 8-10 in downtown Muncie. Over 1,000 student members from across Indiana attended the conference. Family, Career and Community Leaders of America is a non-profit national career and technical student organization for young men and women in Family and Consumer Sciences education in public and private school systems. The FCCLA organization helps students explore…

Still from Party Man by filmmakers Kayla Drzewicki screening Friday, April 6th during opening night activities for That One Film Festival. Photo provided.

Non-Profit April 2, 2018

That One Film Festival Celebrates Experimental Filmmakers During Two-Day Event

By: Braydee Euliss— Muncie, IN—That One Film Festival is a new film festival for Muncie dedicated to screening and exhibiting works of moving image that are experimental, weird, obsessive, no/low budget, avant-garde, and fun. That One Film Festival will take place in downtown Muncie, Indiana opening with a party on Friday, April 6th, followed by a full day of programs and related events on Saturday, April 7th. The program is produced by Muncie Arts and Culture Council in partnership with…

The Exchange Club program's purpose is to lift up the spirits of small children who have been traumatized by fire, accidents, or worse. Photo by: David McGalliard

Non-Profit April 2, 2018

Muncie Exchange Club Program Provides Stuffed Animals To Traumatized Children

By: David “Mac” McGalliard, President, Exchange Club of Muncie— Muncie, IN—Hopefully the worst day in a child’s life can be eased by a stuffed animal.  There are fifty, to be exact, to be delivered to the Muncie Fire Department for the purpose of lifting up the spirits of small children who have been traumatized by fire, accidents, or worse. Collected in three weeks by the men and women of Exchange Club of Muncie, the ongoing project supports their belief of “Unity…

West view from Park Hall Crossing. Rendering provided.

Education, We Fly April 2, 2018

Ball State Board of Trustees Approves New Parking Garage, More Green Space on Campus

By: Marc Ransford— MUNCIE, Indiana – Ball State University’s Board of Trustees voted on March 30th to move forward with a new $18 million parking garage as part of a long-term plan to develop a new East Mall and make the campus friendlier to pedestrians and cyclists. During the meeting, the Trustees approved the scope, budget and design of the New York Avenue Parking Structure. Construction of the new garage, which will be adjacent to Studebaker Complex on the eastern…

Ann McGuire, Vice President of Human Resources for Indiana University Health’s East Central Region. Photo provided.

Health April 2, 2018

Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Hospital Earns “LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader” Designation

By: Dawn Brand Fuller— Muncie Hospital is one of only 4 hospitals statewide and 418 healthcare providers nationwide to earn the “LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader” designation  Muncie, IN—Last week, IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital announced that it has achieved “LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader” designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC) for the seventh consecutive year. IU Health Ball was the first hospital in Indiana to earn the LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader designation in 2012. The designation was awarded in…

From 1 to 10, Neanderthals were a 1 on the style scale. Illustration by: graphicstock

Carlson March 30, 2018

John Carlson: A Shocking Discovery

By: John Carlson— There’s a lot of Swedish in me, but I always hoped there was some Irish, too, The Auld Sod’s writers like Frank McCourt and Sean O’Faolain being among my favorites. So when our daughter Katie gave Nancy and me a couple DNA tracking kits for Christmas, I spit into my test tube with my fingers crossed. For further good luck, I downed an Irish whiskey on St. Patrick’s Day, begging my personal leprechaun, just in case I…

The 2nd Annual Muncie Journal Virtual Home Show is presented by: MutualBank

Virtual Home Show March 30, 2018

The 2nd Annual Muncie Journal Virtual Home Show is Now Open!

Muncie, IN—MuncieJournal.com is proud to bring you our 2nd Annual Virtual Home Show presented by: MutualBank, Go ahead…live a better life! The last physical home show exhibit in Delaware County took place in 2013. In order to fill this gap, the Muncie Journal is hosting an online virtual home show. And THIS page is where you enter to visit the virtual home show. No tickets needed. No cost at all to view this content. Available 24/7 on your PC, tablet or smartphone. Below you will find…

Ball State University senior marketing major Rhett Barker. Photo provided.

Business, Education March 29, 2018

Ball State Senior Selected to Participate in Values and Ventures Business Plan Competition

By: Emily Brungard— Muncie, IN — Ball State University senior marketing major Rhett Barker, from St. John, Indiana, will take his waterless car wash concept to Texas Christian University’s Values and Ventures Business Plan Competition, April 6-7 in Fort Worth, Texas. Barker will be pitching his start-up, Flipside Mobile Carwash, at the competition. He’ll compete against 49 other undergraduates from around the world for $250,000 in cash and prizes. Each student will pitch plans for businesses, products or services that also…

Nothing sticks to your ribs like some great bean soup. Photo by: Nancy Carlson

Carlson March 23, 2018

John Carlson: No Bones About It

By: John Carlson— My wife makes a mean ham-and-bean soup, which is fortunate, since I grew up eating some of the very best. A visit down to Mt. Summit and Sparky’s Doghouse –  better known by many of us as The Cultural Center of the Universe – started me obsessing over this. It was my friend Sparky Harris himself, a man who expertly cooks literally hundreds of hams each year, who blessed Nancy and me with a meaty hambone to…