Articles by Mike Rhodes

Photo by: Ball State Architecture

Education June 14, 2017

Nature Play Day: Gateway to Growing Celebration at Maring-Hunt Library

By: Tyler Bracht, Ball State Architecture Digital Fabrication GA— Muncie, IN— There will be an Opening Celebration as part of the Maring-Hunt Public Library, the Muncie BY5 initiative Nature Play Days and Indiana Children and Nature Network on FRIDAY, June 16th from 1-5 pm, sponsored by the Maring-Hunt Library, the Community Garden, and the College of Architecture and Planning. Event location: 2005 S. High St., Muncie, IN, 47302 We’ll have lots of fun activities planned in our community garden. Games in the Garden, Nature Walk around the…

Read More
Kelly Stanley, YOC board member and campaign chair speaks with retired circuit court judge Steven Caldemeyer. Photo by: Kyle Evens, Berwyn Studios

Non-Profit June 14, 2017

The Youth Opportunity Center Celebrates 25 Years of Serving Kids

By: Polly Craig— Muncie, IN—The Youth Opportunity Center (YOC) celebrated its 25th anniversary with a dinner and program at the Horizon Convention Center on Thursday, June 8, 2017. Surrounded by more than 370 friends, donors, board members and staff the evening celebrated visionary retired circuit court judge Steven Caldemeyer’s commitment to youth and families, honored direct-care staff who work on the frontline with the kids, and planted a vision for the care of the next generation of children in our…

By: graphicstock

Business June 13, 2017

Indiana American Water Encourages Swimmers to Learn Before You Leap This Summer

Greenwood, IN— Now that Memorial Day weekend has passed and most schools are on summer break, trips to the pool and water parks are just around the corner for many families, and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention is reporting an alarming trend upward in pool and water park contamination outbreaks across the nation. According to statistics recently released by the CDC, the number of outbreaks in the U.S. related to pool contamination has doubled over the last two years….

Casey Stanley. Photo provided.

Non-Profit June 13, 2017

United Way of Delaware County Names Casey Stanley As 2017 Annual Campaign Chair

By: Juli Metzger— Muncie native will become first third-generation chair, seventh from Ontario family of companies Muncie, IN – Casey Stanley, a lifelong Muncie resident, was named the 2017 campaign chair for United Way of Delaware County, the first time in the organization’s 92-year history to appoint a third-generation chair. As the Vice President of Products & Marketing for Ontario Systems in Muncie, Stanley is the seventh chair to be employed by this family of companies, which has produced more UWDC…

Kids enjoy the water features on June 5th. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Entertainment June 12, 2017

Daleville Town Hall Park Now Open to Public

By: Mike Rhodes— Daleville, IN—The town of Daleville opened their new $4.2 million Daleville Town Hall Park and Splash Pad water feature over the weekend. The park features two playgrounds, a splash pad and public restrooms, concessions, performance pavilion, shade canopies, storm water planters, and a paved walking trail that winds around the re-vegetated stream, and new parking areas.  The performance pavilion and event area can accommodate 3,000 people. According to Trina Morgan, Deputy Clerk and Park Event Coordinator for the Town of Daleville, an estimated 600…

Photo provided.

Entertainment June 12, 2017

Beech Grove Cemetery Comes to Life

By: Chris Flook—  Muncie, IN — Beech Grove Cemetery debuts a new book this month, Beech Grove Cemetery Comes to Life. The book explores the history of Beech Grove Cemetery in Muncie, the evolution of lawn park cemeteries, a study of the landscape design, explanations of the funerary motifs and architecture, and comprises hundreds of short biographies of some of the 45,000 individuals laid to rest within the cemetery’s gates. The book is a collaborative effort from Beech Grove Cemetery, Ball…

Photo provided.

Entertainment June 12, 2017

Free Concert by America’s Hometown Band To Be Held June 22 at Canan Commons

Muncie, IN—The 2017 outdoor concert season for America’s Hometown Band begins at Canan Commons on June 22, 2017, 7:30 pm when the AHB & the Reminisce Band get together once more to entertain Muncie folk with Pure Gold music faves. Tunes by chart-topping pop artists from the 50s to the 80s are set to liven up the night in downtown Muncie. The music and the dancing are all FREE. Lawn chairs & blankets + friends, family, & singing along are…

Pictured holding the awards—Jennifer Henderson, Director of Primary Care. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Health June 11, 2017

Two Meridian Health Services Programs Win National Awards

By: Beth Clark— Muncie, IN – Meridian Health Services is proud to announce that two of its programs were named winners of Decision Health’s nationally recognized Platinum Awards. MeridianMD, Meridian’s primary medical care division, won the “Outstanding Performance in Community Care Setting – Integrated Care Networks” category, while Meridian’s School programs also was awarded first in the “Outstanding Achievement in Care Coordination Specialty Programs – Behavioral Health” category. “We are very proud that these two Meridian programs are earning national…

Bill Finney flying his L-19 Bird Dog through blue skies. Photo by: Kevin Tanner/Air Classics magazine

Carlson June 11, 2017

John Carlson: A Flight to Remember

By: John Carlson— There’s nothing like recent spinal surgery to make crawling in and out of small airplanes a big challenge. But I digress. It was a glorious spring afternoon two weeks ago when I received a phone call from my friend Bill Finney, offering me a ride in his beautiful warbird – a classic Cessna L-19 Bird Dog, such as was used for the risky job of artillery and air-strike spotting during the Vietnam War. Bill had been offering…

A scene from a past "Festival on the Green." Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Entertainment June 10, 2017

Muncie Symphony Orchestra’s “Festival on the Green” to Take Place June 10th

By: Jennifer Johnson— Muncie, IN – Join the Muncie Symphony Orchestra for “Festival on the Green” on Saturday, June 10th, on the lawn of the Ball State University Quad/Arts Terrace.  Children’s activities beginning at 6 pm. with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra concert at 7 pm.  Inclement weather location is the Field Sports Building on the Ball State University campus. An anticipated annual tradition, “Festival on the Green” is free and open to the public.  The community is invited to bring…