Articles by Mike Rhodes

Pictured: (Left to right) Krista Hoevel, Dr. Michael Johnson, Dr. Hugh Hanlin and Dr. Jim Dalton, IN-AJSOP, presenting the Bobby Jones Award at the 12th annual conference of the IN-AJSOP. Photo provided.

Non-Profit August 17, 2016

Youth Opportunity Center Counselor, Receives Statewide Award

Muncie, IN—Krista Hoevel, LMHC, CSAYC, LCAC, Youth Opportunity Center (YOC) director of counseling services for residential programs, was recently honored for her statewide role in the field of treating sexually maladaptive youth. Hoevel received the 2016 Bobby Jones Award for Excellence at the IN-AJSOP (Indiana Association of Juvenile Sexual Offender Practitioners) conference on August 4 in Shelbyville, Ind. The award was created to honor the late Bobby Jones who was instrumental in developing IN-AJSOP’s training and credentialing programs. IN-AJSOP is…

Read More
Alex Huskey. Photo provided.

Education August 16, 2016

Ivy Tech Community College Names Alex Huskey Regional Interim Chancellor

Indianapolis, IN — Ivy Tech Community College recently announced Alex D. Huskey as interim chancellor for the East Central and Richmond regions of the College. He will assume the role in September. The role was previously held by Dr. Andy Bowne, who now serves as senior vice president and chief operating officer with Ivy Tech. Huskey will oversee operations for the East Central and Richmond regions, which include a total of six campuses, in cities and areas including: Anderson, Connersville, Henry County,…

The kayak launch provides an opportunity for Muncie residents to access the river for recreation. Photo provided.

Business August 15, 2016

Muncie Sanitary District Hosts Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Historic Highland Park Renovations

By: Allison Gregory— MUNCIE, Ind.  – In celebration of the completion of the Muncie Sanitary District’s latest sewer separation project in the Historic Highland Park Neighborhood, a ribbon cutting ceremony took place on Thursday, August 11. This project, introduced by Mayor Dennis Tyler as “the first major quality of place project in this end of town in 30 years” has provided residents of the Historic Highland Park Neighborhood improved access to the White River. This project includes the restoration of Ribble…

MCS senior Jacob Miller recently attended a summer Youth Leadership Program through the FBI National Academy. Photo provided.

Education August 14, 2016

Muncie Central Senior Attends Youth Leadership Program with the FBI

By: Ana Pichardo—  Muncie, IN— As a member of the Muncie Central High School JROTC, Senior Jacob Miller recently attended a summer Youth Leadership Program through the FBI National Academy. Jacob was one out of twenty applicants selected from the State of Indiana. The three day, two night program which focused on leadership began on July 13th at Bradford Woods in Mooresville, Indiana. Jacob shares his leadership lessons, “I learned that leadership is not only a gift, a practice, or…

Steve Baule

Education August 12, 2016

Listen: MCS Superintendent Steve Baule Clarifies Inaccurate Reports About Compensation

MCS Superintendent Steve Baule was interviewed live by WLBC’s Steve Lindell this morning. You can listen to the entire interview below. Steve Baule discusses the MCS financial situation, sale of the Administration Building to Ball State, information about the Muncie Fieldhouse, and clarifies recent inaccurate news reports about staff and administrative compensation. Hear Steve Baule in his own words.   Recent Positive Stories About Muncie Community Schools You Can Find On Muncie Journal.com Muncie Central Senior Attends Youth Leadership Program with the FBI…

Years ago, Gramps used that rifle to put food on the table. Photo by: Nancy Carlson

Carlson August 12, 2016

John Carlson: Gramps’ Rifle Brings a Fine Old Guy to Mind

By: John Carlson— My wife recently helped my sister clean out my father’s house up near Cleveland. In doing so, at my request, she also brought me my Grandpa Smith’s old rifle, which had been stored in Dad’s gun cabinet for years. In asking Nan to do this, I was asking a lot, because she hates guns. Nevertheless, I had spent countless boyhood hours coveting that firearm back when it was tucked away in my grandfather’s basement, and still wanted…

Photo provided.

Non-Profit August 11, 2016

Cornerstone’s Fall Twelve Week Classes Announced

By: Jesse Irwin— Cornerstone Center for the Arts will offer a series of classes this fall for youth, families and adults in a wide variety of areas. The Fall Twelve Week Class Session begins the week of September 12 and continues through December 10. Cornerstone’s class fees are affordable, one-time payments that cover the full twelve weeks of class. Areas of interest include: visual arts, martial arts, theatre, dance, fitness, creative writing, and music. Children and family classes include: Early…

Some of the fresh food available at the Muncie Makers Market. Photo by: Sarah Gremer

Non-Profit August 10, 2016

Muncie Makers Market Celebrates National Farmers Market Week

By: Miss Moth Danner— Muncie, IN—National Farmers Market Week is August 7-13, 2016. In celebration, the Muncie Makers Market is joining the Old West End Neighborhood Association (OWENA) for a day of fun on Saturday, August 13th. From 8am-1pm, the OWENA will bring their annual Rummage Bazaar to Downtown Muncie, with antiques, rummage of all sorts, and hot food aplenty. Also starting at 8am, and running all day to 7pm, visitors with have the opportunity to stock up on fresh…

Muncie Community Schools

Education August 9, 2016

MCS Transition Summer School Program Improves Elementary Retention Rates

By: Ana Pichardo— Muncie, IN— When MCS noticed an upward trend in the number of kindergarten and first grade children being retained over a four year period, the district saw a critical need to implement a Transition Summer School program. During the spring of 2016, elementary principals, Eric Grim and Kara Miller, began planning for the three week program housed at South View Elementary School. The program included children from each elementary school. Of the 115 children that were recommended, 66…

Ashlee Bane. Photo by: Tony Frederick, at CS Kern

Non-Profit August 8, 2016

Sustainable Muncie Corp. Names Full-time Executive Director

By: Michael Wolfe— Muncie, IN—Sustainable Muncie Corp. has hired Ashlee Bane as its Executive Director. Bane will take on the full­-time role of Executive Director for the organization, which is working to complete the initial buildout and launch of Madjax Muncie Maker Force at the corner of Madison and Jackson streets on the near east side of downtown Muncie. Bane was formerly the Executive Director at the YMCA and is a downtown resident herself. Bane states, “The projects in place,…