Articles by Mike Rhodes

Maring-Hunt Community Gardens Meeting on Feb 8th

Muncie, IN—Wednesday February 8th from 5:00pm-7:00pm, Maring-Hunt Public Library will be hosting a Community Participatory Planning Event concerning the expansion of the Maring-Hunt Community Gardens. This project will include an outdoor pavilion space for community use and engagement. Neighbors, community members, along with Ball State architecture students will be coming together to present, share, and cultivate ideas. All are welcome to attend and participate. Light refreshments will be provided. Maring-Hunt Public Library will be partnering with Ball State University on…

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Local Chili Cook-Off to Benefit Children in Haiti

By: Mike Clohessy— Muncie, IN—The Haiti Library Foundation, Inc. based out of Muncie is hosting its 7th Annual Chili Cook-Off Challenge on Saturday, February 11th.  The event will take place at the Knights of Columbus Hall—2600 W. Purdue Ave in Muncie. The annual event pits 12 cooking teams comprised of primarily local businesses and organizations. The teams compete against one another in various categories: Best Chili (as determined by a panel of judges) People’s Choice (as voted on by all attendees)…


IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital Receives “Healthgrades” Award for Clinical Excellence

Muncie, IN—IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital has been selected as one of 258 hospitals nationwide as a 2017 recipient of the Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence by Healthgrades. “Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence are hospitals rated in the top 5% in the nation with the lowest risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates across at least 21 of 32 common conditions and procedures. Patients treated in hospitals receiving the Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence Award have, on average, a lower risk…


Manufacturing Technologies Engineer Anuraag Kandala Joins DANNAR Team

MUNCIE, IN – After nearly three years of courtship, DD DANNAR, LLC, (DANNAR) is proud to announce Anuraag Kandala has joined the DANNAR Mobile Power Station® (MPS) team as a Manufacturing Technologies Engineer. Anuraag recently relocated to Muncie from Athens, Georgia, where he was a Manufacturing Systems Engineer with Caterpillar, Inc. Anuraag will be responsible for the design and structure of the Mobile Power Station production line, instituting best practices from the heavy equipment industry, as well as implementing continuous improvement…


MutualBank Promotes Tanya Malak to Manager of Winchester Financial Center

By: Teresa Wright— Tanya Malak has been promoted to Financial Center Manager at the Winchester MutualBank Financial Center. Previously as Service Manager, she made significant impact while delivering exceptional customer service to new and existing customers in Winchester and surrounding communities. Including her twelve years of employment at Mutual, Tanya’s management experience and customer service excellence continue to be an asset to Mutual clients. She says, “Our customers have always come first and that will continue. Our team strives to help…


Volvo Trucks Names Muncie’s General Truck Sales 2016 North American Dealer of the Year

The annual North American Dealer of the Year award recognized General Truck Sales of Muncie, Indiana and its employees for outstanding performance in a number of key areas, including new truck sales, market share, parts sales, customer satisfaction, dealer operating standards, franchise investment and support for other dealers. “General Truck Sales performed very well in a difficult market in 2016, going above and beyond their organizational goals and consistently delivering outstanding service and support to Volvo Trucks customers,” said Jeff…


Five Muncie Central Seniors Signed with College Sports Teams

By: Holly Ford— Muncie IN—Five Muncie Central seniors have signed offers to join college athletic teams. On Wednesday, February 1, Central held a signing event for each student to sign with family, friends, teammates, and coaches present. Khamasi Muhiga signed with Ball State University to play tennis. He will double major in marketing and business management. Muhiga dreamed of joining BSU’s tennis team since he was a young boy. “I’ve wanted to play [at Ball State] since I was little,”…


A Big Year for Muncie Aviation: 2016 in Review

By: Elizabeth Allenbaugh— Muncie, IN— 2016 was a year of substantial success for Muncie Aviation Company, an aircraft sales and service company that will celebrate its 85th anniversary this year. Overall, the company grossed more than $77 million in 2016 in aircraft sales, maintenance, fuel services, avionics, and parts sales. The Muncie Aviation facilities were expanded when construction was completed in 2016 on a new $1 million, multi-level hanger that houses aircraft detailing services and the Muncie Aviation employee fitness…


Cartoonist Jim Davis to Discuss “The Business of Garfield” and Teach Art Classes at Ball State

By: Gail Werner—  MUNCIE, Ind. – Alumnus Jim Davis returns to the Ball State University campus this semester with more lessons from his life as creator of America’s favorite cartoon cat. He’ll discuss “The Business of Garfield” at 7 p.m. Feb. 15 in Sursa Hall. The event is free and open to the public. The lecture is a continuation of Davis’s ongoing relationship with the university. The 1967 graduate made his teaching debut at Ball State this academic year, speaking…


John Carlson: Great Flicks? Here Ya Go!

By: John Carlson— Academy Awards time, also known as Oscar Night, is nearing, so I decided to offer my thoughts on movies. Of the Best Picture nominees, Nan and I have seen two, “Manchester by the Sea” and “La La Land.” Both of us loved the former, but were divided on the latter. Oddly enough, I liked it more than she did, even though it is full of girly stuff like romance, joyful music and happy dancing. Why did I…