Articles by Mike Rhodes

Pictured L-R: Jeff Howe, President of Northeast Region of Old National Bank Micah Maxwell, Executive Director – Boys & Girls Club of Muncie Juli Metzger, President – Board of Directors for Boys & Girls Club of Muncie WaTasha Griffin, Grants Committee Member – Champions for a Safe Community Fund

Business, Non-Profit May 26, 2016

“100 Men”and “Champions for Safe Community Fund”Partners with Boys & Girls Club of Muncie

MUNCIE, IN— Jeff Howe, chairman of Champions for a Safe Community Fund, announced today a new partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Muncie. (The Muncie Journal live-streamed today’s press conference held at the  Boys & Girls Club of Muncie. You may view that video here.) Listen to WLBC’s Steve Lindell press conference interview below.   Champions for a Safe Community Fund supports the prevention of violence and the protection and care of victims of violence in East Central Indiana. In…

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Academy of Model Aeronautics. File Photo.

Education May 26, 2016

Academy of Model Aeronautics Hits $1 Million Scholarship Milestone

MUNCIE, IN—The Academy of Model Aeronautics has been helping graduating seniors achieve their dreams since 1970, and is now celebrating its dream of reaching a total of $1 million in awarded scholarships. The AMA is happy to announce that this year’s $48,000 in scholarships awarded to 10 high school graduates from across the nation has helped bring the total of AMA scholarships that have been given to college-bound aeromodelers to $1 million. The scholarships are created through funds donated by…

Ontario Systems. File photo.

Business May 25, 2016

Ontario Systems Recognized For Exemplary Workplace Practices

Receives prestigious When Work Works Award MUNCIE, Ind.— Ontario Systems, a leading receivables management technology and services provider, has been honored with a 2016 When Work Works Award for its use of effective workplace strategies to increase business and employee success. This prestigious award, part of the national When Work Works project administered by the Families and Work Institute (FWI) and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), recognizes employers of all sizes and types across the country. “We’re excited to…

Artist rendering of Kitselman Trailhead and Muncie Sign from Bridge 85.

Business May 24, 2016

City Signs with HWC Engineering for Next Level of Kitselman Trailhead

Muncie, IN —The City of Muncie, in its continued commitment to revitalize the brownfield area in and around the former King Forge and Indiana Steel and Wire sites, has signed an agreement with HWC Engineering, Inc. for the next level of design and engineering of the Kitselman Trailhead area. State Road 32 — East Jackson Street is a major gateway into the City of Muncie. The current car counts show that this entrance is the second highest vehicular volume road…

Photo by: Raven Brooks

Non-Profit May 24, 2016

Directory of Indiana Grantmakers Now Available

Muncie, Ind. – Delaware County nonprofit organizations can now access profiles of approximately 1,000 funders awarding grants in Indiana. The Indiana Philanthropy Alliance Directory of Indiana Grantmakers 2016 is available through a partnership between The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, Inc. and the Muncie Public Library. The Directory of Indiana Grantmakers, published by the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance, is an online database that profiles approximately 1,000 funders awarding grants in Indiana. Users can search by areas of interest, types of…

Ontario Systems. File photo.

Business May 24, 2016

Ontario Systems Hires Two Top Healthcare Revenue Cycle Experts

Shawn Yates and Mike Mullins join Ontario Systems to enhance product and service offerings, overcome key challenges for healthcare customers MUNCIE, IN – Ontario Systems, a leading accounts receivable management (ARM) and healthcare revenue cycle management (RCM) technology and services provider, has hired two industry leaders in healthcare RCM, Shawn Yates and Mike Mullins. Continuing its growth from 2015, Ontario brings in new healthcare talent to continue building the most robust RCM team for the healthcare provider market. Ontario Systems counts…

Photo By: Charles Jamieson

Opinion, Positivity May 23, 2016

Opinion: The Future is Now. Creating the “Next” Muncie

By: Charles Jamieson— If you’re like me, it has been exciting to watch our city, and in particular, the downtown core (defined as inside the border of Madison, Wysor, Liberty and Victor streets), change for the better over the past four years. At times, over the past few years, it has been difficult to keep up with everything happening; a new downtown hotel, Erskine Green, a post-secondary education training institute designed for individuals with disabilities, a new parking garage adjacent…

ARF's PAW is an outgrowth of Muncie’s Animal Rescue Fund (ARF). Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Non-Profit May 23, 2016

New Pet Clinic Service for Low-Income Individuals

By: Dee McKinsey— Muncie, IN – ARF’s PAW (Promoting Animal Awareness) will offer low-cost services to pets of low-income individuals beginning this summer. It will include low-cost vaccinations and spay and neutering services for animals that might not ever see a veterinarian. “We are proud to announce this new service for the Muncie area,” said Vickie Bevans, executive director of ARF’s PAW. “The idea is not to take away clients that already have veterinarians, but tap into ARF’s low-income individuals,” said…

A scene from Saturday's "Bark for Life." Photo by: Jay Garrison

Entertainment, Non-Profit May 23, 2016

“Bark for Life” American Cancer Society Fundraiser Held at Morrow’s Meadow

By: Jay Garrison— By 9am on Saturday, Morrow’s Meadow in Yorktown had gone to the dogs. Literally, this time, giving that phrase a positive connotation. Delaware County’s third annual American Cancer Society Bark For Life, hosted by Midwest Homes For Pets, raised funds and honored the care-giving qualities of our canine “best friends.” At Bark For Life, families and their dogs came together for a few hours to celebrate cancer survivorship (human and canine), to honor those that have been…

Photo provided.

Non-Profit May 22, 2016

City of Muncie named a “Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community”

By: Kyle Johnson— Muncie, IN—The League of American Bicyclists has recognized the City of Muncie with a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community (BFCSM) award, joining 374 visionary communities from across the country. With the announcement of 34 new and renewing BFCs, Muncie joins a leading group of communities, in all 50 states, that are transforming neighborhoods. “We applaud these communities for making bicycling a safe and convenient option for transportation and recreation,” said Bill Nesper, vice president of programs at the…