Articles by Mike Rhodes

Pictured Left to right: Steve Blount, Joani Scott, Jason Harrington, Ron Fauquher, Dr. Becky Hammonds, Laura Ayers, David Pilkington, and Bob Lamaster. Photo provided.

Business May 10, 2016

Ontario Systems Reacts to Second Straight Inclusion Among Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s Best Places to Work in Indiana

MUNCIE, Ind – Ontario Systems, a leading receivables management technology and services provider, has been ranked #13 on the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s “Best Places to Work in Indiana” in the large company category. This is the second year in a row Ontario Systems has been included in The Chamber’s rankings, once again crediting its staff and You-Powered Talent Credo for the honor. “We are pleased to be recognized along with these amazing Indiana companies who share our people-centric culture and…

Read More
The Sursa Family Concert Organ. Photo provided.

Education, Entertainment May 9, 2016

Ball State University’s School of Music Hosts First Sursa American Organ Competition

By: Ball State University Divison of Strategic Communications– MUNCIE, Indiana — Raúl Prieto Ramírez believes not enough people know about Ball State’s organ major. Or that Ball State’s Sursa Performance Hall is home to one of Indiana’s only concert hall organs, which this year celebrates its 10th year gracing the stage of the 600-seat venue. That’s why the instructor and internationally acclaimed concert organist has worked tirelessly in recent months planning the School of Music’s first Sursa American Organ Competition….

Ivy Tech Commencement photo from 2015. Photo provided.

Education May 6, 2016

Ivy Tech Community College East Central Region Will Graduate 1,166 Students at Commencement

Muncie, Ind. – Ivy Tech Community College East Central region will see 1,166 students graduate at its 48th graduation ceremony at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 12 at Emens Auditorium in Muncie. The Honorary Associate of Science in College and Community Service Degree will be awarded to Ms. Bobbette Snyder and Mr. James Warner. Snyder has been a tireless force in her hometown of Anderson, and also assists her husband, Tom, president of Ivy Tech Community College, with contributions to philanthropic organizations,…

Muncie Mission's Attic Window Thrift Store

Non-Profit May 6, 2016

Muncie Mission Provides Assistance For Local People

By: Don Ford— Muncie Mission Ministries (MMM) is a faith-based agency, delivering compassionate rescue services to people experiencing poverty and homeless in East Central Indiana since 1930. Primarily, the Mission provides recovery services on an emergency and long-term basis for adult males and provides assistance to families in need. MMM operates under the watchful eye of a ten-member board of directors, adheres to a code of ethics and a statement of faith. MMM is a member of a national organization…

Aerial photo of Muncie and Delaware County by Michael Wolfe

Business May 4, 2016

VISION 2021 Economic Development Planning Effort to Begin this Month

Roundtable focus groups planned for May 12 & 13, 2016 MUNCIE – DELAWARE COUNTY, IN – The Steering Committee for the VISION 2021 planning effort will hold a series of roundtable focus groups to solicit public input on the community’s economic development priorities for the coming years. Feedback from these meetings will help determine the framework and goals for Vision 2021, the community’s next comprehensive five-year economic development plan. The focus groups will be conducted on Thursday, May 12 from…

American Advertising Federation, ECI. Photo provided.

Non-Profit May 4, 2016

AAF ECI Holds 2016 American Advertising Awards

By: Allison Robbins— MUNCIE, Ind.— The American Advertising Federation of East Central Indiana (AAF ECI) recently held its annual awards gala, the American Advertising Awards (ADDYs).  The gala honored advertising and creative excellence at the Ball State University Alumni Center in Muncie, Ind. This year’s entries included local and regional television spots, digital and print entries created in 2015 by advertising agencies, businesses, individuals and Ball State University students in East Central Indiana. Winners were chosen by a panel of…

Dr. Peggy Fisher. Photo provided.

Non-Profit May 4, 2016

Cancer Services of ECI-Little Red Door to Host “Little Red Lunch”

By: Aimee Fant— Cancer Services has had the great privilege of working with two Immersive Learning groups this year; Dr. Adam Kuban’s Ingelhart Journalism Scholars and Dr. Peggy Fisher’s Communication and Health Science undergrad and graduate students. During the 2015 Fall semester, through the crossing of stars, Dr. Fisher learned she was facing a second breast cancer diagnosis as Dr. Kuban’s students began to materialize the Facing Project’s  “Facing Cancer in East Central Indiana” with Cancer Services of ECI-Little Red…

Photo provided

Non-Profit May 3, 2016

Rotaract Club Hosts Manners and Models Etiquette Dinner for Boys & Girls Club

By: Micah Maxwell— “Be a gift to the world,” is a simple but powerful mantra that fueled a new student-run Ball State Rotaract Club, the collegiate version of Rotary, to host its first-ever fundraising event on Sunday, April 30 and benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Muncie. About 30 Club Kids sat at 10 sponsored tables, with carefully folded napkins in their laps and elbows off the table, listening to the proper way to pass the butter and learning what…

Steve Spradlin in the classroom. Photo provided.

Education May 2, 2016

Steve Spradlin Selected for 2016 ‘Excellence in Teaching Award’

MUNCIE—In conjunction with National Teacher Appreciation Week, Ball Brothers Foundation (BBF) is pleased to announce that Steve Spradlin, a science and math teacher at Muncie Community Schools’ Northside Middle School was selected as BBF’s 2016 Excellence in Teaching Award winner. The honor includes a $15,000 grant. Finalists for the award were Lisa Eckerty, a first grade teacher at Muncie Community School’s Mitchell Elementary, and Tammy Underwood, a sixth grade English/language arts teacher at Cowan Elementary School. Each of the finalists…

Pictured L-R: Kaitlyn Ewing, Rebecca Hollowell, Kaylen Jones, Emma Fromholz.

Education May 1, 2016

Community Foundation Announces Scholarship Winners

2016 Michele Barnhart Hires Scholarship Recipient Announced The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, Inc. has announced Kaitlyn Ewing as the recipient of the 2016 Michele Barnhart Hires Scholarship. This scholarship honors Michele Barnhart Hires, a 1966 graduate of Daleville High School. A popular fun-loving student, Michele was active in theatre and choir. Although she finished high school as a “C” student, she was determined to earn a college degree. Michele did just that. She earned a degree in…