Articles by Mike Rhodes

Photo Illustration: Mike Rhodes

Business March 16, 2016

You Got the Job! Now What? Dorothy Douglass Provides Answers

By: Dorothy Douglass, SPHR, SHRM-SCP— I’ve shared with you a little about job-hunting and about acing an interview. Let’s chat about what to do once you’ve gotten the job. Below are some “pet peeves” that hiring managers might call HR about, or might push them to consider whether they made a good hiring decision, or even if they should let a new hire go. Do not ignore emails, voice mails or snail mail from your new employer that might contain specific…

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Betty and Bill Retherford. Photo provided.

Health March 15, 2016

Early Detection is Key: Lung Scan Saves Veteran’s Life

By: Jacob Taylor—  “Nag them. Urge them. Love them. $49 Lung Scans.” Those are the words that Betty Retherford saw on a billboard while traveling to Muncie in late August of 2015. She instantly thought of her husband, Bill Retherford, and decided to register him for a scan at Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Hospital. “As an RN, I knew the combination of Bill’s COPD and smoking history put him at a greater risk,” said Betty. “And, $49 was worth…

Business March 15, 2016

Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence Accepting Nominations

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is now accepting nominations for the 2016 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence. The Indiana Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence is Indiana’s most prestigious environmental recognition award. Although IDEM accepts nominations from all Indiana citizens and organizations, the selection process is highly competitive and only one winner will be selected to receive this award. The award will be presented in September or October 2016. Examples of Eligible Projects The following provides examples of eligible…

Aerial image of the Ball State Campus. Photo by: Michael Wolfe

Education March 14, 2016

BSU Presidential Search Process Begins, Open Forums Planned

Editor’s Note: Another public forum has been added. It will be held Monday, May 23, at 7pm in Assembly Hall in the Ball State University Alumni Center, 2800 W. Bethel Ave in Muncie.  MUNCIE, Ind. — The Ball State Board of Trustees today announced initial steps in the search for a new university president. Board Chair Rick Hall said the campus community, alumni and the public are invited to attend any of a series of open forums to provide input…

Michael Wolfe, Chief Technology Officer, Ontario Systems and President of Sustainable Muncie. Photo provided.

Business, Non-Profit March 10, 2016

Michael Wolfe Turns to “Makers” To Enhance Downtown Culture

By: Shawn Rogers for the Muncie Journal— “Makers, and the art of making – whether we’re talking about art, science, manufacturing – are in Muncie’s DNA.” It’s obvious that Michael Wolfe, Chief Technology Officer for Muncie’s largest technology firm, is enthusiastic about invention. From his office at Ontario Systems headquarters, he talks me through some of the details behind his collaboration with Sustainable Muncie Corporation’s latest project, a development on the east side of the city called Gearbox, where he…

IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Health March 10, 2016

Flu-Related Visitor Restrictions to Begin at IU Health Ball Memorial and IU Health Blackford Hospitals

By: Neil Gifford— Indiana has seen an increase in flu activity in the past three weeks. To protect patients, families and team members from unnecessary potential exposure to the flu virus, Indiana University Health is taking the precautionary measure of restricting patient visitors to its hospitals. Beginning this Friday, March 11, the temporary policy will take effect at IU Health Ball Memorial and IU Health Blackford Hospitals and other IU Health facilities statewide. Visitors should call the hospital they plan to…

Reading Club volunteers Ben and Karen Howells engage students during Reading Club at Longfellow Elementary School. On average, Reading Club volunteers give 60 hours of their time helping students during a school year. Photo provided.

Non-Profit March 9, 2016

Muncie-Delaware County Honored as a Pacesetter for Early Literacy Work

Muncie, IN– Our community has been honored as a Pacesetter by the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading for making measurable progress on eliminating barriers faced by children from low-income families on the path to becoming proficient readers. “Pacesetter Honors are among the highest awards presented by the Campaign,” said Ralph Smith, the managing director of the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. “We are very proud of Muncie and the numerous organizations and individuals behind them for joining forces and working tirelessly to…

"The Song" is a television program that will premiere in the Fall of 2016. Illustration by: Mike Rhodes

Entertainment March 9, 2016

The Television Show “The Song” is Coming to Muncie

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie Indiana is about to become the production home of a new music reality television show called The Song. The Song is an exciting new television show, that is a dramatic departure from karaoke-style contests like The Voice and American Idol that have dominated pop culture for the last decade. The Song is a reality television show that will premiere in the Fall of 2016 on network television and will feature artists/songwriters performing their own original music. Not…

Mike Lunsford presents his portion of the 5th Annual State of Commercial Real Estate in Delaware County. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Business March 7, 2016

5th Annual State of Commercial Real Estate Presented by Coldwell Banker Lunsford

Muncie, IN—The 5th Annual State of Commercial Real Estate in Delaware County was presented by Coldwell Banker Lunsford today at the Downtown Courtyard Marriott. The presenting panel included:  Mike Lunsford, CCIM, Owner, Coldwell Banker Lunsford; Monte Brown, CCIM, Manager of Coldwell Banker Lunsford’s Commercial Division and a long time player in the commercial arena; Chris Caldwell,  Senior Vice President for Business Banking at MutualBank; Michael Hicks, PhD, Director of the Bureau of Business Research at BSU and a nationally recognized expert in business economics and statistics; Jay Allardt,…

Anderson-Muncie Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Photo provided.

Non-Profit March 7, 2016

Donate Wigs and Celebrate Cancer Survivorship This Saturday

By: Dr. Terry Whitt Bailey— The Anderson-Muncie Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (a Public Service Organization) invites the community-at-large to a free event to Celebrate Cancer Survivorship, this Saturday, March 12, 2016, 12:00-2:00 pm at Union Missionary Baptist Church (A.L. Dew Memorial Chapel), 1103 N. Macedonia, Muncie, IN. People are living longer after an initial diagnosis of cancer. Prevention strategies and early detection are important factors of which everyone needs to be aware. There is no cost to…