Articles by Mike Rhodes

Shafer Leadership Academy Helped Locals Learn How to Be Board Members

By: Mitch Isaacs— Muncie IN – Fifty two community leaders gathered at the Innovation Connector on Tuesday March 29th for All Aboard: Board Leadership in Motion. All Aboard is a three-hour workshop ideal for individuals who have a desire to serve on a not-for-profit board but want to learn more about what serving as a board member entails, and how to find the potential board opportunity that suits their interests and skill sets. The program was provided free of charge by…

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Muncie Police Department Conducts First Office-Based Active Shooter Training at Ontario Systems

By: Shawn Rogers for the Muncie Journal— On average, more than one mass shooting occurs every day in the U.S. That’s according to a New York Times article defining events involving a firearm that leave four or more people dead or wounded. It’s a scary statistic to be sure. And while the risk of a gun showing up in one’s workplace is low compared to many other on-the-job hazards, especially in Muncie, it’s one that still remains on the back…


Toni Estep To Retire from Open Door Health Services

 Muncie, IN – Open Door Health Services is announcing their CEO, Toni Estep, will retire at the beginning of June 2016 after nearly four decades with the health care provider. Estep began with Open Door Health Services as a WIC Coordinator in 1979. From that role, she worked her way up through the organization ultimately being named CEO in 2000, where she has served for 16 years. In total, she has given 37 years of services to the mission of Open Door…


Neighborhood Association Negotiates Compromise on Tillotson Substation

By Erin Moore— Indiana Michigan Power and American Electric Power (IMP/AEP) has begun construction on a new substation on Tillotson Avenue between Riverside Avenue and University Avenue. The final design, approved by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, reflects years and hundreds of hours of negotiations between the Kenmore Neighborhood Association and decision makers with the City of Muncie, IMP/AEP, and Ball State. The neighborhood association extensively researched and proposed options to influence the substation’s placement and footprint. The association advocated…


Magic City Music Men Win District Champion Award

By: Scott Trout— The Magic City Music Men is the Muncie, Indiana chapter of The Barbershop Harmony Society. They provide family friendly entertainment for public events, private parties, hospitals, care facilities, and corporate gatherings. The Magic City Music Men encourage singing as a lifelong pastime. They believe  better learning can be accomplished through their involvement with school aged children, and better health can be achieved  through the benefit of music. The Cardinal District of the Barbershop Harmony Society had their District Chorus Competition March…


IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital and Medical Consultants to Begin New Relationship

MUNCIE, IN – IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital and Medical Consultants are pleased to announce that they have entered into definitive agreements for Medical Consultants to become part of the IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital family effective October 1, 2016. With shared values of ensuring the delivery of quality health care and the availability of comprehensive specialty care services within the local community, the addition of the Medical Consultants multi-specialty Physician practice, including its outpatient surgery center, will greatly benefit patients…


Financial Planning with Jake Brown

By: Jake Brown— Given the positive and enlightening stories I’ve read on the Muncie Journal since I found out about the website, I’m excited to start sharing articles with you. I hope you enjoy my thoughts and articles as much as I enjoy writing them. My goal today is to hopefully open your eyes to see why having a financial plan in place is so important. Do you picture yourself owning a new home, starting a new business, paying for…


Muncie Announces Exciting Plan for Former Industrial Sites

Muncie, IN —At an unveiling ceremony today, Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler announced a transformative revitalization plan for the former King Indiana Forge and Indiana Steel & Wire industrial sites, located adjacent to the White River at the city’s eastern gateway, near the 2200 block of East Jackson Street/Highway 32. Hundreds of people attended the announcement, held at the Horizon Convention Center.  After Mayor Tyler’s opening remarks, presentations were made by: Phil Tevis of FlatLand Resources; John Craddock, Director Emeritus, Bureau…


Healthy Community Alliance Launches April 14th in Muncie

By: John Disher— Leaders of local organizations are encouraged to learn more about a new community initiative aimed at making our community become a healthier place to live learn, work and play. The Healthy Community Alliance of Delaware and Blackford Counties will hold information sessions on April 14 to explain how the Alliance works and how local organizations can become involved. The two-county effort is being led by a steering committee composed of a cross-section of community stakeholders, and supported…


Delaware Community Schools to Present “A Taste of Delcom” on April 13th

By: Janelle Davis— The DelCom Educational Foundation will host its fifth annual “A Taste of DelCom” Awards and Recognition Banquet on Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at Delta High School in the Auxiliary Gym.  Doors open at 5:30 p.m., tours and the chef’s parade will be 6-6:30 p.m. and dinner is at 7:00 p.m. The foundation will award 22 teacher grants, 11 student scholarships, and honor 4 retired teachers/staff members.  This year’s keynote speaker will be Delta alumnus, Joey Lynch who…