Articles by Mike Rhodes

File photo by: Casey Stanley

Non-Profit November 17, 2015

New Southside Muncie Baseball Fields and Recreational Facilities to Be Built

By: Bill Callen— RACER Trust and Ross Community Center, Inc. have come to terms on the sale of approximately six acres of the former GM Manual Transmissions of Muncie property off West 8th Street on the Southside of Muncie. The land that was former employee parking, will be converted to baseball fields and other recreational facilities for youth, families and the community at large. Design of the new facilities is expected to begin in January 2016 with phase 1 construction…

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"Christmas Vacation," a Gehring holiday favorite. Photo: Mike Rhodes

Entertainment November 16, 2015

Top Holiday Movies Tap Into Sentimentality

By: Ball State Division of Strategic Communications— When it comes to his favorite holiday movies, Ball State film professor Wes Gehring says each is a feel-good, populist film successful in pulling at the heartstrings by showing that no Christmas is perfect but can still be happy. Gehring’s top five Christmas-themed movies are: “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946) “The Bishop’s Wife” (1947) “Miracle on 34th Street” (1947) “A Christmas Story” (1983) “Elf” (2003) His second five favorites are “The Shop Around…

Inside the dispatch center (911) at the Delaware County Emergency Operations Center. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Non-Profit November 13, 2015

Ball Brothers Foundation Awards Grant to Delaware County Emergency Management

By: Jud Fisher— A five-acre training facility for emergency responders will add a range of new training features through a $100,000 Ball Brothers Foundation grant awarded last month. The training facility, located in the Henry County city of New Castle, provides firefighters, EMTs, police, community safety volunteers, and others with a safe and controlled environment to carry out realistic simulations. Existing features at the training center include: an on-site tower for practicing utility rescues, a mock home for fire rescue…

Muncie Central High School. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Education November 13, 2015

Muncie Central HS Annual Etiquette Dinner A Success

By: Ana Pichardo— The Muncie Central High School Business Club hosted the 5th Annual Etiquette Dinner and Professional Dos and Don’ts Style Show on Friday, November 6 at 7:00 pm. The event was held at the Ball State University Student Center in Cardinal Hall. The purpose of the event was to prepare our students for professional dinner events they will attend after high school graduation. Some of our students will be attending dinner events for scholarships, job interviews, or fundraisers. Whatever the…

Among the 29 pianists competing at the Ball State auditions will be alumna Soojin Kim, a native of South Korea. Photo provided.

Education, Entertainment November 13, 2015

International Piano Competition Holds First North American Auditions at Ball State

By: Gail Werner— MUNCIE, Ind. – For the first time in its 12-year history, one of the world’s most prestigious piano competitions is holding live preliminary auditions in North America — at Ball State University. “The Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition is like the Oscars or the Olympics for these talented young musicians,” said Robert Palmer, the Ruth Weldy and Mary Weldy Porter Distinguished Professor of Piano at Ball State’s School of Music. “They have been preparing for international competitions…

Education, Entertainment November 11, 2015

David Letterman Returns to Ball State on November 30th

By: Joan Todd— David Letterman, one of Ball State University’s most celebrated graduates, will return to campus Nov. 30 to host a discussion with two of the nation’s top young filmmakers. Dave at Ball State features Letterman, who recently retired after 33 years of hosting Late Night and Late Show. He will discuss a variety of topics with Spike Jonze and Bennett Miller at 7 p.m. in Emens Auditorium. Jonze is a critically-acclaimed director, producer, screenwriter and actor whose work includes music…

Dale Basham is pictured with some of the awards won at the recent Rotary Club District Conference. Photos: Dale Basham

Non-Profit November 11, 2015

Muncie Rotary Club Receives Top Awards at District Conference

By: Tom Farris— Muncie Rotary Club Receives Top Awards At District 6560 2015 Mid-Year Conference The Flagship Enterprise Center in Anderson, IN served as the location for the recent 2015 Mid-Year Conference for Rotary International District 6560. District Governor Make Blade gaveled the conference to order and presented opening remarks to the many gathered to learn about the goals, leadership and achievements of Central Indiana’s 45+ District 6560 Rotary Clubs. Conference breakout sessions covered topics such as the Rotary International Foundation,…

Soul to Sole Tap Company. Photo provided.

Entertainment November 11, 2015

Soul to Sole Tap Company Possible Performer at Indy Circle of Lights Event

By: Michelle Jones-Haskell— Soul to Sole Tap Company, part of the larger community at Premiere Dance Center, recently participated in the Indiana’s Got Talent audition process for the Circle of Lights event held in downtown Indy on Monument Circle.  The event is attended by over 100,000 spectators and many more that tune in at home to ring in the Christmas season.  Premiere made it through the first round of the process, which narrowed the field from 135 acts to 10. …

Doug Zook broadcasting live at the 90th birthday celebration of WHBU. Photo: Mike Rhodes

Business, Entertainment November 11, 2015

Woof Boom’s WHBU Celebrates 90 years of Local Radio

By: Doug Zook— On November 9, 2015, the staff of Woof Boom Radio celebrated WHBU’s 90 years of continuous service to Anderson and surrounding communities with a birthday bash held at the Mounds Mall. Amazing Grace’s provided the cake and other delicious treats while Coca Cola provided the drinks for the event. The event was open to the entire community and it was well attended by many loyal listeners, and former guests and employees of WHBU. In 1925, WHBU radio…

Muncie Mission Ministries, Photo provided.

Non-Profit November 8, 2015

Muncie Mission Announces Plans for Thanksgiving Day Dinner

By: Frank Baldwin— Community guests are invited to the 85th annual Muncie Mission Thanksgiving Day dinner. Thanksgiving dinner will be served to residents and community guests on Thanksgiving Day, at noon, at the Mission, 1725 S. Liberty St. “Last year 150 traditional Thanksgiving dinners with all of the trimmings were served by staff and volunteers and another 225 meals were delivered by volunteers around the county to those home-bound. We expect the demands for assistance to be high again this…