Articles by Mike Rhodes

MSO Announces From Bach to Rock to Hip Hop

Entertainment February 4, 2016

MSO Announces From Bach to Rock to Hip Hop

By: Tracy Dishman— Join the Muncie Symphony Orchestra and guest artist, PROJECT Trio, for “From Bach to Rock to Hip Hop!” an interactive musical journey for the entire family. This concert takes place Saturday, February 6, at 4 pm, in Emens Auditorium on the campus of Ball State University, Muncie, IN. Tickets start at $25 for adults and $5 for youth, ages K-12. For more information contact the Emens Box Office at 765-285-1539 or visit munciesymphony.org “PROJECT Trio is loads of fun!” exclaimed MSO Conductor and Artistic Director Doug Droste. “Who else features a beat boxing flute player? This family…

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Ice League Draft Day Kicks Off 2016 Season on Saturday

Education, Non-Profit February 3, 2016

Ice League Draft Day Kicks Off 2016 Season on Saturday

By: Sue Godfrey— The 2016 season of Project Leadership’s ICE League will officially get underway Saturday with a Draft Day for middle school athletes at Muncie Central High School. The Inner City Educational (ICE) League, in its second season, is an innovative initiative that motivates participants to be strong student athletes as they move toward high school and post-secondary educations. The ICE League ties in closely with Project Leadership’s mission to assist local students to and through college. Project Leadership programming, which includes 21st Century Scholar enrollment, places an emphasis on strong student GPA performance. Project Leadership’s ICE League sets…

LISTEN to the Muncie on the Move’s Community Announcements

Entertainment February 3, 2016

LISTEN to the Muncie on the Move’s Community Announcements

By: Mike Rhodes— The Community Announcements portion of the Muncie on the Move breakfasts are always popular and entertaining. If you were not able to attend today’s breakfast, you can listen to the community announcements here on your phone, tablet or desktop computer. Click below to listen.   

Ball State Digital Expert Says Super Bowl Ads Costly But Effective

Entertainment February 2, 2016

Ball State Digital Expert Says Super Bowl Ads Costly But Effective

By: Ball State Division of Strategic Communications— Although costly, Super Bowl ads have a great return on investment. Despite the continuing fragmentation of the television audience, the Super Bowl remains one of the few events that can attract a vast audience. Because of that, it remains one of the few “water cooler events” that advertisers seek, says Ball State’s Dom Caristi, a telecommunications professor. “Even an ad price of $5 million for 30 seconds seems reasonable because people actually want to see the commercials. Unlike normal sports viewing, the room actually gets quiet during the commercials at Super Bowl parties…

Arts & Culture Council Hosts First Thursday With Sidra Bell Dance Showcase

Entertainment February 1, 2016

Arts & Culture Council Hosts First Thursday With Sidra Bell Dance Showcase

By: Braydee Euliss— Following their first event last December, Muncie Arts & Culture Council resumes hosting pop-up events in the GearBox: Muncie, the former Cintas building, on First Thursday February 4, 5–8 PM. Visiting choreographer Sidra Bell will showcase brand new choreography with the help of several BFA Dance Majors from Ball State University. Two rolling performances will take place at 5:45 and 6:30 PM, with music and the opportunity to speak with Bell and the dancers between showtimes. Please enter the building at the northeast corner of Jackson and Madison streets, behind the Cintas truck billboard. Light refreshments will be…

Photo Gallery: Cincinnati Reds Caravan Stops at Stoops Buick-GMC in Muncie

Entertainment January 28, 2016

Photo Gallery: Cincinnati Reds Caravan Stops at Stoops Buick-GMC in Muncie

By: Mike Rhodes & Liz Valpatic— At 5:50pm, Thursday evening, the huge Cincinnati Reds Caravan bus pulled into the Stoops Buick GMC dealership. Hundreds of Reds fans were anxiously waiting to hear about the upcoming season, meet players and get signatures on their personal items. The very popular Reds Caravan provided fans with the opportunity to interact with current and former players, broadcasters and other members of the front office staff.  At the Stoops Buick GMC stop, the group fielded questions from fans and signed autographs. The winter tour included Broadcaster Jeff Piecoro, Manager Bryan Price, Alumni Tom Browning, Infielder Ivan…

Mursix Corporation Acquires Dakota Engineering, Inc.; Will Add 22 Employees

Business January 28, 2016

Mursix Corporation Acquires Dakota Engineering, Inc.; Will Add 22 Employees

By: Bob Neville— Muncie, IN – Mursix Corporation, a leading supplier of precision components to the automotive, alternative energy, appliance, and security markets, has announced that it has acquired Dakota Engineering, Inc., an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer of CNC-machined products for the automotive, medical, security, and other industries. In making the announcement, Mursix CEO Todd Murray stated “This is great news for our company, our associates, our customers and for our host community – Delaware County. For our customers, Dakota’s capabilities in sophisticated horizontal and vertical CNC machining will strengthen the already extensive portfolio of manufacturing solutions that they have…

Laura Williamson Named New Executive Director of Muncie Civic Theatre

Non-Profit January 26, 2016

Laura Williamson Named New Executive Director of Muncie Civic Theatre

By: Chris Griffith— Muncie Civic Theatre and the Board of Directors has announced that Laura Williamson will join the 85 year old institution as its new Executive Director and assume the role on February 1, 2016. In this position, Williamson will work with Chris Griffith and Paul Tavianini who continue as Business and Artistic Director, respectively. Board President, Leigh Edwards remarked, “After careful consideration and focused action from the Board of Directors, we are thrilled to welcome Laura Williamson. Her years of experience with Muncie Civic Theatre, serving as President from 2013-2015 and a board member before that, provide a…

United Way of Delaware County Welcomes Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Non-Profit January 25, 2016

United Way of Delaware County Welcomes Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

By: Shelley Shekell— Nate Rose is a father of two living in Delaware County. He and his wife Marissa understand and support the important push for early childhood literacy in Delaware County. Nate saw a need for getting books into the homes of families, and he took strides to make that happen. While researching Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program, a program that provides families with a high-quality book every month with no cost to the family, he realized the program was not yet present in this community. The lack of programming ignited a spark in Nate and he began taking…

Discover Digital Climbers at MPL Connection Corner

Non-Profit January 25, 2016

Discover Digital Climbers at MPL Connection Corner

By: Rebecca Parker— Kids and teens ages 8 and up are invited to a Digital Climbers launch party at Muncie Public Library’s Connection Corner this Wednesday, January 27 at 3pm. Kids will find out how they can earn badges and points as they become more skilled in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) activities. According to Rebecca Parker, Connection Corner Specialist at Muncie Public Library, the program will encourage students to work independently in mastering technology skills and to compete with other students as they earn badges. “We have a floor-to-ceiling mountain in our library branch on which students can…