Articles by Mike Rhodes

Minnetrista Awarded 2015 Green Award by MRTF

By: Sam Condon— Minnetrista Grounds Manager Steve Scott was recently awarded the 2015 Green Award ( Lawn Care Division) presented by the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation at the Green Expo in Indianapolis. The award reads, “In recognition of outstanding environmental stewardship efforts and commitment to advancing the turf industry.” The award was accepted by Minnetrista grounds crewmembers Steve Scott and Dustin Stillinger. Founded in September 1945, the MRTF was organized to gather and disseminate information that would help promote the advancement of the turf industry. With a rapid increase in the number of veterans playing golf after the World War II, the…

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Delta Middle School Students Adopt ARF as 2016 Outreach Recipient

By: Dee McKinsey— Approximately 155 students in Delta Middle School’s eight grade have been collecting supplies for ARF (Animal Rescue Fund), Muncie’s no-kill animal shelter, since they returned from winter break. Christopher Overholt, eighth grade social studies teacher, says that his pupils picked ARF after two rounds of voting. The students receive competitive points based on ARF requested donations, and the pupils’ character traits of effort, attitude and respect also were rewarded points. Overholt said that the students solicited donations from the sixth and seventh grade classes also. The students presented ARF with the donation Tuesday. “Communities show their support…


Ice League to Focus on Grades AND Basketball Skills

By: Sue Godfrey— An innovative basketball league that leverages students’ love of sports while promoting stellar academics will kick off its 2016 season with a Draft Day on Feb. 6 at Muncie Central High School. The Inner City Educational (ICE) League motivates participants to be strong student athletes as they move toward high school and post- secondary education. The ICE League sets the grade point average bar at 2.5 and higher for students who wish to fully participate in the basketball league for 6th-8th grade girls and 7th- and 8th-grade boys in Muncie Communi- ty Schools. In the inaugural 2015…


How to Conduct a Job Search

By: Dorothy Douglass, SPHR, SHRM-SCP— I work in Human Resources. Yes, I’m “that” person. HR does many things within an organization, one of them being hiring people. And that is what I’m asked about on a regular basis. I’m also over age 50. Why share that? Because I’ve been around the proverbial block and watched, participated in and led hiring in a number of businesses. The recruiting world has changed greatly over the last 20 years, and is not what it once was. I had a former classmate contact me as he was in a job search recently after being laid…


T.L. Farris has Two Sculptures Selected for the “92 County Art Show” in Wabash, IN

By: Tom Farris— Indiana-based artist/sculptor Thomas L. Farris had two sculptures selected by the jurors for the 2016 “92 County Art Show” on display at the Honeywell Center’s Clark Gallery in downtown Wabash, Indiana. Farris’s works in the show include “Fork in the Road” and “Heart-Stone.” “Fork in the Road” is a whimsical sculpture that features a dinner fork sticking into a preserved chunk of asphalt from Redkey, Indiana. “Heart-Stone” is a symmetrical heart hand-carved from a block of stone using a variety of tools. The polished sculpture shows the veining, patina and natural marks of the stone. Farris is…


Former NAACP President to Speak as Part of BSU Unity Week

 By: Ball State Division of Strategic Communications— Former NAACP President Benjamin Jealous will talk about how our country’s forgotten history of race continues to haunt us in ways big and small when he visits Ball State Jan. 20. Jealous will deliver the Martin Luther King Speaker Series keynote address, “The Forgotten Origins and Consequences of Race in America,” at 7:30 p.m. in Pruis Hall as part of the university’s Unity Week, which starts on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. All of its events are free and open to the public. “During Unity Week, we challenge perspectives on diversity, inclusivity and…


MSO Announces the 2016 Young Artist Competition Winners

By: Tracy Dishman— Middle and high school musicians from across the state competed for top prizes during Muncie Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artist Competition 2016, on Saturday, Jan. 9, at Sursa Performance Hall on the Ball State University campus. The MSO Young Artist Competition offers young Indiana musicians the opportunity to compete with their peers at the highest level of artistic excellence. “For more than 15 years, MSO audiences and those that witness the competition performances are completely awestruck by the maturity and talent of these fine young musicians,” said Jennifer Johnson, MSO Executive Director. “This year’s junior division winner is…


Ball Brothers Foundation to Recognize Local Teachers in 2016

By: Jud Fisher— Ball Brothers Foundation will be honoring local teachers in 2016 through the Foundation’s Excellence in Teaching Award. As in previous years, the top honor includes a $15,000 grant to promote innovation in the winning teacher’s district, school, and classroom. The Excellence in Teaching grants program is open to public school teachers with at least three years of experience who are currently teaching in a K-12 classroom in any of Delaware County’s public school systems. Each district develops its own selection process and has the opportunity to submit two nominations. Nominations are due February 1, 2016. An expert…


MSO Presents A Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Concert- January 17th

By: Tracy Dishman— As part of the community-wide celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr., the Muncie Symphony Orchestra will present a Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Concert this Sunday, January 17, 4 pm, at Southside Middle School. “This is a new venture for us as we do our best to pay tribute to this great man and leader,” said Douglas Droste, Artistic Director and Conductor for the MSO. “We will feature many members of the community for a true family friendly concert.” Guests Terry Whitt Bailey, Destiny Roberts, Jajuan Phillips, Keith O’Neal, Michael Houston and Expression of Praise and the Southside…


Ivy Tech East Central Region Board of Trustees To Meet

By: Kelsey Batten— The Regional Board of Trustees of Ivy Tech Community College East Central region will meet at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 21, 2016 at the Ivy Tech Fisher campus, 345 South High Street, Muncie, Indiana. The public is invited to attend. Reports from the Region’s staff will be presented and trustees will consider and take action on such items as may be brought before them. About Ivy Tech Community College Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system.  Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana….