Articles by Mike Rhodes

Over 70 Early Child Care and Education Changemakers Kick Off a Collective Change Movement

By Kelsey Harrington— MUNCIE, IN – The success of a community’s educational systems and places of employment strongly hinge on the success and health of the community’s early care and education ecosystem. A primary reason for this is that approximately 90% of brain development happens by age five. The state of early care and education locally—and across the state and nation—has been of concern for many years and particularly in this post-pandemic era. More than 70 Muncie and Delaware County…

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Ball State University Collaborates with NASA to Broadcast April’s Total Solar Eclipse

By Ball State Marketing & Communications— MUNCIE, IN – Ball State University is collaborating with NASA to provide live broadcast coverage of the total solar eclipse on April 8. Dayna Thompson, director of the Charles W. Brown Planetarium, and Dr. John Millis, department chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy and professor of physics, will serve as telescope operators during the eclipse at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. NASA plans to livestream the eclipse from multiple sites, including from the Ball…


Muncie’s Habitat for Humanity is Making Progress One Home at a Time

By Lindsey Arthur— MUNCIE, IN—Take a drive around our community and you’ll see too many empty and sometimes abandoned homes. In fact, there are about 2,000 such structures in the city. Another 300 houses could be inhabitable but need repairs. Meanwhile, hundreds of people are on a waitlist for emergency housing. And that’s not counting the dozens of families waiting for what only Habitat can provide – the next step – stable housing meant to last a lifetime. What is…


League of Women Voters to Co-sponsor Watch Party for Republican Gubernatorial Debate

By Sheryl Swingley— MUNCIE, IN—The League of Women Voters of Muncie-Delaware County will be one of three sponsors for an Indiana Republican gubernatorial debate watch party at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, in the conference room of Ball State University’s Multicultural Center. No watch party is scheduled for the Democrat candidates for governor because Jennifer McCormick is the only candidate on the 2024 Democrat primary ballot. Reservations for the watch party are required and should be made with David J….


Indiana Waterways Paintings at Auction May 4; New Project Set for 2026

By Juli Metzger— MUNCIE, IN—One hundred paintings of Indiana waterways by five Hoosier plein air artists – rendered during the COVID-19 pandemic – will be available for the first time at auction in May. The sale culminates a three-year project – 20 months of painting and an 18-month traveling exhibit, plus an accompanying 200-plus page coffee table book, “Indiana Waterways: The Art of Conservation.” The book has sold out. Paintings by brothers Dan and Tom Woodson, of Muncie, Curt Stanfield,…


AAUW, LWV to Sponsor ERA, Voting Panel During BSU Women’s Week

By Sheryl Swingley— MUNCIE, IN—The Muncie Branch of the American Association of University Women and the League of Women Voters of Muncie-Delaware County will sponsor a panel discussion about the Equal Rights Amendment and voting during Women’s Week at Ball State University. The panel discussion, titled “A Woman’s Only Right – To Vote,” will start at 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, in the Forum Room of Ball State’s Student Center. Panelists will be Sue Errington, Indiana House representative for District…


Delaware County Emergency Management Agency Responds to Severe Weather Event

By Kyle Johnson— DELAWARE COUNTY, IN—In the wake of a severe thunderstorm and tornado that swept through Delaware County early this evening, the Delaware County Emergency Management Agency (DCEMA) is actively engaged in response efforts to address the impacts of the disaster. Reports indicate that the storm system inflicted significant damage across various parts of the county, with particular emphasis on the town of Selma. Initial assessments suggest that up to 50% of structures in Selma have been damaged. However,…


Transforming Communities Through Sustainable Development and Construction Trades Training

By Jud Fisher—  MUNCIE, IN —  In the heart of Muncie, there’s an organization powerfully reshaping the landscape—and the workforce—one house at a time and one life at a time. ecoREHAB, a nonprofit headquartered in Muncie’s Old West End, is on a mission to help revitalize the community’s neighborhoods through sustainable design, rehabilitation, and education. At the same time, the organization is building a new generation of workers prepared for high-demand jobs in construction trades. ecoREHAB was founded 15 years ago…


Help Strengthen Nonprofits in Muncie-Delaware County with the 2024 Nonprofit Landscape Survey

By Carly Acree-King— MUNCIE, IN—Nonprofit Support Network’s mission is deeply rooted in empowering nonprofit organizations throughout Muncie-Delaware County. We firmly believe that by providing organizations with the necessary resources, we can catalyze their ability to achieve their missions, serving our community with greater impact and effectiveness. As advocates and allies for the nonprofit sector, we recognize the critical importance of understanding our local community’s unique challenges, strengths, and opportunities. Understanding the significance of this, we’ve introduced the 2024 Muncie-Delaware County…


‘Dr. K’ Retiring, Dr. Reynolds to Become New MCS Director of Public Education and CEO

By Andy Klotz— MUNCIE, IN—Muncie Community Schools (MCS) Director of Public Education and CEO Dr. Lee Ann Kwiatkowski is retiring from K-12 education at the end of the school year. MCS Associate Superintendent Dr. Charles (Chuck) Reynolds, a Muncie Southside graduate and longtime district administrator, will succeed her when she officially leaves June 30. “This decision was incredibly difficult for me,” Dr. Kwiatkowski said. “I have grown to love the people of Muncie and I’m very proud of all we’ve…