Articles by Mike Rhodes

Ivy Tech Muncie/Henry County to Provide iPad Airs to Nursing Students

By Lesley DeVoss— MUNCIE, Ind. – On January 16, 2024, Ivy Tech Muncie/Henry County rolled out the second phase of their Apple initiative on campus. Through a grant opportunity, the campus was able to provide iPad Airs, Apple Pencils, and Logitech Combo Touch keyboards and cases to nursing students. The iPad Airs will be used by the students throughout their time in the program, providing them with experience on industry-standard tools. “The Muncie/Henry County campus purchased 200+ total devices for…

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Muncie Central Basketball History To Be On Display During NBA All-Star Event In Indianapolis

By Sheryl Swingley— MUNCIE, IN—Muncie Central’s basketball history will be on display during the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis Feb. 16-18. The school’s historic eight state basketball championships will be featured as one of 24 6-foot basketball sculptures that will be placed at various locations downtown Indianapolis. The Bearcat basketball sculpture will be at West and Washington streets next to Indiana government buildings. The art project is called “Hoosier Hysteria.” The Muncie Central sculpture is called “Muncie Central’s Unmatched…


The Community Foundation Seeks Community Input

By Kallie Sulanke— MUNCIE, IN – The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County is strengthening operations by investigating and implementing best practices for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). In the Summer of 2023, the Foundation began work with expert consulting firm Optiplied to evaluate current policies, procedures, and perceptions. The consultation will result in the creation of a task force and subsequent action plan focused on organizational improvements with a DEIB lens. As part of its engagement with…


Help Struggling Families Avoid Losing Heat During This Brutal Winter by Giving to the ‘Friend to Friend Utility Assistance Fund’ 

By Kim Williams— EAST CENTRAL, IN – Each year, frigid temperatures throughout the Heart of Indiana region produce large utility bills for residents. This past week’s extreme below-freezing temperatures will produce even larger utility bills than normal.  Thousands of local families will struggle to cover the cost of those bills and may face the possibility of utility disconnection and the resulting loss of heat during the remaining coldest weeks and months ahead. Heart of Indiana United Way’s Friend to Friend…


Muncie Action Plan Task Force 3 Review

By Heather Williams— MUNCIE, IN – As the Muncie Action Plan (MAP) closes out the year, we would like to share MAP’s efforts to improve quality of life in Muncie and Delaware County as we approach our  MAP’s Task Force 3 is charged with improving Muncie’s Neighborhoods by cultivating partnerships around comprehensive, block-level strategies for improvement. The best indications of progress towards achieving healthy blocks and healthy neighborhoods are stabilized housing markets, improved housing conditions, increased resident engagement and grassroots…


Indiana Prepares for Annual Count of Individuals Experiencing Homelessness 

Editor’s note: Delaware County, will conduct the Point-In-Time count on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. with the rest of the State of Indiana. By the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority— INDIANAPOLIS—The statewide annual count of individuals experiencing homelessness will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. Service providers and volunteers in local communities across Indiana will be conducting the 2024 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count for the Indiana Balance of State (BOS) Continuum of Care (CoC) in…


Free Upcoming Planetarium Shows Through April at Ball State and The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse

By Planetarium staff— MUNCIE, IN—All regular planetarium programs are free of charge, cash donations are accepted at the door. One free pair of solar eclipse glasses will be provided to each planetarium show guest for a suggested cash donation of $1, while supplies last. Glasses are partially funded through support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Simons Foundation. January  The Universe Overhead Fridays: Jan. 12, 26 at 6:30pm Saturdays: Jan. 13, 27 at 6:30pm The sky…


Dorothy Douglass Investigates Why ‘Muncie Has So Much to Offer’

Editor’s note: Original published July 19, 2016, we are bringing this story back for your reading pleasure.  By Dorothy Douglass— MUNCIE, IN—Muncie, Indiana, gets a bad rap every now and then. And as a former member of that tribe who said, as a young college student, “I can’t wait to get out of this town after I finish college,” I feel like I should retract that 35-year old statement. Anyone can choose to look at the bad, or look at…


Indiana Humanities Seeks Submissions for 2024 Indiana Eclipse Poetry Contest

By Anna Bowman— INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana Humanities is looking to select an official poet for the April 8, 2024 eclipse, an event that will not happen again until 2044. Indiana is one of only a handful of states that are in the path of totality for the eclipse, and Hoosier poets everywhere are invited to submit an original poem inspired by this event. The poet who submits a poem that best reflects the significance of the eclipse will receive a cash prize…


Reps for ICPE to Address Status of Education in Indiana at AAUW and League of Women Voters Joint Meeting

By Sheryl Swingley— MUNCIE, IN—Two representatives of the Indiana Coalition for Public Education will be the guest speakers for a joint meeting of the Muncie branch of the American Association of University Women and the League of Women Voters of Muncie-Delaware County. The meeting is open to the public. The meeting will start at 10 a.m. and wrap up no later than noon on Saturday, Jan. 27, at Motivate Our Minds, 2023 E. Highland Ave., Muncie. The topic of the…