Articles by Mike Rhodes

By Nick Werner and Dottie Kreps— MUNCIE, IN—The Soup Kitchen of Muncie is celebrating its 30th Anniversary in 2024.  For thirty years the Soup Kitchen has been a place where our neighbors in need can come and receive a hot meal and a sack lunch.  The Soup Kitchen wants to invite you to get involved by participating in their Third Annual ’40 Days of Giving’ Food Drive.  The 40 Days of Giving event is based around Lent to offer everyone…

By The Facing Project— NEW YORK, NY—Library Journal, the network industry leader for libraries worldwide, has released its “best of” list for audiobooks published in 2023, and Muncie author J.R. Jamison’s memoir Hillbilly Queer was among the titles. Out of nearly 100,000 audiobooks published last year, Library Journal only selected 10 works of fiction and 10 works of nonfiction to receive this distinction. Others on the list include actor Steve Martin’s memoir So Many Steves: Afternoons with Steve Martin and…

By Kallie Sulanke— MUNCIE, IN—The Community Foundation is pleased to announce that nominations are being accepted for the annual David Sursa Leadership Award. The award rewards, recognizes, and encourages extraordinary leadership by a nonprofit board member in Delaware County. Standing behind the belief that every community benefits from leaders who understand local issues and visualize and promote positivity, The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County established the David Sursa Leadership Award in honor of the organization’s founding president. David…

By Susan Fisher, PR Supervisor at MPL— MUNCIE, IN—While free programs are always on the calendar at Muncie Public Library (MPL) and offer a wide variety of learning and enrichment activities for all ages, this February at MPL offers an especially stellar lineup of programs that range from live jazz, free chili, the celebration of local African American women, and even an exploration of the “Hillbilly Highway.” —Enjoy a Night of Jazz on Thursday, February 15 from 5-7 p.m. at Maring-Hunt…

By Molly Flodder— MUNCIE, IN—Collection of documents, photos, and personal stories is underway, and events are being planned at the Ross Community Center as board, staff, volunteers, users, and neighbors begin the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary. The Garland E. Ross Recreational Center, located at 1110 W. 10th Street in the Thomas Park/Avondale neighborhood, was founded in 1974 as one of three city-run recreational centers in Muncie. The center was used for youth baseball, basketball, family gatherings, and more. The…

By Dan Wolfert— MUNCIE, Ind. — The V!VA (Very Important Volunteer Award) Awards were developed as a gift to the community in 1993 by the Muncie Noon Rotary Club and are now held in conjunction with the Muncie Sunrise Rotary Club to recognize Delaware County’s proud volunteer heritage. Up to four individuals and one organization will be recognized with V!VA Awards for their volunteer efforts to the community within the past 12 months. In addition, The Edmund F. Ball Lifetime…