Articles by Mike Rhodes

Muncie Rotary Club Marks 10 Years of Fundraising for High School Athletic Teams at the Delaware County Fair

By Robert G. La France— MUNCIE, IN – The Muncie Rotary Club marks 10 years of fundraising to support high school athletic teams by volunteering to direct traffic and collect entrance fees at the gates of the Delaware County Fair. For at least 5 hours a day from Monday, July 17, to Saturday, July 22, 2023, Rotarians braved the relentless sun and threatening storms alongside student athletes to greet visitors to the fair and raise money for four teams. The…

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Soup Crawl Returns for 11th Annual Event During ArtsWalk This October

By Ben Polk— MUNCIE, IN—PrimeTrust Federal Credit Union and Second Harvest Food Bank invite you to the eleventh annual Soup Crawl. Held in downtown Muncie during ArtsWalk, on Thursday, October 5th, from 5 pm to 8 pm, tickets are available now. Tickets are being sold online at curehunger.org/soupcrawl. Soup Crawl is a fun and festive local culinary celebration that benefits Second Harvest Food Bank’s The Big Idea initiative. For just $20, Soup Crawl attendees can stroll the streets of historic downtown…


Back-to-School Physical Fit Fair at Southside Middle School on August 2nd

By Hannah Dunckel— MUNCIE, IN– Meridian Health Services is hosting a Back-to-School Physical Fit Fair on Wednesday, August 2 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Southside Middle School located at 1601 E. 26th St., Muncie, IN 47302. This event is being held in conjunction with Muncie Community Schools’ registration day. The community and people of all ages are invited to the Back-to-School Physical Fit Fair featuring: FREE Health Fair including: Health screenings provided by Meridian Health Pediatrics Screenings include…


PhyXTGears Robotics Team Wins Grant for Advancing STEM Education

By Lydia Cain, Rookie Media Mentor of The PhyXTGears— MUNCIE, IN—The Grant County Community Foundation Board has approved a $20,000.00 crowdfunding grant to East Central Indiana Robotics – The PhyXTGears, FRC Team 1720 to prepare high school students for Indiana’s technology workforce through hands-on STEM training. Crowdfunding challenges PhyXTGears to raise $20,000 through the generous contributions of donors and sponsors. It effectively doubles the contribution, dollar-for-dollar during the 60-day challenge starting July 15. To join the challenge, you may visit…


Yorktown Girl Scout Earns Gold Award Through Meaningful, Sustainable Community Project

By Dawn Brand Fluhler— YORKTOWN, IN – Kathryn Smitson has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn. Kathryn attended Indiana Connections Academy and was a 13-year Girl Scout. She knew that girls entering their teen years are faced with challenges from different sources causing stress that can have a very negative impact on their lives. Because expression through classical ballet was an outlet for her during the toughest years, she wanted to share…


Soup Kitchen of Muncie Hosts the Carl Kizer Summerfest

By Amy Leffingwell— MUNCIE, IN—Near perfect temps and a light breeze set the tone for The Soup Kitchen of Muncie’s annual Carl Kizer Summerfest on Friday, July 21st.  Summerfest, organized by Carl Kizer, is an outdoor block party for the underserved in our community.  Carl also helped find sponsors and donations so that the event would be a success. Over 30 local service providers were in attendance to offer their services and help lead clients of the Soup Kitchen toward…


Fire Up DWNTWN Streetfest Returns to Heat Up the Summer on August 5th

By Melissa Narlock— MUNCIE, IN — The wait is over. Muncie Downtown Development Partnership has announced the highly anticipated return of the sizzling summer streetfest. Fire Up DWNTWN, presented by Ivy Tech Muncie, is back on August 5. After a resounding success last year, drawing over 11,000 visitors, the all-day event returns with even more exhilarating attractions. “As we look back on the incredible success of last year’s Fire Up DWNTWN, we are thrilled to announce its return this summer,”…


The BIG Idea Pitch – Why this Contest is Important

By Ted A. Baker, CEO/Executive Director, Muncie Innovation Connector, Inc.— MUNCIE, IN—During my thirteen years as Executive Director of the Muncie Innovation Connector, I have met with, coached, advised, counseled, and encouraged many individuals who have thought about starting or owning a business.  This continues to happen several times each week.  In addition, the Small Business Development Center, located in the Innovation Connector, meets with clients in Muncie and East-Central Indiana, hoping for the same. With the availability of resources found…


Ivy Tech Community College Advanced Manufacturing Labs Get Students ‘Workforce Ready’

By Lesley DeVoss— MUNCIE, Ind. – The Advanced Technology Center is located at 4101 South Cowan Road in Muncie. The Center houses the School of Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering, and Applied Science and the high-tech labs that support students entering the workforce, primarily in the manufacturing sector.  The School of Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering, and Applied Science offers degrees and certifications in: Advanced Automation and Robotics Technology Automotive Technology Building Construction Technology Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Technology (HVAC) Industrial Technology (including…


CANPACK is Good for Our Community and is Bringing Back a Strong Well-paid Workforce

By James King, Delaware County Commissioner— DELAWARE COUNTY, IN—As a lifelong resident and longtime elected official in Delaware County, I have watched the evolution of manufacturing throughout our region.  When I was young, our community was proudly connected to the auto part manufacturing industry and had a rich history of hard-working men and women who dedicated their lives to advancing that industry.  With the North American Free Trade Agreement, we watched as jobs slowly consolidated and moved to China and…