News Releases

Senior Adult Ministry November Meeting

Posted November 14, 2022

Senior Adult Ministry invites all persons age 50+ to its annual pitch in Thanksgiving Dinner on Tuesday, November 29, at 6 pm. Bring a dish to share and a friend to the dinner held at the First United Methodist Church, 318 National Road West.

Jay and Judi Marshall will share photos of their recent trip to Alaska during the dinner.

Congratulations to the winner of October's Uno challenge, Paula Raper.

Senior Adult Ministry is open to all regardless of religious affiliation. Pastor Marshall, Clara Bulmer and Beverly Kirby share their gifts of ministry, hospitality and creativity in planning and organizing the monthly meetings.

For further information, call 765-962-4357

Reid Health Donates Historic Building to Western Wayne Heritage

Posted November 14, 2022

A two-story brick building in Cambridge City that dates to the days of the Whitewater Canal will be preserved for generations to come thanks to Reid Health's donation of the property to a local historical organization.

Reid recently donated the building at 1 E. Church St. to Western Wayne Heritage. Among many other uses, the facility last served as home to the practice of James Bertsch, DO, before the opening of Reid Health Primary & Specialty Care - Cambridge City in 2020.

The building sits in the town's historic district and is a significant structure, according to Dr. Bertsch, who serves as president of Western Wayne Heritage.

"It was used as a warehouse starting in about 1847," Dr. Bertsch said. "What we see there now is exactly what it was, three or four bricks thick and two stories tall.

"This donation is greatly appreciated. So many older buildings have been demolished and now 1 E. Church St. is safe for the foreseeable future. This is an overwhelming gift to our group and the Western Wayne area. We will be forever grateful to Reid Health for its continued support."

"This donation is greatly appreciated. So many older buildings have been demolished and now 1 E. Church St. is safe for the foreseeable future. This is an overwhelming gift to our group and the Western Wayne area. We will be forever grateful to Reid Health for its continued support." -- James Bertsch, DO, President of Western Wayne Heritage

Originally a warehouse for goods coming along the Whitewater Canal, the building had been a part of Dr. Bertsch's family for decades, serving at times as a foundry for making farm equipment, a Chevrolet dealership, a pattern shop, a wood shop, and other purposes over the years before becoming the Bertschland Family Practice Clinic in 1989.

Dr. Bertsch sold the property to Reid in 2013.

"The celebration of significant historic structures is important to the community and highlights the critical role this building played in supporting this region. We are very pleased to return this piece of history and heritage to the community so it can be preserved, enjoyed, and continue to serve the town in new ways," said Craig Kinyon, Reid Health President/CEO.

Plans for what comes next for the property haven't been determined yet. Dr. Bertsch said Western Wayne Heritage will look into how the site might be able to help meet the needs of the community.

"Part of our vision as an organization is to be a trusted partner that helps the communities we serve to thrive," said Tom Hilkert, Chair of the Reid Health Governing Board. "We're thrilled to see this piece of Cambridge City history be put in the hands of those who will ensure it maintains its historical significance."

New MyChart Features Bring Hospital Stay Information to Your Phone or Tablet

Posted November 8, 2022

Patients admitted to Reid Health Hospital can now have information about their stay right in the palm of the hand, updated in real time.

MyChart Bedside is a free service available to those who have the MyChart app installed on their mobile phone or tablet device. The features become available in the MyChart app automatically once the patient has been admitted to the hospital.

"We're always looking for ways we can help our patients and their family members during their stay. Technology such as this allows patients to be even more involved in their care while also making it easier for family members to stay informed even if aren't physically able to be with their loved one at the hospital." -- Michelle McClurg, Reid Health Vice President/Chief Patient Experience Officer

Using the app, patients and their designated family members can see:

• Their care team, including role descriptions for each person
• Basic information about their stay such as why they've been admitted, when they arrived, and their expected discharge date
• Medications and lab results with patient-friendly wording
• Their schedule, including medication times, surgeries, and procedures
• Educational information about their condition
• And more

In the coming months, other features will be added, including dining menus and ordering options as well as the ability to send non-urgent messages to the patient's care team.

Family members who have been granted access to a patient's information will be able to use the MyChart app to see these same features on their own devices, even if they aren't at the hospital.

"We're always looking for ways we can help our patients and their family members during their stay," said Michelle McClurg, Vice President/Chief Patient Experience Officer for Reid Health. "Technology such as this allows patients to be even more involved in their care while also making it easier for family members to stay informed even if aren't physically able to be with their loved one at the hospital."

The MyChart app is free to download and use from either the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

IU East 44th Annual Whitewater Valley Art Competition Exhibition, Awards

Posted November 8, 2022

This year's 44th annual Whitewater Valley Art Competition (WVAC) boasts a new collection of stunning artworks by talented award-winning artists and entrants.

Originating in 1978 with open judging, the WVAC has hosted prestigious artists and art experts of national acclaim for the jurying.

Jurying for this year's event was held on September 30. The prerecorded event is available for viewing on IU East Facebook Live.

Artwork was selected by this year's jurors Elizabeth M. Claffey, associate professor of photography at Indiana University in Bloomington; Shaun Thomas Dingwerth, executive director of the Richmond Art Museum; and Michael Goodson, chief curator and director of programming at The Contemporary Dayton.

Jurors selected the awards and entries for the WVAC announced during a reception on October 14.

The 44th Whitewater Valley Art Exhibit is on display now through December 16 in the Tom Thomas Gallery and Meijer Artway, both located in Whitewater Hall. The exhibition is presented by First Bank Richmond.

IU East's 44th Annual Whitewater Valley Art Competition Top Entrants

First Place: ($2,000 in addition to a 2023 Solo Exhibition Invitation)

• Antonio McAfee, Richmond, Indiana – Third 2, digital C-print; Students, Workers, and Elder, acrylic medium and pigment ink; and Pamela of Columbus, acrylic medium, pigment ink, and pigment print

Second Place

• Caitlyn Clark, Bloomington, Indiana – Load, charcoal on paper

Third Place

• Francis Schanberger, Dayton, Ohio – Ground Meat Polystyrene Tray (Verso) (Alberta Street, Dayton), silver gelatin print; Sugar Cone Polystyrene Packing Material (Roswell, New Mexico), silver gelatin print; and Folded Twelve Ounce Cup (Forgotten Location, Dayton), silver gelatin print

Honorable Mention

• Megan Caldwell Chandler, Carmel, Indiana – Exploration III, artist's book, acrylic, ink & collage with Coptic binding
• Joseph Swanson, Richmond, Indiana – The Great Silence, mixed media

Chancellor's Choice Purchase Award (IU East Campus Collection)

• Justin Carney, Bloomington, Indiana – You Can't Take This With You, v.2, archival pigment print and Breath, archival pigment print
• Nancy Taylor, Richmond, Indiana – Midday Market, tapestry, hand-dyed wool

In addition to the award winners, work from the following artists is included in this exhibition:
Walt Bistline, Richmond, Indiana; Lori Brubaker, Flora, Indiana; Gregory Bryant, Lafayette, Indiana; Justin Carney, Bloomington, Indiana; Caitlyn Clark, Bloomington, Indiana; Hector Del Campo, Westfield, Indiana; Jeanne Freibert, Louisville, Kentucky; Rodman Goodwin, Chicago, Illinois; Jeanette Hammerstein, Bloomington, Indiana; Nicholas Hill, Granville, Ohio; Sungwon Hong, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Sonimar Maldonado-Alvarado, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Valerie Mann, Saline, Michigan; Taylor Mazer, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Jeffrey Meyer, Fort Wayne, Indiana; Jill Miller, Lambertville, Michigan; Jennifer Murray, Columbus, Ohio; John Puffer, Vincennes, Indiana; Ali Rivera, Richmond, Indiana; Madha Siraj, Westfield, Indiana; Christina Stayton, Russiaville, Indiana; Wendi Smith, Corydon, Indiana; Ashley Speelman, Dayton, Ohio; Nancy Taylor, Richmond, Indiana; Laura Teste, Bloomfield, Michigan; Barbara Triscari, Lebanon, Indiana; Mark Van Buskirk, Richmond, Indiana; Sishi Wang, Bloomington, Indiana; Clinton Wood, Cincinnati, Ohio.

IU East, Morrisson-Reeves Library to Host Virtual Presentation on America's First Top Gun Pilots

Posted November 2, 2022

A virtual presentation featuring historian and author Zellie Rainey Orr will discuss the little-known history of America's Black veterans and first Top Gun pilots.

Attendees are invited to watch the presentation at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 15, in the Bard Room at the Morrisson-Reeves Library or via Zoom. In order to view the presentation students, faculty, staff, and community members must register at https://bit.ly/3fLYhz0.

Orr, author of Heroes in War – Heroes at Home: First Top Guns, will tell the untold story of the 332nd Fighter Group, better known as the Tuskegee Airmen, who made history in 1949 as winners of the first Top Gun contest, a gunnery competition that drew top pilots from across the Air Force.

The pilots' bravery and aerial prowess earned the team a major victory and a trophy. Unfortunately, their win was quietly brushed aside, and their trophy was stored away.

Half a century later, the forgotten trophy was located by Orr after an exhaustive search through the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.

Yemi Mahoney, chief diversity officer and special assistant to the chancellor at IU East, said the university is co-hosting the event with Morrisson-Reeves Library.

"As we honor the achievements of our veterans, it is important to remember the unsung heroes," Mahoney said. "The Tuskegee Airmen are the most famous group of African Americans to achieve success in the military. Despite the many barriers they faced, they rose above their setbacks and left an indelible legacy. Zellie Rainey Orr should be applauded because she has fought hard to keep the memory of their accomplishments alive."

Additionally, IU East will host a Veterans Day Ceremony to honor veterans for their service at 11 a.m. on Friday, November 11, in front of Whitewater Hall at the flagpole. The community is welcome to join the ceremony. Taps will be played by Jason Blough. Mark Stover, a 26-year veteran, will emcee the ceremony.

IU East and Morrisson-Reeves Library have partnered to host events in the past.

"Morrisson-Reeves Library is excited to co-host this event where Ms. Orr shares the long-untold victory of the Tuskegee Airmen," Beth Harrick, program specialist at Morrisson-Reeves said.

The event is sponsored by Morrisson-Reeves Library and the IU East Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Singles Interaction, Inc.

Posted October 26, 2022

If you are 21 years of age or better and single, divorced, widow or widower, Singles' Interaction invites you to join them on Friday nights. Come to the Eagles Lodge, 75 South 12th Street, Richmond (membership not required) and meet other single people in the Richmond area.

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