COVID numbers surging, area schools still back in session
Clare Superintendent James Walter II Farwell Superintendent Steven Scoville Harrison Superintendent Rick Foote By Pat MaurerCorrespondent With the first week of the new year coming to a close, the number of COVID cases in the Central Michigan Health District (CMDHD),…
Faces in the Crowd: Advice for 2022
“What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?”That’s a common question we ask in our conversations for Faces in the Crowd. And with each response, we learn something new.With 2022 and our new year’s resolutions now upon us, we look…
Rollover due to bad weather
A vehicle traveling too fast for conditions may have caused a vehicle to roll into the median Thursday morning, Clare Fire Chief Jim Chapman said.The Clare Fire Department was called to the scene on north bound U.S. 127 at mile…
Letter to the Editor: More Small Town memories
Mike,Truly enjoyed your column about small towns. My years may predate you a bit but I can take some of those memories to a next level.I well remember the parties at the gravel pits, but the real bonanza was when…
Letter to the Editor: Driving conditions hazardous, watch out for wildlife this winter
Dear Editor:The next couple of months roads will be full of ice and snow, making driving conditions dangerous. While there is little we can do to stop weather related accidents, there is a source of accidents we can do something…
Letter to the Editor: A New Year’s Resolution
Dear Editor,With Christmas and Hanukkah behind us, we look forward to the new year and New Year’s resolutions: to step away from social media, lose some weight, and, perhaps, to go vegan. Yes, that.A third of consumers report reducing consumption…
Letter to the Editor: Gun Control column ‘on spot’
Dear editor,Mike your son’s editorial was spot on. Henry Kenn and Sue Mackey don’t have a clue what they are talking about.Gun control is, having a steady hand as you press the trigger! What they are referring to when they…
Letter to the Editor: Here’s what “being pro-life” means
Dear Editor:49 years ago, the Supreme Court made one of their most influential and controversial decisions to date, legalizing abortion in all fifty states in Roe v. Wade.The debate still continues among Americans today: are you pro-life or pro-choice?“As believers,”…
Letter to the Editor: Response to gun control column
Editor,It didn’t take long for publisher Mike Wilcox’s son, Jordan, to catch blow back from his essay advocating universal gun ownership as a solution to gun violence.Of course, it’s a silly idea but I wonder if that might have been…
New fire pumper truck to arrive in Clare this week
The Clare Fire Department should be taking delivery of their new $600,000 fire engine (pumper) this week. Explaining how to operate the new pump to Assistant Fire Chief Sam Eberhart, Captain Chad Michels and Firefighter Jeff Michels is a representative…
Turner elected vice-chair of Osceola commission
By John RaffelCorrespondent MARION – Osceola County commissioner David Turner, of Marion, was elected vice chairman of the Board of Commissioners at its organizational meeting on Tuesday.He will serve a one-year term as vice chairman, replacing Roger Elkins of Evart.…
Marion Village working on 2022 budget
By John RaffelCorrespondent MARION – The Marion Village Council had its first monthly meeting of 2022 on Monday.“Our meeting was very quick and we basically had the usual business,” council president Flora Grundy said. “Nothing new happened at the moment…
Governor, UIA under fire for paying fraudulent unemployment
By Pat MaurerCorrespondent According to an article by Bruce Walker, Michigan Editor for “The Center Square,” Governor Whitmer and the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA). Have come under fire for “paying approximately $8.5 billion in fraudulent claims since March of 2020.”The…
Clare County set with emergency sirens
By John RaffelCorrespondent HARRISON – The Clare County emergency management department reminds residents that the County has a system of Emergency Alert Sirens controlled by the counties dispatch system that are located in the following communities:City of Harrison (Tank Hill…
Pick-Up hits school bus, one critical
By Pat MaurerCorrespondent Deputies from the Gratiot County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the scene of a crash involving a school bus and a pickup early Tuesday morning.Deputies were dispatched to the intersection of Ely Highway and West Tyler Road…
Marion cheerleaders win first competition
By John RaffelCorrespondent MARION – Danyel Prielipp is principal at Marion High School and continues to serve as the Eagles’ competitive cheer coach.Freshmen on the team are Lila Prielipp, Malley Raymond, J’Lynn Schoonmaker. Ella Wilson, Ashley Lewis and Alaysia Ankney.Sophomores…
Mike’s Musings: Politicians should spend time in the private sector
Here’s a novel suggestion. Can we make it a requirement for those running for Congressional seats to spend a few years in the private sector?This idea was presented to me a few weeks ago, and the more I thought about…
Pat’s Bits and Pieces: All about January
With temperatures hovering in the mid-twenties, a winter storm forecast and already making an appearance, I’m glad today [Wednesday] is a stay-at-home-and-work-on-the-computer day.Of course, every day is a stay-at-home-and-work-on-the-computer day, as I hole up in my office and watch the…
May I Walk With You?: It’s Easy
It’s the new year-2022. As the saying goes, “If I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself!” Actually, I am in pretty good shape for being an old guy. Humor put…
Grant Twp. News You Can Use: Where the money will go and what’s wrong with our Property Tax System
By now you should have received your winter tax bills, there were some surprises.Each year I try to get a handle on where our property tax dollars go. A lot of the items on your tax bill are voter approved.…
