Albion Recorder & Morning Star

Judge rules against J. Jeffers & Co on sale of Hayes Hotel

Editorial Staff Mar 7, 2025 9 min read

Photo by Elizabeth Ferszt Brian Loftin and Joshua Jeffers are the developers that previously had a contract to purchase the Hayes Hotel from the City of Jackson. By ELIZABETH FERSZT Contributing Writer After the sale of the Hayes Hotel to…

Mike’s Musings: Send us those $5000 checks, DOGE

Mike’s Musings: Send us those $5000 checks, DOGE

Editorial Staff Mar 5, 2025 3 min read

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has received a lot of attention in the news lately. Led by Elon Musk, his minions of young computer nerds have found billions of dollars of waste and fraud taking place in our vast…

Mike’s Musings: How do our public servants amass their huge new worths?

Mike’s Musings: How do our public servants amass their huge new worths?

Editorial Staff Feb 26, 2025 3 min read

I often wonder if I chose the wrong profession. Don’t get me wrong I love my work, but sometimes toiling 60 hours a week becomes kind of a drag at my age.I should have run for election and become a…

Egg supply and costs affect area businesses and consumers

Egg supply and costs affect area businesses and consumers

Editorial Staff Feb 21, 2025 6 min read

By ELIZABETH FERSZT Contributing Writer Are we in an egg crisis? Recent news stories online have made it seem like we may be having an egg shortage, egg price inflation, and/or egg supply chain issues. The Morning Star looked into…

Looking Out: Big tippers

Editorial Staff Feb 21, 2025 3 min read

by Jim Whitehouse “I need to send an antique teapot to my sister,” says Lyle Pratt, setting his coffee cup on the table next to his dirty breakfast plate. “Why?” I say, handing my own breakfast plate to Matilda, our…

Boys Basketball

Editorial Staff Feb 21, 2025 4 min read

Lape sets school record; Warriors win Cascades basketball crown Brayden Lape became the all-time leading scorer for Grass Lake and the Warriors won its first Cascades Conference title since 1971. So, it was a good week for the Warriors. Lape…

City of Albion moves forward on water project, residents will see slight rate increase

Editorial Staff Feb 21, 2025 3 min read

By KARA DECHALK Contributing Writer At Monday’s council meeting council approved Ordinance # 2025-02 providing for the issuance and sale of revenue bonds. These bonds will pay for the improvements and extensions to the water supply system of the city.…

Jeremy Barnett will be acting Jackson County undersheriff

Editorial Staff Feb 21, 2025 2 min read

By ELIZABETH FERSZT Contributing Writer Jackson County Sheriff, Gary Schuette said in an interview earlier this week that Lt. Jeremy Barnett will replace outgoing Undersheriff, Christopher A. Simpson, who left the office to become Chief of Police for the City…

Mike’s Musings: Engaging with scammers- don’t follow my son’s lead

Mike’s Musings: Engaging with scammers- don’t follow my son’s lead

Editorial Staff Feb 19, 2025 5 min read

I was talking with my son recently, and somehow we got on the topic of these pre-recorded prank calls he used to get. Unlike most of us he enjoys engaging with these pranksters. He know they are fraudsters but gets…

Super Bowl 59 at the Michigan Theatre

Super Bowl 59 at the Michigan Theatre

Editorial Staff Feb 14, 2025 3 min read

By Elizabeth Ferszt, Contributing Writer A free Super Bowl party was held at the Michigan Theater of Jackson on Sunday Feb. 9, from 6 p.m. to close. The event was attended by over 100 people, including a camera and reporter…

Christopher Simpson becomes new chief of police, City of Jackson

Christopher Simpson becomes new chief of police, City of Jackson

Editorial Staff Feb 14, 2025 3 min read

By Elizabeth Ferszt Contributing Writer On Tuesday, Feb. 11, the City of Jackson officially announced that Jackson County Under Sheriff, Christopher A. Simpson (56), will become chief of police for the city. Chief Simpson formerly served the Jackson Police Department…

Eight advance from Dundee Girls District Wrestling

Eight advance from Dundee Girls District Wrestling

Editorial Staff Feb 14, 2025 1 min read

Jackson County female wrestlers competed at the Dundee District for the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s individual districts. The top four in each weight class advanced to the regional tournament next Sunday at Chelsea. Here are the qualifiers: Bella Huston…

Looking Out: Car Wash

Editorial Staff Feb 14, 2025 3 min read

 by Jim Whitehouse My car is a mess. It is coated with salty, dirty, yucky stuff. The windshield and back window are streaked. My wipers and washers are not doing a good job clearing the constant spray from the other…

Obituary: Tim Shultz

Obituary: Tim Shultz

Editorial Staff Feb 14, 2025 2 min read

Tim Shultz died from a severe accidental fall in his Battle Creek apartment. He was preceded in death by his parents, Murray Shultz (1939-2012) and Marilyn L. (Bechstein) Shultz (1941-2022), and is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Jeffrey Shultz…

Obituary: Roland A. Coats

Obituary: Roland A. Coats

Editorial Staff Feb 14, 2025 2 min read

Roland A. Coats, 87, of Spring Lake, Michigan passed away peacefully on Feb. 7, 2025. Roland was born on Oct. 12, 1937, to Ralph and Ruth (Bunday) Coats in Marshall, Michigan. Roland spotted the love of his life, Fern (Watson)…

Obituary: David Theodore Kurtz

Obituary: David Theodore Kurtz

Editorial Staff Feb 14, 2025 2 min read

David Theodore Kurtz, born May 22, 1952, of Albion, Michigan, passed away peacefully on Feb. 6, 2025, at Allegra Nursing and Rehab in Jackson, Michigan. He was 72 years old. David was the eldest child of Theodore and Lucille Kurtz.…

Men Who Cook dazzles with more unique dishes and volunteer devotion

Men Who Cook dazzles with more unique dishes and volunteer devotion

Editorial Staff Feb 14, 2025 3 min read

by Sylvia Benavidez Men Who Cook brought 41 cooks to the serving table and a unique variety of flavors including crowd favorites like macaroni and cheese. Citizens to Beautify Albion sponsored the event at the First Baptist Church in Albion…

Anna’s House of Flowers 40th Anniversary marking so much more than a chronological number

Anna’s House of Flowers 40th Anniversary marking so much more than a chronological number

Editorial Staff Feb 14, 2025 7 min read

by Sylvia Benavidez Anna’s House of Flowers has been in business in Albion for 40 years and the shop has managed to survive in hard economic times and good. Owner Anna Merritt shared her perspective on her flower shop’s longevity.…

Mike’s Musings: State mandated minimum wage increases will damage small business

Mike’s Musings: State mandated minimum wage increases will damage small business

Editorial Staff Feb 12, 2025 3 min read

You gotta feel for small businesses. Not only are their pricing and services under attack by big box stores and internet giants from here and China, they must weave through a ton of regulations placed on them by the government.The…

Leisure Hour closes its doors after 130th party last Sundayby Sylvia Benavidez

Editorial Staff Feb 7, 2025 5 min read

The Leisure Hour Club located next to the Kalamazoo River at 211 Market Place, in Albion, opened its doors at 4 p.m. Sunday for a final send off. Michigan’s oldest member only club could no longer afford to operate in…

By Mike Wilcox
Owner/Publisher

Every year, as the Christmas season draws near, I’m reminded just how generous our communities can be. For nearly two decades, Wilcox Newspapers has hosted what’s become one of my favorite traditions: our Annual Christmas Wish Program.

It started simply enough. We asked readers who were struggling to write in and tell us what would make their Christmas a little brighter. The idea was to connect local families in need with local people who wanted to help. Over the years, it’s grown into something truly special—and this year, we’re doing it again.