Albion Recorder & Morning Star

Main Street Hanover: ‘Bombshell’ of a book exchange

Main Street Hanover: ‘Bombshell’ of a book exchange

Editorial Staff Jan 3, 2025 3 min read

By Ken Wyatt It isn’t every town that would close down Main Street traffic in mid-day to please local librarians. Count Hanover among that municipal fraternity. For about half an hour on Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 18, students of the Hanover-Horton…

Over a half-dozen Albion establishments open for New Year’s Eve celebrations

Over a half-dozen Albion establishments open for New Year’s Eve celebrations

Editorial Staff Jan 3, 2025 7 min read

The number of choices in Albion for New Year’s Eve celebrations shows that businesses are ready to grow with the city. There were over a half dozen places open to greet the new year. Many business owners and guests shared…

Mike’s Musings: Dose of DOGE needed to curb government spending

Mike’s Musings: Dose of DOGE needed to curb government spending

Editorial Staff Dec 31, 2024 3 min read

Maybe DOGE has a good thing going. DOGE, the acronym for Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency headed by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, has been charged with eliminating waste and inefficiency at the federal government level.I have been a…

Albion resident Orlando Billingsley sentenced to 40-60 years for murder of Battle Creek resident Stanley Wilson

Albion resident Orlando Billingsley sentenced to 40-60 years for murder of Battle Creek resident Stanley Wilson

Editorial Staff Dec 27, 2024 3 min read

By Sylvia Benavidez A murder that rocked the Albion Community last spring and the resulting police investigation concluded Friday, Dec. 20. Judge Sarah Lincoln of the 37th Judicial Circuit Court sentenced 46-year-old Orlando Capado Billingsley, Albion, to 40-60 years in…

Michigan Center, Hanover-Horton earn conference wrestling victories

Michigan Center, Hanover-Horton earn conference wrestling victories

Editorial Staff Dec 27, 2024 3 min read

Michigan Center and Hanover-Horton high schools made short work of Vandercook Lake and Grass Lake last week in a Cascades Conference quad at GLHS. The Cardinals and Comets earned wins over the two teams last week. Here are wrestling results…

Teen injured in Christmas Eve shooting in Jackson

Teen injured in Christmas Eve shooting in Jackson

Editorial Staff Dec 27, 2024 1 min read

The Jackson Police Department has released information about a shooting on Christmas Eve that injured a teenage boy.A 14-year-old boy was shot shortly after 5 p.m. on Tuesday near the intersection of Seymore Ave and E North Street in the…

Looking Out: Wrapping up

Editorial Staff Dec 27, 2024 3 min read

by Jim Whitehouse “Everyone is good at something,” says Lyle Pratt as we finish lunch at the cafe. “Except me—I’m good at everything.” “Right,” I say. “Except for all the stuff you mess up.” “Mm-hmm,” says Lyle. “Name one.” “Wallpapering,”…

ADPS Officer Chandler Barney and participating in Shop with a Cop program

ADPS Officer Chandler Barney and participating in Shop with a Cop program

Editorial Staff Dec 27, 2024 4 min read

By Sylvia Benavidez ADPS Officer Chandler Barney loves kids and when Albion Department of Public Safety Interim Chief Aaron Phipps asked Barney and Det. Billy Lazarus to join him for Calhoun County Shop with a Cop in Battle Creek, Barney…

Obituary: Donald Ray Harris Sr.

Editorial Staff Dec 27, 2024 2 min read

Donald Ray Harris Sr. of Albion, Michigan passed away on Dec. 22, 2024. He was born May 11, 1944, in Albion, Michigan. Don was a private man. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, bingo, and playing euchre at the Springport V.F.W. and…

Obituary: Robert “Bob” Louis Herwarth

Obituary: Robert “Bob” Louis Herwarth

Editorial Staff Dec 27, 2024 3 min read

Robert “Bob” Louis Herwarth, 90, of Battle Creek, passed away on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital. He was born on July 16, 1934, to Carl Julius and Iva Mae (Blunt) Herwarth in Battle Creek. On Sept.…

Obituary: Sharon Leora Smith

Obituary: Sharon Leora Smith

Editorial Staff Dec 27, 2024 2 min read

Sharon Leora Smith, 78, of Albion, Michigan, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024.She was born on Feb. 12, 1946, to James and Leora (Jennings) Clark at Albion, Michigan. Sharon was a graduate of Sturgis High School. On Sept. 8,…

Obituary: Verl T. Williams

Obituary: Verl T. Williams

Editorial Staff Dec 27, 2024 2 min read

Verl T. Williams peacefully passed away at the age of 80 on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. He was born on Dec. 1, 1944, in Pineville, Louisiana, to Mack and Lucy Thomas. As young children, Verl and his twin brother, Earl,…

Merry Mile breaks Egg Nog Jog attendance and volunteer participation records

Merry Mile breaks Egg Nog Jog attendance and volunteer participation records

Editorial Staff Dec 27, 2024 5 min read

by Sylvia Benavidez Presented by the Calhoun County Fairgrounds in Marshall the Merry Mile light display continues to grow in its 8th season with more people volunteering to help set up lights, participating in the Egg Nog Jog, and driving…

Mike’s Musings: Those that gave deserve praise and accolades

Mike’s Musings: Those that gave deserve praise and accolades

Editorial Staff Dec 24, 2024 3 min read

Don’t tell me people are inherently stingy and rude. Because what I witnessed this holiday season was just the opposite. As many of you know we had our Christmas Wish Fund in December, like we have done for many years…

AR Boys Basketball for Dec 20

AR Boys Basketball for Dec 20

Editorial Staff Dec 20, 2024 5 min read

Vandercook Lake Earns First Boys Basketball Victory Photo, story by Jeff Steers Recorder Contributing Writer Vandercook Lake High School earned its first win of the season in boys basketball. The Jayhawks defeated Manchester 40-34 at home last week. Here are…

Looking Out: A Living Tree

Editorial Staff Dec 20, 2024 3 min read

by Jim Whitehouse Usually, my beloved wife Marsha and I go to a tree farm and cut a fresh Christmas tree in the hopes that the inside of our car and house will remain needle free. This year, we had…

Obituary: Elizabeth (Libby) Hull

Obituary: Elizabeth (Libby) Hull

Editorial Staff Dec 20, 2024 4 min read

Elizabeth (Libby) Hull, 101, died Monday, Dec. 16, at Heritage Assisted Living in Battle Creek. She was born Nov. 18, 1923, in a farmhouse outside Marshall, Michigan to Clarence (Mac) and Blanche McFadden. Soon after, the couple divorced so she…

Obituary: Rhea Jessie Watson Hotchkin

Obituary: Rhea Jessie Watson Hotchkin

Editorial Staff Dec 20, 2024 4 min read

Rhea Jessie Watson Hotchkin went home to Jesus on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. She is preceded in death by her husband Max (2004), son Stan (2009), grandson Brian, younger brothers Dale, Phil, and Bing (Gary) and her parents, Kenneth and…

Albion City Council closes out the year

Albion City Council closes out the year

Editorial Staff Dec 20, 2024 5 min read

By KARA DECHALK Contributing Writer The Dec. 2 meeting of the Albion City Council began with a heartfelt farewell letter read by former precinct 4 council member Marcola Lawler.  Lawler was unseated in the November election by challenger C. J.…

Interim Public Safety Chief Aaron Phipps on keeping ADPS moving forward

Interim Public Safety Chief Aaron Phipps on keeping ADPS moving forward

Editorial Staff Dec 20, 2024 7 min read

Sylvia Benavidez Interim Albion Public Safety Chief Aaron Phipps had the honor of seeing one of his new public safety officers graduate from Kellogg Community College on Dec. 15. With Lt. Bill Timmins at his side, Phipps was happy to…

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.