Jackson man sentenced for role in vehicle theft ring
By KATHRYN PALON Contributing Writer A Jackson man was sentenced to prison this month for his role in a criminal organization responsible for stealing vehicles across Michigan. Josiah Capetillo, 24, was sentenced March 13 by Judge Sarah Lincoln in 37th…
Concord wins basketball D4 title
An emotional Marcus Gill Sr. stepped to the microphone following Concord’s 60-47 win over Detroit Douglass in the Division 4 state final at Breslin Center. Concord had just won its first boys basketball title in school history with the victory…
Irish Dancers from the Jackson School of the Arts perform at Albion District Library
By Sylvia Benavidez Swirling skirts, lively music, green shamrocks everywhere, and expressive dance performances filled the activity room of the Albion District Library on St. Patrick’s Day. The Irish Dancers from the Jackson School of the Arts began their late…
Austin School Lofts PILOT approved after divided council vote
By Maggie LaNoue, Contributing Writer A proposal to redevelop Albion’s long-vacant former Austin School into mixed-income housing moved forward Monday night after Albion City Council approved the first reading of Ordinance 2026-04 in a split vote, establishing a tax structure…
Spring Winds, New Leadership, and Long Debate Mark Albion Council Meeting
By Maggie LaNoue Under near-whiteout weather and icy conditions Monday evening, Albion City Council worked through a long agenda that stretched from infrastructure planning and redevelopment to ordinance updates and the first official day of returning City Manager Sheryl Theriot.…
Mike’s Musings: Speculators, not war are driving gas prices higher
Every time Americans pull up to the pump, they’re told the same story: gas prices are high because of global supply problems, geopolitical tensions, or refinery issues. Those factors certainly play a role. For instance the war with Iran has…
Hocter, Burns win state wrestling individual titles
B Jeff Steers Contributing Writer Local wrestlers Austyn Hocter of Hanover-Horton and Wyatt Burns of Springport high schools won MHSAA state individual wrestling titles Saturday at Ford Field in Detroit. They did it in different fashions. Hocter dominated his match…
Third suspect arraigned in Anthony Owens murder case
By KATHRYN PALON Contributing Writer Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Kelsey A. Guernsey said Dion Jamel Flowers Jr. was arraigned March 9, before District Court Magistrate Jake Dickerson on charges of open murder, three counts of assault with intent to murder…
Albion Town Hall Maps Out Busy Season of Street Reconstruction
By Maggie LaNoue Contributing Writer Residents filled the meeting room at Marshall Opportunity High School on March 5 for a Town Hall meeting that outlined four major street projects, utility upgrades, and expected detours across Albion during the coming construction…
Albion Public Works Update Brings Practical Answers — and Some Humor
By Maggie LaNoue Questions about roads and underground utilities took up much of Albion’s March 5 Town Hall meeting, but one of the liveliest portions of the evening came when local officials turned to everyday concerns residents notice first: leaves,…
Four arrested, two sought in Hanover Horton armed robbery
By KATHRYN PALON Contributing Writer Four suspects have been arrested in connection with a Feb. 24 armed robbery in Hanover Horton, and authorities are asking for the public’s help in locating two others who remain at large, the Jackson County…
Mike’s Musings: A tornado for the ages- so many pitch in to help
When the tornado tore through Three Rivers, Michigan on the afternoon of March 6, it left behind a landscape that residents will remember for years. In a matter of minutes, powerful winds—later rated an EF-2 tornado with speeds near 130…
Third suspect in Anthony Owens murder captured in West Virginia
By KATHRYN PALON Contributing Writer Dion Jamel Flowers Jr., wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of Anthony Owens on Lincoln Court in Jackson has been apprehended by U.S. Marshals after nearly 10 months on the run. “Following a multi-month…
Judge Thomas Wilson retires from bench
By ELIZABETH FERSZT Contributing Writer Hon. Thomas Wilson, a judge in the 4th Circuit Court, Jackson County retired Feb. 27 according to Chief Administrative Judge Susan B. Jordan. Wilson is facing a Judicial Tenure Commission formal complaint (FC 110), filed…
Albion man found hiding in a camper after fleeing from ADPS
By KARA DECHALK Contributing Writer Demetrich Hall, a 44-year-old Albion man was arrested Sunday after fleeing from officers and hiding in a camper at a residence on Erie Street in Albion. Just after 10 a.m. Sunday, an Albion Department of…
Hanover Road Bridge: Winter, Progress, Completion
By Ken Wyatt While most residents were huddled in warm places during this bitterly cold winter, workers on the Hanover Road Bridge project have been making steady progress. A visit to the site made clear that completion is well within…
From demolition to new homes: Land Bank projects reshape parts of Albion and Homer
By Maggie LaNoue, contributing writer The Calhoun County Land Bank Authority outlined plans at its Feb. 26 meeting that affect both Albion and the Village of Homer, including the demolition of a fire-damaged downtown building, stabilization of another historic structure…
Millions in Infrastructure Work Move Forward Alongside Downtown Redevelopment
By Maggie LaNoue Contributing Writer Nearly $8 million in federally and state-supported infrastructure projects, along with approval of a major downtown redevelopment plan, moved forward Monday night as Albion’s elected officials worked through a full and at times complex agenda.…
Mike’s Musings: Opinion: It’s Time to Ban Cell Phones From Classrooms
Walk into almost any classroom in America today and you’ll see a familiar sight: heads tilted down, thumbs scrolling, students half-present as glowing screens command their attention. Teachers often joke that they’re competing with a device designed by some of…
Jackson teen dies in wrong-way crash on US-127
By Elizabeth Ferszt And Kathryn Palon Contributing Writers A Jackson teenager was killed in a wrong-way crash on US-127 last Thursday. The teenager, identified as 16-year-old Rickie Pickens, was a passenger in the car traveling the wrong way. Pickens was…
