O’Rourke pleads not guilty by self defense in murder of Emarion Flowers
by ELIZABETH FERSZT Contributing Writer Joseph O’Rourke was at a pre-trial conference on Tues. Sept. 9, at 9 a.m. with Hon. John McBain. He has been charged in the killing of Emarion Flowers on May 16 at the Southridge Park…
Antonio Green in Jackson County Jail
by ELIZABETH FERSZT Contributing Writer Antonio Treyvonne Green, age 2), the only suspect in the July 27 shooting death of Mia Sims, age 18, was arraigned by Magistrate Christopher Dickenson on Sept. 4, on charges of Homicide—2nd Degree Murder; Discharging…
Jacksonburg and the great Erie Canal
By Ken Wyatt You could say that Clinton’s Folly led to the founding of Jacksonburg in 1829-30. Or, to use a more geographically precise descriptive, you could credit Clinton’s Ditch. History has been kinder, for we remember it as the…
Albion’s brick street gets protective treatment
By MAGGIE LANOUE Contributing Writer Downtown Albion’s red brick Superior Street, a symbol of the city’s history and identity, has been closed to traffic this week while crews carried out a maintenance process designed to preserve its distinctive surface for…
Mike’s Musings: How to decrease buggy accidents in our communities
It happens over and over, an Amish buggy is hit by a car or truck and severe injuries happen to thos in the buggy. Just last week the scene was Clare County, which by the way has had a half…
Mike’s Musings: Michigan’s School Funding Stalemate Is a Disservice to Every Student
Here we go again. Another budget cycle, another bitter fight in Lansing over how to fund our schools. This year’s stalemate feels particularly sharp, with both sides dug in and unwilling to budge. Meanwhile, the people who bear the brunt…
Swaenepoel adopts can-do attitude at VCL
By JEFF STEERS Contributing Writer Things could have gone south for Vandercook Lake High School athlete Dallas Swaenepoel. At three years old, his parents lost custody of him, and his grandparents were deemed too old by a Florida judge. Vandercook…
Albion resident finishes Miss Michigan USA pageant in top 12
By SYLVIA BENAVIDEZ Contributing Writer Albion resident Dymond Stokes represented Calhoun County in the Miss Michigan USA pageant recently in Port Huron. The winner was Norton Shores native Michele Lewandoski. Stokes finished in the top 12 contestants. She was disappointed…
A day of extraordinary performances
The Nuance wins Walk the Beat Albion 2025; The War and Treaty claim victory over a downpour at WTB After party By SYLVIA BENAVIDEZContributing Writer The Nunance, an energetic rock band, won Walk the Beat Albion 2025. They along with…
Jackson’s 39th Annual Civil War Muster
By ELIZABETH FERSZT Contributing Writer The 39th annual Civil War Muster, returned to Jackson on Aug. 23-24, at Cascades Park and surrounding areas. This year’s muster also marked the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army, according to…
The War and Treaty reveal the source of their love of Albion
By SYLVIA BENAVIDEZ Contributing Writer The War and Treaty endured a downpour at Walk the Beat Albion after party, Aug. 23, and yet nothing could dampen their spirits. Their homecoming was an expression of their love for the people of…
HISTORICAL NOTEBOOK
By Frank Passic As we approach the upcoming Labor Day holiday on September 1, we are reminded of the contributions union labor has made here in Albion through the years. During World War II, our local factory unions banded together…
Mike’s Musings: Is Cracker Barrel’s new strategy, doomed?
With Congress on vacation for the entire month of August (how dare they) and very little else happening, the Cracker Barrel rebranding hit center stage in last week’s news cycle. The CEO and Marketing Manager rolled out a new contemporary…
Suspect in a thirty-one-year-old cold case charged with murder
By ELIZABETH FERSZT Contributing Writer Leonard Hugall, has been charged in 1984 disappearance and death of 13-year-old Kelly Harris, in Summit Township in the Jackson metro area. According to Sheriff Gary Schuette in an email statement, the homicide victim was…
Suspect in Mia Sims murder apprehended in California
By ELIZABETH FERSZT Contributing Writer Antonio Treyvonne Green, age 19, the only suspect wanted in the shooting death of Mia Sims in front of People’s United Community Church on July 27, has been located and apprehended in Fresno, California, Jackson…
Albion NAACP holds Back to School 2025 Grand Celebration
By MAGGIE LANOUE Contributing Writer Nearly 400 people gathered Aug. 18 at Harrington Elementary School for the Albion NAACP Back to School 2025 Grand Celebration. The event brought the entire community together to prepare students for the year ahead. Families…
Albion City Council approves PILOT ordinance to support Washington Gardner redevelopment
By MAGGIE LANOUE Contributing Writer Albion City Council’s regular meeting Aug. 18, took place in the Opportunity High School library. About 40 people attended, most of them there to hear and weigh in on a proposed Payment in Lieu of…
Historical Notebook: PAVING THE WAY FOR A SUPERIOR FUTURE
By Frank Passic, Albion Historian One of Albion’s community assets is its downtown brick Superior Street on M-99. It has existed since the beginning of the 20th century. This summer, the Michigan Department of Transportation is doing some maintenance…
Mike’s Musings: Why So Many Michiganders Under 30 Can’t Afford a House
The dream of homeownership, once a clear stepping stone into adulthood, now feels like a mirage for many Michiganders under 30. Despite living in a state often touted for its affordability, structural barriers have erased much of the margin that…
Police seek Antonio Green as suspect in death of Mia Sims
By Elizabeth Ferszt Contributing Writer Antonio Treyvonne Green has been identified but is still at large regarding the death of 18-year-old Mia Sims on July 27 in Jackson. City of Jackson Chief of Police, Christopher Simpson, and Jackson County Prosecuting…
