13-year-old suspect held in the shooting death of a 16-year-old
By ELIZABETH FERSZT Contributing Writer A late breaking press release from the City of Jackson Police Department confirms the first murder of the year has occurred: on Jan. 15, at approximately 1 a.m., in the 500 block of Harris Street,…
Winter Storms Highlight Albion’s Public Works Challenges and Changes
By Maggie LaNoue The snowstorm that hit Albion around New Year’s brought more than icy roads and cold temperatures — it also put the city’s winter operations and aging snowplow fleet under a public spotlight. At the Jan. 5 Albion…
Montez White arraigned in Anthony Owens murder case
By ELIZABETH FERSZT Contributing Writer After being apprehended in Ohio, Montez Martees White was arraigned Jan. 14 by District Court Magistrate Jake Dickerson on charges of open murder, three counts of assault with intent to murder, and felony firearm. According…
Hayes Block Reopens, Linking Albion’s Past and Future
On Monday, December 30, 2025, Albion residents were invited inside one of downtown’s most recognizable historic buildings during a public tour of the newly completed Hayes Block Apartments at 106–108 E. Erie Street. The open house offered a first look…
Spring Arbor Police and Fire Departments rescue dog from pond
Quick thinking and inter-agency coordination between the Spring Arbor Township Police Department and Spring Arbor Township Fire Department led to the successful rescue of a dog that fell through ice on a private pond earlier this week. According to a…
Mike’s Musings: It’s 2026. Why Is the IRS Still Stuck in the Past?
Not long ago, I set aside part of my workday to ask the Internal Revenue Service a simple question. This wasn’t a complicated audit issue or a dispute over taxes owed. It was a basic inquiry that should have taken…
Albion Elks Lodge Donates $6,000 to Local Food Access
By Maggie LaNoue The Albion Elks Lodge #1798 recently presented a $6,000 donation to the Community Table of Albion, marking the largest single contribution the lodge has made to the local food assistance program and bringing its three-year total support…
Mike’s Musings: Airing the Grievances: The Worst of Washington’s Waste
Every December, Sen. Rand Paul releases his annual Festivus Report, a nod to the fictional holiday made famous by Seinfeld. The tradition includes an “airing of grievances,” and for taxpayers, there is no shortage of them.I just got the opportunity…
HISTORICAL NOTEBOOK: ALBION WATER WORKS AND CITY JAIL BUILDING
By Frank Passic Happy New Year everyone. It was heartening to learn recently of the establishment of an Albion Arts Center in the old Water Works building at 107 E. Cass St. This historic building has been modernized and…
How a small-town Jackson County farm boy impacted the world
By Ken Wyatt Every small town knows about its forgotten generations. These are the young people small towns raise – but then lose to big cities with jobs and better opportunities. Walter C. “Chris” Heisler was one such small-town product.…
One 12-year-old responds to the work of Friends of Albion’s Animals this holiday season in a big way
By Sylvia Benavidez During the Cookie Walk and Gift Wrapping for the Friends of Albion’s Animals at the Albion District Library, 12-year-old Taylor Weston, Clarence Township, brought $240.00 to the event and handed it over to one of the volunteers.…
Mike’s Musings: When Silence Walks Louder Than Shouting
In a world addicted to outrage, the most radical protest I’ve seen lately involved no slogans, no megaphones, and no demands shouted into the air. It was a line of Buddhist monks walking.I first noticed this on Facebook. The monks…
Mike’s Musings: We Need The Good News of Christmas
I was searching for words that would express an uplifting spirit this Christmas season. Too many of us, my self-included, consider the holiday season to be a distraction rather than a time to rejoice. Well my friend, Glenn Mollette happened…
SAPS presentation highlights local leadership and lifesaving prevention work
By Maggie LaNoue, Contributing Writer Substance Abuse Prevention Services (SAPS) delivered an uplifting and personal presentation at the Dec. 1 Albion City Council meeting, offering a clear look at how youth leadership and prevention programs are growing in Albion and…
SAPS presentation highlights local leadership; lifesaving prevention work
By MAGGIE LANOUE Contributing Writer Substance Abuse Prevention Services delivered an uplifting and personal presentation at the Dec. 1 Albion City Council meeting, offering a clear look at how youth leadership and prevention programs are growing in Albion and across…
Poleski reports on jury duty and jail funding
By KEN WYATT Contributing Writer JacksonCounty Commissioner Earl Poleski had two items for his monthly report on county news of interest to the townships in his area. There has been some improvement in the percentage of citizens showing up for…
Jackson councilmember responds to parking concerns
By KATHRYN PALON Contributing Writer Parking laws in Downtown Jackson changed beginning Dec. 1 and there has been flurry of negative comments and confusion. In an attempt to clarify things, Jackson City Councilman Will Forgrave put the following information on…
Concord, Parma and Pulaski to partner on early voting
By KEN WYATT Contributing Writer Since the 2024 presidential election, Michigan voters have been allowed to cast their votes early. From a state website: “The early voting period takes place for a minimum of nine consecutive days, ending on the…
Road repairs, revenue shifts, and tight margins shape Albion’s 2026 budget talks
By MAGGIE LANOUE Contributing Writer Albion’s 2026 budget review began Dec. 1 with a study session. Council members worked through an 80-page draft budget and raised questions about changing revenue patterns, rising infrastructure costs, and the strain of road and…
Smiles and connections light up 2025 Albion Aglow Parade
By SYLVIA BENAVIDEZ Contributing Writer Bundled up parade watchers braved 20 degrees F, while watching the children from Harrington Elementary School lead of this year’s Albion Aglow parade themed The North Pole. The bright lights of the floats revealed plenty…
