By KATHRYN PALON and ELIZABETH FERSZT Contributing Writers The long-time executive director of the Michigan Theatre of Jackson, Steve Tucker, was abruptly fired by the Board of Directors late last month and former Board Chair Nan Whitmore has been named interim director. The theater said in a Feb. 2 press release that Tucker had intended Read More…
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Albion resubmits $1.1 million grant to rehabilitate downtown apartments
By MAGGIE LANOUE Contributing Writer Albion City Council approved the resubmission of a $1.1 million Community Development Block Grant application during its Feb. 2 meeting, advancing plans to rehabilitate 10 downtown apartment units across four properties, with the majority reserved for low-to-moderate income tenants. The project will address buildings at 215 and 217 S. Superior Read More…
Showing Up When It Matters: Albion Takes Care of Business on Feb. 2
More residents than usual attended Albion’s Feb. 2 study session and regular meeting at City Hall. As people arrived, they picked up printed agendas from the podium at the front of the room and settled in for an evening focused on steady work and public responsibility. That sense of showing up was underscored early in Read More…
Massage establishment’s permit approved amid TR mayor’s calls for review of ordinance, city code
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — Amid a call for what Three Rivers Mayor Angel Johnston called a “line-by-line review” of the city’s code and a call to revise or get rid of language in the city’s massage establishment ordinance, a special exception use permit for a new massage establishment was approved unanimously by Read More…
Ambitious projects envisioned if Sturgis school bond is approved
By Dennis Volkert Sturgis Public Schools eyes numerous major projects, if a bond election proposal is approved by voters in May. On Jan. 12, the board of education approved the bond election resolution. The initiative is scheduled to appear on the May 5 election ballot.A bond would allow the school district to borrow up to Read More…
Sturgis man charged with six counts for alleged abuse of adopted daughter
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — A Sturgis man was formally arraigned and charged Monday for the alleged sexual abuse of his adopted daughter over nearly a decade.According to St. Joseph County Prosecutor Deborah Davis, 57-year-old Raymond Bontrager was charged with one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim under 13 and the Read More…
May I Walk with You? NO GREATER LOVE
When asked what were the greatest events that changed the world, many immediately come to mind. There are many including Columbus sailing to America, the American Revolution, the Communist Revolutions in Rusia and China, the practical use of electricity, dropping atomic bombs, the Holocaust, the Enlightenment in Europe, Protestant Reformation, The Great Depression, antibodies and Read More…
Clare health park scandal recovers 4.8 million dollars
By Christopher Johnson A onetime aide to a former Michigan Speaker of the House was charged last year with multiple felonies following a lengthy investigation into a stalled health park project north of Clare. Which was an investigation that ultimately led to the recovery of millions in unused state grant funds.Dana Nessel announced that David Read More…
Leitha Jennings celebrates 105th birthday
Leitha Jennings turned 105 this past Thursday 2/5/2026.She worked for Fisher body in Pontiac where she was an accountant for 37 years. Born in the depression with 2 siblings she remembers her mother cooking and making their clothes.She has lived in Arizona and Texas. She was married and has 2 stepdaughters.She enjoys knitting, sewing, and Read More…
Accounting troubles, transfer station have Surrey residents up in arms
By David Hutchinson The Special Meeting was held in the Surrey Township Hall on January 27. All five board members were present—Mike Coon, Mindy Campbell, Glenna Bradbury, Dixie Adams, and Paul Ghinelli. More than ten people attended. The meeting was called to discuss the township’s accounting software situation, the recently completed audit, and the Transfer Read More…










