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The Argus-Press, serving Shiawassee County since 1854

08/07/2024

Here are the results of Tuesday's contested primary races in Shiawassee County's primary election.

Republican races

Prosecuting attorney

Scott Koerner (incumbent), 4,028 (53%)

Robert Hinojosa ,3,535 (47%)

71st District representative

Brian BeGole (incumbent), 4,742 (65% Shiawassee County); 7,265 (67% overall)

Kevin Rathbun, 2,527 (35% Shiawassee County); 3,550 (33% overall)

First District county commissioner (replacing Marlene Webster)

Josh Haley, 869 (64%)

Christopher Eveleth, 481 (36 percent)

Seventh District county commissioner

Matthew Shepard, 429 (40%)

Thomas Emery (incumbent), 397 (37%)

John Plowman, 246 (23%)

Antrim Township

Supervisor

Thomas Coffey, 231 (62%)

Jerry Gutting (incumbent), 143 (38%)

New Haven Township

Supervisor (replacing Tim Hill)

Steven DeLong, 140 (58%

Matt Wirwicki, 99 (41%)

Clerk

R-Colleen Horton, 134 (55%)

R-Heather Wirwicki (incumbent), 109 (25%)

Treasurer

R-Mary Eickholt (incumbent), 128 (52%)

R-Kaitlin Riley, 118 (48%)

Trustee (2 seats)

Fred Gray (incumbent), 156 (42%)

Anthony Richardson, 123 (27%)

Dawn Hudecek, 91 (20%)

Mary Buginsky (incumbent), 82 (18%)

Perry Township

Clerk (replacing Kelly Schmidt)

Veronica Howard, 313 (73%)

Lisa Lupu, 114 (27%)

Sciota Township

Clerk

Jamie Parker Wing (incumbent), 154 (77%)

Morgan Arnold, 46 (23%)

Shiawassee Township

Trustee (2 seats)

Richard Godfrey (incumbent), 244 (39%)

John Sedlock (incumbent), 138 (22%)

Dale Shiffer, 123 (20%)

Anthony Karhoff, 120 (19%)

Woodhull Township

Trustee (2 seats, replacing Rick Betts and Tom Jelenek)

Craig Ryan, 186 (30%)

Mark Turner, 175 (28%)

Scott Allen, 152 (24%)

Larry Abraham, 116 (18%)

Proposals

Shiawassee County

Millage renewal, medical care facility (Pleasant View)

Yes: 7,522 (59%)

No: 5,275 (41%)

Cities

Owosso

City parks millage

Yes: 1,180 (51%)

No: 1,119 (49%)

Durand

Public transportation millage

Yes: 333 (57%)

No: 247 (43%)

Ambulance services millage

Yes: 360 (63%)

No: 216 (37%)

Laingsburg

Fire services millage

Yes: 152 (64%)

No: 85 (36%)

Perry

Continuation of public transportation millage

Yes: 195 (58%)

No: 140 (42%)

Townships

Antrim Township

Fire department services and protection millage

Yes: 290 (60%)

No: 193 (40%)

Bennington Township

Fire department services and protection

Yes: 490 (69%)

No: 225 (31%)

Burns Township

Fire equipment renewal

Yes: 509 (67%)

No: 247 (33%)

Fire services renewal

Yes: 508 (67%)

No: 249 (33%)

Caledonia Township

Renewal of public transportation millage

Yes: 728 (72%)

No: 283 (28%)

Middlebury Township

Supplemental emergency services millage

Yes: 169 (63%)

No: 99 (37%)

Perry Township

Ambulance services proposition

Yes: 480 (80%)

No: 121 (20%)

Rush Township

Removal of ambulance millage

Yes: 138 (51%)

No: 131 (49%)

Sciota Township

Fire services millage

Yes: 214 (63%)

No: 128 (37%)

Woodhull Township

Fire department services

Yes: 575 (68%)

No: 272 (32%)

Multiple Municipalities

Community District Library millage renewal

Yes: 2,854 (61%)

No: 1,862 (41%)

SSESA alliance millage

Yes: 683 (65%)

No: 374 (36%)

CORUNNA – Scott Koerner will (likely) remain as Shiawassee County prosecutor.

07/26/2024

SATA renewal on the August ballot for multiple communities

SHIAWASSEE COUNTY – Voters in Caledonia Charter Township, and the cities of Durand and Perry, will decide the fate of public transportation services in their respective jurisdictions in the Aug. 6 primary elections.

Chiefly, voters will be asked to authorize millages that would defray the expenses of existing transportation services provided by the Shiawassee Area Transportation Agency (SATA).

Caledonia Charter Township voters will be asked if they wish to renew the currently-authorized millage for the provision of public transportation services. The ballot proposal seeks a levy of up to .19 mills ($.19 per $1,000 of taxable value) for a period of two years, which is estimated to produce $46,012 of collections in the first year of the levy. The current millage is set to expire with the 2024 levy.

Durand voters will be asked if the city shall renew the currently authorized millage of .215 mills ($.215 per $1,000 of taxable value) for a period of three years for the purpose of subsidizing public transportation, with the estimated collection in the first year of $17,255.72 if the millage is approved. Durand City Manager Cameron Horvath told The Argus-Press that the city has been a member of SATA since 2005, and said the city averages between 180 and 380 rides yearly.

Perry voters will be asked to authorize the continuation of a millage, with the amount levied not to exceed .25 mills ($.25 per $1,000 of taxable value) for a period of four years. The ballot proposal states that if authorized by voters, the levy of the entire millage would generate $11,520.25 the first year.

SHIAWASSEE COUNTY – Voters in Caledonia Charter Township, and the cities of Durand and Perry, will decide the fate of public transportation services in their respective jurisdictions in the Aug.

07/26/2024

Ovid-Elsie senior POY again after sharing honor as a sophomore

ELSIE — She’s baaaack!

After earning co-All Area Player of the Year honors in 2022 as a sophomore, Ovid-Elsie’s Evalyn Cole, who remained a first team selection as a junior, offered Marauder fans a bigger, better sequel performance for her prep career swan song.

Cole was one of the central players on an O-E squad that had a season for the books in 2024. The Marauders cruised to their fourth Mid-Michigan Activities Conference title in Cole’s four years, going 6-0 in league play. They followed this up by picking up back-to-back shootout victories over Williamston and Eaton Rapids along the way to the program’s first district title.

Ultimately, O-E advanced all the way to a Division 3 regional championship match, falling to Grosse Ile, 4-2, to finish the year at 15-4-3.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Evalyn Cole, Ovid-Elsie, Sr.

ALL-AREA TEAM
Joy Antcliff, Laingsburg, Sr., Goalkeeper
Rorie Babcock, Owosso, Sr., Defender
Ava Bates, Ovid-Elsie, Sr., Goalkeeper
Lilian Bates, Ovid-Elsie, So., Midfielder
Dannika Campbell, Ovid-Elsie, So., Center Back
Hailee Campbell, Ovid-Elsie, Sr., Center Midfielder
Callie Clark, Laingsburg, Sr., Forward
Addison Elkins, Laingsburg, Sr., Midfielder
McKenzie Keck, Ovid-Elsie, So., Winger
Desire Knoblauch, Laingsburg, Sr., Forward
Zadie Schmidt, Byron, So., Forward
Payge Woodworth, Laingsburg, Fr., Forward

ELSIE — She’s baaaack!

07/25/2024

CORUNNA — A man sentenced to prison for shooting another man inside an Owosso bar in 2021 is back in the Shiawassee County court system.

Christopher B. Stubbs, 31, of Owosso, was sentenced in July 2022 to 15 to 45 years in prison for allegedly shooting a man multiple times at Rainbow Bar, 905 W. Main St. in Owosso, in the early morning hours of Dec. 18, 2021.

Prior to the sentencing, in June 2022, he pleaded guilty to a single count of attempted murder (with 10 additional counts being dismissed).

On Dec. 13, a motion to withdraw his guilty plea was granted by Shiawassee County Circuit Court Judge Matthew J. Stewart.

The defendant’s motion to withdraw the plea was in response to a motion made by the county prosecutor’s office, which asked the court to amend the charges against Stubbs. That motion was denied by Stewart. The prosecution wished to change the count that Stubbs had pleaded guilty to – attempted murder – to assault with intent to commit murder.

The prosecutor’s office has since refiled charges.

CORUNNA — A man sentenced to prison for shooting another man inside an Owosso bar in 2021 is back in the Shiawassee County court system.

07/25/2024

ALL-AREA SOFTBALL: Wolfpack shortstop ends historic career atop national runs leaderboard, cruises to Area Player of the Year honors

LAINGSBURG — During her senior season, Laingsburg shortstop Ashley Bila posted a batting average of .619.

That means that, in at least one respect, going 2 for 4 at the plate over the course of a doubleheader, would count as a below-average performance for her.

That was Bila’s hits-to-at-bats ratio across a pair of games vs. Dansville on April 22. But Bila has never relied solely on her ability to put bat-on-ball to reach base. The consummate leadoff hitter, Bila’s batting eye is just as impressive as her contact skills. Her ability to draw walks helped her post a by-far area-best .738 on-base percentage this spring.

2024 Argus-Press All-Area Softball

Player of the Year – SS Ashley Bila, Laingsburg, Sr.

FIRST TEAM
Pitchers
RHP Sara Austin, Perry, Jr.
RHP Addy Buchin, Laingsburg, Jr.

Position Players
SS Ashley Bila, Laingsburg, Sr.
2B Brynne Birchmeier, New Lothrop, Sr.
IF Addy Buchin, Laingsburg, Jr.
LF Delaney Gross, New Lothrop, Sr.
SS Camryn Hamilton, Byron, Jr.
C Jordan Huhn, Byron, Jr.
1B Izzy Popilek, Chesaning, Fr.
SS Marissa Rombach, New Lothrop, Sr.
1B Savanna Stirm, Laingsburg, So.

LAINGSBURG — During her senior season, Laingsburg shortstop Ashley Bila posted a batting average of .619.

07/22/2024

Michigan Honey Festival organizers pleased with Day 1 attendance

SHIAWASSEE TWP. — Saturday afternoon, hundreds of folks roamed the Shiawassee County Fairgrounds with honey on their minds.

It was one of the best crowds Michigan Honey Festival officials could remember.

“It is going excellent,” festival President Mindy Brisbane said at about 2:30 p.m. “It has been a wonderful turnout this year, I would say one of our top festivals ever.”

The festival began calling the fairgrounds its home in 2021, after spending time in Thumb-area towns like Imlay City and Frankenmuth. Since making the move, Brisbane said, festival crowds have increased.

SHIAWASSEE TWP. — Saturday afternoon, hundreds of folks roamed the Shiawassee County Fairgrounds with honey on their minds.

07/22/2024

OWOSSO — Already one of the most visible aspects of the Owosso business landscape, bus operator Indian Trails received quite the feather in its cap last month.

The 114-year-old operation was deemed one of the nation’s 10 best in its field by USA Today last month — ranking No. 3 in a readers’ choice poll.

The 10 companies were “selected by an expert panel and voted by readers as the best in the U.S,” with “no business paying to be listed,” the article states

According to a July 16 press release from Haslett-based public relations agency Stony Point Communications, Inc., Indian Trails is one of around 6,000 scheduled and chartered bus companies in the U.S., and one of 148 private regular route and charter bus companies in Michigan.

Indian Trails, headquartered at 109 E. Comstock St. in Downtown Owosso, connects 80 towns through Michigan and into Wisconsin and Minnesota, as well as airports, Amtrak and the entire national transportation network. Each year it enables hundreds of thousands of state residents to access the world, and hundreds of thousands of visitors to access Michigan.

OWOSSO — Already one of the most visible aspects of the Owosso business landscape, bus operator Indian Trails received quite the feather in its cap last month.

07/22/2024

ALL-AREA BASEBALL: Chesaning junior leads area in ERA and strikeouts, is fourth in batting average for MMAC champs en route to POY honors

CHESANING — Perfectly defining what it means to be a standout two-way player at the high school level, Chesaning junior shortstop/right-handed pitcher Brady Sager ranked in the area’s top-10 in 17 different statistical categories this season — 10 as a position player and seven on the hill.

With the bat, Sager’s 48 hits and 33 stolen bases were both third-best in the area, while he was fourth in doubles, triples, slugging percentage and OPS. Sager also set a Chesaning record with a 21-game hit streak from April 10-May 24.

On the mound, the righty racked up 101 strikeouts this year, 14 more than any other area pitcher, and paced all area hurlers in ERA, at 0.52, WHIP (0.783) and batting average against (.147).

Here is the 2024 Argus-Press All-Area Baseball Team (first team)

Player of the Year
Brady Sager, Chesaning, Jr.

Pitchers
RHP Alex Henige, New Lothrop, Sr.
RHP Brady Sager, Chesaning, Jr.
RHP Logan Vowell, Corunna, Sr.

Position Players
C Jake Bowen, Ovid-Elsie, Jr.
LF/CF Brady Burns, Perry, Jr.
SS Joel Fisher, Morrice, Jr.
CF Dom Garcia, Laingsburg, Jr.
SS Joey McGraw-Allen, Perry, Sr.
SS Ty Olsen, New Lothrop, Sr.
SS/1B Ty Randall, Laingsburg, Sr.
SS Brady Sager, Chesaning, Jr.
1B Nash Wendling, Chesaning, Sr

CHESANING — Perfectly defining what it means to be a standout two-way player at the high school level, Chesaning junior shortstop/right-handed pitcher Brady Sager ranked in the area’s top-10 in

07/20/2024

SHIAWASSEE TWP. — The Michigan Honey Festival, always a buzzworthy event, is making its annual return to the Shiawassee County Fairgrounds this weekend.

Mindy Brisbane, current president of the Michigan Honey Festival, says that Shiawassee County has made an excellent home for the event since it transferred down from more remote regions in 2021.

“Previously, we were set up in Imlay city, then Frankenmuth. We realized pretty quickly that we couldn’t grow any bigger (there),” Brisbane said. “The Shiawassee Fairgrounds gave us room to expand.”

“We have that sort of middle-of-everything feeling here,” Brisbane continued. “(And) the surrounding Shiawassee area (has) so many beekeepers that travel here every year. We cater not only to them, but really anybody who’s interested in honey bees, other pollinators, and the art of honey making.”

Brisbane said turnout since the move has been “double as good.”

Part of that doubling has included spreading the festival out over two days, Saturday and Sunday. The event had been confined to a single day before setting up shop at the fairgrounds.

“The growing local attendance each year makes this possible. It has, and should, and probably will keep growing for years to come, which makes us really excited,” Brisbane said.

Saturday kicks off the festivities with a full itinerary, including honey tasting, several honey extraction demonstrations, a co****le tournament and a photo contest — where festival judges will crown the best honey or pollinator-related camerawork. For information on event times and registration rules, check out the Michigan Honey Festival website.

Sunday includes much of the same, minus the co****le tournament, but with honey tasting, shopping, and children’s activities going on all day.

SHIAWASSEE TWP. — The Michigan Honey Festival, always a buzzworthy event, is making its annual return to the Shiawassee County Fairgrounds this weekend.

07/20/2024

CORUNNA — On Aug. 6, voters in several Shiawassee County districts will be asked to approve or deny this year’s version of the Community District Library millage renewal, which will cost taxpayers about the same amount of money as past library millages.

Community District Library operates seven branches in Shiawassee County — in Byron, Perry, Morrice, Lennon, New Lothrop, Bancroft in addition to its main branch at 210 E. Corunna Ave. in Corunna.

Every four years, the library system asks the community to vote on a millage to pay for operating costs. This year, as in previous cycles, the renewal of a levy of 0.7 mills will be on the ballot in districts served by the library system. If approved, taxpayers in the cities of Corunna and Perry, as well as the townships of Burns, Caledonia, Hazelton, Perry, Shiawassee and Venice, would pay 70 cents per $1,000 dollars of taxable valuation each of the next four years.

According to an estimate within the ballot language, if approved, the millage would raise about $684,389 for the library system’s operating fund it its first year.

The proposal issue is essential to the future of the library system, according to CDL officials.

“The operating fund is about 85% of the library expenses,” said Jami Cromley, the system’s library director. “We would not be able to operate any of the libraries without the millage.”

Cromley said the majority of the funds go toward library staff, with much of the rest going toward the district’s material budget — which includes physical items such books and DVDs, but also membership to the library’s digital materials.

CORUNNA — On Aug. 6, voters in several Shiawassee County districts will be asked to approve or deny this year’s version of the Community District Library millage renewal, which will

07/20/2024

OWOSSO — The Owosso City Council voted at Monday’s meeting to authorize the city to take the final steps needed to receive federal funding for a program that would allow the City of Owosso to make renovations up to $40,000 on eight owner-occupied, single-family homes within city limits.

After the council’s 6-0 vote — Councilmember Janae Fear was absent — the city will submit an application for the Michigan State Housing Development Authority’s (MSHDA) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Housing Improving Local Livability (CHILL) program, in which $20 million of funding was made available through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s CDBG program for the creation of housing programs that benefit low- and moderate-income households.

Tanya Buckelew, the city’s planning and building director, told The Argus-Press on Tuesday that the city had already been awarded a CDBG grant of $395,300 (with no city match), and that the application was a formality required because of the program’s federal nature, requiring the city to submit documents including an authorized signature designation form — designating Buckelew and City Manager Nathan Henne as the grant’s designated authorized signers — procurement procedure form and an environmental review.

Henne said the city had received previous funding through the MSHDA in 2022 and 2023 from its Neighborhood Enhancement Program (NEP) and the the Michigan Housing Opportunities Promoting Energy-Efficiency (MI-HOPE) program.

In its CDBG application, the city indicated that the program will help meet the first goal of the city’s master plan — “protect health, safety and general well-being of the community” — by pursuing housing grants to improve the housing stock. Per the application, most of the residential units in the city were built before 1939 and have a median value of $77,000, and households in Owosso have a median income of $36,723 and a high poverty rate of 24.3%.

The city plans to use the funds for interior and exterior renovations to correct health and safety concerns and maintenance issues and meet code requirements, including roof replacement, windows, plumbing, electrical, mechanical and insulation. All activities, upon completion, will benefit low- to moderate- income households. No persons will be displaced as a result of the proposed activities.

Henne said that once the city’s federal application is complete, the city will make an announcement that the grant application process is open and will select the houses on a “first come, first serve” basis should they meet the grant’s requirements.

OWOSSO — The Owosso City Council voted at Monday’s meeting to authorize the city to take the final steps needed to receive federal funding for a program that would allow

07/20/2024

CORUNNA — For the second time in four years, Scott Koerner and Robert Hinojosa are squaring off to see who becomes Shiawassee County prosecutor. But this time they’re doing it in August, instead of November.

In 2020, the pair clashed in the general election, with Hinojosa running as a Democrat and Koerner as a Republican. Since then, Hinojosa has migrated to the GOP, setting up an Aug. 6 primary clash.

Whoever wins the primary will be unopposed in the general election as there are no Democrats running for county prosecutor.

Hinojosa said that he changed party affliation because “I could no longer support those ideals, those beliefs. This is who I am.”

He did not elaborate on what specific ideals and beliefs he was referring to.

Koerner, 53, has been an attorney with the Shiawassee County Prosecutor’s Office since 2018. In 2020, he was named by 35th Circuit Court Judge Matthew J. Stewart as the replacement for retiring prosecutor Deana Finnigan. He began on April 1 of that year.

Hinojosa resides in Corunna with wife Amy. The couple has four children. Hinojosa also graduated from GVSU and received a law degree from Cooley Law School. He was born and raised in Muskegon.

CORUNNA — For the second time in four years, Scott Koerner and Robert Hinojosa are squaring off to see who becomes Shiawassee County prosecutor. But this time they’re doing it

07/12/2024

No criminal charges will be filed against a Shiawassee County sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot a man in Durand in April.

Thursday afternoon, Shiawassee County Prosecutor Scott Koerner issued a press release stating that the deputy — identified as Nathon Kirby — was “legally justified in using deadly force” against area resident Daniel Silver during an incident that occurred on South Oak Street in Durand on April 13.

Silver, 43, was shot multiple times while driving a vehicle identified by Koerner’s office as a Ford Freestyle crossover, in which he was found deceased after the vehichle’s momentum carried it into a ditch.

The Michigan State Police conducted an investigation into the shooting. The findings of this investigation were presented to the Shiawassee County Prosecutor’s Office on June 7, Thursday’s release stated.

During the intervening weeks the prosecutor “conducted a complete review of the investigation to determine whether the deputy committed a crime or acted within the bounds of legal justification when using deadly force,” Koerner said, “Based on my review, I have concluded that the deputy was legally justified in using deadly force against Silver, and therefore, no criminal charges are warranted.”

CORUNNA — No criminal charges will be filed against a Shiawassee County sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot a man in Durand in April.

07/11/2024

An Owosso resident’s design is in the running to be featured on a prominent piece of Michigan election paraphernalia.

This year, Michigan is holding a statewide “I Voted” sticker contest for the first time.

“Democracy is a team sport and our first ‘I Voted’ sticker contest is a fun way to get people across the state engaged in our elections,” Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said when she announced the contest on May 21. “I hope that students, parents, educators and community groups all help us spread the word about this opportunity to showcase Michigan’s creativity and civic pride.”

The competition solicited designs from three different age brackets — elementary/middle school, high school and open. Entries were due by June 30. Nearly 500 submissions were received, according to a Secretary of State’s Office release. These were whittled down to 25 semifinalists per bracket. Public voting, which opened on July 2 and will run through July 31, will be used to determine a winner in each category.

Among the semifinalists in the general entry (all ages) category of the sticker contest is Owosso resident Michael Crawford.

To vote in the sticker contest visit: https://www.michigan.gov/sos/elections/voting/2024-i-voted-sticker-contest.

OWOSSO — An Owosso resident’s design is in the running to be featured on a prominent piece of Michigan election paraphernalia.

07/11/2024

Bicentennials are a big deal — as anyone who was around for the American bicentennial of 1976 can readily attest. Not every anniversary gets its own commemorative quarter, after all.

Official U.S. bicentennial celebrations were deemed so important that Congress authorized the creation of an American Revolution Bicentennial Commission a full 10 years ahead of the big day, on July 4, 1966.

It’s no surprise then, that residents of the village of Byron have gone all out in planning their town’s 200th birthday bash, putting together an extensive, two-day event that spans Friday and Saturday.

At Monday’s Byron Village Council meeting, Trustee Luanne Bibbee presented a special tribute from the State of Michigan — signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II — recognizing the village’s 200th anniversary. The tribute recaps some of the finer points of Byron’s history, including the village receiving its first postmaster in 1837 (Major Francis J. Provost), its status as one of just 10 towns recorded in Michigan by 1882, and its presence as the last stop on a stagecoach run from Detroit that ran west along present-day Rose Center Road and Silver Lake Road.

“Today, Byron is home to a community of families, successful businesses, and a thriving school district. Byron holds several community events including Family Fun Day, Christmas in the Village and fireworks around Independence Day,” the tribute states. “The character of the village is unlike any other, with its residents who are extremely proud of the village they have seen flourish. We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to all those who call Byron home. It is people, like the residents of Byron, who build communities so that the next generation of Michiganders have a place to call home. May the next 200 years of Byron bring about even more prosperity, success, and joy.”

BYRON —Bicentennials are a big deal — as anyone who was around for the American bicentennial of 1976 can readily attest. Not every anniversary gets its own commemorative quarter, after

07/06/2024

It may not seem obvious at first glance, but ice hockey rinks are completely covered with paint.

It’s not just the red lines or the blue goal creases. Before these finer details get applied, the entire surface is covered in white, to give it that familiar, fresh-snowfall sheen which contrasts with the black puck. NHL ice rinks require around 350 gallons of white paint alone to cover.

A new manufacturing business in the tiny village of Oakley hopes to soon become a significant supplier of this specialized paint within the state of Michigan and beyond.

The company is called Tech-Ice USA. It is an offshoot of a Montreal-based company also called Tech-Ice.

Bryan Roeder of Oakley and John Notter of Roseville are the driving forces behind the Oakley operation.

Thanks to a partnership with Daniel Lapointe of Tech-Ice, Roeder and Notter have been selling Canadian-manufactured Tech-Ice paint through Roeder's company Hockey Board Doctor, but now they're taking things to the next level, they say, and will begin manufacturing Tech-Ice paint in Oakley under the Tech-Ice USA banner, with a warehouse on Roeder’s farm at 17295 S. Raucholz Road serving as their chief facility.

Roeder said the objective in producing the product here, rather than importing it from Canada, is to make a positive impact on the price they can sell it for and the timeliness when it comes to shipping.

OAKLEY — It may not seem obvious at first glance, but ice hockey rinks are completely covered with paint.

07/06/2024

On Thursday the United States of America celebrated its 248th birthday.

Irene Spitler is not quite that old, but the long-time Shiawassee County resident has been around longer than plenty of other countries, including all but three or four in Africa, depending on how one calculates.

Spitler turned 107 years old on Wednesday. When she was born in 1917, Woodrow Wilson was president of the United States.

Spitler celebrated her milestone with a small family gathering at Pleasant View Medical Care Facility, where she resides.

Spitler’s four children, several grandchildren and other extended family members were on hand.

“Can’t believe it,” Spitler said, greeting the crowd with a smile. “Time goes fast, don’t it?”

Shirley Badgero, 86, is Spitler’s oldest child and sole daughter. Badgero said that her mom’s smile was a big part of who she has always been — and something she tried to pass on to her children.

“She always said, ‘When you meet someone in the street, give them a smile,’” Badgero said. “She says you’ll find that if they’re looking sad or upset … it’ll make them feel better and it’ll make you feel better knowing that you gave them a smile.

“She’s always got a smile. That’s one thing that the nurses up there have mentioned to me,” Badgero said.

CALEDONIA TWP. — On Thursday the United States of America celebrated its 248th birthday.

07/02/2024

The duality of Fourth of July fireworks is well-known at this point.

Humans, by-and-large, are able to appreciate the visual wonder of the annual pyrotechnic displays that signal Indepencence Day. Animals, on the other hand, typically are not.

Indeed, the cacaphony of booms and crashes that accompany the light show can so distress our four-legged friends that they may attempt to flee the scene. According to the Humane Society of the Univet States, the days surrounding July 4 typically see a spike in runaway pets of around 30-60%.

This phenomenon was recently acknowledged by Michigan’s State Veterinarian Dr. Nora Wineland.

“When celebrating Independence Day, we need to be mindful of the health and safety of our animals,” Wineland said via press release. “The intense heat, unexpected sounds, flashing lights, and unfamiliar environments can all be a source of stress. Taking steps to ensure animals are cool, hydrated and calm is essential to their overall health.”

The holiday can be especially stressful for shelter pets — already in a less-than-ideal environment.

To help reduce the anxiety of the animals they are currently housing — and to free up space for potential runaways — the Shiawassee Humane Society has a special foster program ongoing.

SHS is seeking to pair shelter pets with area residents on a short-term basis, to help them get through the holidays.

“It’s already tough for cats and dogs to be here in the first place, but it’s even worse for them during the long 4th of July holiday weekend. This event gets them out of their kennels for a few days and into the hands of people who probably have the holiday off and maybe haven’t fostered before,” said Lori Beard, manager of the Shiawassee Humane Society.

SHS is asking interested fosterers to call ahead and speak to its receptionists about the program. Staff will then arrange a “meet-and-greet” with one of the shelter’s residents.

OWOSSO — The duality of Fourth of July fireworks is well-known at this point.

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The North Pole Express’s second weekend of 2023 kicked off Friday with the trip from Owosso to Ashley.

Fire 🔥 Up Chips!

The “Maroon and Gold Express” left Owosso this morning en route to Mount Pleasant and either football or shopping and lunch. Steam Railroading Institute executive director Dean Pyers said about 100 tickets had been sold, a good marker for the first time.

Though a severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect in the Shiawassee County Area until 1 a.m., the worst of tonight's weather has passed on through. Downed tree limbs and power lines are endemic throughout the area. Consumers Energy data is currently showing 7,488 customers in the county without power. The largest of these outage areas is just south of Owosso, where 2,559 customers are affected. The utility company is currently "assessing" the damage in the area, with no estimated timeline for power restoration.

Shortly after 8 p.m. tonight (Friday) a funnel cloud was identified above the City of Perry. The swirling cloud briefly touched down near the city center, causing two municipal Department of Public Works buildings to collapse and downing multiple trees and power lines. Much of the city remains without power, and there are currently no estimates for when it will be restored. No injuries have been reported thus far. This video, showing swirling debris, was taken by Perry resident Tiffany Little, who lives close by where the worst of the damage occurred. UPDATE: At 9:35 p.m., the City of Perry declared an emergency within city limits. It advised residents to limit their sewer usage due to the strain it puts on pumping stations. Additionally, city officials asked that people stay off the streets due to the prevalence of downed power lines.

Video from the funeral procession for former Probate Court Judge James Clatterbaugh today in Owosso

Video from today's funeral procession for retired Probate Court Judge James Clatterbaugh, who passed away last week.

Tonight’s Memorial Day parade in Owosso.

Mowen Funeral Home demolition

The scene on the field at Spartan Stadium following Michigan’s 21-7 victory over MSU.

Shiawassee County Fair Light Parade

The Shiawassee County Fair truck light parade is seen taking place downtown Owosso in this video clip. The parade looped from the fairgrounds through Owosso and back.

Curwood Parade! A little rain isn’t stopping the show.

Curwood kids parade!

On scene at a fire in the 600 block of East Comstock Street in Owosso. UPDATE: Everyone who was living at the home got out safely, said multiple people who live there.