Latest Updates
Third Round Of Petitions Filed In Recall Effort06/02/2023News / Public ServiceA third round of recall petitions has been filed against two members of the Somerset Township board after previous petitions were shot down by the Hillsdale County Board of Election Commissioners.
Mary Meints filed petitions against Township Supervisor Tim Shaw and Clerk Michael Bohnet back in April.
The petitions claimed incompatibility between offices and Improprieties in pay for firefighters.
The Board of Election Commissioners reviewed and rejected those petitions during a hearing on May 10th.
Meints immediately filed a second round of petitions; Those were reviewed and rejected by the election commissioners on Wednesday.
The newest petitions, filed Wednesday, allege that Shaw was involved in the Township’s purchase of property from Somerset Congregational Church where he is a trustee. Meints alleges that Shaw moved forward with the purchase of an ambulance without board approval–
The petition also claims incompatibility in office as Shaw is a firefighter on the township payroll.
The petition against Bohnet contains similar and related allegations.
The Board of Election Commissioners has scheduled a hearing for June 14th to determine the clarity and factuality of the latest petition language.
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State Issues Air Quality Alert For Region06/02/2023News / Public ServiceWith the temperature expected to reach near 90 degrees today, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy has issued an Air Quality Alert for elevated levels of Ozone.
The alert area includes Hillsdale, Branch, Saint Joseph, Cass & Berrien Counties.
Pollutants are expected to be in the “unhealthy” range, which will especially affect those with respiratory ailments, including asthma.
Residents and businesses are urged to avoid activities that can cause ozone formation, including: topping off when refueling your vehicle, using gasoline powered lawn equipment and using charcoal lighter fluid.
Officials recommend car pooling, delaying or combining errands and limiting outdoor exertion.
Cooler temperatures are in the forecast for next week.
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Stock’s Park Concert Series Lineup Announced06/01/2023Entertainment / News / Public ServiceOfficials have announced the lineup for this year’s Concerts In The Park Series at Misses Stock’s Park in Hillsdale.
The Tuesday series kicks off June 27th, with the Hillsdale Wind Symphony.
Bryan and Yvonne Hutson, of Rescue Me Ministries will perform July 11th.
Local favorite The Unforgettables will take the state July 18th.
Well-known local artist Micheal Blanchard will perform original songs and favorites on July 25th.
The August 1st show will feature VanDyke Review Band–The local concert is a stop on their Nicest Place In America Tour.
This year’s series wraps up August 8th with Russ Kendrick Martin & Five Second Rule performing original music along with classic rock and blues favorites.
The Concerts start at 7:30 pm. They are free and open to the public. The series has been a popular attraction to Downtown Hillsdale over the years.
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Witness Located In Baw Beese Lake Incident06/01/2023News / Public ServiceAuthorities say they’ve located a woman who witnessed an assault at Baw Beese Lake over the holiday weekend.
Hillsdale CIty Police are investigating the incident that occurred at Sandy Beach.
Chief Scott Hephner told WCSR the woman in the photo was NOT INVOLVED in the assault. She was simply a potential witness.
Hephner said the assault actually involved teens–and because of their age, authorities were not allowed to post photos as part of the investigation.
Hephner said the woman in the photo has contacted police and is cooperating with the investigation, which is ongoing.
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Legion Accepting Donations For Paratroopers Serving In Europe05/31/2023News / Public ServiceThe Hillsdale American Legion is accepting donations, through Sunday, for care packages to be sent to troops serving in Eastern Europe.
The packages will be sent to paratroopers serving with the 101st Airborne Division.
Among the items needed are black tube sock sizes 9-11, toothbrushes, non perishable snack items and powdered drink mixes, including coffee.
Donations, including monetary contributions to help with shipping, can be dropped at the Legion post at 1611 Steamburg Road, on Baw Beese.
Monetary donation can also be made through Venmo @financepost53.
For more information see the American Legion Post 53 Facebook page.
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Fire Officials Warn Of Fundraiser Scam05/30/2023News / Public ServiceOfficials with the Hillsdale Township Fire Department are alerting listeners to a scam involving recent text messages that appear to come from the department.
The messages, regarding the sale of T-shirts for a fundraiser, are fraudulent.
In a social media post over the holiday weekend, officials said the department does not have the ability for mass text messaging.
They say if you receive the message simply delete it and DO NOT click the link.
The post went on to say that any fundraisers would be announced via social media rather than group text.
Other departments in the region issued similar warnings over the weekend, as the scam appears to be gaining momentum locally.
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Sunday Crash Claims Woman’s Life05/30/2023News / Public ServiceMichigan State Police are continuing their investigation of a weekend traffic crash that claimed a woman’s life and left a child injured.
Troopers responded to the crash that occurred just before 7:00 am Sunday on North Adams Road in Wheatland Township.
Accident investigators say the 42 year-old woman lost control of her vehicle, which left the road and rolled several times.
The woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
A child passenger was taken to Henry Ford Allegiance Hospital in Jackson for treatment of what authorities called non-life-threatening injuries.
Authorities have not released the names of those involved.
Investigators said speed appeared to be a factor in the crash.
Troopers were assisted by the Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Department, Addison Fire Department and the Medical Examiner’s Office.
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Lyon Headed To Prison On Weapons And Larceny Charges05/24/2023News / Public ServiceA Hillsdale man is headed to prison on felony weapons and burglary charges stemming from a standoff with police earlier this year.
35 year-old Michael Lyon appeared in Hillsdale County CIrcuit Court, Monday.
He was sentenced to 29 to 60 months in prison on one count each of possession of a dangerous weapon, home invasion and larceny
Additional charges were dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea.
Lyon was arrested in mid-January, at a home in Cambria Township.
Authorities said he barricaded himself inside the home and refused to come out; At the time police were executing a warrant for his arrest in connection with the thefts of a number firearms that occurred in 2021.
Lyon eventually surrendered to police and was taken into custody.
Two pipe bombs were found inside the home during a search.
Along with the prison term, Lyon was ordered to pay $198 in fines and court costs.
Michael Lyon
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Hillsdale College Breaks Ground On Classical Education Building05/24/2023News / Public ServiceHillsdale College has broken ground on a new educational facility.
A ceremony was held earlier this month to kick off the construction of the Diana Davis Spencer Graduate School of Classical Education.
The building will be located on The Quad, next to the Dow Hotel & Conference Center.
It will house the graduate program in classical education, which first held classes in August 2022.
The Diana Davis Spencer Foundation provided a leadership grant for the school.
Spencer is a journalist and philanthropist who has written for a number of publications and sits on boards for several organizations including the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, the Northeast Harbor Library, and The Federalist Society.
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Local Company To Redevelop Klein Tool Building05/23/2023News / Public ServiceA local construction company will take possession of a long-vacant industrial building in Downtown Jonesville with an eye toward redeveloping the property.
According to a press release from the City Of Jonesville, the City Council has approved a Purchase and Development Agreement with DH Roberts Construction for the redevelopment of the former Klein Tool property.
The plan calls for the project to be completed in two phases.
The portion of the factory closest to Chicago Street will be redeveloped as a 22,000 square foot commercial building with on-site parking.
Officials say the building will keep its industrial character, but will be enhanced with glass and door openings to add storefronts on the street.
The remainder of the factory will be demolished to make way for a modern residential building with two-and three-bedroom market rate apartments.
The project, which is tentatively being called Riverview Flats, will offer apartments with views of the Saint Joseph River. .
Under the Agreement, DH Roberts Construction of Jonesville will take possession of the building in exchange for the investment to redevelop the property.
The total cost of the redevelopment is estimated somewhere between four-million and seven-million dollars. .
Construction of the commercial building is expected to be completed in about 24 to 30 months.
The residential building is anticipated to be complete within 4 to 7 years, depending on market conditions.
The building housed Vaco Products for 40 years before it was purchased by Klein Tool in the late 1980’s.
It has been vacant for about 15 years.
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